Category: Auto Guid

THE ECOWAS Food and Cultural Festival (EFCF) Nigeria 2026 has entered its decisive phase ahead of its second edition, holding October 27 to 31 in Benin City, Edo State.

Director Corporate Communications, ECOWAS Food and Cultural Festival, said the festival is more than a celebration of food and culture, describing it as a strategic platform connecting heritage, food security, tourism, creativity, enterprise, investment, youth development and regional integration.

According to him, the festival, with the theme: ‘African Foods, Cultural Heritage, Peace and Security for Sustainable Development, Tourism and Economic Growth’, is built on a three-part philosophy of Heritage, Value and Opportunity.

He explained that heritage represents what communities have inherited, value emerges when those resources are developed into productive activity, and opportunity comes when that value reaches wider markets, investors and tourists.

He said the journey, which began with the maiden edition in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, now moves to Benin City, noting that the transition reflects broader participation and stronger regional relevance.

‘Uyo was the beginning. Edo is the next chapter. And from Edo, the vision continues towards a wider West African audience,’ he stated.

The director said West Africa possesses extraordinary cultural wealth in food, music, fashion, crafts and festivals, adding that Benin City, with the legacy of the Benin Kingdom renowned for bronze and brass craftsmanship, provides a living heritage destination for the 2026 edition.

He stressed that culture possesses economic value, noting that traditional recipes can inspire food brands, indigenous crops can become commercial products and cultural performances can become tourism attractions.

‘From farm to food. From food to market. From market to opportunity. African food is not simply something to consume. It is something to produce, process, brand, commercialise, export and build businesses around,’ he stated.

He said the International Press Conference scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Abuja, will formally present the festival to the national and international media and unveil programmes, partnerships and investment opportunities.

The director added that the Face of EFCF platform, designed beyond conventional beauty pageantry to emphasise cultural knowledge, intelligence and leadership, will produce young ambassadors to carry the festival’s message beyond Benin City.

A large number of supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Bauchi State have defected to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), citing what they described as the landmark achievements of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed as the reason for their decision.

The defectors, led by Mr Muntaqa Ahmad Zubairu, the Chairman of the party’s decampees, said their decision to join the APM was motivated by their assessment of the governor’s performance, particularly in infrastructure development and other areas of governance across the state.

They expressed confidence in the governor’s leadership, noting that his administration’s projects and policies influenced their decision to align with the APM and support his political direction.

The development is seen as a fresh political realignment in Bauchi State, as supporters from the NDC move to the APM, with the stated aim of supporting Governor Mohammed and his administration.

The delegation was received by Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, while the party’s State Secretary, Alhassan Danlami Bako, spoke on behalf of the group.

Bako said the decision to join the APM followed their assessment of the achievements and developmental initiatives of the Bala Mohammed-led administration.

He commended the governor’s efforts towards the development of the state, adding that the group was willing to contribute to the progress of Bauchi through its membership of the APM.

According to him, their defection was motivated by their desire to identify with the administration’s development agenda and support its continuity.

The defectors called on their supporters and other residents of the state to recognise the importance of continuity in governance, pointing to the need for sustained development and the completion of ongoing projects.

Governor Mohammed welcomed the defectors into the APM and expressed appreciation for their confidence in his administration.

He assured the new members of his commitment to inclusive leadership, sustainable development and the implementation of policies aimed at improving the lives of the people of Bauchi State.

The governor also encouraged them to work with other party members towards achieving the objectives of the movement and advancing the state’s development.

Also present at the reception was Dr Yakubu Adamu, the APM governorship candidate in Bauchi State, alongside other party leaders.

SUSPECTED Lakurawa gunmen have attacked the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway project in Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi State, killing three persons and injuring two others.

This is just as another group attacked communities in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and killed a humanitarian worker and a police inspector.

In Kebbi, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the victims included two security personnel and a foreign national working on the road project, while two civilians sustained gunshot injuries.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Bashir Usman, disclosed that the attack occurred at Gubba village, through Andarai District of Maiyama Local Government Area.

Usman said gunmen, suspected to be Lakurawa terrorists, encroached from Kebbi axis of neighbouring Sokoto State, attacked the construction site, killing two security personnel and the foreign national.

He added that two civilians were injured in the attack and were subsequently evacuated for medical attention.

The police spokesperson noted that, on the same day, another attack by the suspected terrorists along the Birnin Malam axis was repelled by police teams.

He said joint security forces responded to the attacks, with tactical teams deployed to strengthen security and prevent further attacks.

The PPRO further disclosed that scores of the attackers were killed by military personnel, while several motorcycles were recovered.

Following the incident, construction activities at the affected site have been suspended as security agencies intensify surveillance and deploy additional personnel to the area.

The PPRO assured workers on the project of government’s commitment to their safety, urging them to remain calm as security agencies continue efforts to safeguard their lives and property.

In the Sokoto incident, the victims were a humanitarian worker, Ms Lydia Chinenye Nwankwo, and a policeman.

Nwankwo was a field operations professional and was in the course of her work when she was reportedly ambushed alongside members of her team while returning from field operations in Kajiji community on Tuesday.

Her sister, Chisom Nwankwo, confirmed the incident in a Facebook post on Thursday, while announcing her death.

According to Chisom, Nwankwo and her colleagues came under heavy gunfire, as the gunmen opened fire on their vehicle, killing her instantly.

Her colleagues described her as a dedicated professional committed to providing assistance to vulnerable communities in hard-to-reach areas.

The state police command also confirmed the death of the police inspector.

The PPRO, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Shagari Local Government had briefed the command headquarters of the incident.

Rufai, however, said the command was still gathering information and could not immediately provide full details.

He said: ‘I just spoke with the DPO in charge of Shagari now, who confirmed the attack on some communities in the local government. We are still on it. I cannot give details now until I gather my information about the incident. I will get back to you on it.’

The Lagos State House of Assembly has constituted an eight-member Ad Hoc Committee to identify, document and facilitate the recovery of assets belonging to the Lagos State Government.

The committee is saddled with the responsibility of identifying and establishing the status of all documented and undocumented properties and other assets owned by the State Government.

Speaking during the exercise, the Chairman of the committee, Hon. Obafemi Saheed, emphasised that effective oversight and accountability remain key legislative responsibilities of the House. He noted that this includes scrutinising government expenditure, monitoring the utilisation of public funds and ensuring that taxpayers’ money is responsibly applied in line with approved objectives.

He further explained that the exercise would enable the committee to establish the assets owned by the State, assess their current status and determine whether they are being effectively utilised for the benefit of Lagos residents.

He enjoined the MDAs that were yet to submit the requested documents to do so without further delay and appear before the committee as scheduled. He warned that any Head of Ministry, Agency or Institution that treats the committee with disdain or fails to appear before it will be dealt with accordingly.

He added that the committee has the power to subpoena anyone and can seek the House’s approval to issue a warrant of arrest against recalcitrant persons.

The Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that have so far appeared before the committee include the Lagos State New Town Development Authority (NTDA); the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA); the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA); the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture; the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education; the Ministry of Tertiary Education; the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment; Lagos State Ferry Services; the Lagos State Printing Corporation; the Lagos State Agriculture Input Supply Authority; and the Lagos State Agriculture Development Authority.

During the engagements, the committee made pertinent inquiries and directed the MDAs to provide comprehensive records of all assets under their custody, including both documented and undocumented properties.

The exercise is aimed at identifying, verifying and facilitating the recovery of such assets for the benefit of the State.

The exercise is expected to continue, with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies scheduled to appear before the committee.

Other members present at the meeting were Hon. Jubreel Abdulkareem, Hon. Olayinka Kazeem, Hon. Samuel Apata, Hon. Sobur Oluwa and Hon. Bonu Solomon.

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has identified education, employment, technology and youth empowerment as critical factors in achieving sustainable security, stressing that lasting peace cannot be achieved through the use of guns and ammunition alone.

The governor stated this on Thursday in Lokoja while delivering his keynote address at the Kogi Youth Security Summit 2026, themed ‘Building a Secure Kogi Together: Empowering Youth as the First Line of Peace and Community Security.’

Ododo explained that addressing the root causes of insecurity requires deliberate investments in human capital development, economic opportunities and social inclusion, particularly for young people.

He said his administration was committed to creating an enabling environment for youths to thrive through free and compulsory education, agriculture, entrepreneurship, technology, responsible mining and infrastructure development.

‘Development is security because development gives people something valuable to protect,’ the governor declared.

He emphasised that empowering young people with relevant skills, education and sustainable sources of livelihood would reduce their vulnerability to criminal activities and encourage them to contribute meaningfully to the peace and development of the state.

On the role of technology in strengthening security, Ododo commended engineering students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) for their innovations in drone technology.

He urged young people to embrace digital innovation and apply their technological knowledge to addressing security challenges in their communities.

The governor also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and security agencies for their efforts to combat insecurity, calling on youths to support ongoing interventions by rejecting cultism, drug abuse, political thuggery and other criminal activities.

He further urged residents to provide credible intelligence to security agencies and refrain from spreading misinformation, hate speech and unverified reports on social media.

According to him, citizens have an important role to play in protecting their communities by reporting suspicious activities and cooperating with relevant authorities.

‘Reporting danger is not betrayal. It is a responsibility. It is patriotism. It is love for your community,’ Ododo stated.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Aridaojo Monday Anyebe, disclosed plans to establish Youth Peace Ambassadors across the 21 local government areas of the state.

He explained that the initiative would strengthen collaboration between young people and security agencies while promoting peaceful coexistence and community participation in security management.

Anyebe also highlighted the importance of sports as a tool for promoting peace, unity and positive youth engagement.

Similarly, the keynote speaker, Chief Yusuf Haruna Abiona, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hay Bravo Security Limited, called for stronger partnerships between communities and security agencies.

Abiona advocated the establishment of effective early-warning systems, improved information sharing and sustained youth empowerment as measures to prevent security threats and strengthen community resilience.

The summit attracted government officials, security agencies, traditional rulers, youth leaders and other stakeholders, who deliberated on strategies for improving security through collective responsibility and stronger community engagement.

Ododo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a peaceful and prosperous Kogi State where young people have access to quality education, meaningful employment, technological innovation and opportunities to realise their potential.

He maintained that investing in the future of young people remains a vital component of the state’s broader strategy to achieve lasting peace, security and sustainable development.

Zakat is a religious obligation in Islam requiring Muslims to donate a portion of their wealth annually to help economically disadvantaged individuals and support the community’s welfare. Zakat is distinct from sadaqah, which is voluntary charity, and is mandatory for all conscious Muslims who believe in practicing Islam in accordance with the teachings of Al-.Qur’an and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Zakat requires Muslims, who meet a minimum wealth threshold, to donate 2.5 per cent of their wealth to charity annually. It aims to purify income exceeding essential needs and supports various recipients like the poor and the indebted.

Allah, the Most High, says, And let not those who covetously withhold of the gifts which Allah hath given them of His Grace, think that it is good for them: Nay, it will be the worst for them: Soon it will be tied to their necks like a twisted caller, on the Day of Judgment. To Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. And Allah is Well-Acquainted with all that ye do. (Suratul Al-Imran: Qur’an 3:180)

The Quran also states, And woe to those who pay not Zakat and who even deny the Hereafter. For those who believe and work deeds of righteousness is a reward that will never fail. (Suratul Fussilat: Qur’an 41: 6-7).

In another chapter, Allah, the Almighty, says, And there are those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah: announce unto them a most grievous chastisement. On the Day when it will be heated in the Fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs. This is the (treasure) which ye hoarded for yourselves: taste ye, then, the (treasures) ye hoarded. (Suratul- Tawbah: Qur’an 9: 34-35)

The Prophet (pbuh) said, ‘A wealthy person who has got gold and silver, but does not pay the Zakat due on the same, (should know that) his gold and silver will be melted on the Day of Judgment and Converted into slabs which will then be heated in the fire of Hell, and then his sides, his forehead, and his back will be branded therewith.’ When these slabs will get cold, they will be heated up once more in the furnace of the Hell, the branding will be continued throughout the day, the duration of which will be equal to fifty thousand years, and the cases of all the people will have been decided by this time and they will be shown their way either to the Hell or to Paradise.’ [Muslim, Ahmad, Nasai]

It was related that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, ‘There are three people who will enter the Fire: An oppressive leader, a wealthy person who does not pay Allah’s right from his wealth and a proud poor.’ [AI-Hakim, Ibn Hibban and Ahmad]

Ibn Abbas, (may Allah be pleased with him), said, ‘Whoever has enough property to make pilgrimage or to pay Zakat but he does not will ask Allah to return (to this world) when dying.’ Someone said, ‘Ibn ‘Abbas, fear Allah, No one asks for return but the unbelievers.’ Then Ibn Abbas read Allah’s saying, And spend something (in charity) out of the substance which We have bestowed on you, before death should come to any of you and he should say, ‘ O my Lord! Why didst thou not give me respite for a little while I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good. (Suratul-Munafiqun: Qur’an 63-10)

There is no Zakat on (gold or silver) jewelry that is for permissible use, but if it is prepared for uses of renting or as an article which is permanent acquisition then Zakat is obligatory. Zakat is also obligatory for trade.

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Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, related that the Prophet (pbuh) said, ‘Whoever is made wealthy by Allah and does not pay the Zakat of his wealth will be made like a bald- headed poisonous male snake with two black spots over its eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and say, ‘I am your treasure.’ Then he recited the following verse, And definitely let not the ones who are miserly with what Allah has given them,’ no, indeed, it is an evil (thing) for them. They shall have annulated (about their necks) whatever they were miserly with, on the Day of Resurrection and to Allah is the inheritance of the heavens and the earth,’ and Allah is Ever Cognizant of whatsoever you do (Suratu-Al-Imran: Qur’an 3:180) [Bukhari]

In his commentary on Allah’s saying: On the Day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, -This is the (treasures) which ye hoarded for yourselves: taste ye, then the (treasures) ye hoarded. (Suratul- At-Tawbah: Qur’an 9:35).

Ibn Masud said, ‘Dirham and Dinar will not be put in his skin collectively but separately and will cover him totally.’

It was related that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) also said, ‘Five (actions) entail five (punishments).’ They asked, ‘What does it mean?’ He said, ‘Whenever some people break a covenant, Allah will entice their enemy to attack them. If they rule in other than Allah’s law, they will be plagued with poverty. If indecency (adultery) prevails them, there will be more deaths. If they give short scales or weights, they will be deprived of tillage and will suffer the barren years, if they do not pay Zakat, there will be no rain.’ [Abu Dawud, Ahmad]

It was reported by Muhammad Ibn Yusuf Al-Feriabi, may Allah have mercy on him, once I went out accompanied with a group of my friends to visit Abu Sann’an, may Allah have mercy on him. When we entered his house and sat down for a while, he said, ‘Let us visit a neighbour whose brother has recently died to console him.’ Then, we all went to the man but we found him wailing and impatient for the death of his brother. Accordingly, we tried to console him but of no avail. We admonished him that death is an inevitable end. Then, he said, I know. I just weep for my brother’s death abode and the torture he is in. We asked, ‘Did Allah enable you to know the Unseen?’ He said,’ Of course not, but when I buried him and people went away I sat down by his grave. Meanwhile, I heard a sound of distress. I heard someone crying.’ Oh, they left me alone to suffer the torture. I was praying, and fasting. Then, I wept and out of pity I began to snatch the grave to see him. The grave was full of fire and I noticed a circle of fire around his neck. Out of pity I extended my arm to extricate him from such circle of fire. No sooner did I extend my hand than my fingers were burnt. Then, the man showed us his burnt hand. He went on saying, I hoarded the earth over him again and went away. Thus, how can I keep patient after I have seen how he is. We, then, asked, ‘What did your brother do in this world?’ He replied. ‘He did not pay Zakat.’ We said, ‘This is in accordance with Allah’s saying, And not those who covetously withhold of the gifts which Allah hath given them of His Grace, think that it is good for them: Nay, it will be the worse for them: Soon it will be tied to their neck like a twisted collar on the day of Judgment. (Suratul Al-Imran: Qur’an 3:180). Your brother, therefore, is being tortured in advance in his grave until the Day of Judgment.

Afterwards, we went ahead to Abu Dharr. the Prophet’s companion, and told him this man’s story. We also said, ‘When a Jew or a Christian dies, we do not notice them suffering like that,’ He said, ‘They are undoubtedly in the Hell-fire. Allah just shows you the abode of the Muslims to learn the lesson. Allah, the Most High, says, Now have come to you, from your Lord proofs (to open your eyes): If any will see, it will be for (the good of) his own soul: If any will be blind it will be to his own (harm) I am not (here to watch over your doing.) (Suratul -Anam: Qur’an 6:104)

The Chancellor of the American Open University, Global Campus, Professor Seyi Akanbi, has called for a fundamental redesign of Nigeria’s education system to meet the realities of the digital age.

Akanbi said the challenges of electricity supply and internet connectivity should not be allowed to hinder the development of effective online education in Nigeria.

He made the call on Thursday in Ibadan while speaking at the Tribune Discourse organised by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Tribune Chapel, themed ‘Bridging Nigeria’s Education Gap: How Technology and Online Learning Are Transforming Higher Education’.

Akanbi said Nigeria should not simply transfer the traditional classroom model to an online platform, but should develop learning systems specifically designed for the country’s environment.

He explained that American Open University had adopted a flexible and hybrid approach that allows students to access learning materials even when internet connectivity is unavailable.

Akanbi argued that no country has perfect infrastructure, but that education providers must develop solutions that work within their particular environment.

He also called for a shift from conventional digital literacy to what he described as ‘productivity literacy’, saying Nigerians already have significant exposure to digital platforms.

According to him, the objective of digital education should not merely be to teach people how to use computers or access the internet, but to equip them with the ability to use technology to create solutions and become productive.

Speaking on accessibility for students with disabilities, Akanbi advocated the adoption of Universal Design for Learning, which provides educational materials in different formats.

He dismissed the perception that graduates of online universities are inferior to those from conventional universities, arguing that quality should be measured by competence rather than mode of education.

He said: ‘We have a problem of design. We bring the same design of traditional education, wrap it around and package it as online learning. You cannot just package something that has failed and call it online learning. You have to redesign it from the ground up.

‘Our system is designed in such a way that if you are a student, you have access to the course materials. If you go outside where there is internet, you have access to the course materials, and even if there is no internet, you can access them offline.

‘Everybody here is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other platforms. We use digital banking and other digital services. What we are lacking is a productivity system.

‘At our school, there is no physical classroom where you come and sit down. From the beginning, it is hands-on. Your assignments are done on the computer, submitted on the computer and communication is also digital.

‘Accessibility should not be about putting one group of people at a disadvantage while trying to help another. It is about giving people the opportunity to choose the option that works best for them.’

Earlier, in her opening address, the chairman of NUJ Tribune Chapel, Mrs Bunmi Ishola, said the discourse was aimed at confronting issues critical to Nigeria’s future.

She said: ‘The reality before us is clear. While the demand for higher education continues to grow, access remains a major challenge. Many young Nigerians are still unable to secure places in conventional institutions, while distance, cost, inadequate infrastructure and other barriers keep education beyond the reach of many.

‘Technology offers us a new possibility. With online learning and digital education, the classroom is no longer necessarily confined by four walls. A student in a rural community can potentially access a lecturer, course or institution hundreds of kilometres away. But we must ask: Are we truly prepared to make this opportunity accessible to every Nigerian?’

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), As-Sakeenah Islamic Relief Foundation, has provided succour for 10 indigent primary and secondary school pupils in Abuja through its education and scholarship support programme.

Speaking with Tribune Online, the Executive Director of the foundation, Alhaji Hashim Fagbamila, said the support was meant to provide the necessary support for the pupils by paying for their educational materials and other things, as their pupils’ humble background should not stop them from being in school and becoming important citizens tomorrow.

He said the foundation consulted with the managements of LEA Primary School and Government Secondary School both in Byazhin, Kubwa, Abuja, to identify students who are struggling to be in school due to absence of financial support from their various homes.

He stated: ‘As-Sakeenah Islamic Relief Foundation was established to alleviate poverty and hardship among the vulnerable in our society and our core mandates include education and scholarship support; poverty alleviation and feeding support and community development. What we have carried out today fell under the education and scholarship support and we thank Almighty Allah for making it possible.

‘We came to sponsor five pupils from LEA Primary School, Byazhin and also five from Government Secondary School, Byazhin, both located in Kubwa. We did this to provide relief for their parents after we have met with the management of both schools to assist us in identifying these students.

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‘We have paid their school fees for the whole year and we are still looking forward to support them in the other way like book and any other materials for their education and we hope by next time, we pray that at least, we’ll be able to support at least 100 students for the coming year by the grace of Almighty Allah. We live in this environment and we see how these students are suffering and that informed our decision to do this.’

Assistant Head Teacher, LEA Primary School, Mr Aliu Rotimi and Mrs Ajanaku Christianah, of the Guidance and Counselling Department of Government Secondary School, thanked the organisation for the gesture calling on corporate organisations, wealthy individuals and others to emulate the foundation.

Among the beneficiaries of the educational support are Hamza Sani, Jemila Murtala, Hussaina Adejoh, Babarinde David and Bamidele David, who thanked the foundation for the support.

Nigeria is at a crossroads. As the country moves toward the 2027 general election, politicians are again promising jobs. They speak about oil, agriculture and technology, but consistently ignore the one sector with the fastest, cheapest and most sustainable capacity to create jobs for ordinary Nigerians – tourism.

If leaders vying for offices from president to governor, senator and local government chairman are serious about improving citizens’ lives, tourism must become a core pillar of their economic manifestos, not a footnote, and must be implemented to the letter.

The country faces a joblessness emergency. More than 70 million young Nigerians are unemployed or underemployed. The oil sector employs less than one percent of the population directly, while white-collar jobs require qualifications most do not have. Tourism is different. Globally, it remains the world’s largest labour-intensive employer, accounting for one in 10 jobs worldwide, about 334 million jobs. It does not require a first-class degree to work as a tour guide, chef, driver, photographer, craft seller or hotel manager. It is an economy of the people.

What the world and Africa are doing is instructive. Rwanda earns over 500 million dollars yearly from gorilla tourism alone, more than the internally generated revenue of some Nigerian states. Kenya’s tourism employs 1.6 million people, while South Africa’s tourism contributes 8.6 percent to its Gross Domestic Product.

The World Travel and Tourism Council projects Africa as the next frontier for inclusive growth, with over 24 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa already tied to tourism, many for youth working as content creators, drone pilots, culinary guides and cultural curators.

Nigeria has more tourism assets than many of these countries combined, from Obudu Mountain Resort, Yankari Game Reserve, Ikogosi Warm Springs, Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, to Badagry Slave Route, Olumo Rock, Calabar Carnival and Argungu Fishing Festival. Yet, the country earns less than two percent of its GDP from tourism.

The data should concern leaders. According to the WTTC Economic Impact Report 2024, direct tourism jobs in Nigeria stood at 506,885 in 2023, representing 0.7 percent of total employment. Total jobs, including supply chain and induced impact, were 1,983,127, or 2.9 percent of employment. The council projects that by 2034, tourism will support 5,321,999 jobs, or 5.7 percent of total employment, if the right policies are implemented.

The sector is expected to create 2.6 million new jobs in the next 10 years, an average of 260,000 jobs per year, doubling current employment to 5.1 million by 2032. This is achievable without building a new refinery.

A serious manifesto must therefore be practical. First, security and access must be addressed, as no tourist visits an unsafe destination. Government must secure tourism corridors and build roads to sites.

Second, a Tourism Infrastructure Fund should be created, with at least five percent of state internally generated revenue allocated to develop at least two bankable tourism sites per state in partnership with the private sector.

Third, the informal sector, which accounts for 60 percent of tourism activity, must be formalised. Tour guides, craft makers and food vendors should be registered, trained and funded with low-interest loans.

Fourth, festivals such as Calabar Carnival, Osun-Osogbo and Argungu must be elevated from local events to global products like Brazil’s Carnival or India’s Diwali, and marketed global channels.

Fifth, local content must be enforced, mandating that every hotel, airline and resort operating in Nigeria must have 70 percent Nigerian staff in management within three years.

If leaders continue to ignore tourism and chase oil and politics as usual, nothing will change. Unemployment will persist, youth restiveness will grow, and rural communities will remain poor, despite sitting on natural wealth. Nigerians will continue to fly to Dubai, Zanzibar and Kenya to enjoy what exists at home, but remains undeveloped.

Nigeria does not have a job creation problem; it has a vision problem. Tourism is not leisure; it is a job factory, a foreign exchange earner and a unity builder that brings Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Fulani and Efik together around shared heritage.

To all aspirants for 2027, Nigerians are tired of manifestos that promise the moon and deliver dust. If an economic blueprint does not have a clear, budgeted and time-bound tourism pillar aimed at creating sustainable jobs for ordinary Nigerians, the proponents are not ready to lead. Nigeria at 66 must choose innovation over repetition.

Veteran Taarab singer Khadija Kopa has questioned the representation of Zanzibar in the ongoing Bongo Flava @30 celebrations, saying the anniversary events have so far failed to reflect the contribution of artistes from the Isles.

Kopa, who has spent decades in Tanzania’s music industry, said she did not attend the celebrations because she did not want to force her way into an event where she had not been invited.

‘We can’t go to someone else’s event and cause a disruption, only to be asked, ‘Who invited you?” Kopa said.

Her concern, however, extends beyond her own absence.

‘We didn’t even see the Zanzibari artistes… We saw Bongo Flava artistes from Tanganyika, not from Tanzania,’ she further added.

Her comments come as Bongo Flava @30 continues a nationwide celebration marking three decades of Tanzania’s homegrown music genre.

The celebrations began in Dar es Salaam, with the main event held at Mlimani City on July 10. The programme subsequently moved to Mwanza on August 8 and Dodoma on August 22 before reaching Arusha on September 19.

The Arusha edition featured veteran names including Jay Moe, Juma Nature, Dully Sykes, Mr Blue, Q Chief, Chidi Benz, Lady Jay Dee, Matonya and Crazy GK, alongside American hip-hop veteran Mr Cheeks.

The expansion beyond Dar es Salaam has been presented as part of an effort to take the anniversary celebration to different parts of the country and bring together artistes from different generations.

But Kopa’s comments raise a different question, how representative has that national celebration been of Zanzibar’s contribution to the story of Tanzanian popular music?

Kopa is not a Bongo Flava artiste in the conventional sense. She is one of Zanzibar’s established Taarab voices.

She has collaborated with artistes including Chid Benz and Diamond Platnumz.

Zanzibar also developed its own urban music movement, commonly known as Zenji Flava, as hip-hop and contemporary sounds were adapted to the Isles’ musical and cultural environment.

That history means the story of Tanzanian popular music cannot easily be separated into completely different mainland and Zanzibar chapters.

The question becomes even more significant when looking at the purpose of the Bongo Flava @30 celebrations.

Organiser Madee has described the anniversary as an opportunity to recognise the people who contributed to the growth of Bongo Flava, rather than only those who were appearing on stage. Saying that the anniversary has also traced the genre’s development to a combination of hip-hop influences, Tanzanian sounds and Kiswahili storytelling.

Yet Kopa’s criticism suggests that recognition is also about geography and whose version of the history is being presented.

Her reference to seeing ‘Bongo Flava from Tanganyika, not from Tanzania’ places the debate within the country’s own history and identity, challenging the idea that a national celebration can fully represent Tanzania’s music while leaving questions about Zanzibar’s participation.

The timing of the criticism is particularly notable because the Zanzibar leg of the anniversary has itself been postponed.

The Zanzibar concert was initially scheduled for October 3, but organisers have now moved it to October 17, 2026.

The event is expected to continue the Bongo Flava @30 celebrations in the Isles and provide a platform for Zanzibar’s music community to be part of the anniversary programme.

The postponement means the Zanzibar edition will now come after the mainland stops in Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Dodoma and Arusha.

It also creates an opportunity for the anniversary to address the very concern raised by Kopa, whether the story of Bongo Flava’s 30 years can be told as a national story without giving Zanzibar’s artistes and music history a visible place in it.

As the anniversary heads to Zanzibar on October 17, the Isles will have an opportunity to add its own voices to the Bongo Flava @30 story.