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Leatherback, a leading cross-border business banking and financial technology company, has been named ‘Banking-as-a-Service Innovator of the Year 2025’ at the prestigious Brit Fintech Awards held in London.

The award recognises Leatherback’s immense work in building a unified financial infrastructure that empowers businesses and individuals to send, receive, and manage money seamlessly across borders.

‘This recognition is a testament to the work our team puts in every day to make global payments simple, accessible, and borderless,’ said Ochebhoya Ekpete, CEO of Leatherback. ‘Innovation has always been at the heart of what we do, and this award fuels our mission to continue redefining what business banking can look like in emerging and developed markets alike.’

Leatherback’s Banking-as-a-Service model enables businesses, platforms, and institutions to integrate financial capabilities directly into their products – creating faster, more affordable, and compliant global financial solutions. The company’s infrastructure powers cross-border payments and business banking services across multiple markets and currencies, including NGN, GBP, USD and CAD.

As the fintech landscape continues to evolve, Leatherback remains committed to enabling global financial participation through technology, partnerships, and an inclusive approach to digital banking.

About Leatherback

Leatherback is a global fintech platform that simplifies cross-border payments and business banking. Through its innovative payment infrastructure, Leatherback connects people and businesses to borderless financial opportunities in over 20 currencies.

Andry Rajoelina, Madagascar’s president, has asked citizens to give him one year to fix the country’s worsening crises, promising to resign if he fails.

Rajoelina made the pledge during a town-hall-style meeting at his presidential palace in Antananarivo, where he met with groups of supporters and members of the public. The event, broadcast live on national television, was part of his recent effort to ‘listen more’ to the people amid mounting protests and discontent.

‘I don’t want flattery. I want to hear the truth,’ he told the audience. ‘It’s the people who kept telling me that everything was fine who are responsible for our current situation.’

The president’s comments come at a tense time for the Indian Ocean island nation, which has been rocked by protests since September 25. The demonstrations began over chronic power and water shortages but have grown into wider anger over corruption, unemployment, and the rising cost of living.

The main group behind the demonstrations – a movement known as Gen Z Mada – has dismissed the president’s call for dialogue, saying it refuses to engage with a government that, in its view, ‘represses, assaults, and humiliates’ young people demanding their rights.

‘We refuse the president’s invitation to talks,’ the group wrote on its Facebook page. ‘We will not engage in dialogue with a regime that represses, assaults, and humiliates its youth in the streets.’

Gen Z Mada has called for new protests on Thursday, maintaining pressure on Rajoelina’s administration despite a recent decline in turnout on the streets.

In his address, Rajoelina focused heavily on Madagascar’s chronic electricity shortages, a major trigger of public anger. He said ongoing energy projects would soon add 265 megawatts to the national grid – a move he claims will end the blackouts that plague the capital.

‘I swear that if power cuts persist in the capital within a year, I will resign,’ he declared.

The president’s remarks appear aimed at rebuilding public trust after weeks of political unrest and deadly clashes. According to the United Nations, at least 22 people have been killed and dozens injured during confrontations between protesters and security forces, figures the authorities dispute.

In a surprise move last week, Rajoelina dismissed his entire cabinet, replacing the prime minister with an army general. The decision, intended to signal a fresh start, has instead deepened scepticism among his critics, who view it as an attempt to tighten military control.

Despite the turmoil, life in most parts of Antananarivo remains largely normal, though some neighbourhoods continue to see a heavy police presence and roadblocks.

Rajoelina, who first came to power in 2009 after leading protests that ousted then-president Marc Ravalomanana, faces a familiar challenge: managing a restless population demanding change, transparency, and relief from hardship.

For now, he has given himself a clear deadline, one year to deliver results or leave office. Whether the people will grant him that time remains uncertain.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for August 2025 global passenger demand showing African airlines saw a 7.1 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 5.3 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 79.7 percent (+1.3 ppt compared to August 2024).

Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 4.6 percent compared to August 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 4.5 percent year-on-year. The August load factor was 86.0 percent (+0.1 ppt compared to August 2024), a record high for the month.

International demand rose 6.6 percent compared to August 2024. Capacity was up 6.5 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.8 percent (+0.1 ppt compared to August 2024).

Domestic demand increased 1.5 percent compared to August 2024. Capacity was up 1.3 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 86.3 percent (+0.1 ppt compared to August 2024).

‘August year-on-year demand growth of 4.6 percent confirms that the 2025 peak northern summer travel season reached a new record high. Moreover, planes were operating with more seats filled than ever with a record load factor of 86 percent. Despite economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, the global growth trend shows no signs of abating, as October schedules are showing airlines planning 3.4 percent more capacity. Airlines are doing their best to meet travel demand by maximizing efficiency, making it even more critical for the aerospace manufacturing sector to sort out its supply chain challenges,’ said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

International RPK growth reached 6.6 percent in August year-on-year, and load factor reached a historic high. International traffic was by far the dominant driver of growth, accounting for 87 percent of the net increase in global RPK in August.

Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 9.8 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 9.5 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.1 percent (+0.2 ppt compared to August 2024). Growth was driven by strong demand from China and Japan (+11.8 percent and +12 percent respectively).

European carriers had a 5.3 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 5.3 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was flat (0.0 ppt compared to August 2024).

North American carriers saw a 1.8 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 2.6 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 87.5 percent (-0.6 ppt compared to August 2024). This was the fourth consecutive month of YoY declines in international PLF for North America.

Middle Eastern carriers saw an 8.2 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity rose by 6.9 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.9 percent (+1.0 ppt compared to August 2024).

Latin American airlines saw a 9.0 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 9.3 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 84.7 percent (-0.2 ppt compared to August 2024).

Nigeria’s U20 side, the Flying Eagles, have been eliminated from the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile after suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat to Argentina in the Round of 16 on Wednesday night.

Argentina made a blistering start, taking the lead in just the second minute through Alejo Sarco, before Maher Carrizo doubled the advantage in the 23rd minute with a superb free-kick after Nasiru Salihu was penalised for a foul at the edge of the box.

The Flying Eagles had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down after a clumsy challenge by Ramirez on Salihu in the area. Oseer Achihi was a constant threat down the left flank, delivering dangerous crosses that forced the Argentines into desperate defending, conceding several throw-ins and corners.

Daniel Daga came close to pulling one back for Nigeria in first-half stoppage time, but his close-range effort was saved by goalkeeper Santino Barbi, keeping Argentina two goals up at the break.

The South Americans resumed the second half with renewed energy, and Carrizo struck again in the 53rd minute to make it 3-0. Substitute Matheus Silvetti then completed the rout in the 66th minute, beating the offside trap before bending his effort past Ebenezer Harcourt into the bottom corner.

The defeat ends Nigeria’s campaign at the 2025 U20 World Cup, with the two-time silver medallists bowing out at the Round of 16 stage.

The Presidency on Thursday, dismissed claims that Nigeria poverty level has increased to 139 million, adding 10 million people to the number of poor people.

Sunday Dare, special adviser to the President on media and publicity while reacting to the claim on his X handle on Thursday, noted that while Nigeria values its long-standing partnership with the World Bank and the institution’s contributions to policy analysis, the figure quoted must be properly contextualised.

Presidency also called for caution against interpreting the World Bank’s number as a literal, real-time headcount.

According to the Presidency, ‘the estimate is derived from the global poverty line of $2.15 per person per day-a benchmark set in 2017 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms.

‘If converted nominally, that figure equals about $64.5 per month, or nearly ?100,000 at today’s exchange rate-well above Nigeria’s new minimum wage of ?70,000. Clearly, the measure is an analytical construct, not a direct reflection of local income realities.’

It noted that poverty assessment under PPP methodology uses historical consumption data (Nigeria’s last major survey was in 2018/19) and often overlooks the informal and subsistence economies that sustain millions of households.

The government therefore, said it ‘regards the figure as a modelled global estimate, not an empirical representation of conditions in 2025. What truly matters is the trajectory-and Nigeria’s is now one of recovery and inclusive reform.’

Writing on concrete measures to cushion economic hardship, Dare said President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains firmly focused on improving household welfare through targeted.

He listed the Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT), which is expanded to reach up to 15 million households nationwide, with verified digital enrolment through the National Social Register. Over ?297 billion has been disbursed since 2023 to poor and vulnerable families.

Others include the renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RH-WDEP): A major new initiative targeting all 8,809 electoral wards, delivering micro-infrastructure, livelihoods, and social services directly at community level, as well as the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs).

‘The government has also strengthened other components such as N-Power, GEEP micro-loans (TraderMoni, MarketMoni, FarmerMoni), and Home-Grown School Feeding to protect jobs, encourage small enterprise, and keep children in school.

It also listed the distribution of subsidised grains and fertilisers, mechanisation partnerships, and the revival of strategic food reserves to curb inflationary pressure on staples.

Under the renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund (RHIF), the federal government is also fnancing critical energy, road, and housing projects to lower living costs and stimulate local employment.

Other measures listed by the federal government include the national Credit Guarantee Company (NCGC), under which it is expanding affordable credit to small businesses, women, and youth entrepreneurs through risk-sharing mechanisms with commercial banks.

On contextualizing the poverty challenge, Dare said the ‘World Bank’s assessment must understand the long-standing structural distortions that this administration is actively correcting – including overdependence on imports, productivity constraints, and regional inequality.

‘Reforms such as fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, and fiscal redirection toward productive sectors are difficult but necessary choices to tackle the root causes of poverty rather than its symptoms. Even the World Bank itself has acknowledged that these reforms are already restoring macroeconomic stability and renewed growth momentum.’

According to him, ‘Economic recovery alone is not enough; it must be inclusive. The government’s medium-term focus is on ensuring that macroeconomic stability results in tangible gains for citizens-through affordable food, quality jobs, and reliable infrastructure.

He stated that investments are being ramped up in agriculture, MSMEs, and power reliability.

In the area of aagricultural value chain expansion programme, new gas-to-power initiatives, and skills development hubs are designed to create jobs and reduce living costs.

He stated that, ‘Nigerians should begin to feel more visible improvements in food prices, income, and purchasing power as these programmes mature.’

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is set to prosecute one Alkazim Kabir, also known as Abbati Kabiru Abuwa, a self-acclaimed journalist based in Kano, over alleged involvement in a series of fraudulent activities valued at about ?14 million.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, by Demola Bakare, the Commission’s spokesperson, the anti-corruption agency disclosed that the decision to prosecute Kabir followed several petitions from members of the public who accused him of fraud, false representation, and impersonation of top government officials.

According to ICPC investigations, Kabir allegedly posed as various public figures, including aides to the President and Vice President, as well as members of the National Assembly to deceive unsuspecting victims and obtain money and valuables under false pretences.

The statement revealed that in one instance, the suspect obtained $3,300 and 1,620 Saudi Riyals from two victims after claiming to be a Presidential and Vice-Presidential aide.

Further investigations also linked him to multiple cases of fraud connected to international religious travels.

During a trip to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, he allegedly borrowed 11,000 Saudi Riyals from a fellow pilgrim but later sent a forged bank receipt as proof of repayment.

Similarly, Kabir was accused of issuing a fake transfer receipt of ?3.2 million to a travel agent who had helped him secure flight, hotel, and train bookings for the trip.

ICPC confirmed that charges have been filed against the suspect, and he will be arraigned before a competent court of law once the case is assigned.

It also reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to pursuing cases of impersonation and financial fraud, warning the public to remain vigilant and verify the identities of individuals claiming to act on behalf of government officials.

‘The ICPC remains steadfast in ensuring that those who exploit the names and offices of public officials for fraudulent purposes face the full weight of the law,’ the statement added.

The University of Ibadan, the University of Lagos and Bayero University led the list of Nigeria’s best universities according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026.

The University of Ibadan, is ranked Nigeria’s best university in the recent Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, published on THE’s website on Thursday.

THE rankings placed the University of Ibadan between 801 and 1,000 globally and ahead of other leading Nigerian universities, a spot it last held in 2023.

The UK-based organization surveyed 2,191 institutions from 115 countries and assessed them based on 18 performance indicators across five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.

The Ibadan-based Nigerian premier university, which was ranked Nigeria’s fourth best university in 2025, was ddeclared as the country’s best in the 2026 ranking.

The University of Ibadan dethroned Covenant University, which was the best university in 2024 and 2025.

Following UI are the University of Lagos, Bayero University, and CU, ranked second, third, and fourth in Nigeria, respectively.

The 2026 list reflected a shift in the global higher education landscape, with more than 174.9 million citations from 18.7 million research publications analysed and survey responses from over 108,000 scholars collected globally.

THE rankings also show the strength of individual institutions. UNILAG is ranked highest in quality research, scoring 66.7.

BUK is ranked as the best Nigerian university in terms of international outlook, while Covenant has the highest industry score, indicating its top connection to industries.

Only UI and UNILAG fall between 801-1000; BUK, CU, and Landmark University fall between 1001-1200; while Ahmadu Bello University, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Ilorin, University of Jos, University of Nigeria-stand globally between 1201-1500.

Here are the list of Nigerian universities and their rankings

University of Ibadan (801-1000); University of Lagos (801-1000); Bayero University (1001-1200); Covenant University (1001-1200);

Landmark University (1001-1200); Ahmadu Bello University (1201-1500).

Federal University of Technology, Minna (1201-1500); University of Ilorin (1201-1500); University of Jos (1201-1500); University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1201-1500); Babcock University (1501+); Delta State University, Abraka (1501+); Ekiti State University (1501+); Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (1501+).

Federal University of Technology, Akure (1501+); Federal University of Technology, Owerri (1501+); Federal University Oye-Ekiti (1501+); Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (1501+).

Others are Lagos State University (1501+); Nnamdi Azikiwe University (1501+); Obafemi Awolowo University (1501+); University of Benin (1501+); University of Calabar (1501+); University of Port Harcourt (1501+).

Hybrid Group (Hybrid HSE), Nigeria’s leading provider of health and safety training and consulting services, is participating in the Lagos State Occupational Safety and Health (LASOSH) 2025 Conference and Exhibition, hosted by the Lagos State Safety Commission at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island.

The conference, themed ‘Occupational Safety and Health as a Catalyst for Nation Building,’ brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and safety professionals to discuss strategies for creating safer and more sustainable workplaces across Nigeria.

At its exhibition booth, Hybrid Group is showcasing a range of internationally recognised training programmes, including NEBOSH and IOSH certifications, alongside tailored safety solutions for industries such as oil and gas, construction, and manufacturing.

One of the firm’s key highlights at LASOSH 2025 is the growing impact of the NEBOSH certification on career progression in Nigeria. Data from Hybrid Group shows that NEBOSH-certified safety officers earn between ?950,000 and ?2,375,000 monthly, about 20-50% higher than non-certified peers, particularly in the oil and gas sector.

‘We’ve witnessed a transformation in how Nigerian companies value safety expertise,’ said Dapo Omolade, Lead Consultant and CEO of Hybrid Group. ‘With NEBOSH and other internationally recognised certifications, safety professionals are no longer seen as compliance officers but as strategic leaders who protect both lives and business performance.’

Hybrid Group has trained more than 100,000 professionals since its inception, helping many transition into leadership roles. ‘We consistently see our graduates move from entry-level positions to senior safety management roles within two to three years,’ said Gbenga Ajayi, Lead Training Manager at Hybrid Group. ‘Companies actively headhunt NEBOSH-certified professionals because of the rigorous training and global recognition behind the qualification.’

For many alumni, the certification has been transformative. Olayinka Babajide, NEBOSH and IOSH certified professional and lead brand consultant at Argillic Brands, noted, ‘NEBOSH has elevated the profession from compliance-focused roles to strategic leadership positions. Companies increasingly view safety professionals as essential partners who protect both people and profits.’

Hybrid Group’s 2025 training calendar includes NEBOSH, IOSH, ISO, and other professional programmes aimed at strengthening workplace safety standards. By combining global best practices with local expertise, the firm continues to support organisations in embedding safety within their operations and culture.

With the retirement on Tuesday of Yakubu Mahmood as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the stage is set for the appointment of his successor. Will political consideration trump love for the country?

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was excessively excited the other day and decided to tell President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a pleasant story that gladdens the hearts of kings. He related a certain vision of welcoming more defecting governors into the ruling party’s fold soon. But is there nothing more important than defection?

Beyond the selection of Mahmood’s successor

‘Soldier come, soldier go, the barracks remains’ is a time-tested aphorism that has continued to be relevant today. Those who come on a stage and behave as if they have come to stay indefinitely discover that they are working against nature. After all, it is said that there is a time and season for everything under the sun.

On Tuesday, October 7, Yakubu Mahmood exited the power stool as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after serving two terms of 10 years consecutively.

Listening to the high command of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday singing ‘Till we meet again.’ as they saw off their retired boss from the office, it was more than emotional. But the way they chanted the song sounded more like a dirge than praise. If the rendition was meant to show camaraderie or to convey a ‘we will miss you’ message, the choice of a song popularly sung at wake-keeps and during interment was terribly misplaced! But that’s a story for another day.

The focus today is on who succeeds Yakubu Mahmood on a substantive note, not in an acting capacity. Many Nigerians are eagerly looking forward to hearing the name of the individual.

Many Nigerians speak in tandem that the new INEC chairman must be a person of impeccable character and unquestionable integrity; that he or she must be non-partisan and must not be affiliated with any political party, whether past or present; that the individual must be an expert in elections or a related field; and above all that he/she must be courageous and independent-minded to withstand political pressures and undue interference.

It must be stated straightaway that the problem with the retired Mahmood was not about competency. It was about the things he chose to do or not do, even though they mattered a lot. It is about the things he closed his eyes to. It is about his inability to insist that the right things be done under his watch without minding whose ox was gored. It was his being too malleable and his decision to yield to political manipulations that were his undoing.

He may have exhibited competency, but the outgoing INEC chairman did not acquit himself creditably in the estimation of many Nigerians.

His decision to hang in there as the INEC chairman until his tenure expired despite the deluge of calls for his resignation easily showed a character that conveyed impunity and insensitivity.

One man who strongly believes that Mahmood is worthy of many stripes by the way he handled the national assignment given to him is Peter Ameh, national secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).

Ameh said that Mahmood’s leadership was characterised by high-handedness, disregard for opposition parties, and a failure to uphold transparency in the electoral process.

‘Under Professor Mahmood’s tenure, the opposition suffered. He was not accommodating when it came to opposition or multi-party democracy; all he wanted was to crush it. The high-handedness was much.

‘When you talk about INEC, the commission’s primary duty is to conduct elections. During Mahmood’s tenure, there was corruption and mismanagement. Legitimacy was bastardised,’ he said.

According to him, ‘The conduct of the 2023 general elections left a bitter taste in everybody’s mouth; that is what he will be remembered for.’

It is not altogether negative about Mahmood. Apart from leaving behind a legacy tainted with a welter of allegations and finger-pointing for wrongdoing, Mahmood introduced the automation of the nation’s electoral process. The introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal was proof that the willingness to do the right thing was there. Although those technologies were interfered with by desperate political actors, he deserves commendation for the conceptualisation in the first place.

With the expiration of Mahmood’s tenure on Tuesday, the seat is now vacant. All eyes are on the President, who, by virtue of the powers conferred on him by the Constitution, is the appointing authority. The Council of State plays an advisory role. It advises the President on that critical appointment. But it is the prerogative of the President to accept the advice or not. The Senate of the National Assembly plays an important role in the appointment, too.

Many Nigerians have asked the Senate to put the interest of the country first before that of their party by critically looking at the suitability of the individual sent to them by the President. The Senate has been urged to discard the ‘take a bow and go’ method of screening that features on the floor of the chamber. Whatever the Senate does with the screening will either make or mar Nigeria’s future. It will either inspire hope and confidence in Nigerians or further alienate them from taking part in the electoral process.

Some governors and former ministers on Tuesday in Abuja asked the Federal Government to reform the INEC ahead of the 2027 general election to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy and strengthen electoral credibility.

They spoke at a panel discussion hosted by the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, with the theme ‘Innovation in Electoral Technology 2015-2025: Gains, Gaps, and the Road Ahead’, in Abuja.

The call was made at the launch of the Athena Election Observatory, an initiative designed to monitor and document electoral reforms, innovations and governance trends in Nigeria and across Africa.

Those who made the call included Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo; Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal; former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola; and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Minister of Aviation Osita Chidoka, who is also the Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership.

Even Soludo, who appears to have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the APC to leave Anambra alone for him in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state while he will reciprocate by ‘handing over the state to the President’ in 2027, seems unsure about what the INEC is capable of doing in any election; hence, his call on the Federal Government to fix the Commission before 2027.

Today, there are twelve national commissioners of the INEC. While four of them are due for retirement in February 2026, the rest are retiring in 2027.

The call for less politics in choosing a substantive INEC chairman has become deafening. Nigerians have urged those responsible for that selection to make the overriding interest of the country a priority.

Whereas Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru was appointed on September 15, 2021, he will retire on September 14, 2026; Prof. Kunle Cornelius Ajayi, appointed on October 25, 2021, will retire on October 25, 2026; Baba Bila was appointed on September 15, 2021, and will retire on September 15, 2026; and Prof. Sani Muhammad Adam, who was appointed on September 15, 2021, will retire on September 15, 2026.

Moreover, Prof. Rhoda Habor Gumus, Mohammed Haruna, Sam Olugbadebo Olumekun, Kenneth Ukeagu, May Agbamuche-Mbu, Prof. Sunday Nwambam Aja, Abdulrazaq Tukur Yusuf, and Modibbo Alkali were appointed on February 22, 2022; they will retire on February 22, 2027.

Haruna and Agbamuche-Mbu are two-term national commissioners before the latter became the acting INEC chairman on Tuesday. Ukeagu is a career staff member who rose from the rank of director to become national commissioner.

Nigerians are waiting with bated breath to hear the person on whose shoulders will rest the burden of superintending over the 2027 general election.

Akpabio and the vision of ‘captive’ governors

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, last Tuesday put on his binoculars to see more opposition governors getting ready to join the All Progressive Congress (APC). He was simply excited, and, in his hubris, he wasted no time in telling and assuring President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that more governors from opposition parties were already preparing to empty themselves into the ruling party.

He made the remark in Owerri thus: ‘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.’

Such talks have become common among the high echelon of the APC, particularly those who want to impress the President. Whenever they have nothing to say to please Aso Rock, they mouth opposition and how they have seen in their vision an army of defectors heading towards the APC.

What does it profit a country to have all the states under one political party, yet there is no good governance going on in them? What matters to Nigerians is that all the states, irrespective of their party affiliation, are applying the principles of democracy and the governors keep to the social contract with the people. So, it is infantile for the Senate President to clink glasses in anticipation of more opposition governors allegedly planning to empty themselves into the APC. It was equally childish of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, to boast that his party would take over Abia State in 2027. The question to ask is, is the current government in Abia living up to expectations in terms of good governance? The answer is crystal clear, except for those who delight in politics of mischief – see nothing, hear nothing, and, of course, commend nothing.

The overemphasis on defections by some principal actors in the ruling party has also put pressure on the INEC, further eroding the commission’s credibility in the eyes of Nigerians.

If you are calling on state governors to dump their parties and join the APC, it simply means that you are telling them that no matter what they do as state governors to please their people by way of good governance, the decision of the voters to reciprocate through a massive vote cast may not count, as there would be a resistance using some untoward means to invalidate the voice of the people through the ballot box.

Is anybody creating an impression that the great re-engineering work going on in Enugu and Abia States, for instance, by Governors Peter Mbah and Alex Otti, respectively, is not enough to convince their people to re-elect them on their individual platforms unless they move over to the APC?

It is conversations of this nature that have made the appointment of a more credible INEC chairman very imperative. For instance, with a competent and credible INEC chairman, there would be less fear of likely electoral fraud. There would be a high level of renewed trust in the electoral process, and that would enhance citizen participation, and there would be less pressure on state governors to want to dump their parties for the ruling party in the hope that their re-election is sacrosanct.

What is the point of calling everybody to join the ruling party? The game would become uninteresting if everybody were to be in one team. Today, people compete in different sports, and spectators gather to see different teams slug it out in the field of play. What makes such competition exciting is that two opposing teams are involved. Who would waste his/her time to go watch just one team facing one side and moving a ball in one direction without any resistance? Nobody will buy a ticket to go watch such an infantile display. Politics is exciting when different parties are involved. But it would seem that many politicians of today do not appreciate the true meaning of ‘the more, the merrier’. Akpabio and others must ‘live and let live’, please!

In today’s startup world, the loudest stories are often those of massive funding rounds, yet the quiet truth behind most business failures is a neglected customer. Founders celebrate capital injections and valuation milestones, but rarely do they celebrate the conversations that truly build a company: those with their users.

I’ve watched this pattern repeat itself across continents, from Silicon Valley’s venture-backed experiments to Australia’s thriving innovation hubs, where technical founders build impressive products, but not always meaningful businesses. This growing gap between building for the customer and building with the customer inspired my new book, Sales Start with the Customer.

The book is not a conventional manual. It’s a story-driven reflection on what really makes businesses grow: people, processes, and technology, in that order. It invites technical founders, especially those without a business background, to rethink how they approach product-market fit and growth. Because the truth is simple: no process or technology can save a business that doesn’t start with empathy for the people it serves.

The real problem with modern entrepreneurship

We live in an era where speed is glorified and ‘disruption’ is a badge of honour. But in that rush, too many entrepreneurs have become detached from the everyday realities of their customers. When a founder is more focused on investor decks than user feedback, the company begins to drift, not from lack of funding, but from lack of listening.

The irony is that the most successful global companies, from Amazon to Flutterwave, are not built on groundbreaking technology alone. They are built on a relentless obsession with solving the customer’s problem better than anyone else. Funding can amplify that effort, but it cannot replace it.

In Sales Start with the Customer, the story follows two entrepreneurs as they navigate the complexities of turning an idea into a living business. Their journey shows what every founder eventually learns: that ‘sales’ is not merely a transaction; it’s the art of understanding human behaviour, designing around it, and earning trust.

Beyond products: Building value systems

At the heart of every sustainable business are three intertwined elements: people, processes, and technology. Yet in many startups, this hierarchy is reversed, technology leads, processes follow, and people come last.

That order may deliver a minimum viable product, but it rarely produces a minimum viable business. A founder’s real job is to build systems that empower people, employees, partners, and customers to create value consistently. Processes must simplify, not suffocate. Technology must serve, not overshadow.

As one reader, Umashankar Shivanand of the Forbes Technology Council, aptly noted, the book’s ideas are ‘a valuable resource for both novice and experienced professionals aiming to adopt a customer-centric approach.’ That validation reinforces a universal truth: businesses fail not from lack of innovation, but from losing sight of the humans they innovate for.

Why founders must slow down to scale up

The pace of modern entrepreneurship can be intoxicating, but speed without direction leads nowhere. I often tell founders: growth is not about how fast you can build; it’s about how well you can listen.

A founder who listens builds products that last. A founder who listens builds a team that stays. A founder who listens builds customers who return. And in that sense, listening, not funding, not marketing, not virality, becomes the most underrated business strategy of all.

To scale sustainably, founders must slow down long enough to understand what their customers are truly trying to achieve. Not what they say they want, but what their actions reveal. This shift from ‘what works for the business’ to ‘what works for the customer’ transforms not just sales outcomes but also company culture.

Relearning what business really means

Sales Start with the Customer is an invitation to relearn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. It challenges founders to stop chasing validation and start building value. Because when you design every process, hire every person, and deploy every technology with the customer in mind, success becomes inevitable.

This philosophy isn’t sentimental; it’s strategic. In a world where technology changes daily, customer empathy is the only durable competitive advantage. Capital may open doors, but only customers keep them open.

So, as the startup world continues to celebrate funding rounds, valuations, and exits, it’s time we celebrate something more enduring, founders who build from the inside out, with empathy, clarity, and a deep commitment to the people who make their business possible.

Because in the end, every sale starts and survives with the customer.