Category: Business Day

A non-governmental organisation, Plan International Nigeria, in collaboration with Hope and Rural Aid Foundation (HARAF), has trained 293 youths on various skills acquisition as well as cash grants to the trainees after graduation in Borno and Adamawa States, respectively.

Emmanuel Nuhu, the head of humanitarian programme Plan International, while speaking during the graduation ceremony with the theme ‘Seeds of Change,’ of the 133 trainees from Borno State held in Maiduguri.

Emmanuel explained that youth unemployment in Nigeria remains alarmingly high, particularly in the Northeast, where years of conflict and displacement have limited access to education and economic opportunities.

Nuhu noted that as of 2020, the national youth unemployment rate stood at 33.3 per cent, with higher figures recorded in conflict-affected states such as Borno and Adamawa.

According to him, to tackle this challenge, Plan International established four Livelihood Incubation Centres across Damboa and Mafa LGAs in Borno, and Girei and Fufore LGAs in Adamawa, respectively. He added that the initiative was targeted to build resilience, promote gender inclusion, and enhance self-reliance among vulnerable youth through skills development, entrepreneurship training, and agricultural innovation.

‘We are excited to celebrate 132 young graduates in Borno today who have completed our skills acquisition program under the BMZ project.

‘Over a six-month training cycle, participants received technical and life-skills education, business coaching, and monthly stipends of ?30,000 for transportation within the period of the training period.

Upon graduation, each beneficiary received ?100,000 in seed capital to launch microenterprises in agriculture and related sectors. These young people are now equipped not only to earn a living but also to train others in their communities,’ Nuhu said.

The project was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), supported by Plan International Nigeria and jointly implemented the Livelihood Incubation Centres (LICs) under the Youth Learn, Earn and Prosper in the Lake Chad Region project.

Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has said that the wave of defections rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a vindication of his long-standing warnings about the dangers of internal impunity and lack of fairness within the party.

Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Friday, Wike said the recent defections of PDP governors, senators, and other key figures to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were clear signs of an impending collapse he had predicted years ago but which party leaders ignored.

‘When I said there would be a political tsunami, people laughed,’ Wike said. ‘But you can see it now. Governors and senators are leaving their parties. Isn’t that a tsunami? Look at what happened in Edo and Bauchi States, where senators left the PDP for the APC. I said it from day one if the PDP continues on its current path, it will keep losing.’

According to Wike, the ongoing exodus is not a coincidence but the direct consequence of the PDP’s failure to embrace internal democracy and address long-standing grievances among its members. He noted that he had consistently cautioned the party against sidelining loyal members and manipulating key processes, including congresses and conventions.

‘I’ve been consistent,’ Wike continued. ‘I warned that if the party failed to correct itself, it would regret it and that is what is happening today. Even during the convention talks, I knew they were playing games. I told them what they were doing would backfire.’ Wike, who served as governor of Rivers State between 2015 and 2023, was a key player in the PDP’s internal battles leading up to the 2023 general election. His public disagreements with the party’s leadership particularly over zoning and the presidential ticket eventually led to deep divisions within the ranks.

He insisted that his criticisms of the PDP leadership were not driven by bitterness or personal loss but by a genuine desire to see the party reform itself and remain relevant in Nigeria’s political space.

‘That’s not true,’ he said, responding to suggestions that his stance was fueled by resentment over losing the PDP presidential ticket to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2022. ‘I’m not bitter. What I’ve always demanded is fairness and adherence to process. When issues like the party secretary arose, I said, ‘Follow the right procedure.’ They didn’t. They thought they could manipulate things and see where it has led the party today.’

Wike maintained that the party’s current troubles could have been avoided if its leadership had listened to internal voices calling for transparency, inclusivity, and respect for established procedures. He added that until the PDP confronts its internal contradictions, more members are likely to abandon the party.

‘The truth is, when you refuse to do the right thing, you will pay for it later,’ he said. ‘What we’re seeing today is not punishment from anyone, it is the reward of the party’s own choices.’

At a time when defections continue to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape, Wike’s remarks underscore his transformation from a once loyal party enforcer to one of the most outspoken critics of the PDP’s internal politics.

While some may view market performance and social investment as separate pursuits, the NGX Group’s strategy presents them as two sides of the same coin.

In an emerging market like Nigeria’s, the underlying conviction is that long-term profitability is inextricably linked to societal health and the expansion of the investing class.

This philosophy is reflected not only in NGX Group’s social initiatives but also in its market performance.

The sustained rise in market value underscores investor confidence, driven by greater transparency, innovation, and a growing alignment between economic and social progress.

The equities market is nearing historic N100trillion market, what it implies is that it has created additional class of wealthy investors. As at Friday October 24, market capitalisation and NGX-ASI stood at record highs of N98.792 trillion and 155,645.05 points respectively. As of September 2025, total market capitalisation on NGX stood at N141.75 trillion, up from N102.94 trillion a year earlier, representing a 37.7 percent year-on-year growth.

‘We track not just financial outcomes, but the breadth of impact,’ Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NGX Group notes.

‘It’s about how far the benefits of growth extend from the boardroom to the community,’ he added.

Through this lens, NGX Group stands as a case study in how social investment can reinforce financial stability and deepen trust in the marketplace, turning empathy into an enduring economic advantage.

Digital transformation as an enabler.

NGX Group’s social impact agenda is matched by an equally ambitious digital modernisation journey that is redefining market access and inclusion.

Central to this transformation is NGX Invest, the Group’s e-offering platform designed to democratise access to the primary market. Since its launch, the platform has supported corporates in raising over N2 trillion in capital, providing a more efficient and transparent subscription process for investors and issuers alike.

By simplifying participation and improving transparency, NGX Invest is expanding accessibility for retail investors, enabling them to participate seamlessly in public offers and rights issues. ‘Technology allows us to scale opportunity,’ Popoola emphasises. ‘But more importantly, it allows us to scale trust.’

From the heart of Kano to offices in Victoria Island, digitalisation is narrowing the geographic and socioeconomic divide in market participation. Retail investors continue to increase, creating a deeper and more resilient pool of capital.

This data-driven ethos extends beyond the trading floor. Project BLOOM also leverages technology to collate health data, measure outcomes, and track progress, reflecting the Group’s belief that digitalisation can serve both market and human development. Market innovation can coexist with human impact.

In an era where conversations around corporate responsibility often struggle to translate into meaningful action, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group) stands out as a beacon of how market innovation can coexist with human impact.

The Popoola-led NGX Group is redefining what it means to lead a market institution in Africa. Under his leadership, NGX Group has emerged not only as a driver of capital formation but also as a force for community transformation.

Strengthening markets through human capital and community impact.

Over the past year, NGX Group has demonstrated that a capital market institution can be both profit-oriented and profoundly people-centered. The Group’s flagship social impact initiative, Project BLOOM (Bringing Life to Our Overlooked Minors), recently held its second outreach in Ajegunle, one of Lagos’ most underserved communities.

In partnership with the Lagos State Government and the Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), NGX Group has reached over 200 children and 180 caregivers, providing life-saving Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs), medical checkups, and nutrition education. The impact from the first outreach in Yaba, held in August, is already visible: among children aged 0-5 identified as malnourished or at risk, nearly 50 percent have entered the recovery stage within seven weeks of sustained intervention and monitoring. What might appear to be a modest community programme is, in fact, a reflection of a larger philosophy, one that links social health to market health. Popoola has repeatedly emphasised that the strength of Nigeria’s capital markets cannot be separated from the strength of the society they serve.

‘For us at NGX Group, building strong capital markets goes hand in hand with building strong communities, because inclusive growth and social well-being are the true foundations of a resilient economy,’ he remarked. ‘Market development and human capital development are inseparable.’ Redefining Corporate Social Responsibility.

Under Popoola’s leadership, NGX Group’s approach to sustainability and social responsibility continues to evolve from transactional giving to transformational investment. Through the Group’s Employee Volunteer Scheme, over 50 NGX Group staff have participated across both outreaches, working alongside health workers to assist with screenings, data collection, and caregiver training. This collaboration underscores NGX Group’s belief in shared responsibility for social progress.

Even so, the journey is not without challenges, from sustaining interventions in low-income communities to maintaining long-term tracking and support. Yet, by embedding data measurement and monitoring mechanisms into each outreach, NGX Group applies the same discipline it brings to the capital market to its social programmes. This alignment, evidence-based, measurable, and accountable, marks a quiet shift in how the private sector can operationalize empathy.

Sustainability through innovation.

Beyond community and digital transformation, NGX Group’s commitment to environmental sustainability continues to gain momentum. The NGX NetZero programme, Nzero, launched under Popoola’s leadership, underscores the Group’s resolve to lead by example in driving climate action across Nigeria’s private sector.

Through Nzero, NGX is supporting listed companies in measuring, reporting, and reducing their carbon emissions, aligning corporate behaviour with global sustainability standards. The initiative not only promotes accountability but also positions Nigeria’s capital market as a platform for financing the transition to a low-carbon economy.

As Popoola has often stated, ‘Our vision is to create markets that thrive in harmony with society and the environment.’ Nzero represents that vision in motion, linking market transparency, data innovation, and climate responsibility into one cohesive framework. Collaborating for impact.

A hallmark of Popoola’s strategy is partnership. Project BLOOM’s success reflects a deliberate multi-sectoral model that unites government, civil society, and the private sector toward measurable social outcomes. The Lagos State Ministry of Health ensures interventions align with state priorities, while HEI contributes the technical expertise needed for efficient delivery.

‘No single institution can solve systemic challenges alone,’ Popoola observes. ‘Our role is to convene, coordinate, and contribute our resources and expertise. The real impact happens when government drives policy alignment, NGOs bring implementation capacity, and the private sector ensures accountability and sustainability.’

This partnership model extends beyond community engagement to NGX Group’s broader ecosystem collaboration. From regulators and market operators to issuers, investors, and fintech innovators, Popoola’s approach is consistent: identify shared value, align incentives, and scale impact through collective action.

At the second outreach, The Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Health District V, Oladapo Ashiyanbi, lauded NGX Group and HEI for their ‘unwavering commitment to restoring hope to vulnerable families,’ noting that the project aligns perfectly with the government’s ongoing nutrition and child health programmes.

Reflecting on the initiative’s growth, Pascal Achunine, Executive Director of HEI, noted; ‘The first outreach revealed both the depth of the malnutrition crisis and the power of swift, coordinated intervention. The results prove that when the public and private sectors act with urgency and compassion, we can save lives and restore hope’.

The path forward.

Looking ahead, NGX Group’s roadmap under Popoola points toward deeper integration between technology, markets, and sustainability. Initiatives like NGX Invest continue to break down barriers for retail investors and boost market depth, while Project BLOOM ensures that as markets rise, communities rise with them. The initiative targets reaching thousands of children by 2026, driving measurable improvements in nutrition indicators that correlate with better long-term health and learning outcomes.

At a time when trust in institutions is fragile and inequality is widening, NGX Group offers a model of leadership that connects profit with purpose. By fusing digital innovation with social investment, Temi Popoola is positioning NGX Group not only as a leader in market development but also as a catalyst for human development.

Read also: NGX Group highlights market resilience in dialogue on tax reforms

The story of NGX Group today is, in many ways, the story of Nigeria’s evolving future, one where technology, capital, and compassion converge to build a more inclusive economy. Under Popoola’s leadership, the Group is proving that when a market grows with empathy and data-driven precision, it becomes not just an exchange of capital but a platform where growth serves people as much as profit.

‘As an institution,’ Popoola reflects, ‘we are judged not just by the wealth we help create, but by how widely that wealth is shared and how sustainably it’s generated. That is the standard we are setting for ourselves.’

The Nigeria Police Force has defended its decision to transfer Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist, to the Kuje Correctional Centre shortly after he was granted bail by a Kuje Magistrate’s Court in Abuja on Friday.

Sowore was arrested on Thursday by police operatives on charges bordering on incitement and breach of public peace.

His arrest was linked to the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest he organised in Abuja on Monday, despite repeated warnings from the authorities.

He was arraigned alongside 12 others before a Kuje Magistrate’s Court, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court later granted him bail in the sum of ?500,000 with two sureties.

However, while his legal team was still working to perfect the bail conditions, heavily armed policemen reportedly stormed the court premises and took him away.

Deji Adeyanju, a human rights activist, accused the police of brutality, saying over 50 armed officers invaded the court, beat Sowore, and whisked him away without properly presenting a remand order.

‘Sowore had just been granted bail, and while we were conferring with him, the police suddenly launched an attack.

Over 50 officers descended on him and took him away by force. The officer leading the team flashed a document he called a remand order but refused to let Sowore’s lawyers inspect it. When we demanded to know where they were taking him, he said Kuje Prison,’ Adeyanju told journalists.

Adeyanju further alleged that during the scuffle, police officers accused Sowore of ‘insulting the Inspector-General of Police’ and vowed to deal with him. According to him, Sowore’s shirt was torn as he was dragged away, while his legal team continued working to finalise his bail paperwork.

However, reacting to the outcry, Benjamin Hundeyin, Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), in a statement shared on X, insisted that the police acted lawfully.

Hundeyin, who attached a copy of the remand warrant to his post, explained that the police were merely enforcing a court directive.

Read also: Sowore was arrested for leading Abuja protest despite court order – Police

‘Except we want to be mischievous, we all know that once a court grants a suspect bail, it comes with the caveat that until the bail conditions are met, the suspect remains in custody.

‘Where it is clearly spelt out on the remand warrant that the suspect be remanded in a correctional facility, not police custody, it is the duty of the police to hand over the suspect to the Nigeria Correctional Service, who would then process his bail conditions. This has always been the practice. Why should this be different?’ Hundeyin wrote.

The police spokesperson also defended the use of force during the operation, stressing that officers are legally empowered to employ commensurate force when carrying out their duties or enforcing court orders.

‘As law enforcement officers, we are empowered by law to employ commensurate force to get our mandate achieved,’ Hundeyin added.

As part of activities marking this year’s World Food Day Celebration, Zuma Agric Radio has launched the Koyo Health App, a digital innovation designed to enhance healthcare access for rural communities in Niger State.

The launch event commenced at the Zuma Agric Radio premises in Suleja and concluded at the Numba Koro Primary Health Care Centre, Tafa Local Government Area, where the initiative was officially introduced to residents according to a statement by the management

In his welcome address, Shuaibu Kere Ahmed, managing director, Zuma Agric Radio, described the app as a bridge between ‘innovation and inclusion,’ noting that it will connect underserved populations to essential medical services and improve health outcomes in remote areas.

Also speaking at the event, Murtala Babagana, special adviser to Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State, lauded the initiative as a model for effective public-private collaboration in community health delivery. The Permanent Secretary of the Primary Health Care Development Agency equally reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting digital health innovations that promote equitable healthcare access.

More than 300 rural dwellers were registered on the app during the event.

The Koyo Health App is expected to serve as a vital tool in advancing rural healthcare delivery, aligning with broader efforts to integrate technology into public health management across the state.

Cameroon’s influential Catholic Church has called for calm, as fears grow that violence could erupt once official results from the presidential election are declared.

Opposition candidate and ex-government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary has declared himself the winner of the 12 October election, saying he defeated 92-year-old President Paul Biya, who is seeking to extend his 43 year-rule by seven more years.

Tchiroma’s declaration was criticised by both the government and Biya’s ruling party, with several officials describing it as illegal.

Cameroon’s Constitutional Council has not yet released the final results.

It has until 27 October to declare the winner.

Tchiroma’s defiance and promise to defend what the 76-year-old calls his victory has raised fears of violence in the central African nation.

The African president who keeps defying death rumours

In a statement released by the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC), Catholic Bishops expressed the need for peace and stability. The clerics said they hoped that the official result would reflect the will of the electorate, and ‘nothing will be changed by any authority involved in this exercise’.

The Catholic Church is highly respected and is viewed as a moral voice of the nation.

Its statement echoes the sentiments of many, who have urged the Constitutional Council to ensure that the result is not rigged.

Some of the Church’s prelates have been outspoken in their criticism of Biya and how he has governed.

In January, Monsignor Yaouda Hourgo, Bishop of the Diocese of Yagoua in the Far North region, said it was preferable for the ‘devil’ to take power, rather than for Biya to seek re-election.

‘We’re not going to suffer any more than this. We’ve already suffered enough,’ he said in his homily.

Following protests over alleged fraud, the Constitutional Council said it would begin hearing complaints on Wednesday. Its verdict will be crucial in determining who will be the next president.

In a message to the judges, the Catholic Bishops reiterated a simple message: ‘The truth shall set you free.’

The media sub-committee of the 2025 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention to hold next week in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo state, on Saturday, said that the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) might take advantage of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Police.

The media committee said this in a statement signed and issued to journalists in Bauchi. Said that the APC may also use the Judiciary and others to stop the convention from being held, just for their own interest.

Committee urged the Judiciary, INEC, Police and others to demonstrate high levels of patriotism and transparency in the discharge of their duties.

The party wants the institutions to abide by the rules and regulations guiding the convention and ensure that the process is free, fair, and transparent.

Also urged the judiciary, INEC, and the police to prioritise the interests of Nigeria and its citizens, rather than serving the interests of the ruling party.

‘They must remember that they will be called to account for their deeds here or hereafter or both. After all, their refusal to abide by laid down rules and regulations, their selfish actions and or in-actions, are not only capable of truncating the nation’s democratic evolution but could also lead to chaos, destruction and national disaster’

The committee further said that in an ideal democratic setting, and particularly the type of democracy being practised in Nigeria, opposition is an invigorating tonic that not only checks excesses of the ruling party but also proffers solutions to problems. Where the opposition is being strangulated, however, it can be said that the voices of the people are being stifled’

‘In Nigeria today, it is an open secret that, pointers are suspecting that the ruling party at the center, the APC, is bent on using every tool at its disposal, including the misuse of important democratic institutions that are pillars on which credible and sustainable democracy is built, to continue its misrule in the country’

Adding that ‘Judiciary, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Police and other law enforcement agencies, are likely to become tools of manipulation in the hands of the All Peoples Congress (APC). ‘For this and other reasons, it does not come as a surprise that fears are being expressed by the teeming supporters of the People Democratic Party (PDP), that the APC is muting or contemplating the use of the judiciary to ensure that the forthcoming party convention does not hold at all, or is postponed indefinitely’

‘These fears are certainly not unfounded and going by the APC’s antecedents, the possibility of using inter and intra party destructive elements to thwart the PDP November billed convention, cannot be ruled out’

‘All these destructive elements operating from within and outside the PDP, can go to any extent to serve the selfish interests of their masters in the APC. They must be reminded here, that nemesis is sure to catch up with them, sooner than later’

Furthermore said that ‘All the machinations are surely in preparation for the grand electoral manipulation of the 2027 general elections and the enthronement of a one-party democracy that would pave the way towards dictatorship’

They urged party faithful that it is time to unite more than ever before, get courage and remain steadfast in protecting the legacy of the party through solidarity, unity and loyalty.

‘Nothing should be allowed to injure the forthcoming National Convention, bearing in mind that we have fought hard, worked so diligently to the nurturing of Nigerian democracy to its present stage’

Call on members of the party should not succumb to the antics of fifth columnists, agents of anti-democratic practice, to thwart the reputation of the party, which by all standards, is the truly national party in the country which had previously ruled with vision and excellent leadership.

Party members need to know that the leadership of the party and its caucus are working around the clock to withstand all possible elements of sabotage, be it from state institutions or hired individuals. Friendly Civil Society Organisations, and international Communities are being contacted as at appropriate to join hands in preserving and protecting our democratic culture.

The NEPAD Business Group Nigeria (NBGN) will convene business leaders, policymakers, development partners, and regional economic actors to explore strategies for deepening private sector engagement in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and advancing Africa’s economic transformation agenda though its business forum.

The high-level business forum which will hold on Thursday, 30 October 2025, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, under the theme: ‘Mobilising Africa’s Private Sector for AfCFTA towards Africa’s Economic Development Amid Global Uncertainty.’

According to the organisers, the event aims to stimulate practical dialogue and partnership on the role of the private sector in driving intra-African trade, industrial competitiveness, and sustainable economic growth. Discussions will focus on key areas such as policy alignment, trade facilitation, investment promotion, value-chain development, and industrial cooperation across African economies.

The forum is expected to attract participants from government ministries and agencies, financial institutions, regional economic communities, chambers of commerce, development organisations, and captains of industry from within and outside Nigeria. Speaking ahead of the Forum, Bashorun Randle, the Chairman of NEPAD Business Group Nigeria, emphasised the pivotal role of the private sector in Africa’s development under the AfCFTA framework.

‘The private sector remains the engine of Africa’s transformation. Through this Forum, we aim to build actionable strategies that will strengthen Africa’s economic resilience, promote cross-border trade, and ensure inclusive prosperity for all,’ he stated.

The outcomes of the event are expected to contribute to policy recommendations and strategic frameworks that will enhance regional trade integration and promote the realisation of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.

In an era where information flows faster than ever, John Momoh, a veteran broadcaster and chairman of Channels Media Group, has identified credibility, rather than information, as Nigeria’s greatest challenge.

Delivering his keynote address at the 25th NECCI PR Roundtable discussions, themed ‘The Ethics of Governance: Shaping Reputation through Public Relations’, he emphasised that the problem of governance in Nigeria is a lack of trust.

‘Trust is the currency of leadership. Trust between leaders and citizens, government and the governed, and between Nigeria and Nigerians.

‘People no longer take official statements at face value. They hear promises that don’t match their pay, see projects launched but rarely completed,’ he said.

He emphasised that when citizens stop believing their leaders, no amount of publicity can repair that loss of faith, and this he said, is the very heart of credibility.

‘When we talk about the ethics of governments, we’re talking about what leaders do when no one is watching. Because ethics is the summation of integrity plus transparency, and accountability.

‘It means doing the right thing, not the complicated thing; it’s transparency in all forms. Letting the light shine on decisions, and it’s accountability,’ he noted.

Nkechi Ali-Balogun, the founder/convener of NECCI PR Roundtable discussions, said over the years, the PR roundtable has evolved into a respected forum for dialogue, learning and advocacy.

‘We have remained true to our founding vision to promote professionalism, uphold ethics and use communication as a tool for development and nation building. Our impact over the past 25 years has been significant,’ she said.

She announced the launch of the NECCI Public Relations Pulse Excellence Prize, which is aimed at promoting professionalism in the industry.

‘Today, we are proud to launch the NECCI Public Relations Pulse Excellence Prize. This initiative aims to cultivate knowledgeable and skilled public relations professionals who will make a significant impact in the industry,’ she said.

Godrey Ogbechie, group executive director at Rainoil Ltd, said that ethics gives governance its soul and public relations, when practised truthfully, gives practitioners’ souls a voice.

Ogbechie emphasised the need for integrity even in the face of crisis management. ‘I’ve learned that integrity is the best crisis management tool, when you choose openness over silence, honesty over convenience, trust grows in tough times.

‘We are in tough times, not just in Nigeria, even those of you who may disagree, but globally, these are really very tough times. As we are professionals, we must be more than storytellers; we must be truth tellers; let our messages align with our values,’ he said.

She reiterated that if Nigeria’s reputation is to rise, ethics must move from documents to daily conduct, from slogans to standards. ‘Let us make ethics our strongest brand,’ she urged.

Ike Neliaku, the NIPR president, represented by Emmanuel Dandaura, the vice-president at NIPR, said the issues of ethics, governance and the strategic role of public relations cannot be overemphasised.

‘Governance everywhere is under intense public scrutiny. Citizens are more vocal in the digital spaces, and they are also unforgiving as far as demanding accountability is concerned.

‘Let us face it, no amount of public relations can save unethical governance. You can try your best to polish an image, but if the conduct is rough, the shine won’t last,’ emphasised.

Neliaku highlighted the need to train a new generation of public relations practitioners who understand that ethics is not a chapter in a textbook, but the oxygen of credibility.

‘Let us use our skills not just to promote power, but to humanise it. Not just to shape messages, but to reveal meaning in public life.

‘As we celebrate this silver jubilee, let’s remember that reputation is not what people say about us when we issue a press statement. It is what they believe about us when the microphone is off,’ he said.

Idris Malagi, the minister of information, stressed that the link between ethical governance and national reputation has become critical; hence, he said, as government communicators and stakeholders in the information ecosystem, practitioners must continue to uphold ethics, transparency, and the truth at the foundation of every effective public communication.

‘As the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, our work is deeply anchored in this main principle. Through the renewed agenda of President Bola Tinubu, this administration is committed to rebuilding public trust, promoting transparency and ensuring that government communication serves as a bridge between government and the people.

‘Through responsible information management, media engagement and national orientation, we aim to foster a culture where truth, accountability and integrity are defined by our national narrative,’ he said.

Dignitaries such as Tokunboh George-Taylor, Nkiru Olumide-Ojo, Alice Ajeh, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Rafia Oseni, Yakubu Lamai, Femi Adesina and Lampe Omoyele, among others, lend their voices to promoting ethics in Nigeria’s governance at all levels.

Governor Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina State has approved the release of ?677,572,815 for the payment of bursary allowances, academic excellence awards, and special needs scholarships to Katsina students studying in various tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibrahim Mohamed, which was made available to newsmen on Saturday, noting that Radda reaffirmed its commitment to educational empowerment, inclusiveness, and global academic excellence.

The statement read, ‘The approval underscores Governor Radda’s firm belief in education as a catalyst for empowerment, growth, and social inclusion, in line with his Building Your Future Agenda, which places human capital development at the heart of governance.

‘Out of the total approved amount, ?283,521,639 will be disbursed as bursary allowances to newly admitted Katsina students in tertiary institutions across the country. Another ?15 million has been earmarked for the Katsina State Government Award of Academic Excellence, which recognises graduates with First-Class Honours in their respective disciplines. In addition, ?7 million has been set aside for the Annual Special Scholarship Programme aimed at supporting students with special needs.

‘This latest approval follows the earlier release of ?372,051,176 in September 2024 for continuing students, bringing the total disbursement for the 2024/2025 academic session to ?677,572,815. ‘Since assuming office, Governor Radda has consistently prioritised education through massive investments in scholarship and bursary programmes. Previous disbursements include ?637,924,516 (for 47,935 students, 2020/2021 fresh and 2021/2022 continuing), ?544,207,748 (for 37,802 students, 2021/2022 fresh and 2022/2023 continuing), ?744,102,352 (for 50,438 students, 2022/2023 fresh and 2023/2024 continuing), and ?372,051,176 for 2024/2025 continuing students.

‘With this latest round, Katsina State’s total investment in student support has now reached ?2.6 billion, directly benefiting tens of thousands of students and reaffirming the State’s leadership in promoting educational advancement in Northern Nigeria’.

Aminu Salisu Tsauri, the Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Scholarship Board, described the Governor’s approval as a landmark decision that reflects the administration’s unwavering commitment to human capital development.

‘According to him, award letters will be distributed to beneficiaries in their respective institutions beginning Tuesday, 28th October 2025, while newly admitted Katsina students currently in the Nigerian Law School are expected to report to the Scholarship Board Headquarters between Monday, 27th and Thursday, 30th October 2025, for documentation and further processing.

Through these continuous interventions, the Radda administration is laying a strong foundation for educational excellence.