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Fintech startup, Cardri, has launched its intra-Africa payment solution.

As intra-African trade suffers from delays, high fees, and complexity of navigating 42 currencies, Cardri’s platform promises a seamless solution – allowing users to fund their wallets in local currency (naira) and make instant cross-border payments to African countries.

Beyond Africa, the app supports global payouts to 92 countries, instant domicilliary funding and even Alipay and Chinese account funding – opening up frontiers for businesses and individuals seeking to operate internationally.

But the most revolutionary feature is Cardri’s AI-powered risk management tool to help users hedge against currency fluctuations, inflation shocks and others. While still in development, this tool is critical for small businesses and importers navigating unpredictable market conditions.

According to founders, the goal is to make Cardri Africa’s Financial Super App, combining payments, reach and smart risk management in a single ecosystem.

With African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) gaining momentum, this could bridge the financial divide holding back intra-African commerce to create a frictionless economy where money moves easily as ideas and businesses are able to protect themselves from market volatilities all from a single app for the first time

Academia Campus Journalists, Centre for Undergraduate Programmes (CUDEP) of the Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, an affiliate of University of Ibadan, has elected new executives for the 2024-2025 year.

The new executives, who took the mantle of upholding the standard the organisation has set since its inception, were sworn in by the outgoing Chief Journalist Adekunle Joel.

These executives elected from the highest to the lowest include, Chief Journalist, Modadeoluwa Tunde-Oso; Deputy Chief Journalist, Adeyinka Adetutu; Editor-in-Chief Isaac Joseph Inyang and General Secretary Oloyede Boluwatife. Others are the Treasurer Anyenkegbe Destiny Ebosereme; Public Relations Officer Popoola Ayooluwa; Journalist Marshal Anosiri Henry; Auditor Akah Miracle and the Assistant General Secretary Oke Prestige.

In his acceptance speech, Tunde-Oso said: ‘It was a moment of mixed feelings, I never expected it, but I guess members must have seen something in me that made them elect me, finding me worthy of this position.’

When asked about his programmes, he stated: ‘My goal is to keep the fire burning. The flame of the academia must not die.

‘This ‘Flame’ represents the standard of truth, excellence and creativity in reporting that my predecessors had set during their time. I also aim not only to engender continuity but also to bring innovation and improvement to the organisation.

‘We need cooperation among members and executives in order to make this administration better than the last.’

I have written many times deprecating the phenomenon of African heads of state or government rushing in and out of major metropolitan centres like London, Paris, Washington, Beijing, Tokyo and others to provide them comic relief and inviting African heads of government or state to come and make serious people laugh at their penury and global jamboree. It will soon be New Delhi, Lisbon, Madrid, Moscow and any global power that needs funny African rulers wearing what to them looks funny.

Recently 52 or so African heads of state and government assembled as they do annually in Beijing to meet With President Xi Jinping in a one-way dialogue in which the Chinese are presented with a list of requests on developmental projects spanning civil and military spheres of life. Most of the African countries are already indebted to China and they are not really in positions of serious binary negotiations. Sometimes, the African countries are just like Oliver Twist asking for more and more without understanding Chinese oriental mentality of asking for their last pint of blood from them and their children when their loans mature.

Orientals are generally not in the habit of forgiving creditors their debts. It is not just in their character and I am afraid that Africans will in future learn to their own detriment that the Chinese like other Orientals are incredible taskmasters not because they are wicked but because it is in their blood. There is no free lunch anywhere in the world! Whatever loans the Chinese are giving out now will be collected with interest in future or assets will be seized when the debtors are not able to pay. The experience of Sri Lanka which took generous Chinese loans for the development and modernisation of their ports and when they could not pay the Chinese simply seized the ports in lieu of the money owed.

I hope the African states will open their eyes when taking Chinese loans or any loans at all because they are not grants. Many of the projects the Chinese funded like the TANZAM railways running from Zambia to Tanzania built between 1970 and 1975 as the ‘UHURU RAILWAY’ is now not running and is virtually out of commission and has gone into a state of almost total disrepair and is being repaired with another loan of $1 billion provided by the Chinese. In our own case in Nigeria, the Kaduna- Abuja railway has been rendered hors de combat because of terrorists attack and bureaucratic thefts and it thus cannot pay its way. The Lagos-Ibadan railway is hardly a tale of success and the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport in Abuja runs fitfully and not always and only God knows the fate of the Kano-Katsina-Zinder railway all built with Chinese money. The intercity railway in Lagos stands as a case of success if the bureaucratic shenanigans and corruption are minimized.

The problem of these railways is that only sections are complete. For example the Lagos – Ibadan railway is the southern portion of the line going to Kano. Without its completion, it can hardly be expected to pay its way.

We also have the problem of Nigerians not willing to pay for infrastructural modernisation because they think government owes them a living! Toll roads and bridges are objects of protest and damage in Nigeria whereas in the civilised parts of the world, people are made to pay for new roads, railways and other means of modern transportation and communication. There is a need for civic education to inculcate into our people the primary responsibility of citizens to pay tax. Bill Gates on a recent visit to Nigeria pointed out that Nigerians do not pay taxes. Of course, it is generally known that only salary earners pay taxes while business people hardly pay taxes no matter how wealthy they are. They simply bribe their ways through. The complaint is that taxes are routinely stolen.

I am afraid we have come to a point in our country when we have to put our feet down and say no more stealing and police the state to prevent arrant looting after all, thieves are people not spirits. If we are serious we can do it. China that we run with begging hats and plates in hand to was one of the most corrupt societies in the world. China and India used to struggle with each other about which country was worse than the other until China of Mao Tsetung decided to deal brutally with any rogue pilfering from state coffers. Anyone pilfering was met by bullets. People sat up and this severe retribution continues till today.

Until we do this, corruption will continue until it destroys this country. The China we all run to borrow money was within my lifetime abjectly poor until the Chinese revolution in 1949. The country continued to engage in life and death struggle with poverty until Deng Xiaoping took power and ruled the country between 1978 and 1989 and completely transformed the country from being in the backwoods of development in the world into what it is today as the second most powerful country in the world, second to the United States and on the cusp of overtaking it in the next decade or two, all things being equal. The phenomenal development of China within a living memory should be what our people should try to emulate. Borrowing money and opening our markets to all kind of junks was not the Chinese way to development. The way the Chinese mobilised its huge population for development should be an example which a country like Nigeria should follow rather than importing all kinds of Chinese goods into our country.

Instead of wasting our time and the little money we have on constitutional debates and writing and rewriting our constitution, we should take our ploughs, hoes and cutlasses and go to farms with the aim of not only feeding ourselves but the rest of the world as Americans do.

I am opposed to all the presidents of Africa queuing up in foreign countries to beg for assistance when we are endowed with available land, sunshine, water, air, minerals underneath the earth and flowing water that can be harnessed for hydroelectricity. It is not just the humiliation in Beijing that I am opposed to; I am also opposed to all African presidents going to Paris as begging children every year for France – Africa powwow. The same goes for the similar phenomenon in London, Washington, Tokyo, in New Delhi, Berlin with Madrid and who knows when even puny Lisbon will follow.

These African rulers will fly in their executive jets costing millions of dollars to purchase, to beg for money which is sometimes not up to the cost of their planes. We are told that the Chinese is sharing $50 billion among the 52 African states assembled in Beijing. This means some of these presidents would go home with less than $1 billion when prorated. It just doesn’t make sense when the monarch of Britain, heads of state and government in Germany, France, Spain, and Italy rents planes from their national airlines when they want to fly and make an impression. No one can begrudge the United States, Russia and even France for using executive personalised aircraft’s for their trips abroad, after all, they make them and can afford them without borrowing or breaking the backs of their people to buy them

If there is need for all African countries to meet with these powerful countries for assistance, let the OAU decide that as from now onwards, African ambassadors would represent their countries in bilateral relations one on one and if they have to be met as a collective, there should be no problem and for the countries that have no ambassadors in these major capitals, they should be represented by neighbouring countries’ ambassadors or those of regional organisations like Economic Community of West Africa – ECOWAS or SADC or such regional bodies. This annual jamborees reminds me of what the late President George Walker Bush said about such International jamborees. He said the smaller countries speak longer than the bigger and more important participants representing important countries and that their long speeches are simply ignored. I hope this is not the case with these African jamborees simply providing comic relief for the government leaders of busy and serious countries!

Nigeria has reiterated commitment to creating a transparent, stable and investor-friendly petroleum sector.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, delivered a keynote address on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Africa Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Minister declared that Nigeria is ‘open for business’ and actively pursuing policies that prioritize investment, efficiency, and long-term growth in the oil sector.

‘This gathering is more than a conference, it is a call to action,’ he said, stressing that Nigeria is ready not just to participate in the global energy market, but to lead reform and growth on the African continent.

Lokpobiri, in a statement by Nneamaka Okafor Special Adviser on Media and Communication, outlined the bold policy measures implemented under President Tinubu’s administration, particularly the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which provides a clear and predictable fiscal and regulatory environment for investors.

The PIA has laid the foundation for licensing transparency, host community engagement, strengthened regulatory oversight, and a fair contractual framework.

‘What makes Nigeria now different is the legal, regulatory, financial, and structural transformation we are delivering,’ the Minister said.

Nigeria’s upstream sector is showing signs of strong recovery. The ‘Project One Million Barrels’ initiative, launched in October 2024, has raised daily crude oil production to between 1.7 and 1.83 million barrels per day, with a notable increase of 300,000 barrels per day in July 2025 alone.

Additionally, the number of active drilling rigs has grown from 31 in January to 50 by July 2025, a clear signal that reforms are unlocking value across the sector.

Of particular note were the recent asset divestments by International Oil Companies (IOCs), which the Minister said have unlocked over $5.5 billion in Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) within months.

‘These are not just transfers of assets, they are transfers of confidence, capability, and ownership,’ he stated. The divestments have already added approximately 200,000 barrels per day to national production.

On the broader African context, Lokpobiri urged the continent to retain more value from its hydrocarbon resources by focusing on infrastructure, industrial development, and localized value chains. He noted that Africa spends over $120 billion annually on hydrocarbons, largely through imports, calling it a missed opportunity for economic transformation.

He advocated for stronger intra-African collaboration and financing, emphasizing that Africa holds nearly $4 trillion in domestic capital, including pension and insurance funds. ‘The question is no longer about the availability of funds, but how we can channel them into productive investments on our continent,’ he said.

Addressing the topic of the global energy conversation, the Minister called for balance and equity.

He insisted that the narrative must shift toward a diverse energy mix, not abandonment of any resource.

‘The focus should be on availability, accessibility, and affordability of all forms of energy,’ he stressed. He made it clear that Nigeria, like other nations, will continue to utilize its oil resources responsibly while building a diversified and sustainable energy base.

Lokpobiri reaffirmed Nigeria’s role as a leading energy player in Africa. ‘We are offering opportunities at scale, reform with consistency, incentives with clarity, local participation with respect, and a vision that modernizes with purpose,’ he declared.

To global investors, he extended a direct invitation: ‘Come to Nigeria. Be part of the energy revolution.’ With strong reforms, ambitious targets, and an open-door policy, Nigeria is charting a bold path forward in Africa’s energy future.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said more governors from the opposition parties were putting finishing touches to join President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the ruling party.

He said Nigerians were already seeing many achievements of the Tinubu administration across all sectors.

Akpabio stated this in his goodwill message at the launch of a book, titled: Ten Years of Impactful Leadership of The APC Administration In Nigeria, written by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and the inauguration of projects by President Tinubu in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, Senator Akpabio said: ‘Mr. President, with what you have done in the last two years, get ready to receive more governors from the opposition parties. As I speak, there are several governors in Nigeria today who are ready to be received by you.’

The Senate President noted that Nigerians were beginning to see the positive outcomes of President Tinubu’s reforms and were acknowledging them.

He added: ‘The students, farmers, and businessmen are all speaking on the various reforms you have brought into governance, which are now yielding results in the overall interest and benefit of the people.

‘If we say it, they will accuse us of rubber-stamping your achievements, but the beneficiaries are the ones talking about what you have done.

‘I believe strongly in development and progress. I thank Governor Uzodimma for deciding to put history in writing, in his 10 years of impactful leadership of the APC administration in Nigeria.

‘If you don’t tell your story, others will tell it for you. Progressiveness is not in words; it is in action. The quality of works done by the governor is of high quality and the people of Imo State must be very, very excited.’

Akpabio recalled that when he was the governor of Akwa Ibom State 18 years ago, he was already a progressive, based on the projects he executed.

The Senate President congratulated his host and the national leadership of the party for achievements of the party in the last 10 years.

Satellite operators are asking the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to help maintain lines of communication among them to deal with potential conjunctions and other space safety issues.

During a panel at the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, Australia Sept. 30, representatives from constellation operators in the United States (US) and China emphasized the need to better coordinate when their satellites make close approaches to one another.

According to Space News report, Vice President of satellite policy at SpaceX, David Goldmanm said: ‘We see satellites getting launched into operational orbits of other systems without talking to each other, without sharing data.’

He stressed the need to share orbital ephemerides. ‘That is the single most important thing you can do to help decrease risk in space.’

The issues, he said, are largely not with other operators of large constellations. ‘SpaceX and Amazon work really closely on making sure that our satellites are working well together,’ he said. That includes coordination each time Amazon launches a set of Project Kuiper satellites, which must pass through shells of Starlink satellites to reach higher operational orbits.

‘We really have not had issues because we’re talking to each other closely. You can have a lot of satellites operating if you’re communicating well and working together well,’ he concluded.

An Amazon official on the panel agreed. ‘We work very closely together on space safety. We share our ephemeris, our maneuver plans and, at the technical level, we’re screening our orbits,’ Head of Space Safety and Sustainability for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, Josef Koller, said.

His concern was with satellite operators Amazon does not, and cannot, communicate with. He estimated about 1,500 operational payloads pass through Kuiper orbits, only half of which Amazon has contact information for.

‘That’s really not a very safe environment. It seems like such a simple thing to do to share your contact information or your email address so we can reach out to you about who is going to maneuver or not, but that is the most critical item today that I see that we have not accomplished yet,’ he said.

A Chinese satellite operator on the panel said they face similar problems. ‘We always know who to contact for frequency coordination, but we don’t know who to talk to about satellite operations,’ General Manager of the Solutions Department at GalaxySpace, Peng Zhang, said.

Industry officials suggested one mechanism for sharing that information could be through the International Telecommunication Union, or ITU. ‘Around the world, there’s trust issues between operators, between countries. I think the ITU can play a pivotal role in trying to bring people together and share information in a trusted place,’ Goldman said.

The ITU is hosting its second Space Sustainability Forum next week in Geneva, where improving communications among operators will be a topic, said Jorge Ciccorossi, head of the Space Strategy and Sustainability Division of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau.

‘One of the things we’re going to coordinate among the key LEO operators is trying to exchange direct points of contact,’ he said. That will include asking member states and satellite operators to provide information that the ITU can post online. ‘It’s really important to have quick access to this,’ he said, noting it could also help address radio-frequency interference issues among operators.

‘It’s very important to have certainty and transparency, because these are the two pillars if you want to have sustainability,’ he said.

While operators agreed that sharing contact information, through the ITU or other means, was important, there was less consensus on what else the organization should do to promote space safety. Peng suggested developing a ‘code of conduct’ for satellite operators but did not elaborate.

Goldman cautioned against rushing into regulations. ‘Sometimes, when there is an effort to rush to regulation before people really understand the issue, you can have counterproductive rules,’ he warned.

He suggested the ITU focus on improving communications among operators, noting the slow pace of developing regulations at World Radiocommunication Conferences, held every four years. ‘That is a very slow cycle compared to what is happening in space right now,’ he said. ‘If you try to get regulations on this, you’re going to miss the issues by the time you get there.’

Having the ITU serve as a facilitator of communications, he concluded, ‘is the single best thing that we can do to lower the risk.’

Pharmacists across Nigeria must urgently embrace technology to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, Pharm. John Omale has said.

Speaking at the opening of the 3-day Business Summit 3.0 organized by the Abuja chapter of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Omale stressed that outdated practices can no longer address today’s challenges.

‘Our practices as professionals must evolve to remain meaningful and effective. We cannot continue doing things the same way and expect different results.’

Technology must be at the heart of that transformation’ he said.

Delivering the keynote on the theme: ‘Technology Infusion in Healthcare Practices: The Panacea for the Future of Community Pharmacy’, Omale argued that digital tools are no longer optional, stressing, ‘Technology enables us to solve problems, improve efficiency, and achieve sustainable growth.

‘However, we must also recognize that the market, regulations, and mainstream practices are shifting. To survive and thrive, we must adapt, innovate, and adopt standards that ensure quality and profitability without compromising ethical values.’

He linked sustainability in pharmacy to innovation and problem-solving, not inefficiency, ‘Money flows to solutions. When we solve problems effectively, opportunities and resources naturally follow

‘Stronger reliance on data-driven decision-making, collaboration, and innovation is the only way to go,’ Omale said.

Omale highlighted the growing complexity of modern healthcare, stressing the need for patient-specific care and safety in drug use.

‘Technology can help us manage these complexities, improve patient safety, and deliver higher-quality services,’ he noted.

He warned that the benefits of technology would not materialize without investment in people, emphasizing, ‘We must also prioritize training and continuous learning.

‘The world of healthcare is dynamic, and professionals must stay ahead of developments in science, technology, and regulation. Only then can we build a system where every patient receives appropriate, safe, and effective treatment’.

On the challenges facing the profession, Omale identified outdated practices, resistance to change, inadequate standardization, limited access to digital tools, and gaps in regulatory compliance and ethical delivery.

‘Our collective goal should be to modernize our systems, standardize practices, and ensure ethical service delivery. By embracing change and adopting new tools, we can transform healthcare into a system that is patient-centred and sustainable for the future,’ he noted.

The Chairman of ACPN, FCT chapter, Aloba Olatunji, described the summit as a platform to empower members and sustain continuous professional learning.

‘As professionals, we don’t stop learning. This summit is designed to put knowledge back into our members, helping us adapt to what is trending in society. The theme for this year is ‘Technological Infusion into Healthcare Practice,” he said.

He noted that while artificial intelligence is being projected as a disruptor, Africa’s peculiar health realities mean pharmacists remain indispensable.

‘Pharmacists in Africa deal with tropical medicine, which technology cannot fully replace. Our members need to be empowered to integrate technology into their practice,’ he explained.

He said an incentive initiative put in place during the summit was necessary to support members facing difficult business environments.

‘Some of our members are doing well, while others are not. Collectively, many are struggling. Information is power, so we need to constantly pass it across so they can blend with what is happening in society,’ he said.

Olatunji also appealed to Nigerians to be patient with government reforms and always seek professional guidance in drug use. ‘A beautiful diagnosis without the right drug, dose, and duration will not give you a beautiful result,’ he cautioned.

On drug regulation, he assured: ‘No pharmacy manned by a licensed pharmacist will dispense prescription drugs irrationally. Your license is at stake. On fake and substandard drugs, ACPN is working with NAFDAC and NDLEA to ensure they are flushed out of society.’

In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Board of Pharmacist Fellows for Abuja and Nasarawa commended ACPN for hosting the summit, describing it as ‘a valuable platform to advance pharmacy practice.’

He urged members to ‘remain focused on professional goals despite distractions’ and stressed the importance of unity in pursuing common objectives.

Also delivering goodwill on behalf of the NDLEA FCT Commandant, a representative reaffirmed the agency’s close partnership with pharmacists, calling them the ‘frontline interface with the people.’

He warned of the rising tide of substance abuse and stressed that pharmacists must play an ethical role in preventing misuse.

He commended ACPN for creating a platform to strengthen collaboration, saying the summit was vital in ‘tackling substance abuse and promoting responsible healthcare delivery.’

The empowerment incentives, sponsored by one of the stakeholders include cars, televisions, refrigerators, and other consolation prizes, while the FCT chapter also packaged inverters for members to power their premises in case of outages.

From The Arewa Think Tank (ATT ) came yesterday praises for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Independence day speech.

It described the address as inspiring and thought-provoking.

In a statement by ATT Convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, the group praised the President’s call to action for Nigerians to work together towards a brighter future.

According to Yakubu, President Tinubu’s speech was a clarion call to Nigerians to believe in the boundless potential of our great nation.’

The group believes that the President’s message of hope and unity is what Nigeria needs to develop the country at the moment.

The ATT noted that President Tinubu’s emphasis on national unity and the need for Nigerians to work together towards a common goal is a step in the right direction.

The group believes that unity is key to Nigeria’s progress and development.

The President’s speech highlighted the country’s economic progress, including the growth of the economy, increased foreign reserves, and improved infrastructure.

The ATT believes that these achievements are a testament to the President’s leadership and vision for Nigeria.

The ATT called on Nigerians to heed the President’s call to action and work towards building a better future for themselves and future generations.

The group believes that with collective effort and determination, Nigeria can achieve great things.

In his speech, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of national unity, economic development, and collective effort.

He called on Nigerians to believe in the potential of their great nation and work towards a brighter future.

The President highlighted the country’s progress in various sectors, including the economy, infrastructure, and security.

On October 1, 1960, the Union Jack was lowered and the green-white-green rose for the first time at Tafawa Balewa Square. That moment marked Nigeria’s entry into self-rule. Sixty-five years later, the flag still waves, but the meaning of independence continues to evolve. The challenge before us is not whether Nigeria is free, but whether that freedom is being translated into prosperity, stability, and global influence. Independence at 65 calls for converting resilience into leadership and collective ambition into measurable progress.

Nigeria has grown into Africa’s most populous country, with more than 220 million citizens, projected to exceed 400 million by 2050. One in every 20 people on earth will soon be Nigerian. This scale already carries global weight. Nollywood and Afrobeats dominate global culture, while the diaspora sent home more than $20.93 billion in 2024, boosting foreign reserves to $40.19 billion and producing a balance of payments surplus of $6.83 billion. In some years, remittances have outpaced foreign direct investment. These flows of talent, capital, and creativity reflect a nation with deep reserves of possibility.

The world Nigeria faces today is not the world of 1960. Independence once meant reclaiming political control. In 2025, it requires the ability to compete and negotiate in a global order shaped by shifting power blocs, climate pressures, and technological disruption. The task is to convert size into strategy, proximity into power, and diaspora into deal-flow. Nigeria must use its scale to set agendas in ECOWAS and the African Union, while engaging as an equal with partners across the Atlantic, Europe, Asia, and the Gulf.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has already moved in this direction. His leadership at the ECOWAS Summit and his presence at platforms such as the G20 and BRICS reflect a commitment to positioning Nigeria as both a regional anchor and a global player. Independence today requires the confidence to diversify financing, build resilient supply chains, and capture greater value from trade, energy, and technology. That calls for patient capital, functioning markets, and disciplined execution.

Reforms already underway lay the groundwork. The removal of the petrol subsidy in 2023 corrected a distortion that consumed close to two percent of GDP annually. According to the World Bank, that percentage was larger than the country’s combined spending on health and education. Redirecting those resources allows investment in infrastructure, social protection, and fiscal stability. Exchange rate unification and reforms in the foreign exchange market have restored transparency, while monetary tightening through 2024 slowed inflation. The September rate cut, the first in five years, reflected renewed confidence in price stability and created certainty for investors.

Energy, infrastructure, and trade form the backbone of renewal. Nigeria’s over 200 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves can power industries and households while advancing Africa’s energy transition. The Electricity Act empowers states and private investors to drive competition in power generation and distribution. Infrastructure upgrades are reducing costs, opening markets, and linking communities, while public-private partnerships are delivering modern roads, rail lines, and airports.

Trade integration holds even greater promise. The African Continental Free Trade Area could lift 30 million Africans out of poverty by 2035, according to the World Bank. Nigeria’s path lies in efficient ports, modernised customs, and functional transport networks that make Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt continental trade hubs.

Security remains the foundation of all progress. Safe highways and secure communities attract investment and restore confidence. Nigeria’s security strategy must strengthen local intelligence, mobility, and accountability, while using technology to anticipate threats. Stability creates the breathing space for reforms to take root, while jobs and enterprise address the long-term causes of insecurity.

Nigeria’s greatest strength remains its people. The median age of 18 signals a youthful population capable of transforming the economy if given the right tools. The administration has prioritised job creation through MSME support, digital innovation, and vocational training. The Nigeria Start-up Act and targeted youth programmes are helping to channel creativity into enterprise. Over 90 percent of Nigerians work in the informal sector. Expanding access to finance, encouraging formalisation, and integrating small enterprises into value chains can turn daily hustle into sustainable business.

The diaspora multiplies Nigeria’s influence. Beyond remittances, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, and artists project Nigerian excellence globally. The proposed $10 billion Diaspora Fund aims to channel these inflows into infrastructure, healthcare, education, and SMEs, turning remittances into engines of national transformation.

Independence today must also be understood in terms of interdependence. Sovereignty is no longer measured by isolation but by how effectively a nation translates domestic strength into diplomatic capital. Nigeria has taken up this role. At BRICS, it voiced Africa’s demand for fairer terms in global trade and finance. In ECOWAS, it continues to argue for regional unity as the strongest defence against coups and authoritarian backsliding. At the United Nations, it has pressed for Africa’s right to permanent representation on the Security Council. These engagements demonstrate that Nigeria’s independence is sustained through active global participation.

At 65, Nigeria stands at a turning point. The promise of independence was always to build a strong, democratic, and inclusive nation. That promise remains alive. Nigeria’s democracy, despite its imperfections, endures as a regional anchor in West Africa, where military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have unsettled stability. A democratic Nigeria signals that popular legitimacy, not force of arms, is the path to stability in Africa.

Independence Day is a reminder of what was won in 1960 and what must be achieved in the decades ahead. The future requires a Nigeria that powers its industries, creates opportunities for its youth, and projects leadership across Africa and the world. Reforms at home, energy for growth, trade networks that connect to markets and diplomacy that commands respect are the tools for achieving this future.

Nigeria at 65 carries the responsibility of turning sovereignty into prosperity and interdependence into influence. The flag that rose at Tafawa Balewa Square remains a symbol of freedom. The challenge now is to ensure that freedom produces a nation that is secure, prosperous, and globally respected.

Lagos Pacific Lions Club in District 404B2 has distributed school bags and other leaning materials to pupils in public primary schools in Lagos State.

President, Nasir Lateefat, noted that the initiative was to put smiles on pupils and provide them with drive and confidence to learn and progress. She stressed importance of education, urging the pupils to be committed to their studies, and listen to their teachers’ counsel.

Speaking to journalists, Lateefat said: ‘We are to celebrating Literacy Day, and also hold literacy talk with pupils of Ikeja Central School and Ikeja Primary School, motivating and let them know the worth of education. This is one of the core areas in which our club prioritises.

‘We are distributing school bags and water bottles. We distributed over 80 bags and 80 water bottles to pupils, especially those less-privileged. Primary 1-3 pupils were given water bottles, while Primary 4-6 pupils got bags.

‘We will come back to the school for another project. Our next project is to visit the children cancer section at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, the paediatric section.’

Advising the pupils, Lateefat encouraged pupils to take their education seriously to achieve greatness in life.

She said: ‘Please, concentrate and face your studies so you can have good grades, come out in flying colours and have a bright future. Make your parents proud. God will guide you to come out in flying colours.’

Lateefat further implored parents to make educational development of their children a priority, while preparing them for a greater future.

The children appreciated the gesture and expressed lauded the Pacific Lions Club.

Their teachers hailed the club, saying the gesture would ease burden of parents and motivate pupils to perform well in their academics.