Recapitalisation: With 200 Days to Deadline, Banks Intensify Efforts to Scale Hurdle
Nume Ekeghe
With just 200 days left before the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) March 31, 2026 recapitalisation
deadline, Nigerian banks are ramping up efforts to meet the stringent capital requirements. From exploring mergers and acquisitions to raising fresh
capital through rights issues and public offers, the industry is abuzz with strategic moves aimed at strengthening balance sheets and preserving market
share.
The countdown has triggered a wave of activity across the financial sector, as lenders race not only to comply with
regulatory demands but also to position themselves competitively for the future of banking in Africa’s largest economy. At the beginning of the
DSS Brokers Fresh Truce Between NUPENG, Dangote Refinery...
Sunday Ehigiator
The Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, was filled as dignitaries across Nigeria, led by President Bola Ahmed
who was represented by the Minister of Finance,
Ahead of Emergency Rule Expiration, Ibas Says
He Has Fulfilled Tinubu’s Mandate in Rivers
PAYING FINAL RESPECTS TO DOYIN ABIOLA...
L-R: Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shetima; First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Wife of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mrs. Salamatu Gbajabiamila, with other CEOs of Government Agencies and Organisations after a courtesy visit by the Forum of Female CEO’s to
L-R: Former Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode; his wife, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode; former Lagos State First Lady, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola; Former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr. Dele Alake; and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the funeral service for the late Mrs. Doyin Abiola, held at the Cathedral Church CMS in Lagos…yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN
Tinubu,
DSS Brokers Fresh Truce Between NUPENG, Dangote Refinery
NANS urges FG to protect refinery
Emmanuel Addeh and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The Department of State Services (DSS) has again waded into the labour dispute between the Dangote Refinery and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in an attempt to prevent the imminent breakdown of the truce earlier signed by both parties.
This emerged as the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) urged the federal government to ensure the protection of the Dangote
Refinery by forestalling anything that would lead to the disruption of the petrol supply chain. NANS also noted that while it recognises the role of unions in the defense and protection of human rights, joining a union ought to be voluntary.
THISDAY learnt last night that at the meeting called by the leadership of the secret police in Abuja, both the company and the union resolved to adhere to the September 9 agreement, when the issues were first discussed and resolved.
As part of the agreements, the
oil company was also directed to immediately restore NUPENG stickers on its trucks, which were allegedly removed earlier.
Present at the high-level meeting, it was gathered, were the Minister of State for Labour, DSS Deputy Director General, officials
from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), officials from Dangote Refinery as well as representatives of NUPENG, Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Court Approves Expedited Trial of Alleged UN Building Bombing Mastermind
Alex Enumah in Abuja
Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, approved accelerated trial of the alleged mastermind of the 2011 bombing of the United Nations
(UN) building in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Khalid Al-Barnawi.
The approval was sequel to an application for expedited proceedings filed and argued by the Department of State
Services (DSS).
The security agency had arrainged Al-Barnawi, believed to be a top commander of Ansaru, alongside four others on charges bordering on terrorism amongst others.
At yesterday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Dr. Alex Iziyon, SAN, who argued the motion for accelerated hearing, said that the DSS is ready to ensure speedy determination of the case.
AHEAD OF EMERGENCY RULE EXPIRATION, IBAS SAYS HE HAS FULFILLED TINUBU'S MANDATE IN RIVERS
As the six-month emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State on March 18 draws to a close five days from now, precisely September 18, all eyes are on the State’s Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), who yesterday insisted he has delivered on the president’s mandate.
The administrator said this yesterday, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, when the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) presented a report of the recently concluded local government elections to him.
Ibas pointed to restored order, relative peace, and critical
interventions as evidence that the extraordinary measures taken under his watch have met the expectations of both the presidency and the people of Rivers.
Tinubu had, on March 18, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as reasons for the extraordinary measure. This led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu and the 32-man House of Assembly. This followed an emergency meeting with security and intelligence chiefs at the Aso Rock Villa earlier that day. Tinubu had appointed Ibas as the sole administrator to oversee the
state’s affairs until normalcy is restored. Ibas served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Rivers crisis, the President had said, paralysed governance in the oil-rich state. It was the high point of a months-long power tussle between Fubara and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, which has since been resolved.
Wike recently hinted that after the August 30 local government elections, the coast was now clear for Fubara, his deputy and the House of Assembly to return to their duty posts. However, Ibas, who could be leaving office in five days, said he has successfully restored the democratic governance of Rivers
State at the grassroots level.
Addressing RSIEC officials, Ibas stated that the peaceful conduct of the polls and the subsequent swearing-in of democratically elected Chairmen and Councillors across all 23 Local Government Areas marked the direct fulfillment of the presidential directive issued to him on March 18, 2025.
He said, “Mr. President’s mandate to me was clear: to stabilise the state, create an enabling environment for the re-establishment of its institutions, and return Rivers State back to full democratic governance."
The Administrator added: “With the successful conduct and swearing-in of local government chairmen and their councils, I believe we have decisively
DIGNITARIES PAY FINAL RESPECTS AS DOYIN ABIOLA IS LAID TO REST
Wale Edun, gathered for the funeral service of Dr. Doyinsola Abiola, a pioneering journalist, media executive, and wife of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, who was laid to rest yesterday in Lagos State.
The burial concluded a week of commemorative events that began with a night of tributes at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, where family, colleagues, and dignitaries celebrated her trailblazing life in journalism and service to Nigeria.
Delivering the sermon, the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos West, Rt. Rev. Pelu Johnson, drew from
scripture to reflect on the themes of restoration and hope while recounting Abiola’s historic achievements.
He described the deceased as a “record-breaker who shattered glass ceilings,” noting her many firsts; from becoming Nigeria’s first female Ph.D. holder in journalism in 1979, to her appointment as the first female editor of a national daily in 1980, and later the first woman to head a national newspaper as Managing Director and Editor-inChief of the National Concord.
“She stood firmly with her husband during the struggle for Nigeria’s democracy, using
Concord Newspapers to win the battle of hearts and minds,” Bishop Johnson said, adding that her legacy of courage, mentorship, and quiet strength would endure through the generations she inspired.
The bishop also used the occasion to highlight Nigeria’s present challenges of insecurity, unemployment, and corruption. He urged the government to intensify efforts to ease the suffering of citizens, warning that further taxation on fuel could worsen the hardship.
“If food prices must come down, then tax cannot come in to increase the cost of
transportation,” he cautioned.
The funeral service, officiated by Canon Residentiary of the Cathedral, Ven. Henry Adelegan, featured Bible readings by family members and associates. Psalm 91 was read by Midun Tobun, while the Epistle, from 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, was taken by Suru Aboaba. Dignitaries in attendance included Edun, who represented Tinubu; Presidential spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga; former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Nike Akande; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; former Governor
achieved the mandate that we were given.”
He commended RSIEC for organising what he described as a fair, credible, and transparent electoral process, which has been widely praised within and beyond the state.
“For once, an election was conducted where nobody was harassed, where people went out freely to express themselves and to select whom they wanted as their leaders. This is a testament to the peaceful and enabling environment we have collectively fostered,” he remarked.
Ibas assured that his administration would review the RSIEC report and issue an official government white paper in due course.
He also appreciated his team,
of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; and former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
Also present were Managing Director of THISDAY Newspaper, Mr. Eniola Bello; Obanikoro of Lagos, Chief Adesoji Ajayi-Bembe; Chairman of STB-McCann, Sir Steve Omojafor; Ms. Yeni Fela Anikulapo-Kuti; former Presidential Aide, Mr. Femi Adesina; President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba; Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, wife of former Lagos Governor Babatunde Fashola; co-founder of Tell magazine, Mr. Dele
security agencies, and state officials for their collaborative effort and synergy, noting that “this is what it takes to build nations.”
Earlier, while presenting the detailed report, the Chairman of RSIEC, Dr. Mike Odey, described the election as a “historic achievement” for the state and the country.
He revealed that the document provides a full account of the entire process, from the initial notice of election to stakeholder engagements, polling, collation of results, and the final announcement of winners.
“The report highlights our modest achievements, our challenges, and provides key recommendations that will strengthen future elections in Rivers State,” Dr. Odey stated.
Babarinsa; Managing Director of Daily Times, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi; and Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye. After the service, her body was conveyed to her final resting place in Lekki, where she was interred amid tears, prayers, and heartfelt tributes.
Doyinsola Abiola, who died at 82 on August 5, 2025, is remembered as a trailblazer in Nigerian journalism, a steadfast advocate for democracy, and a matriarch whose devotion, resilience, and quiet strength left an indelible mark on the nation.
RECAPITALISATION: WITH 200 DAYS TO DEADLINE, BANKS INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO SCALE HURDLE
raised $2.8 trillion.
The new capital requirement which stipulated N500 billion for international banks, N200 billion for national, and N50 billion for regional, were unveiled as part of CBN’s push to strengthen balance sheets and build resilience in the face of persistent macroeconomic shocks.
So far, at least 11 banks have crossed the finish line. Access Holdings, Zenith Bank, GTBank, Ecobank, Stanbic IBTC, Wema Bank, Jaiz Bank, Lotus Bank, Providus Bank, Greenwich Merchant Bank, and Premium Trust Bank have all met the capital requirement for the operating licence they hold.
GTBank recently raised N365.85 billion through a capital injection from its parent company, GTCO, lifting its paid-up capital from N138 billion to N504 billion.
Also, Access Bank and Zenith Bank, both tier-one players, secured their positions earlier through rights issues and public offers.
These early movers have
effectively removed uncertainty about their status, sending reassuring signals to investors and depositors.
Other institutions are in the process of raising funds through equity markets, private placements, or asset sales.
Today, the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) is in the middle of a rights issue, which it recently extended to September 19, 2025, after securing approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Market watchers are optimistic that the tier-one bank would meet its target comfortably. Similarly, Fidelity Bank has raised more than N273 billion and is planning a private placement to close the remaining gap.
FCMB which has already raised N144.6 billion, is pursuing further capital through divestments from subsidiaries like Credit Direct and FCMB Pensions, alongside offshore placements.
FSDH recently sold its stake
in PAL Pensions, redeploying proceeds to shore up its balance sheet.
Some banks are making tactical adjustments to navigate the higher thresholds. Nova Bank, which once considered applying for a national licence, has opted to remain a regional player, limiting its requirement to N50 billion.
Providus Bank is in the process of acquiring Unity Bank, a move that will elevate it from regional to national status.
Analysts believe the recapitalisation programme was progressing smoothly than many had feared.
Head of Financial Institutions Ratings at Agusto & Co, Ayokunle Olubunmi, noted that most banks are on track, with some even ahead of schedule. He added that the heavy lifting has been done locally.
In a chat with THISDAY, he said: “Most are moving in line with their capital plans, and many are even ahead of schedule. Encouragingly, most
of the funds have come from Nigerians, not foreign investors. Out of the roughly N4 trillion required, about N3 trillion has already been raised, largely from domestic investors. By December, we’ll have a clearer picture.”
A report by SBM Intelligence titled ‘Capital, Competition, and Consolidation’ released recently stated: “The ongoing recapitalisation drive, mandated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, is set to reshape the competitive landscape. Most Tier-2 banks have responded proactively, employing a mix of public offers, rights issues, private placements, and strategic divestments to meet or exceed new capital thresholds.
“This sector-wide commitment to financial resilience and regulatory compliance is expected to enhance the stability of the banking system, improve loss absorption capacity, and position Nigerian banks to support the country’s ambition for a $1 trillion economy.
“Looking ahead, the sector
is likely to witness further consolidation, with mergers and strategic alliances among mid-tier banks becoming more prevalent.
This will not only create larger, more competitive institutions but also foster innovation and expand access to credit for businesses and consumers. However, the risk of marginalising smaller players and the potential for integration challenges must be carefully managed to ensure that the benefits of recapitalisation are broadly shared across the economy.”
For the Head of Africa Financial Services, McKinsey & Company, Mayowa Kuyoro, the recapitalisation would produce stronger institutions with stronger balance sheets.
“We are going to have institutions that have capital for growth and capital for expansion. So, whether you are expanding into new customer segments or product verticals, what is going to happen is that we are going to see a lot more innovations in that space because the institutions
have the capital to grow,” she added.
Also, McKinsey’s Managing Partner in Lagos, Frederick Twum, stated that the Nigerian banking sector was at a critical juncture, with higher capital requirements and digital disruption driving a new era of consolidation and innovation.
“Nigeria's banking market sector has been shaped by macroeconomic shocks, regulation, and maturing digital disruption. Key trends include higher capital requirements driving consolidation, fintechs targeting underserved SMEs, and open banking unlocking embedded finance.
“In addition, foreign exchange revaluation gains are fading—and are increasingly getting ringfenced. Banks will be looking for new sources of value. The Nigerian banking sector is at a critical juncture, with higher capital requirements and digital disruption driving a new era of consolidation and innovation,” Twum added.
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
EKITI 2026: KAYODE OJO THROWS HIS HAT IN THE RING...
Marginal Fields: NUPRC, Ingentia Sign First PML, Firm Targets over 230,000 Barrels Monthly Output
Citing malfunction, commission revokes Oritsemeyin rig’s licence, seeks halt to operations
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) yesterday supervised the signing of the conversion of the first Petroleum Prospecting Licence (PPL) to Petroleum Mining Lease (PML) with Ingentia Energies Limited from the 2020 marginal fields bid round.
Also NUPRC has revoked the operating licence of Oritsemeyin Rig and directed it to cease all operations upon the completion of its current well operations.
The holders of PPL 202 are Suntrust Oil Company Nigeria Limited; Petrogas Energy Trade W.A Ltd; Somora GTP Limited; Moore Oil Exploration & Production Nig Ltd, and Genesis Hydrocarbons Limited, while the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) created by the firms is Ingentia.
THISDAY recalls that the 2020 marginal field bid round in Nigeria offered 57 oil and gas
fields located on land, swamp and shallow offshore terrains, attracting more than 600 firms, with 161 eventually shortlisted for the final stage after going through technical and financial screenings.
Eventually, many of the awarded fields went to multiple companies, necessitating the creation of joint operating vehicles, which although initially slowed progress, were eventually surmounted by the awardees.
Speaking at the landmark event in Abuja, the Commission's Chief Executive (CCE), Gbenga Komolafe, said it marked a significant step in the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), confirming that the signing of PML 66 represented the first-ever conversion of a PPL to a PML from the bid round.
"This milestone achievement follows the successful commercial discovery of hydrocarbons in the field and the subsequent conversion of the asset in accordance with Section 81(1) of the Petroleum
Migration Agency Rescues Two Minors, 18-year-old Girls Being Trafficked to Libya, Mali
Two female minors among them a sickle cell patient, aged 13 and 14 have been rescued by the Edo State Migration Agency while being trafficked to Libya.
Also rescued was 18-year old girl, Joseph Faith, who narrated how she refused to engage in prostitution in Mali after she was tricked into going for a job in Lagos State. The minors who left on Sunday but returned on Wednesday night had already gotten to Zaria, Kaduna State when their trafficker asked them to return because her mother, Mrs. Comfort Etim, was arrested by the police.
Speaking at the premises of the Edo Migration Agency, the girls said they were told they would be taken to Italy to work as maids to an old couple but that they should not tell their parents. They said their sponsor who
obviously was working with the trafficker placed them in a bus and gave them a number to call when they got to Kano State.
According to one of them simply identified as Success, "The boy told me her sister is in Italy and that she and her husband were old. He said they don't have any children. He told me not to tell my mother. He also said we should call our parents when we get abroad. The second girl did not look well but she said she was well.
"They took us to a motor- park in Aduwawa and placed us inside a bus to Kano State. He told the driver we are going to Kano and gave us a number to call when we get to Kano. He gave us hijab, milk, golden morn and water. I am happy that I am back home."
The other victim, who is suffering from sickle cell, said she wanted to surprise her mother when she got to Italy.
Industry Act. This development clearly demonstrates the value of the bid round and the resilience of our upstream sector.
"The conversion of PPL 202 to PML 66 further reflects the hard work and determination of the licensees, as well as the guidance provided by this commission as a business enabler. More importantly, it sends a strong signal to both domestic and international
investors that Nigeria remains a top destination for oil and gas investments, supported by regulatory clarity, commercial viability, and operational excellence," Komolafe stated.
Besides, Komolafe lauded the diligence, professionalism, and dedication of the Ingentia team in fulfilling their work programmes and obligations under their license, which paved the way for the
conversion. He stressed that PML 66 is not merely another lease, but marked the beginning of a new chapter in Nigeria’s oil and gas landscape.
"This underscores the transformative potential of the reforms we have put in place and the shared vision for a more efficient, competitive, and sustainable upstream petroleum industry," he stated, urging other
awardees to emulate the exemplary standards demonstrated by the holders of PML 66.
"I also urge them to maintain this positive momentum and ensure that the benefits of this development extend beyond corporate boardrooms to the Nigerian people, in the form of jobs, capacity building, technology transfer, and enhanced revenues for shared prosperity," the CCE added.
The battle for Ekiti 2026 has officially ignited as frontline All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant, Engr. Kayode Ojo, stormed the party’s national secretariat on Thursday to submit his nomination form, thundering that “Ekiti needs a rescuer, and I am ready to answer that call.”
Shortly after submitting his form while speaking to journalists at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, Ojo, the Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, electrified
supporters with promises like full local government autonomy, unprecedented infrastructure renewal, economic revival, and a new deal for teachers, civil servants, artisans, and students.
Ojo said, “Our agenda is bold, clear, and achievable. We will never hand over Ekiti’s destiny to those who do not share our progressive values. We will unite our party, heal old wounds, and transform our state into a model of good governance.”
He said he is certain of victory in the October 27 APC primary election and next
year’s governorship election, and demanded a level playing field: “The people of Ekiti must be free to choose. We will not accept intimidation, harassment, or imposition. Only a popular candidate can win and I am that candidate.”
Ojo, in a statement, also vowed to secure Ekiti for the President’s 2027 re-election bid.
“This election is not just about who governs Ekiti, it is about who can mobilise the people for Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda. I will stand with Tinubu, and together, we will elevate
Nigeria,” he said. He also dismissed comments allegedly made by APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, that picking forms was a waste of money.
“The people of Ekiti are crying for change. Submitting my forms today is my response to their cry. We are ready. We are resolute. We are unstoppable,” he fired back. With his declaration, Ojo has thrown down the gauntlet, setting up a fierce battle for the APC ticket, and positioning himself as the rallying point for party loyalists who say Ekiti is ripe for change.
Manufacturers, Stakeholders Hail Dangote Polypropylene as Market Breakthrough
Peter Uzoho
Polypropylene products from Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals have been described as a game changer by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and key industry stakeholders at the 12th edition of PROPAK West Africa 2025, the region’s leading exhibition and conference for the packaging, plastics, printing, and processing industries.
A statement issued by Dangote Group said the products, produced at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals
complex in Lagos, marks the end of Nigeria’s dependence on imported polypropylene.
Local plastic manufacturers, distributors, and industrial users confirm that they now have access to a reliable, highquality alternative to imported polypropylene as the product has already sparked significant interest across sectors, particularly given Nigeria’s current 90 per cent reliance on imported polypropylene.
Assistant Director, Corporate Affairs and Communications, MAN, Dr. Segun Alabi, confirmed the association’s readiness to
collaborate with Dangote to accelerate domestic adoption.
“Polypropylene is a vital raw material for many of our members, and the introduction of locally produced supply will ease the pressure on importers.
“Dangote is producing in surplus, which means demand can now be met both locally and internationally. Instead of relying on imports, users can now source locally. We’re fully prepared to work with Dangote to push polypropylene into the Nigerian market and even export it as a source of foreign exchange," he said.
The organisers of PROPAK West Africa also praised Dangote’s participation in the event.
Regional Director for West Africa at Montgomery Group Afrocet, George Pearson, remarked: “We’re delighted to have Dangote not just as an exhibitor, but as a partner and sponsor. The brand’s prestige enhances the event. Dangote is both a major buyer of international machinery and a vital supplier within the packaging value chain. If any company can deliver transformative impact in this space, it’s Dangote.”
Sunday Ehigiator
Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos
Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) Gubernatorial Aspirant, Engr. Kayode Ojo (left) and Deputy National Organising Secretary of the party, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu, during Ojo’s submission of nomination form at APC's Secretariat, Abuja… recently
NES FELLOWSHIP CONFERMENT...
Tinubu Launches Women’s Health Initiative to Tackle Maternal Mortality, Others
Promises integrated national action for women’s welfare, empowerment
President Bola Tinubu has flagged off RenewHER, a Presidential Women’s Health Transformation Initiative, to safeguard maternal health and women’s well-being. He described the programme as an answer to one of the nation’s most critical prayers and a cornerstone of a healthier Nigeria, rating it as a national priority.
Speaking on Thursday night during the Launch Gala and Awards at the State House, Abuja, President Tinubu, who
was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, noted that women's health is fundamental to Nigeria's development trajectory.
According to him, the programme is designed to be “the national engine of collaboration among all stakeholders in our campaign for a healthier Nigeria.
“There is no greater test of a nation’s character than the care it extends to its women. Maternal health is the heartbeat of every family, the compass of social stability, and the truest index of national welfare,” the President said.
Insurgency: NEDC Distributes Relief Materials to Victims of Boko Haram Attacks in Borno Community
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has distributed relief materials to 1,000 households affected by the recent Boko Haram attacks on Darajamal community in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
Also concerned citizens of Gwoza Local Government of Borno State had called on President Bola Tinubu-led federal
government to promptly release funds for prompt repatriation and resettlement of 91,007 Gwoza indigenes internally displaced by the Boko Haram insurgents.
It would be recalled that terrorists stormed Darajamal community on 5th September, 2025 after engaging the military before proceeding to attack civilians where several people were left dead and many others injured
Burkina Faso Scraps Visa Fees for African Travellers
Burkina Faso has removed visa fees for all African travellers, in an effort to facilitate the movement of people and goods into the country.
"From now on, any citizen from an African country wishing to go to Burkina Faso will not pay any amount to cover visa fees," BBC quoted the country's security minister, Mahamadou Sana, to have said following a cabinet meeting chaired by military leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré.
African visitors will however, be required to submit an online visa application, which would be reviewed for approval, the minister clarified.
The West African nation joins countries such as Ghana, Rwanda and Kenya, which had eased travel requirements for African visitors.
Citizens of West African countries can already travel to Burkina Faso without the need for visas, however this may change in the future because the country has pulled out of ECOWAS, along with its neighbours, Mali and Niger which are also under military rule.
Capt Traoré, a young soldier who seized power in a 2022 coup, portrays himself as a champion of Pan-Africanism, while often criticising the West and colonialism.
The RenewHER initiative, he explained, will introduce a Presidential focal office on women’s health, working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, the State-Wide Approach Coordination Office (SWAp), the Ministry of Women Affairs, and the Governors’ Spouses Forum to ensure women’s health priorities are embedded “in every state, every local government, and every
community across the nation.”
He also announced the creation of an AI-powered National Women’s Health Digital Hub to deliver geo-targeted campaigns on maternal survival, adolescent health, preventive care, and workforce strengthening.
The hub, President Tinubu said, would connect women and families with trusted health information, while linking
healthcare to entrepreneurship and national prosperity.
“Maternal mortality is a shame against which we must all rally. We owe every girl-child not just the eloquent promise of a better tomorrow, but the certainty of a healthier one,” the President explained, adding that RenewHER will complement ongoing national initiatives such as MAMII, while aligning with international
development partners.
President Tinubu assured that his administration would serve as both umbrella and catalyst for interventions across all tiers of government until RenewHER delivers tangible results.
“With the mandate of the Nigerian people, I hereby unveil RenewHER—our Presidential Women’s Health Commitment,” he declared.
WAIFEM DG, Baba Emerges NES 45th President, Kingsley Obiora Conferred Fellow
Prosper Taiwo
The Director General of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Dr. Baba Yusuf Musa, is now the 45th President of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES).
This was as the NES awarded a 2025 fellowship to Dr. Kingsley Obiora, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for his “outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s economic development.” The honour is the highest professional award in the NES coffers.
The conferment took place at the NES 2025 conference, which
was held between September 8th and 11th.
Obiora, together with 13 others, which included Vice President Kashim Shettima, were conferred the distinguished 2025 fellowship award. They joined the likes of some honourable fellows who had received the honours in the past, including late Professor Ojetunji Aboyade, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, His Royal Majesty Muhammadu Sanusi II, Tony Elumelu, among others.
However, in his acceptance speech titled: ‘A New Dawn: Forging a Path to Economic Resilience and Prosperity’, Musa, the new President, said he was
deeply honoured to accept to lead the NES, a body of intellectual giants and patriots who have, for decades, dedicated their minds to the service of our nation.
“I consider my election as a powerful statement from our members, a clear signal that we are ready to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world economic practice. While our roots remain firmly in scholarly research, this decision demonstrates our commitment to leveraging the insights and experiences of the industry.
“I am deeply humbled by this trust and believe that a blend of academic rigor and industry
application is precisely what our Society needs to redefine its role in the national policy discourse. The path ahead is challenging, as our nation stands at a critical crossroads. While we have witnessed a gradual recovery after years of turbulence, citizens continue to face hardship,” he said.
According to the economist, recent reports from the CBN’s purchasing manager’s index (PMI) indicate sustained expansion in economic activity for eight consecutive months, with 26 of 36 subsectors recording growth, alongside improvements in liquidity and external reserves.
Kano Conjoined Twins Return 2 Years After Successful Separation Surgery Sponsored by Saudi Monarch
The Kano-born conjoined twins, Hassana and Husaina, arrived at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) yesterday, two years after undergoing successful separation surgery sponsored by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The surgery, conducted by 19 surgeons, unfolded in nine stages that lasted approximately 14 hours, with each stage requiring precise coordination to safely separate the twins and reconstruct
their individual systems.
The Consul General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Kano, Khalil Ahmed Al-Admawi, who received the twins in the company of Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, said the successful outcome was one of the most challenging yet rewarding achievements of the Saudi programme for separating conjoined twins.
He explained that after careful planning, a multi-disciplinary team of 38 consultants and specialists, including experts in pediatric surgery, neurosurgery,
orthopaedics, urology, anaesthesia, and plastic surgery, embarked on the delicate procedure.
According to him, "Life-saving operation was carried out at the King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister."
It would be recalled that
the conjoined twins, Hassana and Husaina Hassan Isa, were flown to Riyadh in October 2023, where they underwent months of comprehensive medical examinations before the surgery.
It was discovered that they were joined at the lower abdomen, pelvis, and spine, sharing vital structures that made the case particularly complex. Speaking at the event, Governor Yusuf promised to offer a full scholarship, healthcare, and sponsor further medical checkups in Saudi Arabia next year.
Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
L-R: Former Director-General, NISER, Ibadan, Prof. Olu Ajakaiye; former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Kingsley Obiora, and former Director General, WAIFEM, Prof. Akpan Ekpo, during the conferment of the fellowship of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES) on Obiora at the NES’ 2025 Conference held in Abuja…recently
PETROLEUM MINING LEASE SIGNING CEREMONY...
L-R: Executive Commissioner, Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr. Babajide Fashina; EC, Development & Production, Enorense Amadasu; Managing Director, Ingentia Energies, Olajumoke Ajayi; NUPRC’s Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe; Secretary and Legal Adviser, Olayemi Adeboyejo, and EC, Exploration and Acreage Management, Mr. Bashir Indabawa, during the signing ceremony of Petroleum Mining Lease (PML) 66 in Abuja…yesterday
Calls for commodity boards, value-added production to shield Nigeria
Sunday Ehigiator
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ritsoil Petroleum and Gas Ltd, Chief Lawson Omokhodion, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for embarking on bold economic reforms. But he was quick to warn that the sharp devaluation of the naira
has become the greatest obstacle to restoring stability and lifting Nigerians out of poverty.
He also called for the revival of commodity boards such as the cocoa board, palm produce board, and rubber board, this time with private sector participation.
In an exclusive interview with THISDAY, Omokhodion,
an ex-Pro-Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, said Buhari left Nigeria “adrift” while Tinubu has shown decisive leadership in steering reforms.
“Well, for me, during the eight years of Buhari, we didn’t have a president,” he said pointedly.
“You know, we had a man who didn’t fully understand his left or his right.
“He was like an emperor. He wanted to sit with the people who worked for him. But right now, we have a president. We have a president who thinks, who understands, and who dares to make tough decisions.”
Omokhodion praised the Tinubu administration for removing fuel subsidies, introducing tax reforms, and
McKinsey: Nigerian Banking Sector at Critical Juncture
McKinsey & Company has stated that the Nigerian banking sector is at a critical juncture, with higher capital requirements and digital disruption driving a new era of consolidation and innovation.
McKinsey’s Managing Partner in Lagos, Frederick Twum, stated this during a presentation on the Nigerian banking sector during the multinational consulting company’s inaugural Media Day held in Lagos, that brought together media outlets from across
the country and globally.
The event was designed to introduce McKinsey leaders in the region and provide insights into McKinsey's African footprint, core research, and innovations that have transformed the firm into an impact partner in the country.
“Nigeria's banking market sector has been shaped by macroeconomic shocks, regulation, and maturing digital disruption.
Key trends include higher capital requirements driving consolidation,
fintechs targeting underserved SMEs, and open banking unlocking embedded finance.
“In addition, foreign exchange revaluation gains are fading—and are increasingly getting ring-fenced. Banks will be looking for new sources of value. The Nigerian banking sector is at a critical juncture, with higher capital requirements and digital disruption driving a new era of consolidation and innovation,” Twum said.
On Generative Artificial
Intelligence (AI), the company noted that this could help Africa leapfrog to $100 billion in annual economic value. A presentation on Africa's Gen AI opportunity, led by Mayowa Kuyoro, Partner, global leader of McKinsey's Fintech Practice and leader of Financial Services Practice in Africa, revealed that Africa could unlock more than $100 billion in additional economic value annually through the at-scale deployment of Gen AI.
Mathematical Association Urges FG to Adopt Transformative Approach to Stem Education
The Mathematical Association of Nigeria (MAN) has stressed the importance of harnessing Nigeria’s youth potential, particularly among students, just as it advised the federal government to adopt a transformative approach that leverages science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. According to a statement, MAN
gave the advice at its recently held 61st Annual Conference in Sokoto. The association is a non-profit and non-governmental academic organisation. It is the foremost Mathematical Association in Nigeria which include all mathematicians and mathematics educators from all levels - primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
This year's conference had as its theme: ‘Rethinking Teaching and Learning of Mathematics as
Tools for Creativity, Technological Innovation, Self-reliance and Sustainable Development in Times of Economic Depression’.
The opening ceremony of the conference was under the chairmanship of Prof. Bashiru Garba, the Vice Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
“The Association emphasised that harnessing Nigeria’s youth potentials, particularly among
students, the government should adopt a transformative approach that leverages STEM education.
This involves pedagogical innovation, investment in teacher development, integration of technology, contextualised, learner-centred curriculum, by adopting these means, Nigeria can empower its youth with creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, ultimately driving socio economic progress.
Waltersmith Joins Drive to Make ESG Work for Africa’s Realities
Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited has confirmed its partnership with the Africa Interviews Sustainability Forum 2025, strengthening calls for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles to be embedded in Africa’s growth agenda.
The second edition of the forum, scheduled for 16
September at the Capital Club, Victoria Island, Lagos, will gather more than 80 business leaders, policymakers, and sustainability experts to explore practical solutions under the theme, ‘Beyond Compliance: Making ESG Work for African Realities’.
Waltersmith’s support reflects a broader movement among Nigerian companies
to integrate sustainability into long-term business strategies. ESG is increasingly seen as a marker of competitiveness and credibility, with corporates recognising that growth must balance economic, social, and environmental impact. This shift is already emerging across the industry. Seplat Energy has taken notable steps
by embedding ESG oversight at board level and committing to its Tree4Life initiative, which targets planting one million trees annually over five years. Also, Sahara Group recently joined the United Nations Global Compact, reinforcing its commitment to global sustainability principles and cleaner energy pathways.
unifying the exchange rate.
However, he stressed that the way the government allowed the naira to collapse against the dollar was a serious error.
“Out of the three reform measures he has undertaken, the removal of subsidies, the deep devaluation of the currency, and the tax reforms, they are fantastic. The only mistake I believe the government has made is the deep devaluation.
That devaluation was too deep, and it is that single policy that is affecting every cost structure in the economy,” he explained.
Giving examples, he noted how the currency crash has inflated costs astronomically.
“That is why a car that cost N50 million five years ago will cost you N250 million today.
“It’s that devaluation. If the government had allowed a guided system, a gradual movement of the naira from N460 to N500, from N500 to N525, the market itself would
A National Youth Service Corps member serving in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Blessing Nwokeoma, has sensitised community residents on how they can prevent malaria surges.
The sensitisation, which was held on the premises of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, on Monday, featured the distribution of anti-malaria drugs, treated mosquito nets, insecticides, and a large waste bin, among others.
Speaking on why she chose the sensitisation as her Personal Community Development Service programme, Nwokeoma stressed that the vulnerability of riverine communities to malaria surge informed her decision. She lamented that Nigeria, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), has the highest number of malaria cases and deaths globally.
Nwokeoma said, "As it is
have adjusted naturally.
“But what we saw was a free fall. No country allows a free form of devaluation. Today, with the naira at over N1,000 to the dollar, the economy is bleeding. There is no purchasing power, and that is why people cannot eat,” he said.
The former petroleum executive also addressed the recent standoff between Dangote Refinery and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), praising both sides for averting what could have been a crippling fuel supply crisis.
“At least both sides climbed down. Dangote made a $20 billion investment, with loans, staff, and customers to serve. He cannot afford disruption. That is why he went ahead to import over 4,000 CNG trucks with drivers to deliver fuel directly. When the union saw this, they realised they could lose the battle.
well known, malaria is one of the greatest health challenges in Nigeria, especially in riverine and tropical regions. Sadly, it's still the leading cause of illness and death, particularly among children under five and pregnant women.
"According to the WHO’s latest World Malaria Report, there were an estimated 263 million cases and 597,000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2023. It's estimated that Nigeria carries the world's heaviest malaria burden, accounting for 27 per cent of global cases and 31 per cent of global deaths.
"This surely demands collaborative and sustained actions from all stakeholders and individuals to reverse the national development.
"This programme therefore seeks to enlighten the community on how malaria is transmitted, its dangers, and most importantly, how we can prevent it."
Oluchi Chibuzor
Bart Nnaji And ‘The Boss’
UZOR MAXIM UZOATU pays tribute to Bart Nnaji, Chairman of Geometric Power Limited
It was already dark when I dropped off from the interstate bus under the Osisioma flyover on the outskirts of Aba township. Then I took a motorbike for a five-minute ride to the gate of Geometric Power Limited, Aba, Abia State.
The genial man at the gate asked me to make a phone call to his leader as I had told him I had his number. The answer from the other end was so welcoming: “Maxim, so you are here now. Tell the man with you to lead you to where I am.”
Professor Bart O. Nnaji, FAS, FAEng, CON, NNOM, Chairman/CEO of Geometric Power Limited, hardly needs any introduction.
It just suffices to state that his Geometric Power in Aba is the first private sector power company in Nigeria.
Geometric Power built the Aba IPP with investment of $800 million, including a 188 MW gas-fired power plant, as well as the Aba electricity distribution company servicing well over four million people.
The company is in joint venture with General Electric of USA to build 1.125 MW OMA Power plant, with its 500 MW Phase 1 development completed.
Geometric Power is also in a Joint Venture to build the 500 MW Adia power plant in Abia State.
Sitting there at table with the ever personable Nnaji, one could not but wonder how he was able to surmount the numerous troubles put in his way for all of 20 years, and counting, before bringing the dream of Geometric Power to fruition.
He had served as Nigeria’s Minister of Power from July 2011 to August 28, 2012 but had to resign his esteemed post when the then President Goodluck Jonathan was under pressure by unforeseen interests and powers.
He had courageously spearheaded the reform of the Nigerian power sector under the leadership of President Jonathan who would eventually reveal that the good Prof committed no offence whatsoever.
Bart Nnaji had previously been the Special Adviser to the President on Power and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power from June 2010 to July 2011. He was the pioneer President of the Independent Power Providers Association of Nigeria
(IPPAN) from 2007 to 2010.
A stellar world citizen, Prof Nnaji distinguished himself as the Founder and Director of the United States National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research e-Design Center for IT Enabled Design and Realization System for Mechanically Engineered Products and Systems from June 2003 to August 2007.
Between July 2002 and September 2007, he was the William Kepler Whiteford Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, USA. From 1996 to 2003, he was the ALCOA Foundation Professor in Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh.
Prof Nnaji served as Professor of Robotics and Computer-integrated Manufacturing, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts from 1983 to August 31, 1997. He was Director, Automation and Robotics Laboratory, University of Massachusetts at Amherst from 1984 to 1997. Amid all the callings, he was appointed the Federal Minister of Science and Technology of Nigeria in 1993.
It is noteworthy that he graduated first in his class and with distinction in Applied Physics at St John’s University, New York in May 1980, a course he studied for just two years and nine months! He was determined to make up for the three years he lost during the Nigeria-Biafra war of 1967 to 1970.
In the fast lane, he took his M.S in January, 1982 and the PhD in May, 1983 before adding post-doctoral certificate courses at the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in 1985.
ONE CAN CONVENIENTLY LIVE IN THE GEOMETRIC COMMUNITY WITHOUT REALLY STEPPING OUT INTO THE OUTER ABA TOWN BECAUSE ACCOMMODATION, FEEDING, CLINIC, SPORTING FACILITIES, SECURITY, ETC., ARE ALL EFFICIENTLY PUT TOGETHER
FIt is a wonder that such a man who has travelled the globe is very much at home in his native Umuode community in Enugu State. While participating with the community folks in their traditional mores, a concerned Reverend Father had cause to wonder if Prof Bart Nnaji had bowed the knee to paganism! Armed with the great example of Bart Nnaji in setting up Geometric Power Limited, I am more than assured that Nigeria can work if the right persons are allowed to do the job.
Uzoatu is Journalist and Poet
Happy Birthday, Pastor Loveth
Pastor Loveth Nkadi leads an
riday, August 15, 2025 belonged in a special way to Pastor Loveth Nkadi. It was her birthday … and that marked a big day in Asaba where she has for over a decade been a major prophetess ministering to both the high and the mighty as well as the lowest of the low.
In these days of Mega Churches, Pastor Loveth has so far shunned the denomination challenge which has often divided the Christian family in Nigeria and elsewhere and has been ministering to one and all. So, she heads an inter-denominational Christian prayer ministry named the Peculiar Solution And Miracle Ministry (PSMN). For now, its prayer sessions hold on Tuesdays, starting from 10: AM, at Maduemezie Hall, Konwe Road, Off Nnebisi Road, Asaba. The Asaba ministry started in 2012 and has exploded in great measure.
Pastor Loveth is from Ossissa town in Ndokwa East LGA, near Kwale in Delta North Part of Delta State. But she grew up in Uchi, Owele, Okomedo area of Anambra state. Okumedo is a village within the Umuoji community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Pastor Nkadi’s trajectory in the prophetic ministry did not begin as
in the stories of most others you ever knew. No, her own is special, unique and sometimes frightening. Think of a child, a mere child often not knowing her left from her right seeing a fully grown up person and then begin to drop frightful and frightening messages about that person. The first reaction of by-standers would be total shock about the goings on concerning such a strange child. The second is that the parents would begin to straighten out the child…through beatings to correct the malady. The third would be to take that child to spiritualists, both hues of churches and traditionalists to find answers to the mystery. All of this played out in the life of the child that grew up to become today’s Pastor Loveth.
Yet, no amount of beating would stop her from narrating her visions because the child in her innocently assumed that the visions she was seeing were open to all persons and that such was actually the way of the world.
Then, as she was approaching age 15, she saw a woman who was passing. She began to cry and shout that that woman who was passing was actually inside a coffin. That woman was pregnant and was accompanied
by her daughter. Ah, that was the height of it all; she was given the beating of her life just to teach her to shut up her mouth. Then, just hours later, a loud cry disturbed the entire vicinity; it came from that woman’s daughter and it bore the ominous message that her mother had succumbed to a sudden death.
Pastor Loveth’s parent’s reaction was, well, not strange. They began to flog her as though that would solve the “problem”. It got to the point where she was often asked to be looking skywards or downwards if they were taking her anywhere so that she wouldn’t see any strange visions. Or they would order her never to open her mouth until she was safely back in the confines of the family house.
At age 18, she came to Ibusa to live with her aunt to learn a trade but illness intervened and she returned to the parents at Owelechi.
Then she started following her age mates to churches, and she began to channel her heavenly messages through Pastors. She was lucky then to belong to the Ministry of Perfection but after her marriage, she entered the Christ Royal Ambassadors Ministry, Ibusa, where she actually found a mentor
who guided her to climb higher on the spiritual ladder. The Pastor of that church, Reverend Favour Esezobo, put her under his wings, gave her much encouragement. Under him, she experienced her first true mentorship. Even at present, she calls Rev. Esezobo her spiritual father. They still meet, they still pray together in a fatherdaughter-like collaboration.
She later attended the Bible School of Faith Liberation Church (Jubilee Centre), Asaba, which Bishop Nuel Ikeakanam, a one time- journalist, oversees. Ikeakanam, from Issele-Uku, started his journalism career at NTA Benin, then he was on the Editorial Board of New Nigerian Newspapers, Kaduna and later became Editor, Nigerian Observer newspaper, BeninCity, before heeding the call to serve in the Lord’s Vineyard. (Oh, Nuel’s schoolmates at St. Anthony’s College, Ubulu-Uku, the university and journalist colleagues still remember him as the very gentle and soft-spoken Tony). How has her spiritual journey been? Pastor Loveth’s reply was short and pointed: “My brother, it was war, pure war. My family did everything to stop me.
Eluemunor is a veteran Journalist
Man, beware of floods...
In Praise of President Buhari
As the National Grid Collapses, Again
WNhen President Muhammadu Buhari took over the reins of power on May 29, 2015, Nigeria was sadly a broken state in many respects. As a result of many other factors including bad governance and untold level of corruption, government could not live up to its financial obligations to citizens and service providers at both the federal and state levels.
in an endless battle with diesel costs and unreliable electricity.
by the EFCC, President Buhari by his action has successfully brought back to the public consciousness the need to treat public funds with the highest level of transparency and accountability.
Mohammed A. Adamu: A Beacon of Hope
Stop Ritual Attacks and Killings
Indeed one of the first official assignments that President Buhari carried out was the approval of billions of Naira in bailout funds to enable state governors pay something as basic as workers’ salaries. Granting those bailout funds was a huge boost to national security because the pressure of arrears of unpaid monthly salaries building dangerously all over the country was a ticking bomb.
igeria was once again thrown into darkness following yet another grid collapse, a recurring nightmare that has not only become an economic setback but also a national embarrassment. For millions of citizens, the phrase “system collapse” has become synonymous with frustration, dashed hopes, and an endless cycle of promises unfulfilled.
Ask the naysayers and they would readily remind you of how long it took President Buhari to appoint his ministers and how that contributed to collapse of the economy as if, without ministers, governance was frozen. But buying that narrative would amount to what a famous Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie, termed “the danger of a single story”. Yet the whole story was that many of our citizens did not know how decrepit a state President Buhari inherited in 2015.
The question now is: how many more collapses must Nigerians endure before decisive action is taken? Is it not time for President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the power sector? Bold reforms and urgent intervention are no longer optional; they are necessary. The government must summon experts, both local and international to craft a sustainable solution that will end this scourge that has kept Africa’s most populous nation on its knees for decades.
MAfter keeping treasury looters on their toes and at bay through the EFCC, particularly, President Buhari moved to curb unnecessary spending habits of the nation on what economists call articles of ostentation. Part of the disclosures of the President’s stock taking was how the country frittered away billions in foreign currency by importing goods, which can be produced at home. One of such items was rice, a major staple among Nigerians. By banning rice importation into the country, the President on one hand had saved the nation billions in foreign currency annually.
TSince 1999, successive administrations have poured trillions of naira into the power sector, promising stability and growth. Yet, despite these staggering investments, Nigeria’s electricity generation and distribution capacity continue to nosedive. The results are glaring: epileptic power supply, reliance on costly generators, and a business environment that has forced many manufacturers to relocate to neighboring countries where energy supply is more reliable and affordable.
And, on the other hand, the President has boosted domestic production of rice and in the process had nudged the country into self sufficiency in food production. He also created millions of jobs for young people in the rice value chain.
Nigeria cannot afford to remain in perpetual darkness. The time for rhetoric is over; the time for action is now.
It was therefore necessary for him to take stock against the background of the fact that the departing government did not, reportedly, cooperate full well with the incoming government in terms of leaving workable handover notes. Although President Goodluck Jonathan was gracious in defeat, many of his appointees were still sulking over what they saw as their personal losses and therefore pulled all the stops to make things difficult for the Buhari government.
What is most admirable about President Buhari and his government is its frugal management of scarce national resources to attain optimum goals. Recall that since President Buhari stepped in the saddle, oil revenue dropped abysmally as if to sabotage him knowing all the big promises he made to citizens during his campaigns. But with the little resources that trickle in, the President is achieving what governments that received oil windfalls could not dream of.
Tochukwu Jimo Obi,jimobi83@gmail. com
Even with the obvious and unpatriotic obscurantist behaviour of the PDP appointees and their supporters still in government hell-bent on making things difficult for Buhari, the President moved on with his methodical repair of a broken country. The first thing he did was to identify all possible sources of income to the nation and directed that all inflows be paid into one single account in line with the policy of Single Treasury Account (TSA).
ohammed Abubakar Adamu was the 20th Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police. He has contributed immensely to the development of the Nigeria Police Force by enhancing public trust; he ensured promotion of transparency and accountability during his tenure. Adamu ensured equal treatment among Police Officers; reduced crime to the barest minimum, and modernized the force. He also strengthened the investigative capability of the force, and optimized resources allocation. He did his best to combat corruption, and promoted integrity among police officers. He was never content to follow footsteps. He created his own path, and in doing so he blew the doors of opportunities open for officers and men. A fearless officer, he weathered the storm, and positioned the Police Force in ways that are unprecedented.
Today, the trains are up and running daily from Abuja to Kaduna. And from Lagos to Ibadan a brand new rail track was started and completed; citizens are already commuting daily to and fro these two major cities in the country seamlessly as they reap from the dividends of democracy. And with the way this government is going, before 2023 when the President would leave, the entire country would be linked by rail with all of its economic advantages.
Anjorin Adeolu, Lafia, Nasarawa State
Ainofenokhai Ojeifo, Abuja
THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
EDITOR OBINNA CHIMA
DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMEFULA OGBU
MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO
THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU
The TSA policy, interestingly, was mooted by the PDP government but its penchant for imprudence and lack of accountability denied it the courage of implementing the policy. What the President literally did was to gather all the nation’s money into one box and locked it up with a big padlock and watched for any thief to come close.
This exodus of industries has further weakened the nation’s economy, with high production costs choking those who remain. The private sector, already burdened by rising inflation and operational expenses, can no longer compete effectively under the weight of unstable electricity.
Who can blame the President for almost developing paranoia over the safeguard of the national treasury with revelations and reports of mind-boggling looting that took place in the 16 years of the PDP? With such disclosures of how billions meant for fighting insurgency in the Northeast ended up in the pockets of a few individuals while our gallant soldiers fought with bare hands and on empty stomach, President Buhari was duty bound to bring sanity and accountability back in national spending.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during his campaign, assured Nigerians that his government would deliver steady power supply. However, more than two years into his administration, the situation remains grim. Citizens still endure blackouts, while businesses continue to bleed resources
Thus, under President Buhari, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had remained comatose for years, was woken up to resume its duties. Apart from the trillions of Naira of looted funds and property recovered from corrupt politicians
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THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LIMITED
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Neighbors and Friends
The latest world events make it difficult to see who is on whose team, and there is a potential for some great and deadly mistakes. We have just seen Poland, a member of NATO, shooting down Russian drones that crossed Polish territory. These are the type of event that can lead to direct conflict so hopefully it was just a misguided Russian drone rather than a guided one.
he Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) urges the Nigerian public to stop ritual attacks and killings because the notion of ritual money and wealth is completely baseless. AfAW is making this call following the reported arrest of suspected ritualists in Oyo State in southern Nigeria. The local media reported that members of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun, arrested suspected ritualists with the body parts of a 73-year-old man. The suspects, who were apprehended in the Boluwaji area in Ibadan, said that a Muslim cleric asked them to procure some human body parts for rituals. Ritual attacks are widespread in Nigeria. Irrational conceptions of how to make money or become wealthy and successful undergird these atrocities. Many Nigerians strongly believe in blood money, known in some local languages as Ogun Owo (Yoruba) or Ogwu ego (Igbo). They think that they could become rich, or successful through ritual sacrifice. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Ritual wealth has no basis in reason, science, or reality. Home movies known as Africa magic or Nollywood films have not helped matters. These movies continue to reinforce these mistaken notions and other superstitions. Families, churches, mosques, and other public institutions do not encourage the interrogation of these traditional occult beliefs. There are no robust efforts to criticize or dispel these irrational and paranormal claims in schools, colleges, and universities. So millions of Nigerians grow up blindly believing that they could make money through ritual sacrifice of human body parts. The belief has led many Nigerians to commit crimes and perpetrate atrocities. Many Nigerians have been jailed or are undergoing court trials due to ritualrelated attacks and murder.
The other incident, another potential war starter was the Israeli attack on their enemies, the Hamas, who however were in Qatar, one of a number of countries working to resolve the Middle East conflicts.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia
Not too long ago, the police arrested some young Nigerians for stealing female pants, which they intended to use for ritual sacrifice. AfAW is asking all Nigerians to desist from ritual-related abuses because ritual money beliefs are baseless superstitions. Nigerian media, schools, and colleges should help educate and reorient the public. They should assist in reasoning Nigerians out of this killer-superstitious absurdity and nonsense. Leo Igwe directs the Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW)
50TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION...
2025 IATF...
Osinbajo, Emir of Kano, Others Harp on Speedy, Efficient Justice System
Adefope-Okojie warns Nigeria crumbling under tribal politics, judiciary in comatose
Former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi ll, clerics and former justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, have emphasised the need for an efficient justice system in the country.
This was as Justice AdefopeOkojie who retired from the bench of the Court of Appeal in 2023, has warned that Nigeria is crumbling under the heavy weight of religious, tribal politics and comatose judiciary.
The eminent Nigerians who spoke at the presentation of the Fourth Edition of the book: ‘Civil Litigation - A Quick Reference Guide to Substantive Law and Procedure’ written by Justice Adefope-Okojie, stressed the impact of speedy dispensation of justice in the
economic socio-political development of the country, adding that investors hardly go to a country where the justice system is not reliable.
In his remarks, the former VP and Law Professor observed that a consistent problem with the country's legal system has been, "how to make sure that our cases go quickly through the courts, especially civil cases."
Putting into perspective how the country's legal system is seen outside Nigeria, Osinbajo recalled a Court of Appeal in England saying that to leave a case brought before it "in the hands of Nigerian courts would be catastrophic" since it takes between 20 to 30 years to conclude a civil case in Nigeria.
"I think that aside from the fact that it is a very sad commentary on our judicial system, our
Ondo Teaching Job Applicants Protest Over Fake Appointment Letters
Fidelis David in Akure
Teachers who were recently recruited by the Ondo State Government but allegedly not allowed to be part of the ongoing capturing exercise yesterday protested in Akure, the state capital, calling on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene.
The angry protesters stormed the Governor’s office at Alagbaka-Akure to register their displeasure and demanded for inclusion in the capturing exercise carried out by officials of the government under State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
Some of the protesters said they were refused to be part of the exercise despite having appointment letters which the government claimed was backdoors-employment and fake appointment letters.
One of the protesters who preferred anonymity said: "We are affected members of
the newly recruited teachers in Ondo State and we are protesting our disengagement from the capturing exercise which we were told was back door appointment letter issued to us by directors of the personnel at SUBEB and TESCOM offices."
In a reaction, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyan, confirmed that the protesters had been scammed with fake appointment letters by some unknown people.
"People should please note that those who protested are not teachers but applicants who were duped by some individuals during the recruitment process. They all paid money to scammers who issued them fake letters of appointment.
"Those legitimately recruited by the government have been absorbed and have started working," the CPS stated.
administrative justice system, it also shows that we have a human problem that can be solved. It is not a supernatural issue or anything like that. It can be resolved.
"And I think that the effort that we need to put into resolving it is one that we must all address our minds to, which is why I think this book is particularly important."
While commending the author of
the book, Justice Oludotun AdefopeOkojie (rtd) for her immense contributions to the development of legal procedures and practice in the country, the former VP challenged other retired judicial officers to also endeavour to put together their rich experiences for the benefit of the judiciary and Nigeria.
"This is the fourth edition of the book, to be a special guest
of honour this time, I'm not reviewing the book. But I must say that this book has proved that it is absolutely important for us to keep a good record, not just of the civil procedure, but more perhaps of the ways by which we can speed up our justice system, the ways by which we can improve the efficiency of our civil litigation outcomes," he said.
"So I would like to congratulate you again on this landmark, because most people only get to do one edition, perhaps a second edition. But a fourth edition is a tribute to your own dedication, your commitment to legal thoughts, and your commitment to legal practice. And we're so glad that you are able to do this," Osinbajo added.
Food Security: FG Flags Off Distribution of Farm Inputs, Equipment To Farmers In Niger
In an effort to further boost food and cash crop production to reduce prices of commodities, the federal government yesterday began the free distribution of farm inputs and equipment to farmers in Niger State.
Rukmani
Sunday Ehigiator
Nigerian R&B rising star, Rukmani, has made a powerful comeback with her latest single, ‘Not Nice’, featuring rap sensation SGaWD.
The track, which dropped alongside vibrant visuals, is already generating buzz
The bustling city of Lagos witnessed an extraordinary gathering this past weekend as over 5,000 Christian youths in the marketplace converged for the 2025 edition of the Youth Aflame Conference (YAC).
The annual gathering, now in its fourth year, has steadily become a beacon for young professionals and students seeking to merge faith with excellence in
The flag off which was done by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Alhaji Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, took place in Minna, the Niger State capital.
Some of the items distributed include herbicides, cocoa
fertilisers, fungicides, knapsack sprayers, growth enhancers, tomato seeds, power tillers, and water pumps.
The items were shared through commodity associations, cooperative groups, farmers with special needs, and Internally
for its fearless message of empowerment and solidarity.
Set against the backdrop of Lagos, ‘Not Nice’ tells the story of two women who discovered they have been played by the same “Yoruba demon”. Rather than turning on each other, Rukmani and SGaWD flip the narrative, transforming
their chosen industries.
From the pulpit to the panel stage, the message was clear: ‘Passion is not enough; preparation is the engine of destiny’. Pastor Daniel Olawande, fondly known as PDaniel, the convener of YAC and Provincial Pastor of RCCG Youth Province Twenty, set the tone with a sobering charge: “Passion is not enough. You
heartbreak into an anthem of confidence, resilience, and sisterhood.
The video, which also features a cameo from rapper and socialite Fresh L, blends Nollywood aesthetics with Y2K nostalgia, offering a cinematic celebration of bold femininity and youth culture.
need a rugged level of preparation to get to your destination.”
Pastor Olawande further stressed the responsibility of believers to steward God’s grace with diligence. “To ensure God’s grace upon your life is not a waste, you must labour with grace. Awareness is the lowest level of prophecy fulfillment; labouring with grace brings people from the back to the front.”
Displaced Persons (IDPs). Alhaji Abdullahi said the initiative is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the declaration of a state of emergency on food security in July 2023.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly known and addressed as OMONIYI RUTH OMOYENI Now wish to be known and addressed as OMOTOYINBO RUTH OMOYENI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.
I, Formerly known and addressed as MISS BLESSING EVWALEN OYAKHIRE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BLESSING EVWALEN OYAKHIRE Former documents remain valid. Banks, Concerned authorities and general public to please take note.
I formerly known and addressed as OYINNI JESU LOVE ADEGUNLE now wish to be known and addressed as LOVE OYINMIJESU ADEGUNLE All documents bearing remain valid. The general public should please take note.
I, EZUGWU MATINS CHINWE, my name was wrongly spelt and written as EZUGWU MATHEW CHINWE, that correct name is now EZUGWU MATINS CHINWE written on my NIN . All former documents remain valid, the general public and Zenith Bank should please take note CONFIRMATION OF NAME
Laleye Dipo in Minna
Mr. Bayo Owoseni and his Wife, Yetunde, cutting his 50th birthday anniversary cake at Ijero Ekiti ... recently
Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole (left) and Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Bada Ambrose, holding the IATF flag, as symbolic nomination of Lagos to host the 2027 IATF AfCFTA Marketplace at this year’s edition held in Algiers, Algeria...recently
Alex Enumah in Abuja
How Foreign Airlines Fleece Nigerian Travellers
The skies over Nigeria have become the most expensive in Africa. A Lagos passenger flying to London pays nearly triple what a traveller in Nairobi spends for the same journey, and a ticket to New York from Lagos can cost more than a year’s school fees. Foreign airlines insist it’s economics, but the numbers—and the pain etched on passengers’ faces—tell a darker story: Nigeria has been turned into aviation’s cash cow, with regulators standing idly by. Adedayo Adejobi writes
Nkechi stared at her laptop screen with a kind of disbelief that only Nigerians know too well. The ticket before her was for a basic economy seat from Lagos to New York. No frills, no upgrades, just a way to get to Queens for her scholarship orientation. The price flashed in hard currency: ranging from $1,714 on one site, $2,953 on another—with prices ranging from N2,622,585 to N4,519,589. By the time she factored in hidden charges and the naira’s weakness, the cost had swelled to what she joked was “over two years’ rent for one seat.” The laughter caught in her throat. She clicked “pay now” and whispered to herself: I paid through my nose.
From Nkechi to Kunle and Ahmed, the story is not unusual. From students bound for universities abroad, to families seeking healthcare, to business executives and diaspora travellers, Nigerians have grown used to the scandal of airfare pricing. But what they may not realise is just how deeply skewed the market is against them, and how much of it has little to do with economics and everything to do with opportunism, silence, and complicity.
The bitter Price of Being Nigerian…
Strip away the romance of international travel and you meet a reality that feels punitive–the price of being a Nigerian. Lagos–Paris return economy tickets currently sit between N2,893,089 and N7,820,492 ($1,890–$5,111), depending on the airline.
Contrast this with Nairobi–London, where tickets are advertised as low as $850 on major platforms, and Kenya Airways has offered roundtrips for about KES 222,128 ($1720). The math is not subtle: Nigerians pay hundreds of dollars more for equivalent routes than travellers in comparable African hubs.
Recent market checks on economy round trip tickets between Lagos and London for travel dates spanning 1st to 10th October reveal the consistently high fares foreign airlines demand from Nigerian travellers. Lufthansa priced its tickets at N1,850,700 ($1,233), while Air France came in slightly lower at N1,620,700 ($1,080). Turkish Airlines offered a comparatively competitive fare of N1,530,100 ($1,019). However, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, both UK carriers, presented some of the steepest costs: N2,680,300 ($1,786) and N2,370,700 ($1,579) respectively. In contrast, Nigerian carrier Air Peace offered a more affordable option at N1,505,900 ($1,002), undercutting many of the established European competitors.
The trend is not isolated to the UK route alone. For Lagos–Rome flights within the same October window, fares reflect a similar imbalance. Lufthansa’s price stood at N2,280,300 ($1,519), whileAir France charged ₦1,805,400 ($1,202). Turkish Airlines maintained relative affordability at ₦1,510,800 ($1,006), but British Airways demanded ₦2,450,600 ($1,633) for the same class of travel.
The fare disparity highlights a troubling reality: foreign airlines continue to exploit the Nigerian market by charging significantly higher rates than comparable routes in other regions. Several factors drive this inflation—Nigeria’s forex scarcity, trapped funds of foreign airlines, high operational costs at Nigerian airports, and the perception of inelastic demand among Nigerians who must travel despite rising costs. Meanwhile, the entry of Air Peace into the London route has exposed how competitive pricing can disrupt entrenched monopolies, proving that with more local participation and regulatory oversight, Nigerians could pay fairer prices.
In fact, a simple market survey for a Business Class return ticket from Lagos to Rome between 1st and 10th October tells a compelling story. Lufthansa offers the trip at ₦6,550,900 ($4,094), Air France at N8,150,700 ($5,094), Turkish Airlines at N5,650,500 ($3,532), and British Airways at a staggering ₦8,650,900 ($5,407).
These figures are not only eye-watering but also sharply higher than comparable routes from other African or European hubs, underscoring the unique cost burden placed on Nigerian travellers.
Findings for a return ticket, Business Class trip from Lagos to London between 1st to 10th October reveal the following staggering costs: Lufthansa at N6,150,500 ($3,844), Air France at N9,420,700 ($5,888), Turkish Airlines at N5,995,500 ($3,747), British Airways at N8,850,700 ($5,531), Virgin Atlantic at N9,880,700 ($6,175), and Air Peace at N3,975,700 ($2,484).
Placed side by side with what travellers in Europe, the Middle East, or even South Africa pay for similar routes, these fares confirm what industry experts and weary Nigerian passengers have long lamented: Nigerians are trapped in one of the most expensive aviation markets in the world.
A Lagos-based traveller summed it up on X: “Nigerians really suffered in the hands of foreign airlines. They charge you the highest fares compared to other nationalities.”
Another voice from the diaspora, planning to come home for Christmas, lamented: “I cannot visit Nigeria in December with London–Lagos at £10,000–£15,000 for two weeks.” Hyperbole perhaps, but behind it lies a painful truth—Nigerian passengers
Keyamo are gouged more than their peers across the continent.
The Blocked Funds Excuse…
Airlines and their apologists point to Nigeria’s notorious history of “blocked funds.” For years, foreign carriers were unable to repatriate their earnings because of Central Bank restrictions. At the height of the crisis in mid-2023, Nigeria held about $850 million of airline revenues hostage—the highest figure in the world. To hedge against this, airlines priced defensively, inflating fares and restricting lower inventory classes.
The justification rang true until it didn’t. By April 2024, the Central Bank had cleared 98 per cent of those trapped funds, leaving only about $19 million pending. IATA formally dropped Nigeria from its list of defaulters. And yet, even after the money was freed, the sky-high fares remained stubborn—except on Lagos–London, where competition by Nigeria’s indigenous airline suddenly forced a rethink. This raises an uncomfortable question: if the problem was blocked funds, why did the “solution” not bring relief across the board?
The answer lies less in economics and more in strategy. Airlines discovered they could extract extraordinary margins from Nigeria and kept doing so. High demand, low competition, a weak currency, and a compliant regulatory regime created the perfect conditions for profiteering.
When Demand Becomes Exploitation…
Industry experts admit as much. Bankole Bernard, former president of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), once explained that “airlines are not charging high fares; it is demand that is pushing up fares.”
He was right about the demand. Nigerians travel abroad in vast numbers for study, healthcare, family ties, business and lately relocation. Unlike other African nations where good universities, healthcare economies keep more people at home, Nigeria’s outbound demand is non-negotiable.
But what Bernard framed as economics is, in practice, exploitation. High demand is not a moral licence for gouging. If Nairobi–London can clear at $8500, why does Lagos–London sit near $2,000? If Lagos–London could collapse from ₦3.5 million to ₦1.4 million in a matter of weeks once a local competitor entered, why was the higher price considered “natural” in the first place? Demand may push prices up, but collusion, silence, and opportunism keep them there.
The Customer’s Pain…
The result is a human toll that statistics cannot capture. A mother in Abuja who had to fly her child to Canada for surgery described the ordeal: “The fare was N2.6 million for one seat. That is a year’s school fees. I wept but I had no choice.”
A student returning to London for her postgraduate studies tweeted: “They priced me out. I nearly deferred my programme. I don’t know how long Nigerians can endure this.”
These are not isolated stories—they are everyday realities. Each overpriced ticket is a silent tax on Nigerians for being Nigerian, a tax that cuts across class and circumstance.
Read full Article online -
PAP Deploys Over 140 Foreign Scholarship Beneficiaries
The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has deployed over 140 beneficiaries it awarded scholarships for postgraduate studies across universities in the United Kingdom.
Speaking at the pre-departure briefing/orientation ceremony for the foreign scholarship beneficiaries at the PAP headquarters in Abuja, the Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, expressed hope that they would add value to the socio-economic advancement of the Niger Delta and indeed Nigeria when they complete their studies.
At the event, brand new laptops were distributed to the post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries aimed at enhancing their studies and research.
Otuaro said the human resource base of the Niger Delta would be enriched when they finished their programmes, and also contribute to efforts at reducing the region’s human capital development gap.
He stressed that the massive
deployment under the PAP’s formal education component complemented President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the region.
Otuaro explained that the beneficiaries were deployed for studies in industry-competitive and professional disciplines, noting that “with the knowledge they will acquire, they will contribute to the development of the region and the nation in general.”
The PAP boss further said, “If you put the number of beneficiaries we are deploying today together, over 140, all of them are going for post-graduate studies in universities in the United Kingdom.
“We are confident that when they complete their studies and return, they will add value to the socio-economic advancement of the Niger Delta, and the human capacity resource of the region will be enriched. They will add value to our communities, the region, and the nation.
“What we are doing today is a deliberate effort to take the development agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the people in the communities of the
Niger Delta.
“When the President appointed me last year, he gave me a mandate and that is to take this programme to the people. That is what we are doing.
“We have other aspects of the PAP. However, this foreign postgraduate scholarship deployment takes cognisance of professional areas that are industry-competitive. We also deploy beneficiaries for other programmes in-country.”
He, therefore, advised them to shun distractions and take their studies seriously to justify the Federal Government’s investment in their education, and be good ambassadors of their families, communities, the Niger Delta and the country.
Also, the Technical Assistant to the PAP Administrator, Edgar Daniel; the Provost Marshal, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. M.O Erebulu, and the Head of PAP’s Education Department, Dr Charles Ariye delivered talks on cultural/social dynamics of studying in the UK and Europe, the diplomatic and security implications of studying abroad, and the academic dynamics of studying in the UK, respectively, to guide the beneficiaries’ conduct.
Goddy egene
Ola Belgore: Guarding Your Family Name Should Outweigh Pursuit of Wealth
For the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Utica Capital, Ola Belgore, reputation is more precious than riches. The investment professional, who has spent over two decades in Nigeria’s investment banking sub-sector, believes that the legacy of one’s family name must always stand taller than the pursuit of material possessions. Raised in a family where integrity, discipline, and public service were guiding values, Belgore drew heavily from the influence of his late uncle, Justice Mahmud Babatunde Belgore, whose principles shaped his outlook on life, business, and leadership. Belgore, who is driven by a restless quest for knowledge, in this conversation reflects on family, values, his career trajectory from microbiology to finance, investment, and his firm’s new film fund. Obinna Chima brings the excerpts:
You studied Microbiology before transitioning into finance. What inspired your career shift, and how has that shaped your professional journey? Growing up, I was a bit smart with school and back in the day when you are beyond the average student, they automatically put you in science class. So, I was in science class, and in my school in Kwara and I was the best graduating student in my school. Out of the nine papers
I took in Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, I had about eight As, and unfortunately, I missed one paper, and that one paper happened to be physics, for which I didn’t get a credit in. My uncle, who happened to be the Commissioner of Education in Kwara State at the time, happened to see my results even before me, and was excited and wanted me to study Medicine. I got admission to the University of Sokoto to study Microbiology, but because my uncle was bent on me studying medicine, eventually
I got into the University of Lagos’ pre-degree programme. The idea was that from Microbiology second year, I would move to Medicine. But that didn’t happen. That explains why I ended up studying Microbiology, which was an eye-opener. Recently, the University of Lagos’ Faculty of Science had their 60th anniversary and the Dean of the Faculty proudly said that it is only science students you would find working in every other sphere of life. It’s rare to find a lawyer in science, to find a business administration graduate in a science and all that. But you can find scientists or
Belgore
Ola Belgore: The Day You Stop Learning Is The Day You Die
science graduates everywhere. that is because science opens your mind to the world. It’s not necessarily narrowing it to the particular course. that is my story. But one instrumental event that could have channeled my focus into finance was the fact that, in my pre-NysC year, there was a break in between and I had to intern with a stockbroking firm and I did well, because I had an incentive. so, I worked with them for a couple of months, and then I went for NysC. By the time I finished NysC, because I had made my mark a bit in the firm, they were happy to take me back immediately. that was trW stockbrokers. so, I didn’t have to go job-hunting, I just went back there to pick up a job, and from there I joined Meristem. Of course, since then I’ve taken chartered certifications and undertaken a lot of capacity building programmes.
With over two decades in the financial industry, how do you balance work, personal life, and continuous learning?
It can be tough, but they all go hand-in-hand. the purpose of work in itself is to be able to live a good life and provide for your family, so you ought not to let work affect your family. so of course, I find time to be with the family as much as possible, but I still focus on my work. Learning is a different ball game. For me, the day you stop learning is the day you die. so I’m big on learning in my organisation. In fact, everywhere I’ve worked, what my colleagues will tell you is that I’m big on knowledge. there’s no way I’ve worked that I have not instituted periodic internal training and knowledge sharing sessions. at utica Capital, we have that happening twice a week - tuesdays and thursdays. I get our staff to take turns to train on any area of the world, the universe, just talk about anything. that is because for us as investment managers, we’re like lawyers. you must know a bit of everything because our clients are so diversified and they have different backgrounds and occupations. For me, one area I am restless about is the quest for knowledge. apart from the fact that I read a lot of books, I set an annual target for the number of books I must read, even though it’s tough. the idea is that I have to read a book every month, and I make my colleagues read as well, and we review the book in the office.
I’m doing a doctoratal programme, doctor of Business administration at the university of Lagos, Business school, which today has spurred my cravings for writing.
Who have been your biggest influences or mentors, and how have they shaped your outlook on life and business?
the first person I must say is my late uncle and someone I also call my father, Justice Mahmud Babatunde Belgore, a former Federal High Court Chief Judge. He had such a big influence on me. Growing up, he was instrumental to how I got into the university. He was there for everybody in the family. He loved the family so much and he would do anything for any of us. the way we’re brought up, through his influence, was to recognise the fact that our family name was more important than any worldly accumulation or wealth. so, we were always mindful that whatever we’re doing, we have to be well-behaved because our name is unique. If they announce that Ola Belgore has done something wrong, it’s easy for people to trace it back to me within a few minutes, as opposed to if you were another person. His brother, Justice alfa Belgore, and a whole lot of my uncles and elders, we all grew up knowing that the family name is more important than gold. they built such a reputation and name for themselves that the rest of us are always very careful how we handle that name so that we don’t do anything to tarnish it.
so, I was taught to love my family and be there for them, not only your nuclear family, but also your extended family and to be there for my friends as well because his friends also talk highly of him. In terms of the workplace, I’ve been lucky to have worked with great people who have influenced me. I talked about starting out at trW stockbrokers, Mr. azubuike Okpalaoka was the Managing director then and till this day. He was the one who built the foundation for where I am today, and was such a great guy who has a high level of ethics. He shaped my view that integrity is important in the marketplace. Others I have worked with that really influenced me positively were Wole abegunde of Meristem, Ike Chioke of afrinvest, Wale agbeyangi of Cordros Capital, and a whole
lot of them.
How do you see Nigeria positioning itself in Africa’s emerging investment landscape? unfortunately, Nigeria has declined a bit in terms of its size in africa. We used to be number one, followed by south africa, but now we’re number four. this was due to mismanagement of the economy by leaders in the past. Nigeria, I dare say has everything to be a great nation and I think today we’re pushing towards that. We have the human capital required, the population and smart people as well. and you’ve seen the way Nigerians excel anywhere they go, in every field, anywhere in the world. so I think it’s about having the right people in government and the people doing the right thing. We also expect that with the difficult decisions this current government is taking, they should put human face to it and also practicing what you preach. you don’t say that the people need to endure the hardship of the economic reform while those in government are living large. so, I believe if we put all of those right policies in place, and I believe that this present government’s policies are the right policies to be taken at the moment, if those human face factor are put in place, the Nigerian economy should be able to retake its position in african economy.
From your experience, what are the most common mistakes people make in investment?
I would say that one mistake is following the Joneses. you heard that somebody made money from an investment and without doing proper research, you also stake your money. the best advice I’ve seen in investing is the one given by Warren Buffett, who says that you must always invest in what you know. Most people just put money down because they heard that a stock is performing well, without understanding the peculiarity of that investment. you need to know all these so that you’re able to manage your risk and your expectations. sometimes, people don’t consult professionals and that was what was largely responsible for the 2007 stock market crash. everybody, whether they know how it works or not, wanted to get into the capital market, buying stocks against professional advice. also, you need to align your risk with your return expectation. If there is no alignment between the two, you could be investing in a security that is good, but you’re investing at the wrong time or pulling out at the wrong time.
Utica Capital recently launched new investment funds—what specific market gaps or opportunities inspired this move, and how do these funds align with your overall growth strategy?
Fixed Income Fund, is the first blended insurance and finance fixed income fund approved by seC. also, for the film or movie fund, approved by seC, it is the first of its kind. It is a venture capital fund. there was a lot of engagement with the regulator, to whom I must express my gratitude to. they were open to listening to us and coming up with ideas on how to structure it, to make it fit within the scope of their approval.
How is the film fund structured in terms of risk profile, asset classes, and target investors, and what makes it different from other funds in the market?
the securities and exchange Commission (seC) has just approved the utica Film Fund. as the name suggests, it is a fund that is dedicated to the film sector. the Nigerian creative industry has not only brought Nigeria a lot of monies in the last couple of years, but has also given us a lot of visibility globally. Go to anywhere in the world today, at the airport or anywhere, once they see you as a Nigerian, they start asking you about the characters in Nigerian movies. also, go to the remotest part of the world, or even the most conservative part of the world, like I got to a club in dubai and they were blasting Nigerian. so, we identified the opportunities in that space and discovered that the creative sector is quite large. We felt that the film industry has a lot of potential and can create investment opportunities for our clients, and can help the economy by creating jobs. there’s a lot along the movie value chain. When you see a movie, there’s a lot that goes into it in terms of creating employment and empowerment for the youth. For instance, a movie is launched at the cinema, some printers produce flyers, it is an opportunity for them; there’s the popcorn maker, there’s a drink seller, and all of that. so there’s a whole lot of opportunities beyond just the film. and of course, in the film itself, there’s a lot of maybe temporary jobs and some form of public engagement. If you look at the films, like Jagunjagun and see how many people were engaged like foot soldiers, and all of that. and again, from the investors’ side, we are looking at the opportunity to provide investors with other alternative asset class. so, it’s not that everybody is putting money in treasury bills or bonds and all that. at utica Capital, we are big on impact investing and we want to make an impact on the economy. so that’s what propelled us into doing the film fund. Of course, one of the things we set out to do when we were setting up the utica Capital is that the promoters of utica Capital have industry experience. For me I’ve been in the industry for more than two decades, and all of that. But when you’re setting up a new fund, people look at the new firm and its track record, forgetting that the people behind it may have 20 to 30 years of industry experience. so, we know that we do not have a competitive advantage in terms of years of experience for the firm, and so what we realised is that we’re still going to be competing with these guys who had amassed like 20 to 30 years’ experience in the industry, which kind of gives people confidence. so, we felt that the way we can create our competitive advantage is to provide our clients with a unique solution to their needs. What are the other guys not doing? part of what we set out to do is to make as much as possible, we’re not going to do plain vanilla products. so our first fund, the utica Custodian
the utica Film Fund is a venture capital fund. It is not for retail investors. It is for what is called qualified investors. By definition, qualified investors are people, in terms of number, who have more than N100 million in net assets, excluding the house that they live. so if all you have plus your house is N100 million, this fund is not for you, but for people who have good net assets and understand risk and investment and how they work hand in hand. additionally, this requires individuals who can invest for the long term. It is a 10-year fund, but the tranche is five years. so, we’re looking for investors who have the minimum required - N5 million, N10 million, and can afford to leave that kind of money for five years. I’ve had a lot of engagement with the players in the film sector, and what they will tell you is that a film that you are seeing in the cinema today was not made yesterday. some were made a year ago, and all of that. so sometimes they look at the timing, or even the time it takes to make them. so, we need patient capital. We need investors who can afford to invest money. It’s not like you bring money, we deploy it to a project, and then you pull out and the project fails. In terms of risk and return, there’s no investment without risk. Life itself is a risk. But what is important with risk is the ability to identify those risks and to have mitigants for the risks. so, we understand that while we do not necessarily know so much about the making of a film and all of that, what we’ve done is that we’ve partnered with industry experts who have done several films. so they’re going to form the advisory committee of the fund. We have legends like richard Mofe damijo, Femi adebayo, amongst other names. these are people who are producers, the actors, the directors, in some cases, so they understand every aspect of the business of filmmaking. the structure is that once we raise the money and all of that, the project owners come to us, we do our vetting in house, and we bring in someone who works with us, who understands that sector as well, who will help with the screening and advisory committee who vets it and determine the value to be placed on it. From there, it goes to the Investment Committee. the Investment Committee is also composed of very experienced asset managers. all these helps in reducing the risk that is involved and hopefully optimising the return well.
What is your long-term vision for Utica Capital?
We started out as a funds and portfolio management firm. We were going to go beyond that. We are going to get an issuing house license. presently, some clients are approaching us to ask if we can help them raise capital and all of that. We are going to have a trustee firm and stockbroking firm as well, so that in one shop we can cater full for our clients and create a financial supermarket within the brand name. But we’re taking it slow and steady because we have to establish ourselves in each of these places. We’ve done very well in the funds and portfolio management aspect of the business. Our track record, if you have an opportunity to look at our financials, has been fantastic. We’re going to be five years this year, and we seem to have done well. Our stakeholders are happy with us, but we can do a whole lot better. We are an innovative company. But what we want to be known for is the most innovative company in Nigeria. Our focus is on impact investing. We don’t just want to make money for ourselves or even for our clients; we want to make impact as we make the money. We have a very relaxed working environment, which makes it difficult for our employees to leave. they are happy here, even though we know people would always leave for greener pastures. Our goal is that by the tenth year, as a firm, we should have built our utica towers, whose design I already have and we would be one of the biggest and most innovative impact investing firms in Nigeria, if not beyond.
Belgore
A/The, Not At, Crossroads
“THE worst human being is a policeman or soldier who will take arms from his own formations and sell it (them) or hide it (them)….”
Maritime: “Apapa Customs remits N1.875trn into (to) FG’s coffers in 10 months”
“Ladies of St. Mulumba Nigeria to hold annual convention in…” Where, please?
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the entire family of late (the late) Senator…”
“Nothing will work as long as we keep tying the level of exchange rate to our consumptions.” The last word in the extract is uncountable.
“…were the one (ones) going to Parliament (unnecessary capitalization).”
“We decry the national embarrassment cased her by the gross negligent (negligence) of duty by AFN and NOC officials.”
“Trade policy yielding result as balance hit (hits) N6.5trn…”
“Forced retirement: Police officers lament IG’s non compliance (non-compliance) with court (court’s) ruling”
“All eyes on Reps over constitution review exercise” Please delete ‘exercise’ in the interest of word economy.
Yet another set of headline foibles: “KWASU partners USA, China (Chinese) coys on solar energy”
“Kogi farmers’ association allege (alleges) diversion of N1bn agric fund”
“Do they know it’s International Women’s Day” What of the question mark?
The Nation On Sunday of May 25 combated the English language in the following entries: “Somalia (Somali) president attacked by al-Shabab”
“…you have raised the bar of governance
which will ever remain difficult for mediocre (mediocrities/mediocrists/the mediocre) to attain….” (Full-page advertisement)
‘Mediocre’ is an adjective.
“Benue 2027: PDP at crossroads over governorship candidate” This way: at a/the crossroads
“Nigerians are, however, skeptical about the level of compliance to (with) the laws guiding the scheme….”
“The governing council, members, management, staff & students of Osun College of Education, Ilesa (another comma) felicitates (how?)….”
“As a symbol, your strides lead the way and inspires (what is going on here?) the hope of a brighter and rewarding future.” (Half-page advertorial by the above institution)
“Any one (sic) with useful information (police cliché: would it have been useless information?) about his where about (sic) (whereabouts) should….” (Full-page advertorial by the FIRS)
Daily Independent online of May 23 circulated headline and body flaws: “Those who say Ibadan don’t (doesn’t) serve gov twice are poor students of history”
“LASU students, JAF protest over (against/ at/about) fee hike”
Let us extend our searchlight to Leadership of May 23: “…work for the restoration of peace in (to) northern Nigeria.”
From the editorial to opinion page: “… the citizenry still needs (need) his enormous wealth of experience to stir us to path of rectitude.”
“All Anambra (All-Anambra) LG soccer championship set to kick off”
“…we had been invited on (to/for) a facility tour by the governor.”
“I thought the governor would ride in his official car, or join us in the bus as many other governors have (had) done on trips to
other states.”
“We went round Owerri metropolis, seeing state of the art (state-of-the-art) schools….”
“Issues in the Chibok schoolgirls abduction” A syntactic surgery: Issues in Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction
“Royal father disowns vigilante (vigilance) group” (DAILY TRUST, May 23)
The Guardian of May 22 toyed with morphological truth: “Parents of abducted female students of the Government Girls (Girls’) Secondary School….” The Guardian must be underestimating its readers’ intelligence: would it have been male students in a girls’ school?
“The aggrieved and traumatised (traumatized, preferably) parents spoke at (on) the premises of the destroyed school when….”
“Umar, Southern Taraba leaders trade words over frequent crisis (crises)”
“Nigeria has best disease surveillance (disease-surveillance) system in Africa”
“SURE-P assures over funding of EastWest road” Who did the agency assure?
“…the ordinary poor man in the street….”
The ‘man in the street’ does not require any embellishment!
Finally from The Guardian: “…the NJC is a body which every lawyer revere (reveres).”
Next is The PUNCH of May 22 with this faux pas: “FG wants African disease
Leadership of May 22 circulated dozens of inaccuracies: “He said about 150 parents have (had) made spirited attempts last week in search of the abducted girls….”
“He said government has (had) brought food items to the town for….”
“…the case against the Nigerian was serious on the ground (grounds) that he had confessed that….”
“FCT suspends controversial ‘park and pay’ policy” No controversy: ‘park-and-pay’ policy
“MASSOB strikes out ex-Gov Obi’s name
Suspension as a Full-Time Job
St is one of the curiosities of our democracy that the lawmaking chamber, designed to ventilate the will of the people and embody the spirit of representation, so often mutates into a petty conclave where personal vendettas and grandstanding are dressed up as constitutional rigour. The continuing persecution of Senator Natasha AkpotiUduaghan is the latest instalment in this long-running tragicomedy, a case study in how the Nigerian political class manages to combine pettiness with a staggering disregard for the realities of the people they supposedly serve.
Back in March, Natasha - senator for Kogi Central - was bundled out of the red chamber under the convenient charge of insubordination. Her ‘crime’? Refusing to vacate an assigned seat. For this felony, the Senate invoked the guillotine of its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions and slammed her with a six-month suspension. Alongside went her salaries, aides, and the privileges of office.
This, remember, against the backdrop of her allegation that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had attempted sexual harassment - a claim briskly dismissed by the chamber. She insisted her suspension was political; the Senate swore it was enforcing discipline. Nigerians, long-schooled in political hypocrisy, could smell vendetta from a mile away.
The six months duly elapsed. By the calendar of March to September, she had “served her time”. In any serious democracy, this would have been the point for reconciliation, for allowing an elected representative to resume and give her people a voice. Instead, the Senate doubled down. A letter from the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly informed Natasha that she would remain
barred until the Court of Appeal rules on her case.
To ordinary Nigerians battered by hunger, insecurity and collapsing infrastructure, this reads like a bad joke. The people of Kogi Central, voiceless for half a legislative year, must now endure indefinite silence because the Senate leadership has conjured a legalistic excuse. The Constitution, of course, provides no such prohibition. What exists is vindictiveness masquerading as principle.
Her party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) smelt blood immediately, accusing the APC-led Senate of silencing opposition and plotting creeping totalitarianism. Ordinarily, one could dismiss party rhetoric as predictable noise. But in this instance, the PDP is right. Natasha’s ordeal has gone beyond procedure; it is about power, gender, and the Senate President’s fragile ego.
Senior Advocates of Nigeria - men not exactly given to reckless sympathy - lined up to underline the absurdity. Adedayo Adedeji (SAN) reminded the Senate that while Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution empowers it to regulate procedure, Section 68 is clear that a member vacates a seat only in circumstances listed by the Constitution. Suspension cannot be twisted into indefinite banishment. Justice Binta Nyako had earlier cautioned against such excess, noting that half a legislative year in suspension already undermines representation.
Wale Balogun (SAN) put it bluntly: Natasha has served the six months, full stop. The litigation can go on, but nothing empowers the Senate to hold her hostage until judgment day. “Will she remain on perpetual suspension?” he asked. The question cuts through the legal fog: how can a punishment with a set duration suddenly morph into an indefinite exile?
from awardees list” Get it right: awardees’ list
“UN raises alarm (the alarm) over ethnic slaughter in South Sudan”
“…restoring sanity in (to) the land….”
The next three wrongdoings are from the opinion pages: “…unless they steal because the varsity has been prized (priced) out of the reach of the poor.”
“…Tinubu to take the bull by the horn (horns).”
“I want to wholeheartedly congratulate President Bola Tinubu for (on/upon) keeping his word….”
“Untold story of E. K. Clark (Clark’s) son’s kidnap, freedom”
“…as you project the vast potentials (potential) of ‘ndi-Anambra’, we wish to appreciate our governor….”
“…Chukwu on his 52nd Birthday anniversary….” Either 52nd Birthday or 52nd Anniversary (the two words cannot co-function).
“Sex enhancing drugs everywhere” Insight: Sex-enhancing drugs everywhere (Otherwise, it will be sex that will be enhancing the drugs)!
“Pomp and glamour as Lagos Traders (Traders’) Cup kicks off” Sports: either pomp and ceremony or pomp and circumstance or just pomp
Vanguard of May 18 goofed two times: “He can still warm (worm) himself to his benefactor in the true spirit of love and reconciliation.”
“He should deploy his energies to (in) rebuilding….”
“…as Kogi and Benue states have experienced it at one time or the other (one time or another).”
“While a section of the media has performed creditably well….” Take off either ‘creditably’ or ‘well’ as both terms cannot co-exist.
Paul Obi (SAN), Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), and others echoed the same refrain: this is overreach, overkill, and a surreptitious extension of punishment. The Senate is effectively moving the goalposts, inventing a new rule just to prolong Natasha’s exclusion. Even prisoners walk free after serving their time; must a senator remain captive because her colleagues prefer vengeance?
Not everyone agrees. Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) took a more cautious line, saying both parties should slug it out in court until appeals are resolved. Fair enough, but that legalistic detour ignores the democratic outrage: millions of constituents are voiceless because of one man’s quarrel with a female colleague. The punishment has been served; the rest is petty embroidery.
Civil society is unimpressed. SERAP condemned the Senate’s manoeuvre as a travesty of justice and a violation of both the Constitution and international human rights treaties. They noted, rightly, that political speech deserves the highest tolerance in any democracy - especially when directed at those in power. “No one should ever be punished for speaking without permission,” they declared. A reminder that senators are not monarchs but public servants.
The tragedy, however, is not Natasha’s alone. It is the constituents of Kogi Central - ordinary men and women wrestling with joblessness and rising food prices - who have been denied representation. For half a year their voice was silenced; now it is to be silenced indefinitely, because the Senate prefers to indulge in vendetta rather than governance. It is this detachment from the Nigerian condition that stings the most.
When millions are unsure of their next
meal, when kidnappers and bandits stalk highways, when hospitals are shells and schools crumble, the Senate is obsessed with whether one woman may sit in her assigned chair. Nigerians watch this spectacle and understand, yet again, why their democracy feels so alien.
At its core, the Natasha affair is not about furniture in the chamber; it is about whether institutions can rise above petty quarrels and respect representation. So far, the Senate has failed. What should have been a simple resumption has become an epic of spite. This is the pettiness of power, Nigerian-style: where the people’s business bows before bruised egos, and the Constitution bends like suya meat over hot coal.
Natasha’s ordeal proves one enduring truth: our political class is addicted to the theatre of humiliation. They suspend, expel, barricade, and issue pompous letters - not to strengthen democracy, but to remind Nigerians who holds the whip. Meanwhile, the country sinks deeper into despair. And perhaps the greatest irony is that the entire drama means nothing to the average Nigerian struggling to buy bread at ₦1,500.
History will not be kind to this episode. It will be remembered as yet another instance when those entrusted with the people’s mandate chose vindictiveness over responsibility, pettiness over principle, theatre over governance. And when the next senator runs afoul of the chamber’s grandees, Natasha’s ordeal will stand as a cautionary tale: in Nigeria’s Senate, the Constitution bows, and the people wait in silence.
Nigeria, Other African Countries Record 12% Tourism Growth in First-half 2025
Charles Ajunwa
Nigeria and other African countries recorded a combined
12 per cent increase in tourism between January-June 2025 compared to the same period last year.
This was disclosed in the United Nations latest half year report on global tourism obtained yesterday.
According to the report, international tourist arrivals grew five percent in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period of 2024. This was about four percent above pre-pandemic levels.
The report revealed that almost 690 million tourists travelled internationally between January and June 2025, about 33 million more than in the same period of 2024, though results were mixed among regions and sub-regions.
“In the face of global challenges, international tourism continues to see strong momentum and resilience. The first half of 2025 brought growing arrival numbers and revenues for most destinations around the world, which contribute to local economies, jobs and livelihoods. Yet, this also reminds us of our great responsibility to ensure this growth is sustainable and inclusive and to work with all local stakeholders in that sense,”
it stated.
Commenting on the report, UN Tourism Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, Africa saw the strongest performance while Asia Pacific continued to rebound.
The newest edition of the World Tourism Barometer assessed the sector’s performance by region and sub-region in the first six months of 2025.
“Africa saw a 12 percent increase in January-June 2025 compared to the same period last year. Both North Africa (+14%) and Sub-Saharan Africa (+11%) recorded double-digit growth this period. Europe welcomed nearly 340 million international tourists this first half of 2025, about four percent more than in 2024 and seven percent more than in 2019.
“Northern, Western and Southern Mediterranean Europe all recorded three percent growth this period despite uneven monthly results. Central and Eastern Europe continued to rebound strongly (+9%), but remained 11% below 2019 levels, according to available data.
“The Americas recorded three percent growth in January-June 2025, with mixed results across sub-regions. While South America (+14%) continued to enjoy solid growth, Central America saw a two percent increase in arrivals and North America saw flat results (+0%) mostly due to small declines
in the United States and Canada. The Caribbean (+0%) also saw weaker performance partly due to softening demand from its major source market, the United States.
“The Middle East recorded four percent fewer arrivals this six-month period, though after a very strong post-pandemic rebound, with 29 percent more arrivals than the same period of 2019, the strongest regional results relative to 2019.
“Arrivals in Asia and the Pacific grew 11 percent this period, which is 92 percent of the pre-pandemic figure (-8% compared to 2019). North-East Asia (+20%) saw the strongest performance relative to 2024, though it remained eight percent below 2019 levels.”
It noted that uncertainty derived from economic and geopolitical tensions could also weigh on travel confidence.
Lower consumer confidence was ranked as the third main factor affecting tourism in the September 2025 survey, while geopolitical risks (aside from ongoing conflicts) ranked fourth. The increase in trade tariffs (5th) and Travel requirements (6th) were also major concerns expressed by the Panel of Experts.
The latest UN Tourism Confidence Index predicted a slight uptick in confidence levels for the last four months of 2025.
Cuthberga Onuoha: At Lagos Continental, We Promote Sports Tourism
Director of Rooms, Lagos Continental Hotel, Cuthberga Onuoha, speaks about how the Techno Gym, a state-of-the-art fitness and wellness centre, helps in-house guests and outsiders to maintain their lifestyle, promote sports tourism. Charles Ajunwa brings excerpts
Can you tell us what the Lagos Continental Fitness and Wellness Centre is all about?
Lagos Continental Fitness and Wellness Centre is a new life and new experience for our guests. Everybody now feels that it’s very important for them to take care of themselves. And fitness and wellness have become very essential to every traveller. At Lagos Continental, we are striving to make sure that fitness goals are met while they are here. This is in line with our vision of promoting sports tourism. Our gym is well equipped with Techno Gym, essentially, they are the world’s best providers of equipment when it comes to fitness and wellness. All our gym equipment are brand new and we imported all of them from Techno Gym. Currently, we have professionals that are well-equipped in terms of knowledge and experience to guide and train all our guests to meet their goals. We also try to create tailor-made fitness goals to meet the individual needs.
We have opened up our gym and wellness to non-resident guests as well. So we are not restricting our gym access to only our guests staying with us. We have become a one-stop fitness centre especially for people around. Now you have to queue to become a member of Lagos Continental
Fitness Centre. That is because we go the extra mile, not just to provide equipment for people to train, but we provide the platform for them to be catered for while they are here. So in a nutshell, fitness has become essential to Lagos Continental guests, both those staying with us and those that
are from outside.
What’s the motive for having this fitness centre?
We’ve always had fitness and wellness as part of our journey, but now we are more intentional about it. But what we intend to achieve is to ensure that guests don’t stop their lifestyle when they are here with us. So we are creating a platform for them to continue their normal lifestyle. It makes it comfortable for them, and then they choose us to come back over and over again. If I’m a gym person and I come to Lagos Continental, will I have to stop those three days of not going to the gym? No. You will have a well-equipped gym that you will continue. And most times, that means we keep them longer here, because anyone that walks into our gym says, oh wow, I’ve never seen this machine. You have the best machines here. So yes, our motive is to make sure that guests don’t stop their lifestyle.
What do you do when guests are here to ensure they become part of the gym centre?
From the beginning of our check-in, the gym is introduced to every guest. We try to sell that to them and make sure that they know they have access to it. Then we try to organise activities once in a while, and then broadcast it to our guests,
especially those that are in-house, to let them know on a weekend, on a Saturday, come to the fifth floor. We are having aerobics open to everybody. And we have people that respond to that. So that is one of our main communications with them. As I said earlier, the gym is a lifestyle and we work with the top world-class fitness equipment companies. You have different formats. We have a group cycle format now. So it’s a totally different training you work with in groups going around. You have virtual trainers on the machines you go through, and you can actually code yourself. You’re being programmed with it. So your virtual training is yours. In our industry, we have the best coaches and instructors. You have to go high-tech and you have to stay personal. It’s very important you have a sound mind, be fit, and be happy. As a matter of fact, fitness gives you mental health, relaxation health, professional health, and whatever you want to do in your sports life.
Considering the flow of guests on a daily basis, do you have any plans for the expansion of the fitness centre? Yes, there’s always a plan for expansions in the business. But currently what we try to do now is to arrange timing for guests.
21st Akwaaba African Travel Market Holds in Lagos Former Culture Minister, Ogbuewu Calls for Renewed Tourism Push
The organisers of the 21st edition of the Akwaaba African Travel Market have announced Air Peace, Lagos State, Gambia, Wakanow and Interswitch as key partners for this year’s event.
The three-day event, which starts from September 14 -16, in Lagos, according to the organisers, would be attended by over 3,000 participants ranging from tourism boards, airlines, hotels, travel agencies, insurance firms, logistics companies, and government representatives, to international buyers and industry professionals.
“Akwaaba, recognised as West Africa’s only international travel and tourism exhibition and one of the largest in Africa, continues to play a pivotal role in promoting intra-African travel, trade, and cultural exchange.
“This year’s edition promises to be historic as it will host the highest collection of airlines at any travel expo in Africa, reinforcing its position as a hub for aviation connectivity and partnerships on the continent
“The exhibition will also run side by side with the 5th Chinet Aviacargo Conference, creating synergy between the tourism and air cargo sectors.
“The programmes have been carefully curated to deliver maximum value. Day One, Sunday, September 14th, will open with exhibitions, followed by the
grand opening ceremony.
The popular Jollof Rice War will thrill guests later in the afternoon, while the Top 100 Hotel Awards and the prestigious Travellers Awards will round off the day’s activities.
“On Monday, September 15th, the exhibitions will continue alongside the highly anticipated B2B session and several country days and product launches. The day will also feature a Domestic Tourism Session under the African Tourism Conference, the Women in Tourism Conference, and will climax with the Africa Travel 100 Awards and an East African cocktail evening.
Former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Frank Nchita Ogbuewu, has called for a renewed push to reposition tourism as a major driver of Nigeria’s economic growth.
Ogbuewu, who made the call when the Vice President, South-east, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Wilson Uche Ugwu, paid him a courtesy visit at residence in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
The former Culture and Tourism Minister underscored the need for “passion, packaging, and policy support” in pushing tourism into the nation’s economic spotlight.
He praised FTAN’s proactive engagement and urged the association to pursue its vision with consistency.
Reflecting on his tenure as the first Minister of Culture and Tourism and as a former Ambassador to Greece, Ogbuewu recalled the challenges of elevating tourism amid oil-driven government priorities.
Also, he highlighted the effectiveness of Nigeria’s soft diplomacy—leveraging Nollywood and cultural festivals—to project the country’s image abroad.
“Tourism is not just about beautiful sites. It is about packaging, passion, and consistent promotion,” he stated. “If we treat tourism as a side business, it will remain so. But if we give it the seriousness
it deserves, it can rival oil in revenue and surpass it in job creation.”
He encouraged FTAN South-east and Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN) to push for investment in infrastructure, professional training, and the development of cultural events that can attract both domestic and international visitors.
The duo who explored strategies to reposition South-east Nigeria on the national and global tourism map, agreed that every Igbo community has a story, a festival, or a heritage site worth promoting.
Ogbuewu pledged his continued support for FTAN and ATPN initiatives, urging the associations to remain steadfast and visionary. He emphasised that Nigeria—and the South-east in particular—needs more passionate advocates who can keep tourism alive in national conversations.
Ugwu, who is also the Second Deputy President of ATPN in company of notable practitioners and ATPN members from the South-east, said their visit was to honour Ogbuewu’s contributions to the country’s tourism sector.
He described the South-east as “a land blessed with rich history, resilience, and countless cultural treasures waiting to be rediscovered and repackaged for the world.”
According to him, the region’s distinctive assets in cultural heritage, festivals, hospitality, and the creative industries could become powerful engines of growth and sustainable development if properly harnessed.
Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative economy, Hannatu Musawa
Charles Ajunwa
Charles Ajunwa
Founder, Akwaaba African Travel Market , Ikechi uko
Onuoha
Coscharis Motors Slashes Prices of Renault Vehicles
Coscharis motors plc, the sole franchise holder of renault vehicles in Nigeria, has announced a special price Slash Campaign on select renault models, giving customers an unprecedented opportunity to own brand-new renault vehicles at more affordable prices.
For this campaign, three distinct renault models now enjoy significant discounts with great savings across board. Any purchase of the renault Koleos stand to give a customer a savings up to N5million. While a purchase of the renault taliant will deliver a discount of about N7million. Likewise the renault Oroch gives the customer up to N5 million discount respectively.
Speaking on the campaign, mrs. Helen Osandu, General manager, renault Sales, Coscharis motors plc. enjoin members of the public to seize this rare opportunity to own a brand-new renault. According to her, “this price slash is our way of making the renault brand more accessible and affordable to our customers. Beyond the reduced prices, each renault model comes with a 3-year warranty or 100,000km, free services, delivery outside Lagos, as well as finance and operational lease options. this is truly an unbeatable value proposition, and we encourage customers to take advantage while stocks last,” she concluded. Also commenting on the campaign, mr. Abiona babarinde, General manager, marketing & Corporate Communications, Coscharis
Group posited that the campaign underscores the company’s drive to deliver superior value for customers’ money. In his words, “At Coscharis, we continue to push boundaries in offering quality mobility solutions at the best value at all times. With this Renault price slash, we are reaffirming our promise to continually provide accessible budget - friendly and reliable ownership options to our customers with our French iconic renault brand,” he stated. this special price slash campaign which is currently ongoing by Coscharis motors is avail-
able to all existing renault owners that wants to have a repeat purchase and new prospects alike. This is equally targeted at both the Public / Government agencies and the private sectors that needed to upscale their mobility for their operations. One of the key advantages to be part of this special deal is that Coscharis motors as the exclusive franchise owner of the renault brand in Nigeria will deliver the Aftersales peace of mind to all buyers across the six – political zones of the country to give the expected right customer experience to all buyers.
Suzuki By CFAO Offers Up to 25% Discount On Spare Parts, as Ladipo Shop Opens to Customers
Frontline auto company, Suzuki by CFAO, is offering up to 25% discount on spare parts for walk-in customers as it opens its spare parts shop in the busy Ladipo auto parts market in Lagos.
General manager of Suzuki by CFAO, mrs. Aissatou Diouf, stated that the need to ensure that Suzuki customers in Lagos and environs have easy access to genuine Suzuki spare parts, prompted the company to open an outlet at the very busy Ladipo market.
She added that the shop is well stocked with original Suzuki parts for all models of the Japanese brand, assuring potential customers that the outlet is manned by well trained professionals who are ready to also offer advice on parts procurements.
Some of the common Suzuki models cutting across city, sedan, family, SUV Crossover, 4x4 and light commercial vehicles on Nigeria roads running smoothly and efficiently include Alto, S-presso, Grand Vitara, Fronx, Jimny among others.
According to the Gm, the shop which is located at Iheoma plaza, on Ladipo street, mushin, is open to the public from 8am to 5pm between mondays and thursdays, and from 8am to 4.30pm on Fridays.
Speaking on the reliability of Suzuki spare parts, she affirmed that “the manufacturer’s original spare parts have gone through
thousands of hours of research and testing, are covered by hundreds of patents and have been crash-tested to guarantee vehicle quality and driver safety. By trusting CFAO for servicing, you can be sure that you are purchasing original parts; you have the best driving performance and maximum safety
for everyone aboard”.
She explained that Original vehicle parts, also known as OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts, offer several advantages, including guaranteed fit and performance, enhanced safety, and potential preservation of your vehicle’s resale value.
What to Do When You Hear Clicking Noises While Turning
What to do when you hear clicking noises while turning? This is a question that many drivers face. When you’re turning, sometimes you’ll hear a clicking noise. What could this mean? Is there something wrong with your car? In this blog post, we will discuss the possible causes of clicking noises when turning and what you can do to fix them!
What Causes the Clicking Noise? there are a few things that can cause clicking noises while turning. Keep reading to learn more!
Ball Joints
One of the most common causes is worn-out ball joints. ball joints connect the control arm to the steering knuckle and allow the car to turn. When they wear out, they can cause a clicking noise.
Brakes
One possibility is that your brakes are worn down and need to be replaced. If your brake pads are worn down, they will make a clicking noise every time you apply pressure to them. You can usually tell if your brakes are worn down by checking the thickness of the brake pads. If they are thinner than 1/4 inch, then they need to be replaced.
Tyres
Another possibility is that your tires are worn down and need to be replaced. If your tires are worn down, you’ll hear a clicking noise every time you turn. You can usually tell if your tires are worn down by checking the tread depth. If the tread depth is less than 2/32 inch, then the tires need to be replaced.
CV Joint
the third possibility is that your CV joint is worn down and needs to be replaced. If your CV joint is worn down, you’ll hear a clicking noise every time you turn. You can usually tell if your CV joint is worn down by checking the amount of play in the joint. If there is more than 1/4 inch of play, then the CV joint needs to be replaced. What Can You Do to Fix It?
If you’re experiencing a clicking noise while turning, there are a few things you can do to fix it:
1. Check the ball joints
If the ball joints are worn out, they will need to be replaced. You can check the ball joints by moving the suspension up and down. If the ball joint moves more than 1/4 inch, then it needs to be replaced.
2. Check your brakes
If your brakes are worn down, they will need to be replaced. You can check your brakes by checking the thickness of the brake pads. If they are thinner than 1/4 inch, then they need to be replaced.
3. Check your tires
If your tires are worn down, they will need to be replaced. You can check your tires by checking the tread depth. If the tread depth is less than 2/32 inch, then the tires need to be replaced.
(Source: Scott’s Automotive)
State Governments Urged to Seize Historic Opportunity at 25th Abuja International Motor Fair
As preparations intensify for the 25th Silver Jubilee edition of the Abuja International motor Fair, all eyes are on Nigeria’s 36 State Governments and the Federal Capital territory Administration (FCtA) to rise to the moment and take their rightful place at Eagle Square from November 18–21, 2025.
With Nigeria’s auto sector at the threshold of transformation—fueled by the Federal Government’s push for local manufacturing, electric mobility, and CNG adoption—this landmark event presents an unprecedented platform for States to showcase their investment climate, transportation masterplans, and industrial potential to the world.
All the State Governors as well as the FCtA have been officially invited to participate, Pavilions have been reserved for each Governor and the FCtA, to position their State as the next big frontier in automobile assembly, parts manufacturing, transport technology, and job-creating logistics infrastructure. It is an ample opportunity open
for them to latch on.
“this is not just another event. It is a strategic national platform. Any Governor that misses this will be missing out on international investors, major OEMs, financial partners, and infrastructure developers who are coming specifically to explore State-level opportunities,” said the Organizing Committee of the event.
A Call to Leadership – beyond politics, It’s About Legacy the Fair—co-organized with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and strongly backed by industry giants and foreign partners—is shaping up to be a definitive national event.
Already, high-level Federal Government figures have confirmed attendance, including key Ministers, Members of the National Assembly, and the Vice president. the stage is set for Governors to show leadership not just in governance but in economic vision.
“the 25th Abuja motor Fair is a litmus test for visionary leadership,” noted an international trade analyst. “It’s about
who is ready to industrialize, create jobs, and attract FDI. the smart Governors will be there with full branding and investment desks. Others will explain later.”
Why Governors must Not miss this
this is a ‘one meet all at one venue’ for Governors, FCtA Administration, and even Local Government Chairmen to among other benefits: meet Global Auto Investors & Finance Providers, showcase Local transport Infrastructure Opportunities, attract ppps in CNG, eVs, and Urban mobility Solutions, position the State or Areas for export-oriented Auto Components, engage with banks, Insurers, Assembly plants & tech Startups; and display the political Will to Industrialize & Create Jobs
“Nigeria’s auto future will not be written from Abuja alone—it will be written from the States. this Fair is the perfect place for Governors to shape that story,” the Organizing Committee added
“We urge all State Governors to immediately confirm their participation and take advantage of this once-in-a-generation opportunity,” they said.
renault Koleos
General Manager, Suzuki by CFAo, Madam Aissatou Diouf (m) and others at the front display of Suzuki outlet at ladipo market, lagos… yesterday
Edeh: Access to Funding, Markets Remain Barriers to Female-owned Businesses
Mrs. Rachael Obiageri Edeh, is the Founder of The Gutsy Women Network, who is passionate about helping women build confidence, acquire skills, and embrace purpose. Through initiatives like Skills Fest, her organisation empowers women to achieve financial independence, foster collaboration, and challenge societal stereotypes. She shares the inspiration behind her journey, the vision of being ‘Gutsy’, and her plans for expanding the network’s impact. Funmi Ogundare brings the excerpts:
In your view, what are the biggest barriers women face today when it comes to skills development and entrepreneurship?
There are two things that women face. One of them is access to funding. There are some who have the right skill, there are some who have the right knowledge, but they don’t have the available tools they need to bring this out. There are a good number of girls who know how to sew. There are a good number of girls who have gone to fashion schools and all that. But when it’s now time for them to start up, you realise that they don’t even really have what it takes to start buying the necessary materials or machines and equipment for sewing . But one of the issues that women face is access to funding for startups. Secondly, it is market access. A good number of people still have that challenge as to how to market their products, how to put their products out there, you know, the right target audience. So I believe that there are a good number of firms and institutions trying to do so well with teaching them this thing. But I think it has to be simplified, it has to be practicalised so that our women become better informed as to how to reach out to their target audience, break into the market, and do every necessary thing that they needed to do.
What inspired you to start The Gutsy Women Network and how does your own educational journey tie into its creation?
For me, I would always say that it was just divine intervention, working in my purpose. I got married and then I moved into a city where I had no relationship with anyone prior to that time. I was starting life afresh and so at some point, I wanted to be part of a community where I could see those who would nudge me in the right direction and
mentor me. But at that time, I couldn’t find exactly what it was I was looking for. There were social clubs and every other thing in the city of Enugu, but I didn’t see anything that was tied to my needs. So what I did was that I started my own community. It was a WhatsApp platform where we would talk, we had webinars and other activities just to help us stay in touch and help us grow. But I never took it serious, like something really professional. To me, it was just something I was doing on the side, so to say. But after I lost my dad in 2021, I was sad, I was down because my dad was everything. So, d I wanted to pour in all that energy into something else that I love. For some reason, my organisation just came to mind. So I started planning to have our first physical meeting, and a good number of them happened that year, though they were not elaborate, but they were physical events that we did. My target audience was mainly young married mothers like me. And my idea was just to ensure that we come together and nudge each other. But for some reason, while you are growing in the process, I realised that there is so much more that we could do and achieve. You know, Enugu is a place that was becoming really big with people coming into the city and then we saw what we love in other cities. And for logistical issues, you are constrained to attend those conferences and every other activities. And then I was like, we can do more. Which was why we started the conference and every other activity in between. My educational journey had no relationship with what I was doing. It was just pure passion and all. So it has always been God’s divine calling and God’s purpose for me. But it’s not shocking to me or every other person around me because I have always loved bringing people together.
What does the name ‘Gutsy Women’ mean to you in the context of learning and personal growth?
So a gutsy woman is a powerful woman, a woman who is
Kayode Ogunlowo: Kwara APC Crisis May Lead to Party’s Defeat in 2027
determined, bold, courageous and fearless. She is a woman who is not scared to do everything that is necessary for her to excel in life. But here is the thing, as at the time when we called our organisation the Gutsy Women Network, to me it was just a very beautiful name. And it’s a name that explains what we need our women to become and how we want to see our women. But I have not really felt it. You know, when you want to give a name to a child or something, for most people, they will say, ‘oh, I went through stress during this level.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Kwara state, Kayode Ogunlowo, believes that the crisis rocking the State chapter of the party may lead to defeat in 2027 unless President Bola Tinubu intervenes personally. Adedayo Akinwale brings the excerpts:
How did you find yourself in Oke Kura Prison?
My ordeal is not hidden from those who have been following political events in Kwara State. It was purely politics that landed me in prison. It remains a painful memory for me because it was the same government I went through hell to support during the primary elections that eventually had me remanded
Can you explain further?
During the 2019 APC primary election that produced Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, I was responsible for coordinating Offa Local Government Area. When the exercise ended, we were instructed not to announce the results locally but to move the election materials straight to Ilorin. The people of Offa resisted and threatened to vandalize my car if I refused to announce the outcome. Out of fear, I contacted the then Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who reached out to the Police Area Commander. It took the intervention of an armoured vehicle to evacuate me and my colleagues to Ajasse-Ipo. At Ajasse-Ipo, when the results were eventually collated, it was shocking that Governor AbdulRahman, then just an aspirant, couldn’t secure up to 10 votes in some wards in Offa LGA. Meanwhile, figures showed that other aspirants like Professor Shuaib Oba AbdulRaheem
and Alhaji Shuaib Yaman had 200, 110 votes and above. Despite that, the directive we had was clear: AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq must emerge as the candidate, regardless of the actual votes. Looking back, I believe what happened to me in Oke Kura Prison was simply God’s way of rewarding the role I played in 2019.
What was your first day in prison like?
The day I got to Oke Kura, I broke down in tears. If anyone had told me that my political journey would one day lead me to prison, I would never have believed it. But Alhamdulillah, I am here today to tell the story.
At the time you were remanded in Oke Kura Prison, which political party did you belong to, and what is your affiliation now?
I was a member of the APC when I went to prison, and I remain in the same party today.
There was a viral picture of you with Dr. Bukola Saraki sometime ago. Can you explain that?
That picture was taken after my release from prison. When myself and two others were remanded, you don’t expect me to come out and start singing the praises of the very person who orchestrated it. He was behind my ordeal. And I am not his only victim; many respected community stake-
holders have been deliberately brought down under his leadership.
You’re an Igbomina from Kwara South that’s ravaged with security crisis, what’s your assessment of the situation presently.
It’s very bad. It’s so bad beyond description.
As the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo rightly lamented, fear has gripped the entire community. Families are relocating to neighbouring towns in search of safety, and even some traditional rulers who fled had to be persuaded to return. That
On the day the Governor visited Baba Nla town, why were Senator Lola Ashiru, Hon. Ismail Tijani, and Hon. Tunji Ajuloopin absent from the trip?
Frankly, Kwara South does not have effective representation. From the very moment insecurity began in our zone, with cases of motorcycles being snatched, residents attacked in their homes, and farmers assaulted on their farmlands, our representatives should have been proactive. They ought to have known that with bandits being flushed out of neighbouring states like Kogi and Niger, Kwara was the next likely target. Senator Lola Ashiru and Hon. Ismail Tijani, whose Ifelodun constituency has been hardest hit, should have acted swiftly. Instead, they waited until just a few days ago, after several lives had been lost and properties destroyed, before issuing a press statement. That is not representation.
In my community, people are saying it openly: these politicians only remember us during campaigns, when they come around with cups of garri and bags of unrefined rice filled with stones to canvas for votes. But now, when the people truly need them, they are nowhere to be found. What will happen when the next election comes and there are no people left in these communities because they have fled for safety?
Up until very recently, neither Senator Ashiru nor Hon. Ismail had moved any motion in the National Assembly about this insecurity. At least I commend Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for eventually visiting Baba Nla, meeting the Olupo of Ajase Ipo and other traditional rulers, though even he acted late.
What would you recommend as a solution to the security challenges?
One of the key steps is to empower our local vigilantes with more advanced weapons. Giving AK-47 rifles to Miyetti Allah members will not solve the insecurity in Kwara South.
edeh
Ogunlowo
is the grim reality confronting Kwara South today.
Ferdinand Ekechukwu - 08035011394
Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com
Kennechukwu Offiah: Women in Afrobeats Redefining
Afropop, Blending R&B, Soul into Other Genres
Within her world, there’s only sincerity, sonority and songs that keep the heart satisfied. Kehne’s sojourn within the world of Afrobeats has shown promise, again, with her recent two-pack release titled, Liquor, and Kilode. Crafted in African Pop-RnB fusion, ‘Kilode’ explores the salve of letting go of unhealthy relationships, with soothing guitar riffs that brilliantly flips Rihanna’s ‘Te Amo’, while ‘Liquor’ is an exciting Afro-House/Pop spin that reflects on the freedom that comes with spontaneously exploring new human connections. Born Kennechukwu Offiah, the young chanteuse spiralled into Afrobeats circles in 2023, with her soul-leaning debut, ‘Freedom’. She followed up with the folk-fusion titled, ‘Bia’, last year, which signalled her intriguing versatility. Now, with her arsenal of fusions and an unwavering focus, she’s one step closer to stardom with every release. In this chat, she opens up on her creative process; earliest music influences; experiences as a woman navigating a male-dominated scene; and her mission to create a legacy filled with evergreen music, and so much more. Ferdinand Ekechukwu captures the excerpt
tell us how you feel about your latest releases?
I’m happy with the songs I’ve released. Each song reflects a different part of my life. The response has been good, but there’s always more to do. I know my sound is special; I’m just waiting for even more people to hear and connect with it. right now, it’s a mix of excitement and tiredness on some days but it’s also a strong drive to keep going.
Whatinspiredyourlatestreleases,“Kilode” and “Liquor”?
“Kilode” was derived from a moment of clarity, the moment you start questioning a toxic situation, whether it’s a relationship or anything that no longer serves you. It’s realising that something isn’t right and making the decision to walk away. Liquor is about letting go of control and enjoying a moment. It’s about being confident enough to let yourself experience things fully without holding back. It’s playful, it’s a little reckless, but it’s also very real. Sometimes we just need an extra push to stop over-analyzing and overthinking, and live in the moment.
What is your creative process like?
My creative process is very feelings-based. I usually start with a melody and let the beat carry me where it wants to go. I write from experiences whether they’re mine or someone else’s because music is about telling stories that people can connect with.
Tell us about what inspires your music generally, and is there a reason you tilt towards love songs as it seems?
I think music is inspired by real experiences.
Love is such a universal theme so there’s always something new to explore within it and since it’s one of the deepest emotions we feel as humans, it makes sense that people write about it a lot. that being said, I haven’t released any love songs but they’re coming. ‘Kilode’ is almost about love, but not in the way of exciting love. Its love in the way of frustration and letting it go.
Tellusabitaboutyourearliestinfluences in music?
Music has always been a big part of my life, and I think my earliest influences came from the sounds I was surrounded by growing up. I’ve always been drawn to artists who feel larger than life. I love music that carries emotion and depth. I need to listen to a song and feel something powerful, like it’s pulling me somewhere or pulling my heart from my chest. I love music that feels raw. I just love artists that leave everything on the song. I was reading somewhere about how Adele recorded a song and said she’ll never perform it again because she gave everything emotionally to the song at that moment and she was done. things like that blow my mind. Like the ability to just pour your emotions into your music and be so vulnerable that the music stands as its own moment in time. It’s beautiful. Beyond specific artists, I was exposed to so many different genres, gospel, soul, highlife, R&B, reggae, the Sean Paul, beenie man era, the michael Jackson era. All of these sounds shaped my ear for music and the way I approach my sound today.
What’s your take on the rise of women in Afrobeats?
I think it’s an incredible shift. We’re seeing a wave of female artists taking up space and proving that they’re just as dominant. there’s
2Baba Legendary UK Tour is
set for October 2025
With an applauding honour given to Afrobeats icon, 2Baba a few weeks ago by billboard, the African Queen crooner is set to take his evergreen sound and vocal artistry to the global stage with the announcement of a UK Tour.
Slated for October 2025, the tour is packaged by Nero experience and Nero entertainment.
this tour will see the award-winning Nigerian star light up major cities across the UK with electrifying performances scheduled to take place in London, birmingham, Glasgow, bristol, Chelmsford, Bournemouth, Sheffield, and Cardiff.
One thing fans can expect is 2Baba bringing decades of chart-topping hits such as ‘If Love is a Crime,’ ‘True Love,’ ‘Amaka,’ and a host of others. As the flyers and promotions begin for the tour, fans are eager to experience his legendary and the beauty of the timeless magic of his live shows.
Critics and more have come to describe the tour as a historic celebration of Afrobeats, considering how
the legend is still able to stand strong after over 20 years amidst episodes of events around his personal life. But this tour reaffirms 2Baba’s status as one of Africa’s most influential music pioneers.
so much diversity. Women in Afrobeats aren’t just fitting into one box; they’re bringing different styles. Some are redefining Afropop, others are blending R&B and soul into other genres. It’s powerful to watch. Beyond just artists, we’re also seeing more women in key positions; we have female producers, songwriters, executives, all helping to shape the industry. There’s still a lot of work to be done in terms of equity, but the progress is great. And it’s only going to get bigger from here. I’m just excited because I am in an era where people are ready for the kind of sound I’m bringing. The industry isn’t just about one sound anymore; people are more open to exploring different themes in music. There’s more room for authenticity and that’s exciting for me.
withWhichfemaleactdoyouhopetocollaborate in Afrobeats?
there are so many women doing amazing in Afrobeats right now and I would love to work with any artist who brings something different. There are so many women in the industry doing just that and I think the right collaboration will be about synergy, if it feels right and the energy aligns, I would love to create.
What are you working on next? I’m working on a lot of things at the same time, new music, visuals, and expanding my creative brand. I have some exciting releases coming up that I can’t wait to share.
Finally, what is the vision for Kehne? I want to leave a lasting impact globally. I want my sound to be timeless. I want to create music that stands as its own memory in time. I want my music to be a part of people’s memories. I want to connect with
Is Tiwa Savage indeed the Queen of Afrobeats?
Female Afrobeats stars in Nigeria within the last two decades have been breaking boundaries and reshaping the global music scene with their vocals, artistry, creativity and resilience.
From the earlier pioneers such as tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade to the rising players such as Qing Madi, Darkoo, Ayra Starr among others, these names have carved out powerful spaces in an industry once dominated by men, bringing fresh energy, unique sounds, and unapologetic confidence to the forefront.
Combined, their vocals and artistry blends traditional African rhythms with global influences, creating music that not only dominates charts but also resonates across continents.
Leading the pack has been tiwa Savage who has actively influenced the female acts who have proven that female voices are no longer sidelined in Afrobeats but central to its global takeover. beyond the music, these stars are also cultural icons, redefining fashion, beauty, and identity for a new generation of African women. They embody strength and empowerment, using their platforms to challenge stereotypes while inspiring young girls to dream bigger.
With global collaborations, sold-out
shows, and a steadily expanding fan base, Nigeria’s female Afrobeats stars are not just participants in the genre’s global rise but are actively shaping its future. but over time there has been a debate on who is indeed the Queen of the genre which many points out to tiwa Savage. beyond doubts she has actively played a major role serving hits after hits, charttopping albums, sold out shows among other milestones.
Tosin Clegg
Tosin Clegg
Offiah them on a personal level. I want to create art that people remember forever. Beyond music, I see myself expanding into other creative spaces, fashion, real estate, and maybe even film, all in a way that still feels real. The goal is legacy, staying true to who I am and building something that lives beyond me.
Tiwa
2Baba
Mahmood Yakubu and Nigeria’s Electoral Journey
He might not be fancied by many Nigerians as the ideal electoral umpire leader, but in this piece, analysts, commentators, and books state otherwise, highlighting the exceptional successes recorded under his leadership of the INEC in Nigeria. Sunday Okobi brings the excerpts:
No doubt, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, viewed with a different lens, has had a fair share of contributions to the Nigeria’s electoral system. He has in several ways stamped his name in the annals of the Nigerian democracy as the longest-serving helmsman of the electoral body.
In a book, ‘Innovations in Electoral Technology: 2015 –2025’ recently published by the Commission, analysts, public commentators and contributors stated that under the watchful eyes of Prof. Yakubu, INEC has improved the management of elections in Nigeria compared to the previous era, especially with major innovations in electoral technology deployed to improve efficiency in the management of the electoral process and conduct of elections.
The book, which chronicles the technologies designed, developed and deployed by the INEC to transform the electoral process in Nigeria between 2015 and 2025, attributed the ability of the Commission to deploy electoral technology to the Electoral Act 2022, which provided the legal basis for the use of relevant technologies and deployment of digital portals, tools and platforms in the conduct of electoral activities.
The Electoral Act 2022, championed by Yakubu, changed everything. It forced political parties to have primaries quite early so as to enable much time for campaign, therefore providing a more level playing field for opposition parties. The Act gave INEC greater oversight on political party primaries which has improved internal democracy in some ways within the political parties; the Act also clearly required those in government to leave office if they want to contest elections, thereby also levelling the playing field for all parties and candidates, against the previous practice.
Also, specifically, Sections 9(2), 47(2), 50(2), and 60(5) legally empowered the Commission to deploy the technology of its choice for voter registration, voter accreditation, voting at an election and the transmission of results. This enabled it to adopt and deploy relevant technologies for the registration and authentication of eligible voters using the INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) for both fingerprint and facial recognition and the use of the INEC Biometric Voter Accreditation Device (BVAS) for the voter accreditation and the uploading of scanned copies of the Forms EC8As (polling unit results) to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) Portal for public view.
It also allowed INEC to introduce several
portals, tools and platforms for managing candidate nomination, recruitment of ad hoc staff, the accreditation of political party agents, election observers, and the media, financial reporting and auditing by party finances, election support, security and delivery of online training for electoral officials, as well as for public enlightenment and media monitoring.
Before Yakubu assumed office in 2015, there have been six Commissions since INEC was established in August 1998. These are – the Akpata Commission (August 1998 – January 2000); the Guobadia Commission (May 2000 – May 2005); the Iwu Commission (June 2005 – May 2010), the Jega Commission (June 2010 – June 2015) and the successive Yakubu Commissions (November 2015 – November 2020 and December 2020 – December 2025).
From 1998 to 2025, these Commissions have between them conducted seven successive general elections and hundreds of off-cycle governorship, re-run, court ordered and bye elections. Although the conduct of elections and the management of the electoral process at the beginning were largely basic, the Commission was continuously learning lessons for the continuous improvement of the electoral and political processes.
Thus, lessons learnt from previous elections were progressively applied to subsequent elections to improve the Commission’s electoral regulations and procedures, deepen the use of technology, strengthen the electoral legal framework, as well as to deepen the professionalisation of staff.
Although the gradual improvements witnessed some challenges in the 2003 and 2007 general election, adjudged the worst since 1998, the Commission from 2010 had continuously striven towards a better organised, more transparent, credible, and inclusive electoral process.
The 2010 Commission began an era of a more systematised and coordinated approach to electoral reforms not only in the processes and procedures for the conduct of elections, but also in election management and administration. These reforms ranged from the reorganisation of the Commission’s administrative structure to changes in the electoral legal framework, introduction of a knowledge and innovation-driven election planning and administration, expansion in the use of electoral technology, as well as the promotion and expansion of inclusivity in the electoral process for women, youth, persons with disability (PwDs) and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Sources in the electoral space have noted that the decade between 2015 and 2025 has been one of the most momentous in the history of the management of elections in Nigeria. They,
however, stated that there have been several milestones, many challenges and useful lessons in the conduct of elections and the management of the process within this period.
According to the Executive Director of the Centre for Media, Policy and Accountability, Abuja, Dr. Suleiman A. Suleiman, the period has not only experience improvement in the management of election in the country, the opposition parties have also certainly recorded more gains with the current INEC led by Yakubu.
He added that as the quality and integrity of Nigerian elections improved considerably during each election since 2011, the competitive fortunes of opposition parties and candidates have also vastly increased, “where they almost never won anything before.”
Suleiman described the 2023 elections as the best marker of the positive development for opposition parties so far, “as demonstrated by the electoral fortunes of the PDP, LP, NNPP, SDP, ADC, and others across all the elections that year. “For example, a handful of otherwise ‘small’ opposition parties won 70 National Assembly seats and two governorship seats between them for the very first time in their history, while seven incumbent governors lost their bids for the Senate, itself another first in Nigerian elections.
“In addition, the gap between the winning and runner-up candidates in our presidential elections has reduced considerably since 2011, a key metric of quality and integrity, given our dwindling voter turnout.”
In his analysis of the successes recorded under Yakubu’s leadership of the com-
mission, he said: “While the gap between Presidents Obasanjo and Buhari in 2003, and Yar’adua and Buhari in 2007 was above 12 million and 18 million votes respectively, the gap between Buhari and Jonathan in 2015, and Buhari and Atiku in 2019 was just over three million votes in each case. In 2023, the gap between Tinubu and Atiku tightened to less than 2 million votes, indicating the growing impossibility of ‘vote padding’ in our presidential elections, at least.”
Lauding the input and impact of the current INEC chairman, Suleiman noted that the Labour Party and the NNPP have been around as political parties in Nigeria since 2002, more than 20 years before the 2023 general election.
“Yet, they languished in relative obscurity and hardly won anything. But in 2023, they won two governorships, as well as dozens of national and state assembly seats.”
In a statement made on the 2023 general election made available to THISDAY, the group executive director, who is also a newspaper columnist, posited that Prof Yakubu expressed impartiality in the conduct of the 2023 general election. He asked: “Again, how many governors lost their states for the presidential candidate of their party in the way in which Governors El-Rufai, Ifeanyi Okowa, Mai Mala Buni, and Babajide Samwo Olu to mention just four examples, to the candidates of opposition parties in the presidential election? It is when we look critically at the 2023 election results that we can see clearly how much work INEC has done under Prof. Yakubu.”
Olukoyede: The Quiet Champion of Integrity at EFCC
raymond Igwe
When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Olanipekun “Ola” Olukoyede as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in October 2023, the decision was met with cautious optimism.
Today, barely two years into his tenure, it is clear that the President’s choice was not only right but visionary. Olukoyede has quietly redefined the culture of Nigeria’s foremost anti-graft institution, steering it away from spectacle and politics, and restoring faith in professionalism, integrity, and fairness.
A seasoned lawyer, fraud examiner, and compliance specialist with years of experience both at home and abroad, Olukoyede came prepared for the task. Having previously served as EFCC Chief of Staff and later as Secretary to the Commission, he understood the pitfalls of the institution and the expectations of
Nigerians. He brought to the office a deliberate resolve: to fight corruption firmly, yet with humanity; to pursue justice with world-class best practices; and to keep the EFCC above the fray of political battles. His record so far speaks volumes. Within his first 100 days, the EFCC under his leadership recovered over N70.5 billion, processed more than 2,600 petitions, and secured 747 convictions. Asset recovery has reached unprecedented levels, including the forfeiture of a major university and a sprawling estate of 753 housing units. Large-scale syndicates, from romance scams to cryptocurrency fraud, have been busted in operations that drew applause for their scope and precision. Yet, unlike in the past when media trials often tainted the Commission’s work, Olukoyede’s EFCC pursues its mandate quietly, letting the facts and the courts speak for themselves.
Equally significant is his courage to clean house. For the first time in
the agency’s history, a Chairman openly admitted to corruption within the Commission itself. In 2024, he dismissed 27 staff for misconduct and sanctioned investigations into internal fraud, including a $400,000 scandal involving a unit head. Such transparency is rare in Nigeria’s public institutions and has set a new benchmark for accountability.
Olukoyede has also earned recognition both at home and abroad. From integrity awards in Lagos to a certificate of recognition from the Canadian government for his role in combating transnational crime, his leadership style has resonated beyond Nigeria’s shores. These honors underscore the global respect that comes with his quiet, professional approach.
Perhaps what stands out most is his ability to stay above politics. In a country where anti-corruption campaigns are often weaponized for political battles, Olukoyede has been deliberate in insulating the EFCC
from partisan influence. His investigations are guided by facts, not headlines; his focus is on institution-building, not personal grandstanding. This restraint has restored credibility to the
Commission, assuring both the public and international partners that Nigeria is serious about fighting corruption in a fair and just manner.
Olukoyede has shown that integrity does not need noise and that leadership is best demonstrated through results, not rhetoric. By avoiding the distractions of politics, embracing humane and world-class investigative practices, and prioritizing quiet but impactful reforms, he has set the EFCC on a path of renewed credibility. In doing so, he has emerged as one of the quiet champions of President Tinubu’s administration, a reformer who proves that in the battle against corruption, professionalism and integrity remain Nigeria’s strongest weapons.
Igwe, a Lagos-based lawyer and public affairs commentator,
Yakubu
Olukayode
Ecosystem Thinking: Unlocking Creative Economy’s Full Potential
My speech today is more a patchwork of ideas than a single thread, and it’s been stitched together from experience, conversations, observations, and reflections on what it really takes to make a creative economy thrive. Financing is certainly part of the story, but the real growth occurs when we connect the dots: when capital is connected to talent, when innovation meets the infrastructure it needs, and when policy enables effective partnerships.
This is a vast and evolving subject, and while I’ll inevitably leave out many important points, both because of time and because no single speech could capture them all, I hope what we cover today inspires new thinking and new connections.
I want to begin with a personal “what-if”
Years ago, I led a company called Spinlet, the first music streaming and digital distribution platform in Sub-Saharan Africa. During my time as CEO, we achieved significant milestones including becoming Nigeria’s first International Standard Recording Code Manager and growing to over 2 million users at our peak. We had a lot going for us: the vision, talent, and early-mover advantage. But we lacked the critical elements that transform brilliant ideas into resilient institutions: adequately structured financing and robust infrastructure.
Now imagine if Spinlet were still here today, exporting African music and building generational IP wealth for our artists. That missed opportunity shows that talent is never the issue; what’s often missing is structured belief: policy support, patient capital, and solid technical infrastructure.
This experience shapes the core of my message today. When we talk about ‘financing as a catalyst,’ we must look beyond surface-level investments and commit to building an entire system – a system with enabling conditions that allow our creatives to not just survive but thrive and scale.
Expression and enterprise – The creative economy
The creative economy is both expression and enterprise. It already contributes significantly to Nigeria’s GDP and soft power, yet it still lacks scalable, predictable investment frameworks.
Nigerian music dominates global charts; our films stream on international platforms, our designers feature on global runways, and our creators shape global digital culture. But at home, we still treat these industries as hobbies. There are few institutional investors in the space and the financing that does exist is fragmented: sponsorships, one-off grants, or brand-driven support.
We celebrate global success, but we have not yet built the local systems to replicate that success at scale. When Burna or Rema sell out an iconic global venue, it is a cultural victory, a clear, unambiguous market signal, and proof of concept. It tells any smart investor that there is a high-quality product, a dedicated global audience willing to pay premium prices, and a scalable business model.
We are falling short in connecting the dots by not translating that undeniable success into a compelling investment case for Nigeria’s broader creative ecosystem. The challenge is not the absence of capital, but the lack of scalable, structured investment frameworks the industry needs to thrive. Afreximbank’s billion-dollar Africa Film Fund, announced in May under its CANEX program, is a significant and welcome step. But to reach its full potential, it must be matched with robust implementation and industry-wide alignment.
At the national level, interventions like the Bank of Industry’s creative sector funds are equally important. Here too, the capital exists in theory; the real gaps lie in design, accessibility, and alignment with the practical needs of entrepreneurs.
But we have to be honest about the mismatch: these funds often serve large-scale projects, while most creatives in Nigeria are operating at micro or early-growth levels. How many creatives are positioned to absorb a multi-million-dollar ticket? The reality is that our ecosystem also needs accessible, smaller-scale funding that turns an idea into a viable business.
Part of what we need is tiered, targeted financing that spans early-stage grants, seed capital, mezzanine funding, and patient equity, all tailored to the creative lifecycle. We need financing designed for the messy middle, not just the glamorous headline project or the polished final product. If we want to see scale in Nigeria, we need long-term financing, not just for content, but for the boring, unsexy infrastructure: IP banks, data centers, legal support, domestic distribution networks, rights management platforms, efficient payment systems, insurance products for creatives, affordable production facilities, and talent development pipelines.
And this brings me to a necessary mindset shift. It is time for our creatives to see themselves not just as artists, but as businesspeople, as institution builders, and as financially literate architects of enterprise.
The question is no longer just, “How do we build the next great platform?” The more urgent question is: “What are the structures that make a platform sustainable in Nigeria?”
Ecosystems over
silos
This, of course, leads directly to my next point: the critical importance of building ecosystems over silos. Our creative industry cannot and will not achieve its full potential through isolated success stories. A few global superstars are a source of national pride, but a thriving, interconnected ecosystem is
a source of national wealth.
And before I go further, I want to acknowledge a fundamental truth of doing business in our environment. Building a business here is uniquely challenging. You often set out to build one thing but quickly realise that the pillars necessary to support your venture don’t fully exist. This “pioneer’s disadvantage” forces many entrepreneurs to split resources between their core product and constructing the very market conditions that should already be in place. It is why many fail. It was the story of Spinlet, and it is the story of many others.
So when I talk about ‘ecosystems over silos,’ I am calling for a conscious, collaborative effort to build those missing pillars together. It means actively linking creatives to capital, policy to platforms, and education to opportunity. It means policymakers taking the time to understand new digital distribution models. It means bankers learning how to properly conduct IP valuation. It means investors looking beyond the
Dr. Nkiru Balonwu, founder ofThe Africa Soft Power Group, delivered the keynote address at the QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit held in Lagos on August 12, 2025
Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com
Tommie Edwards: How Tech1M Uses AI to Redefine Recruitment, Education, Talent Devt
Tech1M, a UK-based technology company with a subsidiary in Nigeria, is using AI products known as Tech1M to power a revolutionary initiative that will enable upward mobile companies to hire staff, ensuring they have specific character traits that perfectly fit assigned roles. Tech1M also works for schools because it helps proprietors understand the teachers and students better, the CEO and co-founder of Tech1M, Tommie Edwards tells bennett Oghifo
Tell us about the company and its products
Tech1M is a UK-based technology company with a growing presence in Nigeria through our subsidiary, Tech1M. At Tech1M, we focus on using artificial intelligence (AI) to simplify hiring and assessments, helping organisations save time, cut costs, and make better decisions. Our flagship product is 1M Recruit, a recruitment operating system that manages the entire hiring process end-to-end. From job posting to screening, interviewing, and making offers, the system uses AI and algorithms to rank candidates based on the criteria most important to the hiring manager. This allows HR teams to quickly identify top candidates, saving months of manual effort. The platform also enables video introductions, AI-led interviews, and round-the-clock candidate engagement, ensuring no application is missed. At its core, Tech1M exists to use AI not just to hire better, but to understand people better—whether in companies, classrooms, or communities—and to help them reach their full potential.
What other functions does this technology perform?
Beyond recruitment, we developed 1M Aptitude, a proctored assessment platform designed for testing across industries. It can be applied to HR functions—such as reason-
ing, personality, cognitive, hard-skill, and soft-skill assessments—as well as education, entrepreneurship, and even investment pitches. The system can test for AI competency (e.g., prompting skills in marketing or business operations) and offers thousands of ready-made questions, with the option to customise based on client needs. Importantly, it uses AI-powered proctoring to ensure integrity during online tests. One of our innovations under 1M Aptitude is the Aptitude Compass, which categorises individuals into five key cognitive traits: Pioneer – visionary thinkers who scale ideas, though sometimes excessively; Architect – detail-oriented polishers who refine projects to excellence; Optimiser – action-driven executors who improve processes and get things done; Driver – collaborative leaders who push teams forward, and mobiliser – self-motivated doers who need no external push to deliver results. Everyone has all five traits, but two tend to be dominant, shaping how a person thinks, works, and collaborates.
How can this product be applied in schools? For organisations, this tool provides deep insight into team dynamics, helping leaders assign people to the right roles. For schools, it helps teachers and parents understand students’ natural strengths and learning styles, making education more personalised. The applications extend far beyond HR and education. For example, universities can integrate aptitude testing into admissions to understand not only what students know but how they think and learn—crucial for supporting neurodiverse
learners. Governments and multinationals can also use these tools to identify talent, reduce mismatches, and cultivate future leaders.
This is a new system you’re introducing to Nigerians. Tell us how affordable this can be?
In terms of cost, pricing varies depending on scale and use case. For example, a school with 1,000 students versus a multinational with 3,000 employees. While we already know from surveys across Africa, Europe, and South America that companies can save millions by cutting hiring decision time from six months
to a single week, we are still testing the right pricing model for the Nigerian market.
How do you intend to begin the application in Nigeria?
We plan to start with pilot programmes in Nigerian schools and organisations to adapt the tools to local cultural nuances. Success here will allow us to scale further and even collaborate with government agencies to strengthen education and workforce development nationally.
Tell us about yourself and skills?
I’m a visionary, Co-Founder and CEO of Tech1M. Aside from my role at Tech1M, I also serve as the G20 President for the UK delegation, where I lead UK entrepreneurs to global summits such as the upcoming one in South Africa. This platform allows us to identify international partners, share innovations like Tech1M, and expand into new markets.
This AI-first recruitment intelligence platform leverages AI agents to revolutionise how businesses source, vet, interview, and onboard global talent. At the forefront of agentic AI, I’m redefining recruitment by driving efficiency, enhancing candidate experience, and tackling systemic bias. As the UK President of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance (YEA), I’m proud to be leading a delegation of 15 outstanding UK entrepreneurs to the 2025 G20 YEA Summit in South Africa. In this role, I champion UK innovation on the global stage, facilitating cross-border trade, collaboration, and knowledge exchange.
Nkiru balonwu
Nkiru Balonwu
Edwards
From Within the Room: Beyond the Noise of Criticism
Clifford Akpolo
As the saying goes, “If you are not in the school, do not criticize it.” I was reminded of its profound truth last week, when I had the privilege of accompanying the Board of Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group) on a historic visit to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Brasília, Brazil. Public debates on economic reforms often resemble analyzing a dataset without controls: you see the raw numbers but miss the hidden variables that drive them. The view from inside that room, however, was fundamentally different. It was the equivalent of running a fully specified regression model, one that captures the interactions, nuances, and true dynamics otherwise obscured by noise.
In economics, we warn about the perils of omitted variable bias: the risk of drawing flawed conclusions from incomplete data. Much of the prevailing criticism of current reforms suffers from this problem, focusing narrowly on short-term hardships while ignoring the structural shifts now underway. Let me be clear: those hardships are real and deeply felt by millions of Nigerians, and they cannot be dismissed. However, from within that room, the model to address those very hardships, looked much clearer.
President Tinubu engaged in detail, not slogans. He pointed to the near-tripling of market capitalization not as a vanity metric but as hard evidence of investor confidence. The data is compelling: in the past year alone, NGX’s market capitalization has surged from roughly 26 trillion to over 88 trillion. In statistical terms, that is not noise, it is significance. His declaration that “Nigeria’s markets must be a trusted engine of enterprise and prosperity” felt less like a soundbite and more like a
principle being shared with those tasked with nurturing the market. His commitment to “pursue reforms that unlock capital, protect investors, and drive innovation” was specific and reassuring. This clarity resonated across the entire delegation. Alhaji
How K-RAD’s Agriculture, Tourism Vision for Osun Can Translate Tinubu’s Historic Nigeria-Brazil Bilateral Deal
When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed landmark bilateral agreements with Brazil recently, the optimism was palpable. Brazil, once riddled with agricultural deficits and underutilised heritage, has today emerged as one of the world’s top food producers and a global tourism magnet. For Nigeria, these agreements offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to redefine food security, rural development, and cultural diplomacy.
The challenge, however, is how to translate international diplomacy into tangible grassroots prosperity. Too often, bilateral agreements in Nigeria end up as impressive communiqués that gather dust in government files. What is urgently needed are visionary leaders at the subnational level—governors who can serve as laboratories of implementation, aligning state priorities with federal agreements and showing how global partnerships can be domesticated.
In Osun State, Kunle Rasheed Adegoke, SAN—affectionately called K-RAD—has crafted a development vision that mirrors the opportunities now offered by Brazil, particularly in mechanised agriculture and heritage tourism. His blueprint positions Osun as a model for how Tinubu’s foreign policy gains can be translated into real economic outcomes for ordinary citizens. Brazil’s agricultural transformation is often cited as an economic miracle. In the 1970s, it was a food-deficit nation, dependent on imports for basics like milk. Today, through deliberate investment in mechanisation, farmer cooperatives, and value-chain integration, Brazil is one of the world’s largest dairy and beef exporters. This transformation is precisely what Nigeria, under President Tinubu, seeks to replicate.
At the heart of K-RAD’s plan is a structured dairy economy
Air Peace Limited has reacted to the report of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) on its flight operated by Boeing B737-524 aircraft with registration marks, 5N-BQQ, which overshot the runway on landing at the Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo International Airport, Omagwa, Port Harcourt, Rivers state on July 13, 2025.
NSIB stated in its preliminary report indicated that cockpit and cabin crew members may have taken illicit substances, including alcohol and cannabis, which manifested after it carried out initial toxicological tests conducted on the flight crew.
The agency had also issued immediate safety recommendations for Air Peace Limited to strengthen crew resource management (CRM) training, particularly in handling unstabilised approaches and go-around decisions, and to reinforce internal procedures for crew fitness-for-duty monitoring
Umaru Kwairanga, NGX Group Chairman, highlighted the rise in trading volumes and values, urging the fast-tracking of major state-owned enterprise listings alongside supportive tax incentives. Temi Popoola, Group MD/CEO, NGX Group, articulated a vision for NGX Group as a gateway for global capital, emphasizing modernized infrastructure, deeper product innovation, and expanded retail participation through digital channels. Dr. Emomotimi Agama, Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, praised the new Investment and Securities Act (ISA) 2025, describing it as a transformative framework capable of propelling Nigeria toward a N300 trillion market while strengthening investorTogether,protection.these perspectives converged like a theoretical equilibrium, a point where policy, innovation, and regula- tion align. That convergence underscored a key insight: external commentary often misses the signal by focusing on the short-term statistical error term. The coefficients, from our vantage point, are pointing firmly in the right direction. Reforms are tough, but they are already producing statistically significant results.
No economic model is perfect, and every policy reform will leave residuals. But after witnessing the dialogue in that room, I am convinced that Nigeria’s economic strategy is deliberate, intelligent, and anchored in long-term growth.
The challenge before us is to evolve from passive criti- cism to constructive engagement: to contribute insights, data, and collaboration that strengthen the national model. Nigeria’s future cannot be built from outside noise; it must be built from within the room. And in that room, the careful architecture of prosperity is already taking shape. Our role as professionals is to build the bridge between policy and markets, to refine the calibration, and to ensure the capital market remains both a leading indicator and a driver of inclusive, sustainable growth.
Beyond agriculture lies another sector where Osun has an unrivalled advantage—tourism. Brazil’s Bahia, which has transformed Afro-Brazilian heritage into a billion-dollar tourism market, provides a direct parallel to what Osun could achieve with the Origin Project, K-RAD’s signature ecotourism and heritage blueprint.
anchored on mechanised and domestic farming. Osun’s fertile plains and relatively stable climate make it suitable for dairy clusters where pastoralists can be resettled and integrated into modern, technology-driven cooperatives. Beyond household and subsistence herding, farmers would also engage in industrialscale milk production with processing plants turning raw milk into cheese, butter, yoghurts, and powdered milk. This would not only cut Nigeria’s heavy dairy import bill but also create jobs across the agricultural value chain— from herders and veterinarians to logistics operators and marketers.
Mechanised crop farming is another pillar of K-RAD’s vision. With the right machinery, irrigation systems, and extension services, Osun can become a major supplier of staple crops such as maize, cassava, rice, and vegetables. Brazil’s technical expertise, which Tinubu’s government has now secured access to, can be directly localised in Osun. By partnering with Brazilian agro-engineering firms, Osun could host demonstration farms and training centers that serve as national models for scaling mechanisation and introducing young Nigerians to modern farming as a profitable enterprise.
The economic impact of such reforms cannot be overstated. A vibrant dairy and mechanised farming sector in Osun would stimulate rural industrialisation, reduce youth unemployment, and raise internally generated revenue. More importantly, it would provide proof that bilateral deals can have life-changing impact when domesticated at the state level. For Tinubu’s government, Osun could become the evidence that foreign policy agreements can translate into food security and prosperity in real communities.
The Origin Project envisions Ile-Ife, globally revered as the cradle of the Yoruba civilisation, as a cultural and spiritual home for people of African descent across the world. From interactive museums and heritage trails to cultural festivals and eco-parks, the project would position Ile-Ife as a pilgrimage town for the global Black diaspora.
This ambition, which has taken years to evolve, is not farfetched; Bahia alone draws millions of diaspora tourists annually because of its Yoruba cultural imprints. If Brazil can leverage its Yoruba heritage to attract the diaspora, surely Osun—the authentic source—can do even better.
Aside the Origin Project, K-RAD’s broader vision to make Osun Nigeria’s tourism state has seen him traverse and identify no fewer than 64 untapped tourist sites. He is willing to work with the Federal Government, development partners, local and foreign investors, and the best players in the tourism ecosystem to develop these sites. His goal is to generate jobs for Osun’s teeming unemployed youth, catalyse the state’s economic fortune, and, importantly, raise revenue for government.
Among the significant tourism sites he spent 17 months visiting between 2017 and 2018, during his first attempt at the Osun governorship seat under the APC, are the globally renowned and UNESCO-listed World Heritage Osun Osogbo Grove where the annual Osun Osogbo festival holds; the 36-multi-tiered Ayinkunugba Waterfalls in Oke-Ila, Ifedayo Local Government; the Erin-Ijesha Waterfalls; in Erin-Odo in Oriade Local Government area of the state and the long-abandoned Owala Dam at Oba-Oke in Olorunda Local Government. The Owala Dam, with massive untapped potential for fishing, farming, boat ride, gardening, and eco-tourism, has been neglected since 1982 by successive governments.
Air Peace: We Are Yet to Receive NSIB Report on Port Harcourt Airport’s Runway Overshoot
before flight dispatch.
But reacting to the report, Air Peace in a statement signed by its management, stated that it was yet to receive the report of NSIB findings more than a month after the incident.
The airline also disclosed that it grounded the Captain who operated the flight and was relieved from further flight duty till date for failure to adhere to Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles and for disregarding standard go-around procedures as advised by his co-pilot but not for testing positive to breathalyser test, as the result was not communicated to the airline by NSIB till date.
The statement stated, “We are yet to receive any official com-
munications from the NSIB on such findings over a month after the incident and after the testing of the crew for alcohol which took place in less than an hour of the incident!
“As a responsible airline, we place utmost priority on safety, transparency, and compliance, and it is important to set the record straight. Air Peace conducts frequent alcohol and drug tests on our crew. We have a very strict alcohol use policy that is stricter than the 8 hours before the flight as provided in the regulations. Drug use is a NO-NO!
“Following the incident, we took immediate and decisive action: The captain of the affected flight was grounded and relieved
from further flight duty till date for failure to adhere to Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles and for disregarding standard go-around procedures as advised by his co-pilot but not for testing positive to breathalyser test as the result was not communicated to us by NSIB to date.
“Contrary to reports in the media, the First Officer (Co-pilot), who demonstrated professionalism in calling for a go-around to his captain, has been reinstated into active flying duties, with full approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The NCAA cleared him. If he was involved in drug or alcohol use, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Author-
ity would not have cleared him to resume flight duties.
“However, if the relieved captain tested positive to the breathalyser test, then we must increase the frequency of our alcohol and drug tests on our crew. Again, the importance of Enhanced Crew Resource Management Training cannot be over emphasised.”
The airline also stated that it would intensify strict Fitness-for-Duty checks and Stronger Internal Monitoring to prevent any breach of “our zerotolerance safety policy,” adding, “Air Peace has consistently maintained a strong safety record and strictly implements global best practices in all aspects of its operations, and we reassure our esteemed passengers and the Nigerian public that safety will never be compromised in Air Peace.”
Tinubu
rasheed bolarinwa
Chinedu eze
Top 25 Global Cities Where Investors Can Preserve Their Wealth
In recent times, the global approach to wealth building has shifted. beyond the traditional mantra of earning, investing, and growing, external liquidity pressures are intensifying. Global economic shifts, rising debt burdens, and a quiet tax revolution are reshaping the investment landscape. Governments grappling with widening fiscal gaps and future liabilities, are also forcing investors to think beyond conventional strategies.
According to the global data platform multipolitan, the focus of wealth management is no longer just on income, but on assets.
“this marks a turning point. Wealth is no longer just built – it must be defended. Not with outdated tactics, but with sharper tools, deeper insight, and the foresight to act before the rules change,” the firm stated.
In its 2025 Wealth report, multipolitan urged investors to stay alert to the factors influencing wealth in today’s volatile climate, particularly high-net-worth individuals and wealth managers seeking to future-proof portfolios and build cross-generational assets.
Locally, inflation, currency volatility, and policy unpredictability have made wealth preservation a high-stakes game. to stay ahead, the firm advised locking wealth in jurisdictions that not only offer low tax exposure but also provide long-term access to international markets, regulatory certainty, and sustainable wealth structures.
the report featuring also the Wealth preservation Cities Index (2015–2025), provides intelligence on best global cities to protect and grow wealth. the index evaluates cities based on inflation-adjusted asset growth, salary strength, governance quality, and quality of life.
“We looked beyond the hype and focused on
hard data, analysing which global cities have truly preserved and grown wealth despite economic and geopolitical shocks. these cities didn’t just survive the shocks of the past decade, they preserved purchasing power and delivered long-term stability when it mattered,” said Group Head of market Development at multipolitan, Nicholas michael.
Top-Ranked Cities
At the top of the list, Switzerland asserts its dominance with two of the top three cities. Zug clinched first place with a score of 0.7487,
OTH er Bu SIN e SS STO r I e S
leveraging its currency stability and consistent governance that make it a long-standing wealth hub.
Hong Kong followed in second place with a score of 0.5729, supported by deep capital markets and robust financial infrastructure, despite ongoing political headwinds. basel secured third with 0.6524, drawing strength from Switzerland’s conservative financial tradition, trusted institutions, and macroeconomic stability. Singapore came fourth with 0.5892, standing out as the only Asian city to consistently rank
Firms Urged to Strengthen Supply Chain for Survival
business leaders have been charged to elevate supply chain management from a back-office function to a strategic imperative for sustainability, governance, and resilience.
Supply chain experts who gathered at the African Centre for Supply Chain (ACSC) maiden supply chain conference held in Lagos recently emphasised the relevance of logistics across the board, including governance, commerce, and humanitarian efforts, citing their relevance to system survival. the conference, themed ‘Supply Chain of Now: technology, Sustainability and Social Impact,’ brought together academics, supply chain experts, and business leaders for an in-depth panel discussion on driving progress and innovation in the industry.
Speaking, Director General of ACSC, Dr. Obiora madu, said the conference was long overdue to address urgent current challenges.
madu insisted that firms must treat supply chain management as a core business function, or risk collapse, warning that gaps can have far-reaching consequences like disrupting elections, delay humanitarian aid, and cripple factory operations.
He highlighted a three-pillar strategy crucial to strengthening Africa’s supply chain including education, research, and networking.
He declared that ACSC had been pioneering Initiatives in these areas to enhance supply chain on the continent.
“So far, we have pushed for the inclusion of Logistics and Supply Chain management in Nigerian university curricula. this was like a battle to push through, but today, we have students entering their third year in the program.”
“On the research front, we have published the Nigerian Logistics and Supply Chain Industry report for seven consecutive years, as well as the Ghana report. We are now working with regional
partners on a West African edition to broaden the scope, with plans underway to establish a pan-African logistics movement to unify efforts across the continent, “he said.
On his part, Group Director, Supply Chain Flour mill of Nigeria, Cephas Afebuameh stressed urgent transformation of supply chain to avoid further economic challenges.
In his keynote address, Afebuameh urged players to reposition sector as a driver of national growth by embracing technology, sustainability, and social impact.
He admonished, “true success goes beyond financial gains; it’s about building operations that last generations, transform communities, and protect the environment. Failure to embed sustainability in operations has direct consequences on the economy. From congested ports, to eroding investor confidence, and limiting Nigeria’s global competitiveness”.
Avetium Pledges Enterprise Transformation
the future of work and digital transformation was the focal point at the recent Zoholics Lagos 2025 flagship customer event, where business leaders, innovators and technology experts gathered to explore the latest trends and innovations shaping the 21st-century workplace.
At the event, Avetium, a leading Zoho Advanced partner in the country, engaged directly with customers and partners, reinforcing its role as a trusted partner for the organisation.
With expertise across flagship platforms like Zoho One, Crm, Finance, Hr and Workplace, Avetium continues to adapt Zoho’s global ecosystem to Nigeria’s business realities — driving measurable gains in productivity, compliance, and customer experience.
“For us, Zoholics was more than an event. It was an opportunity to listen, exchange insights, and reaffirm our commitment as a transformation partner,” Chief executive Officer of Avetium Consult, Adeyinka Adedokun.
“technology alone doesn’t change businesses — people do. that’s why Avetium goes beyond deployment; we co-create solutions that align with our customers’ goals,” Adedokun added.
As Zoho deepens its presence in Nigeria with strong adoption of solutions, Avetium plays a central role in helping organisations implement these tools at scale, ensuring resilience, security, and sustainable growth.
CIA, Carbon Direct Unite to Advance Climate Finance for Businesses
A new partnership between sustainability consulting
firm, CSr-in-Action (CIA) and Carbon Direct Inc. has been sealed to empower African businesses, investors, and governments to drive the continent’s transition to a low-carbon future.
Specifically, CIA will be leveraging Carbon Direct’s expertise in carbon solutions and affinity with global markets to facilitate carbon finance, advanced carbon accounting, reporting, and risk management support for businesses.
Additionally, Group Chief executive of CSr-in-Action, bekeme Olowola stated at the signing of a memorandum of Understanding in Lagos, recently that the partnership will boost capacity of investors in areas such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage, while also equipping them
with relevant tools in line with international frameworks.
She explained that the latest move will address Africa’s pressing needs.
“African businesses and governments don’t just need roadmaps, they need practical, financeable solutions, training and hands-on expertise, to implement them. through this collaboration, we are equipping stakeholders with the tools, knowledge, and access to experts required to deliver measurable decarbonisation”, she said.
CIA boasts proven track record in governance and sustainability advocacy, with initiatives like Nigeria’s Community engagement Standards, earth Women documentary and its Sustainability report.
“Working closely with Carbon Direct strengthens ability
to deliver decarbonisation implementation support, carbon credit and offset advisory (such as flare gas recovery and mangrove restoration). this also enables application of training programmes tailored to Africa’s energy and industrial sectors”, Olowola stated.
Also speaking, Chief Scientist of Carbon Direct, Dr. Julio Friedmann said, “Our principles, tools, and practical experience put us in a unique position to help organisations make and manifest ambitious but actionable climate commitments.” the new move will open up access to Carbon Direct’s global expertise, enabling African organisations to align with regulatory expectations and pursue climate finance for challenging projects.
across all indices due to its regulatory clarity and economic strength.
Beyond Top Four North American hubs such as San Francisco (0.6091) and Seattle (0.5462) ranked highly, propelled by vibrant tech-driven economies and high salaries. tel Aviv (0.5663) in Israel and Sydney (0.5029) in Australia also featured prominently in the top 10, underscoring their economic dynamism and investor appeal.
europe maintained a strong showing, with Luxembourg City (0.4985), Amsterdam (0.4839), Copenhagen (0.4283), and Stockholm (0.4128) excelling in governance and quality of life. Also, reykjavik (0.4542) and Vilnius (0.3720) were highlighted for achieving some of the highest inflation-adjusted property price gains in the last decade.
rounding out the top 25 were Frankfurt (0.4140), munich (0.4102), Vancouver (0.3807), melbourne (0.3780), and Dublin (0.3657) — all offering a blend of stability and opportunity. the index also recognised Victoria, Seychelles (0.4036) and macau (0.3871), while the UAe cities of Abu Dhabi (0.3733) and Dubai (0.3715) placed 22nd and 24th respectively, reflecting their growing but still evolving role in long-term wealth preservation.
Takeaway for Nigerian Investors the report concludes that for Nigerian investors, wealth management must extend beyond chasing high returns. the priority, it stressed, should be on selecting jurisdictions with legal protection, stability, and strong economic foundations — ensuring that wealth is not just grown, but defended against future shocks.
Brands Urged to Prioritise Value, Collaboration to Stay Ahead
As Nigeria positions itself for regional economic growth, organisations have been urged to have a rethink of how they build trust and deliver value to consumers.
business Unit Director at media reach OmD Nigeria, emmanuel Adediran declared this recently at brand Handlers Summit & Awards in Lagos, bringing together marketing professionals, brand custodians and other industry stakeholders.
Adediran who delivered a keynote address at the function maintained that brand survival in Nigeria depends largely on integrity, collaboration, and a stronger focus on consumer needs.
“Nigeria stands at the threshold of becoming Africa’s growth epicentre. to realise this potential, we must reset our approach, focus on value creation, collaboration, and a relentless commitment to both brands and consumers”, he stated.
He maintained that brands must prioritise listening to their customers in the face of shrinking consumer confidence, fragmented attention, and weakened trust.
In succeeding at this, the marketing executive emphasised key strategies, including integrity, collaboration, digital innovation, sustainable practices, and talent development, while rethinking metrics to focus on long-term cultural and emotional connections.
“every brand that has weathered these challenging times deserves recognition. Yet, as we look ahead, we must address the realities of subdued consumer confidence and the urgent need for renewed trust.
“true brand growth in Nigeria is no longer about choosing between brand or performance, it’s about multiplying both through relentless localisation, digital innovation, and a steadfast commitment to trust and integrity,” he said.
BACKPAGE CONTINUATION
AS I SAID, THREE YEARS AGO
what they consume, or retain some of the economic debilities on the table at the moment”.
At that RoundTable it was also pointed the need to measure the value of every economic intervention against the background of impact, and that "insecurity is one of the biggest threats to national productivity, agriculture and food security" and that this fact alone “… can undermine the best policy initiatives and economic intervention programmes”.
On the State of the Nation, the RoundTable pointed out that our security forces were overstretched and also hamstrung by a largely apathetic citizenry. It noted the growing unwillingness of locals to give badly-needed intelligence to military and security forces in the war against insurgency and banditry. It linked the perceived suboptimal performance of the police, the armed forces and the security agencies to avoidable facility, operational and capacity inadequacies.
The RoundTable said that “…our soldiers and security agents are not magicians; that they need supporting intelligence from locals”.
The broad Conceptual Framework for the RoundTable stemmed from a desire “… to promote solutions-based national conversations on important national issues… figure out, design and propose specific, and readily implementable, solutions to identified problems at the end of the day”. It was not “a platform for lamentations and the enumeration of problems”.
But that was three years ago. Two years before then, on September 14, 2020, in an article titled "Northern Nigeria, the Pretense Persists", this column called attention to the debilitating condition of things in the North in several respects. It said, then: "A recent lengthy submission from the elder statesman, Ahmed Joda, rested on a telling conclusion: Northern Nigeria is not
developing its human capital. It is now ill-equipped to fit into either the knowledge-driven world of today or the new world of tomorrow. It needs at least 20 years to become significant in any way. The people of the region lack the skills for tomorrow, as majority of its youth lack everything that could make them part of a 21st century world".
The piece continued: "The major point in Joda’s intervention is that the triumphalism of cattle rearers whose illusion of invulnerability is fuelled and sustained by a national security framework that is skewed to promote insecurity in specific regions of the country will go burst sooner than later. Confiscation of the headship of institutions of state is not the same thing as creating a “replacement generation” that could be part of a 21st Century world".
The above point was totally lost on the Buhari government. It plowed away at the wrong things and wasted eight years in grand tomfoolery, under the mistaken impression that it was driving the interests of the North.
The article went on to say this: "Since most of the northern states have abandoned, ungoverned and even ungovernable spaces, its currently consumption-driven elite is really in no position to do anything, beyond maintaining a hollow swagger that is backed by nothing but the fact that they are living mostly in Abuja and floating on free state funds. Look more closely and you will be reminded of what was said of the House of Eli in the Bible: “Any ear that hears” the judgment of The Lord on that household will tingle.
Now, let’s backtrack to an article which appeared on this page on April 17, 2019, titled “As the North Goes Under.". That was six years ago. It spoke of my visit to Zamfara State in 2014, which was “at once frightening, sobering and demoralising.” it spoke
of how "the then Secretary to the State Government explained how he abandoned his farm and ranch because of cattle rustling and fear for his personal safety.”
The man actually confessed that “it was impossible to deploy law enforcement agents, even for himself, in any meaningful way” because they were mostly outnumbered, ill equipped and answerable to Abuja". What is the situation today?
The more we look around us today, especially in the North, the more we see that the issues we would all like to see disappear are mutating and not disappearing. Meanwhile the only real concern is the 2027 presidency. To what purpose? What lessons were learnt from the Buhari fiasco? Just asking.
In the article, "The North and It's Enemies", which appeared on this page exactly a year ago we said: "The real enemy of that section of the Nigerian polity that is generally referred to as “The North” is not Tinubu. It is not banditry, or insurgency. It is also not political marginalization or the Governor of the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN), who directed that some departments of the CBN be relocated, as alleged by Katsina elders some time ago".
The article pointed out that " It is, instead, the failure of the Northern political, feudal, business and religious elites to address issues that are central to the region’s future in a 21st century world. It is as if there is a resolve by those who should know better to maintain deliberate insensitivity to the blinding gale of misfortunes sweeping through the region and burying everything that holds the prospect of a rebirth for the region".
It continued thus: "Rather than focus on what really matters, the concern is about more political opportunities for those who are holding the region in an anti-development stranglehold at the moment. We hear some of them
TWO YEARS OF OLAYEMI CARDOSO AT CBN AND THE JOURNEY AHEAD
Cardoso has also made it clear that he is targeting $1 billion remittances inflow by 2026, working with the commercial banks.
Furthermore, the CBN has also issued a fresh directive mandating all participants in the country’s payment ecosystem to complete migration to the ISO 20022 messaging standard and implement mandatory geo-tagging of payment terminals by October 31, 2025. It also introduced mandatory geo-tagging of payment terminals to enhance oversight and curb fraud in the electronic payments space and all existing and newly deployed payment terminals are required to have native geolocation services enabled, supported by double-frequency GPS receivers. This followed allegations that some PoS operators support payment of ransom to criminals and this move is expected to help curb the menace.
From the beginning, one of the battles Cardoso faced was to put an end to the commoditisation of the Naira, which was partly responsible for the fluctuation in the value of the currency.
Also, in the last two years, Cardoso has pulled the CBN away from direct development finance interventions into more limited advisory roles that support economic growth, with a firm belief that Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government responsible for such roles should be allowed to take the lead. He has also been working with the fiscal authorities to see to Nigeria’s delisting from the FATF Grey List, an announcement being expected in the coming days.
There has also been a visible improvement in monetary-fiscal coordination as the Fiscal and Monetary Policy Coordination Framework (FMPCF) has continued to work towards improving synergy between monetary and fiscal policies, in order to achieve better economic management. The Financial Services Regulation Coordinating Committee (FSRCC) has also been strengthened with regular inter-agency meetings and collaborations.
The CBN Governor has also demonstrated a steadfast commitment to strengthening the financial system. This saw the introduction of new guidelines for dormant accounts, the suspension of processing fees to encourage cash deposits, and the advanced use of Early Warning Systems.
He has also initiated a banking recapitalisation exercise that seeks to increase the capital requirements for banks operating in Nigeria across the different licence categories, with a deadline of March 31, 2026. Options include equity issuance, mergers, or license adjustments. The new minimum capital base for commercial banks with international licences is N500 billion, while that for commercial banks with national licences is N200 billion. A N50 billion minimum is required for commercial banks with regional licences; for merchant banks with national licences N50 billion; and for national and regional non-interest banks, the base is N20 billion and N10 billion, respectively. At the beginning of the exercise, the estimated required capital gap was about $4.1 trillion and
speak of how much of a menace “the North” will be in 2027 if President Tinubu does this, or fails to do that, in the interests of the region. And all of this chatter, presumably in pursuit of the overall higher interests of the north, is going on in the comfortable abodes of a disconnected political elite". And that is not amusing at all. They are busy with an imaginary serious business of fighting for the North, while the “genuine” interests of the region are being routinely decimated on a daily basis by bandits and politicians who are protecting them. It is steadily spewing out an ever-growing population of destitutes and budding criminals who are driven to social deviance by plain, naked hunger and nothing more.
If your space is being progressively taken over by official marauders and state-decorated insurgents, then it must be said that the truth is being, denied by those who should make things better. Thus, the problems are getting compounded, instead of being solved.
Going back to “The Call for Authenticity”, which appeared on this page some three years ago, “Inauthenticity walks the land! In Aso Rock, in the National Assembly, in the judiciary, in state government houses, in state Houses of Assembly, in local government headquarters, in churches and mosques, in institutions of higher and lower learning. We walk through a maze and claim to be walking under bright lights. Debauchery has been given a new name, in the hope that the discerning will no longer keep watch over disappearing values. No, the relevant eyes are still wide open, even if fewer in number than hitherto. The call for authenticity is real”.
I still remember these words from the book titled "Second Chance": ‘A mighty wind shall blow. A heavy rain shall fall. Out of the destruction, there shall be calm. And all shall not be the same again’.
so far the banks have raised $2.8 trillion.
The CBN Governor has also engineered internal reforms at the CBN since he assumed office, chief among which is the development of a solution in-house that has made the whole approval process across the central bank paperless. This has reduced approval time, enhanced efficiency, and prevented manipulation of data.
Nevertheless, despite these gains, the CBN is still far from where it ought to be. Inflation remains stubbornly high, exchange rate pressures persist, and structural weaknesses in the banking sector continue to test resilience, especially in the face of tension in the global economy. That is why as he looks ahead to the remaining three years of his tenure, the real challenge for Cardoso will be consolidating early successes while driving deeper reforms that can strengthen monetary stability, enhance financial inclusion, and restore the CBN’s role as a trusted anchor of Nigeria’s economic growth. The CBN must remain vigilant to protect the gains it has recorded so far.
Today the country operates with two versions of the N1000, N500 and N200 notes, a fallout of the Naira redesign policy of his predecessor. This cannot continue forever and Nigerians are looking up to the CBN to fix a terminal date for the phasing out of the older banknotes. Also, Cardoso needs to look into the CBN’s policy on cash management and ensure that it is implemented to improve the distribution of cash in the country, while working with the security agencies
to halt the trading of mint Naira notes at social gatherings across the country. Another important area Cardoso has to focus on going forward is the payment system. Nigeria’s payment system has improved significantly over the past two decades, and in some respects, its regulatory framework has really not kept pace with that movement. Today, some fintechs are bigger than some commercial banks. Therefore, the CBN has to be mindful of the way it relates with them to ensure that they are carrying out their activities in the best interest of their customers and the country.
Technology has been a key catalyst for the growth and development of institutions globally. Also, the adoption of artificial intelligence has created new possibilities and pathways for the delivery of financial products and services for both regulators and operators. That is why internally, beyond the digitisation of its approval process, it must fully embrace technology as well as encourage innovation among its staff. It must also encourage thought-leadership, manpower development, and capacity building from bottom to the top.
From the foregoing, while challenges remain, Cardoso’s steady approach and commitment to long-term solutions is laying the groundwork for a more resilient financial sector. As he enters the next phase of his journey, Nigerians and stakeholders alike are optimistic that his leadership will continue to drive innovation, stability, and trust in the nation’s banking system.
INTERVIEW
Charles Mba:
Enugu, Sujimoto Dispute Should Not Be Tribalised
Chief Charles Mba is a Lagos-based real estate magnet and businessman as well as the MD/CEO of CDV Properties and Development says the dispute between Enugu State Government and Sujimoto should not be tribalised. Prosper Taiwo brings the excerpts
Can you let us know your take on a recent news report over the dispute between the Enugu State Government and Sujimoto, as you were quoted to have advised that the matter should not be ethnicised?
What happened was that when that news of the Smart Schools Project broke and the revelation that Governor Mbah gave contract to a particular contractor who is Yoruba, some people from my State and part of the country began to complain that Enugu State Government under Governor Mbah awarded 22 schools worth N11.4 billion to a non-Igbo and non-Enugu man and also paid the 50 per cent of the contract sum when we have other contractors from our place that could still have done the same jobs. But to start with, remember that we are talking about 260 Smart Green Schools, which the administration is doing at once in all the political wards of Enugu State. At the same time, he is also doing 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres. That is a whole lot going on in a state that had never witnessed that level of development. To start with, my company, CDV Properties and Development Limited, was awarded a contract to construct 10 Smart Green Schools by the Enugu State government under Dr. Mbah. I know other people from Enugu State who also got multiple or bulk sites. For instance, my brother, Ikeje Asogwa’s Intasog Limited got 12 sites. Surv. Ugo Chime’s company was awarded 10 sites and Chinedu Nwobodo’s company, Albond, got 10 sites. And they are all from Enugu. In fact, as I stated in that report, companies owned or being promoted by Enugu indigenes are handling at least 90 per cent of the Smart Green Schools projects.
Then, how come your people were complaining?
I think that they did not have all that information. And as usual, politicians wanted to politicise it. But as I stated in the report you referred to, it is not about where anyone comes from, whether he is from the South West or North East or anywhere else. It is about the capacity to deliver. One, if you have followed Governor Mbah’s leadership approach, one thing that stands out about him is his quest for and pedigree of excellence and inclusivity. To him, only the best is good enough. Talking about inclusivity, Enugu State has 260 wards. You could see that his projects like Smart Green Schools, Farm Estates, and Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres, are based in the 260 wards. Even though he is from Enugu East Zone, what that approach means is that Enugu North where I come from gets more of those infrastructural developmental projects because we have 102 of the 260 wards. You could also see some other major infrastructural projects like the ongoing dualization of the over 40km Enugu-Opi-Nsukka road.
Again, if you could recall, during the recently concluded Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual Conference in Enugu, Senator Dino Melaye praised the governor’s merit-based appointments. You have people from every part of the country and even three or four foreigners working for the Enugu State Government. And that is exactly why he is succeeding. You have people from the South West, you have someone from the North, one or two whites from the US and he equally appointed someone from Austria at some point. He just wants the best for every sector, irrespective of what part of the world or Nigeria you are from and also not minding what part of Enugu State you are from.
Let us go back to the contract awards where it appears that Sujimoto is the only non-Igbo or non-Enugu that has benefited?
That is also a wrong and unfounded notion. For your information, out of the four Enugu State Transport Terminals recently commissioned by the Governor, Biodun Otunola of Planet Project built four of them – the Terminals 1 and 2 at Holy Ghost, the one at Garki, and the one at Abakpa.
You do not need to go far to understand why the government chose Otunola’s company because he built terminals in Lagos. If you look at this construction and the contractor who got it properly, it will confirm what I said earlier that Governor Mbah’s major bother is how to utilize Enugu state people’s money judiciously. They go through competitive bidding and cronyism is not part of the consideration. If you show cause for the state government to award you a contract as a result of your pedigree and knowledge, regardless of where you come from, you get it.
The Enugu Command and Control Centre is a multibillion-dollar project. It is linked to ultramodern surveillance cameras across. But Governor Mbah
entrusted it to a company owned by an indigene of Kano State. I think his name is Aminu, but I know that his company is Hajaraihsan. That is a multibillion naira project and you cannot fault him, because Aminu is in a world of his own in that sector. He is so good.
In fact, even the software installation for the Enugu State’s over 150 Distress Response Squad was handled by someone from the Jigawa. Again, when it was time to float an airline, that is the Enugu Air, he searched for the best in the industry to run it. Out of those that showed interest, he went for XEJET founded by Emmanuel Izah, a guru in the aviation sector, who is from Kogi State. One can go on and on. But you could see
a broadminded and cosmopolitan leader, who is ensuring that every part of the country benefits so long as you have the capacity and can offer value for money.
So, how does that help Enugu and the South East, as you alluded earlier?
Let me tell you, this Governor Mbah’s open arm approach is helping Igboland and Enugu State in particular. It is helping to change the wrong notion about our people. I am sure that you have heard other parts of the country, including their elites say that Ndigbo run a closed system; that if they are in a line of business, they do not let others in; that if you want to buy land in Igboland as a non-Igbo, they do not sell to you; and that Igbo government contracts are for Igbo people. Yet, we travel all over the country, making money from other people’s places. But in less than two and half years in office, Mbah has shattered those myths and misconceptions. Today, no right-thinking Yoruba man or even a Fulani or Hausa man can say the same thing about Enugu State. This gives those of us in business the bragging rights as business people or citizens of Enugu State. Mbah’s inclusive and liberal approach is a game-changer and door-opener for Enugu people wherever they find themselves. And it can only get better if he continues this way. And to be frank with you, it is only fair to position Enugu State that way.
Why do you think so?
Because other Enugu people and other Igbo people are also making money in other people’s lands, whether it is government contracts or normal businesses. Come to think of it, did Mbah make his own money in Igbo land? He started Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited from a small apartment in Lagos. Today, it is a multibillion-dollar business. He has the biggest products handling facility and he is a market leader. Perhaps I should have even started from my humble self.
Why Regional Industrialisation Holds Key to Shared Prosperity
The current reform program of the Tinubu administration, as I understand it, seeks to re-invent Nigeria’s economic wheel, take the country back to the postindependent era and start a journey that would birth a society where economic growth results in prosperity for its people. If I am correct, then there is need to return to the basics – literally speaking, that same era when the country was not only an economic giant on the African continent, but one that was poised to become a leading economy in the world. Nigeria was a large economy relying solely on proceeds from agriculture to drive industrial growth from three main regions, namely, Eastern, Western and Northern regions, with palm produce, cocoa and groundnut, respectively. Conversations have not ceased regarding where the country would be today, economically, if its political journey had not been interrupted in 1966. But as they say, better be late than never.
The ongoing reforms present, perhaps, the best opportunity for Nigeria to achieve an all-round and sustainable growth by unlocking the strengths of each of the six geo-political zones of the federation. This could be achieved by a deliberate shift from the traditional economic mainstay of commodities to industrialization. This does not, in any way, suggest and abandonment of commodities in the same manner agriculture was abandoned when oil became the country’s economic mainstay and major source of income. The suggestion here is diversification.
One of the cardinal objectives of the reforms as
captured in the new tax laws that will come into effect from January 1, 2026, is some level of financial autonomy for all the states, in particular, and the geo-political regions, as a whole. It should be among the objectives of the reforms to help the regions maximize their potential, for economic growth by exploiting their areas of strength – a question of using what you have to get what you need. If this is achieved, it might reduce dependence on Abuja for monthly handouts, an anomaly that has made states to be laidback on internally generated revenue.
As has often been acknowledged, there is no part of Nigeria that is not endowed with one natural resource or the other. Every state literally sits on wealth. What have been lacking over the years are the political will and commitment to take the required steps to enable the states to derive maximum economic benefits from those resources.
The level of economic growth envisaged by the
reforms requires that there should be synergy between the federal and state governments, in a bi-partisan manner, to identify the areas of strength of each state and region, and design the industries that would exploit those strengths for economic growth. For instance, the agricultural endowments of the North should be reflected in the number of agro-allied industries that are established in that part of the country. This is in addition to the normal supply of food items and agricultural produce.
Let us imagine the level of economic growth and rate of industrialization that the establishment of at least one agro-allied industry in each of the 19 states in the North could ushered in, and the number of jobs that could be created in the agricultural value chain in that part of the country. Every one of the northern states has the capacity to produce one food item or the other. This kind of development has the potential to unlock the potential of the North to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s achievement of food security.
The South West is fast becoming Nigeria’s centre for technology, with Lagos rated as the world’s fastest-growing tech city in 2025, in the Global Tech Ecosystem Index published by Dealroom.co, the Netherland-based, internationally recognized research firm. The state was ranked in the “Rising Stars” category that listed cities with rapidly growing tech ecosystems, beating other cities like Istanbul, Turkey; Pune, India as well as Belo Horizonte and Curitiba, both in Brazil.
Mba
Mojisola Saka
Saka
ATANDA Mu SA I Abstained From Sex for 3 Months to w in Asoju Oba Cup in 1985
Inspired by what he saw American footballers, basketballers and other athletes do - going to their community to give back to the less privileged, Atanda Musa decided to return to Nigeria and start the Atanda Musa U-15 Invitational Tournament.
“At a time in the United States I saw basketballer, baseballer and footballer returning to their local government to donate turkey to the locals during Thanksgiving. Some donating as much as 20,000 turkeys. I asked my friend what they are doing and he said “that is the meaning of giving back”. From that moment I decided on what to give back to my society back home, which was what gave birth to Atanda Musa U-15 Invitational Tournament.
“I want to ensure this tournament remains a permanent feature in the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) calendar. I am excited about the quality of talents we’ve seen, and we will keep improving the competition. My pledge is to keep hosting it annually and to make it even bigger, with more players breaking into the national limelight,” Mansa Musa, as he was called in some circles expressed.
One moment in Musa’s career that he would never forget in a hurry was inside the Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, in 1985, in the final of the Asoju Oba Cup, and confronting him was his fiercest rival, Yomi Bankole, and the prize at stake was a brandnew Peugeot 504 for the ultimate winner.
“Playing against Yomi Bankole was like coming against a lion. I always train extra hard anytime I was to play against him. He was a fantastic player. If you are playing against him, you need extra energy. He was a talented player. I was not talented. Some people are naturally gifted. In football, players like Jay Jay Okocha are naturally gifted, that is why he dribbles effortlessly. Bankole was like that. As part of my preparation for the 1985 Asoju Oba table tennis competition I denied myself sex for three months.” (His wife who was beside him during the interview nodded in affirmation).
Asked whether he was overwhelmed by the prize at stake, he responded, “I was not overwhelmed because Chief Molade Okoya Thomas (sponsor of the tournament) told me that if I lose against Bankole he would get me another brand-new 504 Peugeot car, Razak Okoya Thomas also promised me the same thing. They just liked me naturally, probably because of my humility,” he said.
Interestingly, Musa came from two sets down to beat Bankole 3-2, in what still remains as the fiercest rivalry in Nigeria’s table tennis history and one of the most memorable finals in the history of Asoju Oba table tennis
competition.
“Bankole and I took table tennis to a new height and after our retirement the sport had gone down,” Musa noted.
In spite of having had successful coaching careers in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the two-time Olympian would not want to have anything to do with table tennis administration or coaching in Nigeria.
“When it comes to anything that has to do with politics, I don’t like to get myself involved. I was in Nigeria in February this year on the invitation of the Kwara State governor where a table tennis hall was named after me in appreciation of my exploits in the game, and I really appreciate the gesture. After which I was offered the chairmanship of Kwara State Table Tennis Association, but I turned it down because I don’t want to create enmity for myself. I would rather help the younger table tennis players in my own little way.
“I have been asked several times to come and coach in Nigeria after my exploit with Saudi Arabia and Qatar but I turned the several offers down. I told them I’ll think about it and up till now I’m still thinking about it. I can do that outside but not in Nigeria, because of the politics that is always associated with everything in our country.
“Over there, you do your job without interference. Before I became coach of Saudi Arabia, they were ranked 52 and by the time I was leaving after four years they were 32 in the world ranking, which was a big improvement. I also took the Saudi Arabian national team to
the World Championship in Sweden,” the former Commonwealth Games champion expressed.
The ping pong Czar indeed attributed the nonexistence of rivalry in table tennis again as one of the reasons Nigeria and Africa’s number one player, Aruna Quadri has not been able to move above his present form.
“Quadri is too far above his contemporaries in Nigeria and therefore, nobody is challenging and driving him. Unlike in my days there were 20 players that we were in the same bracket, I was just lucky to be ranked number one. The rivalry was very intense and challenging that it was difficult
for a player to win two tournaments in a row. On how he got into playing table tennis, he said: “I was initially involved in playing football but because of the several injuries I sustained during playing, my dad, who was then working with AT & P Sapele, asked me to think of another sport that I would like to be involved in that won’t be causing me pains and injuries. That was how I opted for table tennis and my dad, who was himself a boxer sanctioned it.”
The 1988 Olympian indeed believes that with people like Dr. Efunkoya still in the business of developing and promoting table tennis in Nigeria, the future of the game is bright.
L-r-umar Ayoola, Atanda Musa and wife, Ibidapo, presenting the trophy to the male singles winner of the 2nd Atanda Musa u-15 National Championship at the Lagos Country Club....recently
Musa
Lookman Nearing Atalanta Call-up after Transfer Issues
If yesterday’s reports from Italy is anything to go by, Su- per Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman could potentially return to the Atalanta firstteam group for tomorrow’s Serie A match against Lecce, depending on whether the Nigeria international is able to take part in the team’s final training session today.
Lookman had a chaotic summer, which saw him hand in a formal transfer request after seeing a €45m bid from Inter rejected.
After accusing his club of breaking promises and treating him poorly on a professional and human level, he returned
to the UK to train on his own and only returned to Bergamo on August 19, less than a week out from the start of the Serie A season, and after all of Atalanta’s pre-season friendlies.
Amove away from Atalanta did not materialise in the end, which means that he is still part of Ivan Juric’s squad for the 2025-26 campaign, even if the relationship between the player and club has become strained.
According to reports from Sky Sport Italia, however, Lookman could potentially be in line to fea- ture for Atalanta in their next Serie A match against Lecce on
Sunday afternoon.
The 27-year-old started in both of Nigeria’s recent World Cup qualifiers over the international break: A 1-0 win over Rwanda and a 1-1 draw with South Africa.
As per Sky, if Lookman is able to train on Saturday, Atalanta’s final session before the Lecce clash, he is expected to be called up to the matchday squad. Friday’s report claims thatAtalanta ‘expect’ Look- man to be involved in Saturday’s session.
Lookman returned to Atalanta’s training ground yesterday, when he could train for the first time under Ivan Juric.
The former RB Leipzig and Leicester City striker was frozen
Awoniyi Replaces Ola Aina in Nottingham Squad as Defender Out for 3 Month
Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest have been dealt a significant blow with reports confirming that Ola Aina faces at least three months on the sidelines following a hamstring injury.
The Chelsea academy graduate pulled up just ten minutes into Tuesday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against SouthAfrica in Bloemfontein and was replaced by Bright Osayi-Samuel.
Concerns over the poor
condition of the Free State Stadium pitch had been raised before kickoff, and the surface may have contributed to Aina’s early withdrawal. Subsequent scans conducted in England have confirmed the initial fears, with The Telegraph UK reporting that the versatile fullback will be unavailable until December 2025, provided his rehabilitation goes according to plan.
Aina has been ever-present
for both club and country in recent months, starting three of Nottingham Forest’s Premier League matches this season and four of Nigeria’s last World Cup qualifiers.
His absence leaves a considerable void ahead of Nigeria’s games against Lesotho and Benin in October as well as the November friendly with Venezuela.
The 28-year-old is also in a race against time to be fit for the Africa Cup of Nations in
Promoter Says Joshua Versus Fury Will be ‘Biggest Fight in Boxing’
Promoter Eddie Hearn believes that Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury could soon be a dream fight made into reality
Hearn told Sky Sports he would “kick himself” if Joshua and Fury never fought, calling it the “biggest fight in boxing”. Joshua has not boxed since being knocked out by Daniel Dubois a year ago, while Fury’s last outing was in December 2024 in a second successive points loss to Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury announced his retirement after that defeat but
Hearn is hopeful the unified heavyweight champion will launch a comeback.
The Matchroom chairman said: “It would be a real, real shame if Tyson and AJ never fought.
“I don’t really have many regrets but I think we would always kick ourselves if we never saw that fight. It’s the biggest fight in boxing.
Former undisputed champion Lennox Lewis is keen on the possibility of a Fury-Joshua showdown, saying the ‘whole
world’ wants to see it
“You can’t even compare anything that we’ve done so far - Carl Froch-George Groves, AJ-Wladimir Klitschko, BennEubank. This is just completely different.
“It shuts down the country. They’re two very different but great fighters, two great personalities, two completely different individuals. For me, it’s a must.”
“Tell me a bigger fight in boxing? It doesn’t exist. It’s not just fighting and beating Fury for AJ. It’s just giving the British public
Rodgers Backs Iheanacho to Revive Career at Celtic
Celtic manager, Brendan Rodgers has expressed confidence in helping Kelechi Iheanacho rediscover his best form this season.
The Nigerian striker joined the Scottish champions as a free agent this summer after parting ways with Sevilla shortly before the transfer window closed.
Iheanacho endured a difficult spell in Spain, managing just three goals in 11 appearances across all competitions last season.
NFF r efutes South Africa Off-the-Hook
Claim, Says FIFA Social Media p ost Not Official Communication Benin on 18 November 2023 and Zimbabwe on 11 June 2024
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has refuted claims that South Africa have dodged a bullet in the 2026 World Cup qualifying sage involving Teboho Mokoena There have been calls for Bafana Bafana to be docked points after Mokoena featured in the 2-0 win over Lesotho on March 21 despite being ineli- gible to play
The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder should have served a one-match suspension for picking up yellow cards against
The Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) filed a formal complaint with FIFA, although there are suggestions it wasn’t made within 24 hours of the game as per the rules stated by world football’s governing bodyThe NFF has also been very vocal on the matter and its Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, confirmed there is still no decision forthcoming from FIFA that he’s been made aware of
“There has been no official communication to that effect. What people are reporting is a tweet from their (FIFA) X account. We do not consider that as official communication,” Olajire declared The Super Eagles are in danger of missing out on the global show- piece in Canada, Mexico and the United States after playing out to a 1-1 draw with Hugo Broos’ side on September 9 Nigeria trail Benin by three points in third place and are a further three adrift of Group C leaders Bafana Bafana with two matches left to play.
Fulham Coach Hails Chukwueze’s Deadline Day Acquisition
Fulham manager, Marco Silva has expressed confi- dence in new signing, Samuel Chukwueze, highlighting the Nigerian international’s ability to strengthen the club’s wide options.Chukwueze arrived at Craven Cottage on deadline day, joining on loan with an option to making the move permanent at the end of the campaign.
The former Villarreal wonderkid had a tough time at AC Milan, scoring eight goals and providing six as- sists in 70 matches across all competitions.
Speaking ahead of the
Premier League clash, Silva said Chukwueze’s arrival will provide a major boost to the team’s attacking depth.
“We believe the profiles of Chukwueze and Kevin will add to what we’ve been looking for in those areas of the pitch,” Marco Silva said at the pre-match press conference, as relayed by Fulham’s official website.
“WithAdama, Harry Wilson and Alex Iwobi, they’re going to be our solutions for the wide areas of the pitch.”
While noting that fellow summer arrival Kevin Santos has already settled in well, Silva hinted that Chukwueze is
gradually adapting to his new surroundings after linking up with the squad following Super Eagles“Kevinduty.has settled in well. He’s working hard to understand everything we need from him. He’s very young, 22-years-old, but he has the experience of playing Champions League and European games.
“The first time I saw Chukwueze and Jonah [Kusi-Asare] was yesterday, but Kevin is slightly different because he’s been with us for the last 10 days.”
The 26-year-old is expected to be in contention for his debut this weekend when Fulham host Leeds United.
Manchester Derby Headlines Super Premier League Weekend on SuperSport
The Premier League resume today with a full set of fixtures, as the table begins to take shape. All your favourite games will be broadcast live on DStv and GOtv.
Arsenal open the weekend at 12:30 pm when they host Nottingham Forest at the Emirates.
Later at 3:00 pm, Everton welcome Aston Villa in a clash of two sides desperate to inject consistency after mixed results.
The evening matches bring London intrigue. At 5:30 pm, West Ham United host Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea round of today’s action at Brentford, with kickoff at 8:00 pm. The Blues have rediscoveredsomemomentum after victory over Fulham, but face a tricky test against their London rivals, who are searching for form after a slow start.
Tomorrow sees three heavyweights in action, with two facing one another.At 2:00
pm, Liverpool face Burnley away from home, looking to build on their narrow but impressive triumph over Arsenal.
The weekend culminates in the Manchester derby at 4:30 pm, as City and United clash at the Etihad. City, champions two seasons ago, are reeling after two league defeats and cannot afford more dropped points. United, by contrast, edged a five-goal thriller against Burnley and will relish the opportunity to deepen the troubles of their noisy neighbours.
CitySports Africa Hosts Maiden Edition of Coaches Code Seminar Series
Despite the concerns, Rodgers is optimistic that reuniting with Iheanacho will bring out the best in the forward.
Speaking at a press conference, he welcomed the 28-yearold’s arrival and backed him to make a strong impact at Celtic Park.
“Thankfully at the end of the window there was a player that was available that I know very well,” Rodgers told Celtic TV.
He noted the successes they shared at Leicester City and expressed hope of
His loan move to Middlesbrough in January also failed to reignite his career, raising doubts over his ability to perform at the highest level.
helping him revive his career in Scotland.
“Kel was a player that was brilliant for me at Leicester. I only want to take someone here who was robust and he’s a genuine talent.”
“And if I can get that out of him again it could be a big plus for us. So we lost Adam. Adam made a really good contribution here.”
The Nigerian striker is in contention to make his Celtic debut against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday.
With questions still lingering over his form, Iheanacho will be eager to deliver a strong performance and validate his manager’s trust.
CitySports Africa has successfully hosted the maiden edition of The Coaches Code Seminar on September 5, in Ikeja, Lagos
The seminar, themed “Redefining Success: Building Coaches Who Build Lives,” brought together coaches, academy owners, trainers, and sports leaders from across Africa to address one of the most pressing needs in the nation’s sporting landscape, creating a culture of integrity and long-term player development over shortterm wins.
Launched as a platform to give coaches a collective voice, The Coaches Code is designed to
spotlight the realities of grassroots sports, amplify the experiences of coaches, and promote collaboration that strengthensAfrica’s sporting ecosystem. With football as its anchor but inclusive of all sports,
Lookman
Super eagles midfielder, Ndidi goes for a decisive tackle against South Africa
pr Manager, CitySports Africa emmanuella Igomu; Founder, SpringSoca united Academy Oladapo emmanuel; Sports entrepreneur, Naomi Offiong; CeO, CitySports Africa, Shola Opaleye at the maiden edition of The Coaches Code Seminar Series in Ikeja, Lagos the series seeks to redefine the role of coaches, not only as managers of games but as builders of disciplined, skilled athletes prepared for global success.
As I said, Three Years Ago
The article was titled "fear and Trembling”. The date was November 22, 2022. The issues on the table at time revolved around the many uncertainties surrounding our personal and national lives. The dominant motif in all discourse at the time was an Incubus of great dimensions; An ever present, but undefined dagger. The article in question began thus: "Our people say that there’s something to worry about when all known soothsayers maintain a pregnant silence, while wearing a scowl. Our people also say that neither the man who wants to wash his clothes in the morning, nor one who wants to set out early for a distant market with a bag of salt on his head, will know what to do for sure if the sky remains overcast for long, but brings
neither rain nor strong winds. My people say that the appearance of the dragonfly is a clear sign that the dry season and the concomitant harmattan wind is near.
Look around you and tremble".
The article continued thus: "There seems to be a brewing cocktail of unpleasant events. The greater worry is that it may all turn into a frightening and inescapable cascade of calamities. No one can give it a name as yet. Yes, no one can say for sure what it is. Insecurity, hunger, confusion, leadership illiteracy and much more are staring us in the face everywhere".
The point being made then, which is being repeated here and now, is that all is not well with our current politicking, across all political divides. You can feel it. You can smell it. You can almost touch it. Yet we are all carrying on as if we are sure about what would happen next. Depravity walks the land, as politicians tumble over themselves to convince us that they should be taken seriously. Anon,
it is fear and trembling everywhere! Also three years ago, on May 21, 2022, titled “Productivity, the Nation and Fake News” brought out “Some of the most important conclusions of participants at a Non-Partisan RoundTable on pressing national issues, which was organized by Development Specs Academy, and which held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja, as follows: (1) Increased productivity is a critical success factor for any nation that wants a strong and stable national currency, (2) Consumption patterns and product preferences have a direct impact on a nation’s Balance of trade, especially with regards to deficits, (3) The Nigerian State, and the citizenry, must consume mostly what they produce and produce mostly
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Two Years of Olayemi Cardoso at CBN and the Journey Ahead
Price and exchange rate stability are the foundation of any economy. They promote investor confidence and reduce uncertainty. They also make it easier for businesses to plan, ultimately affecting economic output positively. In fact, every economy works best when there is price stability, which has been the pursuit of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, who marks his second year in office on Monday, September 15, 2025.
Cardoso’s two years at the helm of the CBN have no doubt delivered notable progress. Under his stewardship, the central bank has implemented a series of measures aimed at enhancing market transparency, improving financial stability, fostering a more secure investment environment, and shifting
towards a market-driven exchange rate regime.
Also, the CBN under Cardoso has remained focused in its fight against soaring inflation by maintaining its hawkish monetary policy stance. By
adopting aggressive monetary tightening, the CBN aims to curb excessive money supply, a key driver of inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the rate of change in prices of goods and commodities, declined for the fourth consecutive month to 21.88 per cent in July, compared to 33.40 percent in July 2024, based on rebased figures. Cardoso made tackling inflation his paramount mission, holding onto orthodox monetary policy with his belief that it is an essential path to achieving sustainable economic growth in the midto-long term, as well as improving the standard of living of ordinary Nigerians. Another notable feat recorded by the CBN Governor in the last two years is the inauguration of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Code (FX Code), in a strategic step to entrench accountability, compliance, and transparency in the country’s foreign exchange market.
This has contributed positively to the stability in the forex market. He also introduced the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS), which sets clear and enforceable standards for ethical conduct and governance in the forex market.
The collaborative international outreach missions he initiated on assumption of office, where Nigerian banks work closely with the CBN to engage diaspora communities, has resulted to significant progress, with monthly diaspora remittance inflows rising from $250 million to $600 million.
Owing to this, some Nigerian banks have once again started allowing customers to make international payments using their naira-denominated debit cards, following a long pause due to foreign exchange pressures.
