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Five communities in Ekiti State have received relief from longstanding social challenges, following interventions by the Environmental Development and Family Health Organisation (EDFHO), with support from ActionAid Nigeria.

The beneficiary communities are Ajebamidele, Aba Osun and Ile-Ona in Ekiti West Local Government Area; Ilupeju-Ijan in Gbonyin Local Government Area; and Ipere-Ekiti in Ilejemeje Local Government Area.

The interventions, implemented under ActionAid Nigeria’s Local Rights Programme (LRP), focused on improving access to potable water, supporting rural agricultural activities, enhancing learning conditions in schools and strengthening grassroots healthcare delivery.

The projects included the installation of a motorised borehole with water storage and distribution facilities in Ajebamidele; donation of furniture to teachers and pupils at the only school in Aba Osun; the provision of tricycles to a women’s cooperative group in Ipere-Ekiti and farmers in Ilupeju-Ijan; aa well as the renovation of a basic healthcare centre in Ile-Ona.

Baale of Ajebamidele, Ibrahim Ajao, commended EDFHO for addressing the community’s longstanding water challenges, noting that the intervention had ended years of difficulty in accessing potable water.

Beneficiaries of the tricycles, school furniture and renovated healthcare facility also expressed gratitude to the organisations, pledging to make effective use of the facilities and ensure their sustainability.

Speaking during the inauguration of the borehole in Ajebamidele, EDFHO Executive Director, Olu Ogunrotimi, said the community’s topography had made the provision of water particularly challenging.

He expressed satisfaction that years of effort had finally yielded results, giving residents access to potable water and improving their prospects for a healthier standard of living.

Ogunrotimi explained that EDFHO had worked hard to facilitate the establishment and approval of the only school in Aba Osun, making the provision of furniture necessary to create a more conducive environment for teaching and learning.

He added that the tricycles donated to farmers in Ipere-Ekiti and Ilupeju-Ijan were intended to ease the transportation of farm produce to towns and markets, thereby supporting agricultural activities and improving livelihoods.

Regarding the renovated healthcare centre in Ile-Ona, he said the intervention was aimed at improving access to quality healthcare services at the grassroots.

Speaking at the inauguration, ActionAid Nigeria’s Local Rights Programme Specialist, Kehinde Arowosegbe, congratulated the beneficiary communities and urged residents to take ownership of the projects and maintain the facilities properly to protect the resources invested in them.

In Ajebamidele, a representative of the Ekiti State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Kolawole Ebenezer Okeya, urged well-meaning individuals, corporate organisations and institutions to emulate ActionAid Nigeria’s intervention.

He noted that the government alone could not meet all the needs of the people, stressing the importance of partnerships with non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders in addressing community development challenges.

Birthday tributes are no lengthy religious sermons, but how does one describe in few words a vibrant young in age but exudes the wisdom of a 90-year-old?

A woman whose life is defined by fierce empathy for the downtrodden, unwavering service to humanity, and uncompromising love for country?

At 40, Dr. Betta Edu remains a role model for young people, especially young women, uncertain of life directions.

As Co-Director of Women Mobilisation of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), she brings uncommon verve, strategic dexterity, and infectious energy to the task of galvanising Nigerian women behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Her outings so far have been marked by purposeful engagement, formidable grassroots mobilisation, and a refreshing demonstration of political commitment.

At the inauguration of the APC PCC, Edu distinguished herself with dignified conduct, measured eloquence, and inspiring remarks that underscored her readiness for the assignment.

In her, the APC PPC finds not merely a mobiliser but a woman whose passion is palpable, whose purpose is unmistakable, and whose drive is difficult to ignore.

There is something remarkably compelling about Dr. Edu: The fire in her spirit, the grace in her carriage, the conviction in her words, and the tenacity with which she pursues a cause.

At 40, Dr. Edu stands as a striking blend of brain and brawn, elegance and enterprise, intellect and impact.

She does not merely occupy space; she commands attention. She does not simply join the procession; she helps set the pace.

Some people wait for greatness to find them; others, like Edu, announce its arrival through the force of their character and the footprints of their accomplishments.

‘Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.’- Mark Twain .At a young age, Dr Edu’s journey reflects the power of purpose, courage and determination, demonstrating that true leadership is measured not by age, but by the impact one makes and the lives one inspires.

For Edu, this milestone is more than a date on the calendar; it is a celebration of grace, grit, growth, and a life that continues to unfold with remarkable promise.

She is no ordinary woman. She belongs to that rare breed whose lives seem touched by the unmistakable fingerprints of distinction. From her early years, Dr. Edu has displayed the unmistakable signs of a star destined to shine.

In my previous write-up marking her 39th birthday, I described her using the Yoruba expression, ‘Látì kékeré ló ti n ?e b?´b?`,’ which aptly captures the essence of her journey and the early signs of excellence that have continued to define her story.The seeds of greatness often announce themselves long before the harvest.

Her journey is a compelling chronicle of ambition disciplined by hard work, talent sharpened by learning, and opportunity transformed into impact.

Poised, articulate, and purposeful, she has traversed the corridors of medicine, public health, politics, and public service with a rare combination of intellectual depth and grassroots appeal.

Her story is not merely about how far she has travelled but how much she has dared to accomplish along the way.

Nelson Mandela once observed that ‘What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.’

By this measure, Edu’s journey offers a powerful testament to the possibilities that unfold when courage meets competence and ambition finds a worthy purpose.

To many young Nigerians, particularly women, she represents the audacity to dream beyond limitations and the determination to turn those dreams into tangible achievements.

From Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Health, to Director-General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency to Commissioner for Health, Chairman of the Forum of Commissioners for Health, National Woman Leader of the APC, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and now Co-Director of Women Mobilisation of the APC PCC, Edu’s public-service trajectory has been marked by demanding assignments and high expectations.

Across these roles, she has projected an abiding commitment to service, organisational leadership, and the advancement of causes she believes in.

Her present assignment places her before one of the most consequential challenges in Nigeria’s political landscape: mobilising women whose electoral strength and grassroots influence remain indispensable to democratic success.

In this arena, Edu brings the instincts of a seasoned organiser, the eloquence of a persuasive communicator, and the energy of a woman determined to make every moment count.

Her current outings reflect a spirited effort to build bridges, deepen engagement, and rally women around the President’s re-election campaign.

Edu first entered the wider public consciousness in 2015 when she emerged as one of the youngest aides appointed by then Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade.

She subsequently became the youngest commissioner in his cabinet, an early distinction that announced her arrival as a rising force in the state’s political firmament.University of Calabar,

A former student-union leader at the where she studied Medicine, Edu has long demonstrated a gift for public speaking and mobilisation.

Before becoming Commissioner for Health in 2019, she served as Special Adviser and Director-General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, as well as Special Technical Adviser to the Governor on the state’s Privatisation Council.

Her emergence as APC National Woman Leader in 2022 further elevated her political profile. When the position was zoned to the South-South, party stakeholders rallied around her on account of her youth, vibrancy, educational pedigree, advocacy for women, and formidable grassroots appeal.

She won the keenly contested election and served until her nomination as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.

Academically accomplished, Edu holds a medical degree from the University of Calabar, postgraduate qualifications in public health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom, and a Doctor of Public Health degree from Texila American University.

Her academic journey reflects a determination to complement political influence with professional knowledge and intellectual substance.

A proud daughter of Adadama in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State, Edu carries her roots with pride while projecting a broad vision of national service.

Her story speaks to the possibilities of a Nigeria where talent, hard work and determination can open doors to leadership and consequential public engagement.

As she marks her 40th birthday, the celebration goes beyond age. It honours a woman whose journey has been shaped by audacity, whose public life has been driven by ambition and whose political energy continues to find expression in new assignments.

For her admirers, she is a symbol of youthful leadership, humanitarian response, women’s empowerment, and the enduring power of purposeful service.

On this special day, I celebrate my boss, Dr Betta Edu: the medical doctor, the mobiliser, the orator, the trailblazer, and the woman whose story continues to inspire.

May the years ahead bring her renewed wisdom, enduring peace, greater accomplishments, and the grace to fulfil every worthy aspiration.

May the joy she shares, the hope she inspires, and the goodwill she extends to others return to her a hundredfold.

As she pursues her present assignment in the APC PCC, may her efforts yield fruitful outcomes, and her commitment to public service continue to find noble expression.

Happy 40th birthday, Dr Betta Edu, my boss- a rare bloom of grace, a force of conviction, and a woman still writing her story in bold strokes of purpose and possibility.

Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair, ANIPR, FMBI, is a senior journalist, Media and Public Relations Consultant, and Strategic Communications Expert. He writes from Abuja, FCT.

CHRISTIAN APPOLOS examines the warning by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Chief Economist, Sangheon Lee, that rising productivity is not translating into better wages for millions of workers, leaving many struggling with high living costs. Lee spoke on the ILO’s Future of Work podcast on the sidelines of the recent International Monetary Fund and World Bank Annual Meetings, in Bangkok, Thailand.

ECONOMIC growth and rising productivity do not always translate into better wages and improved living standards, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) recently said, identifying a cycle of low pay and low productivity that leaves millions trapped in jobs offering little opportunity for advancement.

Speaking on why rising productivity still does not translate into better wage for millions of workers years after COVID 19 pandemic, ILO’s Chief Economist, Sangheon Lee, said the disconnect between productivity and workers’ incomes had become a major concern, particularly as essential goods and services remained expensive despite moderating inflation in many countries.

The disconnect raises a fundamental question about whether economic growth is delivering meaningful improvements in workers’ living standards. ‘The fundamental question for us is whether workers’ incomes are growing sufficiently to improve their living standards,’ Lee said.

Why falling inflation has not eased pressure

For many households, the difference between slower inflation and falling prices remains critical. Lee explained that a decline in inflation does not mean prices have returned to previous levels. It means prices are increasing more slowly, while essentials such as food, housing and energy may remain considerably more expensive than before the pandemic.

Where wages have failed to keep pace with these increases, workers can continue to experience financial pressure even after inflation moderates. ‘Wage growth has been relatively weak,’ Lee said, adding that wage increases in many countries had failed to match inflation during the recent period of rising prices.

This is particularly significant for low-income households, which spend a larger proportion of their earnings on necessities and have less room to absorb further price increases. The challenge is not simply to bring inflation down, but to ensure that workers’ earnings recover sufficiently to improve their living standards.

Productivity gains not reaching workers

A central part of Lee’s argument is that productivity growth has not consistently translated into proportionate wage increases.

Productivity broadly refers to how much output is produced from the labour and other resources used in an economic activity. Higher productivity can help businesses expand, improve efficiency and generate additional income. However, those gains do not automatically result in higher wages.

Lee said the relationship between productivity and workers’ incomes appeared to have weakened, with gains not fully translated into higher wages, particularly for workers in the middle and lower parts of the income distribution. One indication, he explained, was the decline in labour’s share of global income.

‘Globally speaking, the share of incomes going to labour declined from around 54 per cent in 2004 to 52.6 per cent in 2025,’ he said.

Labour income share measures the proportion of economic income accruing to workers through their labour, rather than to capital and other sources.

Lee attributed the trend to factors, including technological change, globalisation, changes in labour-market institutions and weakened collective bargaining power in many countries. He also identified market concentration as a concern, with a relatively small number of large firms becoming increasingly dominant in some sectors.

Such concentration can influence how productivity gains are shared between businesses and workers, and between large and small enterprises. Where smaller businesses struggle to compete, invest and expand, their ability to create productive jobs and improve earnings may also be constrained.

Nigeria’s informal employment challenge

The argument has particular relevance to Nigeria, where informal employment accounts for a substantial proportion of the workforce. The National Bureau of Statistics reported that informal employment represented 93 percent of total employment in the second quarter of 2024, up from 92.7 percent in the first quarter.

The figure does not mean that 93 percent of Nigerian workers earn low wages. It highlights the scale of informal employment, where secure earnings and social protection may be limited.

A World Bank analysis published in March 2024 found that more than three-quarters of employed Nigerians worked in establishments engaging fewer than five people. It identified limited access to finance and infrastructure as constraints on small-business growth, noting that small size can restrict specialisation, demand for higher-skilled labour and the creation of more advanced jobs.

These conditions show why employment numbers alone cannot explain the labour market: people may be working but still struggle to meet their needs, while small businesses operate with limited capital and technology.

The challenge is not simply to create more jobs, but to help workers and enterprises move towards more productive activities offering better earnings and working conditions.

Low-pay, low-productivity trap

Lee described the relationship between low productivity and low pay as a cycle that can reinforce itself. A small informal business, for example, may lack finance, modern technology, infrastructure and skills development. These constraints can keep output low and limit its capacity to pay higher wages.

But the relationship also works in the opposite direction. Where workers receive low pay and face poor conditions, businesses may struggle to attract, retain and develop skilled employees. Workers themselves may lack the resources to acquire new skills or improve their employment prospects.

Low earnings and limited profits can consequently restrict investment in the improvements needed to raise productivity. ‘The causality runs really both ways,’ Lee explained. ‘Low productivity contributes to low pay, while low pay also can itself become an obstacle to productivity growth.’

The ILO’s Employment and Social Trends 2026 report estimates that approximately 2.1 billion workers worldwide remain in informal employment, representing about 58 percent of the global workforce. Many face limited access to basic rights, social protection and income security.

Lee argued that improving workers’ conditions is not solely a social policy objective. Better jobs can also support growth by strengthening household purchasing power, increasing demand and encouraging investment.

Low and insecure incomes constrain spending, while weak demand can discourage investment and reinforce the cycle. Better productivity and wages can support stronger demand and economic activity.

AI could widen existing inequalities

Artificial intelligence presents another challenge to the distribution of productivity gains. Although AI tools can help workers perform some tasks more efficiently, the benefits are unlikely to be distributed evenly without the necessary skills, infrastructure and investment.

Lee warned that AI could widen divisions between advanced and developing economies, large and small businesses, and workers with different levels of access to technology and training.

Advanced economies generally have better access to digital infrastructure, AI technologies, investment and specialised skills. Many developing countries face greater constraints, potentially widening productivity and income gaps. Large companies may have resources to adopt AI and reorganise their operations, while smaller enterprises may struggle with the costs of technology, training and implementation.

Workers, who can use AI effectively, may improve their productivity and employment prospects, while those without access to the necessary tools and skills risk being left behind.

An ILO research brief published in May 2026 also highlighted the uneven distribution of AI-related productivity gains. It found that improvements observed at task and individual-worker levels had not yet translated into clear productivity growth across entire firms, sectors or economies. The research identified wider technology adoption, investment in skills and workplace reorganisation, and effective competition policies as important conditions for spreading gains.

Technology alone will not determine who benefits; how AI is introduced, worker training and the distribution of gains also matter.

For Nigeria, where many businesses operate with limited resources, helping smaller enterprises access appropriate technology, finance and skills development will be important to ensure that technological change does not deepen existing inequalities.

NLC seeks a fairer transition for workers

The question of who benefits from technological change has also become a concern for Nigeria’s organised labour movement, which has called for workers to receive the training and support needed to adapt to automation and artificial intelligence.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president, Joe Ajaero, called in October 2025 for comprehensive retraining and upskilling programmes to prepare workers for changes associated with artificial intelligence and automation.

Speaking at the Labour Writers Association of Nigeria’s conference in Ibadan, Ajaero proposed that the programmes be funded through a tax on the profits of technology giants and automated industries.

‘We must bargain for comprehensive retraining and upskilling programmes, funded by a tax on the excessive profits of the tech giants and automated industries,’ he said.

Retraining must be relevant to available jobs, and employers need the capacity to invest in workers. Improved skills should lead to better opportunities and appropriate compensation.

ILO demands investment in better jobs

The ILO has urged governments and development institutions to place job quality and workers’ incomes at the centre of economic policy. In a statement to the IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings on October 12, ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo, called for policies to ensure that productivity gains, including those generated by AI, are more widely shared. The statement highlighted workers’ incomes, job quality and social protection, while identifying market concentration, weak collective bargaining and constraints facing small and medium-sized enterprises as factors that can prevent productivity gains from reaching workers.

The ILO proposes stronger collective bargaining, evidence-based minimum wages, social dialogue and support for smaller businesses to access finance, skills and technology.

For Nigeria, this means combining wage policy and social protection with support for small enterprises to access finance, infrastructure, technology and training.

Workers need skills development, fair conditions and institutions that enable them to negotiate wages. Social protection can also help people facing illness, unemployment or old age avoid poverty.

Lee argued that policymakers should move beyond focusing only on investment that creates jobs to investing directly in improving the jobs themselves. He identified workers’ skills, working conditions, wage policies, labour-market institutions and social dialogue as important areas for investment, alongside social protection and measures to ensure that productivity gains are more widely shared.

Growth must improve people’s lives

The debate over productivity ultimately concerns the purpose of economic growth.

Higher output and more efficient production can create the resources needed to improve living standards. But where workers’ incomes remain weak, the benefits may not be felt in their daily lives.

For workers, meaningful progress means affording housing, food, education and healthcare, with greater security during unemployment, illness and old age.

Lee’s central argument is that productivity and job quality should not be treated as competing priorities. Better jobs can themselves help drive productivity by strengthening skills, household demand and investment. Without these measures, growth can coexist with insecurity, leaving workers excluded from the gains their labour helps generate over time.

The task facing policymakers, employers and workers’ organisations is to build an economic environment in which rising productivity translates into improved earnings, better working conditions and greater economic security.

Economic performance should ultimately be judged not only by how much an economy produces, but also by how much people’s lives improve.

The Olufon of Ifon-Osun, Oba Peter Oluwole Ipadeola Akinyooye III, has pledged continued engagement with stakeholders in Ondo State to resolve the lingering obaship crisis in Ifon Omima, appealing to the people to shun division and embrace peaceful dialogue. The monarch gave the assurance during a two-day solidarity visit to Ifon Omima, where he met with traditional and community leaders as part of efforts to understand the issues delaying the installation of a successor to the late Olufon of Ifon Omima, Oba Israel Adewusi, who died in 2020.

The six-year vacancy in the traditional institution has remained a source of concern among descendants of Ifon, prompting renewed calls for reconciliation and a peaceful resolution of the succession question.

According to a statement by the monarch’s Chief Press Secretary, Akeeb Adekunle Yusuff, the visit was designed to establish a clearer understanding of the challenges surrounding the vacant stool while encouraging cooperation among the various interests involved.

The statement said Oba Akinyooye consulted the Regent, Adéùlé, kingmakers, ruling houses and representatives of the Ifon Development Union (IDU), Ifon Improvement Forum (IIF) and Ifon Youth Association (IYA), among other stakeholders.

Addressing the concerns surrounding the crisis, the monarch acknowledged the frustration arising from the prolonged absence of a substantive traditional ruler but urged the people not to allow the situation to undermine the community’s unity.

‘I understand the pain and anxiety caused by the absence of a king for six years, but I assure you that efforts are ongoing to find a lasting solution,’ he said, appealing to residents to remain calm while the necessary consultations continued.

He warned that violence and bitterness could further complicate the situation, insisting that all outstanding grievances should be addressed through dialogue and lawful processes.

Beyond the immediate succession challenge, the visit also sought to reinforce the ancestral relationship between Ifon Omima and Ifon Ile, now Ifon-Osun, in Osun State. Historical accounts cited in the statement trace the founding lineage of Ifon Omima to Ifon Ile, from where its ancestors reportedly migrated following a contest over kingship.

Oba Akinyooye said the historical connection imposed a shared responsibility on both communities to promote peace and preserve their common heritage, regardless of geographical separation or generational differences.

He further assured the people that he would continue to engage relevant authorities and stakeholders in Ondo State to facilitate a transparent and inclusive process for selecting a new Olufon of Ifon Omima.

The monarch maintained that the community, which serves as the headquarters of Ose Local Government Area, needed a stable traditional institution to support its growth and development.

‘We are one family. Geographical distance and passage of generations should not sever our ancestral bond. I will not abandon you in this trying period. Let us keep praying and working together for peace,’ he said.

Nigeria’s housing policies have failed to deliver the desired results over several decades because of weak political will, inadequate funding, corruption and poor continuity between successive administrations, a built environment expert, Mr. Olufemi Oyedele, has said.

Oyedele, who said he reviewed the country’s housing policies from 1928 to 2024, argued that many government interventions were introduced as political promises or responses to international expectations, rather than products of rigorous research, strategic planning and sustainable implementation frameworks.

He identified the absence of effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms as another major factor responsible for the persistent failure of housing programmes, warning that the country would continue to struggle with its housing deficit unless governments addressed the structural weaknesses undermining policy delivery.

He said, housing policies often suffer from poor implementation because governments lack the commitment required to translate policy objectives into tangible results for Nigerians.

He said inadequate financing also undermined housing delivery, noting that policies were frequently announced without proper funding arrangements or a comprehensive framework for execution.

Oyedele further blamed corruption for the poor outcomes of some housing programmes, alleging that houses developed with public resources were sometimes allocated to politically connected individuals or people who already had accommodation, instead of being made accessible to those who needed them most.

He cited the mass housing programme associated with a former Lagos State governor, Lateef Jakande, as a contrast to situations in which political connections allegedly influenced the allocation of publicly funded housing.

Oyedele, who doubles as the Managing Director/CEO, Fame Oyster and Co., also identified discontinuity in government policies as a major obstacle to sustainable housing development, noting that successive administrations often abandoned programmes initiated by their predecessors.

He expressed concern over the apparent loss of momentum surrounding plans to establish building materials manufacturing hubs across the six geopolitical zones, saying land had reportedly been secured in Lagos for one of the proposed facilities.

According to him, abandoning such initiatives undermines long-term planning, wastes resources and prevents the country from building on lessons learned from previous housing interventions.

To address the challenges, Oyedele called for the establishment of independent monitoring and evaluation teams to assess the implementation of housing policies, identify obstacles and document lessons for future programmes.

He proposed that such teams should comprise housing advocates from civil society organisations, academic housing experts, real estate developers, representatives of built environment professional bodies and officials of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

He argued that independent oversight would strengthen accountability, improve implementation and ensure that housing policies were evaluated against measurable outcomes rather than political announcements.

Beyond policy implementation, Oyedele called for strategic urban planning and the systematic review of land use to address the pressures created by rapid population growth and unplanned urban expansion.

He observed that new communities were emerging across Lagos State without adequate government provision of essential infrastructure, including public schools, waste management facilities, tarred roads and public health centres.

The situation, he said, highlighted the need for governments to coordinate housing development with transportation, infrastructure and social services to create functional and liveable communities.

Oyedele also drew attention to the paradox of vacant plots in prime locations, completed but unoccupied properties and abandoned construction projects existing alongside a substantial housing deficit.

He put Lagos State’s housing deficit at 3.4 million units, compared with an estimated 1.8 million units for Ghana, arguing that the scale of the challenge required more deliberate planning and effective land management.

The expert further warned that excessive commuting times could have adverse implications for public health and the environment, stressing the need to organise cities in ways that bring homes, workplaces and essential services closer together.

He suggested that Nigerian cities could draw lessons from established urban planning models, including the Burgess Concentric Zone Theory and the Hoyt Sector Model, while adapting them to local conditions.

According to him, regular planning and replanning of urban land use would help governments manage population growth, reduce commuting pressures and improve residents’ quality of life.

Oyedele maintained that tackling Nigeria’s housing crisis required more than the introduction of new policies, insisting that the priority should be to ensure that existing and future programmes are properly funded, transparently implemented, monitored and sustained across successive administrations.

He said that a combination of political commitment, accountability, strategic urban planning and continuity in government programmes was essential to translating housing policies into affordable homes and better living conditions for Nigerians.

The Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) has warned that demolishing historic buildings would amount to destroying the stories, traditions and collective memories that define Lagos’ cultural identity.

The guild called on the Lagos State government to strengthen efforts to preserve the state’s historic structures, as neglect and uncontrolled urban development could erase important links to the city’s past.

President of BCPG, Alhaji Yusuf Sulaiman, and other built-environment professionals made the assertion at a seminar organised by the guild’s Lagos Island branch to mark the 90th birthday of Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi, head of the Olusi Royal House of Lagos, at the Olusi Palace, Oke Arin, Lagos Island.

A lecturer at the University of Lagos’ Institute of African and Diaspora Studies, Dr Abisoye Eleshin, said the destruction of historic buildings went beyond the loss of physical structures, as it also wiped out the stories, traditions and collective memories associated with them.

She urged planners and construction professionals to pay greater attention to traditional palaces, religious buildings, and other structures that reflect the history of Lagos communities, rather than concentrating solely on prominent architectural landmarks.

Stakeholders at the seminar identified the Olusi Palace as one of the historic properties requiring urgent preservation, citing its cultural, educational and tourism value.

Sulaiman said the palace was among 23 heritage buildings identified on Lagos Island, while previous government planning documents had recognised the need to protect historically significant sites across the state.

He cited the Lagos State Metropolitan Master Plan of 1980 and the state’s 2009 strategic plan, which identified 43 heritage sites across Lagos, but lamented that many had not received adequate attention.

He urged the government to translate heritage recognition into concrete conservation measures, noting that preserving the palace could attract visitors interested in Lagos’ history and cultural traditions.

The pioneer president of BCPG, Builder Kunle Awobodu, said the palace also demonstrated the construction expertise of earlier generations of Nigerian builders.

He explained that retaining such structures would provide students of architecture, engineering and other built-environment professions with opportunities to study traditional building techniques and understand the evolution of construction practices.

Professor Olumide Adenuga advocated systematic documentation, regular structural assessments, appropriate repairs and sustainable funding to ensure the survival of historic buildings.

He added that suitable heritage properties could be adapted into museums, cultural centres and other public facilities without destroying their historical character.

Responding to the concerns, the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Olumide Olayinka Abiodun, outlined possible approaches to heritage protection, including government acquisition and management, preservation restrictions with possible support, and conservation arrangements that allow families to retain ownership.

Prince Olusi, recalling the former splendour of the palace compound, said it once featured extensive gardens with apple, palm and coconut trees, alongside hibiscus and roses.

He lamented the deterioration of the property and appealed to the government to revisit earlier preservation plans.

…Weyinmi Oritsejafor, Managing Director of Passport Legacy Nigeria, welcomed Mr. Thomas Anthony, CEO of Grenada’s Investment Migration Agency, for an evening of conversations on second citizenship, global mobility and investment opportunities.

Passport Legacy, a Swiss-owned investment migration and advisory firm, hosted an evening cocktail in Lagos on October 20, bringing together clients, investors and partners for conversations around second citizenship, international mobility and investment opportunities, with special guest Mr. Thomas Anthony, Chief Executive Officer of Grenada’s Investment Migration Agency (IMA).

The event provided an opportunity for guests to engage directly with Grenada’s investment migration leadership and gain insights into the country’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program, its international mobility benefits and the investment opportunities available to prospective applicants. The evening also created a platform for clients, partners and the Passport Legacy team to connect and explore the wider role of investment migration in long-term family and wealth planning.

In her opening address, Ms. Weyinmi Oritsejafor, Managing Director of Passport Legacy Nigeria, highlighted the firm’s wider advisory offering beyond citizenship and passport acquisition. She explained that Passport Legacy operates under PL Group, which also encompasses real estate, government advisory and private client services, supporting clients with a range of international investment and lifestyle needs.

‘We are not simply a passport company; we do so much more than passports. Investment migration is just one facet of the services we provide,’ Oritsejafor said, emphasising the firm’s commitment to providing solutions that extend beyond the initial citizenship process. She noted that many clients continue to work with the firm after completing their citizenship programmes, seeking assistance with other personal, investment and international advisory needs.

Oritsejafor also highlighted the group’s real estate presence across Cyprus, Greece, Thailand, Bali and Dubai, alongside its government advisory work with Argentina and São Tomé and Príncipe. As Managing Director, she oversees Passport Legacy’s Nigerian operations across its Lagos and Abuja offices, supported by a team focused on client advisory and application processing.

The evening’s special guest, Mr. Thomas Anthony, CEO of Grenada’s Investment Migration Agency, delivered an address outlining Grenada’s position as an investment and citizenship destination. He discussed the country’s economic landscape, international market access, investment opportunities and the benefits of its Citizenship by Investment programme for individuals and families considering greater global mobility.

Anthony highlighted Grenada’s access to international markets through regional economic arrangements, including the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), and discussed the opportunities available to investors considering business activity in the country. He also explained the potential relevance of Grenadian citizenship to individuals exploring the United States’ E-2 Treaty Investor visa route, which is available to eligible Grenadian nationals who meet the applicable investment and business requirements.

Addressing the programme’s processing timeline, Mr Anthony stated that decisions on clean applications could be made within approximately six to eight months of submission, depending on the circumstances of each application. He also discussed the real estate investment route, noting that investment performance and completion timelines should be considered alongside the broader benefits of the programme.

A key point of discussion was the distinction between the duration of an investment and the permanence of citizenship. Responding to questions from guests about exiting a real estate investment after the prescribed holding period, Mr Anthony explained that the subsequent disposal of an eligible investment does not, in itself, terminate citizenship once it has been lawfully granted, subject to the applicable laws and programme requirements.

He further highlighted the intergenerational implications of citizenship, explaining that Grenadian citizenship may be passed to eligible subsequent generations in accordance with the country’s citizenship laws and registration requirements. This, he noted, makes citizenship planning a consideration that can extend beyond the immediate applicant to future family generations.

The interactive session allowed guests to gain clarification on investment requirements, potential returns, citizenship rights and the practical considerations involved in choosing an investment migration programme. The discussions reinforced the importance of understanding both the immediate benefits and long-term responsibilities associated with international citizenship and investment decisions.

The formal program concluded with a networking session, allowing guests to engage with Mr Anthony, the Passport Legacy team and fellow attendees. The gathering emphasised the firm’s commitment to building lasting client relationships and creating opportunities for informed conversations between investors, advisers and program representatives.

Through engagements such as the cocktail evening, Passport Legacy continues to position investment migration within a broader conversation about international opportunities, private client advisory and legacy planning, helping individuals and families consider solutions aligned with their long-term ambitions.

About Passport Legacy

Passport Legacy is a Swiss-owned investment migration advisory firm operating under PL Group. Beyond citizenship and residency advisory, the group offers services in real estate, government advisory and private client services. Passport Legacy Nigeria operates from offices in Lagos and Abuja, supporting clients as they navigate international mobility and investment opportunities.