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Otto Canon is a global sustainability leader committed to combating environmental degradation through recycling, tree planting, and policy advocacy. With over a decade of experience in social entrepreneurship and community development, he has collaborated with multilateral organisations to advance sustainable development. He is the founder and executive director of CleanCyclers; founder of SustainabilityUnscripted, and convener of the Global Sustainability Summit and Awards. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), Canon is dedicated to raising sustainability champions and building a planet where people and nature can thrive. In this interview with KENNETH ATHEKAME, he spoke on how sustainability can become Africa’s next trillion-dollar economic opportunity rather than just an environmental agenda and greatest potential to drive sustainable economic growth across Africa over the next decade. Excerpts:

How can sustainability become Africa’s next trillion-dollar economic opportunity rather than just an environmental agenda?

Sustainability has never been simply about protecting the environment; it is about building economies that can endure. It involves creating jobs, improving healthcare, strengthening food security, expanding energy access, restoring ecosystems and ensuring long-term prosperity. When sustainability is viewed as an economic strategy rather than a cost, the conversation changes completely. Africa has the world’s youngest population, abundant renewable energy resources, vast agricultural potential and extraordinary biodiversity. These are not merely challenges to manage; they are competitive advantages that can be transformed into economic wealth.

The next trillion-dollar opportunity lies in renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, circular manufacturing, sustainable infrastructure, healthcare innovation, green logistics, climate technology, carbon markets, sustainable finance and nature-based solutions. Each of these sectors can generate investment, create jobs and stimulate industrial development.

A good example is the 100 million Tree Planting Initiative, recently launched at the Global Sustainability Summit at the House of Lords, Palace of Westminster, London. The initiative will include food-bearing and commercially valuable trees such as mango, avocado, cashew, cocoa and coffee.

Beyond environmental restoration, the initiative is designed to support economic development through agroforestry, improved food security, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration and green employment. It also presents opportunities to strengthen rural livelihoods and develop carbon-market activities, subject to appropriate verification and regulatory requirements.

The Global Sustainability Summit has also evolved beyond a conference into a platform for action, facilitating bilateral, trilateral and multilateral partnerships among governments, businesses, academia, investors, development institutions and civil society. These collaborations span renewable energy, healthcare, environmental restoration, the circular economy, sustainable agriculture, climate finance, innovation and education.

Ultimately, sustainability must be understood as an engine of investment, diplomacy and economic transformation. I often say that sustainability is not simply about saving the planet; it is about creating a future in which people, businesses and nations can thrive together. When we align people, planet and profit, sustainability becomes one of Africa’s greatest economic opportunities.

Which industries have the greatest potential to drive sustainable economic growth across Africa over the next decade?

Several industries stand out because they can address multiple economic and social challenges simultaneously.

Renewable energy is fundamental because no economy can grow sustainably without reliable and affordable power. Expanding solar, wind and other clean energy sources can improve electricity access, support industrialisation and reduce energy-related emissions.

Agriculture and food processing also offer enormous opportunities. Africa produces significant quantities of agricultural commodities but continues to face challenges in local processing, food security and value addition. Investing in agro-processing, storage, logistics and modern farming can reduce post-harvest losses, strengthen food systems and create employment.

Healthcare innovation and medical logistics will become increasingly important as the population grows and demand for accessible, quality healthcare increases.

The circular economy, including recycling, waste-to-energy, resource recovery and sustainable manufacturing, offers another major opportunity to transform waste into valuable economic assets.

Through CleanCyclers, we are demonstrating how specialised areas such as solar panel recycling can support the recovery of valuable materials, reduce environmental risks associated with improperly discarded panels and create opportunities for skilled green employment. As solar energy adoption expands across Africa, responsible end-of-life management of solar panels will become increasingly important. With the right infrastructure, technology and regulatory support, this could help establish new recycling and resource-recovery industries.

Technology and artificial intelligence will also transform education, healthcare, agriculture, environmental monitoring and financial inclusion. Green construction, sustainable housing, electric mobility, climate finance, carbon markets, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration offer further opportunities.

The key is integration. These sectors should reinforce one another rather than operate in isolation. Platforms such as the Global Sustainability Summit can help connect governments, investors and innovators to develop partnerships, mobilise capital and accelerate sustainable investment.

How can African governments create policies that attract sustainable investment while accelerating economic development?

Investors value certainty as much as opportunity. Governments must therefore establish stable, transparent and predictable policies that encourage long-term investment.

This requires reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, simplifying licensing and permitting processes, addressing corruption and ensuring that regulations are consistently implemented. Investors also need confidence in the rule of law, contract enforcement and the protection of legitimate investments.

Public-private partnerships should play a more prominent role in financing sustainable development. Governments cannot meet all infrastructure and development needs through public spending alone, but they can create an enabling environment that encourages private capital to participate.

The Global Sustainability Summit has highlighted the importance of policy dialogue by facilitating engagements among governments, development partners, investors and private-sector leaders. Such discussions can help identify investment opportunities across renewable energy, sustainable healthcare, environmental restoration, circular economy initiatives and climate finance.

Governments should also consider targeted tax incentives for viable green industries, investment guarantees, improved infrastructure, accessible financing and effective regulatory frameworks. These measures must be transparent, carefully designed and linked to measurable development outcomes.

Most importantly, policymakers must look beyond political cycles. Sustainable development requires continuity, long-term planning and institutions capable of implementing policies consistently, even when administrations change.

Good policies attract investment, while good governance builds the confidence needed to retain it.

What role should African entrepreneurs and the private sector play in building a green economy that creates jobs and prosperity?

Entrepreneurs are not simply participants in the green economy; they are among its most important architects. Innovation often begins with people willing to approach familiar problems differently. African entrepreneurs understand local markets, consumer needs and community challenges, positioning them to develop practical, scalable and commercially viable solutions.

The private sector should invest in clean technologies, sustainable supply chains, workforce development, circular manufacturing and local industrialisation. Businesses must also recognise that sustainability is no longer merely a corporate social responsibility activity. It is increasingly a business consideration that affects operational efficiency, competitiveness, investment and access to markets.

Companies that use resources efficiently, reduce waste and develop environmentally responsible products can create new revenue streams while lowering certain operating costs and environmental risks.

Through CleanCyclers, we are demonstrating how sustainability-driven enterprises can address environmental challenges while developing commercial opportunities. Solar panel recycling, advanced resource recovery and circular economy innovation can help build industries that create employment, recover valuable materials and reduce dependence on virgin resources.

However, entrepreneurs need access to finance, appropriate technology, skilled workers, reliable infrastructure and supportive regulation to scale their businesses.

The most competitive businesses of the future will increasingly be those that combine financial performance with measurable environmental and social benefits.

How can Africa leverage innovation, artificial intelligence and technology to address sustainability challenges and remain globally competitive?

Artificial intelligence presents significant opportunities to accelerate sustainable development across Africa.

AI can improve agricultural productivity through precision farming, support disease diagnosis, reduce energy waste, strengthen disaster forecasting, improve supply-chain efficiency, monitor forests and expand access to education through personalised learning.

It can also improve the management of environmental restoration initiatives such as the 100 million Tree Planting Initiative. Digital tools can help map degraded landscapes, monitor tree survival, assess biodiversity recovery, identify climate risks and measure carbon sequestration. Reliable monitoring and verification would also strengthen transparency and accountability for investors and development partners.

However, technology alone is not the solution. It must address real problems and deliver measurable benefits to communities and businesses.

Africa must move beyond being a consumer of technologies developed elsewhere and become a creator of solutions tailored to its own needs, while also developing technologies that can compete in global markets.

The continent has talented young innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs. What they need are investment, mentorship, reliable infrastructure, research support and opportunities to scale their ideas.

We must also invest in digital skills, data infrastructure, responsible AI governance and affordable connectivity to ensure that technological progress benefits more than a small segment of society.

By combining African creativity with emerging technologies, the continent can strengthen its competitiveness and contribute meaningfully to global sustainability solutions.

Climate finance remains a major challenge. What practical steps can African countries take to attract more investment for sustainable development?

The first step is to develop bankable projects that can meet investors’ financial, technical and environmental requirements.

Although Africa has significant investment opportunities, many projects struggle to secure financing because of inadequate preparation, limited access to project-development capital, regulatory uncertainty and concerns about governance and implementation.

Governments and development institutions should strengthen project-preparation facilities, improve financial transparency, establish credible monitoring and reporting systems, and develop stronger institutional frameworks.

Africa should also expand the use of green bonds, blended finance, carbon markets, sovereign sustainability funds and regional investment platforms. Blended finance, in particular, can help mobilise private investment by using public or development capital to reduce specific risks that might otherwise discourage commercial investors.

Platforms such as the Global Sustainability Summit can help bridge the gap between project developers and potential sources of capital by connecting African initiatives with governments, development finance institutions, philanthropies, private investors and strategic partners.

However, these connections must translate into well-structured projects, clear financing arrangements and measurable results.

Climate finance should not be viewed solely as aid. It should also be recognised as an opportunity to invest in infrastructure, technology, industrial development and resilient economic systems. Africa must strengthen its capacity to prepare projects, demonstrate returns and build the trust required to attract long-term capital.

Africa is rich in natural resources. How can the continent create more value locally instead of exporting raw materials?

This is one of Africa’s greatest economic opportunities. For decades, many African economies have relied heavily on exporting raw materials while importing finished products at substantially higher prices. That pattern limits the value retained within the continent and constrains opportunities for industrial development.

We must invest more in local processing, manufacturing, refining, research, innovation and industrial infrastructure.

Instead of exporting cocoa beans alone, African countries should expand the production and export of processed cocoa products and premium chocolate. Rather than exporting raw minerals without further processing, countries should develop viable mineral-processing industries and, where commercially and technologically feasible, manufacture battery materials, electric-vehicle components and other advanced products.

Similarly, timber-producing countries can develop furniture manufacturing and engineered wood industries rather than relying predominantly on raw timber exports.

The circular economy offers another important pathway. Through the recycling of electronics, batteries and solar panels, Africa can recover valuable materials, reduce waste and strengthen resource security. This can create additional industrial opportunities while reducing pressure on natural resources.

Achieving this transformation requires reliable energy, transport infrastructure, technical skills, access to finance, research capacity and policies that encourage local production without undermining competitiveness.

Value addition creates opportunities for higher incomes, skilled employment, technology transfer and stronger domestic industries. Africa must progressively move from being primarily a supplier of raw materials to becoming a producer of competitive, high-value goods.

How can sustainability empower young Africans, create millions of jobs and reduce poverty?

Africa’s greatest resource is its people. With a large and youthful population, the continent has an opportunity to turn its demographic advantage into an engine of inclusive economic growth.

Achieving this will require investment in green skills, technical education, entrepreneurship, digital innovation, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and circular economy businesses.

Sustainability initiatives can generate employment across a wide range of activities, from engineering and manufacturing to recycling, environmental monitoring, logistics, agricultural processing and ecosystem restoration.

The 100 million Tree Planting Initiative illustrates how environmental programmes can also support livelihoods. Beyond planting trees, the initiative can create opportunities in nursery development, seedling supply, land preparation, agroforestry, logistics, digital mapping, biodiversity monitoring, carbon measurement and long-term land management.

For these benefits to be sustainable, projects must provide appropriate training, fair compensation and meaningful participation for local communities. Tree planting must also be supported by suitable species selection, land rights safeguards, maintenance and long-term monitoring to ensure that the trees survive and ecosystems improve.

Young people should not simply be beneficiaries of sustainable development; they should be its leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs.

With access to skills, finance, mentorship and markets, young Africans can build businesses, create jobs and contribute to reducing poverty. The objective must be to move beyond short-term employment towards productive, dignified work that supports long-term economic security.

If Africa gets sustainability right, what could the continent look like by 2050 economically, environmentally and socially?

I envision an Africa that is energy-secure, food-secure, technologically advanced, economically resilient and globally influential.

It would be a continent where cities are increasingly powered by clean energy, healthcare is more accessible, and agricultural systems can feed domestic populations while supplying international markets.

I see innovation hubs competing globally, local industries creating higher-value products, and circular economy businesses turning waste into resources. I also see restored landscapes, healthier ecosystems and more resilient communities that are better equipped to withstand climate-related risks.

Initiatives such as the 100 million Tree Planting Initiative could contribute to restoring degraded land, strengthening agroforestry, supporting rural livelihoods and generating environmental benefits, provided they are implemented effectively and sustained over time.

I also envision African institutions playing a stronger role in international sustainability discussions, building partnerships that advance investment, research, technology transfer and practical solutions to shared global challenges. Platforms such as the Global Sustainability Summit can contribute by connecting stakeholders and supporting collaboration across borders.

Socially, I see a continent where women, young people and rural communities participate more fully in economic growth, and where more people can find meaningful opportunities within their own countries.

This future will not emerge automatically. It will depend on the quality of leadership, the strength of institutions, the consistency of public policies and the willingness of governments and businesses to make long-term investments.

Africa has the resources, talent and entrepreneurial potential to achieve this vision. The challenge is to convert those advantages into measurable improvements in people’s lives.

What is your message to African leaders, investors and the international community about Africa’s potential to lead the next era of sustainable growth?

My message is simple: Africa should no longer be viewed only through the lens of its challenges. It must be recognised as a continent with significant investment opportunities, entrepreneurial talent, natural resources and the capacity to develop solutions to global problems.

To African leaders, I say: lead with courage, integrity and long-term vision. Invest in people, strengthen institutions, provide reliable infrastructure and create an environment in which innovation and enterprise can flourish.

To investors, I say that Africa offers opportunities to generate financial returns while addressing some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. These opportunities span renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, healthcare, circular manufacturing, infrastructure, climate technology and environmental restoration. Realising them requires rigorous project assessment, responsible investment and a long-term commitment to local value creation.

To the international community, I say that meaningful partnerships must be built on mutual respect, shared responsibility and shared prosperity. Work with Africa, not merely for Africa.

Through the Global Sustainability Summit, we have brought together stakeholders from different countries and sectors to explore bilateral, trilateral and multilateral partnerships across renewable energy, climate finance, sustainable healthcare, environmental restoration, the circular economy, agriculture, education and innovation. The priority now is to translate these engagements into practical projects, investment commitments and measurable outcomes.

The 100 million Tree Planting Initiative is another expression of this ambition. Beyond its environmental objectives, it has the potential to support food security, rural livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, green employment and climate resilience, provided implementation is backed by adequate financing, effective monitoring and long-term community participation.

Through organisations such as CleanCyclers, we are also demonstrating how circular economy solutions, including solar panel recycling and advanced resource recovery, can help reduce environmental risks, recover valuable materials and create new industrial opportunities.

Our generation has a unique opportunity to redefine Africa’s development trajectory. If we approach sustainability as a catalyst for innovation, industrialisation, investment and inclusive growth, we can build economies that are more resilient, competitive and prosperous.

Africa possesses the talent, natural resources, entrepreneurial spirit and potential partnerships needed to play a leading role in the next era of sustainable development.

The future belongs to those who build it, and Africa must be ready to lead.

Badejo Olawale, Clinical Director for General Medical and Surgical Services, at the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) Abuja, discusses the growing concern over breast cancer among younger women, why African patients may require different treatment approaches, and the importance of early detection, accurate diagnosis and locally driven cancer research in improving treatment outcomes in Nigeria in this interview with GODSGIFT ONYEDINEFU: Excerpts:

Generally speaking, what is your assessment of the cancer burden in Nigeria, particularly breast cancer?

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Nigeria and is now also the leading cause of cancer deaths, followed by colorectal cancer and cervical cancer. In terms of burden, it accounts for about 20 to 25 percent of the cancer cases we see in the country.

Cancer is rising globally, and it is also increasing in Nigeria. We used to think that increased awareness was bringing more patients to hospitals, but statistics and findings now show clearly that the incidence of cancer is rising in Nigeria.

This is happening, especially as we begin to adopt some non-African cultures, particularly in our dietary habits and social habits, such as smoking, alcohol consumption and the consumption of low-residue diets. So, yes, breast cancer is rising in Nigeria.

The other thing about breast cancer in Nigeria and the West African sub-region is that we tend to find cancers in younger age groups. While it is true that breast cancer is a disease of older people, starting from the fifth decade of life, we are beginning to see cancers in the third and fourth decades, mainly the fourth decade. By the fourth decade, I mean patients aged 30, 35 and above, particularly those in the 35 to 45 age group.

Why are we seeing younger patients being diagnosed with cancer? What do you think accounts for this shift in the age profile?

If you look at the age pyramid in developed countries, it is like an inverted pyramid, where you tend to have more older people than younger people. So, naturally, the burden of disease tends to be higher among older people.

In Africa, however, our pyramid stands tall, like a pyramid. We have more young people than older people. So, naturally, the burden of disease will be found among younger people. That is one explanation.

Another explanation is that, as we indulge in and imbibe Caucasian or non-African cultures, including smoking, alcohol consumption and the consumption of low-residue diets, the burden of cancer is generally rising among us.

Another very important factor is that it is becoming increasingly clear that the biology of breast cancer in Africans is completely different. We have seen this at the level of hormone receptors. At the molecular level, our molecular and genetic makeup tends to be somewhat different, and our tumours tend to be more aggressive, even when compared stage for stage and age for age.

We are finding that most treatment modalities and approaches to cancer management, particularly breast cancer, are adapted from research conducted in the developed world. However, some of those research findings and approaches do not really fit our tumour biology because of our genetic makeup.

Our genetic makeup can also contribute to the pattern of incidence and the timing of disease onset. If you look at the developed world, you will find that our disease patterns are somewhat similar to those of non-white populations in Europe and America. For example, among Africans and Hispanics, the pattern and behaviour of breast cancer tend to be similar. In America, for instance, the pattern and behaviour of breast cancer differ somewhat between white and black populations. The pattern of the disease among black people tends to resemble what we see in Africa, even when they are living outside the continent.

We are beginning to see that there is something about our genome or genetic makeup that affects the biology of breast cancer in terms of incidence and disease progression, ultimately going to affect the approach to treatment.

So, the combination of treatments and the approaches used will depend on the type of tumour biology each individual has. It is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Breast cancer is often perceived as a disease that affects only women, but men can also develop it. Could you explain how breast cancer affects men and the risk factors that make them susceptible to the disease?

I have treated many men with breast cancer, so it is not something new to us.

Generally speaking, without trying to frighten anybody, the most common risk factor for breast cancer is being a woman. Any woman, or indeed anybody who has breast tissue, can develop breast cancer.

In women, it has a lot to do with hormonal balance, especially the hormone oestrogen, which is predominantly a female hormone. This is why breast cancer is more common in women. Men also have oestrogen, but it is expressed at a lower or suppressed level because of the predominance of the male hormone, testosterone.

In most cases, breast cancer may run in families. The vast majority of cancers, however, occur spontaneously, and a family history cannot be established. But when you begin to see patterns of breast cancer running in families, it should prompt even the men in those families to take precautions.

There are also situations in which men experience hormonal imbalances that may lead to increased oestrogen expression. This may also make them more susceptible. Habits such as smoking and chronic alcohol consumption can affect oestrogen metabolism and make a person more prone to developing breast cancer.

However, we must say that, up until now, we cannot point to one specific cause of breast cancer. Research is still ongoing. It is just that a few people, based on their genetic makeup and possibly a combination of other environmental factors, may be more susceptible to developing cancer.

Are all breast lump or tumour cancerous and require immediate surgery?

As we have said, breast cancer tends to be a disease of older people, particularly those in the older age groups. When we use the word ‘tumour’, we mean a swelling or mass in the breast. Tumours in the breast can be classified into two types. We have benign breast diseases, which are non-cancerous. Some of them are also not pre-cancerous, meaning they do not lead to cancer. The vast majority of breast swellings in younger women tend to be benign, non-cancerous conditions. For instance, when you see a 13- or 15-year-old with a breast lump, or a 25-year-old with a breast lump, the vast majority of such cases are benign.

However, there is a caveat to this. Let me explain why. The youngest patient I have treated for breast cancer was a 16-year-old girl. I also know a few people who have seen breast cancer in children as young as 13. So, that is not to say that every tumour in a young person is non-cancerous.

Every breast lump should therefore be examined in three ways. First, it should be examined clinically by a doctor. Second, it should be examined radiologically, and pathologically.

Sometimes, it may simply be a fluid-filled growth in the breast. At other times, it may be a solid tumour. It could also be an inflammatory or infectious process. Sometimes, it may be a traumatic lesion or a lesion in the skin of the breast that has nothing to do with the underlying breast tissue. So, quite a number of conditions can present this way.

At what age should women and girls begin breast screening or self-examinations, and what warning signs should they look out for that require prompt medical assessment to prevent late presentation?

Self-breast examination should actually begin in every girl or woman from the onset of menstruation. This is because many benign breast lumps begin to develop around this stage.

We are beginning to see quite a number of young girls presenting with benign lumps. Even a 13-year-old girl may have lumps in both breasts. So, self-breast examination should begin from the first menstruation.

Examine yourself in front of a mirror. There are five recommended steps. You examine your breasts in both the lying-down and standing positions. You should do this on the first day of your menstrual cycle to maintain regularity.

You should take note of any lump or swelling. Sometimes, you may also notice skin changes because there are some rare diseases that affect the skin of the breast. You may begin to notice rashes around the nipple, which could be a pointer to an underlying disease. Other warning signs include nipple discharge, unusual breast pain, particularly non-cyclical pain, and sometimes changes in the armpits, such as swellings. All these should prompt you to take action. See a doctor, undergo a proper clinical breast examination and proceed to other necessary diagnostic investigations, which may include imaging and tissue diagnosis.

Another important consideration is a positive family history. If a patient has a family history of breast cancer, she needs to be very vigilant and take appropriate action. Sometimes, genetic testing may be necessary. But one area where we have a gap in our practice is the absence of genetic testing, which has become very important. Breast cancer occurring at a younger age, such as 20 or 22, could also point to the possibility of a genetic predisposition. Other members of the family should take note and exercise caution. When cancers are detected early, the prognosis and outcomes, with appropriate treatment, are much better than when they are detected late.

Late presentation of breast cancer cases remains a major challenge in Nigeria. What practical steps should the government and other stakeholders take to encourage early presentation and improve survival rates?

The greatest reason people present late is a lack of education. I do not mean attending primary school, secondary school or university because we have seen even professors, Doctors presenting with advanced breast disease. Another major factor is fear: the fear that breast cancer is a death sentence and that when you go to the hospital, you may lose your breast.

I am of the opinion that one of the missing links in breast cancer awareness is advocacy for survivors and survivorship. There are many breast cancer survivors and survivorship groups that are unknown. In this part of the world, we have cultural limitations. People are not willing to come out. So, we need to interview people and let them tell their survivorship stories. We need to let people know that if they present early, their chances of a cure and survival are very high. That is what will encourage people to seek treatment early.

Of course, awareness can never be too much. Breast cancer awareness, cancer awareness and cancer screening should also be incorporated into the educational curriculum from primary school. I have just returned from the village, and there are so many unreached people. No matter what you do on Facebook, in newspapers or on television, some people will never receive the information. However, there are schools in these places where children can be taught from an early age about their bodies, the possibility of disease and disease prevention. So, awareness should extend to the grassroots.

Very importantly, many people in this part of the world have deep religious faith, whether in Christianity, Islam or other traditional faiths. Some are made to believe that cancer is a satanic affliction. So, you find many people who notice their lesions very early but do not present at the hospital until the disease has advanced significantly. We therefore need to involve our clergy and traditional rulers. Many cancer patients suffer or experience disease progression in their homes without seeking medical attention, regardless of their religious affiliation.

Another gap is the need for proper training for doctors. Better patient care, information and communication can help people who already have the disease to remain in care and complete their treatment. One of the things that happens with cancer is that it is a highly distressing disease. Even when a patient presents early at the hospital, the attrition rate, meaning the number of patients who are able to follow their treatment from beginning to end, is very high. That is another problem.

We should also advocate for cancer healthcare and treatment support. Because cancer treatment is very expensive many people drop out of treatment or are unable to start at all, even when the disease is detected early.

What role is the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE), Abuja playing in tackling cancer, particularly in improving access to care and treatment?

One of the things that the African Medical Centre of Excellence brings on board is support for awareness campaigns. We have a big unit that is educating people about cancer. We work individually and support learning societies. We support research into cancer and research groups so that we can make people aware of some of the possibilities available for cancer treatment.

Secondly, we also support training and training institutions. The African Medical Centre of Excellence is complementary because of the type of equipment we have. We also carry out advocacy within the medical society. We collaborate for various reasons and to help people know what facilities are available. We also share that information with the learning community on different approaches.

We do a lot of outreaches. The African Medical Centre of Excellence has travelled to many states to support other institutions and help patients obtain a complete and specific diagnosis at the molecular level. We also support other institutions with tissue diagnosis and imaging, including very advanced imaging.

Standardisation is another major contribution that AMC brings. We do not treat patients based on how we feel. We want to standardise treatment so that patients know what comes next in their treatment journey.

The African Medical Centre of Excellence is also a major contributor to research. This hospital has a research directorate that is supported with funds to help us study our own disease patterns and ultimately develop a homegrown, specific treatment model. You cannot use results from Caucasian populations to treat Africans. The Centre of Excellence is supporting research in Africa to establish genuine disease patterns and understand disease behaviour so that we can provide appropriate solutions for our own types of diseases, including cancer.

Another important issue that we need to address at the African Medical Centre is cost. They say that if a problem is known, it is solved. Many of the problems associated with breast cancer management and cancer generally in Africa stem from incorrect diagnoses or misdiagnosis. If you can obtain a proper diagnosis, you have solved at least 50 percent of the problem. We support patients in obtaining the right diagnosis and ensuring early diagnosis. In most centres, it may take up to six weeks to two months to obtain the right diagnosis. As a result, a patient’s disease may progress even while they are within the four walls of the hospital. That part of the cancer journey has been addressed seriously at AMCE, where patients can sometimes obtain the right diagnosis within three or four weeks.

Finally, we talk about survivorship. AMCE offers a survivorship class and a survivorship clinic for people who have been treated and survived.

In the short time since AMCE started, we have been able to cure patients who came in with even some forms of advanced disease. Some have achieved a complete pathological response, and we could say that these patients have been cured. They are then enrolled in the survivorship class. A breast cancer survivorship programme is an opportunity to reassure people about the possibility of survival and the possibility of maintaining a good quality of life even after breast cancer. Breast cancer is a potentially curable disease. What is important is that people examine themselves and seek care early so that cure becomes more common than palliation.

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) warns all manufacturers, retailers and service providers across the State to comply fully with the Lagos State Consumer Protection Law 2025 (as amended) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018.

he General Manager, Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, Afolabi Solebo, issued the warning during an interview with select journalists in Lagos.

He said: ‘LASCOPA will now sanction businesses that deliberately fail to honour scheduled mediation sessions on legitimate consumer complaints. Where authorised by law, affected premises may be sealed. All businesses are required to treat consumer complaints and redress processes with utmost seriousness.

‘Practices that will attract regulatory intervention include unfair trade practices, misleading advertisements, deceptive pricing, hidden charges, poor service delivery, and the manufacture or sale of substandard, counterfeit or unsafe products’.

Solebo warned that offenders could face applicable penalties under the law, including fines, enforcement orders, suspension of operations, prosecution, or sealing of premises.

He appealed to consumers with unresolved complaints to remain patient, noting that delays often occur when businesses ignore mediation invitations. He urged all consumers to retain receipts, invoices, warranties and relevant records when filing complaints.

He reaffirmed Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to protecting consumers and building a fair business environment in Lagos. Consumer protection is a shared responsibility – businesses and consumers together build a transparent, accountable and truly consumer-friendly marketplace.

The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, approved the sum of N70,000 for workers on the payroll of the federal government.

The money was approved following an agreement the government had with the organised labour in Abuja. For the government, it said the reason for such allowance was to help cushion the effects of skyrocketing transport fares in the country.

But for PDP chieftain, Adetokunbo Pearse, President Tinubu’s N70,000 monthly transportation allowance for Federal Government workers for 6 months is a political gimmick, just like the 30-day discount on the price of petrol.

‘Firstly, Federal Government employees make a negligible percentage of Nigeria’s workforce. Secondly, a federal government worker who lives in Ikorodu and works at Apapa dockyard, for instance, spends about N6,000 per day to and from work. That is 150,000 naira per month.’ He said that President Tinubu’s N70,000 transportation allowance was an insult and a travesty.

For some Nigerians, as the 2027 election draws nearer, Tinubu appears desperate to impress prospective voters. Unfortunately for him, these gimmicks he keeps bringing up expose him more every day as a desperado, a politician whose only target is election victory.

For Martin Onovo, a Petrochemical Engineer, this transportation allowance is a case of ‘Too little. Too late’, and nothing will make Nigerians vote for Tinubu in 2027.

‘It is clearly a deceitful, unpatriotic and unlawful act of desperation by the ad hoc Tinubu regime. The regime is currently owing many federal workers, and some workers’ unions have threatened strikes. It is deceitful because the timing and duration of the transport allowance confirm that it is obviously intended to deceive federal workers for the period of the elections. Jagaban Tinubu and his ruling party, the worst regime since 1914, have seen categorical rejection in this campaign season all over the country. So, this is a desperate move to deceive Nigerian workers. It is unpatriotic because it is not in the best interest of the country but for the partisan agenda of the ruling party.’

He said that the N70,000 was reckless and unlawful because it is extra-budgetary, as has become normalised with the lawless regime.

‘You may refer to the IMF report that the Tinubu regime made over N8 trillion in extra-budgetary spending. The desperation of the Tinubu regime has no boundaries. From extra-budgetary spending to violence against opposition party supporters, to the misuse of the Police against opposition supporters, to AI-generated fake voters on the INEC voters register, to this deceitful, short-term transport allowance, to the sharing of vehicles procured with slush funds to their paid attack dogs, etc. However, nothing will save Jagaban Tinubu from a complete defeat at the 2027 elections,’ he said.

Recall that on July 29, 2024, President Tinubu signed the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, increasing it from N30,000 to N70,000. It is now law; any employer paying less is committing an offence punishable by jail.

Of course, after subsidy removal in May 2023, petrol price jumped from N190 to over N600-N1000; today it is in the neighbourhood of N1400; transport, food, housing all doubled. N30,000 could no longer take workers home; inflation and Naira devaluation pushed the cost of living beyond the reach of the common man. Inflation hit 34percent; the purchasing power of N30k dropped to less than 30percent of its value. FG had to adjust to current economic realities as at 2024, but no more.

Another reason for new minimum wage then was pressure from Organised Labour: NLC and TUC demanding up to N250,000 to N615,000 initially. After months of negotiation and threat of nationwide strike, both sides compromised and N70,000 was signed.

Another milestone then was that the old law reviewed minimum wage after every 5 years but it was agreed that minimum wage should now be reviewed every three years, so that wages would keep pace with economic changes. This, of course, was to protect decent work standard as the government said that no Nigerian worker, whether public or private sector, should earn below living standard, and that private employment agencies must ensure contracts reflect N70,000 as minimum.

Implication for Nigerian workers

The new minimum wage law shows that the least paid worker must go home with N70,000 after deductions. Other salary levels above minimum were adjusted upward, Level 1-6 workers got higher percentage increase.

Following the crippling economic hardship in the country, workers in Nigeria have started another round of agitation. Workers in some states argue that even though they are paid N70,000 minimum wage, a state like Imo State is paying N104,000; Lagos N85,000, so they use it as a basis for agitation for further increase.

However, from all economic indices, even the federal government now admits N70,000 is not sustainable. Chief of Staff, Gbajabiamila said recently, ‘The N70,000 wage, which was a milestone in 2024, must be honestly reassessed against today’s realities, while NLC says workers are under immense pressure.

The matter is indeed complicated because even though there is agitation for further increase there is also the issue of non-compliance by Private Sector. Many private companies, schools, security firms still pay N30,000-N50,000 even when the federal government has warned that defaulters risk jail term. But like everything Nigeria enforcement remains weak.

There is also state implementation gap. Some states delayed implementation until late 2024/2025, and Local Governments still struggling.

Inflation has also eaten deep into workers’ salaries, as they claim transport alone now takes 40-50percent of N70,000. Petrol, food, and rent have eroded the gain.

New negotiation starting

FG has agreed to set up new Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee. NLC on its part is asking for N300,000 minimum, while FG just approved temporary N70,000 transport allowance for six months to calm tension.

However, if truth must be told, N70,000 was a 133percent increase and a major win in 2024, but with today’s cost of living, it is now seen as survival wage, not living wage. That is why FG itself has signaled fresh review before the 3-year deadline of 2027.