Author: Nouman Ali

Psaltry International Company Limited, with backing from the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and First City Monument Bank (FCMB), has kicked off an ambitious initiative to train 15,000 young women in cassava cultivation across Oyo State.

The programme targets women aged 18 to 35 and is designed to support the cultivation of 2,000 hectares of cassava.

Speaking during the company’s 20th anniversary celebration-which also marked the official launch of the NADF-FCMB support for the Psaltry-IDH-Mastercard initiative at the firm’s Awaye plant-Chief Executive Officer Oluyemisi Iranloye expressed gratitude to NADF and other partners for their consistent support.

She noted that the funding provided would cover land plowing, fertilizer application, chemicals, and other vital inputs required for the 2,000-hectare cassava project.

‘I want to sincerely thank everyone here and all who have played a role in Psaltry’s journey,’ she said.

‘I also extend my appreciation to the Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Agricultural Development Fund, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, especially as this celebration coincides with the flag-off of the NADF-FCMB support for the Psaltry-IDH-Mastercard initiative, empowering 15,000 young women in Oyo State, aged 18 to 35, in cassava cultivation.’

Iranloye reeled out achievements of the organization towards impacting cassava farmers in the state, such as provision of an industrial borehole which supplied portable water, constant electricity, and medical outreach to many communities bordering the plant, and scholarships for cassava farmers’ children.

She said Psaltry has also facilitated the construction of the road linking Alayide, the host village, by the Oyo State government.

According to her, in the passing years, Psaltry has achieved the goal of pushing cassava floor to replace manufacturing companies’ dependence on wheat flour, production of food-grade starch for the likes of Nigerian Breweries and Nestle, as well as cassava-based sorbitol for toothpaste production and high-purity hydrogen for many industries.

‘As we mark 20 years, Psaltry is stepping confidently into a new era – one defined by innovation, product diversification, market diversification, groundbreaking research and development, sustainable livelihoods, clean energy, and environmental sustainability.

‘We generate 1.1megawatt of solar power to run our operations; nothing is wasted; our wastes are transformed into nutrient-rich animal feed. This is not only smart, it is sustainable.’

Dignitaries at the event include representatives from NADF, Abiodun Sosanya, who represented the Executive Secretary, Malam Mohammed Ibrahim, representative of Alitheia Group, Mr Oti Iletamhen, and officials of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

Others included the Alawaye of Awaye, Oba Okunlola Amidu Olawale, the head of the host village, Alhaji Gazali Alayide, and cassava stakeholders from within and outside Oyo State.

Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, a former counsel to the leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for treasonable felony and terrorism charges by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, has highlighted the legal misrepresentation that culminated in his conviction.

In a statement titled ‘Nnamdi Kanu’s Avoidable Ordeal: How Amateur Legal Showmen Led a High Profile Case into a Judicial Ambush’, Barrister Ejiofor recalled that he was a member of the Kanu legal team for about eight years from 2015 until Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, assumed leadership of the legal team in 2022.

He said: ‘During the period our team handled this matter from 2015 to December 2023, up until Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, assumed leadership of the legal team in 2022, we were on the threshold of securing yet another major relief for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, particularly after the Court of Appeal discharged and acquitted him in 2022.

‘Sustained pressure, strategic diplomacy and airtight legal maneuvering had placed us on the verge of another monumental breakthrough.

‘Regrettably, certain sensitive details of this progress were, perhaps innocently, disclosed by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to some of these clueless clowns.

‘Rather than support a strategy they barely understood, they seized the information as an opportunity to derail the entire process and treacherously orchestrated a change in the status quo.

‘Consequently, we exited the team, gloriously, and with our integrity intact.’

Noting that a high-profile, internationally sensitive criminal trial is not a circus ring, Ejiofor noted that ‘once these bloated, delusional entertainers-in-wigs inserted themselves into the process, everything degenerated into a grotesque parody of legal representation.

‘Instead of crafting legal strategy, they crafted Instagram stories. Instead of mastering case law, they mastered camera angles. At every court session, their priority wasn’t research or preparation, it was posing, filming, updating, grandstanding, and ‘going viral. Meanwhile, the accused man’s fate hung by a thread,’ he said.

Ejiofor said the most tragic part of it all was that even after the court explicitly warned that self-representation in a complex constitutional and criminal matter was dangerous, ‘these ‘consultants’ encouraged it, clapping like paid spectators in a village arena.’

He lamented that the unthinkable happened in a trial that could have been paused or avoided if the proper methodology and engagement had been applied. Yet, he said, a conviction that could have been prevented and an outcome that was entirely avoidable was allowed to proceed ‘under the guidance of legal lightweights intoxicated by social-media relevance.

‘They railroaded him, knowingly or unknowingly, into the savage pit of a full criminal trial, fully aware that other lawful avenues existed.

‘Even while the trial was ongoing, they busied themselves with dishing out falsehoods, half-truths, and misleading ‘updates’ to an unsuspecting public. Every lie told outside the courtroom became a landmine inside the courtroom.

‘Every exaggerated ‘update’ became a contradiction the prosecution gleefully documented. Every camera stunt became a professional embarrassment.

‘And now, instead of remorse, they have resumed their post-trial routine: fresh videos, fresh lies, fresh false hopes, desperate for clicks.

‘The tragedy continues because the vulnerable still believe them.’

The legal practitioner said the greatest puzzle of all was how foremost legal minds, globally respected Senior Advocates of Nigeria such as Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN; Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN; ‘and other erudite members of the Inner Bar; men fully versed in the anatomy of high-wire criminal litigation, became disengaged at the most critical moment of the trial, only for mediocre adventurers to hijack a matter of international significance and reduce it to a TikTok legal carnival.

‘Who replaces world-class physicians with herbal storytellers during brain surgery? Who replaces strategic diplomacy with reckless grandstanding? Who replaces law with theatrics? Only a system already preparing for disaster,’ he said.

On the way forward for the convicted IPOB leader, Ejiofor said for any meaningful rescue effort by globally respected legal experts, ‘the first task must be to clean up the monumental damage inflicted by these self-advertising jesters.’

‘A comprehensive review of methodology, effective engagement, and drastically reduced publicity must precede any intervention.

‘Only then can a coherent, sophisticated legal and political strategy be fashioned.

‘This is not the time for comedy; not the time for inflated egos and certainly not the time for social media theatrics.

‘It is time for soberness, time for competence, time for real advocacy. #EnoughIsEnough,’ he said.

Kanu’s wife slams lawyers for not briefing her on transfer to Sokoto

Uchechi Okwu-Kanu, wife of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, yesterday criticised her husband’s legal consultants for failing to brief her on his transfer to Sokoto prison.

The IPOB leader’s counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, had announced on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday that Kanu had been transferred to a correctional centre in Sokoto following his conviction.

Okwu-Kanu said she only received information about her husband’s transfer to Sokoto after he had arrived at the facility in the Northwest state.

She said certain persons who had visited him earlier in the day did not inform her of the development.

Instead, she said, his lawyers ‘ran to social media to broadcast it’.

Okwu-Kanu said the behaviour was unprofessional and unacceptable.

‘If you all do not sit up and behave in a civilised and professional manner, I will stress you with my ‘stress’, and I promise you, you will be stressed,’ she wrote.

‘Enough of your theatrics! Be warned!’

Meanwhile, Enyinnaya Abaribe, senator representing Abia south, says the life sentence handed to Kanu was not surprising.

We’ll explore available options for Kanu’s release, says Otti

Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has assured that all hope was not lost with regard to securing the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, despite his conviction by Justice James Omotosho.

He also cautioned politicians who have positioned themselves to play petty and dirty politics with Kanu’s travails to jettison the idea and rather work with others to secure his freedom.

In a statement he personally signed yesterday, Otti disclosed that the issue of IPOB was poorly managed at the earliest stage, but he had on a personal note engaged the authorities concerned since December, 22, 2023, shortly after he assumed office.

The governor said he was ready to collaborate with any person or group who genuinely wants to push for Kanu’s freedom through diplomacy and dialogue with the federal government.

The governor said: ‘I still strongly believe that poor management of the IPOB issue at the incubation stage created the problem we have today, hence we cannot allow it to linger and create a bigger monstrous situation for us.

‘While the trial that led to this conviction lasted, I personally engaged the authorities at the highest level, starting from December 22, 2023, on alternative resolution strategy.

‘I must state that some agreements were made, which were dependent on quick dispensation of the matter at the Federal High Court. Unfortunately, the matter dragged until this time.

‘I am confident that judgment having been delivered, the alternative resolution will now kick in.

‘It is instructive that this strategy was explained to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu when I visited him while he was in the DSS custody earlier in the year.

‘While Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is free to appeal his conviction, I’m happy to inform you that I have activated and will continue to work on the already agreed strategy until his freedom is secured.

‘I’m also happy to collaborate with other well-meaning Nigerians who genuinely want this problem resolved, to push for his freedom through the same diplomacy and dialogue with the federal government, which though did not create the problem, can courageously and compassionately solve it and take the credit.

‘I’ll like to use this opportunity to appeal to our people to remain calm and refrain from utterances and actions capable of stoking fear, violence and insecurity and may negatively affect the outcome of the engagements we are already having.

‘I have no doubt that with the assurances I have received from the Federal Government, a resolution is in sight and Mazi Kanu will regain his freedom.

‘May I also caution politicians who have positioned themselves to play petty and dirty politics with the travails of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to jettison the idea and rather work with us to secure his freedom?

‘I want to assure our people of my unwavering resolve and commitment to genuinely solving this problem with wisdom, high level dialogue and diplomacy, with a view to ensuring that genuine peace returns to the Southeast.’

Nigeria stands at a perilous crossroads today. The spectre of insecurity looms large, threatening not only the safety of lives and property but also the very fabric of our national unity, economic stability, and collective destiny. From the northern plains to the southern forests, from bustling cities to rural hamlets, the menace of banditry, insurgency, kidnapping, and communal violence has become a daily reality. This is not merely a passing challenge; it is an existential crisis that demands urgent, pragmatic, and visionary intervention.

The time for rhetoric has long expired. What Nigeria requires now is decisive action anchored in innovation, cultural resonance, and institutional empowerment. It is within this context that I call upon the Federal Government to adopt what I term the Tripod Model of Security Intervention-a three-pillar framework designed to transform our approach to safeguarding lives and property. This model rests upon three strategic pillars: deploying drones and forest rangers to reclaim our forests and rural spaces, implementing state policing to localise and strengthen law enforcement, and constitutionally empowering our traditional monarchs to serve as grassroots patriotic security arms. Together, these pillars form a tripod-stable, balanced, and resilient. Without one, the structure falters; with all three, Nigeria can stand firm against the tide of insecurity.

Implementing Recommendations from Drone and Forest Rangers

Nigeria’s forests, once symbols of natural abundance and ecological heritage, have tragically become sanctuaries for criminality. Insurgents, kidnappers, and bandits exploit these vast, ungoverned spaces as hideouts, staging grounds, and operational bases. The inability of conventional policing to penetrate these terrains has emboldened criminal networks, leaving rural communities vulnerable and defenceless.

In my earlier article, Drone and Forest Rangers, I outlined a comprehensive strategy to reclaim these spaces. The Federal Government must now move beyond deliberation to implementation. Advanced drone technology offers unparalleled opportunities for surveillance, intelligence gathering, and rapid response. Drones can monitor vast forested regions in real time, detect suspicious movements, and relay actionable intelligence to security agencies.

Yet drones alone are insufficient. Technology must be complemented by human presence. This is where forest rangers come in-well-trained, well-equipped personnel dedicated to patrolling, monitoring, and securing our forests. These rangers should be armed not only with modern tools but also with ecological knowledge, enabling them to protect both human communities and environmental resources.

The synergy between drones and forest rangers will dismantle criminal hideouts, disrupt insurgent logistics, and restore confidence in rural and forested regions. Moreover, it will send a powerful message: Nigeria will no longer cede its natural spaces to criminality. Our forests must return to being sanctuaries of life, not death.

Implementing State Policing

Centralised policing, as currently practised in Nigeria, has proven inadequate in addressing the diverse and localised nature of our security challenges. A single, monolithic police structure cannot effectively respond to the unique cultural, geographical, and socio-political realities of thirty-six states and the Federal Capital Territory.

State policing is not merely an option; it is an urgent necessity. Empowering states to manage their own security architecture will ensure rapid response, cultural alignment, and accountability. Local officers, recruited from within communities, will possess intimate knowledge of the terrain, language, and social dynamics. They will be better positioned to detect early warning signs of unrest, mediate conflicts, and respond swiftly to emergencies.

Critics often raise concerns about the potential misuse of state police by governors for political purposes. While such concerns are valid, they are not insurmountable. Robust constitutional safeguards, independent oversight mechanisms, and federal coordination can mitigate these risks. Indeed, the dangers of inaction far outweigh the risks of reform.

The Federal Government must therefore collaborate with the National Assembly to amend the constitution and institutionalise state policing. This reform will decentralise security, empower communities, and strengthen the federation. It will also relieve the overstretched federal police, allowing them to focus on national and trans-state threats such as terrorism, cybercrime, and organised crime.

In truth, no modern federation thrives without localised policing. Nigeria must join the ranks of nations that recognise the indispensability of state-level law enforcement.

Constitutionally Empowering Nigeria’s Monarchs as Grassroots Patriotic Security Arms

Nigeria’s traditional rulers-Obas, Obis, Emirs, and other custodians of cultural heritage-occupy a unique position in our national life. They are not relics of the past but living institutions of trust, influence, and continuity. For centuries, they have served as custodians of community values, mediators of disputes, and guardians of local order.

In the contemporary context of insecurity, these monarchs must be constitutionally empowered to serve as grassroots patriotic security arms. This empowerment should not be symbolic; it must be practical, financial, and institutional. A fraction of the security votes currently reserved for governors should be allocated to fund monarch-led security initiatives.

Traditional rulers, with their deep-rooted networks and moral authority, can mobilise community vigilance, foster intelligence gathering, and coordinate local defence efforts. They can serve as bridges between formal security agencies and grassroots communities, ensuring that information flows seamlessly and trust is maintained.

Moreover, empowering monarchs will restore a sense of ownership and patriotism at the community level. Citizens will no longer perceive security as a distant, government-imposed structure but as a collective responsibility anchored in familiar institutions. This cultural alignment is crucial; without it, security measures risk alienation and resistance.

By leveraging the influence of traditional rulers, Nigeria can create a patriotic force that complements formal security agencies and strengthens community resilience. In times of crisis, monarchs can rally their people, mediate conflicts, and prevent escalation. Their involvement will transform security from a top-down imposition into a bottom-up collaboration.

The Tripod Model: A Balanced Framework

The genius of the Tripod Model lies in its balance. Each pillar addresses a distinct dimension of insecurity: technology and terrain through drones and forest rangers, localisation and accountability through state policing, and culture and community trust through empowered monarchs. Together, they form a holistic framework that is pragmatic, technology-driven, and culturally aligned. No single pillar can suffice; all three must be implemented in concert. Just as a tripod cannot stand on two legs, Nigeria cannot overcome insecurity with partial measures.

This model also reflects the principle of subsidiarity: decisions and actions should be taken at the most immediate level consistent with their resolution. Forest rangers operate at the ecological level, state police at the political level, and monarchs at the cultural level. Each complements the other, creating a layered defence system that is both resilient and adaptive.

Conclusion: The Time to Act is Now

Insecurity is eroding Nigeria’s national unity, economic stability, and international reputation. It undermines investment, disrupts education, displaces communities, and corrodes trust in government. Left unchecked, it threatens to unravel the very fabric of our nation.

The Tripod Model offers a way forward-a pragmatic, balanced, and visionary solution. It combines technology with tradition, decentralisation with unity, and innovation with cultural resonance. It is not a utopian dream but a practical framework that can be implemented with political will, constitutional reform, and institutional commitment.

I therefore urge the Federal Government to act immediately. Implement these recommendations. Empower our institutions. Restore peace to Nigeria. History will not judge us by our intentions but by the actions we take today.

Nigeria must rise to the challenge. The tripod awaits its deployment. The time to act is now.

Ademola is Africa’s First Professor of Cybersecurity and Information Technology Management, Chartered Manager, UK Digital Journalist, Strategic Advisor and Prophetic Mobiliser for National Transformation, and General Evangelist of CAC Nigeria and Overseas

The President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government’s Nigeria First Policy has received a significant boost, as preparations for the 9th Africa Energy Summit, scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from November 27-28, 2025, hit top gear. This is coming against the backdrop of call by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, who urged indigenous oil firms to take advantage of the initiative

The development emerged on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to Senator Akume by the Managing Director and Founder of Solewant Group, Solomon Ewanehi, whose company is hosting the continental summit, according to a statement by by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations, Office of the SGF.

Tinubu’s Nigeria First Policy also aims to foster industrialisation through strict local content rules in government procurement. The policy requires agencies to buy ‘Nigerian first,’ while waivers are allowed only for genuinely unavailable items.

Speaking when Mr. Ewanehi paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja, Akume called on indigenous companies across all sectors of the economy to leverage the full potential of the policy. He described it as a strategic initiative designed to promote local content, stimulate economic growth, and strengthen Nigerian industries for development.

Akume reaffirmed the Tinubu-led administration’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for Nigerian businesses to flourish through the policy, which he said is yielding positive results. He charged Solewant Group and other indigenous companies to take advantage of the policy to reduce the nation’s dependency on imported products and services.

He said the policy was already yielding positive results across key sectors and urged Nigerian companies to take full advantage of the opportunities it provides.

‘The Tinubu-led administration remains committed to creating a conducive environment for local industries to flourish. Indigenous companies must leverage the Nigeria First Policy to reduce our reliance on imports and build a stronger domestic economy,’ Akume said.

Akume also commended Ewanehi for taking bold steps to harness divestment opportunities created by foreign International Oil Companies (IOCs) by investing in the oil and gas sector with steel pipes, metal fabrication, and specialised coating solutions. The former governor of Benue State and erstwhile Minister also rallied support for the Africa Energy Summit.

On his part, Ewanehi said his company is expanding its operations across steel pipe production, coating materials, coating products, and supply of coated pipes to the oil and gas industry in Nigeria and across Africa. He added that Solewant Group aligns with the federal government’s directives to the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) and other industry stakeholders to support initiatives aimed at significantly increasing the nation’s crude oil production.

He informed the SGF of the company’s plan to host the 9th Africa Energy Summit in Port Harcourt.

Recall that Ewanehi was among global oil and gas industry players, including Managing Director of TotalEnergies Nigeria, Mattieu Bouyer; Managing Director of ExxonMobil Nigeria, Jagir Baxi; Commission Chief Executive (CCE) of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe; and CEO of Seplat, Mr. Roger Brown, who attended the recent NUPRC Roadshow in Dorchester, London.

Other industry leaders in attendance included Chairman of AA Holdings, Austin Avuru; Chairman of the Governing Board, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mr. Ademola Adeyemi-Bero; and federal lawmakers.

Tagged ‘Project 1MMBOPD Additional Production Investment Forum’, the two-day event aimed to accelerate Nigeria’s goal of producing an additional 1 million barrels of crude oil per day (bpd) through innovation and collaboration. Ewanehi highlighted transparency, innovation, collaboration, and emerging technologies as key drivers for the growth of Africa’s energy sector.

According to an interview of his aired on ARISE News Channel, Ewanehi disclosed that international investors were given assurances by federal lawmakers and regulators on robust legal frameworks to protect investments inh Nigeria.

Earlier at the roadshow, NUPRC’s CCE, Komolafe, announced the commencement of the 2025 licensing round from December 1, 2025. Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Alhassan Doguwa, assured investors that his committee would not push legislation undermining investments and reaffirmed that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021 would not be tampered with arbitrarily. His counterpart in the Senate, Senator Eteng Williams, also restated the legislature’s commitment to business-friendly laws.

Similarly, Ewanehi was among leading professionals who attended the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) 2025 in Houston, Texas, USA, from May 5-8. As a key player in the global oil and gas industry, Solewant Group unveiled advanced technologies, demonstrating leadership in technological, humanitarian, environmental, and industrial solutions.

The company also showcased innovations at the 4th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025) in Algiers, Algeria, convened by Afreximbank.

Importantly, Solewant Group participated in the recently concluded high-level roundtable on the Gulf of Guinea’s energy, Oil and Gas, Aviation, Minerals and maritime opportunities during the 80th UN General Assembly session in New York, USA with the theme: ‘Unlocking Energy, Oil and Gas, Minerals, Aviation and Maritime Opportunities in the Gulf of Guinea.’

The roundtable, convened by The New Diplomat, an Abuja-based policy think tank and International Communications firm, in collaboration with the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), Angola, drew global thought leaders, including H.E. Prof Ibrahim Gambari, former Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister and erstwhile UN Under-Secretary General; H.E. Ghada Fathy Waly, former Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity and currently Executive Director of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC )/D-G UN office in Austria; H.E. Amb Emmanuella Blatmann, former France Ambassador to Nigeria and current Head of Africa Division, France’s MFA, Paris; Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; Ambassador Oma Djebah, former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Thailand and Convener of the High-level Roundtable, H.E. Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State; H.E. Governor Dauda Lawal, Governor of Zamfara State; Dr Dele Alake, Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; Ambassador Rita Laranjinha, Portugal’s Special Envoy to Africa and former Portuguese Ambassador to Denmark; Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment; Ambassador Kio Solomon Amieyeofor, former Deputy Director General at the Nigerian Presidency; Mr Johnson Babalola, A Canadian Corporate and Immigration Lawyer based in Toronto; Amb. Obinna Agbugba of GCC; the 21st Indigenous Chief of the Naval Staff, Nigerian Navy, Vice Admiral A.Z. Gambo (rtd), Ambassador Samson Itegboje, Charge d’ Affairs of the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC and the Permanent Mission of Nigeria in New York, amongst others.

Solewant Group also displayed its technological capabilities at the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF 2025) at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where Ewanehi unveiled the Solewant Group Roadmap Plus to further boost technological innovation and industrial development.

Experts say Solewant remains a pioneer in pipeline coating, fabrication, and asset integrity management in Nigeria. Its industrial park at Alode-Onne includes one of Africa’s most advanced multi-layer pipe coating plants, a dedicated pipe bends multi-layer coating plant (commissioned mid-2025 with Euro-American OEM partners), and full steel pipe milling capabilities.

Solewant Group’s annual summit typically attracts policymakers, energy executives, development partners, and researchers from across Africa and beyond. The 9th edition, scheduled for November 27-28, 2025, at the Solewant Industrial Park in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is themed ‘Emerging Technologies and the Future of Sustainable Energy Development in Africa.’

The summit is expected to highlight transformative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, automation, data analytics, and other digital innovations reshaping Africa’s energy transition. Key features include: Paper presentations from industry leaders and government representatives; Strategic panel discussions on technology and energy integration; Technical presentations and keynote messages from NNPC, IOCs, and EPC companies; Exhibitions of intelligent energy solutions and case studies from Africa and beyond; Capacity-building workshops and networking opportunities and Launch of the Africa Energy Innovation Network (AEIN)

The summit is expected to facilitate partnerships and funding cooperation and architecture for energy infrastructure, manufacturing, renewable projects, and technology-driven ventures, while strengthening local content and capacity development frameworks. Outstanding organisations and individuals contributing to Africa’s industrial and energy advancement will be recognised, while promoting excellence, innovation, and leadership across the sector.

What we had thought was settled has unfortunately been re-opened: it is the subject of employing indigenous languages to teach children in their early part of schooling. The National Language Policy which formally gave the nod to the use of indigenous languages to teach in primary schools has been thrown out of the window. The policy stipulated that children from early childhood education to Primary Six should be taught in their mother tongue or the language of the environment. It was approved in 2022 as the National Language Policy for instruction in primary schools. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announcing its cancellation, said the policy did not deliver.

In his words: ‘We have seen a mass failure rate in WAEC, NECO, and JAMB in certain geo-political zones of the country, and those are the ones that adopted the mother tongue in an over-subscribed manner. This is about evidence-based governance. English now stands as the medium of instruction from pre-primary, primary, junior secondary, senior secondary and tertiary education.’

According to reports, the scrapping was approved at a meeting of the National Council on Education, its 69th that took place in Akure earlier this month, from 3rd November to 7th. Dr. Alausa said pupils taught in indigenous languages struggled with basic English comprehension, hence the higher failure rates. He said using the mother tongue in Nigeria for the past 15 years has literally destroyed education in certain regions. ‘We have to talk about evidence, not emotions.’

Anticipating criticisms, the Minister said stakeholders who might differ were welcome but asked that they come forward with verifiable data to support their positions, assuring them that the government remained open.

When the report of the cancellation of the policy reached me, my mind raced to Professor Babs Fafunwa now of blessed memory. He passed away 15 years ago, but not until he had witnessed the enheartening positive triumph of decades of his struggle to see indigenous languages as medium of instruction in our schools. I began to wonder how far he may have gone in the Beyond. I do pray, very far. I recall what appeared as correlation of indigenous language with the importance of names at a certain point in his life.

Maria Virginia Haoa writing about language in January 2022 stated: ‘Language is inseparable from our way of being, our thoughts, our feelings, our joys and much more. It is through our language that we show who we are. If our language disappears, the whole socio-cultural foundation of our community of our speakers is put at risk.’

Since each human being is his name; he is not just the name he bears, he is the name, it came as a surprise and it was instructive when Prof. announced his change of name. A name when it is called rings out using voice waves. In 1990, he decided to readjust his name and I could not help but spread it in this column, so I wrote as follows: Captioned ‘Je m’appelle Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa’

‘Meanwhile, I have been advised of the affidavit to which Professor Fafunwa swore recently. He, formerly known as Professor Babs Fafunwa wishes to be known and addressed henceforth as Professor Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa. All former documents remain the same. Federal Ministry of Education and Tai Solarin to note.

‘Tai Solarin is the Prof.’s friend. The change of name is coming at a time Dr. Solarin has renewed his battle against what he has described as foreign names. Dr. Solarin admires Professor Fafunwa’s scholarship in the same manner and degree he respects Professor Sam Aluko and the late Professor Ayodele Awojobi. Dr. Tai Solarin has to adjust a habit that has endured for nearly 30 years of their friendship and mutual respect. He has no choice in the matter. It is a decree issued by the bearer and owner of the name: ‘Je m’appelle Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa.”

That was 35 years ago. Today I wish him help and pray that his path may be blessed wherever he may be, awakened into joyful activities in his continuing journey through Creation with gaze turned upwards.

According to UNESCO 2016: Studies indicate that instruction in a student’s native language improves understanding, analytical skills, and over all academic achievement. It enriches the learning experience but also promotes environmental stewardship and cultural resilience.

A study published in December 2021 by the Australian National University, according to UNESCO website, corroborates this, raising alarm on the future of linguistic diversity and underlying the point that of the world’s 7,000 recognised languages -6,000 of which are indigenous languages-around half are currently endangered, with 1, 500 particularly at risk. When an indigenous language is lost, not only does the knowledge accumulated by the community of its speakers fade away, but also the world’s cultural and biological diversity.

The principle of using native language as medium of instruction is stretched wider than just school teaching to what the UN considers as touching on fundamental rights of the citizens. This is reflected in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) adopted by the UN in 2007 to which the International Labour Organization (ILO) is said to have made substantial input. It encompasses the right for communities to practise and transmit their traditions and languages as well as to protect their heritage and objects. It is not from what any society would want to cut off their children, but to ingrain in them their uniqueness. For this reason, most major countries of the world, notably China, Germany, France, for example use native languages to teach in their schools. In the Philippines, indigenous peoples use their mother tongue as the primary language of instruction. The same obtains in Tanzania, Kenya and Tanzania. Kenya’s renowned writer Ngugi wa Thiong ‘o says: ‘Language exists as culture; it is the collective memory bank of people’s experience in history.’

International Expert Group meeting on Indigenous Languages from 8th to 10th January 2008 in New York considered language as the cornerstone of culture and the ultimate expression of belonging as it is through language that culture is shared and transmitted; a unique world view is expressed and identity is moulded and created. Connected with language is indigenous peoples’ ultimate relationship with the land.

The scrapping of the policy and the plan is obviously to halt the embarrassing high failure rates. The nation is eagerly awaiting the coming on stream of what the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmed announced as other measures to address learning challenges at the foundational level. She said a training package for teachers that focuses on literacy and numeracy is being designed. It specifically targets teachers of pre-primary to Primary One to Three. ‘We are training them on the best methods to teach literacy and numeracy and the approach to classroom learning.’ It is to be hoped the training is going on simultaneously in all parts of the country and sight will not be lost of the essence of returning to the use of indigenous languages ultimately. What happens during the gestation period to stem failures must be in focus, too.

We would not know from where Professor Fafunwa was coming that made him apply himself unremittingly in the pursuit of getting indigenous languages used in Nigerian schools. I intervened in the debate at its peak in 1990, as follows:

Professor Babs Fafunwa will, it seems, need salesman Alex Nwokedi to push his product, Mother Tongue in schools, which refreshing and appealing as it is to our saturated ethnic sentiments, is not finding enthusiastic buyers in the market. Alex Nwokedi was that guy who had the magic of turning NEPA’s powerlessness to light. Darkness is darkness. What description, what definition are you going to give to a situation where there is power outage and there is no light, but utter darkness? In those days, Ogbuefi would make you to disbelieve yourself; he would try to make you comfortable and create a situation of light in your mind even though all around you was darkness. He was adept at it. He was tireless. He cared. All he was getting at was understanding. In the State House as General Obasanjo’s Press Secretary, he explained Obasanjo so well that Obasanjo smelled so sweet that the General could almost get away with anything.

NEPA’s case was bad; Obasanjo’s policies were not always without discomfort. Fafunwa’s case has merit. But habits change hard, at the same pace as the geological face of the earth. In the villages, what Fafunwa is struggling to persuade the urban people to buy is in place. It is in the villages more than 70 per cent of Nigerians live. Yet the strong opposition is coming from the substantial minority in the cities.

Part of the reason for the opposition may well be the desire to see one’s son speak Queen’s English and make him intelligent before his time so he can have a headstart in the future. The apprehension is understandable for the reason that a Mr. Crondje may emerge who will decree that you fail in English you fail in all subjects.

The experiment has been successful at Ife, by that we mean University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University. Professor Fafunwa has achievement statistics to brandish to buttress his argument. But we don’t know how successful it is in the villages which have been on the same page and have been at home with Fafunwa’s programme. Ife, it can be argued, provides a rich and receptive soil to grow all-round pupils. There is hardly any parent on the campus who will fold his arms and cross his legs while his child is doing poorly in school. This is not in any way meant to diminish the noble thought behind Fafunwa’s programme.

The merit of Professor Fafunwa’s drive is, in my view, obvious. A child’s first contact with the world is through its mother and as it grows it communicates in her language. The homes where this is not the pattern must be few, indeed. Perhaps it may have to do with a medical condition that necessitates taking the baby away from her. The mother tongue is thus the language in the home. The first three years in the primary school when the local language will be the medium of instruction is the period of transition. It makes eminent sense that there is no sudden jump from language being spoken at home to a foreign language being spoken in school. It is unnatural. A child will be more at home if it first has grounding in its mother tongue and it moves step by step into the next stages of development.

A far more fundamental point is that language is a people’s culture. And culture is a manifestation of their development, that is the level of the development of their inner being. A rich inner life forms a rich culture, civility, humility and grace. Who does not rejoice in the culture of his people no matter where he may be, radiating warmth, the face shining and proudly in smiles, indeed, sunshine smiles? Time was-in the early stages of the development of man-when mankind were raw savages and their highest achievement was merry-making, pleasure, bloodletting, marriage and endless childbearing. As man developed, he grew out of primitivity and began to have high and noble aims and standards. As people must develop at their own pace in the exercise of their free will, the inalienable gift given to every man it follows that their inner clarity, perception must vary. The vehicles of expression of their perceptions must correspondingly vary-the Tower of Babel. No people may therefore be disturbed in their development. It means much more harm than is apparent to us debaters.

Everyone speaks the language that is appropriate for him and his development. When he is mature to recognise and speak the perfect language, he will do so and the perfect language already exists on the face of the earth-prepared for thousands of years for this time. It is, therefore, cruel, borne out of ignorance to attempt to separate a school child from his indigenous language that is inseparable from his being. The language of each people was derived from sounds in the elements special to their environment, infused with radiations were fashioned and shaped by Nature Beings to give each people their language intrinsic to them. The closer they are to Nature, observing Nature and obeying the Laws of Nature the sharper their perception, the higher their wisdom and the richer their proverbs.

Step forward Abraham Adesanya: Ibi ti a ti nlu lati injo. Enit’o ni nwon nlu l’oke Orun ko puro; eni t’o ni nwon jo ni Ajule Orun ko si so! (‘Where there is music, there is dancing. Therefore, whoever says there is beating of drum in Paradise, the Spiritual Realm has said the truth; and whoever says there is dancing in Primordial Spiritual Realm has not spoken amiss!’

Fafunwa’s programme is not as unworkable as it is being touted. There was a famous teacher at Abeokuta Grammar School who taught his students a science subject in the local language. The old boys of the school should remember him. There was hardly any of the students who offered the subject that did not pass it in high grades.

That said, it ought to be pointed out that Fafunwa’s critics have legitimate fears. The critics are from the cities and the cities are cosmopolitan. Do they send their children to the villages so they can be taught in the language of their parents? Their must be a way to allay their fears. If you asked me, I would say it is a question each parent should answer himself. The choice of what is best for his child is his.

Professor Fafunwa is on course, but he should be ready for battle. By the way, it may be interesting to know what the medium of instruction was in the primary school Professor Ayo Banjo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan attended; the primary school for Professor Alfred Opubor; ‘Cicero’ Bola Ige; Professor Wole Soyinka; Professor Richard Anao; Justice Omololu Thomas; Dr. Stanley Macebuh; Emeka Odumegwu- Ojukwu; and some Speakers of the First Republic such as Adeleke Adedoyin. There are more, Great speakers of English Language-all’.

We learn from the unique Work, In the Light of Truth the Grail Message, by Abd-ru-shin, and I quote: ‘True progress for each people lies solely in the development of its own culture adapted to the soil, climate and race. Man must become indigenous in the purest sense, if he wishes to develop and expect help from the Light. He should beware of adopting the habits and customs of peoples alien to his nature, not to mention foreign opinions. To be rooted in one’s native soil is a basic condition and alone guarantees health, strength and maturity.’

There is a need for unity among Yoruba groups in South Africa to foster cultural preservation, economic empowerment, social cohesion and national integration, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba, Iba Gani Adams, has said.

Adams explained that such unity would also help with economic and political empowerment, as a united Yoruba community in South Africa can better advocate for its interests, access resources, and participate effectively in socio-political and economic activities both locally and in relation to Nigeria.

Adams made the call while speaking at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Oodua Progressive Union (OPU), South African chapter.

He stressed that unity among Yoruba groups in South Africa will help safeguard and promote Yoruba cultural practices, language, festivals, and traditions in the diaspora.

Such collective effort, he noted, will ensure that Yoruba heritage remained vibrant and is passed down to future generations despite being away from the homeland.

‘Unity fosters a strong sense of community and belonging among Yoruba people in South Africa. It facilitates mutual support, cooperation, and collective action in addressing social, economic, and cultural challenges faced by the diaspora community,’ Adams said.

Speaking on the essence of teaching children of Nigerians in the diaspora their indigenous language, Adams said the importance was multifaceted and deeply significant culturally and educationally. He encouraged the Yoruba communities in South Africa not to fail in this parental responsibility.

‘Teaching Yoruba to children of Nigerians abroad helps preserve their cultural identity and heritage. It connects them to their roots, traditions, values, and history, fostering a strong sense of belonging and pride in their Nigerian and Yoruba ancestry,’ he added.

In his address, the host and National Coordinator, Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) South Africa, Chief Kayode Orenisi, said the 10th year anniversary celebration of OPU South Africa was a celebration of a decade of impact, unity, and progress.

‘This is a celebration of 10 years of carrying the torch of Yoruba heritage, 10 years of promoting our values, and 10 years of standing together as one big family in the diaspora.

‘When we began this journey, our goal was simple but powerful: to preserve our culture, uplift one another, and represent the Yoruba nation with dignity and pride anywhere we find ourselves. Today, by God’s grace, we can proudly say we have stayed true to that vision,’ he added.

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, has confirmed that 50 pupils of St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, have escaped from their abductors and reunited with their parents.

Reverend Yohanna, who is the Proprietor of the school, disclosed that the students escaped between Friday and Saturday but were unable to return to the school.

The development came to light when some parents informed the school of their children’s safe return, while school staff discovered others during visits to families.

Providing an update on the school’s population, Yohanna said the primary section has 430 pupils, including 377 boarders and 53 non-boarders.

The total number of secondary students is still being verified, as many records were destroyed during the abduction.

‘Currently, aside from the 50 pupils who escaped and returned home, 141 pupils were not taken. As it stands, 236 pupils remain in captivity, along with three children of staff, 14 secondary students, and 12 members of staff,’ Yohanna stated.

It was previously reported by the Principal, Rev. Sr. Felicia Gyang, that the bandits initially targeted the primary school dormitory. To protect other students, the principal and fellow sisters guided secondary school pupils into nearby bushes to evade the abductors.

Yohanna, who also serves as Niger State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), called for prayers for the safe and speedy release of the remaining abducted children and adults.

‘As much as we receive the return of these 50 children that escaped with some sigh of relief, I urge you all to continue in your prayers for the rescue and safe return of the remaining victims. I want to call on everyone to remain calm and prayerful as we will continue to actively collaborate with security operatives, community leaders, government, and relevant authorities for the safe and quick return of all abductees.’

However, in a related development, the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, described the incident as more of a scare and of missing people rather than a kidnapping, stressing that it was quick to conclude that it was a case of abduction and for any figures to have been revealed.

‘Yes, there was a scare, sporadic gunshots, and the children ran because they were targeted. And from the Google imagery, there was no mass movement of people, but people running up and down’, he said.

He, however, confirmed that some of the children have been found and reunited with their families, adding that efforts are being intensified to find the rest soon.

Speaking on TVC News Live at 10 pm on Saturday, the Governor sought calm from all residents of the state over the incident, assuring that security agencies are not leaving any stone unturned to ensure the children are rescued unhurt.

He also stressed that the incident was avoidable, stating that it is not the time for a blame game but to correct all mistakes, get the children back, reunite them with their families, and forge ahead.

He again applauded the federal government for tremendous support, especially in terms of personnel and equipment to aid in surveillance and rescue operations.