Agility in digital transformation defines tomorrow’s winners – ICM

The Institute of Change Management (ICM) has called on Nigerian businesses to prepare for a future defined by the convergence of people, processes, and technology, noting that successful organisations will be those that approach digital transformation with intentionality and agility.

Nat Osewele, president/chairman of the council of ICM, during his address of welcome at the 2025 ICM Annual Conference themed, ‘Navigating to the Future: Synchronising People, Processes and Technology for the Next Era of Change,’ said the gathering was more than a meeting of professionals but a launchpad for transformation.

‘This conference reflects our collective commitment to shaping the future with intention, innovation, and integrity,’ Osewele stated.

He emphasised that the future is not to be feared but designed, while urging change leaders to build cultures that embrace agility, collaboration, and continuous learning.

During a panel session on ‘digital transformation and organisational agility,’ industry leaders highlighted both opportunities and challenges facing Nigerian firms.

Morolayo Igeleke, country marketing manager at UPS, stressed that successful transformation depends on leadership commitment.

‘It starts from the top,’ he said. ‘The shoulders of implementation begin with leadership, and everyone else will pick from it.

‘To invest in digital transformation as a leader, you must be digitally literate, set visions and timings, and grow incrementally. Mindset change is very difficult, but with execution and time, things will change,’ Igeleke noted. Folorunsho Aliu, group chief information officer of Dangote Industries Limited, said agility is not just speed but alignment with an organisation’s realities.

‘A lot of people are jumping to AI because it’s the real thing, but you can’t digitise processes if your business is still running on paper,’ Aliu stated. ‘You must evaluate your stage, set the right foundation, and grow organically. There is no need to rush just to catch up with everybody.’

He added that small businesses may find it easier to embed digital systems from scratch, while larger organisations must take a more structured approach.

The panel agreed that Nigerian businesses must prioritise continuous learning, workforce audits, and communication when adopting AI. Small pilot projects, investment in digital literacy, and ethical considerations were also identified as critical success factors.

Obiageli Nwobi, managing consultant at HR Allied Services Ltd, noted that AI is already embedded in everyday work.

She stated that there is an urgency to prepare today’s workforce for an AI-driven future. ‘AI has come to stay. Many of us already use it daily without realising it – from personalised recommendations to research tools.

‘The workforce of tomorrow will not only be assisted by AI, it will be shaped by it. The focus is shifting from jobs to skills, and success will depend on human-AI collaboration.’

It was noted that AI is increasingly taking over repetitive jobs, but new roles are also being created, from AI ethics officers to process improvement engineers.

‘Our jobs are not disappearing; they are evolving.’

Canada halts overseas caregiver PR route amid backlog crises

Canada’s has formally ceased its permanent residency (PR) pathway for foreign nationals through its flagship Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWP).

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed the permanent closure of the pathway intended for caregivers applying from outside the country, ending a long period of uncertainty for prospective applicants.

The HCWP, which launched with separate options for Home Support and Child Care, was initially presented as including streams for workers abroad. However, despite early assurances, the international intake component never opened for applications and has now been officially discontinued. Backlog blamed for sudden closure

While IRCC has not provided a formal explanation for the decision, available data strongly suggests the closure is a direct result of the immense backlog in caregiver applications.

As of September 11, 2025, IRCC’s inventory of caregiver applications, which includes both the current and older pilot programs, stood at a staggering 34,400.

The department has stated its intention to process only 14 per cent of this figure, equating to 4,816 applications by the end of the year.

With Canada having already admitted 4,200 new permanent residents under caregiver pilots between January 1 and September 11, 2025, only approximately 600 spaces remain for the rest of the year.

This allocation falls significantly short of the 2,750 new permanent residents originally planned for the in-Canada stream of the HCWP alone. The closure therefore aligns with a broader governmental policy shift to prioritise the transition of temporary residents already within Canada to permanent status.

This strategy is reflected in recent category-based Express Entry draws favouring the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and federal instructions requiring provinces to dedicate 75 per cent of their nomination allocations to candidates already residing domestically.

Alternative immigration options remain

Despite the end of the international HCWP stream, foreign caregivers still retain several avenues to immigrate. They are:

Express entry: Workers whose roles fall under National Occupational Classification (NOC) 33102 (nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates) remain eligible to apply through the federal Express Entry system.

They may benefit from the popular category-based selection draws for healthcare and social services roles, although it is highly competitive.

The most recent healthcare-specific draw required applicants to achieve a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 470. Provincial Nominee Programmes (PNPs): Several provincial governments continue to actively invite caregivers through their respective nomination streams. These include:

Manitoba: Skilled worker overseas stream.

Ontario: Employer job offer: Foreign worker stream (through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program).

New Brunswick: Priority occupations stream

Newfoundland and Labrador: Skilled Worker category.

Canada has set an overall limit of 10,920 permanent residents for 2025 across all economic federal pilots, a number that encompasses the Caregiver Pilots alongside programmes such as the Agri-Food Pilot and Start-up Visa Program.

How NEV Electric Ltd Is Using Local Manufacturing to Solve Nigeria’s Mass Transit Crisis and Power a Clean Future

As Nigeria marks 65 years of independence, attention is shifting toward the next phase of freedom – one defined not just by political sovereignty but by economic and industrial self-reliance. In the transport sector, NEV Electric Ltd is emerging as a key player shaping that vision, using local manufacturing and clean energy to solve Nigeria’s mass transit challenges.

For decades, Nigeria’s public transport system has relied heavily on imported vehicles and fossil fuels, exposing citizens to fuel price shocks and rising costs. NEV Electric is changing that narrative through an integrated model that combines local assembly, increasing local content manufacturing, and sustainable infrastructure deployment.

The company currently builds its electric buses with 30% local content, incorporating Nigerian components, materials, and labor, with a clear roadmap to reach 70% local content as domestic supply chains expand. This strategy ensures more value remains within the economy, fueling industrial growth, job creation, and technology transfer.

‘True independence means being able to design, build, and power what we need with our own hands,’ says Mosope Olaosebikan, Founder of NEV Electric. ‘We’re not just assembling buses; we’re building Nigeria’s transport future – powered by clean energy, local innovation, and sustainable systems.’

So far, NEV Electric has assembled over 120 electric buses in-country, with plans to scale up to 300 units in its next production phase. The company is also deploying 160kW high-capacity fast chargers across Abuja and Lagos – the largest in Nigeria – to support fleet operations and reduce range anxiety for operators.

To make electric mobility affordable, NEV Electric has introduced a Pay-As-You-Drive financing model that enables transport operators and state agencies to adopt EVs without heavy upfront capital. The plan bundles access to the bus, charging, maintenance, and battery into one predictable payment, ensuring smooth fleet transition and easier adoption.

Beyond vehicles, NEV Electric is investing in training programs for Nigerian engineers and technicians in EV assembly, maintenance, and conversion – empowering a new generation of green-skilled workers.

Aligned with Nigeria’s industrialization goals, NEV Electric is positioning the country as a regional hub for electric mobility. The company’s vision extends beyond Nigeria, with plans underway to export its electric buses and technology solutions to other African markets, contributing to the continent’s clean mobility transition.

By integrating local manufacturing, charging infrastructure, and innovative financing, NEV Electric is delivering a homegrown solution to Nigeria’s urban transport needs – one that reduces emissions, lowers operating costs, and builds local capacity.

As the country looks toward a more sustainable future, NEV Electric represents the promise of a new kind of independence – powered by Nigerians, built in Nigeria, and soon exported to Africa.

‘Every bus we build is a statement of what’s possible,’ Olaosebikan says. ‘We’re proving that Nigeria can lead Africa’s clean mobility revolution – not by importing the future, but by building it.’

Gamathon unveils $30,000 fund for African game developers

Africacomicade, Africa’s leading catalyst for the immersive and interactive media industry, has announced the sixth edition of Gamathon Nigeria 2025, the flagship event of its continental tour, set to hold in Lagos.

The convention will also debut a $30,000 fund dedicated to supporting African game developers, highlighting its role as a launchpad for industry growth.

The gathering, themed ‘Bridge’, is being positioned as the continent’s most important platform for video games, extended reality (XR), animation, and digital creative industries. Organisers say the event will not only connect Africa’s innovators with investors, policymakers, and industry leaders, but also channel new funding opportunities, including the $30,000 Android Game Development Program, to help position African youth as creators in the fast-growing global digital economy.

Building on regional tours in Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa earlier this year, the Nigeria edition, the flagship event and grand finale of this year’s continental tour, will take place in Lagos from September 29 to October 4, 2025, and is expected to consolidate the movement into one transformative week.

‘The regional tours in Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa have demonstrated the immense talent and potential across our continent,’ said Michael Oscar, Founder of Africacomicade. He said the event would help unlock new opportunities for cross-border collaboration, investment, and youth empowerment.

Alongside the $30,000 development fund, the convention will feature the unveiling of new titles such as Relooted and the introduction of promising studios like Cregon Studios and the official launch of games from the Android Port Challenge, backed by Google.

In addition, the convention will award winners from the Sanlam Alliance Challenge and a special showcase of Tossdown, the recently published hit game, in an exclusive version. The event addresses a critical market opportunity as Africa’s gaming and creative tech sectors experience growth. With the continent poised to contribute significantly to the next billion digital consumers globally, Gamathon 2025 focuses on positioning African youth as creators rather than merely consumers.

‘The next billion players are coming from the continent,’ emphasised Oscar. ‘It’s crucial to position our youth as creators to ensure a sustainable future for our society and economy.’

Governor Abba says the withdrawal of police personnel from Independence Day parade is an affront to national unity

Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf of Kano State has described the action of the state’s commissioner of police, pulling out of the March Pass ceremony marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, as an indiscretion and an affront to national unity.

Addressing crowds that gathered to mark the country’s 65th Independence anniversary, Sani Abacha Stadium venue of the ceremony, Abba accused the state commissioner, Ibrahim Adamu Bako, of deliberately withdrawing officers from the celebration, a move he said has embarrassed the state.

‘As you can see, on this historic and independent anniversary of Nigeria, he decided to pull out of the parade along with his own personnel.

‘This is for reasons pertinent to him and pertinent to his people. Let me say that Kano State’s Chief Security Officer, on behalf of the government, are not happy with this attitude of the Commissioner of Police.’, Governor Abba said. The governor’s remarks, made at the climax of the ceremony, underscored the fragile relationship between state officials and federal security institutions in Nigeria, where police commissioners report to the federal government rather than to governors, even though governors are constitutionally designated as their states’ ‘chief security officers.’ Abba accused the police of partisanship and warned that their absence risked undermining public trust in law enforcement.

‘Security agencies, in Kano in particular, shouldn’t be involving themselves in partisan politics, which will do no good to all of us in Kano State and in Nigeria, of course,’ he said. ‘I would like to seize this opportunity as a Nigerian, as a Kano citizen, and as the Chief Security Officer of Kano State, to condemn the unethical and partisan attitude of the current Commissioner of Police.

‘Today, every Nigerian is happy to celebrate the independence of this country,’ he said. ‘The good people of Kano are peace-loving people. They have been looking for this day, when we all gather here, to celebrate the independence of our country’, the Governor further stated.

He further described the commissioner’s last-minute decision to withdraw as politically motivated. ‘When our rights are written today in court, yet the Commissioner of Police decided to withdraw at the last minute,’ Mr Yusuf said. ‘This is unethical. This is disloyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’

In concluding his address, Governor Abba commended other security agencies for attending. He emphasised his displeasure that the police, a central figure in such ceremonies, had absented themselves.

PH hospitality industry swells as Heliconia Park launches Port Harcourt Hotel and Golf Resort

Heliconia Park has officially opened the doors of its newest and third destination, the Heliconia Park Port Harcourt Hotel and Golf Resort. The launch is said to mark a significant milestone for the brand, bringing a new standard of hospitality, lifestyle, and leisure to Port Harcourt.

According to the owners, guided by a vision that blends refined elegance with tailored experiences, the resort is said to reaffirm Heliconia Park’s mission to deliver secure, stylish, and welcoming spaces for both business and leisure guests.

Set within the quiet Intels Camp, Aba Road Estate, the resort says it is designed to be more than a place to stay.

With a golf course, and stylish suites the hotel combines Italian sophistication with African warmth, fine dining restaurants that are said to celebrate global and local cuisines, swing pool, tennis court, squash amidst sumptuous green areas, the Port Harcourt resort is seen as a destination where comfort meets timeless elegance, and every detail has been created to welcome guests with warmth and a sense of belonging, according to the promoters.

Speaking at the launch, Pasquale Fiore, the CEO of Heliconia Park, said: ‘This is not just another hotel. This is a destination and a home for excellence. Port Harcourt has long been a hub of energy, commerce, and culture, and by investing here we reaffirm our commitment to this city, its people, and its future. Heliconia Park was founded on the belief that true luxury is welcoming, personal, and tailored, and this resort embodies that very spirit.’

He went on: ‘We started Heliconia Park in 2022 with the opening of its first hotel in Port Harcourt, followed by the Lagos Luxury Apartments and Suites in 2024, officially inaugurated in February 2025. The launch marks a significant milestone in the brand’s growth journey in Nigeria, each chapter reflecting a vision of fine hospitality rooted in excellence, inspired by culture, and crafted with timeless standards of service.’

Also speaking at the event, Mike Epelle, Director at Heliconia Park, remarked: ‘The arrival of Heliconia Park Hotel and Golf Resort is a welcome addition to Port Harcourt. It reflects the city’s growing appeal as both a business and leisure hub, and we are proud to see such an investment that will not only elevate hospitality standards but also contribute to local tourism and economic growth.’

The launch of the Port Harcourt Hotel and Golf Resort underscores Heliconia Park’s philosophy of ‘Approachable Luxury,’ where prestige meets comfort and every guest feels both valued and at home. It is also a powerful reaffirmation of the brand’s growth journey, from its beginnings in Port Harcourt, to Lagos, and now back to the Garden City with a bold new resort, positioning Heliconia Park as one of Nigeria’s most dynamic luxury hospitality brands.

Heliconia Park is indicated as a home-grown Nigerian luxury hospitality brand redefining the guest experience with secure, stylish destinations, guided by its philosophy of ‘Approachable Luxury.’ Founded in 2022 with the launch of Heliconia Park Hotel and Suites in Port Harcourt, the brand says it has has since expanded with the Lagos Luxury Apartments and Suites in 2025 and now celebrates its third branch, the Heliconia Park Port Harcourt Hotel and Golf Resort.

It is located within the prestigious INTELS Aba Road Estate, the resort is both a retreat and a lifestyle destination. With event facilities, fine dining, pools, tennis courts, and a golf course, it reflects Heliconia Park’s mission to create elevated spaces and warm service where every guest feels at home.

Tony Elumelu honoured with 2025 Appeal of Conscience Award

Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Tony Elumelu, has been honoured with the 2025 Appeal of Conscience Award by the Appeal of Conscience Foundation (ACF) in New York.

The award, founded by Rabbi Arthur Schneier, recognises leaders who promote peace, coexistence, and economic empowerment. Elumelu’s wife, Awele Elumelu, received the award on his behalf and delivered his acceptance remarks at the gala.

In his speech, Elumelu dedicated the award to colleagues recently lost in a tragic incident, and to young African entrepreneurs supported through his foundation. ‘Before all else, I wish to honour their memories with a moment of silence.’

Elumelu, founder of Heirs Holdings and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, emphasised his philosophy of Africapitalism, the belief that the private sector plays a critical role in driving inclusive growth.

He noted that his businesses employ more than 40,000 people globally, including through UBA, which operates in New York.

‘Through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, a personal commitment we made in 2010, we have identified, trained, mentored, and provided over USD100million in seed funding to over 24,000 young African entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries.’

‘By empowering a generation with economic opportunities and the means to shape their own destinies, we are combating the despair that fuels economic instability, migration, and insecurity,’ he said. Elumelu added that there’s more to be done. Thus, the Appeal of Conscience Foundation award not only strengthens my resolve to do more, to deepen our impact, but it is a call out for collaboration with those who share similar values.

The 2025 ceremony also honoured Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York.

Rabbi Schneier, founder of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, praised Elumelu as ‘a beacon of ethical entrepreneurship and visionary leadership.’

‘Business can be a powerful force for peace, stability, and human dignity. His commitment to uplifting others is a living example of conscience in action,’ he added.

Brian Moynihan, chair and CEO of Bank of America and Gala Chair, described the honourees as embodiments of moral leadership.

He said, ‘The Appeal of Conscience Foundation has chosen to honour Tony Elumelu and Cardinal Dolan because they personify the moral leadership and global responsibility that ACF stands for. Their works in faith, community, and economic empowerment remind us that progress and conscience go hand in hand.’

Alausa promises to improve teachers’ welfare, profession’s image, others

The Nigerian government has promised to enhance teachers’ welfare, elevate the public perception of the teaching profession, and address other key challenges affecting educators nationwide, in a renewed effort to revamp the education sector.

The move aims to boost morale, and professional support of teachers across the country as the educators joined the global community to commemorate the 2025 World Teachers’ Day.

Olatunji Alausa, the minister of education, made this known on Tuesday, September 30, during a symposium in commemoration of World Teachers’ Day billed for Sunday, October 5, in the company of Suwaiba Ahmad, the minister of state for education. Alausa applauded Nigerian teachers, describing them as the custodians of knowledge, the builders of character, and the architects of national future.

The minister stressed that teachers remain the foundation of every profession.

‘Honestly, you have the most important and the best profession in the country. Who makes a doctor, an engineer and/or a professor? It is the teacher.

‘That is why the government is working assiduously to come up with better packages for you. Light is at the end of the tunnel,’ he said.

Besides, Alausa emphasised the need for teamwork and networking in modern teaching. ‘For too long, teaching has often been practiced in isolation. But when teachers collaborate, students are the ultimate beneficiaries. ‘They receive richer, more engaging instruction and witness firsthand the power of teamwork and shared responsibility,’ he stressed.

Moreover, he reassured teachers of the government’s support, acknowledgement, and training.

‘When you want the highest quality of education, you need a high-quality teacher. When you want a high-quality teacher, you give teachers the recognition, support, training, and the cooperation they need,’ he said. The minister commended Nigerian teachers’ global impact, stressing that anywhere in the world, when they say a Nigerian student becomes a professional, they do so well. And this, he said is the output of Nigerian teachers’ work.

‘We know we can’t pay you enough, but be proud of yourselves. On behalf of the President, I commend you for your sacrifices, your diligence, and your commitment to building our nation,’ he stated.

The global theme for the 2025 edition is ‘Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession.’

World Teachers’ Day was first proclaimed in 1994 by UNESCO in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Education International (EI), and UNICEF.

It is celebrated annually to honour teachers and highlight their vital role in shaping education and society.

Lagos Trade Fair demolition: Obi, lawmakers condemn ‘economic destruction’

The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, joined a high-powered delegation of lawmakers to visit the site of the demolished ASPAMDA Market at the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos, where plazas were pulled down despite traders having obtained the requisite approvals.

Obi was accompanied by Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Victor Umeh, Col. Austin Akobundu, and Tony Nwoye, as well as House of Representatives members Segun Sowunmi and George Adegeye. Also present were Labour Party’s Lagos State governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, and the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Tanko Yunusa. In a statement after the visit, Obi commended the affected traders for showing restraint and maintaining peace in the face of what he described as ‘painful loss and injustice.’ He further appreciated the lawmakers who pledged to investigate the demolition and ensure accountability.

The former Anambra State governor urged governments at all levels to act with compassion and fairness, especially given that many of the traders had taken loans to finance their businesses. He noted that destroying legitimate investments without due process was ‘not only unjust but also economically destructive.’

Obi stressed that a nation aspiring to progress must protect enterprise, encourage productivity, and defend the dignity of its citizens, warning that ‘incidents like this have no place in a society that seeks fairness, stability, and shared prosperity.’

No religious genocide in Nigeria- Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, criticised those peddling allegations of religious genocide in the country, saying no religion is under siege.

The president described the allegations as ‘unfounded and misleading, as citizens focus more on harmony and shared prosperity.*

Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesman, in a statement, said Tinubu acknowledges that after 65 years of Independence, citizens have grown to appreciate religious and cultural differences and explore the advantages of diversity in terms of educational, economic, and other productive gains.

President Tinubu allayed fears of religious intolerance in the country at the unveiling of a book on the 10 years of the APC government in Nigeria. It was authored by the Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodimma.

Tinubu was in Owerri to commission projects, such as the Owerri-Mbaise-Umahia road, the Assumpta Twin flyover, and the Emmanuel Iwuayanwu Convention Centre.

Nentawe Yilwatda, the All Progressive Congress APC national chairman, two former APC Chairmen, Adams Oshiomhole and Umar Ganduje, governors of APC states, and the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, attended the commissioning of the projects and the book launch.

The event was also attended by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the House of Representatives, Deputy Speaker, Deputy Senate President, former Senate Presidents, Sen. Pius Anyim Pius, and Ahmad Lawan, were also at the event.

Others include the founding Chairman of the APC, Bisi Akande, and former Governor of Ogun State, Segun Osoba, as well as traditional and religious leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, student unions, and market associations.

President Tinubu told the crowd at the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu Convention Centre: ‘Let me also say this clearly, Nigeria is a proud, sovereign nation built on the faith and resilience of its people. Here, no faith is under siege, no community is excluded.

‘Our churches, mosques, and traditional shrines stand side by side – not as rivals, but as symbols of the unity that binds us.

‘We must never allow outsiders to tell us who we are or sow division among us. We are Nigerians, and we will stand together. Nigeria will not accept lectures from those who seek to profit from our divisions. No one loves this country more than Nigerians themselves, and no one will define us except us.

‘Our duty is to stand guard over our unity, protect every citizen, and continue to prove to the world that our diversity is not our weakness, but our strength and when Nigeria stands united, no falsehood can prosper against her. So help us God,’ he added.

On the impact of the All Progressives Congress in running Nigeria since 2015, President Tinubu said: ‘Nigeria is no longer where it was ten years ago. We promised a change, and I can confidently tell you the worst is over.

‘Ten years ago, our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), came into power on the wings of change. Nigeria was at a crossroads. A break from the old order was not only desirable; it had become inevitable to steer our nation away from collapse. ‘Under President Muhammadu Buhari, our party began stabilising Nigeria. We invested heavily in infrastructure, pushed back terrorists, and instilled accountability in public finance. Were there challenges? Yes. Were mistakes made? Yes. But no one can deny that the direction of Nigeria changed for good,’ he added.

‘APC may not be perfect, but we are purposeful. And we will not allow Nigeria to return to the wasted years of drift,’ the President said.

‘We are not yet where we want to be, but we are no longer where we were. We are building a Nigeria that values productivity above handouts and is a nation prepared for a sustainable future.

The President has a message for the critics of the APC administration: ‘And to those who today parade themselves as prophets of solutions, let me say this: those who wasted sixteen years had their chance. Nigerians remember the broken promises, the broken power plants, the broken roads and the attempts to usurp democratic institutions using corrupt practices and subterfuge.

President Tinubu commended Governor Uzodimma for his scholarship documenting this decade of progressive governance.

‘Hope has given Nigeria a gift: a reminder that nations must write their own stories, and leaders must account for their stewardship.

The President stated that the outlook for the economy had improved across various indicators.

‘I am honoured to stand here in Owerri, in the heart of the South-East, a land of industry, intellect, and resilience. I know there were times when this region felt left out. But under Renewed Hope, no part of Nigeria will be abandoned. The South-East is not on the margins; you are at the centre of our national rebirth.

‘Believing in true federalism and decentralisation, I have created regional development commissions to bring progress closer to the people. Nigerians have the right to hold leaders at every level (federal, state, and local) accountable. And as leaders, we have the duty to deliver,’ he added.

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, thanked the President for the initiative of NELFUND, which had encouraged more underprivileged children to pursue their education in higher institutions.

‘Mr President, you have given hope to many young people through the Education funds you provide. You have invested in agriculture to provide food for millions of Nigerians.

‘On behalf of the entire National Assembly, we want to congratulate the performing governor,’ the Senate President said.

The Governor of Imo State, who is also the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, stated that the sub-national governments had consistently received increased allocations, enabling infrastructure construction and improving sectors such as education and health.

‘Mr President, we are grateful for your support. It is through your courage and bold policies that our economy is stabilised today. Most of the projects we undertake in Imo are made possible by the continuous funding we receive from time to time.

‘Your consistency in the political trajectory of Nigeria made it possible for the formation of APC, which became a force in the build-up to the 2015 elections. This inspired me to document all these remarkable efforts into a book titled ‘A Decade of Leadership in Nigeria’.