Ankara, Nigerian Fabrics Dominate Spotlight at Parties Globally
Sunday Ehigiator
Once seen largely as traditional attire, Ankara, a Nigerian fabric, has transcended borders to become a global fashion statement, commanding the spotlight at parties, red carpets, and cultural events around the world. Its bold prints, vibrant colours, and versatile designs now rival some of the most celebrated luxury fabrics, redefining style and identity for Nigerians at home and in the diaspora. From Lagos to London, Accra
to Atlanta, Ankara has become a symbol of pride and creativity, worn not only by Africans but increasingly embraced by international celebrities and fashion enthusiasts. Its growing influence reflects the fusion of heritage and innovation, showing
how Nigerian fabrics are rewriting the rules of global fashion while keeping cultural authenticity intact.
Speaking with THISDAY, the CEO of OJ Inspired, Tobiloba Adegoke, noted that Ankara’s popularity is rooted in its ability to blend culture with glamour.
“Ankara is more than fabric; it’s history, identity, and bold storytelling in colours and patterns.
“When a young woman in Miami or Toronto wears my dress to prom, she’s not just dressed up, she’s carrying a piece of Nigeria with her.”
Adegoke, whose brand exports to the US, Canada, and Europe, said orders have grown exponentially thanks to Instagram and TikTok.
Ibas Preaches Peace as Rivers Holds Controversial LG Elections Today...
www.thisdaylive.com
in
Jonathan Has Not Ruled Himself Out of 2027 Contest, Says Cousin
Bala Mohammed: PDP considering former president, Obi for presidential ticket
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has denied reports
suggesting that he has abandoned plans to contest the 2027 presidential election, describing the publication as
false and misleading.
Jonathan’s cousin, Azibaola Robert, who debunked the report in a statement on his verified
Facebook page, however, declined to confirm if the former president has decided to contest in 2027.
The denial followed a report
that Jonathan had opted not to pursue a second-term ambition so as not to disrupt Southern unity ahead of the polls.
Although the former president has not formally declared his Continued on page 5
With Renewed Confidence, Stock Market Gains N26.01 Trillion in Eight Months
FX stability, bold reforms, corporate resilience fueling rally Analysts project market to cross N100trn mark before end of
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Kayode Tokede
Ibas Preaches Peace as Rivers Holds Controversial LG Elections Today
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), has appealed to all Rivers people to conduct themselves peacefully during today's controversial local government elections.
Some prominent Rivers indigenes had asked President Bola Tinubu to halt the conduct of the local government elections.
Five indigenes of Rivers had sued the federal government, Ibas, and the State electoral body over plans to conduct the local government elections.
But speaking yesterday, the State administrator said, “All necessary arrangements have been made to ensure a safe
Specifically, the market capitalisation that opened 2025 at N62.763 trillion, gained N26.01 trillion or 41.43per cent in eight months to close yesterday, the last trading day in August at N88.769 trillion.
Also, the Nigerian Exchange Limited All-Share Index (NGX ASI) closed yesterday, at 140,295.50 basis points, advancing by 37,369.10 basis points or 36.31 per cent year-to-date (YtD) from 102,926.40 basis points it closed for trading in 2024.
Capital market analysts attributed the stock market N26.01 trillion growth to stability in the foreign exchange market, companies recovering from foreign exchange losses, market liquidity, capital inflow, dominance of domestic investors, increasing portfolio investment, Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) banking sector recapitalisation, and insurance sector reforms. All these, they pointed out, have played critical role in overall stock market appreciation in the growth so far in the first eight months of 2025.
and peaceful election," just as he urged residents to "please go out tomorrow (today) and exercise your civic responsibility without fear or intimidation."
Ibas made the appeal when he met with leaders of organised labour and Local Government Administrators, at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
The sole administrator reinforced his administration’s unwavering commitment to transparency, staff welfare, and the successful conclusion of the ongoing staff verification exercise.
He stated that the timing was deliberate to underscore the intrinsic link between accountable leadership and effective grassroots governance.
So far in 2025, the stock market has seen the Monetary Policy Committee of the CBN retaining interest rate at 27.50 per cent, inflation rate moving to 21.88 per cent as of July 2025 from 15.44per cent in December 2024, listing by introduction of Legend Internet Plc and banks announcing the outcome of fresh capital raising on the Exchange. Also, yield on Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTB) has dropped to 15.61 per cent as of July 2025 from 18.00 per cent. In the eight months under review, several stocks listed on the NGX have recorded strong month-to-date appreciation, reflecting heightened foreign investor confidence driven by improved macroeconomic indicators and robust corporate earnings.
THISDAY checks showed that out of the N88.769 trillion market capitalisation, BUA Foods Plc contributed 11.96 per cent when its market capiitalisation closed yesterday, at N10.62 trillion, followed by MTN
“Tomorrow’s elections are an important step towards restoring democratic governance at the grassroots. But leaders can only be held accountable when there is clarity on the human and material resources available to them,” the Administrator stated. At the heart of the discussions was the comprehensive staff verification and biometric
enrolment exercise initiated to enhance transparency and efficiency across the state and local government workforce.
The Administrator disclosed compelling results from the exercise to date, saying that "37,703 state staff verified, against a previous figure of over 43,000. "19,186 state pensioners verified, compared to over
25,500. 2,004 local government pensioners verified out of over 2,600. 8,000 local government staff verified across seven LGAs, including Obio/Akpor, Bonny, Etche, and Degema."
Emphasising the necessity of the process, Ibas set a deadline of September 4, 2025, for the completion of all local government staff verification,
vowing to deploy all necessary state resources to meet this goal. Addressing the issues of gratuity and death benefits, the Administrator described the current situation as “deeply regrettable.” He revealed that while efforts are ongoing, only arrears for March 2025 have been cleared due to challenges with verified records.
Sokoto Hit by Another Boat Accident, Several Feared Dead
Another boat mishap in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Thursday evening claimed several lives, plunging surrounding communities into mourning.
The State has recorded its third boat mishap in just
Nigeria Communications Plc that contributed 10.3 per cent amid N9.13 trillion market capitalisation as of August 29, 2025.
The growth in BUA Foods stock price impacted on NGX Consumer Goods Index on the NGX to emerge as the best performing index, while the NGX Oil & Gas Index maintained its position as the worst performing index on NGX.
As NGX Consumer Goods Index appreciated by 84.24per cent YtD, NGX Oil & Gas plummeted to -12.19 per cent in its YtD performance.
Capital market analysts noted that the corporate earnings reports of H1 2025, among other factors, encouraged investors seeking high returns in a volatile macro environment.
The Managing Director, Globalview Capital Limited, Mr. Aruna Kebira in a chat with THISDAY, noted that the stock market in the eight months of 2025, benefitted from drop in inflation, among others.
“The yields in the money
one month, sparking renewed concerns about safety on its waterways.
Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Aminu Liman Bodinga, who confirmed the development
market are not looking as attractive as they were in 2024, making discerning investors in search of better yields consider the capital market as their investment destination.
“In the last MPC, the MPR was retained, including other metrics. This is sending positive signals that, as the inflation figure and money market yields are downward looking, the MPC would have a reason to tinker the MPR downward. Which is not always fixed income friendly,” he added.
He predicted that the stock market in September 2025, would be hinged on the quality of the audited half year results and account of Zenith Bank Pl, among others.
“If the various issuers demonstrate a performance higher than the corresponding period of 2024 and declare an impressive interim dividend, the stock market will move to appreciate their prices.
“I also see an improvement in the liquidity around the stock
said, “Officials have been dispatched to the accident scene for search and rescue operations.”
He added that SEMA was working with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to rescue survivors and recover victims.
market arena, which will boost market participation and invite the bull into the market,” he added.
For his part, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, APT Securities and Funds Limited, Kasimu Garba Kurfi, projected that the market capitalisation was expected to surpass the N100 trillion mark by the end of 2025, buoyed by foreign exchange stability, strong corporate fundamentals, and increased primary market activities.
Kurfi identified key drivers of the 2025 market rally, including the elimination of foreign exchangerelated losses by companies.
He pointed out that in 2024, listed firms posted pre-tax FX losses of N507.2 billion, up from N359 billion in 2023, representing a combined N867 billion in losses.
“In 2025, we have seen zero FX losses due to exchange rate stability, and this has significantly boosted investor confidence,” he said.
The APT Securities boss said the signing of the Nigerian
JONATHAN HAS NOT RULED HIMSELF OUT OF 2027 CONTEST, SAYS COUSIN
candidacy, strong indications point to ongoing nationwide consultations with political stakeholders as part of moves to actualise a potential comeback bid.
Azibaola, who faulted the news report, wrote: “The story is completely false. Former President Jonathan never said he would not contest in 2027. The so-called aide quoted in the publication does not exist.”
The clarification comes amid growing speculation over Jonathan’s political future.
While he has not officially announced his intention to run, his cousin stressed that he has equally not ruled himself out.
“Five years ago, we were exporting in tens. Now, we’re shipping in hundreds every season,” he said. “Once someone goes viral in Ankara, we get a flood of inquiries. The beauty is, no two pieces are alike. Each client gets a unique cultural statement.
“Ankara is no longer just for local Owambe parties. It’s for the world. Each piece carries the story of Africa: boldness, resilience, culture. When someone in London or Atlanta wears my dress, they’re not just making a fashion statement. They’re telling people, ‘This is who I am and where I come from.’”
For Adegoke, the global
“The former president has made it clear that he would not yield to calls not to run, since those making such admonitions had selfish motives,” Azibaola said, without disclosing when Jonathan might formally declare his ambition.
Jonathan, who served as president between 2010 and 2015, remains a formidable figure in Nigeria’s political landscape. Meanwhile, Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is considering Jonathan or Peter Obi, ex-governor of Anambra, to possibly lead the party to the polls in 2027.
embrace of Ankara is deeply personal. “There was a time when people saw Ankara as ‘too African’ or not polished enough for international events. Today, it’s the opposite; people crave it because it’s authentic. The world is tired of copy-and-paste fashion. They want originality, and we’ve got that in abundance.”
He added that demand from the diaspora has surged, particularly among secondgeneration Africans eager to connect with their heritage. “A lot of my international clients are young people who want their clothes to speak. They’ll say, ‘Make me a Cinderella dress, but make
His comment comes in the wake of the PDP’s decision to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
On Wednesday, Abba Moro, Senator representing Benue South, said some individuals have been engaging with Jonathan and Obi over a potential return to the PDP. He also hinted that Obi could clinch the party’s presidential ticket in 2027 if he decides to return.
Speaking during his appearance on national television, Mohammed said Jonathan remains “one of the most celebrated politicians today despite previous political blackmail against him” before
it African.’ And when the photos hit Instagram, everyone wants the same thing.”
Also speaking, the CEO of DaStylz House of Fashion, David Omobolanle, noted that the global rise of Ankara is nothing short of a revolution. “Nigerian fabrics are now competing with, and in many cases outshining, Western couture on the global stage,” he said.
“Our bold colours, intricate designs, and hand-finished detailing stand out at parties where everyone else is in predictable satin or silk.”
Omobolanle, who has shipped over 400 Ankara outfits abroad
the 2019 election.
Mohammed, who is Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, said Obi, who contested on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023, would be given a chance if he returns.
“But certainly, President Jonathan is one of the candidates we are thinking of, if he joins us and opens his mind to run,” he said.
“And even other people like Governor Obi, because if he decides to come to a better platform where there are no encumbrances, he will be given the opportunity too,” Bala said.
Asked whether the PDP
within the last 22 months, said prom dresses make up the bulk of his international business.
According to Omobolanle, “Ankara’s strength lies in its adaptability. It works in any setting. I can design a ball gown, a cocktail dress, or even a corporate suit with Ankara, and it still makes a statement. The patterns are fearless, the colours command attention, and the cultural roots give it weight. Western fabrics often feel repetitive; Ankara is alive.
“In New York, Chicago, and even smaller towns in Texas, teenagers are choosing Ankara gowns for their big night. Parents
governors were engaging Obi ahead of the 2027 election, he replied: “Have you not seen him with me? He's my brother, my friend.”
“And of course, he’s one of the most celebrated politicians too. You see him within the coalition or no coalition. Definitely, we are not sleeping, only that we don’t make noise,” Mohammed added.
He noted that other Southern politicians, including Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State, are also free to contest the ticket.
“There are so many politicians. I even had a session with Governor Amaechi. I have not been sleeping,” the Bauchi
tell me their daughters win ‘Best Dressed’ awards, sometimes even prom queen titles, just because the dresses are so unique,” he explained.
Both designers agree that Ankara’s global appeal lies in its versatility. “It works for luxury events, red carpets, birthday dinners, even weddings,” Adegoke said. “And unlike massproduced Western gowns, ours carry cultural depth. It’s elegance with identity.”
But the boom isn’t without challenges. Shipping delays, high tariffs, and rising fabric costs often threaten margins. Omobolanle admitted: “Sometimes I’m up at
According to reports, the overloaded boat capsized mid-river, throwing all passengers into the water. The actual number of casualties remains uncertain, but locals fear many lives have been lost.
Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA 25) has triggered a rally in insurance stocks, while the CBN’s bank recapitalisation programme has revived the primary market, attracting over N2 trillion in 2024, with similar volumes anticipated in 2025.
Capital market analysts noted that sustaining this momentum in the remaining of 2025 will depend on the continuation of stable and credible economic policies.
The Vice President, Highcap Securities, David Adonri noted that the equities market so far in 2025 has witnessed massive interest in the recovering major stocks such as Airtel Africa, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, and others which propelled the rally. In addition, analysts at Cordros Research stated that, “We believe the domestic equities market might respond positively to the MPC’s decision to pause interest rate ikes as investors assess the likelihood of policy easing in the medium term.
governor said. “I have to make sure I create a closing-of-rank for people to come and help.”
When asked about the possibility of Rotimi Amaechi returning to the PDP, the Bauchi governor replied: “Well, he’s free if he wants to come back.” Mohammed also said the PDP lost the 2023 election because it failed to zone the presidential ticket to the South.
The governor suggested that the party needs a Christian from the South to emerge as a presidential candidate, with a Muslim from the north as running mate.
3 am managing logistics to make sure a gown gets to California before prom night. It’s stressful, but when I see the videos of my clients twirling in Ankara, and of course, the Naira equivalent of the FX service charge, it’s worth it.” Despite obstacles, both designers are optimistic. “Ankara has gone from local to global, and it’s unstoppable now,” Adegoke said. “In the next five years, I believe we’ll see Ankara gowns on Hollywood red carpets and even the Met Gala.” “Nigerian fabrics are no longer guests at the party, we’re becoming the life of the party,” Omobolanle added.
COURTESY VISIT...
Nigeria-Brazil BASA Agreement Sparks Optimism in Aviation Sector
Nigeria’s aviation industry has been handed a new wave of optimism following the recent signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Brazil. The landmark deal is expected to strengthen air connectivity between the two largest economies on their respective continents, opening the skies for direct passenger and cargo flights.
Aviation stakeholders describe the agreement as a critical step towards deepening economic ties, boosting tourism, and facilitating greater trade volumes across the Atlantic.
For a sector that has long struggled with limited connectivity, high operating costs, and infrastructural bottlenecks, the deal is seen as a catalyst for growth. If well implemented, it could not only ease travel and business exchanges between Nigeria and Brazil but also contribute significantly to the aviation sector’s revenue and the broader economy.
Earlier in the week, Nigeria and Brazil signed a new BASA deal
which signalled the establishment of direct air links between Nigeria and Brazil; designating a Nigerian airliner, Air Peace to operate direct flight from Lagos to Sao Paolo, while Brazilian carrier, LATAM will operate cargo flights between the two countries.
In signing the new BASA deal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Brazilian counterpart, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, have opened a new economic frontier and vista of opportunities for both countries, which share strong cultural affinity.
The new BASA arrangement establishes a framework for direct air connectivity between Nigeria and Brazil, opening fresh avenues for trade, tourism, investment, and people-to-people exchanges. It is expected to foster stronger economic integration, facilitate cultural ties, and enhance diplomatic cooperation between both nations.
Industry stakeholders described the agreement as a strategic milestone that underscores the Tinubu administration’s commitment to expanding Nigeria’s global partnerships and
FG Moves to Make Delta Ports Functional, Boost Economic Activities in South-south
Sylvester Idowu in Warri
The federal government has embarked on a strategic move to ensure the revitalisation of seaports in parts of Delta State as part of efforts to enhance economic activities in the South-south region.
Chairman, Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, accompanied by other members of the board were in Delta State for two days engaging strategic stakeholders and management of Delta Ports, during their tour of ports, on how to collaborate in the revitalisation of the ports in Koko, Sapele, Burutu and Warri.
Senator Adeyeye and his team had met with Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborewvori; the Orodje of Okpe, Orhue 1; the Olu of Warri Atunwatse 111, management and staff of the Nigerian Ports Authority in
Warri as well as stakeholders of Delta Ports.
Addressing stakeholders at different fora on Wednesday and Thursday, Adeyeye assured that the board will ensure that the Ports in Delta were fully operational.
"This board will ensure that the Ports in Delta are fully operational for the economic prosperity of the nation as well as job creation," he assured.
Acknowledging that the challenges facing the ports were daunting but surmountable, the board Chairman assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu desires to have the Ports functional to stimulate the economy as well as provide much needed job opportunities.
According to him, "It does not make sense for importers servicing the North Central and South East to continue to use Lagos ports when the Delta Ports are here."
creating enabling environments for commerce and mobility.
Managing Director/CEO of Omni Blue Aviation (OBA) Limited and pioneer Director General of the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Akin Olateru, commended the federal government for the new BASA deal and said it is a great opportunity for Air Peace, adding that this level of relationship
between Nigeria and Brazil was long overdue.
Also, industry analyst and Regional Director, Moov Airways, Lanre Bamgbose, commended the federal government for actualising the BASA deal, saying that President Tinubu “got this off the ground on a broader scale.”
“I am particularly pleased that President Bola Tinubu got
this off the ground on a broader scale, I recall leading Arik’s drive a few years ago in resuscitating the Nigeria -Brazil direct flight on the aftermath of the Varig’s exit in the 90s. The tremendous work of Nigeria Embassy in Brasilia and Consulate Genrala in Sao Paulo, which facilitated several meetings with Brazilian authorities and the Arik meetings with Go Air in Brazil way back through
2012-2013 towards delivering the same service.
“Nonetheless I am indeed very pleased and excited that another Nigerian carrier, Air Peace has timely walked into this opportunity as chaperoned by Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and took it over from where we managed to get it up to,” Bamgbose said.
Education Minister Clarifies Statement on Agreement With ASUU
Strike: We will not be blackmailed if provoked to shut down universities, union warns
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja and Oluchi Chibuzor in Lagos
Following concerns and counter claims from the statement made on Thursday by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, concerning the agreement reached between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the government has clarified its stance.
This was as ASUU said that
they will not be blackmailed by the usual tale of government that the union is being sponsored by some opposition group if provoked to shut down universities across the country due to the negligence to sign the Yayale Ahmed renegotiated agreement.
It said for the avoidance of doubt, the federal government and ASUU have a signed agreement. However, the last signed agreement was in 2009
and it remains the most recently signed and binding agreement between the federal government and ASUU.
The minister was recorded saying that there was never a signed agreement with the Union, claiming that what the Union claims to be a signed agreement was only a mere draft and for this reason, the government would sit with the Union and discuss way forwards from the protracted impasse that has continued to
threaten the university calendar due to incessant strikes.
In a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Folashade Boriowo, the federal government through the ministry has urged the public and all stakeholders to disregard any misinterpretations the ministers comment might have caused, and to note that the federal government’s commitment to resolving issues with ASUU remains firm.
Kwankwaso Rules Out Defection, Reaffirms Commitment to NNPP
National Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has dismissed speculation about his defection, insisting he remains firmly committed to the party.
Speaking at the NNPP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, Kwankwaso said the party was making steady progress, particularly in Kano and other states.
Caleb
“There have been fake reports suggesting I am leaving NNPP.
“Let me be clear: we are happy in our party, we are comfortable, and we are not in a hurry to go anywhere,” he stated.
The former Kano governor stressed that decisions ahead of the 2027 elections would be made collectively, in line with party supremacy.
“If there will be any negotiation, it will involve the entire NNPP family, not just a few individuals,” he added, advising members not
to be distracted by politicians defecting to other parties.
Recalling how he lost his reelection bid in 2003 but returned to power in 2011, Kwankwaso said it was a lesson in resilience.
He expressed confidence that Nigerians had already made up their minds ahead of 2027 and that “reality will determine their votes.”
In his remarks, NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Ajuji Ahmed, described the party as “the beautiful bride of Nigerian
politics” and urged citizens to register for their voter cards.
Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, represented by his Deputy Aminu Gwarzo, accused political rivals of undermining the NNPP in recent by-elections, but expressed optimism that the party’s mandate would be restored.
The party’s 2023 vice presidential candidate, Bishop Isaac Idahosa, also affirmed the NNPP’s readiness for victory in 2027.
Student Emerges ‘Top in the World’ in Cambridge IGCSE English
Funmi Ogundare
A student of Caleb International College, Magodo, Kenechukwu Oluwanifemi Uba, was yesterday, named the 'Top in the World', candidate in the November 2024 Cambridge IGCSE English as a second language (speaking endorsement).
The prestigious Outstanding Cambridge Learners Award, endorsed by Rod Smith, Group Managing Director of International Education at Cambridge University Press and Assessment, recognises Uba’s exceptional proficiency in spoken English on the global stage.
At a ceremony jointly hosted
by the British Council and Cambridge University Press and Assessment in Lagos, Uba was celebrated for achieving the highest speaking endorsement score worldwide.
“This award celebrates not just a remarkable individual, but also the supportive learning ecosystem that enabled her success,” said Louise Hendey, Managing Director for Cambridge International Education.
Dr. Oladega Adebogun, Proprietor/Chief Executive Officer of Caleb Group of Schools and University, described the win as a reflection of the school’s mission.
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Chinedu Eze
L-R: Director & Head Legal, Regulatory and Taxation Department, Nigeria Employer's Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Thompson Akpabio; General Manager, Japan Tobacco International Nigeria (JTI), Mr. Abdallah Simba; Director General and Chief Executive, NECA, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde; Corporate Affairs Manager, JTI, Chioma Nwachuku, and Corporate Affairs & Communications Director, JTI, Mr. Vivian Ikem, during a courtesy visit to NECA office in Lagos... recently
60TH EPISCOPAL ANNIVERSARY...
Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi (right) and Cardinal Francis Arinze at the 60th anniversary of the clergy’s ordination as a Bishop…yesterday
Marafa Dumps APC, Set to Join ADC, Accuses Tinubu of Betrayal, Neglect
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
In a major political development with far-reaching implications for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator who represented Zamfara Central in the 7th and 8th National Assembly, Kabiru Garba Marafa, has announced his resignation and those of his teeming supporters from the ruling party.
Marafa, who was the Zamfara State Coordinator for the Tinubu/ Shettima Presidential Campaign in 2023, described President Bola Tinubu as a “use-and-dump” leader.
The former Chairman of the 8th Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), lamented that the President had not only betrayed personal trust but also abandoned Zamfara State after securing its crucial support in the 2023 Presidential election.
The Marafa political family’s exit from APC was announced following a two-day consultative meeting held on August 27th and 28th, 2025, in Kaduna, the Kaduna State capital without revealing their next line of action.
The resolution was accompanied by a communique jointly signed by key members of the Senator Kabiru Marafa Consultative Forum representing all the 14 local government areas of Zamfara State.
According to the communique, made available to THISDAY yesterday, the political structure of Senator Marafa, across the 147 wards in the state, unanimously resolved to resign from the APC in protest against what it described as “sustained injustice, mistrust, marginalisation, and deliberate neglect of Zamfara State and its people.”
Marafa recalled that he had
Stanbic IBTC Rewards 70 Lucky Winners in Reward4Saving Promo
Stanbic IBTC Bank has reaffirmed its dedication to fostering a sustainable savings culture in Nigeria through the successful hosting of the fourth monthly draw in its Reward4Saving Promo - Season 4.
personally assured President Tinubu of Zamfara’s support and even urged him not to visit the state during the presidential campaign, promising to deliver it without the President’s physical presence.
True to that commitment, he said, Zamfara became one of only two states in the North-west that
Glo
gave Tinubu a victory during the 2023 elections, a feat acknowledged by Tinubu himself.
Part of the communique read, “Despite this pivotal contribution, the Marafa-led structure in Zamfara was sidelined in all areas. Political appointments, infrastructural development, and federal presence.
“While Lagos State, where Tinubu lost, received overwhelming patronage and multiple ministerial slots, Zamfara was handed only a Minister of State portfolio, with no meaningful developmental attention or federal engagement,” it added.
The communique expressed grave concern over the escalating
insecurity in Zamfara, calling it a humanitarian disaster made worse by federal neglect. It cited data published by some newspapers and noted that Zamfara topped the list of states affected by kidnappings, with 1,203 of the 4,722 kidnapped nationwide in 2024 coming from the state alone.
Celebrates 22 Years of Innovation, Service, Empowerment
Globacom has extended heartfelt gratitude to its millions of customers across Nigeria and beyond, whose loyalty and trust have been the bedrock of its success story for 22 years.
In a thank you message to its customers, Globacom said, “22 years of Glo is a story of resilience and strength, and through every storm, you, our loyal subscribers, have powered our network. With every connection, you have
fuelled our growth.”
Since launching operations on August 29, 2003, the company has remained committed to its vision of empowering lives and transforming businesses. From the outset, Globacom challenged conventions, becoming the first operator in Nigeria to introduce per second billing and crash cost of SIM acquisition, revolutionary moves that democratised access to mobile telephony for millions
of Nigerians.
Over the past 22 years, Globacom has consistently championed ground-breaking innovations and interventions in the industry. These include massive network expansion through building one of Africa’s most robust and extensive fibre optic networks, linking cities, towns, and underserved communities.
To enhance international
connectivity, Globacom launched the Glo 1 submarine cable, the first privately owned undersea cable in Africa, bringing unprecedented broadband capacity and driving Nigeria’s digital economy. It also pioneered several innovative products and costeffective voice and data packages that have expanded access to communication, empowering individuals, businesses, and institutions.
The event took place in Lagos and witnessed the emergence of 70 lucky winners, from the Bank’s seven business zones; each winning N100,000 for maintaining a minimum savings balance of N10,000 in their Stanbic IBTC Savings Account or @ease Wallet. The balances were maintained for a minimum of 30 consecutive days respectively. The draw was conducted with keen oversight from regulatory representatives to ensure transparency and fairness. Notable attendees included representatives of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC); Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON); and Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA). Since the commencement of the Reward4Saving Promo –Season 4, a total of 288 customers have shared in N37 million worth of cash rewards, with the total prize expected to reach N130 million by the conclusion of the initiative in April 2026. With N93 million remaining in the prize pool, excitement continues to climb among customers of Stanbic IBTC Bank nationwide.
Manufacturers of military hardware have called on African leaders to prioritise locally made defence armaments in order to boost the continent’s economy, generate employment, support local currencies, and tackle escalating security threats.
Also a security expert, Mmadu Onuora, has charged African Chiefs of Defence Staff to take the war to terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other transnational organised
Speaking during the draw, Head of Sales and Distribution, Lagos Mainland, Oluwakemi Zollner, stated, “Stanbic IBTC Bank is committed to rewarding loyal customers while enhancing the savings culture within society. The promo is open to both existing and new customers.
criminals operating within Africa — root them out and get the job done, not hold summits.
The manufacturers, operating under the banner of the Defence Industries Association of Nigeria (DIAN), noted that prioritising indigenous products would strengthen Africa’s capacity to defend itself and reduce unnecessary reliance on external suppliers.
The Secretary General of the association, Engr. Kola Balogun, made this call while speaking to
journalists on the sidelines of the recently concluded African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja. Responding to a question on political influence in defence procurement—which often sidelines local manufacturers— Balogun said, "That issue was addressed directly at the summit and formed part of the communiqué. The defence chiefs agreed that Africa must domesticate its capabilities and develop its own defence industries."
He added, "With such consensus,
African leaders will increasingly listen to their defence industries and prioritise locally made products over political or foreign influence. This harmonisation will strengthen Africa’s capacity to defend itself and reduce unnecessary reliance on external suppliers."
On what the association is doing to ensure that Nigeria's defence firms remain competitive globally, the Secretary General stated that the summit exposed DIAN to new opportunities.
NIPOST Introduces $80 Mandatory Duty on Shipments to U.S.
The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has announced that all international postal shipments from Nigeria to the United States will now attract a compulsory prepaid customs duty of $80 (about N122,400).
In a statement issued in Abuja
yesterday, NIPOST’s Director of Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Musa, explained that the directive followed a U.S. Executive Order which suspended duty-free exemptions on global postal items. According to him, beginning from yesterday, all non-document
items—including parcels and packages—sent to the U.S. would be subject to the flat charge of $80 or its Naira equivalent. Although the fee is a U.S. customs duty, Musa noted that NIPOST is mandated to collect it at the point of acceptance in Nigeria.
He clarified that the policy was not unique to Nigeria, stressing that postal operators around the world are affected. Musa also cautioned that the new directive could lead to longer processing and delivery times as international cargo carriers adopt stricter procedures.
Linus Aleke in Abuja
NIGERIAN INTERNATIONAL FILM SUMMIT...
L-R: Founder of Prime Drive Studios, Godwin Nzekwe; Actor and Chief Executive Officer of Ruth Kadiri Productions, Ruth Kadiri, and
concluded conference in Lagos…recently.
With New Deal, Dangote Elevates Ethiopia to No. 2 Urea Producer in Africa
With the signing of an agreement to develop, construct, and operate a world-class urea fertiliser production complex in Gode, Ethiopia, the country will become the second in Sub-Saharan Africa to own a Urea Plant, with a capacity of three million metric tonnes
Spokesperson of the Dangote Group Anthony Chiejina, said the historic agreement underscores the significance of what the
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, always insisted that it is only Africans who can develop Africa, urging wealthy Africans to look inward and invest in the continent, rather than take their wealth overseas.
“Both Tanzania and Mozambique, in the past decade, have not been able to build a Urea Plant, despite having a large deposit of gas in their respective countries. They have both depended on imports, as no foreign investor
was willing to stake their funds into the project,” he said.
On Thursday, Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), the strategic investment arm of the Government of Ethiopia, and Dangote Group announced the signing of a comprehensive shareholders' agreement to develop, construct, and operate a world-class urea fertiliser production complex in Gode, Ethiopia.
Under the partnership structure, EIH will hold a 40 per cent equity
Abiodun Secures Approval for Ijebu-Ode
James Sowole in Abeokuta
Few weeks after the Ogun Stateowned Gateway International Airport got the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) certification, Governor Dapo Abiodun has secured the federal government's approval for the establishment of the Ijebu-Ode Inland Dry Port.
The inland dry port, according to the approval, will be sited along the Epe/Mojoda
Expressway, Ijebu-Ode.
The approval was disclosed in a statement signed by Mr. Tayo Mabeweje, the Senior Special Assistant (Media) in the Office of the Ogun State Governor.
The project, to be sited on 130 hectares of land allocated by the Ogun State Government, follows a request by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to Abiodun.
The statement said that
stake, while the Dangote Group will maintain a 60 per cent ownership of the transformative project, representing one of the largest industrial investments in Ethiopian history.
The ambitious project will establish one of the world's largest single-site urea fertiliser production complexes, with production facilities boasting a combined capacity of up to three million metric tonnes per annum. The facility will rank among the top five largest urea
Inland Dry Port
the inland dry port, when completed, the Ijebu-Ode Inland Dry Port would decongest the Lagos Port System and serves as a cargo consolidation and distribution hub for the SouthWest region.
It added, "The inland dry port will enhance Ogun State’s competitiveness in trade and logistics; increase national Gross Domestic Product (GDP); strengthen the Ogun State Industrial Hub initiative
and create jobs and unlock new economic opportunities.
"This milestone comes on the heels of another major infrastructural success — the Gateway International Airport recently received its official certification from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), positioning Ogun State firmly on Nigeria’s aviation map and boosting its appeal as a destination for global trade, investment, and tourism.
Katsina Approves Grade Level 16 Salary for District Heads
Sardauna
The Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has approved Grade Level 16 salary structure for all District Heads across the 34 local government areas of the state.
Radda announced this when he received the royal fathers from Katsina and Daura Emirates at the Government House on a courtesy visit.
He explained that the approval
was in accordance with the new law recently passed by the Katsina State House of Assembly.
He said that 6,652 ward heads across the state have been placed on monthly allowances, while over 3,000 Imams and their deputies from Friday mosques will also be supported with stipends.
“Furthermore, Izala and Darika mosque sweepers in each of the 34 local government areas will also benefit from the
allowances,” the governor stated.
He, however, announced the whooping sum of N680 million for the renovation of cemeteries across the 34 local government areas of the state.
Radda said N20 million has been approved for each of the 34 local government councils, amounting to N680 million, to enable them to rehabilitate the graveyards in their respective territories.
“My administration has
approved over N20 million for each local government council to renovate graveyards in their areas. This initiative is both a service to the people and a way of seeking Allah’s blessings for the state,” Radda said.
Radda reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to tackling insecurity and strengthening traditional and religious institutions across the state to tame the scourge.
Sneaklin Unveils App to Transform Sneaker, Shoe Care in Africa
Sunday Ehigiator
Sneaklin, a trailblazer in Nigeria’s sneaker and shoe care industry, has launched its new mobile application, Care by Sneaklin, in a bold move to redefine footwear maintenance across Africa.
The app, unveiled during a three-day launch experience held recently at the Urban Jungle, Ikeja City Mall, combines professional
shoe care services with easy-to-use digital tools, positioning Sneaklin as a leader in Africa’s fast-growing sneaker culture.
Speaking at the launch, the Founder of Sneaklin, Tife Pariola, noted that “With sneaker culture booming in Africa, the industry needs solutions that match the pace and lifestyle of modern consumers.
“Our app is designed to deliver
premium shoe care services with the same speed, efficiency, and reliability people expect from any leading tech-enabled service.”
Speaking further, Pariola said, “Beyond digital innovation, Sneaklin continues to market its range of premium products such as cleaning kits, suede protectors, sneaker fresheners, and leather care solutions, all available on sneaklin.com.”
Through the app, customers can schedule and manage sneaker cleaning services, access expert footwear care tips, and track service orders and deliveries in real time.
The three-day launch celebration attracted celebrities, influencers, and industry professionals, including Asherkine, Osas, Pexxie, and Sneakeytitan, who joined to mark the milestone.
production complexes globally.
Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly develop, own, construct, operate, maintain, insure, and finance the state-ofthe-art urea fertiliser plants and associated infrastructure. The comprehensive development includes advanced gas transport pipelines to evacuate natural gas from Ethiopia's Hilal and Calub reserves, storage facilities, logistics infrastructure, and export capabilities designed to serve both domestic and regional markets.
The agreement also provides for potential expansions, upgrades, and similar fertiliser production initiatives in ammonia-based
fertilisers, including ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, and calcium ammonium nitrate, further cementing Ethiopia's position as a regional fertiliser production hub.
The Project Development Costs are estimated not to exceed 2.5 billion USD, with completion targeted within 40 months from commencement. A significant component of this investment includes the construction of a dedicated pipeline infrastructure to transport natural gas from Ethiopia's proven Hilal and Calub gas reserves to the Gode production facility, ensuring a reliable and cost-effective feedstock supply for the fertiliser complex.
Experts: Vision, Trust, and Commitment, Keys to Enduring Marriage
Sunday Ehigiator
In a world where relationships are often strained by shifting priorities and fast-changing lifestyles, globally renowned relationship coach and leadership expert, Dr. Albert Femi Oduwole, alongside his wife, Olateju Oduwole, have listed vision, trust, and intentional commitments as keys to building enduring marriages.
Dr. Albert Oduwole and his wife, Olateju, recently while marking their 27th wedding anniversary, celebrated not only their personal milestone but also the lessons their journey holds for couples
everywhere.
Reflecting on nearly three decades of being together, Oduwole described marriage as a continuous journey rather than a fixed destination.
“Our first 27 years have only been a rehearsal,” adding, “Now the real game starts,” he wrote in a heartfelt tribute to his wife.
For him, one of the strongest anchors of their relationship has been the power of a shared vision. Recalling their early days, he noted, “I had no television, I only told you a vision that I would put you on television in nations. That, you believe; that, I have done.”
Premier Plantations, Africa Cataract Foundation Provide 100 Free Eye Surgeries in Edo
In a remarkable demonstration of community impact and Corporate Social Responsibility, Premier Plantations Limited, a member of the Nosak Group, in partnership with the Africa Cataract and Eye Foundation, successfully carried out a multi-faceted health initiative in the Urhonigbe community, located in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Edo State.
The week-long event held at the Urhonigbe General Hospital provided essential medical services to hundreds of residents and featured 100
free cataract surgeries to restore vision and independence to individuals suffering from preventable blindness; provision of free drugs to ensure continued care and recovery for all beneficiaries. Other benefits included the distribution of 100 free reading glasses to beneficiaries to support improved vision and daily functionality as well as deworming of 100 children, which addressed a critical public health need and promoted better childhood development.
Peter Uzoho
Francis
in Katsina
Founder, Nigerian International Film Summit (NIFS), Ijeoma Onah, at the just
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY...
Budget Office Explains Delay in Release of Budget Implementation Reports
Says provisional report expected in September, assures on fiscal monitoring, transparency, accountability
Abuja
The Budget Office of the Federation (BoF) yesterday clarified that the delayed publication of Budget Implementation Reports (BIRs) from the second quarter of 2024 to date was aimed at ensuring accuracy, coherence, and credibility in the country's fiscal reporting during an exceptional budget cycle.
This explanation came against the backdrop of recent media commentary about the failings of the office in that regard.
However, a statement by the BoF urged stakeholders to see the "temporary delay not as backsliding".
It attributed the delays to verification and reconciliation processes, noting that BIRs are not merely accounting summaries but "integrate expenditure data with physical verification of projects nationwide".
The statement added that these verification missions and reconciliations with implementing agencies took longer than anticipated, given the scale and geographic spread of appropriated projects.
It further blamed the delay on the transition to an extended fiscal framework, noting that "even before the extension was formally passed, policy discussions were already pointing toward a lengthened
Gunmen Abduct Health Worker in Ondo
Fidelis David in Akure
A staff of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Mr. Ayodeji Akesinro, has been abducted by gunmen in Ondo State.
THISDAY gathered yesterday that the victim was whisked away from his residence at Upenme, in Owo Local Government Area, around 7p.m. on Thursday.
A labour leader under the National Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), who preferred anonymity, confirmed the incident, noting that the matter had already been reported to security agencies.
Also a message posted on the NUAHP WhatsApp platform, circulated among members, expressed shock over the abduction and hinted at possible protests if the situation was not addressed.
“I am writing to bring to your attention the distressing news of the kidnapping of our colleague and member, Pastor Akesinro in his house at Upenme on Owo local government area of Ondo
State at about 7p.m. yesterday, 28th of August, 2025.
“As a union, we have always stood strong in advocating for the welfare and security of our members. In light of this unfortunate event, members of NUAHP may need to declare a day of protest in Owo to demand the immediate and safe release of Pastor Akesinro.”
“The union further listed its demands which include the immediate and safe release of the victim, tighter security in Owo and its environs, and collaboration with security operatives to apprehend those behind the abduction. Injury to one is injury to all. Solidarity forever!” the union declared.
The State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, confirmed the incident, promising that the victim will be rescued and the perpetrators will be arrested.
"We are doing everything possible to ensure that kidnapping is nipped in the bud. We are working round the clock and collaborating with sister security agencies to ensure his safe release.
budget horizon.
The BoF stressed that issuing reports on the old cycle, only to have them overtaken by a revised implementation framework, would have created conflicting datasets and misled stakeholders.
"As a result, reporting timelines were temporarily adjusted to preserve coherence and accuracy in fiscal disclosures," it stated.
To bridge the gap, and restore
predictability, the budget office, however said it was taking the steps to forestall a recurrence.
It disclosed that a provisional Budget Performance Report for 2024 will be released by the end of September 2025.
The interim publication, based on verified funding commitments, will provide a reliable snapshot of fiscal performance while detailed project-level verification continues
through 2025, it added.
The BoF also stated that beginning with Q3 2025, all BIRs will be published on schedule in line with FRA requirements.
For Q1 and Q2 2025, which are already past due, the budget office will release consolidated reports alongside the full-year 2024 update, thereby restoring compliance with statutory timelines, it further assured.
The office said it is enhancing
monitoring systems, deepening collaboration with MDAs, and expanding digital integration of expenditure and project data to ensure future reports are both timely and of the highest integrity. The statement also reaffirmed the federal government's resolute commitment to upholding Nigeria's credibility with citizens, markets, and partners by publishing credible, accurate data.
Dangiwa: 2,000 FG Housing Units in Ibeju Lekki 80% Completed
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has said that the ongoing construction of 2,000 housing units Renewed Hope City at Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, has reached 80 per cent completion and will be ready for
presidential inauguration soon.
A statement in Abuja signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Badamasi Haiba, said that the minister disclosed this during a visit to the site, noting that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is currently building seven
‘Renewed Hope Cities’, one in each geo-political zone and Abuja. According to Dangiwa, the foundation laying for the second phase of the Lagos Renewed Hope City houses will be done by the President after the inauguration of the 700 units of the first phase.
“The Lagos Renewed Hope
Peter Obi Decries Hike in Passport Cost, Urges FG to Reduce Burden on Nigerians
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has criticised the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government’s decision to increase the cost of Nigerian passports, expressing surprise that the government has continued to add to the burden
of Nigerians.
At N100,000 for a 32-page booklet, Obi observed that the international travel document has become higher than the minimum wage of N70,000, while that of a 64-page booklet was further jacked up to N200,000.
Taking to his X handle, the former governor of Anambra State, wrote, “The obsession of
this administration with putting a burden on the populace is becoming legendary and continues to reveal its apparent disconnect with the people and the suffering.
“The International Passport fees in Nigeria have now skyrocketed to N100,000 for a 32-page booklet and N200,000 for 64 pages. This is the third increase in just two years.
Lagos Records 8,692 Sexual, Gender- based Violence Cases in One Year
Segun James
The Lagos State government yesterday said it received 8,692 sexual and gender-based violence in the last 12 months.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, disclosed this during a media parley to mark
the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month.
Pedro, who was represented by the State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Hameed Oyenuga, also revealed that 3,090 children were identified as having suffered emotional
abuse due to exposure to domestic violence at home within the same period.
According to him, the briefing provides an opportunity to update the public on the progress made by the ministry to end sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the state.
City, when fully completed, would deliver 2,000 housing units. The project underscores the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bridging housing deficit in Nigeria,” he said, noting that the initiative nationwide is aimed at providing decent and affordable housing for Nigerians.
As part of his Lagos tour activities, the minister visited the Lekki Economic Trade zone and was conducted round by the Managing Director, Lekki Worldwide Investments Ltd., Adeniyi Akinlusi.
Dangiwa inspected various housing projects, industries, building materials, testing laboratories, the deep sea port, Alaro City, Lagos Coastal City, and other ongoing developments.
L-R: Chief Omoruyi Isaac, an Okakuo (Elder) in Urhonigbe; Founder, The Africa Cataract and Eye Foundation, Dr. Gabriel Okorodudu; Director, The Africa Cataract and Eye Foundation, Mrs. Olufolake Okorordudu, and Project Manager, Premier Plantations Limited, Mr. Boniface Iyengunmwena, during the Free cataract Surgeries and Eyecare Initiative in Urhonigbe, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State…recently
James Emejo in
It’s time to resolve this problem once and for all
AI and Nigerian Journalists
In Praise of President Buhari
WAhen 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.
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.
rtificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries across the globe, and journalism is no exception. The media business is evolving rapidly as AI tools reshape how news is gathered, produced, and distributed. For Nigerian journalists, adopting these innovations is crucial, not just for survival in a competitive media environment, but also for improving efficiency, accuracy, and audience engagement. Embracing AI offers opportunities to strengthen professional practice and restore credibility to a sector often challenged by misinformation, low resources, and changing audience habits.
are difficult for human reporters to process alone. With AI-driven data analysis, Nigerian journalists can detect hidden patterns, track suspicious financial movements, and crosscheck government claims with greater accuracy. This technological support strengthens the watchdog role of the press and enhances its capacity to hold powerful actors accountable.
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.
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.
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.
After 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.
Deplorable State Of Ogwashi-Ukwu Roads
Stop Ritual Attacks and Killings
Ogwashi-Ukwu Community in Aniocha South Local Govt Area of Delta State is in deplorable condition.We cannot boast of good and motorable roads.I therefore want to draw the attention to the dilapidated roads and their resultant effects on the socio-economic life of our people with a view to finding lasting solutions to them.
TThe 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.
One of the most significant contributions of AI to journalism is automated news writing. AI-powered systems are now capable of generating straightforward stories such as election results, weather updates, sports scores, and financial reports within seconds. This means that Nigerian journalists can delegate repetitive and routine reporting to AI while focusing on more complex and investigative work that requires human judgment. By freeing up time and resources, newsrooms in Nigeria can publish content faster, stay ahead of competition, and devote more attention to stories that truly matter.
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.
AI has also opened new doors in investigative journalism through its ability to analyze massive datasets quickly. Issues such as corruption, budget spending, election irregularities, and security concerns often involve large amounts of information that
Another pressing issue in Nigerian journalism is the rampant spread of fake news, particularly on social media. AI is becoming an indispensable tool in combating misinformation by providing automated factchecking. Algorithms can scan viral claims, compare them against trusted databases, and verify their authenticity within seconds.
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).
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.
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.
Agatha Marcus, Dept of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri
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.
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
EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE
CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI
DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMEFULA OGBU
EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN
MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO
THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU
CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI
EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN
MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI
THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE
THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LIMITED
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA
GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU
THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LIMITED
DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA
DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI
SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI
DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com What a waste!
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
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 roads are badly eroded which has created a lot of pot holes all over the town.The worst areas of the town are Ogbe-Umuokwuni-Ogbe-Ubu,Isekpe Quarters, Magistrate Court road,Azungwu road,St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Road and Umuneze Junction.These areas have been cut off completely from other parts of the town by gully erosion. Past administrations did not help matter as they turned blind eyes to the problem.
GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI
DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE
Numerous letters were written but all to no avail.The bad roads have damaged most of the bikes,Kekes and vehicles that ply them. We call on Governor Sheriff Oberovwori to please come to our rescue.
Feyisetan Akeeb Kareem, OgwashiUkwu, Delta State
Protect the Children
AThe 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.
gain we see how wrong the world has become. Churches were once places of safety and sanctuary but now? There has been assaults by religious practitioners in many countries and although condemned by their leaders it still happens. They will have no answers when these offenders reach the ‘pearly gates’.
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)
Joseph Nwobike: Chief Awolowo, Brilliant Lawyers in Port Harcourt Shaped My
Love for Legal Profession
Dr. Joseph Agburuwhuo Nwobike, is a distinguished Nigerian lawyer, founder of Osborne Law Practice, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. From Port Harcourt to legal prominence, his journey is marked by academic excellence, professional dedication, and philanthropy. Beyond law, Nwobike has contributed significantly to society, including donating a church building to the Redeemed Christian Church of God in 2018 and constructing the Nigerian Bar Association Isiokpo Branch secretariat in 2022. He also serves as Chairman of Falcon Media Limited and sits on the Advisory Board of the Institute for Law and Technology at the Centre for American and International Law. In this conversation with Wale Igbintade, he discusses his career, philosophy, and legal insights.
What inspired you to study law, and how early in life did you know this was your calling?
When I was in Secondary School, particularly at the Government Comprehensive Secondary School in Port Harcourt, we were encouraged to read a wide range of materials including those related to politics, economics, international affairs, etc. At the time, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, SAN, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim, Mallam Aminu Kano, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Alhaji Shehu Shagari were campaigning for the general elections. The politics of that time was very healthy and interesting as the aspirants and their supporters across the spectrum discussed and campaigned on issues of development, social cohesion and emancipation of the peoples of Nigeria. Of all these politicians, I took a particular interest and admiration in Chief Obafemi
Awolowo. That was one of the reasons why I took more than a passing interest in law. Another reason was the influence which lawyers whose offices were located in Port Harcourt at the time. They included Chief Wobidike Wonodi, SAN, Chief the Honourable Oragbule Adiele, Mr. R. R. Briggs, G. A. Graham Douglas, SAN and a host of others. These circumstances and personalities largely influenced my determination to study law, in my formative years. I must also confess that very early in life, I discovered that I could not really study sciences due to the problems I encountered in understanding mathematics, physics and the likes. Law naturally, therefore, became my choice. Was there a specific moment or person that influenced your decision to become a lawyer?
I resumed at the Faculty of Law, University of
Lagos, and quickly settled into serious academic work. At the Faculty, we had very experienced and exceptional lecturers like late Professor Jelili Adebisi Omotola, SAN, Professor A. A. Adeogun, Professors Akanki, Agbede, Fogam, Ovieghara, Obilade, Adeyemi and a host of others. I must confess that their individual and collective methods of teaching were quite inspiring. Due to the exceptional intensity of the academic work we engaged in at the time, it became a challenge for a number of us to excel. Do not also forget that Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, being the foremost faculty for the teaching and research in law at the time, undertook a number of programs that exposed us to emerging trends in all aspects of law through seminars, national workshops, etc. It is my view, therefore, that attainment of excellence became a burden that we had to discharge to justify the quality of legal education that we freely and continuously received in the faculty. Luckily, at graduation, I was one out of the three (3) or four (4) graduands
Joseph Nwobike: I Hope to Be Remembered as Someone Who Advanced Humanity, Not Just as Lawyer
who earned the upper class division that year.
Can you share some memories of your undergraduate days? What was campus life like?
My undergraduate years were very exciting, challenging, and educative. It was the period when we made friends and learnt how to relate with people of diverse backgrounds, faiths and dispositions. It is, in my view, a very interesting time. apart from my academic endeavors, I took out time to also participate in leadership activities. For instance, I was elected as the secretary General of the National union of rivers state students (Nurss). I contested and won the election as the secretary-General of the university of Lagos students’ union (uLsu) for 1990/1991. I participated in several university activities and represented the students in a number of university Committees. One man who made my engagement at the students’ union very educative and inspiring was Mr. Olu shodimu. at the time, he was the student affairs Officer. I was privileged to work with a very dynamic cabinet led by Olusegun Maiyegun. Our administration handed over to Omoyele sowore, after he was elected as the president of the students’ union.
How did your upbringing shape your worldview and values?
I was born into a fairly educated, comfortable and conservative Ikwerre family. My parents were civil servants. I come from the large families of Nwobike and Ngofa in rivers state. I had uncles who served my state as Commissioners, permanent secretaries, and the likes. so, I grew up in port Harcourt, which was and has remained a multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-religious city. Coming from such a background, my views were structured to see the world as a global village. that level of exposure would later influence the choices that I made. as you may know, I took a wife from the Ijebu stock of the yoruba race of Ogun state, and have friends from all parts of the country. My views on issues are not, therefore, defined by ethnic considerations or other negative criteria. the background also enabled me to see the reason to pursue my passion with every sense of responsibility, openness and humility.
You became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2009. What did that recognition mean to you?
Immediately I sat and passed the qualifying examination at the Nigerian Law school, I settled down as a youth Corper with the prestigious firm of adedeji and Owotomo. the Firm exposed me very early to the intricacies of litigation. From that point, I made up my mind to settle with litigation as against other opportunities that came my way at the time. I took out time, during my early years of practice, to attend post-graduate schools and acquire other professional qualifications. I conducted several cases which eventually qualified me to be appointed as a senior advocate of Nigeria (saN) in 2009. earlier in 1999, I had been sworn in as a Notary public for Nigeria. I believe that, in my little way, I have conducted cases that have contributed to the development of the Nigerian legal system and jurisprudence.
What were some defining moments before attaining SAN?
I have had to deal with a number of challenges in the course of my career as a lawyer and adult. as you are aware, I had to deal with a personal case which ended up at the supreme Court in my favour. I also believe that the case has helped practitioners and stakeholders to understand some aspects of our public law better. another significant challenge that I faced was the loss of my darling wife to cancer in 2019. It was a defining moment, and I thank God for the inner strength with which I managed all that. I also wish to thank my children and friends for the support and strength through those challenging times.
What unique challenges have shaped your practice philosophy?
It is a truism that no two instructions or cases are the same. each case generates its own lessons, challenges and opportunities. It will be safe to simply assert that the work of a
lawyer is a learning process and should be seen as such. It is a profession that imposes the duty to learn and research on a continuous basis. Lastly, lawyering can only become successful when it is perceived as teamwork and an enterprise. It is neither a social work nor a charity vocation.
What lessons have you learnt from handling litigation at all levels in Nigeria and abroad?
I hold a Master of Laws degree and a doctorate in law. I am also a fellow of the Chartered Institute of taxation of Nigeria, the Chartered Institute of arbitrators of the united Kingdom, and Business recovery and Insolvency practitioners of Nigeria, amongst others. I decided early in my career to specialise in litigation practice and deepen my specialty through dedicated postgraduate and professional education. It has been very rewarding, helpful and supportive. as they say, a lawyer must strive to be knowledgeable in all and a master of the law.
How has academic research influenced your approach to advocacy?
I must confess that my postgraduate and professional qualifications have helped to define the depth and quality of my work as a lawyer over the years. It has also enriched my advocacy and legal consultancy skills immensely.
Which of your published legal articles do you consider particularly impactful?
In the course of my career as a researcher and legal practitioner, I have published a number of law articles and papers on a wide range of topical issues and subjects. some of these articles have been cited by other researchers and have also helped in law practice and development in some jurisdictions. I will say that each and every of such research work has been impactful in a number of ways.
Nigeria. the Bill was passed by both Chambers of the National assembly shortly before the administration of president Goodluck ebele Jonathan came to an end. the Bill had to go through the entire process de novo. as God will have it, both Chambers passed the Bill and president Mohammadu Buhari, GCFr assented to the Bill in January, 2018. I feel highly satisfied and grateful to the members and Council of the Institute for the opportunity to carry out the assignment. It also offered me the opportunity to become fairly grounded in legislative advocacy in Nigeria. a great and inspiring experience.
How do you see the future of legislative advocacy and legal reform?
Legislative advocacy is a very interesting practice area. One of the problems that I found out is that most legislative engagements of the legislative houses in Nigeria do not take the benefit of lawyers experienced in legislative advocacy. Legislative advocacy is not just legislative drafting. It extends to other components of legislative journey of every law passed by every legislative house. Legislative input and research management are very critical and beneficial to law making. It is hoped that lawyers will dive into this area and apply their skills for the benefit of the legislative process and the general public in Nigeria. Legislative advocacy should also extend to law reforms as managed by the Law reforms Commission and Law review Committees of various states.
What values have guided you personally and professionally?
I am a single parent. so, apart from my engagements as a lawyer, I take time to attend to the needs of my children regardless of the fact that they are now adults. I am a community person. that deep-rooted love, gets me involved in the affairs of my communities at my state of birth and state of residence. I am not a member of social clubs but I do find time to socialize with friends occasionally. I also do the things of God, as directed by the Holy spirit.
How relevant is academic scholarship to law practice in Nigeria today?
as we all know, law is dynamic and a product of the interplay between the need to predict conduct and to induce order. that being the case, law is the result of rigorous exercise of reasoning and analysis of the strategies to achieve the law-making objective. the making of laws, therefore, is expected to draw from past experiences of scholars, lawmakers, sociologists, etc. thus, one of the critical sources of law is scholarly works of notable scholars. the courts, in some cases, rely on those scholarly works and criticisms. the law makers also, in appropriate cases, respond to scholarly works or commentaries by learned scholars expressed in articles, etc. academic scholarship cannot, therefore, be divorced from law practice in Nigeria.
Your areas of interest include public interest litigation, tax, capital markets, and legislative advocacy. What ties these fields together?
My areas of special interest is a product of my experience and activities over the years. they are commonly woven around my view that law must be applied to solve real and deserving problems. My training at the university of Lagos opened me up to look at law, amongst others, as a means of creating value for the clients.
You were instrumental in the Chartered Institute of Local Government Act, 2017. How did that journey unfold? the instruction to draft the Bill to establish the Chartered Institute of Local Government and public administration of Nigeria was given to me in the year 2000. I actually drafted the Bill in 2000. t he client, the then Institute of Local Government and p ublic administration of Nigeria, further instructed me to follow through and manage the entire process of law-making at the National a ssembly. It was an exercise that led me to understand the politics and intricacies of sponsoring and passage of private Bills at the National assembly in
Outside law, what does a typical day look like?
I love music. I listen to all types of songs from the old to the new. I find ebenezer Obey, stephen Osita Osadebey, J. O. araba, Cardinal Jim rex Lawson, Kayode Fashola and Fela anikulapo as very interesting. I also listen to peter tosh, Bob Marley, Black uhuru, don Carlos, toots and the Maytals, etc. Contemporarily, I listen to davido, Burna Boy, Black sheriff, seyi Vibes, etc. I, whenever time permits, play lawn tennis.
How do you find balance amid a demanding legal schedule?
I strive to do my best in all endeavours and uphold integrity in personal and professional life.
You mentor young lawyers at Osborne Law Practice. What principles do you instill? I mentor young lawyers. I relate with them professionally. I believe that example is the best teacher. I have two (2) children who are lawyers. I teach them by what I do. the best way to bring up your children or those who look up to you is to lead by example.
What advice do you have for aspiring SANs? those who aspire to grow in the profession generally should be intentional about their ambition. they need to understand that organic growth is easier to sustain. they must also understand that there are procedures which must be followed. they should understand that they must play by those rules. For those who aspire to take the silk, I advise them to take litigation work seriously and document their works. relating with experienced lawyers will also be helpful for guidance. Lawyers should understand that they need to grow vertically and horizontally which means that the must grow in all aspect of their lives.
What legacy do you hope to leave in Nigerian law?
I hope to be remembered as a good man who dedicated himself to helping humanity and advancing the legal profession.
Nwobike
‘Hail’: Not Standalone
“KADUNA gov hails over $30bn investment prospects from Tinubu’s Brazil state visit” Get it right: ‘Hail’ is not a standalone—you must hail somebody or something. Therefore, delete ‘over’ or rewrite entirely.
“…deficit hits N2.8trn, as Works and Housing, Transportation, others get lion’s share” Three or more ministries cannot simultaneously get the Lion’s share of something (budget)! If there is parity in the allocation, there should be other ways to express it.
Another juvenile misunderstanding: “Group seeks govt’s attention on (to) dilapidated roads in Anambra”
“…Bank set to resume operation (operations)”
“In the aftermath of its suspension of business, several deposit (depositors) and staff of the bank….” (Source: as above)
“Erosion swallow (swallows) 200 buildings in Anambra”
“LG stakeholders pass vote of confidence on (in) Mbah”
“Fire outbreak on (at) NNPC’s OML 20 oil asset” Delete ‘outbreak’ on grounds of its redundancy
Access this grammatical inexactitude from my bank: “Call…to report an incidence (incident) of fraud or any suspicious activity on your account” (Full-page advertorial by Access Bank) Certainly, writing is more than banking and transcends figures!
“…that a football rivalry between the two (sic) countries was truely born” What type of computers do some journalists use that they do not experience automatic spell-check, which is inbuilt? ‘Truly’ does not accommodate ‘e’!
“That is why Sunday’s encounter between the Selecao and the Super Eagles will be more than
a friendly and the roll call (roll-call) of players billed for the match attest (attests) to that.”
“Stakeholders gear-up (gear up) for…”
“Sultan advocates stiff penalty for out of school (out-of-school) children’s parents” Guardians, too, should be penalized.
“It is simply not possible because cost of meters have (has) already been fixed by NERC.”
“BEDC to rollout (roll out) 572,392 prepaid meters in 2 years” (Source: as above)
“How corruption among govt agencies cripple (cripples) ports’ revenue”
“Barca swoops for (on) Nigerian whiz-kid”
“Organizers assure on 2025 Lagos Women Run” (Source: as above) Who did they assure?
Some media professionals ignorantly use the phrase “armed bandits”: “The Zamfara State Government’s effort towards finding lasting solution to armed banditry and cattle rustlings suffered a setback as...” The dictionary defines a bandit as “a member of an armed gang that robs people”. It means a bandit is usually armed; therefore the word “armed” to qualify him is out of place. On the contrary, a robber is someone who “takes property from a person or place illegally”. A robber may or may not bear arms. If he does, he is an armed robber liable to the death penalty upon conviction. As we can see, the distinction between a robber (armed or unarmed) and a bandit is clear.
The nation’s premier independent radio station, RayPower, reported yesterday that the country “SLIDED into recession...” Its editors and correspondents, and indeed media professionals, should note that SLID is both the past tense and past participle of SLIDE. It is not in the same word class as GLIDE and GLIDED.
“Among the controversial recommendations was the creation of more states at a time many states are (were) having difficulties meeting their recurrent expenditures, including monthly salaries.”
“…as heads of MDAs most times ignore the summons (summonses) of the parliament and treat its resolution (resolutions) with levity, while the lawmakers watch helplessly (haplessly).”
“He said the salvation of the country cannot (could not) be found in any of the existing political parties.”
From the preceding diseased headline to this juvenile slipshodness: “Doctors suspend stike in Kaduna, Ebonyi” Even the computer underscored this strike carelessness from the same page as above! Do we still have editorial bastions (proofreaders) this time round?
“The facility will result in improved security profile of the Internet traffic and save the nation of the embarrassment of….” Info-tech: save the nation the embarrassment of….
“Renowned filmmakers will converge in (on) Nigeria next week for….”
“Politically, experts in IT advocated for the use of e-voting system….” Once again, ‘advocate’ when used as a verb does not admit ‘for’.
“There will be what I call enriched mobile communication experience come 2026 through mobile money….” ICT development: experience in 2026.
“PDP in make or mar meeting” (Special Report Bold Front Page and Cover Headline) Get it right: make-or-mar meeting. The hyphenation confers class. No standard publication dispenses with it. The same tragedy trailed the accompanying rider, too: “State by state analysis (sic) of how delegates may vote” As above: State-bystate analyses….
“…today’s presidential primary for 2027 may be riddled with so much (many) underhand deals and sharp practices.” What is the difference between ‘underhand deals’ and ‘sharp practices’? The latter should subsume the former! An aside: ‘much’ instead of ‘many’?
When the Crown is Filled with Thorns
The news broke this week with the startling bluntness of a gavel on oak: Oba Joseph Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, sentenced to fifty-six months in a United States prison. The charges? A $4.2 million COVID-19 relief fraud. The monarch, who pleaded guilty in April, will not only serve close to five years behind bars in Ohio but will also repay more than $4.4 million to victims of his scam. His home in Medina, Ohio - an otherwise quiet suburb - now stands forfeited to the American government.
It is the sort of headline that stiffens the spine, pricks the conscience, and feeds the stereotype. A Nigerian monarch - one who should embody the dignity of ancestry and the moral force of tradition - is instead listed among convicts for criminal ingenuity. The image is painful, not only for the small town in Osun that in 2019 wrapped his coronation in pomp, but for a country that already wrestles with a stubborn reputation for duplicity and fraud.
But Oba Oloyede is not an isolated cautionary tale. The annals of recent history hold other names, other crowns, similarly soiled.
In 1998, in Boston, a certain Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi - now known as the Oluwo of Iwo - was arrested for attempting to cash a stolen Boeing cheque worth nearly a quarter of a million pounds. Convicted (15-month jail time) and deported, he returned more than a decade later to U.S. soil, this time with wife and child, attempting to sneak past immigration with forged papers. Again, he was caught. Again, deported. Twice bruised, twice expelled, forever banned. Yet today he sits atop a Yoruba throne, offering counsel to thousands, draped in the legitimacy of tradition. Overwhelmed with shame, the town’s kingmakers sought valiantly to dethrone him - a strangely futile effort. Till date!
Then there are the “princes” and sons of the palaces - sometimes literal, sometimes in the flamboyant styling of internet fraudsters - who have been paraded by American and European
prosecutors as architects of elaborate scams. He was sentenced to 33 months in a federal prison. In 2021, the U.S. Justice Department unsealed charges against a self-described Nigerian prince, the son of a traditional ruler, for bilking the elderly through email compromise schemes. Though not himself a crowned monarch, his bloodline ties the scandal to the palace. These are not everyday stories. The overwhelming majority of Nigeria’s monarchs live quiet, often austere lives, managing land disputes, presiding over cultural festivals, and attempting to coax some dignity out of an environment that often bypasses them. Yet the few scandals that do emerge cast a long, ugly shadow. They touch the sore spot of our national psyche: the ease with which fraud seems to seep into every class, every calling, every sanctum. Traditional rulership was once our moral compass. In many communities, the king was priest, judge, and father; the crown symbolised
“In doing so (a coma) some of the government’s supporters may certainly have overstepped the bound of propriety….” From the other side: the bounds of propriety.
“Reactions to this position have been pouring in, and it’s highly elating that most share same position.” This way: most share the same position.
“Majority of Nigerians are of the opinion that a country roundly blessed has no business tottering at the brink of disintegration and collapse.” A/the majority of Nigerians….
“The PDP has expressed serious concern at the fire outbreak, describing it as suspicious.”
Just delete ‘outbreak’ on grounds of redundancy.
“Nigeria in search for (of) an enduring political structure…”
“NGO sensitises (sensitizes, preferably) girls on (to) engineering, STEM-related activities” “…or through these number….” EFCC please take note: this number or these numbers
“We urge that that it will (should) be sustained.”
“For instance, NLC would (should) have opposed land border closure by the immediate past government when it was clear that in Nigeria….”
“Zamfara, C’River, Adamawa, Ogun top cholera cases (case) list”
“Imo agog as APC Flags (sic) off mother of all campaign” Get it right: mother of all campaigns
“Chief Whip stages walk out (walkout) to protest Senate president’s out-of-order ruling”
“The management of the radio station, in a statement (how else?), said his body has (had) been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre….”
“The trustees of Royal Sports Club International, Abuja (another comma) felicitate with (felicitate) you as you mark the Golden (sic) age of 50.” Write right: ‘of 50’ is an overkill!
restraint, justice, continuity. Personages like Oba Adesoji Tadeniawo Aderemi, the Ooni of Ife who strode both throne and state house with rare dignity; Oba Adeniji Adele of Lagos whose tenure in the 1950s radiated grace and balance; the scholarly Emir Muhammadu Sanusi I of Kano; or the Olowo of Owo, Oba Olateru Olagbegi, with his famed cultural splendourthese were monarchs who entrenched grandeur, charisma, reverence, and adoration. Even into the 1970s, the stool was still a repository of dignity and cultural ballast. But in the relentless scramble of modern Nigeria - oil windfalls, electoral violence, state capture, and systemic corruption - the aura of the palace has dulled. To now see its scions in foreign dockyards, chained to charges of fraud and deceit, is to feel the last safe space slipping.
The danger is larger than one man’s disgrace. It is the creeping institutionalisation of criminality. For decades, advance-fee scams were seen as the pastime of idle boys with cheap laptops, the shame of internet cafés. Now, when a custodian of heritage - a monarch enthroned in ritual and celebrated in drums - is fingered in million-dollar rackets abroad, the boundary between hustler and king begins to blur. Fraud graduates from street-corner opportunism to palace-endorsed enterprise. The moral anchor rusts.
What message does this send to the restless youth in Ipetumodu or Iwo? If the oba himself could be clever enough to siphon funds from foreign treasuries, why should the young apprentice hesitate before drafting the next phishing mail? If the palace no longer blushes, what shame is left for the alley?
Beyond the borders, the consequences are equally corrosive. Nigeria, already tarred as the land of “419” in the global imagination, now sees her monarchs dragged into the same pit. Diplomats and investors shake their heads: if even the kings are fraudsters, is there any institution left unsullied? The brand called Nigeria shrivels further.
It is tempting, of course, to dismiss these
monarchs as bad apples. And indeed, they are not the norm. But the throne is not an ordinary seat. It is an emblem. Its fall resonates more loudly than any single politician’s theft or any single banker’s embezzlement. The oba is supposed to embody the people’s higher self, the distilled values of a community’s history. When he is found guilty of stealing in foreign courts, the people themselves are mocked, their traditions reduced to a comic relief on the international stage.
So, what then is to be done? Shall we abandon the institution, strip it of relevance, and leave it to wither as a relic of bygone eras? Or shall we demand more, much more, of those who ascend the stool? Communities must wake up to the weight of their choice. A crown is not a fashion accessory. It is not a political reward for diaspora wealth. It is a sacred trust. When next a town gathers to choose its oba, it must not be dazzled by degrees, dollars, or foreign mansions. It must ask: what is the man’s record? Where has he walked? With whom has he traded? What is his name in the courts of men?
If we do not ask these questions, we risk enthroning not kings but criminals, not priests but pretenders. And we risk institutionalising the very fraud that has already weakened our national backbone.
Oba Oloyede will return from America in a few years, older, chastened perhaps, but forever branded. His community will face a dilemma: embrace him as oba still, or recoil in shame. Yet the larger dilemma rests with Nigeria itself. How long can we watch the slow corrosion of the throne without demanding a higher purity?
The palace was meant to guard us against chaos. If it now opens its gates to fraud, then we must ask, with trembling voices: what shall guard the palace?
oba Joseph oloyede
•Tourism •Arts&Culture
Charles Ajunwa
• 08064268968 • ajunwacharles@gmail.com
Abisoye Fagade: Same Power FIRS Has Is What NIHOTOUR Wields
Ten months into his four-year tenure, Director General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Dr. Abisoye Fagade, says he wants workers in the hospitality, tourism and travel sectors to be treated with dignity and paid handsomely like their foreign counterparts. Charles Ajunwa brings excerpts:
There’s a misconception about what you intend to achieve with the implementation of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Act. Can you throw more light on this?
In NIHOTOUR, there’s medical tourism, cultural tourism, sports tourism and religious tourism. So it’s an Act of capturing opportunities for everything. On religious tourism, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) will rival Mecca. We have not captured all of that. We’re only facing the sector that has the financial muscle to help the other sectors grow. The way they treat us is the way we have treated ourselves over the years. The gap that we have created amongst ourselves is what we are suffering today. There has to be a level of respect for what we do. Associations are not meant to organise people, it’s the government that will create an enabling environment that will coordinate all of us. Today, NIHOTOUR is that regulatory body. When I joined NIHOTOUR, I went to a couple of the training schools. You will not be able to train your chef there because they are underfunded. Nobody has seen the value of what we are doing. Our value position was very weak. And we are talking about Switzerland and Kenya. Do you know how much investments that were made into those ones? It is high-time we funded tourism, the way we funded oil in 1960. If you put one-tenth of the investments in oil and gas to tourism, you will see the difference. It is not a big deal to build an edifice that is a training school. Most important is the structure. Our funding system is wrong. What we are trying to create here is to show them that this is an industry that is a social Bitcoin. In eight months, you can’t build that. But we have laid a solid foundation to do all of that.
I have met with ambassadors of Qatar and UAE. They are interested in investing in Nigeria. All of these are small wins. But the biggest win for us in this country is the NIHOTOUR Act by my predecessor, Nura. I will publicly praise him for making sure that our industry has an Act. There is no way you would do a reform without an Act. Today, the industry also has regulations. People will just wake up and say, there is no law in Nigeria that is perfect. Forget it. But It is already a law and there are regulations. What we need to do is, let’s look at these regulations as we go along and say, okay, we can make amends. It can’t be perfect in one day. No individual can say the law of Nigeria cannot stand. It’s not possible. Let’s abide by the law first and its compliance. No industry has survived or thrived in this world without compliance. You have to comply first. When they are building a hotel, they will say, health and safety compliance. Everybody will be running helter-skelter. The industry you are making money from has no compliance. That’s why the foreigners will come and take advantage of our weak system because there is no structure. Internally, we have done regulations on the appointment of MDs. In that regulation, just the way it is with banks. I cannot appoint an MD without informing CBN. This may not apply with small hotels. We are talking about the big brands. Trust me, we are lucky to have this regulation. Just like everything in Nigeria, it may not be perfect, but it is what it is. Let’s work with what we have. NIHOTOUR today, I can tell you we are prepared more than ever. Aside from the sentiment that we are using to run, today, nothing can stop us. I’m not here for politics; we are here for governance. You can’t put the regulations into use unless you make the industry fall in line. But really, if you look at it, people that are scared of this Act, are people that are benefiting from the disorganisation
of the industry. We’ve biggest 15 hotels, biggest 15 restaurants and biggest 15 tour guides. I invited them, wrote official letters to them. I said, please come, let’s have a meeting. I gave them like a week. Do you know what happened? None of them showed up. I wanted to start with the hotels first. Then we’ll go to restaurants and clubs. See, these people would not have a problem with NIHOTOUR if they are running the way they are supposed to run. Because some people are benefiting and they are grandstanding. You can’t grandstand in front of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have no power. I always say to my staff, NIHOTOUR is a moving train and I won’t stop. Nobody can suspend the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Should there be a human face to it? Yes. I agree with that. If I tell you what I have been through, the kind of humiliation I have been through as a federal government agency, you would pity the agency not me. They will see my letters and ignore them which is why I just look at them and smile. They don’t even understand the kind of power that is embedded in that Act. Sincerely, do you know that the same power that FIRS has is what NIHOTOUR has. By the time we coordinate ourselves, things will get better. The only people that will be sending negative stories about the NIHOTOUR Act are people that are scared that Nigerians working
in the hospitality industry will now start enjoying the benefits of working in that industry. There’s no way you work in hospitality, tourism, and travel you will not have an HMO. That you will not have insurance. That your boss will just wake up one day and sack you. There’s no way. It’s not a union matter. It’s about asking for the basic rights of Nigerians. Protecting people that work in that industry. They are the creatives of that industry. We must protect it. If those structures are not properly done, we cannot benefit from those things.
What are you doing in terms of hotel categorisation?
Let me state it clearly. I have no business in grading hotels. But I’m interested in their level of service and performance. The NIHOTOUR Act protects the craft. It’s for Nigerians. Initially when I resumed, people thought I was gallivanting. I wasn’t gallivanting. I was going to relevant agencies. We have been to Immigration. We have been to CAC. We have been to BOI. We have been to NAFDAC. We have been to EFCC. We have been to FIRS. We have been to those places for a reason because I know that we can’t work independently. Very soon my team will be at ARCON. We are studying how they have been able to scale themselves from just being a training body to a regulatory body. We have been to Nexim Bank looking for ways how we can structure loans for our investors in Nigeria, because this is the only sector that didn’t get anything from COVID-19. We were not coordinated. We are using sentiment to run.
We have done a strata that is easy for you to know where you belong. We will not ask Eko Hotel to pay the same amount with smaller hotels for their management. It’s not possible. But then you fall in a strata by the value of your investments, the size of your staff number and the location you easily know where you’re falling. You will be charged accordingly. That’s for management staff. I expect the hotel to pay for their management staff. For all the staff including ones that will get the certification themselves. It’s my job to make sure that I register everybody and publish their data.
Does it also apply to expatriates?
Yes. When I tell you I’ve been to immigration, there’s no expatriate that is coming into our industry don’t know. They will ask for NIHOTOUR certification before you can get that job. I went to a particular restaurant in Abuja where a friend of mine was having birthday, in that particular restaurant I counted seven Lebanese. They are not working but just directing. That’s seven jobs gone out that are supposed to be done by Nigerians. Also on the part of the investor, there’s a tribunal if they catch any of your staff doing things that are not supposed to be we can deregister that person for life. The good thing about our tribunal is, it has a lot of credibility. Our Chairman, is a former CJ. He’s currently the Chairman, Disciplinary Committee for Nigerian Lawyers Association. He’s strong and it’s based on merit. We are putting the right standard to make sure that this works well. I’m building a legacy that will outlive me as a DG. I was only given four years to do this. I’ve spent 10 months, remaining three years and two months. I can tell you that NIHOTOUR is already successful. Successful because of the efforts that have been made in the last 10 months and still counting.
Trino Motion Pictures Unveils Content Acquisition, Sales Division to Amplify African Stories Globally Nigeria, Switzerland Hold Talks on Repatriation of Artifacts, Cultural Cooperation
Trino Motion Pictures has announced the establishment of its Content Acquisition and Sales Division, a strategic move designed to empower young creative entrepreneurs and independent producers across Africa by giving their stories global visibility.
The Managing Director of Trino Motion Pictures, Uche Okocha, announced this during the 2025 Nigerian International Film Summit held at Legend Hotel Lagos Airport. Okocha described the initiative as more than a business expansion, but “a mission, a calling, and a movement” to reposition African content on the world stage.
He said the new division will represent independent producers in major international markets for film and television content, while also investing in global sales infrastructure to strengthen Africa’s film and TV ecosystem.
“African stories are not just underrepresented globally; they are
undervalued and underestimated,” Okocha said.
He added, “Our producers are creating magic every day with grit, grace and passion, but many lack the bridge between powerful content and global visibility. That is where we come in—not as competitors, but as collaborators.”
He emphasised that the new unit will work to source content from rising talents and independent voices who may not have access to established industry infrastructure, ensuring their productions reach international platforms and audiences.
Addressing distribution partners, Okocha said the company’s intention is to complement, not compete. “Your work has laid the groundwork; ours is to add fresh bricks, new lanes, and more travellers on the journey. We are here to widen the highway, not reinvent the wheel.”
The initiative, he explained, is aimed at ensuring that African cinema and TV productions gain rightful recognition and market share globally.
“To the storytellers, the unseen artists crafting cinematic gems in silence—this is your call to action. We are here to scout, support and sell your content with the respect it deserves,” Okocha said.
He called on global partners to embrace African creativity, noting that the continent is a powerhouse of culture and cinematic excellence.
“With this bold step, our goal is simple.
“From Lagos to Los Angeles, from Accra to Amsterdam, from Nairobi to New York, we want Africa on every screen.”
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy yesterday held talks with the Swiss government on cultural cooperation and the repatriation of Nigerian artifacts currently stockpiled in Swiss museums, including monoliths and bronze pieces.
The Swiss Ambassador, Patrick Felix Egloff, expressed Switzerland’s willingness to enter into bilateral agreements and cultural diplomacy during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Hannatu Musa Musawa in Abuja.
“This is the first time that a Swiss ambassador is meeting with a Nigerian Minister of Art and Culture. There is a lot happening, and we would be very interested to build more institutional cooperations with the ministry, and we think this restitution would be a very good opportunity to strengthen institutional cooperation,” Egloff said.
He explained that the process of restituting the artifacts started three years ago, adding the Swiss government
planned to hand over the bronze pieces through the Nigerian Embassy by the end of the year.
Responding, Musawa thanked the Swiss government for its efforts, emphasizing the importance of retrieving the artifacts for Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
The minister described the meeting as an important step in strengthening cultural ties and exploring new areas of cooperation between both governments.
She also highlighted potential cooperation opportunities in areas like animation, design, architecture, hospitality, and tourism.
“It is very important for us Nigeria to have back these artifacts and even have a wider conversation with Switzerland about what the restitution will look like.
The conversation with the Minister of Culture in Switzerland is going to be very important because we would look at what our cooperation opportunities are in other areas, especially in areas like animation, design, architecture, hospitality and tourism”.
The parties also agreed to widen discussions and explore opportunities for collaboration in the arts and cultural sectors.
Fagade
Charles Ajunwa
Okocha
Ferdinand Ekechukwu - 08035011394
Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com
Omowunmi Dada: Nollywood My Root, Global Stage My Destination
Nollywood star, Omowunmi Dada is warm, grounded, and very aware of what she brings, having had the power of the craft that got her on stage and on screen right from her days in school. And there’s been no turning back since then, despite challenges that dotted her paths to stardom. the multiple award-winning actress opens up about her craft, her journey, success, as much as she believes people are drawn more to her work than her fashion. Excerpts
Asanactor,voice-overartist, presenter,andmodel,how did these come about?
Whichcamefirstreally?
Presenting came first professionally. The very first time I was in front of a camera was actually as a presenter. But as an actor, the first time I acted was in primary school. My dad had told me the story of ‘Everyman’. And then for our valedictory service, send forth or whatever it is called, I might just call some of my friends and tell them the story, and I had kind of reenacted it. But I have always liked the arts because I was also in an Igbo cultural troupe. I’m a Yoruba girl, what am I doing in Igbo troupe? I never knew what the song meant, but I just loved to dance. So, that’s my first time acting. But it was very, very elementary. In secondary school, I was in a Yoruba cultural troupe, and I was the first junior student to dance the ‘bata’ dance. . . I joined in JSS1 and as at JSS2 I started to dance bata you know. When I got to SSS then I joined the Press Club as well. As at SS2 I was also in the Music Group. But then I got into university and something happened. I had wanted to study Law. My first trial at JAMB and all of that, for some weird reasons my name didn’t come out. I wrote JAMB again, I picked Creative Arts, Unilag; first choice and second choice, and my name was on merit list by the time the list came out and there’s been no turning back since then. And luckily for me, I have lecturers like when we do our projects they will invite professionals from outside school. So, my very first play in Unilag then was ‘Moremi’, and I played Ariyoyo who was Moremi’s best friend. And from there, the professionals picked me up and I started to do
Mudi:
stage plays outside the school. So as at my Year 2, I had started doing stage plays outside the school. . . Afterwards, I started auditioning for TV series, I started auditioning for films and it just got better from there.
I can’t say when exactly you know. From school, I had been doing series. In fact, I was in school when I was doing Tinsel. I was on Shadows. My first film was the film called ‘Oya’. It had William Benson as Sango; it had Tunji Sotimirin as Ogun. It was shot in Ogun State. I played one of Oya’s maidens. That was my very first time on a proper film set. But right from when I was in school, I have been auditioning doing both stage and screen. When I went for my NYSC, I stopped acting for a bit. And then at some point I came back fully, professionally with the ‘Gods Are Still Not to Blame’ and that was between 2013/2014. It featured Gabriel Afolayan, Carol king, Iretiola Doyle.
I beg to differ. It wasn’t smooth at all! It was very stressful. It’s easier now you have social media as a tool to project your career even to the eyes of people who don’t know you. Now you can do skit, now you can do monologue. We really didn’t have that opportunity. So you have to be at every audition for anyone to notice you. I got a lot of ‘no’ for different reasons, I’m not going to lie. But I knew that this was what I was going to do for as much as I was destined for this. There were times when I would want to
Maintaining
a Spot
As part of activities marking its enduring streak in the fashion industry, Mudi Africa, is celebrating the milestone with a multi-media campaign across platforms.
give up and I want to dust my ‘Pali’ (credentials), and just go to do one 9-5, I mean I was the best graduating student in my class, I was gunning for a first class. Accenture wanted me. But you know when you are very passionate about what you are doing and very convinced that this’ what you were created to do regardless of the challenges, you look at the future at hand. But I think those challenges are the things that have made me stronger day by day you know. It still doesn’t mean that it doesn’t come with challenges now that things are easier, but I would say that I have been blessed and things are definitely not as hard. But as much as it has been a challenging journey, I just try to give my very best every time I’m on a project because you are as good as your last job. You might just have that one scene and people will remember you for that one scene. Because there are no small roles, but there are only small actors.
Just as much as you are commended for your roles in movies it’s also quite interesting that
you get commended for your style, fashion… (Laughs)… thank you. I mean its show business; it’s the business of show. So you show out or you stay at home.
Whatreallyinspiresyoursenseoffashion?
Okay so, I really like classy pieces. I like things that are classy. And whatever it is that I wear, I like to feel myself in it. Maybe because I grew up as a tomboy but who is very much in touch with her feminine side, And I was the only girl right, in my family - a family of three boys, I’m the only girl and the last, my mum put all her fashion ingenuity in me. Whatever it is that I wear, as much as I like been comfortable, I like to feel classy, sexy and yes, that’s what it is. So it’s possible that a few people are drawn to my sense of fashion. But really I think that doesn’t define me.
Read full Interview online - www.thisdaylive.com
in the Needle and Thread Profession
In a post shared by the celebrity clothier, “Campaigns are presently running in Lagos, Accra and Abidjan,” being some of the African cities he operates.
The Delta State-born designer has stayed true to his passion, maintaining a spot in the top rungs of the ladder. Arguably, one of the most iconic fashion brands, MUDI, short for Mudiaga, is not just a brand; it is a testament to the dreams and hard work of its founder, Mudiaga Clement Enajemo, and has kept to a tradition he long cherishes.
For this year, the fashion Czar says “Actually, there is no celebration. This is just a symbolism of thirty-two years. I was to celebrate 30 years, two years ago, but it happened that it fell to the time I was constructing my new edifice in Lekki Phase 1. That took a lot of money from me and I could not celebrate. So, I made up my mind that I’ll wait for 35,” he revealed in a recent chat.
The Lekki flagship store boasts a captivating architectural design, drawing inspiration from African heritage and seamlessly blending various design elements that showcase Nigeria’s rich craftsmanship. The official opening was an exclusive and intimate affair, attended by specially invited guests. He would later host his long-time friends in the media to celebrate and unwind.
The new outlet is emblematic of his passion, poised outlook and creative dexterity. With UDIAG Lifestyle by Mudi, boldly inscribed on the edifice on Omorinre Johnson Street off Lekki Phase 1, bears his artistic wealth. His first purpose-built fashion house, located on Mudi Lane, in Anthony Village Lagos, still enthralls passersby.
Mudi recently expanded his love for art and style by launching UDIAG lifestyle, an aesthetics brand that caters to offices, homes, and environment.
What he offers with UDIAG is to make spaces appealing and comfortable. According to Mudi, UDIAG Lifestyle is more of exterior design and planning of buildings. Let’s go down a bit memory lane with the Mudi brand.
His journey started in a modest building that many would consider a near slum. Armed with one sewing machine and two packs of complimentary cards, as the story goes, Mudi, in 1993, took his place at No. 3 Adebakin Street, Ikosi Ketu, Lagos where he kicked off a career in fashion business. With limited resources, an abundance of passion and creativity, he dared to dream big.
Loaded with zeal, Mudi commenced practical training for nine months under an established tailor. He had named his budding brand “Mudi Clothing.” Like the biblical grain of mustard seed, his beginning was very small and rough, while funding was low or almost nil.
In 1997, help came from Nollywood veteran Richard Mofe-Damijo, RMD who helped Mudi get his first shop on Oyedele Ogunniyi Street, Anthony, Lagos. Settled somewhat, Mudi scaled up his creativity, put structures in place, and rebranded to Mudi Africa, a strategy that set the tone for one of Africa’s biggest fashion brands. Mudi shied away from fashion shows and the glamour of the profession, choosing rather to focus on putting structures in place for an enduring brand. In 2009, the journey to make his brand global began when Mudi Africa birthed its first international outlet in Ghana. This was closely followed by a Kenya outlet, a South Africa outlet, a Senegal outlet, and an Ivory Coast outlet in July 2019.
Over the years, his mastery and interpretation of fabrics have enabled him to churn out edgy
pieces with interesting accents, which have attracted heads of government, captains of industry, celebrities, politicians, music and movie stars, etc. He describes himself as a minimalist, his style a hybrid of vintage and modernity. Mudi is not one given to talking; rather, his work speaks for him. Since he became a household name, Mudi has assumed a judicious work habit. What does he consider the necessary building blocks for building an enduring brand? Hear Mudi. “First of all, as a designer, your philosophy must help you to grow. I say it with so much confidence. Class is noiseless and it has worked for me.
“There are people who call themselves designers but are not; they are just business men and women who assemble tailors somewhere. By the grace of God and with all humility, I am a designer; so, I allow my work to speak for me… I like it that way. Don’t attach your face too much to your brand. The professional thing is to let your brand be above you while you are quietly doing your work.
“To build an enduring brand you must have these three things; you must have the talent and passion. There are people with talent but no passion. They become playful with the work. You must have the drive which takes you to another level. Then you must have the discipline which is the key. There are times when people see me come to work around 7:00 am and they wonder how come at this stage.
“I am still resuming so early. It has become a part of me. That is discipline. There are designers who resume work at 10am or 11am. They delegate from home. We cannot be at the same level. What you put in is what you get. It is as simple as that.”
Mudi
Ferdinand ekechukwu
Jetour T2 Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Now in Nigeria
Anew sensational model of the Jetour, T2 (PHEV), has arrived in Nigeria. The plug-in hybrid electric ver- sion of the T2 lifestyle offroader, already on sale in the country, blends power with efficiency, providing a comfortable and feature-rich driving experience, according to its manufacturer.
Apart from its fuel economy when running on petrol, the hybrid can effectively switch over to electric, which is a boost to the Federal Government’s green energy initiative.
With this vehicle, you have no cause for worry about charging, as provision has been made for fast charging, slow charging, engine charging and brake force charging. So, while driving with petrol power, the engine is charging the battery.
The vehicle integrates a 1.5 litre turbocharged engine with a dual electric motor setup, offering a combined output of 280 kW (375 hp) and a maximum combined torque of 610 NM. It also boasts 26.73kWh battery power.
The introduction of the vehicle is coming a few months after the Jetour brand was named the ‘Fastest Growing Brand in Nigeria’ at the prestigious annual NAJA (Nigeria Auto Journalists Association) Awards held in 2024. This award was based on the instant suc-
cess of the brand and its wide acceptance within a year of being introduced into the local market.
The Jetour T2 Plug-In Hybrid’s dimension shows a length of 4785mm, width 2006mm and height 1875mm.
It comes with driver and passenger, front and rear seat airbags, Advanced Emergency Braking System, Electronic Parking Brake, Auto Hold System, RMl anti-rollover control system and 360° Surrounding Camera (2D/3D Panoramic Parking).
Aside the Panoramic Parking Sensor, with Lane Departure Warning System, its other safety features are Emergency Braking/High Speed, Forward/Backward Collision, Lateral Collision (BSD/DOW), Wading Sensing System, Bend Braking Control, Auto Lockout System, Automatic Door Lock, Power Window and Alarm System. The vehicle drives on 20-rim tyre size, which places emphasis on the convenience of the driver and other occupants, providing room for one of the best interactive sessions with a vehicle.
It is thus equipped with an Electronic Gear Shifting System, Remote Start, Smart Entry & Push Start and Drive Modes Selector (EV, HEV, Eco, Sports, Normal, Snow). Its other features are Adaptive Cruise Control, Highway Cruise Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, LCD Touch Screen 15.6-inch, Apple Play & Android Auto, BT, Intelligent Voice Command and wireless charger.
T2 (PHEV) comes with panoramic roof and enjoys auto air conditioner and rear vent, air quality management system, power driver and passenger seat, seat ventilation, seat memory, sensor window wiper, 12-Speaker Sony premium Hi-fi system, and Automatic LED/Matrix headlamp.
Jetour offers five-years warranty or 150,000km on the T2 Plug-in Hybrid Electric vehicle.
We’re Making Vehicle Ownership Easier for Nigerians, Says Carloha
Carloha Nigeria, the exclu- sive distributor of Chery vehicles, has said it is making access to brandnew sedans and SUVs easier, more affordable, and worry-free, backed by Nigeria’s most advanced after-sales serviceSpeakingpackage.while hosting top journalists and media practitioners at Carloha Nigeria’s Alapere showroom in Lagos, the Managing Director of Carloha Nigeria, Mr. Sola Adigun, said that through innovation, investment, and training, Carloha is not only improving the ownership experience but also supporting Nigeria’s industrialisation journey and contributing to national development.
At the heart of this commitment, he said, is Carloha Care 6-6-7, the industry’s most customer-focused after-sales initiative, offering Chery vehicle owners a 6-year warranty, 6 years of free scheduled maintenance, and a 7-day repair promise with a courtesy car guarantee. This bold approach underscores Carloha’s vision to make Chery vehicle ownership easy, worry-free, and affordable for Nigerians, positioning the Chery brand as the smartest choice for discerning individuals and businesses seeking brand-new sedans and SUVs.
Also speaking during the event, the General Manager, Marketing for Carloha Nigeria, Mr. Taiwo Akinpelu, described the upcoming launch of the Chery Tiggo 9 as a landmark moment for the Nigerian automotive market.
He noted that the Tiggo 9 is a familyoriented SUV that combines cutting-edge technology, premium comfort, and unrivalled safety standards, making it the most reliable choice in its category today. He highlighted that the Tiggo 9 stands out for its intelligent driver-assist features, advanced safety architecture with multiple airbags, and robust build quality using high-strength steel. According to him, “This is not just another SUV; it is the safest and most technologically advanced vehicle in its class, designed for Nigerian roads and Nigerian families.” He further emphasised that Tiggo 9 owners will enjoy the industry-defining Carloha Care 6-6-7 package, ensuring that, beyond its advanced features, the SUV delivers unmatched peace of mind and long-term value to Nigerian families and businesses. The media engagement also spotlighted Carloha’s future growth plan. Beginning next year, the company will commence local vehicle assembly in Nigeria, a strategic move aimed at further reducing the cost of vehicle ownership while
driving industrial development, creating jobs, and boosting local capacity. By investing in capacity building for Nigerian technicians and expanding its service network nationwide, Carloha is ensuring parts availability, technical expertise, and sustainable customer confidence in the Chery brand. Journalists on the guided showroom tour
Carloha Presents Chery Tiggo 8 Pro as Top Prize at Oluyole Golf
Cexperienced Carloha’s expanding model line-up, with the Tiggo 9 previewed as the centrepiece of Carloha’s next chapter. The event concluded with an interactive Q&A, networking, and reaffirmation of Carloha’s promise to redefine mobility in Nigeria through innovation, affordability, and world-class service.
Tournament, Commits to Sports Development
arloha Nigeria, the exclusive franchise holder and assembler of Chery vehicles in the country, has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering sports development in the country.
The affirmation was made during the Oluyole Golf Tournament, held at the prestigious Ibadan Golf Club from August 22 to 24, 2025. This event, which attracted not less than 160 golfers, including key figures such as former Oyo State Governor Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and a representative from the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2nd Mechanized Division of the Nigerian Army, provided Carloha with an excellent platform to engage with influential audiences and showcase its unwavering dedication to sports in Nigeria.
At the heart of Carloha’s presence was the stunning Chery Tiggo 8 Pro SUV, displayed prominently at the club’s entrance and serving as the grand prize for the tournament’s Hole-in-One challenge. The SUV generated an incredible buzz among players and spectators, with many admiring its design, features, and performance. While no one claimed the coveted prize, the excitement surrounding the vehicle and the
tournament as a whole was palpable.
Felix Mahan, General Manager of Marketing at Carloha, spoke about the company’s ongoing support for sports in Nigeria, stating, “For us at Carloha, sports go far beyond just competition; they’re a vital avenue for community engagement, talent development, and national growth. Our commitment to tournaments like the Oluyole Golf Tournament is part of a broader vision to support the growth of sports in Nigeria—creating lasting memories for athletes and fans alike, while strengthening our bond with communities nationwide.”
Mr. Mahan went on to emphasize, “By offering the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro as the Hole-in-One prize, we’ve demonstrated not just our belief in the power of sports to inspire passion and excellence, but also our pledge to continue supporting sports development in Nigeria. These values align deeply with our brand’s philosophy, and we’re proud to stand behind the sporting community as they pursue their dreams.”
As part of its ongoing efforts to engage with the local community, Carloha also introduced its comprehensive Carloha Care 6-6-7 after-sales package during the tournament’s dinner event. This package was met with enthusiastic applause, reinforcing Carloha’s commitment to customer satisfaction and peace of mind.
Jetour T2 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
Chery Tiggo 9 family-oriented SuV
Golfers at oluyole Golf Tournament
JAMB, WAEC and Rising Exam Glitches
Over the last eight months, two of Nigeria’s biggest examinations, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s unified tertiary Matriculation Examination and the West African Examination Council’s West African senior school Certificate Examination, have been confronted with glitches, writes Sunday Ehigiator
On a day that should have promised possibilities, 19-year-old Timilehin Faith Opesusi faced an outcome that shattered her world.
Residing with her elder sister in Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos State, she logged into her JAMB (UTME) result, anticipating a new chapter in her academic journey, and by extension, her future. Instead, she was met with a score of 146 out of 400, a steep drop from the performance she recorded just a year earlier.
In the hours that followed, overwhelmed by despair, Timilehin ingested rodenticide. She was brought to Kolak Hospital in critical condition but tragically passed away soon after.
A cruel twist of fate unfolded mere minutes later: an admission offer, provisionally accepted, landed in her Gmail inbox 30 minutes after her passing. The message pierced the silence left by her absence, amplifying the heartbreak of a dream deferred, perhaps irreparably.
Her father, Femi Opesusi, expressed both sorrow and anger. Though JAMB later admitted the existence of a technical glitch affecting nearly 380,000 candidates, and promised a re-sit, it was too late for Timilehin. “I hold JAMB responsible,” he said, lamenting that no one from the board or government reached out to his family in the wake of her death.
Timilehin’s story is far more than statistics or system failures; it is the human face of institutional collapse. It epitomises the devastating impact of opaque processes, miscommunication, and lack of support structures on the most vulnerable: our young people.
Her death punctuates the urgency of examining how systemic failures intersect with fragile mental health, institutional opacity, human careers and the inadequate redress mechanisms.
Statistics, percentages and numbers make the headlines. But behind each data point sits a person.
Take Ada (not her real name), a candidate who sat in one of the affected JAMB centres. She spent a year preparing for UTME after a disappointing first school-leaving performance that had initially kept her home for two years.
She left her small town for a city testing centre, weathered transport delays, questions that seemed oddly formatted, and then logged into an online portal to check a result that left her reeling. For days, she thought she had failed; later, the board announced a resit for her centre. Months of study and two sleepless nights were effectively devalued.
Then there is Emeka, whose WAEC centre in one south-western state ran late and forced students to write into the night by torchlight.
He remembers the strain of concentrating through aches and drowsiness, the communal worry as invigilators whispered about missing materials, and later, a result that did not reflect his confident performance in class. His parents had borrowed money for school fees, valedictory fee, transport and examination fees. They cannot afford another year of uncertainty.
These are repeatable narratives across regions: students whose revision cycles are disrupted by institutional errors; families who take loans
for exam fees and travel; schools whose reputations hinge on their pupils’ performance; and teachers who must explain inexplicable declines in pass rates.
The mental health toll is real. Anxiety, sleeplessness, depression, and panic attacks have been reported with rising frequency among students awaiting results or who must resit exams.
The suddenness of a recall or a portal collapse can be traumatic: imagine thinking your life pivot point has passed, only to be told later that the data you relied on was wrong.
Clinical psychologists consulted by media outlets and schools describe the preceding months as a period of “anticipatory stress”; constant dread about score-checking, compounded by community gossip and shame. For some students, the glitch is not only an administrative failure; it is a public humiliation that lingers.
The mental health cascade
The immediate mental health consequences
for affected students are obvious: panic and acute stress. But there are also long-term effects that may play out subtly.
Academic disengagement: a student who believes the system is unfair, that effort does not translate into reliable outcomes, may be less likely to invest in further schooling or to reattempt exercises. Over time, that disengagement manifests as lower enrolment, higher dropout, and an erosion of trust in public institutions that provide education.
Increased fear of testing; for students who experience trauma during high-stakes exams (e.g., prolonged time under poor lighting, public humiliation due to faulty releases), future test situations become trigger points. Teachers and psychologists report that some students carry lasting anxiety into university interviews or postgraduate entrance exams.
Also, household economic stress could amplify mental strain. When families spend scarce resources on exam preparation and fees, and then face the prospect of repeating the investment due to institutional error, the financial pressure worsens mental health across the household. Adolescents who internalise parental stress can become depressed or withdraw.
Teacher morale and educator burnout; teachers who must explain inexplicable results to parents and students, and who often see the reputational harm reflected onto their schools, experience demoralisation. Burnout among teachers further weakens schooling quality and long-term educational outcomes.
These consequences do not resolve with a “reissue” of a result. They require mental health services, counselling, and deliberate support programs for students and teachers; resources that are scarce in many parts of Nigeria’s education sector.
The timeline: a short, sharp shock
The year’s examination cycle began like any other, but soon went off-script. In the case of JAMB, the board acknowledged a “systemic error” after the 2025 UTME results provoked widespread complaints.
DHQ: Troops Will Sustain Security for Farmers Throughout Farming Season Group Advises Haske to Submit to EFCC’s Investigation
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday assured that troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, across all theatres of operation, will sustain security for farmers throughout the farming season and beyond.
The military also revealed that several terrorists were killed, while many others were apprehended across all theatres of operations.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, in his weekly update, also revealed that a notorious terrorist had surrendered his weapons to troops of the Joint Task Force, North-East Operation Hadin Kai.
He stressed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria would continue to demonstrate its commitment to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and ensuring peace and stability.
According to him: “As part of its efforts to combat terrorism, insurgency, and other security threats, the Nigerian military, in conjunction with other security stakeholders, has successfully executed a number of strategic operations aimed at
neutralising hostile elements and restoring security in affected regions.
“This update provides an overview of recent military engagements, highlights operational successes, and reaffirms the unwavering dedication of the Nigerian Armed Forces to protect and defend the nation’s citizens, infrastructure, and territorial integrity in order to achieve lasting peace and security in Nigeria.
“The renewed operational strategy has enabled our farmers to carry out farming activities unhindered. This effort will be sustained throughout the farming season and beyond.”
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, he said, eliminated scores of terrorists, while five kidnapped victims were rescued.
“Following the intensity of our gallant troops’ firefights, a terrorist fighter belonging to the Abu Ayuba syndicate surrendered to troops in Kwayari village in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State on 20 August 2025.
“The terrorist surrendered his weapon and ammunition and is willing to cooperate in non-kinetic negotiations for other members of the syndicate to surrender,” he said.
Apro-transparency group, Accountability Watch, has dismissed as delay tactics, claims by Mr. Bashir Abdullahi Haske, a businessman under Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC)’s investigation, that he was not running from justice, but has gone away to receive medical attention.
The pro-accountability group charged the businessman, who is being investigated for multi-million-dollar financial crimes, to submit himself to EFCC for investigation if his claims of ill-health and medical attention are not mere ploys to frustrate or evade justice.
Haske, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of his office in Abuja on Tuesday, had denied EFCC’s initial allegation that he ran away to evade investigation and justice.
He had said contrary to EFCC’s claims, he voluntarily honoured the anti-graft agency’s invitation, appeared before investigators and provided comprehensive answers to all questions.
“I am not on the run. I am committed to clearing my name and cooperating with lawful investigations. All I ask is that EFCC conducts its duties within the ambit of the rule of law and without political interference,” he said.
Reacting to his claims, Accountability Watch, through it’s Executive Secretary, Dr Benjamin Asan, stated that if Haste was not trying to evade justice, why was he not making himself available for EFCC investigators to gain access to him even if he is in a hospital bed?
The group wondered why anybody called to
order for malfeasance would always resort to blackmailing the anti-graft commission.
It said the EFCC was not a political party but an organisation whose duty it is to tackle corruption in the country and bring culprits to justice.
The group also stated that what the EFCC was doing was simply to investigate and possibly file charges before a competent court which has the powers to convict or acquit any suspect or defendant.
“It is right to seek medical attention if and when anyone requires it, but that should not be done in such a way as to disrupt or frustrate a multi-million-dollar fraud.
“What Mr. Haske needs to know is that the EFCC is not a political organisation. It is simply doing its job as an anti-corruption agency.
“It is not only him that is in Nigeria at the time he was declared wanted. If he didn’t do anything, the agency would not have gone for him.
“In any case, it is not the EFCC that will find him guilty but the courts. He needs not be afraid, if the court finds nothing against him, he would be discharged and acquitted.
“If Mr Haske is not on the run, or in a desperate attempt to frustrate the ongoing investigation, he should disclose his hiding place and give EFCC investigators free and easy access to his current location. He should make himself available for questioning if he has nothing to hide.
“Only then will his claim of cooperating with Nigerian authorities be real,” Accountability Watch said.
Image of some students writing the 2025 WAEC exams late in the night with their touchlights on
Linus Aleke in Abuja
Navigating Hurdles of Business Financing
No matter how attractive a business idea appears, capital remains one of its major drivers. Financial website
Investopedia defines capital as anything that confers value or benefit to its owners, such as a factory and machinery, intellectual property like patents, or the financial assets of a business or an individual.
Whether starting afresh or scaling up an existing business, capital remains essential. It is termed the lifeblood of a business, providing a financial foundation to launch, operate, and thrive in a competitive environment.
As important as this is, raising it is, ironically, one of the worst nightmares of start-up entrepreneurs in this environment.
Several options for funding, including bank loans, grants, crowdfunding, friends/family, intervention funds, and equity-based financing come with their peculiar challenges.
Group Chief Executive Officer, Emerging Africa Companies, Toyin Sanni cited reasons for this, which include: investor hesitation due to high-risk perceptions, weak governance, and insufficient financial documentation, coupled with stringent requirements from traditional lenders.
At the same time, many start-ups are said to get it wrong or simply ignore necessary steps in their chase for capital or desperation to scale, which oftentimes denies them the needed funds or leads to them closing shops soon.
Growth Strategist, Andi Cross noted that given evolving investment space and shifting policies, investors are refocusing their priorities and targeting high-potential businesses with timely and tailored approaches.
Drawing on insights from finance experts, THISDAY highlights key strategies entrepreneurs can adopt to improve their chances of securing funding and gaining the trust of potential investors.
Developing a Robust Business Model
A well-articulated business model is essential for securing investment. Investors want to see a clear path to profitability, scalability, and market dominance. Entrepreneurs should focus on
developing a clear monetization strategy and demonstrating how their business will generate revenue, acquire customers profitably, and achieve market dominance. A robust business model should include a detailed financial plan, market analysis, and a clear competitive advantage.
Develop Realistic Financial Projections
Investors are drawn to entrepreneurs who present a well-structured, compelling business plan backed by realistic financial projections. This signals thorough market research, a deep understanding of the business model, and a strategic roadmap for growth and profitability. Such preparation inspires confidence by showcasing both readiness and potential for long-term success.
Craft a Direct Narrative
Your pitch should be sharp, clear, and resultsfocused, highlighting traction, realistic expectations, and a well-defined growth path. Show investors that you understand your key performance indicators (KPIs) and unit economics. While strategic spending to drive growth is acceptable, it must be backed by a model that can quickly transition to profitability once the spending tapers. A narrative that balances ambition with financial discipline can be particularly persuasive.
OTH er Bu SIN e SS STO r I e S
Maintaining Financial Discipline and Documentation
Professional financial practices are crucial for securing investment. Entrepreneurs should adopt accounting software, track every expense, and maintain clear records of revenue and cash flow. This not only impresses investors but also helps entrepreneurs build a solid foundation for their business. Clean and verifiable financial records are essential for due diligence, and entrepreneurs who fail to maintain these records risk being rejected by investors.
Understanding Valuation and Equity Entrepreneurs should educate themselves on different valuation methodologies and understand the role of a cap table. Overestimating a company’s worth can scare away potential investors, while undervaluing it can lead to giving away too much equity. Founders should seek the advice of a good legal and financial advisor who understands the local market and can help them create a realistic capital table.
Building Relationships with Investors
Fundraising is a relationship business. Entrepreneurs should build genuine relationships with potential investors long before they need funding.
This can be done by attending industry events, joining startup communities, and engaging with investors on social media platforms like LinkedIn. Building relationships and demonstrating expertise over time is far more effective than a last-minute, impersonal pitch.
Ensuring Legal Compliance and Proper Business Setup
Failing to set up a business properly can be a critical error. Entrepreneurs should ensure that their business is fully compliant with regulatory requirements, including company registration, founder agreements, and intellectual property protection. Engaging a lawyer who specialises in startup and corporate law is essential to ensure that all agreements are clear and the business is fully compliant. This provides investors with the confidence they need to commit.
Focus on a Niche Market
Rather than spreading efforts across a wide market, concentrate on establishing dominance in a specific niche. A loyal customer base and clear market leadership in a focused segment demonstrate a viable path to profitability and future expansion. For investors, this targeted approach signals a sharper competitive edge and a more compelling investment case.
Show Commitment to Sustainability and Social Impact
In today’s investment landscape, ethical considerations carry significant weight. Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability (whether through eco-friendly products or sustainable operations) signals a forward-thinking business ethos. Aligning your model with global environmental and social priorities can strongly appeal to investors seeking to align capital with purpose.
Assemble a Capable Team
A solid business idea is important, but a capable, experienced team is often the deciding factor for investors. A skilled team with defined roles and a clear plan for solving real-world problems remains a lasting asset. Financials matter, but without the right team to execute, they are secondary.
SystemSpecs Deepens Synergy to Advance Cashless Fuel Payment
SystemSpecs Technology Services Limited (STSL), in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Fidelity Bank, is elevating indigenous technology to power innovation in cashless fuel payment.
This followed the recent launch of NNPC Fuel App, where STSL delivered the wallet solutions that underpin the innovation towards supporting the nation’s digital transformation efforts.
STSL reputed for developing bespoke software solutions and support services, worked alongside Fidelity Bank to deliver this service, reiterating that the feat reflects
its longstanding commitment to advancing Nigeria’s innovation capacity.
It disclosed further that the latest would foster transparency in national systems and build digital platforms that deliver both immediate and long-term economic value.
Managing Director of the company, Ademola Igbalajobi, stated that the new app represents a new opportunity to deepen integrity, accountability, and transparency across the downstream sector.
He said the project tells of what collaboration between government, the financial sector, and local technology innovators could achieve, noting that Nigeria and indeed
Kiara Rice Spurs Opportunity in Local Cuisine
Kiara Rice Mills has turned the spotlight on Nigeria’s cuisine as it marked the World Jollof Rice Day, showcasing local culinary distinction and creativity.
The Day which is set aside to mark a dish has become a point of cultural pride for many West Africans, saw the organisation ignited fresh conversations around food entrepreneurship, agribusiness, and cultural branding.
Distinguishing the Day for the company was a wrap-up of the World Jollof Fest contest, which featured a live cooking battle between city champions from Onitsha, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Ughelli, Warri, Benin, and Akure.
Akure-based chef, Adefunke Oluwasuji emerged the overall winner and adjudged Jollof Champion, taking home a ₦2 million prize after a judging panel that included Prince Adeoluwa, better known as Enioluwa and Omoyecooks rated her performance outstanding.
Addressing the audience that included
food lovers, influencers and agribusiness stakeholders, Brand Manager at Kiara Rice Mills, Chinaza Ahamefula stated that the event was a celebration of local potential, beyond just a celebration.
“This is a celebration of Nigerian culture, creativity, and community. We are proud to have created a platform that not only showcased the brand’s versatility, but also brought Nigerians together through food. Again, this reaffirms our commitment to local farmers, Nigerian economy, and affordable nutritious rice for all households”, she stated.
Speaking further, Director of the organisation, Kunal Varshneya said, “This is a milestone for us. The turnout, excitement, and love for Jollof confirmed that ours is the rice of choice for both everyday meals and special occasions. Credibility is what keeps pushing us forward, and our goal is to become a true household name that every family chooses and trusts.”
the economy stand to gain in different ways from the wider benefits of the home-grown innovation.
“At STSL, our focus has always been to design resilient systems that go beyond solving today’s problems, to setting the stage for a more transparent, efficient, and digital future for Nigeria.
“Customers and dealers will benefit from seamless payment processing with instant reversals for cancelled transactions. Fleet managers can also take advantage of the platform by registering their vehicles, pre-purchasing fuel for designated units, and ensuring hassle-free redemption directly at the pump,” he added.
As families grapple with rising costs of living, Jamara Home, a subsidiary of JMG Limited, has introduced a new promotion aimed at easing household expenses.
Specifically, the Initiative, “Life Reload Promo,” aimed to ease the financial burden of back-to-school and work shopping this season.
Noting that the promo will last till September 15, General Manager of Jamara Home, Rabi Jammal said the idea was informed by the pressure parents and guardians faced this season, assuring shoppers of quality items at affordable rates.
Data revealed that items such as school fees, uniforms, and books are major components of household education expenditure and barri- ers to education for low-income
families.
Jammal stated that the initiative allows shoppers to enjoy discounted prices on electronics, appliances, and essential household items across its physical and online platforms.
“The Life Reload Promo allows our consumers to shop from a wide variety of trusted brands, ensur- ing their homes and families are well-equipped and comfortable as children return to school.
“This gesture reflects our unique way of showing care to our custom- ers, who remain at the heart of everything we do”, he stated.
He added that with the campaign, the company is positioning itself as both reliable and affordable in helping households cope with seasonal financial pressures.
FeATureS
Sunday Ehigiator
The South-south region of Nigeria, long celebrated as the nation’s “oil and gas capital,” is entering a new era of transformation. Beyond its oil wells and gas pipelines, the region is steadily being redefined by the power of infrastructure, roads, bridges, and civic projects that are opening new economic pathways for millions.
At the heart of this transformation is the leading engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, a construction firm whose presence is now being reinforced across Nigeria, especially in the South-south states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers.
For decades, the region has been Nigeria’s revenue engine, contributing massively through oil and gas. But the region is far more than hydrocarbons. Its diverse ethnic communities, Ibibio, Efik, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo, and Ikwerre, among others, sustain rich cultural traditions. Its geography of rivers, mangroves, and coastlines supports agriculture, fishing, and tourism.
The challenge has always been how to connect these potentials to prosperity. Notably, the federal and state governments are relying on Julius Berger’s engineering prowess to make it happen.
Akwa Ibom: Built
Bedrock of Modernisation
Akwa Ibom, one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing states, largely witnessed an infrastructure revolution over a decade ago when Julius Berger in collaboration with the state government, was central to the progress, delivering landmark roads, drainage systems, and bridges that laid the foundation for new standards in durability and design.
The Abak–Ikot Ekpene Road stands as a prime example. Built with reinforced layers designed to withstand high traffic volumes, it is engineered to last generations. Complementing this is the use of trenchless “pipe-jacking” technology in drainage construction, an innovation that reduces disruption to residents and safeguards the environment.
Perhaps the most symbolic is the Uyo, Abak Bridge, a 343-metre structure linking Ikot Ekpene to Port Harcourt. Constructed on nearly 700 reinforced piles and launched incrementally to overcome weak soil conditions, the bridge is not just a physical connector but a statement of ambition for Akwa Ibom’s future. The 30,000 sitting capacity state-of-theart Uyo stadium and the International Worship Centre, also in the state capital, easily complement the rising modernisation Julius Berger has brought to the state.
Bayelsa: Honouring History, Building the Future Julius Berger’s presence in Bayelsa state predates the current dispensation. If Akwa Ibom’s projects represent the future, Bayelsa’s current landmark project bridges past and present.
The company had been in the coastal state assisting in the infrastructural development of the area, building structures that have endured till date. Its current efforts in Bayelsa state is thus, another opportunity to contribute its professional quota towards further solidifying not just the relationship with the people of the state, but to to strengthening the bonds that bind them together.
Currently, in Otuabagi, Ogbia LGA, the site of Nigeria’s first commercial oil discovery in 1956, Julius Berger is constructing the long-awaited Oloibiri Oil Museum and Research Centre.
Awarded by the Federal government-owned Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), the project is envisioned as both a national monument and a modern research facility. It will house an interactive museum showcasing Nigeria’s oil and gas history, complete with geological exhibits, early drilling equipment, and digital engagement tools.
For the people of Oloibiri, the project is more than concrete and steel. It is recognition of their community’s role in shaping Nigeria’s economic destiny. It may even attract more developmental projects in the area, said a local fruit seller, Priye Ebikeme.
For the country, it represents a hub where academia, industry, and history will converge. “We are on. No time
Julius Berger: Engineering Prosperity across Nigeria’s South-South
wasting,” said Project Manager, Finn Drosdowski as Julius Berger mobilised swiftly to site. “It is our job to discharge our contracts professionally and on schedule,” he added.
Delta: Making the ‘Big Heart’ Beat Again
Delta State nicknamed the “Big Heart of the Nation,” is pulsing with renewed energy. In October 2023, the state government awarded Julius Berger a N78 billion contract to overhaul transportation in Warri and Effurun.
The ambitious project covers three flyovers, an expansion of the DSC/NPA Expressway from four to eight lanes, a cloverleaf interchange, and two pedestrian bridges. For years, chronic gridlock had stifled commerce and daily life in the bustling hubs of Effurun and Warri. The new road network promises not just relief but rebirth.
Local enthusiasm is palpable. “Julius Berger should finish the job in time for us to get our groove back; the big heart must beat well again,” said estate agent, Mr. Igho Ogheherukevwe at Effurun Roundabout.
The Project Manager, Thomas Haug did not mince words in assuring residents that work is advancing at a pace that may even beat the official deadline. For many, the flyovers are more than engineering feats; they are symbols of a city reclaiming its vibrancy.
Rivers: Unlocking the Treasure Base
Rivers State, often referred to as Nigeria’s “Treasure Base,” is also benefiting from Julius Berger’s touch.
After completing 12 flyovers in Port Harcourt, the company is now building the 50.15-kilometre Port Harcourt Ring Road, a dual carriageway that will connect six Local
Government Areas.
Even more ambitious is the Bodo–Bonny Road, the first road in history to access Bonny Island, home to Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company, NLNG. The 35.7km stretch cuts through swamps, tidal zones, and flood-prone terrain, requiring some of the most advanced engineering in Nigeria today.
The project’s significance cannot be overstated. “This will unlock tremendous opportunities for Bonny Island, enabling socio-economic development across the region and beyond,” said Chief O. R. Longjohn, Chairman of the Bodo-Bonny Road Peace Committee. Despite security concerns, construction continues steadily.
Additional works, such as the Buguma–Abonnema road in Emohua LGA, are gradually opening previously inaccessible riverine communities to commerce and development.
Engineering a South-South Renaissance From Akwa Ibom’s bridges to Bayelsa’s museum, Delta’s flyovers, and Rivers’ Road corridors, Julius Berger’s projects are more than infrastructure; they are catalysts of transformation.
Each bridge connects more than towns; it links opportunities. Each road extends beyond asphalt; it paves the way for commerce, culture, and cohesion.
In a region too often defined by resource conflict and neglect, these engineering milestones suggest another narrative: one of shared prosperity built on solid foundations. Julius Berger’s imprint across the South-South is steadily turning oil wealth into infrastructure wealth, a shift that could define Nigeria’s next chapter of development.
US Visa Rule: Social Media Disclosure and Its Risks for Nigerians
Olufemi Soneye
The United States recently implemented a sweeping immigration policy requiring nearly all visa applicants to disclose their social media handles and digital histories. Framed as a tool to bolster national security, counter terrorism, and curb cybercrime, the measure may appear reasonable on paper. But for Nigerians and many others from countries with vibrant, digitally active population, the consequences are troubling and far-reaching.
Nigeria’s dynamic online culture is marked by satire, political commentary, and spirited debate. In this context, posts that are humorous or culturally specific may be misunderstood by foreign officials unfamiliar with the nuances of local discourse. What may be a harmless meme or satirical remark in Nigeria could be wrongly interpreted as extremist, subversive, or fraudulent by US immigration authorities.
This does not merely pose a risk to
individual visa applicants. It threatens broader societal values such as freedom of expression, cultural authenticity, and civic engagement. It also risks further straining US–Nigeria relations at a time when collaboration and mutual respect are more important than ever.
The US government maintains that social media activity provides valuable insight into a visa applicant’s character, affiliations, and potential risks. In an age where radicalization and misinformation can proliferate online, there is some logic to this argument. However, in practice, it opens the door to arbitrary interpretations, biased judgments, and significant invasions of privacy.
Disturbing cases have already emerged. A Norwegian tourist was recently denied entry into the United States after officials discovered a meme referencing US Vice President J.D. Vance on his phone. In another case, a Nigerian businesswoman with a valid visa was turned away at a US border after immigration officers reviewed her Instagram messages and claimed her online activity contradicted the nature of her visa. These examples illustrate how subjective and potentially discriminatory the enforcement
of this policy can be.
Adding to the concern, the US has launched a pilot program requiring visa applicants from select countries to pay a $15,000 bond.
The initiative, which began with Malawi and Zambia, reportedly targets nations with high visa overstay rates and could be expanded. It sends a chilling message: that citizens of certain countries are presumed guilty until proven otherwise.
For Nigerians, the implications are especially severe. Privacy is the first casualty. Applicants must now submit their digital footprints including personal conversations, private networks, and online affiliations to a foreign government. Freedom of expression is the next victim. Young Nigerians, who make up the majority of users on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram, may begin self-censoring out of fear that political opinions or cultural commentary could jeopardize their chances of traveling or studying abroad.
professionals, the most globally engaged Nigerians are now the most vulnerable to misinterpretation and arbitrary visa denials. What constitutes a “red flag” is alarmingly subjective: a meme, a retweet, or a political statement could be enough to trigger rejection, with little recourse for appeal.
There are broader implications for the Nigerian diaspora and global mobility. Social media has long served as a bridge connecting Nigerians abroad with their homeland, facilitating civic dialogue, cultural exchange, and philanthropic engagement. If digital expression becomes a liability, this bridge may weaken, silencing a vital global voice and undermining transnational ties.
Moreover, the policy risks reinforcing damaging stereotypes. Nigerians already contend with international biases linking the country to fraud or instability.
Soneye is a seasoned media strategist and former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, known for his sharp political insight, bold journalism, and high-level stakeholder engagement across government, corporate, and international platforms
This policy disproportionately impacts the very demographic that is driving Nigeria’s innovation, creativity, and international reputation. Students, entrepreneurs, artists, and Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com
Afa Bridge on the ongoing Bodo-Bonny Road project, Rivers state
Ongoing work on DSC flyover and underpass in Effurun, Delta State recently
INTERVIEW
Clinton Odiagbe:
Early Practitioners Abused Herbal Medicine Practice
Hisstoryisquiteinspiring.Comingfromadisadvantagedbackground,hewasbesetbypoverty,overwhelmedbydepression, and almost committed suicide at some point in his life. A victim of health circumstance that defied orthodox medicine, but for herbal medicine, little did he know he would later achieve remarkable success using the same traditional medicine that has now made him a name to reckon with. Meet Professor Clinton Brown Odiagbe, the CEO Nature Renaissance International, an indigenous company that caters for the health and wellness of Nigerians. A detribalised African, Brown in this encounter, talks about traditional medicine practice, which he has taken up as a profession, his motivation, collaboration with government agencies, and the way forward in the industry. Ferdinand Ekechukwu brings the excerpts:
Can you tell us about yourself, background and early experiences that helped shaped who you are today?
I am a professor of natural medicine, though it wasn’t my primary profession. I studied International Law and Diplomacy at the University of Benin. Because of my background, at some point it was like the world was against me. At some point it seem the only solution was to take my own life because I almost attempted suicide. It was just beyond amount of educational knowledge possessed. I was depressed. But then I’m alive because I was able to manage the situation. Probably it could be the level of knowledge that I possess or maybe, probably, God has also destined me for what I am doing today.
Specifically, what led to that depression, was it lack of money or your parents were not alive or what?
Poverty was a big thing in my life then. I lost my father at a very tender age, and my mother a peasant farmer; you should understand what that means. And as a matter of fact, I had that inclination of picking up at my tender age and being ready to hit the ground running, being a goal getter. I think naturally that is who I am; a goal getter. But while you so aspire, things just take another turn.
So is that what led you to traditional medicine practice, because, I mean, you studied ILD – International Law and Diplomacy?
Yes, it wasn’t a conflict. What really happened was, somehow I was a victim of health circumstances. My tender age I had a domestic accident that actually affected my spine. And my parents managed to try the hospital unfortunately for me, the hospital couldn’t provide the solution that was actually needed. So, from the hospital I was referred to a local kind of treatment; the local bone doctor. Against all odds, the traditional bone doctor was able to proffer a solution that revived and changed the whole situation for me. But for that very scenario, it never occurred to me that this was going to be the practice or I was going to take it as a profession at any stage until the Chinese, the Indians started coming into Africa with their herbal therapy. So I had to ask the question, is it the Chinese that is supposed to provide this or we should be able to look around us in Africa, because if you judge by the world and the condition of this continent, Africa has so much of this. So, that was how I actually started the practice; looking for what we also have. Because somehow, technological knowhow, I think they are far ahead of us. So we also look at what we have. That was how I started doing findings. And you know, there are bottlenecks when it comes to standards and all of that. In the first place you will see that where it’s a bit more difficult is, there a lot of materials, ingredients that are quite health beneficial in Africa. But they are not found anywhere, except maybe around Edo state where I hail from. So how do you now, when it comes to standards, marry these ingredients that are not even recognized? So it’s still a bottleneck. But somehow, at some point when I made up my mind that ‘look this is something that I want to scale up’ I decided to collaborate with the agencies that are supposed to do regulatory. You have the NAFDAC. And there are a few departments where you can do control and other form of analysis. So, we actually leveraged on this. But a lot of people see these agencies as witch-hunting. We saw it as a way of measuring up, a way of scaling up. We started with the NAFDAC and we also go as far as doing some analyses in collaboration with some universities. And the results prove quite
positive and impressive. If you ask me from 2016 I actually took off this practice professionally. And from 2016 to 2020, when the Covid-19 happened it was a blessing because we had this challenge of acceptance where a lot of us it was almost like a tradition unless it is western medicine, no medicine. But the Covid-19 was an eye opener to so many persons. Even till now I’m very sure a good number of some of the Africans still do not have idea what the Covid-19 actually threw to our face. During the pandemic I can tell you that almost the whole world was shut against Africa. We had to resort to what is available in Africa, most resorted to local herbs. The lesson is that against the prediction, Africa survived the Covid-19. The annoying part of it is we have not learnt a serious lesson from the pandemic. We have not asked questions: How did Africa truly survive Covid-19? Was it just with resilience?
So how did Africa survive Covid-19?
We resorted to the natural medicines we were taking, it was actually what boosted our immune system. If the vaccination was the solution, they would have resisted it too. They died in dozens. America, Chinese were most hit. The funny part of that pandemic was just all propaganda. That is not to say there was no pandemic, there was. We were not just taking decision based on reality. When America announced there was a lock down we also announced lockdown. We were not even sure of those vaccines we were actually taking.
You took interest in traditional medicine, did you have to go through any training or you took the training from somebody as you were growing up?
Yes, you know it’s really difficult because of the acceptance and the way the system consider the practice. But I think recently, even the federal government through its ministry of health is already looking at how to integrate alternative medicine. I was among the few that had one on one with the former first lady,. Aisha Buhari in 2022. She came with a very bold initiative on how to push alternative medicine. It will take some time. Like the question you ask how I was able to do all of these, it was never by trial and
error. Because what I did like I told you I was a victim and I had an encounter. Mine wasn’t just because of hearsay, I was once sick and I survived it through this process. So, it was an eye opener. But as I took it as a professional practice I resorted to pushing these products for research. Like for example, all our products are NAFDAC certified. But we go beyond just NAFDAC certification. There are institutions, there are departments, chemistry departments and I can tell you our products have gone through a lot of these institutions. What we are looking at is the active ingredients of these products. There are analysis that would be able to spread the active ingredients to see if they are toxic, if they are harmful, or not. I think those are the basic things. We also look at the ingredients in those compounds. But what we do mostly now is to look at a particular ailment, what do we need? What ingredient do we extract from?
Because we have already done all the analyses, but I think the approach is basically a holistic approach because if you look at the traditional medicine, they don’t tend to cure a particular disease. What the traditional or organic medicine does is looking at how to repair vital organs in form of boosting your immune system, in form of nourishing your system. That’s the truth. That is why if you have a little or minor cut, without medicine, without anything, it gets healed. And if you give it some more time, the scar will go off completely. Our body has the power to heal itself. But I think the system is de-immuned because we are living in a synthetic world. Everything is synthesized. You know in a synthetic world, the only answer is nature.
What do you think are the challenges facing traditional medicine today?
It’s still the bottlenecks that I mentioned earlier you know the standards. With the awareness NRI is creating today, and some other practitioners, people need to be aware, even the practitioners need to be aware going through all the processes. It’s just a way of trying to make it a healthy practice and improve on what you already have. Like when we started in 2016, what we have today weren’t presented in this form. We have a research department where we have the scientists there.
What they simply do, before any of our products get to the market, there are a lot of research and analyses that is done on most of these products.
Can you describe your leadership style as the CEO of Nature Renaissance International? Because we already said that beyond just the conventional business, our vision and our mission statement tells it all. NRI is actually positioned to take people off from the scourge of poverty and poor health. What it means that while we provide the necessary tools for us to be able to manage our health style, using the available resources in Africa, we are also using the same opportunity to create wealth for our people. Sad enough that the Asia, most especially the Chinese, and the Indians, have been able to leverage on this resources and can tell you a good volume of the GDP from these two nations is from their organic medicine and their products. You have the Indians they have the Ayurveda which is generally accepted. And you also have the Chinese traditional medicine. But in this part of the world it’s so challenging and this is where NRI stands to bridge the gap. So what we are trying to do is just to bring this nature, package this nature, and formulate this nature in a friendly manner out of that crude state that it used to be. That is why you now see that through that integration between natural practice and modern technology, we are able to formulate and bring dosage that goes with the normal body index so that it poses no harmful effect to human. Looking at the leadership strategy is simply about synergy. We try to interface with the regulatory agencies, basically that’s a way to be able to up our game and scale up this whole practice. Leadership style at NRI is about team work, collaboration with consultants, professionals in their various disciplines. We also have internal structures for quality control and assurance and the administrative aspect of the two. What we have been able to put on ground in NRI structure is just about team work because something deliberate has to be done for Africa to be able to find her feet when it comes to this practice. The African traditional medicine is as old as the continent itself. But painfully, we have not been able to make some level of progress as required. Even the average African has that understanding that the materials work but how to harness them and get the best of it. That mindset that because it’s made in Africa is still quackery we have gone beyond that stage. I keep saying it’s about the intentions and if the intensions are right, we are already gearing towards making that difference that is expected in this field. But if we judge by the acceptance now and then, I think it’s quite marginal because the level of acceptance as a result of the testimony, the effect, the efficacy of herbal medicine when they are properly processed and developed, I think the acceptance is quite better now.
They just write you off completely. But it was quite challenging! Because I understand I had encounter and I was so sure that look, one has to do this. If we all continue to face ignorance, practice like this that would have taken Africa to a great height might go extinct. And also let me equally say this that somehow the early practitioners abused the whole practice because they make people believe that you have to have certain powers that you have to be a witch or wizard, you have to be sorcerer for this thing to work. It’s far beyond it. That’s not what we are doing now. It’s quite challenging. That’s why 90 percent of my time is spent trying to get result from this field and just 10 percent is for maybe a normal life. But the best I do is vacation; I enjoy vacation, travelling to completely unwind.
Clinton Odiagbe
Zenith at 35: Honouring Loyalty, Celebrating Legacy
At 35, Zenith Bank Plc stands tall, not just as one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, but as a symbol of resilience, innovation, and loyalty, writes Oluchi Chibuzor
Zenith Bank Plc’s recent 35th anniversary celebration was more than a corporate milestone. It was a testa- ment to a legacy carefully built on trust, vision, and the enduring relationships with customers, staff, and communities. Few institutions in Nigeria’s banking history have been able to maintain such a consistent trajectory of growth, even through decades of economic turbulence and shifting market realities.
The story of Zenith is, in many ways, the story of Nige- ria’s banking revolution. From the days of manual ledgers and long queues, Zenith embraced technology, professional- ism, and global best practices, setting a pace that reshaped customer expectations and industry standards. Its success did not come by chance, but through deliberate choices and a culture of excellence that positioned it as a leader in financial intermediation and corporate governance.
Yet beyond the numbers, balance sheets, and branch expansions lies a deeper narrative, which is the human story. Zenith’s legacy is not only written in financial statements, but in the loyalty of its pioneer customers, the dedication of its long-serving staff, and the communities it has touched through its operations and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
It was this human story that took centre stage at the bank’s 35th anniversary, marked with a commemorative Chairman’s Dinner at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Friday, August 15, 2025. Amidst the pomp and pageantry, the bank honoured pioneer customers and presented commemorative plaques to staff who had served meritoriously for 25 years or more, a fitting tribute to the loyalty and commitment that continue to define Zenith’s enduring legacy.
The ceremony brought together key stakeholders of the bank, including customers, staff (past and present), regulators, partners, and friends, who all came together to celebrate 35 years of excellent and innovative banking services that has propelled the banking giant to the peak of Nigeria’s financial industry.
Among the eminent personalities who graced the occasion were the Vice President Kashim Shettima; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Agbu Kefas; Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum; Governor of Delta, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, who was ably represented by the Deputy Governor, Mon- day Onyeme; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and former Governors Peter Obi and Udom Emmanuel (also an alumnus of Zenith Bank).
In Nigeria, Zenith Bank Plc is one institution that has a history of consistent dividend payouts, providing investors with regular income streams. These dividends can be reinvested to compound returns over time. The bank has emerged as a leading financial institution, providing inves- tors with an unparalleled platform to be part of the bank by investing in its ongoing public offering.
In her welcome address, the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, applauded the Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, for his foundational role in building the structures for what has today become a shining example of excellence in the Nigerian banking industry and a globally recognised financial institution.
She described him as “the Godfather of modern banking and the Nostradamus of our time, who through sheer tenac- ity, foresight, and uncompromising integrity transformed a modest vision into the financial powerhouse we celebrate today.”
She noted that the bank currently boasts of a market capitalisation of N3 trillion, putting it above many other banks in the country.
“In just 35 years, Zenith Bank has grown from humble beginnings in a converted residential building to become a shining example of excellence in the Nigerian banking industry and a globally recognised financial institution.
“Zenith Bank is the most profitable bank in Nigeria, setting the standard for financial performance. Our tier-1 capital has remained the largest in the Nigerian banking industry for 16 consecutive years, demonstrating our unwavering financial strength and stability.
“We have a shareholders’ fund of N4.44 trillion, the highest in the Nigerian banking industry, reflecting investor trust and confidence. Our market capitalisation stands at three trillion naira, one of the largest in the Nigerian banking industry, showcasing our market leadership.”
She applauded Ovia for establishing and leading the bank to greater heights, assuring that the dream of the Founder shall not die.
“Through sheer tenacity, foresight, and uncompromising integrity, he transformed a modest vision into the financial powerhouse we celebrate today,” Umeoji stated.
In his goodwill message, Shettima, a proud alumnus of the bank, praised Ovia, for being at the heart of the very successful brand that today stands as Nigeria’s largest bank
by Tier-One capital.
“He (Ovia) saw the future of banking when most of us were still grappling with its present. Long before technol- ogy became the bloodstream of global finance, Jim Ovia had already woven it into the DNA of Nigerian banking.
“He introduced innovation not as a fashion but as a philosophy, placing Zenith Bank on a path where excellence is not an ambition but a standard. Yet his true signature is not only on the balance sheet. For Mr. Jim Ovia, the people make an institution.
“Yet his true signature is not only on the balance sheet. For Jim Ovia, the people make an institution. His greatest investment has been in human capital – in transferring his experience and sense of adventure to generation after generation of bankers and investors forged at Zenith Bank.”
According to him, beyond performing excellently in guarding Nigeria’s wealth, Zenith has also nurtured the nation’s dreams, sealing the bank’s status as Nigeria’s largest bank by Tier-One capital.
The great strides the bank made, he noted, were the cumulative effects of what earned it the prize as the nation’s number one bank, a position it has retained for 16 consecutive years, “making it a benchmark in the annals of African Extollingenterprise.” the bank’s innovation and integrity, the vice president said: “And so, as we gather to celebrate Zenith Bank at thirty-five, we are honouring a culture—a culture where innovation is instinct, where integrity is non- negotiable, and where service to humanity is as important as service to shareholders.
“On behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I salute Zenith Bank; I honour Mr. Jim Ovia, and I commend Dame Adaora Umeoji. May the next 35 years find you still breaking barriers, still setting standards, and still proving that in Nigeria, greatness is not an exception—it is an expecta- tion,” Shettima added.
He said further: “I was bred in this system, and I know that Zenith Bank belongs to a class of its own. It is a family that has stood together; a family that thinks together; a family that builds together; a family that grows together; and a family that celebrates each other’s victories and endures each other’s trials.”
Shettima also described the bank as “a family bound not solely by contracts and capital, but by the foresight that tomorrow arrives heavy with promise,” adding that “for 35 years, this bank has opened more than branches across the world; it has opened possibilities.”
Shettima also praised Zenith Bank’s culture of continu- ity, which eventually placed the leadership mantle on its first female Group Managing Director/CEO, Umeoji, saying the bank’s story is a relay of “baton passed with trust and received with grace.”
“Today, that baton rests in the capable hands of Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, the first woman to lead this bank in its distinguished history. Her journey demonstrates the succession planning that characterises Jim Ovia’s school of leadership, of which I am proud to be an alumnus.
“Dame Adaora rose through the ranks with almost three decades of service. She has taken the Zenith Bank ethos and dressed it in the elegance of a new generation— blending strategic vision with the soft power of empathy,” the vice president further said.
In his remarks, Ovia expressed immense appreciation to all guests for joining the bank in celebrating this momentous occasion.
He thanked the bank’s esteemed customers and shareholders for their trust, confidence and shared vision; the regulators, for their guidance over the years; his friends and partners, for being a constant source of strength; the Zenith Bank family led by the exceptional Group Managing Diector/CEO, Adaora Umeoji, for their loyalty and commitment; and his beloved wife and family for their love and support.
Founded in May 1990, Zenith Bank has grown from humble beginnings into one of Africa’s leading financial institutions with branches across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, Abuja as well as subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, France, UAE and a representative office in China. The underlying philosophy is for the bank to remain a customer-centric institution with a clear understanding of its market and environment.
Zenith Bank’s track record of excellent performance has continued to earn the brand numerous awards. With a comprehensive range of investment products and services, coupled with expert guidance, Zenith Bank empowers individuals to achieve their financial goals. The bank offers a diverse portfolio of investment options tailored to meet the varying risk appetites and financial objectives of its customers.
The bank boasts a team of seasoned investment profes-
sionals who possess in-depth market knowledge and expertise. These experts provide personalised financial advice, helping investors make informed decisions and navigate market volatility.Therefore, as Zenith Bank looks beyond its 35th anniversary, the institution stands on the firm foundation of loyalty, legacy, and leadership. Its journey so far has shown that banking excellence is not built overnight but through years of consistent vision, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to customers and communities. The ability to remain relevant through shifting economic cycles is a testament to the bank’s resilience and foresight. The recognition of pioneer customers and long-serving staff during the anniversary was more than ceremonial; it underscored the fact that people remain at the heart of Zenith’s story. By honouring those who stood with it from the beginning, the bank reinforced a message that loyalty and dedication are the cornerstones of lasting institutions. This is a lesson not just for the financial sector but for corporate Nigeria as a whole.
As the bank steps into the future, the challenge will be to deepen this legacy by embracing new technologies, advancing financial inclusion, and continuing to uphold the values that have defined its brand for three and a half decades. If the past 35 years are any indication, Zenith Bank is well-positioned to remain a beacon of trust, stability, and progress in Nigeria’s financial landscape—an enduring legacy worth celebrating.
Ovia
Umeoji
Nigeria at TICAD9: Forging Stronger Partnership with Japan
When Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addressed African leaders and multilateral development partners who converged on the port city of Yokohama at the just-concluded 9th Tokyo International Conference, he was clear about the impending mission.
Delving into the summit’s history, which started in 1993 as his launching pad, the Prime Minister said the idea of TICAD was founded on the basic principles of African ownership of her growth and development priorities, even as it seeks cooperation and international partnership. He underscored the importance of mutual understanding, indigenous solutions, and collaborative efforts for Africa’s development.
As the host, he outlined his government’s focus on private sector-led sustainable growth, youth and women’s empowerment, and regional integration while speaking on the theme: “Co-create innovative solutions with Africa.”
At the head of the Nigerian delegation was President Bola Tinubu, who had embarked on a whirlwind of diplomatic shuttles and engagements in the last two years, making the voice of Nigeria loud and strong on how the country and the rest of Africa should engage the world. During his intervention at the plenary session on ‘Peace and Stability’, President Tinubu underscored the importance of security to the economic growth and the collective prosperity of Africans and Nigerians in particular, stressing that Africa would remain mired in underdevelopment and consigned to a mere footnote in global affairs if conflicts and insecurity are not effectively tackled.
While reaffirming Nigeria’s readiness to partner with Japan and other global development agencies to co-create solutions that address the development challenges of his country and the rest of Africa, President Tinubu declared that inclusivity, diversity, and the rule of law, which are essential ingredients for economic growth, are already entrenched in Nigeria’s social and political fabric.
He described the current momentum of the Nigerian Armed Forces’ fight against terrorists and other forces of destabilisation as a springboard for national development and stability.
Decrying how conflicts and poor management of political differences undermine the much-needed progress in Africa, President Tinubu referenced the economic reforms his administration is spearheading in Nigeria as a pointer to the revitalisation that is possible with the right investments in critical infrastructure, institutional reforms, and collaboration with civil society and international partners to improve the living standards of all citizens.
Calling for a new approach and fresh thinking in conflict resolution in Africa, President Tinubu acknowledged how a new model of mediation buoyed by economic considerations is resolving the decades-long civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“We should be under no illusions about the scale of our task. But neither should we underestimate the successes we have had. In the past, competition for resources has weakened states and triggered conflict. Now, we see mediators directly linking outcomes to investment in Congo. It is working and underlines the need for fresh thinking in everything we do to deliver peace and stability,” he said.
In his well-received intervention, President Tinubu appealed to the government of Japan, the 5th largest economy in the world, for a more impactful investment in job-creating sectors of the Nigerian economy and in the rest of African countries, market-driven cooperation and partnerships that will eliminate poverty among the teeming population, rather than the hackneyed appeals for aid and handouts.
President Tinubu seized the opportunity to call on Japan to support the campaign for reforms in the United Nations’ organs, especially the United Nations’ Security Council, to give
African countries a greater voice.
“It is the view of Nigeria that Africa’s quest for fair and equitable representation in the UN Security Council is a just and fair demand. Indeed, Africa deserves two seats in the Permanent Category, with all its prerogatives and privileges, including the Right of Veto. Africa also deserves additional seats in the non–permanent seat category of the Security Council, as encapsulated in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.”
While laying out the new template for cooperation between Japan and Africa, Prime Minister Ishiba emphasised that locally rooted solutions that leverage the advantages of both Japan, the 5th largest economy in the world, and Africa, with a vast and vibrant young population, are essential for economic growth and development.
The Prime Minister appealed to African countries to assist Japan as it grapples with the challenges of a declining population and shrinking agricultural land.
“In 75 years from now, the population of Japan would have been halved. In the local communities, the population continues to decline; this is one big challenge Japan is facing. All agricultural land is being reduced, another major challenge for Japan. There is another potential in Africa: a growing young population, but for the power of young people in Africa to flourish, you need to create a manufacturing industry and create employment, which is very important. Solving challenges is not a one-way street. I would also like Africa to lend its strength to solving Japan’s challenges.”
In addressing the problem of poverty and unemployment, Japan promised to work with African leaders to make the continent the next growth centre and build the capacity of youth and women to be employable.
“Recognising this, we will implement human resource development for 300,000 people over three years. Through the “AI and Data Science Human Resource Development and Africa Economic Growth Initiative,” we will develop 30,000 AI industry personnel in Africa over three years,” the Prime Minister said.
As part of the TICAD9 commitment, Prime Minister Ishiba announced investments in Africa’s health sector based on the “Investment Promotion Package for Sustainable Health in Africa.” The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Knowledge Hub will be established in Japan this year, and the development of 35,000 health and medical personnel will contribute to achieving UHC in African countries. He unveiled Japan’s mission to support Africa’s vaccine supply through contributions of up to $550 million over the next five years to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
According to Prime Minister Ishiba, Japan started Kaizen training in Tunisia to boost industrialisation and improve the productivity of Africa’s manufacturing sector. This has now been expanded to 41 African countries. To date, the number of Kaizen trainers has reached 1,400, contributing to productivity improvements at 18,000 companies that generate employment for 280,000 people. Through this Kaizen approach, companies’ productivity in the 41 African countries has reportedly improved by more than 60%.
Promising to do more to expand the manufacturing base in Africa and access to finance, the Prime Minister added, “We will nurture and expand the industrial ecosystem between Japan and Africa. We will advance “Japan Africa Co-Creation for Industry,” an initiative in which African startups and Japanese companies jointly develop industries. In terms of finance, we will strengthen the functions of the “Enhanced Private Sector Assistance for Africa,” a collaborative framework between Japan and the African Development Bank, expanding it to a maximum of $5.5 billion. We will mobilise $1.5 billion in public-private impact investment, using Japan International Cooperation Agency’s Private Sector Investment Finance as a catalyst.”
Beyond the African-wide initiatives and the private sector funding assistance through the African Development, Nigeria’s participation at TICAD9 recorded major milestones and tangible results that will further accelerate progress already
being made in key sectors of our economy, especially in the power and health sectors.
Specifically, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, led Nigeria’s power sector delegation to conclude negotiations and activation of several Japan-backed energy projects and had productive engagements with top equipment manufacturers.
One of the power projects is the Lagos-Ogun Power Transmission System Improvement, which is designed to improve the wheeling capacity and grid stability and enable the connection of industrial customers on the corridor. There is also the partnership between the National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN) and JICA to enhance Vocational Training Delivery for the power sector. The third power project is the Distributed Access Through Renewable Energy Scale-up, for which $190 million has been provided.
Speaking on the outcomes of his sideline engagements at TICAD9, Adelabu said, “We’re engaging with Toshiba and Hitachi facilities tied to upcoming grid infrastructure, and with Japan’s Transmission and Distribution Corporation and Energy Exchange to share best practices and loss-reduction strategies. The signed project includes technical training and loss reduction; the equipment is installed at NAPTIN in Abuja. We’re activating a $190M JICA renewable energy facility, complementing Nigeria’s $750M World Bank clean energy fund under Mission 300. We are also finalising plans to commission three JICA-funded substations in Apo and Keffi (FCT) and Apapa (Lagos), delivered via a $32M Japanese grant. This is moving from agreement to action, planning to implementation and promise to results.”
Also, on the sidelines of the conference, Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Dele Alake, and his team had a productive meeting with the officials of the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC). JOGMEC pledged to devise plans to encourage Japanese mining companies to invest in Nigeria’s mining sector. President of JOGMEC, Mr. Michio Daito, acknowledged that Nigeria’s rich mineral resources are well known globally, but Japanese mining companies need more information to make investment decisions.
He raised issues about power generation for industries, tax incentives, labour, duty waivers, free trade zones, and entry and exit conditions. Noting that Japanese mining firms rely on JOGMEC to make investment decisions in foreign countries, Daito requested information on the state of infrastructure that supports mining.
Alake highlighted the reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, especially monetary policy, tax, and fiscal policy reforms, which have made the business environment more stable and conducive.
Acknowledging the industrial nature of the Japanese economy and the role of electric technologies, Alake said Nigeria would be critical to Japan’s needs for processed minerals to drive its economy.
He encouraged JOGMEC to invest in the extraction and processing of its mineral needs in Nigeria before exports to Japan in line with the administration’s policy on local value addition.
Addressing other investment concerns, Alake rated the Nigerian workforce as one of the best in the world because of high literacy and education levels. He assured the investors that the Tinubu administration had embarked on critical infrastructure projects in rail, road, and water transportation to support industries.
“In terms of economies of scale, producing and processing the critical minerals you need in Nigeria is cheaper and more profitable as the production costs are lower, the Minister said.
Temitope Ajayi
President Tinubu (First from left, front row), with other world leaders at the TICAD9 held in Japan…recently
Titilola Akinlawon:
I’ll Always Choose Home-cooked Meals Over Dining Out
From the lecture halls of the university of Lagos to the highest ranks of Nigeria’s legal profession, Mrs. titilola Akinlawon has lived a life defined by grit, grace, and a fierce love for justice. unexpectedly nudged into law when her dream of studying Economics was cut short, the senior Advocate of Nigeria embraced the challenge, built an illustrious career, and earned the prestigious title of senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2011. In this conversation with Wale Igbintade she shares her colourful university memories, the discipline that fuels her success, the comfort foods she treasures, and the case that stole her vacation — but won her a conviction.
What inspired you to study Law in the first place? Was it a childhood dream or something you discovered later?
Honestly, I never planned to study law. My original dream was to study Economics, but I didn’t have a credit in Mathematics at the time, which made that impossible. I was placed in Law because I did well in my A Levels, and surprisingly, I grew to love it. Now, I can’t even wrap my head around economic terms. I find them boring — Law has completely won my heart.
Growing up, did you have a role model who influenced your choice of career?
Not at all. I didn’t have anyone I looked up to as a lawyer because I never imagined I would become one.
Were there any particular events during your early years that confirmed Law was the right path for you?
Not exactly. But I’ve always loved reading. I could sit for hours lost in a book, and my siblings would often tease me that I’d probably end up as a teacher or lecturer. In a way, my love for reading may have quietly prepared me for the legal path.
During your time at the University of Lagos, what was campus life like for you outside academics?
Campus life was incredibly enjoyable. My hostel was close to the Lagoon Front, which was a perfect place to relax and connect with friends. Social life was lively too. I remember when a university club once took us to the Trade Fair Complex along Badagry Road for an all-night party. It was quite a distance, but we made the most of it and had fun until daybreak. Those were truly unforgettable moments.
Were you actively involved in extracurricular activities, clubs, or student leadership?
Yes, I was. I was a dedicated member of the Rotaract Club, and by my final year, I had become General Secretary. That role brought great opportunities, one of the highlights being a sponsored trip to the Rotary International Convention in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1981. It was an enriching experience I’ll always cherish.
Did you have any nickname in school, and how did it come about?
Yes. Some people called me “Agogoro Eyo” or “Longus” because of my height and slim build. It stuck, and I didn’t mind — it was all part of the fun of campus life.
Looking back, what was your fondest
memory from your university days?
One of my fondest memories was cooking in the hostel. Most ladies in Moremi Hall preferred cooking to eating at the dining hall. I lived on the first floor, and my roommates and even those upstairs often joked that the aroma from my food would make them lose their boyfriends! We also frequented Maxi Supermarket, our regular hangout. Dining hall meals cost just 5 kobo then, and Sundays were special — ice cream, jollof rice, a quarter chicken, and all the good stuff. That’s when most people showed up in the dining hall.
Away from the courtroom, how do you typically spend your leisure time?
I love reading novels, bingewatching Netflix, and travelling.
Exploring new places and cultures fascinates me. But most of all, I enjoy spending time with my grandchildren — they light up my world.
Do you enjoy any hobbies — reading, travelling, cooking, sports, or music?
Absolutely! I love dancing to good music — it lifts my spirit. I don’t particularly enjoy cooking, but I do it anyway. I used to be an athlete, playing racket sports back in the day, though not anymore.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what other profession could you see yourself thriving in?
I think I would have made a fantastic actress because, in many ways, advocacy is like acting! Or perhaps a dancer. I would have thrived in any expressive and creative field.
Do you have a favourite Nigerian dish or comfort food you always look forward to?
Yes, white rice with fresh fish (Eja Osan)
is my all-time comfort food.
Are you more of a “home-cooked meal” person or a “dining out” enthusiast?
Definitely a home-cooked meal person. I’m particular about my seasoning and the amount of oil in my food. I also don’t enjoy fried foods, so cooking at home gives me full control over what I eat.
Is there a particular meal you enjoy preparing yourself?
Yes! I love making fresh fish stew with garlic, ginger, and just the right seasoning. I take time to marinate it properly. I also used to enjoy preparing egusi soup. For dessert, I love cream caramel and often prepare it myself.
How do you unwind after a long day in court or at the office?
I usually unwind by reading — whether it’s online news, novels, or simply catching up on the gist. I spend a lot of time talking with people, especially my husband. I love counselling others, and those conversations are always refreshing.
Are there any daily habits or routines that keep you grounded?
Absolutely. I’m highly organised. I sleep early and wake up around 4 a.m., always planning the next day before bed. My mornings start with devotion, then breakfast preparation, before heading to work. This structure keeps me grounded and focused.
How do you maintain a healthy work–life balance given the demands of the legal profession?
For me, it’s all about discipline and organisation. It’s not always easy, especially when handling demanding cases. I remember one July when I had to prosecute at the Failed Banks Tribunal during the court vacation. I had already planned a family trip and booked tickets, only for the judge to declare there would be no holiday. I worked through the night drafting my final address for about 21 days so I could join my family later. Thankfully, it paid off — the accused was convicted, making the sacrifice worth it.
If your close friends were to describe you in three words outside of law, what would they say?
Trustworthy, selfless/generous, and dependable.
What’s one surprising fact about you that most people don’t know?
Most people don’t know that I’m kind and jovial. I have a serious, strict appearance, so I’m often misunderstood. I remember someone once walked up to me in court and said, “You’re a fighter.” And yes, I am because I never give up.
Titilola Akinlawon
The ChUMMIeS
PersPective
Enugu @ 34: As Mbah Drives the Dreams of Founding Fathers
uche Anichukwu
“I am not a stranger at all to Enugu State.To deny Governor Peter Mbah’s transformative leadership will be sinful“ - Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN
Growing up, I heard how my paternal grandfather, the late Ofia Inyinya Okereke Igboke Any- ioma, a highly respected personality, and a wealthy man by their standard in those days, offered three-point prayer as he broke kolanut and poured libations to Chukwu Okike Abiama (God) and his ancestors every morning: “If I ever con- ceive evil against anyone, may it return to me and vice versa; may everyone prosper, but may the kindest-hearted prosper the most so that the poor would not suffer; may my descendants surpass me and also actualise any of my unfulfilled dreams, for they are too big to be fulfilled in a lifetime.”
Not many places in Nigeria have enjoyed Enugu State’s rich history and special bestowals of mother nature. It is a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden. Yet, something was missing: the founding fathers - Chief Christian Chukwuma Onoh, HRH Igwe Edward Nnaji, Chief Enechi Onyia, HRH Igwe Charles Abangwu, Chief Basil Okwu, HRH Igwe John Nwodo, HRH Igwe Ezeudo Abel Nwobodo, Prof. Samson Ukpabi, HRH Igwe Udemgaba Maduka, HRM Igwe Samuel Emeka Nnaji (Atakata I of Waawa land), Justice Augustine Nnamani (JSC), HRH Igwe Paul Egbogu, HRM Igwe John Igwesi, Chief Dan Agbo, and Chief Nduka Eya, among a host of others - dreamt big. They believed that the people known as Waawa would do better with a state of their own to expand the social, political, and economic op- portunities for their people. Their prayer was answered on August 27, 1991, when former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, announced the creation of Enugu State.
Like my grandfather, they understood that having done their bits, the creation of Enugu State was only the beginning of the quest for the larger dream. Consequently, from the first military administrator to successive civilian administrations various degrees of progress have been made.
However, as I have often held, in the life of a people, once in a blue moon, providence throws up that one extraor- dinary person who must take them to unimaginable heights in such a very short time. I have always cited the likes of Lee Kuan Yew, often referred to as the father of modern Singapore. He literally trans- formed Singapore from a Third World nation to a developed economy in one generation. I have also often cited Park Chung Hee, who engineered the Miracle on the Han River, transforming South Korea to an industrial cum economic gi- ant; Deng Xiaoping, who lifted millions of Chinese out of poverty in a most dramatic manner; Franklin D. Roosevelt whose ‘New Deal’ rescued the USA from the Great Depression; and our own legend, Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, whose “Pragmatic Realism” transformed the defunct Eastern Region into the world’s fastest growing economy between 1954 and 1964.
Today, Mbah is following in their footsteps. Having observed his modus operandi, and interacted him at a close range, I must confess that he is possessed by some positive forces greater than him. His quest to transform Enugu is an obsession – literally speaking.
Driven by his Disruptive Innovation approach, Mbah made it clear right from the campaigns that his was a transcen- dental calling to fast-track the dreams or tomorrow to reality, today. He came with a vision to exponentially grow the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion in four to eight years through private sector investment, make it one of the top three states in Nigeria in terms of GDP and ensure that Enugu State achieves a zero per cent headcount rate inl poverty headcount index.
Two years and three months after,
Enugu has become the cynosure of all eyes and the national reference point in good governance. He is proving, daily, and in practical and verifiable terms that the dreams of our founding fathers were not malarial fever dreams – they are realisable.
Mbah has demonstrated his commitment to realising the dreams of our founding fathers through the rapid resuscitation of moribund assets in line with his campaign promise. Unlike the national norm where new governments abandon the projects of their predecessors, he set out to revive the Enugu Palm Products Limited, EUPPL.
Originally founded by the govern- ment of the defunct East Central State in 1970 on 6,700 hectares that traverses Ibite-Olo in Ezeagu LGA, Ugwuoba in Oji River LGA, and Umulokpa in Uzo-Uwani LGA, it was destroyed by the “Nigerian factor.” But with a N100bn deal between the Enugu State Govern- ment and Pragmatic Palms Limited in May 2024, a five-year aggressive plan is now being implemented to reposition EUPPL as one of the leading integrated oil palm establishments in Nigeria, playing in the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors.
In addition, he has revamped the long-abandoned iconic Hotel Presidential founded by the legendary Dr. Michael Okpara some 63 years ago (1963) and Nigergas founded in 1962. He has recovered and completed the International Conference Centre, ICC, commenced by former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani. Today, the carcass he inherited has been transformed into a mag- nificent complex commissioned by His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, in January 2025. Today, it has become a beehive of activities, drawing visitors from across the country and beyond. Among many other conferences that drew thousands of participants, over 20,000 lawyers are presently having a wonderful experience at the sprawling complex and the Okpara Square where the 2025 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian
Bar Association is taking place. These conferences and a retinue of other programmes also means huge sums of money coming into Enugu State. the hotel proprietors, taxi drivers, phone accessories sellers, restaurant proprietors, and even the “Mama Put,” etc. are all smiling to the bank. In fact, for the NBA conference, hotels as far as adjourning local governments to the state capital are fullyAlso,occupied.standing just beside the ICC is the ICC 5-Star Hotel, commenced by the Mbah Administration on May 27, 2024. Today, the structural work is completed and it will be delivered before the end of 2025. Around the same ecosystem is also the Enugu International Hospital, a world-class quaternary state-of-the-art multi-specialty facility, that will not only help Nigeria reverse medical tourism, but also strengthen Enugu’s robust bid for a substantial share of Nigeria’s overseas medical tourism market valued at over $1 billion
Onlyannually. recently, a trending and geotagged video showed parts of some neigbouring states deserted by community members due to insecurity orchestrated by unknown gunmen. But today, Enugu is rated as one of the safest states in Nigeria, thanks to the bold and creative steps taken by Governor Mbah since May 2023. He banned the illegal sit-at-home that had virtually crippled Enugu’s economy and invested heavily in resources to tame and route out the enforcers. Today, some forests that used to house such non-state actors are now home to some of the 200-hectre Farm Estates being developed across the 260 wards.
In addition, Enugu houses the biggest and most sophisticated Command and Control Centre in Nigeria today. All the AI-enabled digital cameras installed across the state for surveillance are connected to the centre. Likewise, the AI-enabled cameras installed on all the over 150 security vehicles operated by the Distress Response Squad.
To make good his ambition to attract investors and at least 3 million visitors to Enugu State. annually starting from 2027, Mbah recently launched five ultramodern terminals, 100 CNG Mass Transit buses, the Enugu Transport management System, and 80 modern bus shelters and terminals.
Biodun Otunola, is the Managing Director, Planet Projects Limited, which handled some of the Enugu transport terminals.
Planet Project also built the Oshodi Trans- port Interchange and Ikeja Bus Terminal in Lagos. He captured the enormity of what Mbah has done: “This is the first time a project of this magnitude is experiented. Not only that a bus terminal is being built, but five bus terminals are being built. No administration has ever done this before since the history of Nigeria. We are in this industry and we have the records.”
It is also recalled that the state govern- ment had on July 7, 2025, rolled out three aircraft to launch Enugu Air as part of the administration’s integrated blueprint for a modern, multimodal transport ecosystem and vision to make Enugu a major avia- tion hub. And more are being expected before the end of the year.
One can actually go on and on, reeling out Mbah’s trailblazing accomplishments within a very short stay in power: construction of 260 Smart Green Schools in 260 ward to equip the children and youth of Enugu with 21 century skills and make them relevant in the emerging global economy; construction of 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres; over 1,000km of ongoing and completed road projects; creation of Enugu electricity market; establishment of 160 tons per our asphalt plant; establishment of Nor- tra Tractor Assembly Plant and Service Centre, an investment by ODK Group of Denmark; transformation of GTC from a collection of decrepit structures to a world class Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College with full boarding for 1,000 students; ongoing resuscitation of the long-abandoned Sunrise Flour Mills; and the massive New Enugu City, an ongoing smart city project, just to name a few.
The important thing to note, however, is that these projects are not isolated thinking. They are all connecting the dots in delivering the governor’s vision to grow Enugu State into a $30 billion economy. But even more important, they are all connected to the overmatching dreams of our founding fathers, for the tomorrow they all dreamt about is finally here, fast-forwarded by a visionary leader, Dr. Peter Mbah. As Ndi Enugu celebrate the 34th anniversary of their state, they can now confidently say that tomorrow is here indeed.
Anichukwu is media aide to Governor of Enugu State.
Nigerian International, Victor Boniface looked set to be the face of Bayer Leverkusen a couple of years ago when he joined the side, as he helped them lift their first Bundesliga title, win the DFB-Pokal and finish as runner-up in the Europe League.
The 24-year-old netted 21 goals in 34 games in his debut season in Germany, but injuries sustained in previous years resurfaced last term, forcing Boniface to miss 14 games in total, though he did still manage to record 11 goals and an assist.
This summer, he was set for a move to Italy to pitch tent with Serie A giant, AC Milan after agreeing on personal terms on a loan for about €5m initially, while adding a buy clause worth €24m.
Boniface was invited to Milan to complete his medical assessments last week, but after two days of tests, the Rossoneri pulled out of the move, citing concerns over the striker’s past knee ligament injuries.
Meanwhile, Boniface has spoken candidly about his battle with knee injuries after a proposed move to AC Milan collapsed.
The two ACL injuries he had suffered at the early stage of his football career continue to hunt him - first in the 2018-19 season and then in the 2020-21 season.
He missed 14 games last season due to multiple fitness problems. Following his failed medical, Boniface returned to Germany.
Speaking on a live stream, Boniface said: “The transfer didn’t work out because of my past injuries. I had two injuries to my right knee, and the problem has persisted for a long time. At one point, I had given up. While others were playing football, I was working just to get back to playing. After my second anterior cruciate ligament injury, I didn’t even want to play anymore because of the pain from the first one and what I had gone through during the second one. I also lost my mother during that time.”
Speaking to BILD, Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rofles spoke about Boniface’s failure to clear the Milan medical.
“If he comes back to Leverkusen, the Milan deal will be over. It’s no big secret,” he said. It is understood that the former Bodo/Glimt forward underwent four medical examinations in Italy.
However, the Rossoneri have with -
drawn their interest amid concerns over his poor injury history.
If the deal had been completed, Boniface reportedly would have won the jersey number 22 at Milan following the footsteps of Brazilian great Kaka.
This is the second time in seven months that a transfer away from Leverkusen has broken down for Boniface.
In January, the 24-year-old came close to joining Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr in a deal worth around €70 million.
The forward had already prepared to travel before the move was cancelled, with Al Nassr opting instead to sign Colombian striker Jhon Duran.
Milan had been eager to add firepower to their attack, with Boniface viewed as a strong partner for Rafael Leão and a possible complement to fellow Nigerian Samuel Chukwueze, who joined from Villarreal in 2023.
Leão had even welcomed the prospect of the Nigerian arriving at San Siro. But with the deal now off, Boniface will remain in Germany.
The striker is under contract with Bayer Leverkusen until 2028 and is expected to rejoin Erik ten Hag’s squad.
For Boniface, the collapse of another high-profile move is a frustrating setback. Still, his presence
offers Leverkusen much-needed depth as they look to recover from a stuttering start under Ten Hag.
It would be recalled that ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in CoteD’Ivorie, and just as soccerloving Nigerians were still trying to grapple with Wilfred Ndidi’s absence from the tournament through injury, the Super Eagles suffered another injury blow after Boniface was ruled out of the biennial competition due to injury he suffered in Nigeria’s training camp in Abu Dhabi.
Prior to the 2023 AFCON, the then 23-year-old had been in good form for his German club, Bayer Leverkusen, scoring 10 goals and seven assists, and in the running to be named the Bundesliga rookie of the month for a fifth consecutive time.
He shared his disappointment with his followers on X, having also previously missed the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations through injury.
It was not the first time Boniface would miss a major tournament on the eve of the event. He was forced to withdraw from the 2019 CAF U20 Nations Cup in Niger seven days before the competition kicked off.
Taking to social media, Boniface had lamented his misfortune.
Writing on X, the striker said: “U20 nations cup got injured 7 days before
Nations Cup. Super Eagles got injured 6 days before Nations Cup. Only God knows why.”
The 6’3” attacker, who joined the Bundesliga giants in the summer of 2023, left for Europe in 2019 from Nigerian youth club, Real Sapphire, but suffered two ACL injuries before the age of 21.
According to Eurosport, Boniface, who will miss the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria through another injury setback, disclosed he had given up on football after his second ACL injury.
“When I saw the doctor, he told me something bad happened and I tore my (ACL)? again. It was hell. I spoke to the coach; I said I wanted to go back to Nigeria.
“I was thinking, ‘what shall I do after football?’ At the age of 21, and 22, I had two ACL injuries. It was so terrible for me. They said I had to do surgery, but may not need it for a few months. It was 14 months in total. I almost gave up.”
Boniface would eventually bounce back from his injury setbacks, excelling with Bodo/Glimt and Union Saint-Gilloise before sealing a big move to Bayer Leverkusen.
With Boniface’s persistent knee problem, it remains to be seen how much he has left to play, at least at the highest level.
Boniface took the Bundesliga by storm in his first season at Bayer Leverkusen before his knee injury persisted
Osimhen,
Lookman, Nwabali
Headline Super e agles’ Final 23-man Squad for r wanda, S’Africa
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have announced their final 23-man squad for next month’s decisive 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and South Africa.
Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen andAtalanta attacker Ademola Lookman are joined by first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali on the roster.
The squad, released by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, confirms head coach, Eric Chelle’s selections as the three-time African champions prepare for two must-win fixtures.
Nigeria face Rwanda’s Amavubi at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, on Saturday September 6, before travelling to Bloemfontein for a clash against Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Tuesday September 9.
Nwabali, who rose to promi-
nence with his commanding performances at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, retains his place as the mainstay between the sticks. That is despite worries of cup- ping an injury during a league match with Chippa United.
The former Lobi Stars goalie is backed by Amas Obasogie and Adebayo Adeleye.
In defence, captain William Troost-Ekong leads a familiar backline that includes Premier League duo Calvin Bassey and Ola Aina, alongside Bright Osayi-Samuel and Bruno Ony- emaechi. Youngster, Benjamin Fredrick is among the fresh inclusions.
The midfield boasts a blend of experience and dynamism.
Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka provide Premier League pedi- gree, while Wilfred Ndidi adds steel and tactical nous.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Raphael Onyedika complete a strong engine room, supported by Christantus Uche.
Up front, the Super Eagles’ attacking options remain for- midable. Osimhen headlines the list, with Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze providing pace and creativity from wide areas. Moses Simon, Cyriel Dessers, and Tolu Arokodare add further depth.
Nigeria enters these fixtures under pressure, sitting six points adrift of Group C leaders South Africa.
With just one automatic qualifi- cation spot on offer, Chelle’s men cannot afford any slip-ups. The stakes are particularly high given that the Super Eagles missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after a painful playoff defeat to Ghana.
…South Africa Blasts Nigeria as FIFA Decides on Bafana Bafana Blunder
South Africa head coach, Hugo Broos has accused Nigeria of applying pressure on FIFA after his side risk losing three points in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers for fielding an ineligible player, Soccernet.ng reports. The Bafana Bafana, who currently sit top of Group C with 13 points from six matches, could face a heavy sanction after star midfielder Teboho Mokoena featured in their 2-0 win against Lesotho despite being suspended. Mokoena had collected yellow cards in separate qualifiers against Benin and Zimbabwe, which under FIFArules should have triggered a one-match ban. However, the midfielder played 82 minutes of the match in Polokwane before being substituted. FIFA regulations stipulate that players who accumulate two cautions in different qualifiers must serve a suspension in the following game. The Lesotho Football Association has since lodged
a formal protest with FIFA, raising the prospect of South Africa forfeiting the match and handing the points to Lesotho. At a press conference in Johannesburg yesterday, Broos did not deny the error but turned his frustration towards Nigeria, who he claimed were attempting to profit from the situation off the pitch. “If there will be a moment that we lose three points, okay then, we lose the three points,” Broos complained in a video shared by Diskifans. “We can’t do anything about that decision. But I always said that rules are to be followed. And the rule is, okay, we did something bad. We did something we couldn’t do. But there was no complaints.And the rule says if there is no complaint, there is nothing. “And it is not because a third or a fourth team who is indirectly involved in that, that they have to push and do everything to lose us the three points. They have nothing to do with it. It was against Lesotho. And I hope that FIFA follows the
rules.And they don’t, how do you say it in English, that they can’t resist the pressure that Nigeria is trying to put now. Follow the rules, man. And that’s it. Of course, he (Mokoena) couldn’t play that because of that but nobody said something. And they had the opportunity to do it. Nobody did it. So, what are you doing now and putting pressure on something. Prove it on the pitch. For the moment, they didn’t. And they try to do it like this? Okay. I understand it. Maybe we should do the same. Yeah, we have to be honest. But, okay, that’s up to them. We focus on the game and what we have to do on the pitch and not what we have to do outside the pitch.” A deduction would cut their lead at the top, leaving Benin and Rwanda closer on their tails. Nigeria, currently fourth with seven points, stand to benefit most from any decision that alters the standings. For the Super Eagles, the September window represents an opportunity to revive their campaign.
Tuchel Hands Super Eagles Adarabioyo’s Boost
Head coach of England‘s Three Lions, Thomas Tuchel yesterday released a 24-man squad list for his side’s clash against Andorra and Serbia, with some notable absentees.
However, one absentee that would gladen the heart of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, eggheads is Chelsea defender, Tosin Adarabioyo.
The 27-year-old is eligible to represent Nigeria and England, but has yet to receive a senior call-up to any of these teams.
The former Manchester
City defender visited Nigeria after winning the Club World Cup with Chelsea in America last month.
In his time in the country, the lanky defender mentioned he’ll decide which country to represent in his International Career soon, mentioning he never turned Nigeria down.
“It’s something I think about seriously. But hopefully, in the nearest future I’ll make a decision,” Adarabioyo said on Arise TV.
“It’s something that has been the topic for many years since I’ve become a professional footballer, but
Lagos Storms Asaba with 500-man Contingent, Set to Lead at 9th NYG
With a formidable contingent of 416 athletes and 80 technical officials, Lagos State is poised to set the pace at the 9th National Youth Games (NYG) taking place in Asaba, Delta State.
Renowned for its commitment to excellence in sports and talent development, Lagos is ready to reaffirm its status as a pacesetter on the national stage.
Speaking ahead of the opening ceremony, Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, emphasised the state’s readiness to deliver a standout performance.
“We are very optimistic that Lagos will make multiple po- dium appearances. Our goal is to surpass our previous outing and continue to lead in sports development,” Fatodu stated.
Following a strong show- ing at the South-West Zonal
The African Knockout Championship (AKO) once again proved its place as the continent’s premier mixed martial arts event as it roared to life at the Velodrome, leaving fans with a night of action, heart, and history that will not soon beTheforgotten.championship drew a high-powered audience, with several distinguished figures in attendance, includ- ing the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, the Chairman of Nigeria’s Sports Commission, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, AKO President Kamaru Usman, the Nigeria Wrestling Fed- eration, and ambassadors representing Algeria, Cuba, Senegal, Cameroon, and Morocco. Their presence continues to highlight the growing global recognition of African combat sports and the platform AKO is building for athletes across the continent.
Inside the cage, the battles were as fierce as they were dramatic. The most dramatic finish of the evening came from Jean “The Black Panther” Do Santos, who stunned the arena and the MMAworld with a flying knee that knocked out
then we’ll see.
“Everything comes into consideration, you have to look at it and make the best decision.”
Meanwhile, he has never been a frontrunner for an England callup. But now that he has shone for Chelsea, there is a good chance he might get called up soon.
Recall that recently, Adarabioyo said that the 2026 World Cup would play a big part in his decision-making.
His exclusion from another World Cup qualifier for England now reduces Tosin’s chances of playing for the one-time FIFA World Cup winners, hinting a Super Eagles switch might be closing in.
Eliminations Ball Games in Ibadan, where Team Lagos secured 11 qualification slots, preparations have intensified to ensure another impressive performance in Asaba.
“We’ve enhanced the reward system for athletes, coaches, and technical crew. These incentives will undoubtedly contribute to our success,” Fatodu added.
He also acknowledged the unwavering support of Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu, whose backing has been instrumental in advancing the commission’s strategic inter- ventions aimed at improving athlete capacity, competence, and“Thisperformance. support has driven our progress. Lagosians should expect nothing less than excellence. Our athletes will entertain, inspire, and deliver stellarLagosperformances.” is targeting dominance across multiple disciplines,
Nigeria’s Jibrin Baba in just five seconds. The electrifying fin- ish not only crowned him the first-ever AKO Lightweight Champion but also set a new record for the fastest knockout in AKO Meanwhile,history.Jane Osigwe etched her name in AKO history by capturing the Women’s Bantamweight Interim Cham- pionship title with a hard- fought unanimous decision win over Sanaa Mandar. It was a razor-thin battle, but Osigwe’s determination shone through as she walked away with the gold.
The continuedchampionships to deliver marquee moments. Senegal’s Gasmire Diatta captured the Interim Featherweight Title with a crushing TKO over Angola’s Andre Mukisi at 1:30 of Round 2, cementing his status as one ofAfrica’s rising stars. Nigeria’s own Yahaya Yahuza reminded fans why he is one of the brightest stars on the rise. With relentless pace and precision, he outworked Cherif Drame across three rounds to claim a dominant unanimous decision victory, keeping his undefeated record intact in front of an adoring home
including athletics, swimming, boxing, and weightlifting. The state is also taking a firm stance against age cheating, particularly in football, with a data-driven approach to ensure all athletes meet the appropriate age criteria.
“Our strategy is built on em- pirical analysis. With talented athletes and a well-crafted plan, Lagos is reclaiming its position as Nigeria’s multi-sport pow- erhouse,” Fatodu affirmed. Team Lagos will compete in a wide range of sports, including boxing, football, gymnastics, hockey, basketball, handball, volleyball, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, weightlifting, and judo. The delegation comprises 416 athletes, 40 coaches, 38 secretaries, and other accompanying officials. The 9th National Youth Games officially kicked off yesterday, at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, and will run until September 7.
MMA
Other fights in the cage deliv- ered equally explosive outcomes: In the women’s bantamweight division, Joy Obanla gave the home fans something to cheer about with a sensational secondround TKO over Ufot Nelson at 4:38, marking her as a domi- nant force in her class. Farouk Boudissa wasted no time, forcing Chukwuemerie Okoli into a rear-naked choke submission just 1:12 into the first round, while Fouad Madani imposed his will on Nigeria’s Sodiq Amao, securing another rear-naked choke victory at 3:24 of Round 1.
Liverpool, Arsenal Headlines SuperSport Premier League Feast
The Premier League returns at the weekend, with Liverpool hosting Arsenal on Sunday in the headline clash that will be broadcast live on DStv and GOtv.
The bumper action kicks off today, as Chelsea host Fulham at 12:30 pm. The Blues dismantled West Ham 5–1 last weekend and will look to keep momentum rolling against a Fulham side that thrives on getting results against London rivals.
At 3:00 pm, Manchester United will host Burnley at Old Trafford, while Spurs face Bournemouth at home. The Red
Devils were left frustrated in a 1–1 draw away at Fulham last week and endured the disappointment of exiting the Carabao Cup at Grimsby Town in midweek. United are still searching for their first win, and with pressure mounting, this fixture could prove crucial in shaping the future of Ruben Amorim, their manager.
Tottenham, on the other hand, have enjoyed a flying start, brushing aside Burnley and then stunning champions Manchester City away from home with a 2–0 victory.
Sunday’s fixtures begin as Manchester City travel to face
Brighton at 2:00 pm. Pep Guardiola’s side will be seeking an immediate response after being beaten by Tottenham. The weekend climaxes at Anfield, where Liverpool take on Arsenal at 4:30 pm on Sunday The Reds showed grit in a thrilling 3–2 win over Newcastle, while Arsenal were ruthless in a 5–0 demolition of Leeds United, with Viktor Gyökeres and Jurrien Timber both scoring braces. With both sides firing and title ambitions clear, this clash has all the makings of an early-season classic. Aston Villa will round off the games against Crystal Palace at 7:00 pm.
Director General Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, in company of Director, public Affairs, LSSC, Titi Oshodi, addressing the state’s athletes at their Bishop Akinade Hostel, Bariga, camp, before leaving for Asaba, for the 9th National Youth Games
AKO 10 Delivers e lectrifying Fights, e levates African
Jean Dos Santos from Benin republic declared winner after knocking out Nigeria’s Jibrin Baba crowd.
NIGERIA-BRAZIL BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT ROUNDTABLE...
OBINNA CHIMA
obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com
Nigeria’s National Development Plan Dilemma
National planning in Nigeria is once again at crossroads.
On Thursday, the National Economic Council (NEC) endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s five-year Renewed Hope 2026–2030 Economic Plan. The development has raised fresh questions about whether the country can embrace continuity in development strategy or remain trapped in its cycle of abandoned blueprints.
The NEC rose from its monthly meeting with the endorsement of the framework for the five-year Renewed Hope Development Plan from 2026 to 2030. The plan, according to the NEC, is aimed at consolidating Nigeria’s reform agenda and actualise the $1 trillion economy target of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Chairman of the Council, Vice President Shettima, said the new national development plan will build on existing policies, deepen continuity, and align Nigeria’s growth trajectory with the long-term goals of Nigeria Agenda 2050.
He described the transition as critical to sustaining the country’s economic trajectory and consolidating the administration’s ongoing reforms.
“Another major consideration today is the expiration of the National Development Plan 2021–2025 and the preparation of its successor, the Renewed Hope Plan 2026–2030. This, to us, is no ordinary transition. It is the bridge between lessons learnt and ambitions pursued.
“The Renewed Hope Plan will consolidate ongoing reforms, deepen policy continuity, and align our medium-term strategies with the long-term horizon of Nigeria Agenda 2050. It’s a practical roadmap towards a $1 trillion economy by 2030,” he explained.
The Vice President emphasised that the plan will be participatory rather than top-down, engaging multiple tiers of government, civil society, and private actors.
This comes about two years after the late President Muhammadu Buhari launched the Nigeria Agenda 2050 (NA 2050). Then, many Nigerians had heaved a sigh of relief that, finally, the country now has a long-term development framework, drawing lessons from the failed Vision 2010 and Vision 2020.
Nigerians were told then that the NA 2050 was not conceived in isolation. That it was meant to succeed the Nigeria Vision
2020 and the National Development Plan 2021–2025, thereby forming a continuum of policy strategies. Crafted by a broad range of experts under the National Steering Committee, chaired by former Finance Minister and former central banker, Shamsudeen Usman, NA 2050 set ambitious but measurable targets.
The NA 2050 was projected to transform Nigeria into a modern, industrialised, knowledge-driven economy and place the country among the top middle-income nations of the world by mid-century. It aimed to ensure that the country attains a per capita GDP of $33,328 per annum and was designed to place Nigeria among the top middle-income economies in the world by 2050.
Precisely, on May 3rd, 2023, during the launch, the late Buhari had said the plan has the vision of a dynamic, industrialised, and knowledge-based economy that generates inclusive and sustainable development for the country. According to him, given the measures already in place for continuous plan implementation, successive administrations would find the document useful in the delivery of electoral promises.
But barely months after President Bola Tinubu assumed office, he unveiled his own signature economic framework, the Renewed Hope Agenda, which has now morphed into the Renewed Hope 2026–2030 Economic Plan.
Even though the government of the day has said the plan addresses urgent fiscal, agricultural, energy, and technological challenges, its very emergence has sparked renewed confusion: What becomes of the NA 2050? Is Nigeria truly committed to long-term planning, or do successive governments merely prefer to stamp their own political identity on development frameworks? This question is critical because development planning is not an academic exercise but the backbone of transformation.
Countries that have lifted millions from poverty, built competitive economies, and achieved political stability did so by adhering to long-term, consistent, and coherent plans. China’s consistent five-year plans since 1953, Malaysia’s Vision 2020, Singapore’s structured urban and industrial policies, Rwanda’s Vision 2020, and South Korea’s deliberate planning since the 1960s all testify to the power of consistency. Each successive government in these countries sustained what it met, refined where necessary, but never discarded national visions for partisan reasons. That is why they achieved industrialisation, human capital development, and global competitiveness, while Nigeria, despite its enormous resources, remains stuck in cycles of poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment.
Nigeria’s perennial abandonment of such blueprints is a key reason why the country remains trapped in cycles of poverty, infrastructural decay, wasted potential, and widening inequality.
At its core, national economic planning is about direction and discipline. It is the conscious alignment of a country’s resources, policies, and institutions towards clearly defined long-term goals. When well designed and faithfully implemented, a development plan reduces policy somersaults, attracts investor confidence, ensures continuity across political administrations, and provides measurable benchmarks for assessing progress.
In fragile economies like Nigeria’s, with its volatile oil dependence, weak infrastructure, and demographic pressures, planning is an existential necessity.
Indeed, Nigeria’s greatest weakness lies not in designing plans but in abandoning them. Vision 2010 collapsed with the change of government. Vision 2020 was sidelined before its targets matured. Now, the NA 2050
appears to have been thrown into the trash can, with huge resources committed to its development now a waste. Certainly, if this trend continues, the Renewed Hope Plan may also suffer a similar fate when another administration arrives with its own slogan. The National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) introduced by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as well as the Transformation Agenda, the 5-year development plan of former President Goodluck Jonathan were all discarded. Such discontinuity erodes investor confidence, creates duplication of effort, and wastes scarce resources. Worse still, it betrays citizens who look to these plans for improved livelihoods, jobs, and better infrastructure. A country that improvises its economic direction every four years cannot hope to break free from underdevelopment. What Nigeria urgently needs is not another plan for the shelves but a commitment to continuity and execution. The Renewed Hope 2026–2030 should not stand apart from the NA 2050 but be firmly integrated. Doing so would harmonise immediate reforms with long-term transformation, ensuring that every administration contributes to a shared national vision rather than resetting the clock. This would also align urgent stabilisation with long-term transformation, ensuring coherence across decades. Nigeria must also institutionalise planning beyond politics by empowering the National Planning Commission to monitor implementation and hold governments accountable regardless of political shifts.
Citizens, civil society, and the media must insist on this continuity because national development is too important to be left to the whims of political branding.
Without discipline, Nigeria risks repeating the mistakes of the past, with each new leader substituting national vision for political branding. No nation develops by discarding its plans midway. For Nigeria, the choice is between embedding continuity into its planning culture or condemning another generation to the frustrations of abandoned promises. China, Malaysia, Singapore, Rwanda, and South Korea all testify to the power of discipline, consistency, and commitment. Nigeria must learn from these examples if it hopes to break free from cycles of poverty and underdevelopment.
L-R: MD/CEO UTMOL, Mr. Julius Rone; CEO/ ES Nigerian Investment Promotion, Ms. Aisha Rimi, and a Brazilian Investor, Mr. Joao Carlos, during the Nigeria- Brazil Business and Investment Roundtable held in Brazil… recently
