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Infidelity may capture gossip, but the deeper scandal is this: women are being erased from the wealth story. It doesn’t matter if you are a wife, a partner, or a breadwinner. The lesson remains the same: protect yourself.

When I wrote about Side Chick Economics in Part 1, the goal was not sensationalism. I wasn’t positioning myself as the moral police. My lens was, and remains, practical: helping women understand power, secure wealth, and prepare for legacy, whether in the home, the boardroom, or the marketplace.

Because here’s the hard truth no one wants to admit: you can be a wife, a side chick, or even the breadwinner and still lose.

The feedback I received:

The responses were explosive. Women nodded in agreement. Men argued fiercely. Some laughed and called me a troublemaker. A few warned that I might lose business because certain men felt attacked. Others admitted they were sharing the article in their WhatsApp groups.

Several men pushed back with conviction:

‘We have agency. As long as I provide for my family, I can choose how else I spend my money: philanthropy, alternative households, or otherwise.’

‘Some side chicks contribute more than wives, supporting ventures or taking risks wives might avoid.’

‘Why single-sided chicks out? Side chicks are women, too, right? And together with their children, form families. Perhaps not the traditional type, but no less deserving or valid in my opinion. So why is diverted wealth to them considered ‘lost’? Lost how? They are intelligent women, too.’

I don’t dismiss these perspectives. They reveal the complexity of how money moves and who benefits. Some see it as redistribution. Others see it as erosion. Both can be true.

Why this matters

Here’s the sharper lesson: if you don’t know where the wealth comes from and how it flows, you are already a side note in the story of your own family’s legacy.

Too many women are ‘wives’ in title but ‘side chicks’ in practice, shut out of the real financial structures of their own households. Assets are hidden. Wealth is syphoned. Inheritance is decided in secrecy.

And it isn’t only wives at risk. Many women who carry more than their fair share as breadwinners watch men quietly take liberties with the little they do earn, spending it elsewhere, often unaccounted for. This isn’t just unfair. It’s destabilising.

The wider circles of leakage

The leakage doesn’t always stop with a single relationship. Money often flows into extended circles. In some cases, side partners themselves become breadwinners, channeling resources to their own families and funding parents, siblings, or even spouses and children elsewhere.

In other words, secrecy creates hidden economies of obligation, ‘families within families’, syphoning resources away from the very structures meant to secure a family’s future.

And beneath it all lies the trap of complacency. Too many financially dependent women settle for surface comfort: school fees paid, fridge stocked, travel or shopping allowance here and there, without contributing or asking harder questions about where the real assets sit. Comfort isn’t the same as security. Complacency isn’t safe. It’s being quietly written out of the ledger.

The unspoken sacrifice

One story still lingers with me. At a gathering, a man propositioned a woman who would ordinarily have dismissed him. When she resisted, he replied chillingly, ‘Can’t you take a bullet for your family?’

That line captures the unspoken pressure many women live with: to accept indignities, compromises, or side roles in the name of survival. It may feel like a sacrifice. But in truth, it is surrender, and the cost is unbearable.

The Alpha Woman paradox

Even the strongest women are not immune. Some of the so-called ‘alpha women’, successful breadwinners carrying entire households, still find themselves exposed. Why? Because fragile egos often look elsewhere for affirmation. Outsiders feed needs that capable wives no longer indulge.

This is not a justification. It’s a paradox women must confront. Strength without strategy is vulnerability. Power must be paired with protection.

Acknowledging culture

We must also acknowledge the cultural and societal practices that shape these realities. In many African communities, polygamy remains a recognised structure. In others, ‘families accepted as families’ exist outside formal marriage, particularly once children are involved.

This is not about judgement. These practices are woven into our history and, in some contexts, function as accepted social systems. But even here, the lesson is the same: clarity matters. Respect matters. Structures matter. Whether polygamous, blended, or single household, secrecy breeds confusion, while transparency protects posterity. The real victims aren’t just spouses. They are the children and generations left to fight inheritance wars.

Practical lessons

So, what do we take from all this? Whether you are a wife, partner, breadwinner, or even ‘the other woman’, this is not about morality but about power and protection:

1. Ownership matters. If your name isn’t on the title, don’t assume love will protect you. If you’re the breadwinner, don’t assume generosity alone secures you either. Document what you’ve built.

2. Transparency is protection. Asking about money isn’t nagging. It’s leadership.

3. Preparation isn’t paranoia. Death, divorce, and blended households aren’t always hypothetical. They are certainties you must plan for.

4. She-Money is non-negotiable. Keep funds and assets in your own name. Not hidden. Not secret. Just sovereign and safe.

5. Beyond low-hanging fruit. Don’t stop at trading, trips, or consumption. Build assets, equity, and strategy. Sustenance will not save you.

6. Knowledge is leverage. Complacency thrives in ignorance. Financial literacy, wealth circles, and trusted advisers are essential. The more you understand where the money comes from and where it goes, the harder it is for anyone to quietly write you out of the story.

A final word

This conversation is not about deriding wives, side chicks, or anyone else. It is not even about morality. It is about power, clarity, and preparation.

Because at the end of the day, the real scandal isn’t infidelity. The real scandal is when women, whether wives, partners, side chicks, or breadwinners, allow themselves to be written out of the wealth story.

The old days of relying fully on the breadwinner are gone. The new reality demands vigilance, strategy, and unapologetic involvement in financial decision-making.

Cornerstone Insurance Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading insurance providers has taken over the annuity business of defunct Niger Insurance Plc, and will continue to pay its customers on the scheme.

Niger Insurance Plc’s operational license was cancelled in June 2022 by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and handed over to liquidators following the Company’s insolvency and inability to meet its contractual obligations.

Stephen Alangbo, group managing director/CEO of Cornerstone Insurance Plc made the disclosure while addressing annuitants and stakeholders at the Company’s Annuity Forum held in Abuja.

He noted that Cornerstone Insurance Plc has successfully taken over the annuity payments of former Niger Insurance Plc customers, following regulatory approval. Speaking on the Company’s Annuity Program, Alangbo reassured Nigerian retirees of its unwavering commitment to reliability, transparency, and service excellence.

He emphasized the company’s solid financial standing and its readiness to continue delivering on its promises. He stated, ‘Our annuitants represent the trust our customers continue to place in us, the commitment of our people, and the strength of our vision. We are building a future-ready business, one that remains relevant to individuals, families, and businesses across Nigeria.’

Alangbo also spoke on the implications of the recently signed Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA 2025), which requires significant recapitalization across the industry. He assured annuitants that Cornerstone remains financially secure and ahead of the curve:

‘Subject to confirmation from NAICOM, Cornerstone Insurance Plc does not need to raise additional capital under NIIRA 2025. We are solid, we are transparent, and we are fully able to continue paying your claims without interruption.’

Appreciating the presence of retirees, guests, and members of the press, the CEO reiterated the company’s philosophy of keeping promises and putting customers first:

‘At Cornerstone Insurance Plc, we are not like any other insurance company. We are unique. We are transparent. We keep our promises, and your trust is the foundation of everything we do.’

With over three decades of operations, strong subsidiaries in FIN Insurance and Hilal Takaful, and a reputation for integrity and customer focus, Cornerstone Insurance continues to lead with integrity, innovation, empathy, team spirit and professionalism; reassuring Nigerian retirees that their future remains in safe hands.

The event, which featured health checks, entertainment, quizzes, gifts and refreshments, provided a platform for honest conversations on enhancing customer experience and reaffirming Cornerstone’s leadership in the annuity space.

Cornerstone Insurance is licensed and re-certified by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to provide both general and life insurance services. As the first insurance company in Nigeria to offer customers an online platform for insurance transactions, its services are driven by cutting-edge technology, making them easily accessible via the internet and mobile platforms.

President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria’s non-oil revenue has improved significantly, rising by 411 percent in September 2025 when compared with what was generated in the corresponding period of 2023.

In his Independence Day speech on Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu said the nation earned over N20 trillion from non-oil revenue between January and August, noting that the economy has turned the corner.

‘We have attained a record-breaking increase in non-oil revenue, achieving the 2025 target by August with over N20 trillion. In September 2025 alone, we raised N3.65 trillion, 411 percent higher than the amount raised in May 2023,’ he said.

He said the nation has finally turned the corner, and the worst is over.

‘ Yesterday’s pains are giving way to relief. I salute your endurance, support, and understanding. I will continue to work for you and justify the confidence you reposed in me to steer the ship of our nation to a safe harbour.

‘Under our leadership, our economy is recovering fast, and the reforms we started over two years ago are delivering tangible results. The second quarter 2025 Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.23 percent-Nigeria’s fastest pace in four years-and outpaced the 3.4 per cent projected by the International Monetary Fund. Inflation declined to 20.12 percent in August 2025, the lowest level in three years. The administration is working diligently to boost agricultural production and ensure food security, reducing food costs.’

Tinubu said in the last two years of his administration, the government has achieved 12 remarkable economic milestones, including improvement in non-oil revenue, lower debt servicing, among others.

‘Our debt service-to-revenue ratio has been significantly reduced from 97 percent to below 50 percent. We have paid down the infamous Ways and Means advances that threatened our economic stability and triggered inflation. Following the removal of the corrupt petroleum subsidy, we have freed up trillions of Naira for targeted investment in the real economy and social programmes for the most vulnerable, as well as all tiers of government.’

He added, ‘We have a stronger foreign Reserve position than three years ago.Our external reserves increased to $42.03 billion this September-the highest since 2019.’

As Nigeria marks its 65th year of independence today, the nation’s political journey invites a quiet introspection. Beneath today’s celebrations lies a system that shuns and treats political conflict as a threat rather than the lifeblood of genuine democracy. And despite being conflict averse, Nigerian politics in the six and a half decades, has often resembled a battlefield where opposition signals enmity.

Consider a key basis upon which the Murtala/Obasanjo military regime decided to abandon the British parliamentary model for an American presidential system. They sincerely wanted to engineer unity through institutional design. General Olusegun Obasanjo, then second-in-command to General Murtala Mohammed, captured the thinking of politicians: ‘In most Nigerian languages, the word for opposition is the same word for ‘enemy’. And what do you do with an enemy? You crush him; you do not spare anything.’ This explains the approach to politics for most Nigerian politicians: ‘crush-or-be-crushed’.

The military viewed parliamentary debates as breeding grounds for violence. The solution seemed easy: eliminate opposition politics to eliminate political violence and forge unity by minimising confrontation. What they saw as a solution overlooked the simple truth that true unity emerges from shared experiences, not decrees; they could not legislate harmony any more than one can force roots into unwilling soil.

The logic revealed a profound misunderstanding of democracy itself; they expected a pluralistic, multi-ethnic society to function without opposition voices. They mistook external uniformity for genuine unity. What they created was not harmony but a system that drove conflict underground, where it festered and waited for opportunity to erupt in more destructive forms time and again. Aversion to conflict was deeply woven into the fabric of post-colonial governance.

The 1914 amalgamation by British colonial administrators created a geographical entity, not a unified nation. Ethnic nationalities were bundled together for administrative convenience, their diverse loyalties ignored in favour of resource extraction. Independence in 1960 inherited this corporatist mindset, much like a boardroom takeover, where the state became a prize for the victorious.

Politicians, echoing colonial overseers, treat public office as personal enterprise. Elections become zero-sum games of winner-takes-all. This mentality creates what might be called vagrant authority – power without purpose, office without vision. Leaders oscillate between inherited military authoritarianism and civilian chaos because they lack authentic governance models rooted in the Nigerian realities. They cannot imagine politics as anything other than warfare between enemies.

Such dynamics silence voices and shrink democratic space. And when opposition is equated with treason, losers retreat into ethnic strongholds, nursing grudges that fuel cycles of unrest and violence. As crackdowns are visited on protesters, dialogue gives way to distrust.

The 1993 annulment of Moshood Abiola’s presidential victory exemplifies this: a moment of potential national consensus shattered by military fiat, deepening divides that persist today. Silencing dissent does not build resilience; it erodes the very foundations of collective progress. History shows that political antagonism diminishes us, but it needs not define us. Perpetual bitterness, evident in the ethnic tensions that boiled over during the 1967-1970 civil war, continues to shadow modern politics. From separatist agitations to the Niger Delta militancy over resource control, to northern banditry and grievances about neglect, these conflicts reveal unaddressed wounds. But enmity is not inevitable, and politics need not be perpetual war.

Chantal Mouffe’s concept of agonistic pluralism offers a compelling alternative framework. She reframes political struggle as a contest between adversaries, not enemies. In her view, democracy thrives when passions are channelled into managed disagreement, preventing apathy or explosive violence. The goal of democratic politics should be transforming enemies into adversaries, treating opponents with respect rather than seeking their destruction.

Imagine politics as a football match, between Enyimba International FC, unarguably Nigeria’s most successful club, and Kano Pillars FC which also commands significant support. Supporters cheer fiercely for their side, yet the game ends with handshakes, not bloodshed. Victory brings joy, defeat prompts reflection, but the sport endures because rules ensure fairness.

Nigerian politics could adopt similar principles. Opposition parties would compete vigorously, not a death match. Media outlets would provide balanced platforms for different viewpoints rather than serving as partisan weapons. Electoral bodies would referee contests impartially. Winners would govern inclusively while losers would critique constructively.

For a multi-ethnic, multi-religious nation like Nigeria, agonism feels tailor-made. Mouffe points out that in diverse societies, consensus is often illusory; instead, we need space for dissensus while maintaining respect. Through vigorous debate and competition, societies test ideas, expose weaknesses, and discover better solutions.

Adapting agonism means practical steps. Constitutional reforms could embed proportional representation, ensuring minority voices influence outcomes, much like Switzerland’s federal cantons balance linguistic divides. Education curricula might emphasise civic dialogue, teaching young Nigerians to view debate as strength, not weakness. And leadership selection could prioritise those who bridge divides, as Ellen Johnson Sirleaf did in Liberia by including former rivals in her cabinet.

The root of our disunity lies not in diversity itself, but in systems that force conformity over accommodation. By embracing conflict as integral to politics, we open doors to authentic unity, one grown organically, not imposed. Antagonism can evolve into agonism, turning perpetual war into productive rivalry.

After sixty-five years of trying to engineer conflict-free politics, perhaps it is time to learn how to manage conflict productively. This Independence Day, let us commit to a politics that uplifts, where winning serves the people, not just the victors.

Nigerian Senior Government officials and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday held a meeting to assess existing vibrant economic partnership, to chart a way forward.

The EU bloc made this known in a statement by Modestus Chukwulaka, the Press and Information Officer of the EU Embassy in Abuja.

According to Chukwulaka, the inaugural Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Trade and investment Dialogue (TID) was anchored by Amb. Nura Rimi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

He said that Jumoke Oduwole, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, and Gautier Mignot, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, welcomed the launch of the Dialogue.

According to him, the senior officials’ meeting marks an important step in strengthening the trade and investment partnership between the EU and Nigeria.

‘It provided opportunity for the officials to exchange views on areas of mutual interest; address potential challenges and explore opportunities for further collaboration.’

Chukwulaka said that the discussions at the meeting focused on a range of issues, including trade and investment policy, cooperation on market access barriers and requirements.

He said that preferential trade and investment arrangements and collaboration within the World Trade Organisation (WTO), regulatory measures could impact trade and investment.

‘The highpoint of the meeting was that both sides expressed their interest to continue the dialogue, with the second TID billed to take place in Brussels, Belgium, in 2026, on a date to be jointly decided.’

Electricity consumers and power distribution companies have been at loggerheads for years over appropriate bills. What seems to separate this dispute is prepaid meters, but this has been scarce.

Now, the management of Holley Metering Nigeria Limited says members of the pubic especially electricity users can now heave a sigh of relief. The group says it has commenced the sales of prepaid meters for customers in Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers States.

Holley Metering Nigeria Limited is said to be a global leader in the metering industry and licensed by the Federal Government through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) as a Meter Asset Provider (MAP) to bridge the metering gap in Nigeria. According to a statement from its officials, the company said it has carved a niche in top quality smart prepayment meters, metering products and systems and has a long-standing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc, (PHED).

Under the partnership arrangement, the statement further said, ‘Holley Metering has been providing/deploying different types to meter customers in PHED’s franchise area but not limited to installation as well.

‘Holley Meters comes with the benefit of meeting customer needs to control their electricity consumption, avoid estimated bills, unwarranted disconnection in addition to other ancillary advantages.’

The company gave the breakdown of costs of the meters which now range from N129, 454 to N216, 206 depending on the phase of the meter, with an installation period not exceeding 10 working days after payment.

Unlike previous prepaid meter schemes that had a lot of protocol and middlemen, the new scheme is said to be open to any interested person who are free to meet them at their headquarters in Port Harcourt.

The Nigerian economy has had its ups and downs. The nation got Independence in 1960 when its gross domestic product (GDP) was $4.20 billion and per capita income, $93.

The economy was largely undiversified at that time, with agriculture dominating. According to the Ominira Initiative, agriculture accounted for over 75 percent of foreign exchange (FX) earnings, 68 percent of GDP, and created employment opportunities for about 65 percent of the population.

By the late 1970s, the real job of diversification began. Oil sector contribution to the GDP moved from 3 percent to 30 percent of GDP, with oil exports accounting for 96 percent of total exports.

The nation’s entry into OPEC in 1971 marked the beginning of humongous transformation. In a World Bank report, Brian Pinto, an expert on economy, said the oil price shocks of 1973-74 and 1979 resulted in a large transfer of wealth to Nigeria, with public expenditure rising, as did the country’s access to international capital markets.

However, as oil revenues surged, agriculture declined.

‘Following the collapse of oil prices in 1982 and the rise in real interest rates, Nigeria experienced rising inflation, strict rationing of foreign exchange, and the possibility of debt rescheduling. This coincided with the rise of parallel markets, so that an illegal, floating-rate parallel market coexisted with an official, fixed-rate market,’ Pinto said.

Oil price collapse in the 1980s led to recession and debt crisis. The Ibrahim Babandia regime brought in the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). The programme, spearded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), was characterised by currency devaluation, trade liberalisation, privatisation of state-owned firms, and removal of subsidies.

Some policy watchers believe that the era brought about Nigeria’s economic collapse, with import-led policies resulting in factory shutdowns and job losses.

The return of democracy in 1999 brought in Olusegun Obasanjo, who achieved debt rescheduling and repayment. A total debt of $30 billion was forgiven by the Paris Club (2005-2006). Banking sector consolidation (2004) strengthened financial institutions, and reforms were visible in insurance and telecoms.

The GDP growth averaged 6 percent-7 percent during the 2000s, driven by oil, telecoms, and banking.

Oil remained over 90 percent of export earnings.

Between 2007 and 2014, non-oil sectors such as telecoms, entertainment (Nollywood, music), and services grew.

Agriculture rebounded but not enough to end food imports. The economy was also rebased to reflect changes in various sectors.

From 2014 to 2016, oil prices crashed, leading to recession in 2016. There were FX shortages, rising inflation, and unemployment.

The COVID-19 pandemic came in 2020 and led to recession. However, there was a cacophony of controversial policies, led by border closure, import restriction, command and control pronouncements as well as FX rationing.

But the current Bola Tinubu administration cane in 2023 and liberalised the FX market, removing petrol subsidies. However, this has led to naira depreciation by over 60 percent. The citizens are struggling to make ends meet due to skyrocketing prices. The start of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has slashed petrol imports and ended an era of scarcity. Naira is now stable, thanks to the central bank’s set of policies.

Tinubu says economy has turned the corner

In his Independence Day speech on Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu said the economy has turned the corner.

‘I am pleased to report that we have finally turned the corner. The worst is over, I say. Yesterday’s pains are giving way to relief. I salute your endurance, support, and understanding. I will continue to work for you and justify the confidence you reposed in me to steer the ship of our nation to a safe harbour.

‘Under our leadership, our economy is recovering fast, and the reforms we started over two years ago are delivering tangible results. The second quarter 2025 Gross Domestic Product grew by

4.23 percent-Nigeria’s fastest pace in four years-and outpaced the 3.4 per cent projected by the International Monetary Fund. Inflation declined to

20.12 percent in August 2025, the lowest level in three years. The administration is working diligently to boost agricultural production and ensure food security, reducing food costs.’

Tinubu said in the last two years of his administration, the government has achieved 12 remarkable economic milestones.

‘We have attained a record-breaking increase in non-oil revenue, achieving the 2025 target by August with over N20 trillion. In September 2025 alone, we raised N3.65 trillion, 411% higher than the amount raised in May 2023.

‘Our debt service-to-revenue ratio has been significantly reduced from 97 percent to below 50 percent. We have paid down the infamous Ways and Means advances that threatened our economic stability and triggered inflation. Following the removal of the corrupt petroleum subsidy, we have freed up trillions of Naira for targeted investment in the real economy and social programmes for the most vulnerable, as well as all tiers of government.’

He added, ‘We have a stronger foreign Reserve position than three years ago.Our external reserves increased to $42.03 billion this September-the highest since 2019.’

Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Tony Elumelu, has been honoured with the 2025 Appeal of Conscience Award by the Appeal of Conscience Foundation (ACF) in New York.

The award, founded by Rabbi Arthur Schneier, recognises leaders who promote peace, coexistence, and economic empowerment. Elumelu’s wife, Awele Elumelu, received the award on his behalf and delivered his acceptance remarks at the gala.

In his speech, Elumelu dedicated the award to colleagues recently lost in a tragic incident, and to young African entrepreneurs supported through his foundation. ‘Before all else, I wish to honour their memories with a moment of silence.’

Elumelu, founder of Heirs Holdings and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, emphasised his philosophy of Africapitalism, the belief that the private sector plays a critical role in driving inclusive growth.

He noted that his businesses employ more than 40,000 people globally, including through UBA, which operates in New York.

‘Through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, a personal commitment we made in 2010, we have identified, trained, mentored, and provided over USD100million in seed funding to over 24,000 young African entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries.’

‘By empowering a generation with economic opportunities and the means to shape their own destinies, we are combating the despair that fuels economic instability, migration, and insecurity,’ he said. Elumelu added that there’s more to be done. Thus, the Appeal of Conscience Foundation award not only strengthens my resolve to do more, to deepen our impact, but it is a call out for collaboration with those who share similar values.

The 2025 ceremony also honoured Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York.

Rabbi Schneier, founder of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, praised Elumelu as ‘a beacon of ethical entrepreneurship and visionary leadership.’

‘Business can be a powerful force for peace, stability, and human dignity. His commitment to uplifting others is a living example of conscience in action,’ he added.

Brian Moynihan, chair and CEO of Bank of America and Gala Chair, described the honourees as embodiments of moral leadership.

He said, ‘The Appeal of Conscience Foundation has chosen to honour Tony Elumelu and Cardinal Dolan because they personify the moral leadership and global responsibility that ACF stands for. Their works in faith, community, and economic empowerment remind us that progress and conscience go hand in hand.’

Sixty-five years after independence, Nigeria still wrestles with a fundamental question: what exactly is our national brand? At sixty, during the fever of ‘japa’ conversations, I found myself reflecting on this very issue-whether the Nigerian dream was better pursued abroad or rebuilt at home. Five years later, the pressure to leave has not waned. If anything, it has intensified. Millions still chase the few visas available, convinced that escape remains the only route to a dignified life.

Nigeria has become a country that exports its people instead of its products. We cling to the belief that the success of Nigerians abroad will somehow rub off on the motherland. Yet history has shown the opposite: while personal triumphs may briefly uplift our image, individual failures, from crime to scandal, stick faster and louder as Nigeria’s failures.

Sport illustrates this paradox most starkly. At the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, more athletes of Nigerian origin competed under foreign flags than for Nigeria itself. Once again, Nigeria is set to watch the FIFA World Cup from the sidelines, despite our vast reservoir of talent thriving in European leagues. Beyond sports, countless Nigerians making global strides in science, technology, and the arts are quickly claimed by their adopted nations before the world remembers their origins. Some even rush to distance themselves from the Nigerian identity altogether.

A country that exports people instead of products will always be at the mercy of the mental, psychological, geographical, and even political inconsistencies of individuals. That reality played out recently when Nigerians across the world voiced outrage at a certain British politician of Nigerian origin who seems to have made a career of mocking our nation with half-baked anecdotes and tired stereotypes. It is not just careless rhetoric – it is a reminder of how vulnerable we are when our image depends more on scattered voices abroad than on strong brands at home. And yes, it hurts that deeply.

To be clear, our greatest asset remains our people: resilient, brilliant, and resourceful. But no nation brands itself successfully on human capital alone. True branding comes from what we create – businesses, innovations, cultural exports, and products that embody our ingenuity and can compete on the global stage. Economically prosperous nations did not rely on diaspora glory. Germany is synonymous with automobile excellence through BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen. Switzerland, though not the birthplace of watchmaking, perfected the craft and turned it into a timeless global brand. The United States leveraged Hollywood. India elevated itself through Bollywood and, more recently, technology.

Developing marketing slogans or claiming every successful sportsman as ‘our son’ will not transform Nigeria’s image. What will be the creation and global distribution of enduring brands – in technology, food, agriculture, entertainment, and beyond? Nollywood and Afrobeats have already begun this work, on their own, placing Nigeria firmly on the cultural map. With the right policy and investment, our technology ecosystem and food industry could do the same for our economic identity.

At 65, Nigeria cannot afford to keep outsourcing its reputation to individuals scattered abroad. We must build the kind of brands that speak for us, even when we are not in the room. Only then will ‘the Nigerian brand’ mean more than struggle and survival, it will mean excellence, durability, and pride.

Happy 65th Independence Anniversary. May this milestone mark not just another year of endurance, but the beginning of true brand-building for Nigeria.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to establish an endowment fund for the creative sector following the completion of the National Theatre, now renamed the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts.

Speaking at the official reopening of the iconic facility in Lagos, the President said he would personally contribute to the proposed fund, which is aimed at supporting long-term growth and sustainability in Nigeria’s creative industry. Tinubu also urged citizens to shift their mindset, emphasising the importance of telling positive stories about Nigeria and fostering belief in the country’s potential.

CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, speaking at the event, revealed that the Bankers’ Committee invested N68 billion in the restoration and modernisation of the National Theatre complex.