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CBN appoints new agents to monitor crude oil exports

Under the new allocation, Dakee Engineering and Construction Limited will handle liquefied natural gas (LNG), Escravos (Gas), Bonny River Terminal and EGTL.

Trexem Energy Services Limited has been assigned Egina, Qua-Iboe and Tulja terminals, while Geoscape Limited will oversee Escravos, ERHA, Odudu and FSO Cawthorne.

The CBN allocated Bonga, Brass, Usan and Eagle terminals to 617 Limited, while Robinson International Energy Limited will cover Ugo-Cha, Penington, Aje, Ima, Oyo and Nembe.

Trobell International Nigeria Limited has been assigned Forcados, Bonny and Okwori terminals, while Integrated Shipping Services Nigeria Limited will handle Akpo, Antan, Okoro, Anyala-Madu and Ebok.

Kephren Business Limited will oversee Ukpokiti, Utapate, Yoho, Abo, Agbami, Ajapa, Okono and Okwok terminals, as well as additional marginal streams designated by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

The apex bank also appointed Q and Q Control Services Limited and Arlington Securitas Nigeria Limited as monitoring and evaluation agents responsible for supervising the inspection companies.

Q and Q Control Services Limited will monitor the activities of 617 Limited, Trexem Energy Services Limited, Geoscape Limited and Kephren Business Limited.

Arlington Securitas Nigeria Limited will oversee Dakee Engineering and Construction Limited, Trobell International Nigeria Limited, Robinson International Energy Limited and Integrated Shipping Services Nigeria Limited.

The appointments form part of the Federal Government’s review of the pre-shipment inspection and monitoring arrangements for crude oil and gas exports under the Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme.

The CBN directed all affected institutions and operators to comply with the revised appointments and terminal allocations, which it said took effect on October 2, 2026.

CAN raises concern over reported conviction of Christian woman in Borno

THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed concern over the reported conviction and imprisonment of a Christian woman, identified as Lami Samuel Dawa, in Borno State.

CAN said the circumstances surrounding the conviction, particularly reports that the case arose from the conversion of an adult woman to Christianity, had raised serious questions about the protection of religious freedom and fundamental human rights in the country.

The association, however, said it was still verifying the precise facts and legal basis of the conviction.

In a press statement issued on Saturday and signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN disclosed that an appeal had already been filed, adding that it was committed to allowing the judicial process to run its course.

The association stressed that every Nigerian had the constitutional right to freely choose, change or practise their religion or belief without coercion, intimidation or unlawful punishment.

It called on the relevant authorities to ensure that the rights of all parties involved in the case were protected and that justice was served in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of the country.

‘Nevertheless, the case raises important questions about the protection of religious freedom and the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’ the statement said.

CAN further disclosed that it would continue to monitor developments surrounding the case and engage relevant authorities through appropriate legal and institutional channels.

Reaffirming its commitment to religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, the association said it remained dedicated to protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of every Nigerian, irrespective of religious background.

The development comes amid renewed concerns over the protection of religious freedom and the rights of citizens to practise their faith in different parts of the country.

He was in the room: Sanwo-Olu’s testimony and the untold story of Hamzat

There are political endorsements and there are testimonies that seek to place history on record. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s address at the unveiling of Dr. Obafemi Hamzat’s governorship manifesto in Lagos on Friday October 30 2026 belonged substantially to the latter category.

The governor had come ostensibly to identify with his deputy as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate presented his development agenda ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Instead he took his audience into the private chambers of government revisiting moments in which decisions were made crises confronted and the foundations of public projects laid.

His most consequential declaration was also one of his simplest: ‘He was in the room.’

It was a recurring expression but hardly a casual one. In those five words Sanwo-Olu attempted to establish something that conventional campaign speeches seldom provide: an insider’s account of a candidate’s participation in the actual business of governance.

The governor began with an important distinction. ‘Anyone could read Hamzat’s curriculum vitae examine his appointments or list his achievements. What such records could not easily reveal was how he conducted himself when the cameras had disappeared and the burdens of office had become personal.’

For 2711 days Sanwo-Olu said he had shared those private spaces with Hamzat.

The number was significant. It represented the period between their assumption of office on May 29 2019 and the manifesto presentation. By invoking it Sanwo-Olu situated his testimony within a defined period of shared executive responsibility rather than a passing personal relationship.

He recalled the arrival of Nigeria’s first confirmed COVID-19 case in Lagos and the extraordinary decisions demanded by the pandemic.

‘He was in the room’ the governor said.

He proceeded to October 2020 describing it as the hardest week of his administration. Although he did not mention the #EndSARS protests directly the reference was an apparent allusion to that troubled period when Lagos became the centre of a national crisis.

‘Again Hamzat was in the room.’

These were not ordinary historical references. They took the audience beyond ceremonial accomplishments to moments when political leadership was tested under intense pressure.

They also introduced an important distinction between occupying an office and participating meaningfully in its responsibilities.

Sanwo-Olu was presenting Hamzat not simply as a deputy who attended meetings but as a participant in decisions taken during some of the most difficult circumstances of the administration.

That distinction however invites further examination. Being present at difficult moments is evidence of proximity to power; it is not by itself conclusive evidence of the quality of decisions taken.

Particularly concerning October 2020 the historical record remains sensitive and contested. Hamzat’s participation therefore establishes a basis for scrutiny as much as it provides material for political commendation.

Yet that is precisely why the passage is historically interesting. Sanwo-Olu has placed on record his account of an executive partnership whose internal workings have largely remained outside public view.

The speech also departed from a familiar Nigerian political tradition in which deputy governors are sometimes treated as ceremonial appendages to the governor’s authority.

Sanwo-Olu described a relationship in which responsibility was shared and political confidence sustained.

Perhaps the most revealing aspect was his insistence that he had never needed to question where Hamzat stood throughout their years together.

In a political environment where relationships between governors and deputies have sometimes deteriorated into public hostilities that assertion carried institutional significance beyond the personalities involved.

For the campaign the implication is clear: Sanwo-Olu has supplied a particular account of Hamzat’s experience that can be examined against the administration’s record.

That was how the governor changed the character of the manifesto presentation. Rather than merely applauding the promises being unveiled he introduced the history of the man expected to pursue them.

The expression ‘He was in the room’ may consequently outlive the occasion itself. It has become a convenient summary of Sanwo-Olu’s testimony but it also places the candidate within the circle of responsibility for the decisions achievements and shortcomings of the outgoing administration.

For Hamzat that is both an inheritance and an obligation. He cannot easily claim participation in the successes of the last seven years without accepting the public questions that accompany them.

And for the campaign the significance of the speech lies in that new frame: not simply what Hamzat promises to do but what his years in government can tell Lagosians about how he might approach the responsibilities of office.

Why I presented bill for better welfare for domestic workers by Igbinedion

The lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Hon. Omosede Igbinedion said her Bill to improve welfare for vulnerable Nigerians and domestic workers is grounded in the recognition that they deserve fundamental respect dignity and protection against exploitation like other categories of workers.

Igbinedion said the Bill has passed its First Reading in the House of Representatives and reflects her focus on protecting women children and vulnerable members of society while promoting human dignity social justice and decent working conditions.

In a statement issued in Benin City Igbinedion said the Bill aims to stop the widespread exploitation abuse and mistreatment of domestic workers especially those engaged in private households without adequate legal protection or clearly defined conditions of employment.

Igbinedion explained that the proposed legislation seeks to prohibit child domestic labour and to provide five years’ imprisonment for any individual found guilty of employing recruiting supplying or harbouring a child for domestic work.

She said the Bill proposes mandatory written employment contracts for domestic workers fair and regular wage payments reasonable working hours rest periods annual leave safe accommodation and access to medical attention in emergencies.

According to her ‘It prohibits physical abuse sexual harassment psychological intimidation forced labour trafficking and the unlawful withholding of workers’ identification documents.

‘The proposed law introduces the registration of domestic employers and the licensing and regulation of domestic recruitment agencies alongside mechanisms for monitoring compliance investigating complaints and penalising offenders.

‘The Bill also addresses the responsibilities of recruitment agencies and employers ensuring that accountability extends beyond the immediate household to intermediaries involved in recruiting and placing domestic workers.

‘If eventually passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President the legislation could mark an important milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s legal protections for domestic workers and combating child exploitation.

‘The legislative initiative reinforces a central principle of public service: no child should be deprived of an education to serve in another person’s home and no domestic worker should be subjected to abuse exploitation or indignity simply because of the nature of their employment.’

Beyond FGN securities: Understanding the long-term diversification of pension assets

Nigeria’s pension industry managed N5.9 trillion. By August 2026, it held N31.8 trillion, with N3.8 trillion added in the first eight months of this year alone. Behind that headline is a story of an industry that started cautiously and is now learning to invest like a mature retirement system. From the perspective of the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), this evolution reflects the progress made in Nigeria’s pension industry and the continuing work required to deepen investment opportunities while safeguarding contributors’ retirement savings.

Born in a market with few options

When the Contributory Pension Scheme took off, Nigeria’s capital market offered little to choose from. The corporate bond market was small. Infrastructure investment vehicles barely existed. Long-dated instruments that could match retirement liabilities decades away were scarce, and private funds with the governance and track record institutional investors demand were scarcer still.

Federal Government securities filled the gap. They offered capital protection, predictable income, deep liquidity and long maturities. For years, high interest rates meant they also delivered strong returns. For a young industry whose first duty was to protect workers’ savings, leaning on FGN paper was a rational response to the market, not a failure of imagination.

That foundation still matters. FGN securities hold N17.80 trillion, more than half of all pension assets. But a share is only a snapshot. The better question is what has been growing around it.

The portfolio starts to grow up

Over the decade to August 2026, pension assets expanded roughly 5.4 times, and almost every other asset class grew faster. Domestic equities rose about twelve-fold and now stand at N6.32 trillion. Corporate debt grew 7.5-fold. Infrastructure funds and private equity, which began from almost nothing, now hold N344.62 billion and N267.01 billion respectively.

Regulation has moved with the market. In February 2026, PenCom issued a revised framework for investing pension assets. It raised equity limits across all RSA fund types and made room for infrastructure and private equity beyond the old five per cent ceiling. In September 2026, the Pension Industry Infrastructure Consortium committed N241 billion to infrastructure, a signal that the industry means to back long-term projects. And in March 2026, pension fund returns beat headline inflation for the first time in seven years. For PenOp, these developments reflect the importance of creating an investment environment in which pension funds can access a broader range of quality assets while maintaining the discipline required to protect contributors’ savings.

The progress has not been even

The story is not one of uniform success, and the gaps are instructive. Real estate fell from N212.37 billion to N132.81 billion. Foreign equities rose from N116 billion to N281 billion, yet their share of investment assets fell from 2.0 per cent to 0.9 per cent, because the overall pool grew so quickly. Offshore exposure is now the clearest gap in the portfolio.

These numbers show where the next chapter will be written. Geography is the largest unexploited source of diversification, since less than one per cent of the portfolio sits in foreign equities. Real estate’s decline is a reminder that illiquid, hard-to-value assets need patient and careful handling.

Every pension system walks this road

Nigeria is following a path older systems have already travelled, usually from the same starting point.

Chile, whose 1981 reform inspired pension systems around the world, began with portfolios dominated by government paper and bank deposits. Over the following decades, regulators widened investment limits, allowed more equities and foreign assets, and introduced multifunds so younger savers could take more growth risk than those nearing retirement. Mexico’s Afores followed a similar arc, moving from heavy reliance on government securities towards equities, foreign investments and structured vehicles for infrastructure and real estate.

The numbers show where the road can lead. Australia’s superannuation system, built on mandatory contributions from 1992, held A$4.77 trillion at June 2026, up 9.5 per cent in a year. Contributions for the year reached A$236.3 billion, and the compulsory contribution rate hit its final legislated level of 12 per cent in July 2025. Scale like that gives a pension system real influence over what gets financed.

Canada tells the story of a deliberate pivot. Before the late-1990s reforms, public pension money was largely lent to provincial governments. The creation of CPP Investments, with an independent professional mandate, changed that. Its net assets reached C$793.3 billion at 31 March 2026, up from C$714.4 billion a year earlier, with returns helped by public equities and by energy and infrastructure holdings. Its ten-year annualised net return stood at 8.4 per cent at the end of 2025. Since it began investing in 1999, it has added C$539.4 billion in cumulative net income to the fund. A system that once lent to governments became a global investor in equities, private markets and infrastructure.

Africa is moving the same way, as Kenya, Ghana and others widen their pension investment frameworks while their capital markets deepen.

The pattern repeats. Systems begin with safety, expand as markets and regulation mature, and eventually draw returns from many sources. Nigeria is early in that sequence and heading in the right direction.

Why diversification is a marathon

Diversification does not mean abandoning government bonds, and it does not mean collecting asset types for their own sake. It means spreading exposure across asset types, issuers, sectors, maturities and geographies so that no single source of risk dominates. Government bonds tend to do well when interest rates fall. Equities track corporate profit growth. Infrastructure often delivers inflation-linked income over decades. Together, they smooth the ride through economic cycles.

Several conditions set the pace.

Investable supply. Pension funds need assets with sound governance, fair valuation, adequate returns for the risk and strong legal protection, and enough of them to absorb institutional money without distorting the market. Supply is growing, but it must grow further.

Liquidity. A pension fund promises that contributions will reliably turn into retirement income. Illiquid assets such as infrastructure and private equity must therefore be sized carefully. This is core fiduciary duty, not bureaucratic caution.

Skills and governance. Buying sovereign bonds is simple. Equity research, credit analysis, project evaluation, private-market due diligence and manager selection are not. Without those capabilities, a complex portfolio does not reduce risk. It moves risk somewhere harder to see and measure.

Infrastructure that earns its place. Retirees’ benefits stretch over two or three decades, just as infrastructure cash flows do, which makes the match natural. But projects must be financially viable. Pension money should not be directed into weak projects in the name of national development.

The same logic covers alternatives. Private equity, real estate and specialised funds offer lower correlation with public markets and exposure to growth beyond the stock exchange, but they carry valuation, manager and governance risks. They should be an additional layer in the portfolio, not a destination for money leaving FGN securities.

What it means for contributors and for Nigeria

For RSA holders, the point is simple. Every allocation decision should serve one goal: a retirement balance large enough to live on decently. Diversification is a tool for building savings that can withstand inflation, interest-rate swings and economic shocks across a working lifetime. Returns finally beating inflation in March 2026, after seven lean years, show what a more balanced approach can deliver.

The effect reaches beyond individual savers. A pool above N31.8 trillion is among the most powerful forces in Nigeria’s capital market. Where it flows shapes the depth of the stock market, the growth of corporate bonds, the funding of long-term infrastructure and the development of private markets. Done well, this becomes a virtuous circle: pension money backs quality opportunities, those opportunities grow the economy, and a stronger economy produces better retirement outcomes.

The industry has come from a market with few choices to one with a widening menu. Its task now is to move deliberately, at a pace set by asset quality, liquidity and institutional capability. PenOp believes that if the industry holds that discipline, the next chapter of Nigeria’s pension story could prove as consequential as the first.

Dangote, Sanusi urge Lotus Capital to deepen investment in real economy

The President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Muhammadu Sanusi II, have urged Lotus Capital Limited to expand its investments in Nigeria’s real economy as the non-interest finance institution marked its 20th anniversary.

They made the call at the anniversary celebration of Lotus Capital in Lagos on Friday, commending the company’s pioneering role in Nigeria’s non-interest finance sector and urging greater support for productive industries.

Delivering the keynote address, Dangote, who was physically present at the event, described Lotus Capital’s growth from a modest beginning into a successful investment institution as a remarkable achievement, praising its founders, shareholders, board, management and staff for their resilience and commitment to ethical investment.

He said the company’s establishment when conventional banking and capital market instruments dominated the financial system demonstrated foresight in identifying an underserved market and creating professionally managed investment opportunities.

Dangote recalled the challenges of raising capital in Nigeria during the company’s early years, noting that limited banking capacity and high borrowing costs made its achievements particularly commendable.

He said Lotus Capital had helped develop the country’s financial ecosystem through Sharia-compliant investment funds, innovative products, Sukuk transactions and the co-development of the NGX Lotus Islamic Index. The company, he added, had raised more than ?1 trillion to finance over 4,000 businesses and groups.

Citing the growth of global Islamic finance, whose assets reached about $6 trillion in 2024, Dangote said Nigeria could mobilise more long-term capital through Sukuk and other non-interest instruments.

He identified manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, housing and small businesses as sectors requiring diversified financing, adding that asset-backed financing, leasing, equity participation and profit-sharing could help address funding gaps.

Dangote urged Lotus Capital to deepen its investment in productive sectors, strengthen partnerships with international financial institutions and expand technology-driven investment products to promote financial inclusion. He also stressed the importance of corporate governance, transparency, risk management and innovation.

He expressed confidence that the company could become a leading facilitator of non-interest finance across Africa.

Speaking via Zoom, Sanusi commended the courage and vision of Lotus Capital’s founder and leadership, urging the company to expand its market reach and provide more long-term financing for critical sectors.

‘It is time for us to innovate, it’s time for us to deepen the market, it’s time for us to increase our penetration of various sectors of the economy, providing long-term finance for development,’ he said.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lotus Capital Limited, Mrs Hajara Adeola, said the company would strengthen its support for the real economy through innovative financing for agriculture, manufacturing, real estate and renewable energy.

Adeola said Lotus Capital was established to promote financial inclusion by providing Nigerians with alternative investment opportunities aligned with their values and Sharia principles.

She listed its milestones to include four Securities and Exchange Commission-registered public mutual funds, the development of the NGX Lotus Islamic Index in collaboration with the Nigerian Exchange, and the introduction of innovative investment products.

She also disclosed that the company advised the Federal Government on its first three sovereign Sukuk issuances, which financed more than 4,000 roads and nine bridges. Lotus Capital, she added, played a significant role in establishing Lotus Bank.

Adeola said Nigeria’s non-interest finance industry had grown to include five asset management companies, five Islamic banks, five Takaful insurance companies and more than 20 mutual funds.

Earlier, the Chairman of Lotus Capital Limited, Mr Fola Adeola, recounted the challenges surrounding the company’s establishment, when non-interest finance was largely unfamiliar in Nigeria.

He recalled supporting his wife’s proposal to establish the company despite his limited understanding of the financial model. Its first investment product, the Halal Fund, was oversubscribed after the company sought to raise ?1 billion, signalling strong public interest in Sharia-compliant investments.

Adeola, who expressed delight, said one of the company’s greatest achievements was demonstrating that different financial systems could coexist, allowing investors to choose products aligned with their faith and values.

The event also featured a panel discussion on ‘The Next Frontier: Innovation and Governance in Non-Interest Finance in Nigeria’ and attracted prominent figures from banking, manufacturing, government, diplomacy and business.

Umahi dismisses Peter Obi’s presidential ambition, says he is not better than him

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed Peter Obi’s presidential ambition, questioning the former Anambra State governor’s qualifications compared with other prominent South-East politicians, including himself.

Umahi also declared that the South-East had no presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, urging the region to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid instead of backing Obi.

The former Ebonyi State governor argued that supporting Tinubu for another four-year term would strengthen the South-East’s chances of securing the presidency when it becomes the region’s turn.

He made the remarks in Abakaliki during a town hall meeting organised by the Directorate of Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council.

Umahi called on religious and traditional leaders in the South-East to openly support Tinubu, warning against remaining neutral in the political debate ahead of the 2027 elections.

Addressing the gathering, the minister said, ‘I want to tell our religious leaders and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), do not stay on the fence. I know when I was struggling to be Governor, CAN took a decision and said justice must prevail. CAN, don’t keep quiet; let us toe the path that must sustain our freedom. ‘There is no way an Igbo man, after staying for 60 years, will want to be President for four years. There is nobody that can accept that. The North has not accepted to be President for four years. Somebody was telling me that Atiku’s son bought buses and donated to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and said this is a personal donation.

‘Igbo man needs wisdom, not sentiments. Igbo man should not allow people to be dishing hate speeches on social media on their behalf. Today, our people in commerce, we clear our goods with ease. Today, our roads are being revived in the path of economic activities. Today, we can boldly say we have been integrated. The last time they were choosing service chiefs, it was the Naval Chief. This time, it is Chief of Air Staff, Minister of Works, other Ministers, SSAs, what else? When I say South-East have been fully integrated and included, I mean it.

‘My mouth will not shut up because I am telling our people for a reference for tomorrow. We are supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to finish his remaining four years so that the South-East would have strategically supported another region. So that when it is our turn, we will not get this thing by hate speeches; they will not give to us by sentiments. If strategic leaders of the South-East say this, you will now insult them.

‘You insult anybody who is not supporting Peter Obi. Anybody who is not supporting Peter Obi is a saboteur; you insult the person. Who is Peter Obi better than? Who is he better than? Is he better than Sam Egwu? Is he better than Elias Mbam? Is he better than the Lion of the South-East, myself? Is he better than Anyim Pius? Who is better than?

‘So, I don’t want us to be deceiving ourselves. We don’t have any presidential candidate in the South-East. We have people who are vying; Ebonyi has a right to make a choice. Traditional fathers, do not stay on the fence; religious leaders, do not stay on the fence. Our people in the North do not; our people in the South-West, they do not. Guide our people, let them know what,’ the minister stated.

Umahi further claimed that the South-East had benefited from greater political inclusion under Tinubu’s administration, citing appointments into key government positions and ongoing road rehabilitation projects.

He also pointed to improvements in the ease of conducting business, arguing that the region should consider its political interests before making decisions about the 2027 presidential election.

Alabi, 49 other leaders selected for UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme

Nigerian social entrepreneur, AI Innovator, and founder of the Kayode Alabi Leadership and Career Initiative (KLCI), Hammed Kayode Alabi, has been selected as the only Nigerian among 50 emerging global leaders for the 2026-2027 Youth for Peace: UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme.

Announced by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) during the week, the second edition of the programme brings together 50 emerging leaders from 38 countries to advance intercultural dialogue, foster human connections, and address the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence.

Alabi was selected from a pool of 6,786 applicants from over 170 countries, representing an acceptance rate of approximately 0.74%, or fewer than eight successful applicants per 1,000 applications. The selection was conducted by an international jury of 26 members, including UNESCO staff and external experts in artificial intelligence and peacebuilding.

This year’s programme, themed around fostering human connection and dialogue in the age of artificial intelligence, seeks to equip emerging leaders with the knowledge, networks, and resources to address social fragmentation, strengthen trust, and promote peaceful and inclusive societies as technology continues to reshape human interactions.

For Alabi, whose work over the past nine years has focused on expanding educational and career opportunities for underserved young Africans, the selection presents an opportunity to explore how artificial intelligence can strengthen human creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration rather than replace them.

Through KLCI, the organisation he founded in 2017, Alabi has championed educational equity, youth leadership, and career development for young people from underserved communities. More recently, he founded Rafiki AI, a generative AI-powered career advisor designed to democratise access to personalised career guidance for underserved and displaced young Africans.

Since its launch, Rafiki AI has reached over 13,000 users across 60 countries, facilitating more than 103,000 messages and providing over 56,000 pieces of career advice.

As part of the UNESCO programme, Alabi hopes to develop a new use case for Rafiki AI that supports teachers and educators in Nigeria to leverage artificial intelligence to address challenges in their communities while fostering creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking among students.

The proposed initiative will explore how educators can use Rafiki AI as a tool for problem-solving and social good, equipping them with practical approaches they can take back into their classrooms to prepare young people to navigate an increasingly AI-driven world.

Speaking about his selection, Alabi said: ‘I am humbled to have been selected as the only Nigerian among 50 emerging leaders from across the world. I am particularly excited about this year’s focus on fostering dialogue and human connections in the age of AI.

‘Over the next year, I hope to work with teachers and educators in Nigeria to explore how we can leverage Rafiki AI to develop solutions to some of the challenges we face in the age of artificial intelligence, while fostering creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration in our classrooms.

‘I am still developing this idea and exploring a new use case for Rafiki AI in career support and social good. I am looking forward to learning from other young leaders, participating in peer circles, deepening my understanding of AI, and challenging my own assumptions about the purpose of technology in our generation.’

The Youth for Peace: UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme provides participants with specialised training, mentorship, masterclasses, and opportunities to collaborate with other emerging leaders working across AI governance, education, policymaking, research, entrepreneurship, and social innovation.

Participants will also have access to funding and mentorship opportunities to develop and implement intercultural dialogue initiatives in their communities.

The programme, which officially opens on 26 October 2026, will culminate in a Global Youth Dialogue for Peace in China, where participants will share their experiences and engage policymakers in discussions aimed at shaping more inclusive and peaceful societies.

According to UNESCO, the initiative responds to the growing need for leadership that can bridge differences, build trust, and ensure that technological advancement strengthens rather than weakens human connections.

Alabi’s selection adds to his growing contributions to youth development, educational innovation, and the responsible application of artificial intelligence in Africa. Through his work with KLCI and Rafiki AI, he continues to advocate for a future in which a young person’s access to opportunities is not determined by their socioeconomic background or geographical location.

His participation in the 2026-2027 cohort will provide an opportunity to connect local educational challenges in Nigeria with global conversations on AI, intercultural dialogue, and the future of human connection.

Nigeria courts solar capital as Africa’s investors gather in Lagos

The Renewable Energy Forum Africa (REFA) runs 25-26 November at the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel. The Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) organises it, with support from SolarPower Europe. It follows editions in Cape Town, Nairobi and Accra.

The forum is under the patronage of Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA). Abba Aliyu, managing director of REA, will give the keynote at the opening plenary on 25 November.

A market that has grown quickly

Nigeria is West Africa’s largest solar market, with about 618 MWp of operational capacity. That ranks first in the region and eighth in Africa. It leads the continent in mini-grids with 132 MWp, more than double second-placed Angola. It is fourth in Africa for commercial and industrial solar, with roughly 385 MWp tracked by AFSIA. About 76% of operational capacity was commissioned from 2022 onwards.

Policy and money are following. REA’s $750 million World Bank-backed DARES programme targets 1,350 solar mini-grids and better electricity access for 17.5 million people. Construction has started in several states, helped by new NERC Mini-Grid Regulations issued in April.

The $300 million Nigeria Distributed Renewable Energy Fund, run by NSIA and Africa50, launched commercially in September. It will finance mini-grids, standalone solar and other distributed projects.

On manufacturing, Nigeria’s first privately owned 100 MW module assembly plant is operating in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. REA, InfraCorp and Solarge are developing a 1 GW factory. REA has committed to buying at least 200 MW of its modules a year for five years.

Under NERC’s Net Billing Regulations 2026, eligible solar customers can export surplus power to the grid and earn credits. Oversight of electricity markets has also passed to 16 states, Lagos among them. For single-state projects, licences and tariffs now come from state commissions.

What’s on the agenda

Sessions will cover why permitted, contracted utility-scale projects are still waiting for financial close, and how productive-use loads improve mini-grid returns. They will also look at corporate power purchase agreements and storage, and at why telecoms, mining and data centres are becoming bankable power customers. Other streams cover e-mobility fleets, blended finance structures for currency and offtake risk, and counterfeit solar products. B2B matchmaking runs on both days alongside an exhibition.

REFA says earlier editions drew 325 attendees, 41 speakers and 25 partners, and led to 972 B2B meetings. Developers and financiers made up more than half of 2025 attendees.

On the evening of 25 November, the AFSIA Awards will honour projects and companies across 14 categories.

Industry voices

‘Nigeria’s clean energy ecosystem is growing at an unprecedented pace,’ Aliyu said. ‘The nation’s transition to a sustainable energy future requires more than ambition; it requires investment, strong partnerships, and the development of our local manufacturing ecosystem.’

Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, called Nigeria ‘one of West Africa’s most dynamic markets for renewable energy development,’ with momentum around solar, storage and local value creation.

Olamide Niyi-Afuye, CEO of the Africa Minigrid Developers Association, said distributed renewables are increasingly positioned to power productive enterprises and support Africa’s industrialisation ambitions.

Equipment makers are also backing the event. Jinko Solar is Diamond Partner. JA Solar, AIKO, Zimmermann PV-Steel Group, AlphaESS, KUKA Cable and Sungrow are also partners. Max Luo, regional manager at AlphaESS, said storage can help businesses ‘get more from solar while using less diesel.’

Beyond the ballot box: How AI could distort Nigeria’s 2027 elections

For decades, the way to distort a Nigerian election was physical and crude: snatch the ballot box, send thugs to keep voters away from an opponent’s stronghold, make the result sheets disappear. It was effective – and it was visible. Everyone could see it, film it, name it. The next distortion may need none of that. Why risk a viral video of enforcers at a polling unit when a single AI-generated voice note – ‘voting here has been postponed’ – could empty that same stronghold quietly, from a phone, with no one to arrest and nothing to film? The crude methods are becoming old-fashioned. Disinformation is the upgrade.

This is hypothetical – not an allegation about any election, nor evidence that INEC’s systems have been compromised. It illustrates the question Nigeria must confront before 2027: how will citizens and officials tell authentic instructions, records and announcements apart from convincing fabrications? An election can be distorted without a single ballot being altered. Deceive the voters, confuse the officials, or persuade citizens that honest results are fraudulent, and you can damage participation and public confidence even while the official count stays perfectly intact.

The recent #AI4Elections initiative – launched by Rise Networks with electoral, technology and civil-society partners – is a timely opening for this conversation, seeking practical solutions to misinformation, inclusion and electoral security. Its organisers have said plainly that winning the competition does not authorise operational deployment. That distinction deserves support: innovation is welcome, but the whole journey of a vote has to be examined, stage by stage.

THE GAPS ARE HUMAN, NOT MECHANICAL

Here is the point that should anchor everything, and the one I most want to be precise about. AI’s easiest target in an election is not the machine – it is the human and the process around the machine. You do not need to defeat BVAS if you can convince the officer, the voter, or the public of something false at exactly the right moment. INEC has already named this family of risk: in October its chairman warned about impersonated officials, false electoral instructions and unauthorised result announcements, and the commission reported establishing an AI unit to address digital threats. Seen that way, three gaps deserve attention – and none of them requires anyone to breach a system.

At accreditation, the exploit is the instruction, not the fingerprint. An AI-impersonated supervisor could issue a convincing but false directive to officers working under pressure – ‘the device is faulty here, accredit manually’ – or a fabricated ‘BVAS has failed’ rumour could change how officers and voters behave. The biometric is not beaten; the people around it are deceived. Let me be explicit, because the distinction matters: this is not a claim that AI can defeat BVAS. That would require specific technical evidence. Impersonating a supervisor, misleading a voter, and compromising an accreditation device are three different threats needing different proof and different safeguards. The protection here is procedural – consequential instructions confirmed through established channels, exceptions documented, responsibility identifiable.

At result upload, the exploit is the silence. A transmission delay usually has an ordinary, innocent cause – but an unexplained gap is an opening, and AI can fill it with fabricated ‘results replaced’ screenshots, counterfeit dashboards and invented technical explanations that harden into belief before an authoritative update arrives. The transmission is not breached; the public’s understanding of its status is hijacked. That is why INEC should treat status communication as election infrastructure: timely explanations of any interruption, its scope and the path to resolution, distinguishing results received, records under verification and matters still open. Internally, submissions, corrections and access to sensitive systems should leave auditable records – reassurance is strongest when it rests on evidence.

At collation, the exploit is misplaced trust. Uploading a result image, aggregating votes and declaring a winner are not the same act. If AI tools are used to read result sheets or flag inconsistencies, their role must be bounded: a mistaken machine reading must never become an accepted figure simply because software produced it. And rival fabricated images of a single polling unit, or a fake ‘winner declared’ broadcast, can pressure or pre-empt the authorised declaration. A correct total cannot authenticate the figures behind it; officials must establish both the accuracy of the calculation and the integrity of the source records, with discrepancies examined and corrections preserved.

Virality is not verification. A fabricated image does not prove an official result has changed – and a record should not be trusted merely because it looks professional or appears on a convincing dashboard. Integrity requires evidence that can be followed back to its source.

THE DECLARATION – AND THE TRAP AFTER IT

At the announcement stage, the risk shifts again. A fabricated broadcast could appear to announce a winner, a cancellation or a concession; even with official records intact, duelling announcements could spark confusion and confrontation. The defence combines clearly identified official broadcasts, independently accessible written records, and rapid confirmation across established channels – and media organisations should authenticate consequential announcements before amplifying them. Political parties share this duty: verify before publishing, correct false claims quickly, and reject deceptive impersonation no matter whom it appears to favour.

Then comes the subtlest danger of all: genuine evidence dismissed as artificial. The very ability to fabricate images and recordings gives bad actors an excuse to wave away authentic material as ‘AI-generated.’ Nigeria must guard against both errors at once – accepting false evidence and rejecting real evidence without examination. Preserving original files, documenting their origin and enabling independent scrutiny are what keep either accusation from settling a dispute by assertion. None of this justifies restricting legitimate observation, reporting or criticism: citizens must stay free to document, question and seek explanations, and any measure against deception needs transparent standards and a route to challenge mistakes.

TURNING CONCERN INTO READINESS

The #AI4Elections programme could help turn these concerns into practical tests. Developers could show how their tools handle conflicting records, uncertain answers, interrupted connectivity and attempts at impersonation; independent reviewers could assess them and publish honest limitations before anyone considers deployment. Preparation should also include election-day exercises with officials, broadcasters, observers, security agencies and technology providers – and a good exercise would test how fast a false announcement is identified, verified and corrected, and whether the correction actually reaches the citizens it needs to.

Over more than two decades building technology and security systems, one lesson has held: reliability lives in the connections between technology, people and procedure. A sophisticated device cannot, by itself, make every instruction genuine, every operator accountable or every record trustworthy. AI can support electoral administration and help protect public information – but its contribution depends entirely on how carefully institutions define its role and supervise its use. For 2027, Nigerians should be able to follow a clear chain from the votes counted to the result declared: at every stage, an authentic record, an accountable official, and a credible way to resolve disagreement.

The ballot must be protected. So must the information that brings citizens to it, the records that preserve their choices, and the announcement through which those choices become a public result. Nigeria must ensure the result citizens receive is the result their votes produced.

Dr. Afolabi Abiodun (Dr. AFOO) – Information Security Researcher | EdTech Entrepreneur | CISA | PhD