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In a move to deepen its investment in people and professional development, Sabi Writers has successfully hosted the third edition of The Frontline, bringing together talents from different parts of Nigeria for an experience centred on learning, exposure and growth.

The event, held in Lagos recently, provided a platform for Sabi Writers employees to step beyond their regular responsibilities and engage with accomplished professionals whose experiences offer valuable lessons for navigating today’s professional landscape.

Among the distinguished guest lecturers at the event were Oremeyi Akah (Chief Customer Success Officer, Interswitch Group), Chude Jideonwo (Founder, Red | Africa), Victoria Ajayi (CEO, TVC Communications Group,) and Prof. Obadare Peter Adewale (CVO, Digital Encode), who shared insights from their respective careers and engaged directly with members of the Sabi Writers team.

The conversations explored themes around leadership, excellence, career development, personal growth and the importance of continuously evolving in an increasingly competitive environment.

One of the defining features of The Frontline 3.0 was the diversity of its participants. Sabi Writers’ talents travelled from Lagos, Abuja, Anambra, Ibadan, Kaduna, and other parts of Nigeria, turning the event into an opportunity not only for learning but also for connection among colleagues working across different locations.

The initiative reflects Sabi Writers’ belief that some of the most valuable professional lessons are found outside formal job descriptions. By exposing its people to accomplished individuals from different fields, the company seeks to broaden the thinking of its workforce and encourage them to approach their careers with greater ambition, curiosity and purpose.

With the conclusion of The Frontline 3.0, Sabi Writers has once again created a platform where its talents can learn, connect and gain perspectives that extend beyond the workplace.

The company says it remains committed to creating more opportunities that enable its people to learn, grow and become more.

More than the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council thought possible, former vice president Atiku Abubakar has appeared to put some order into his campaign despite his poor choices and constant dithering. He has multiple legal suits targeting President Bola Tinubu in the United States, another youth corps certificate snafu against the same man, a foreign lobbyist spewing out massive falsehoods against the president, and a facile and populist fuel subsidy campaign, this time touching on the bellies of mostly the ignorant and urban poor who care little about the dynamics of economics. The former vice president has carefully curated these campaign issues, with the president as the only target, and has pursued those issues with fanatical zeal. The fusillade may have caught the president’s team off-guard.

The subsidy issue appears to be Alhaji Atiku’s most impactful public offering so far. His economics is undoubtedly simplistic, but he has nonetheless doubled down on his overwrought analysis. He has linked the removal of fuel subsidy to the hardship experienced by many Nigerians, but he has deliberately neglected to talk about the immense gains the policy has brought which are now trickling down. He would reinstate a modified form of the subsidy, he said, without indicating how he would preserve the current policy’s massive gains or, contrastingly, police his subsidy plan against business sharks. That he is borrowing from the rule books of populism and fascism can certainly not have escaped his attention, nor that he is merely engaging in time-tested election subterfuge over a policy he could not hope to implement should he win.

There is a linkage between a mother’s ability to read and the survival of a child, four post-graduate students of the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Ibadan (UI), Osinaiwo Inioluwa, Ogundoyin Oyinkansaola, Ahmed Kayode and Aderemi Suliyat, have said.

The postulation of the scholars is coming on the heels of the International Literacy Day on September 8.

According to the scholars, new data showed that a mother’s ability to read may matter as much to her child’s survival as the food on the table.

‘Every year on September 8, the world pauses to mark International Literacy Day. In 2026 – the day’s theme is ‘Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity,’ with global commemorations hosted in Mexico. But for millions of Nigerian mothers, literacy is not a global talking point. It is the difference between a child who thrives and one who does not.

‘According to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2024, 32 per cent of Nigerian children under five are stunted, 18 per cent are underweight, and 8 per cent are wasted. Only 29 per cent of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed, and just 36 percent of newborns are put to the breast within the first hour of life. UNICEF estimates that about two million Nigerian children suffer from severe acute malnutrition every year, and it is one of the highest burdens anywhere in the world, with the North-West stunting rates climbing as high as 57 per cent.

‘ Malnutrition is already known to be implicated in roughly 45 per cent of under-five deaths in Nigeria. What is less widely discussed is the role a mother’s literacy plays in that statistic. Nationally, children of mothers with no formal education have about 55 per cent higher odds of being stunted and 49 per cent higher odds of being underweight than children of mothers with secondary education or higher. Children of mothers with no formal education have 55 per cent higher odds of being stunted than children of mothers with a secondary education.

‘The reason is not mysterious. A mother who can read is more likely to attend antenatal clinics, start breastfeeding early, sustain exclusive breastfeeding for six months, and introduce complementary foods at the right time, in the right variety, and with proper hygiene. She can interpret a food label, recognise a fortified product on a shop shelf, and follow simple written or illustrated feeding guidance. She can also spot the early warning signs of illness in her child and seek care before a treatable condition becomes a fatal one. Where that literacy is missing, the consequences increase across a lifetime. Malnutrition in early childhood is linked to poor cognitive development, weak school performance, and lower adult productivity, leading families and eventually communities into a cycle of poverty and poor health that repeats itself in the next generation.

‘This is not only a Nigerian problem, but Nigeria carries a large share of it. The country’s under-five population is one of the largest in the world, and the same NDHS figures show wide regional gaps: children in the North-West and North-East consistently fare worse than those in the South, tracking almost exactly with maternal school attendance in those zones. Nigeria already has the infrastructure to break that cycle: adult literacy programmes, primary healthcare centers, and women’s empowerment schemes operate in every state. What is missing is the deliberate integration of functional health and nutrition content into that existing infrastructure. An adult literacy class that teaches a woman to read her own name but not a food label, or a feeding chart, has done only half the job. Closing that literacy gap is not a job for the education sector alone; it demands coordinated action across health, education, agriculture, and women’s affairs, because its effect on child survival is direct and measurable, at a fraction of the cost of treating severe acute malnutrition once it occurs.

While making a call to action, the scholars said: ‘Federal and state ministries of education, health, and women’s affairs should co-design a functional nutrition-literacy curriculum for adult and out-of-school learning programmes, delivered in local languages and pictorial formats so no woman is excluded by dialect or by illiteracy itself. Primary healthcare workers should be trained and resourced to reinforce this learning at every antenatal and immunisation visit, and food and drug regulators should be pushed to simplify nutrition labelling for low-literacy consumers. Every naira spent teaching a mother to read her child’s growth chart is a naira spent preventing a stunted future. Nigeria cannot claim progress on literacy while its children are quietly paying the price of what their mothers were never taught to read. Now is the time for a change!’

Former lawmaker representing the Ekiti North Senatorial District, Senator Ayo Arise, has declared that President Bola Tinubu has fulfilled about 95% of his campaign promises to Nigerians.

Arise said President Tinubu had performed ‘exceedingly well’ across critical sectors of the economy, including infrastructure, economic revitalisation, healthcare, education, agriculture, and other areas.

He spoke in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, while delivering the annual lecture organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ekiti State Council, with the theme, ‘Internal Party Democracy, Good Governance, the Media and the Future of Nigerian Democracy.’

The former lawmaker said President Tinubu had turned the country into a construction site, with road projects spread across the 36 states, noting that the government could not fix all the roads needing attention at the same time.

Arise said the quality of roads being constructed under Tinubu’s administration was a departure from the past, particularly with the adoption of the concrete pavement model, which he said would ensure some roads last for several decades.

‘Looking at the quality of the roads, all the roads cannot be fixed at the same time. Mr President has turned Nigeria into a construction site, with projects spread across the 36 states of the federation.

‘Before this administration, many Nigerian roads were an eyesore, but under this administration, roads are being constructed to last for decades.

He also commended the APC-led federal government for strengthening local government autonomy, saying the decision to ensure that councils received their allocations directly would enable them to function more effectively and deliver tangible development at the grassroots.

Arise acknowledged the hardship Nigerians are experiencing, but said positive economic indicators suggest the country is moving in the right direction, citing the declining inflation rate and growing confidence in the economy.

‘Despite the hardship Nigerians are experiencing, there are positive indices showing that the economy is on a positive trajectory. Inflation is coming down, and Nigeria is gradually regaining the confidence of the international community.

‘President Bola Tinubu has fulfilled about 95 per cent of his campaign promises and deserves another four-year term to consolidate these achievements for the overall benefit of Nigerians’, he added.

Arise, who linked good governance to the survival of democracy, said that citizens should be able to feel the impact of government through improved infrastructure, education, healthcare, security, employment opportunities and other basic necessities.

He also charged political parties to strengthen internal democracy, warning that godfatherism, money politics, lack of transparency and weak party institutions could undermine the country’s democratic development.

He said that party constitutions and guidelines must be respected, while membership registers, party structures and primary elections should be credible to give ordinary members the opportunity to participate in choosing the candidates of their choice and determining the direction of their parties.

The APC stalwart also charged the media to remain independent, professional and courageous in defending democracy, holding public officials accountable and providing citizens with credible information.

He cautioned against the use of the media as an instrument of political manipulation, saying, ‘Journalists must be able to investigate matters of public interest while maintaining the highest standards expected of a profession that carries enormous influence.

The Chairman of the Ekiti State NUJ, Kayode Babatuyi, commended Arise for accepting the invitation to speak at the event, describing his tenure as a significant period in the development of legislative activities in the state.

He said that Arise had continued to support media practitioners even after leaving political office, noting that his contributions to journalism had extended beyond his tenure in the Senate.

The NUJ chairman also applauded the Ekiti State Government for providing a conducive environment for media practitioners to operate, noting that the relative freedom and support journalists enjoy in the state have enabled them to carry out their professional duties without fear or intimidation.

He, however, called on government at all levels to improve journalists’ remuneration, welfare and access to working tools, stressing that adequate support was necessary for media practitioners to effectively discharge their responsibilities to society.

The Chairman of Correspondents’ Chapel, Raphael Ogbonnaiye, said the event provided an avenue to examine issues affecting society and discuss possible solutions.

Ogbonnaiye also called for greater support for journalists, stressing that access to adequate resources and improved working conditions would enable media practitioners to discharge their responsibilities and contribute meaningfully to addressing societal challenges.

The Planter of the Christ Apostolic Church Adamimogo, Grace of Mercy Prayer Mountain Worldwide, Prophet Sam Olu-Alo, reaffirmed his support for journalists, describing media as an indispensable partner in the development of society.

Olu-Alo, who is the Patron of the Chapel, said his association with the chapel was anchored in his appreciation of the sacrifices journalists make in informing the public, holding leaders accountable, and giving voice to issues affecting society.

The founder of Adamimogo FM, represented by Deji Ogunbusuyi, said he had consistently identified with the Correspondents’ Chapel and supported journalists in their professional and personal growth.

He assured members of the chapel of his continued support and prayers, describing his partnership with the media as built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to society’s progress.

The Chief Press Secretary to Ekiti State Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, praised the Correspondents’ Chapel for its role in the development of Ekiti State through professional and balanced reportage.

Oyebode, represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, Odunayo Ogunmola, described the chapel as a key stakeholder in the state, especially in keeping the public abreast of government policies and programmes.

Former Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Betta Edu, has commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on the successful launch of the National Community Food Bank for the South-South Region in Calabar, Cross River State.

Dr Edu, who also serves as Director of Women Mobilisation for the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, describes the initiative as one of the most impactful innovations of the Renewed Hope Administration, particularly for vulnerable Nigerians, including pregnant and lactating women, malnourished children, and others in need of food support.

Speaking with journalists in Calabar, Dr Edu said the Community Food Bank would not only provide immediate nutritional assistance to vulnerable families but also stimulate local production and strengthen the economy of Cross River State and the South-South region.

According to her, ‘I am so grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his beautiful wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who came today to launch the National Community Food Bank. I think it is one of the biggest innovations that reaches those who need it most in Nigeria.

‘Lactating mothers, pregnant women, malnourished children and other vulnerable persons can walk into the facility and get food whenever they need it.’

‘Beyond providing fresh food, the initiative also patronises local producers, meaning that the economy of Cross River State and indeed the entire South-South region will receive a significant boost.’

Dr Edu also commended the Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, and his wife, Bishop Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, for their effective mobilisation and hospitality during the First Lady’s visit, as well as their efforts towards the development of the state.

She expressed optimism that the initiative would improve the well-being of vulnerable citizens while creating opportunities for local farmers and producers.

‘I want to commend the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Otu, and his dear wife for the wonderful mobilisation today and for the great work they are doing in Cross River State.

‘I believe that things will only get better for Nigeria and for Cross River State going forward,’ she said.

Dr Edu, who also described herself as a woman in technology, commended the Federal Government, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), and Senator Oluremi Tinubu for commissioning an ICT centre at the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS).

She said the facility would provide young Nigerians, especially women and youth, with the skills and exposure needed to compete in an increasingly technology-driven global economy, particularly in Artificial Intelligence.

According to her, the investment represents a strategic intervention in women and youth development and digital capacity building.

‘I think that’s a wonderful job by TETFund and the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.’

‘It is a wonderful ICT centre for young people, especially women, to encourage them and bring them up to speed with what the world is dealing with right now, which is Artificial Intelligence.

‘I am sure that these young people will receive 360-degree digital training that can open doors for them both nationally and internationally.

‘I am grateful to the wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for coming in to commission the facility. I believe that the University of Cross River State, women and other students will be better for it.’

Dr Edu said the combination of social interventions such as the National Community Food Bank and investments in technology and human capital demonstrated the administration’s commitment to improving Nigerians’ lives and preparing young people for the future.