Category: Business Day

Lucky Iraboro, the former chief of defence staff (CDS), has described the March 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train terrorist attack as the most difficult and emotionally draining experience of his military career.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Monday, the retired general said the incident tested the limits of Nigeria’s security architecture and demanded the full weight of his experience as the nation’s top defence officer.

‘For me, during the time I was CDS, the security situation around the country was most troubling.

‘I think the most challenging was the incident involving the train abduction, which added to the dynamics of the challenges we were facing at the time. All the experiences one had prior to that time were deployed to ensure those who were abducted were rescued’, Irabor said.

The former defence chief recalled how the Defence Headquarters had to mobilise extensive resources, coordinate multiple security agencies, and devise complex rescue operations to secure the release of passengers kidnapped during the train attack.

Irabor said the experience not only tested the nation’s resolve but also deepened his appreciation for the courage of troops confronting insecurity in different parts of the country.

The March 28, 2022 attack shocked the nation when terrorists bombed the rail tracks and opened fire on passengers travelling from Abuja to Kaduna.

Dozens were killed, several others sustained injuries, and at least 61 passengers were abducted.

The victims were eventually released in batches, with the last group regaining freedom about seven months later.

Beyond the train attack, the retired general highlighted ongoing counter-insurgency efforts in the North-East and protection of oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta as other major priorities during his tenure.

‘Beyond that, the North-East operation was deep in my mind. Having served a greater part of my career there, I felt a need to return to ensure that operations were conducted effectively without losing our teams,’ he said.

He also stressed that safeguarding oil production was vital to sustaining the country’s economic stability.

Reflecting on life after active service, Irabor said retirement has offered him the freedom to pursue personal passions and intellectual work.

He noted that his experiences in uniform inspired his book, Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, which explores the country’s prolonged struggle with terrorism.

The 2022 train attack triggered widespread outrage and renewed calls for stronger intelligence coordination and enhanced railway security.

Two years later, in January 2024, the Nigeria Police Force announced the arrest of one Ibrahim Abdullahi, also known as ‘Mande,’ the alleged mastermind of the attack.

According to then police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Abdullahi was arrested by the anti-kidnapping unit of the Kadu Chna State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and confessed to leading a notorious kidnapping syndicate that had terrorised the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

Irabor served as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff from January 2021 to June 2023 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has declared Senator Adams Oshiomhole ‘persona non grata’ following his criticism of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over its nationwide strike in solidarity with 800 engineers sacked by Dangote Refinery.

In an October 3 interview with Arise TV, Oshiomhole called PENGASSAN’s industrial action ‘hasty and unfair’ to other workers.

NUPENG responded sharply in a statement signed by President Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale, accusing the former labour leader of betraying core union principles.

‘In conclusion, the leadership of NUPENG hereby declares Senator Adams Oshiomhole persona non grata within the ranks of Nigerian Oil and Gas Workers,’ the union said.

The declaration means NUPENG will no longer participate in or endorse any labour-related event involving Oshiomhole. ‘The NLC, TUC and conscionable civil society organisations should kindly take notice,’ the statement added.

NUPENG described Oshiomhole’s remarks as a ‘betrayal of labour principles’ and a ‘distortion of established laws.’

‘We witness with utter disappointment a former labour leader now transformed into a vocal advocate for corporate oppression,’ the union said.

It stressed that PENGASSAN’s sympathy strike is protected under Section 31 of the Trade Unions Act and aligned with the global union tenet: ‘An injury to one is an injury to all.’

‘His attempts to rationalize the victimization of workers. are not only nauseating but represent a flagrant misrepresentation of Nigerian Labour Law and ILO Conventions,’ NUPENG stated.

The union accused Oshiomhole of ignoring the mass dismissal while condemning PENGASSAN’s response, calling his stance ‘an act of profound historical revisionism and political amnesia.’

NUPENG affirmed its full support for PENGASSAN and the dismissed workers, vowing to use all legal and industrial tools to seek justice.

It also urged Oshiomhole to step back from labour commentary, saying he has ‘irretrievably lost the moral right and legitimacy before Nigerian workers.’

The Kogi State Government, through the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and development partners, has officially flagged off the 2025 Integrated Measles-Rubella, Polio, and HPV Vaccination Campaign, a major public health intervention aimed at protecting children and adolescents across the state from vaccine-preventable diseases.

The ceremony, performed by Ahmed Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi State, underscored the administration’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of every child and adolescent in the state. The campaign marks a significant step towards the elimination of vaccine-preventable diseases and the protection of young girls against cervical cancer through the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

Speaking at the state flag-off ceremony held at the Old Market PHC, Lokoja, Governor Ododo described the vaccination campaign as a renewed commitment to saving lives and strengthening primary healthcare across the state, emphasising that it represents ‘a commitment to life, health, and the future of Kogi State.’

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s determination to build a healthy and productive Kogi, stressing that the vaccines are free, safe, and effective. He further urged that no child in Kogi should be left behind in the journey to a healthier life.

He called on parents, caregivers, traditional and religious leaders to support the campaign, assuring that the vaccines are completely free, safe and essential for every eligible child. He appreciated development partners and health workers for their continued support and dedication to improving the well-being of Kogi’s citizens.

Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Health, Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, lauded the governor’s leadership and highlighted the growing community support for the revitalisation of Primary Health Centres across the state. He expressed gratitude to religious, traditional, and community leaders for their invaluable roles in advancing public health awareness and promotion.

Earlier in his address, the Executive Director of the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mu’azu Musa Omeiza, announced that Kogi State was launching a vaccination campaign targeting 1.9 million children aged 9 months to 14 years against Measles and Rubella, with additional coverage for Polio and HPV.

He explained that the campaign, running from October 6th to 15th, was a coordinated, cost-effective, and evidence-based approach to protecting the state’s future generation.

Mu’azu expressed appreciation to all stakeholders for their support and commended healthcare workers for their dedication, urging households and the media to ensure that all eligible children receive the life-saving vaccines.

In a goodwill message, Abdulrazaq Babatunde Ishola of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) praised Kogi State for achieving 100% immunisation coverage and commended Governor Ododo’s commitment to public health. He also called for the recruitment of additional frontline and auxiliary health workers to further strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.

The event underscored the state government’s unwavering commitment to bolstering primary healthcare delivery and safeguarding women’s and children’s health. It also reflected the administration’s comprehensive approach to improving healthcare access, enhancing immunisation coverage, and reducing preventable diseases across Kogi State’s communities.

Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power has announced that the federal government, in the last two years secured over $2 billion to enhance Nigeria’s access to electricity.

Adelabu disclosed this at the Nigerian Economic Summit (NES31) in Abuja. According to him, the Federal Government is leveraging bilateral funding and development finance to de-risk investments and attract private participation for access expansion across underserved and unserved communities, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and government institutions.

A breakdown of the total fund showed that $750 million was from World Bank DARES program for off-grid and mini-grid expansion, $500 million NSIA RIPLE platform to unlock private capital for renewables, and the $190 million JICA fund to complement DARES.

He said, ‘In the past two years, over $2 billion has been mobilized through key facilities, including the $750 million World Bank DARES program for off-grid and mini-grid expansion. the $500 million NSIA RIPLE platform to unlock private capital for renewables, and the $190 million JICA fund to complement DARES.

‘Collectively, these interventions are accelerating renewable energy deployment and expanding reliable, affordable power across the country.’

He explained that in the area of infrastructure development, the Federal Government has introduced targeted national programs aimed at accelerating the viability, expansion, and modernization of the national grid.

The minister noted that under the phase zero of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), the transmission capacity has been enhanced to achieve grid stability, and overall system reliability, with over 700MW of additional transmission capacity already achieved.

He explained that under phase one of the PPI, contracts have been signed with Siemens Energy, CMEC, Elswedy Electric, and Power China with financing arrangements underway to support implementation.

Phase one is planned to add 7000MW operational capacity to the grid. ‘In parallel to the grid expansion, generation capacity is being expanded through the rehabilitation of existing NIPP plants to unlock about 345MW, alongside the successful integration of the 700MW Zungeru Hydropower Plant into the grid.

‘Collectively, these interventions have helped sustain an average generation capacity of approximately 5,300MW in 2024 up from 4,200MW recorded in 2023.

‘Additionally, the Federal Government has operationalized the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) to close the national metering gap and improve sector viability. Already, N700 billion has been secured from FAAC to deploy 1.1 million meters by end of 2025, and 2 million annually over the next five years under the PMI.

‘This complements the 3.2 million meters being procured through the World Bank’s DISREP program, positioning Nigeria to close the metering gap within five years and strengthen transparency and revenue assurance across the value chain,’ he added.

Nigeria’s agricultural sector recorded steady growth during the 2025 wet season, with increased production across major food crops and a general decline in market prices, according to the latest Agricultural Performance Survey (APS) conducted by the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The survey, released in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) and 22 partner agencies, showed that rice, maize, sorghum, millet, cowpea, yam, and cassava all posted higher outputs compared to 2024.

‘The 2025 APS confirms steady growth in Nigerian agriculture, driven by expanded cultivated areas, improved practices, and farmer resilience across major producing states’, said Yusuf Sani Ahmad, Executive Director, NAERLS.

The study also found that food prices fell sharply across all six geopolitical zones, with maize, rice, and sorghum prices dropping by more than 50 percent nationally, reflecting improved food availability.

However, the sector continues to face challenges from climate shocks, flooding, and rising input costs. Fertiliser prices rose by nearly 20% on average, while floods in Niger, Jigawa, and several Southern States destroyed crops and infrastructure.

Despite these setbacks, the report highlights improved mechanisation data, with over 1,600 functional tractors recorded nationwide and new datasets from a Farm Family Census and Tractor Census introduced to enhance planning.

The livestock and fisheries sub-sectors showed mixed performance. Poultry and pig farmers faced outbreaks of Newcastle Disease and African Swine Fever, while fish production fell in some northern zones due to insecurity and flooding.

In his remarks during the report presentation, Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, said the findings would help the government refine its policies to boost food and nutrition security.

‘This report provides the evidence base we need to plan smarter, support our farmers better, and achieve national food sufficiency’, the minister stated.

According to the minister, the 2025 APS recorded increased production of rice, maize, sorghum, millet, cowpea, yam, and cassava compared to 2024 levels, alongside a ‘significant drop in food prices across all zones.’ He attributed the improvement to cumulative government efforts in boosting input supply, mechanisation, and farmer support systems, despite challenges such as erratic rainfall, flooding, and pest outbreaks.

Kyari, however, cautioned that rising input costs, particularly for fertiliser and fuel, as well as uneven mechanisation coverage and persistent postharvest losses, remain serious constraints to productivity.

He also highlighted livestock disease outbreaks and a decline in fisheries production in some regions as areas requiring urgent intervention.

‘The APS findings present both encouraging progress and critical challenges,’ the Minister said. ‘As a Ministry, we view these findings not merely as statistics but as a compass for future action.’

The report concluded with key recommendations, including the institutionalisation of a Dry Season Agricultural Survey, scaling up climate-smart agriculture, ensuring affordable farm inputs, expanding mechanisation, and strengthening extension and veterinary systems.

‘Nigeria’s farmers have shown remarkable resilience,’ Ahmad added. ‘Our task now is to build on these gains and make agriculture more adaptive, efficient, and data-driven.’

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State governor, has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to enhance workplace safety standards among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the State.

The agreement, part of a broader initiative to promote safer, healthier and more productive work environments, also coincided with the launch of the Safety First Campaign and the unveiling of the first-ever Occupational Safety Cadre in the Lagos State public service.

Sanwo-Olu, at the third Lagos State Occupational Safety and Health Conference held in the State with the theme, ‘Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) as a catalyst for nation Building,’ in Lagos, on Tuesday, reiterated his Administration’s commitment to promoting workplace safety, public health and environmental protection.

He described the new occupational safety cadre as a groundbreaking initiative and the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, noting that it would institutionalise safety as a professional discipline within the Lagos State civil service.

‘For the first time, safety will not just be treated as a hard-core responsibility but as a recognized career path, complete with its own structure, training, and expertise. These steps will ensure that generations of Lagosians benefit from a professional core dedicated solely to occupational safety and health,’ he said.

The State governor also highlighted the role of technology in driving modern safety standards, just as he announced the deployment of drones for surveillance, body cameras and thermal detection tools to enhance monitoring, enforcement, and emergency response.

Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BOI, in his keynote address entitled, ‘Occupational Safety and Health as the Catalyst of Sustainable Nation Building,’ said there is overwhelming evidence that inadequate workplace safety continues to pose significant risks to workers globally.

Olusi cited studies that showed between 10% to 30% of industry workers suffer injuries, occupational diseases and health hazards on a yearly basis, which include physical accidents, exposure to harmful chemicals, long term respiratory complications, among other issues.

According to him, the consequences of work-related accidents and illnesses are profound and result in lost workdays, reduced productivity, and rising healthcare costs. He said while various African countries are ensuring safer work environment, Nigeria must position itself as a regional leader in embedding Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) -driven safety practices across all sectors, from high-risk industries to MSMEs.

‘By integrating global standards, technology, and accountability, we can build workplaces that are safe, competitive, and resilient,’ he said..

Lanre Mojola, the Director General, Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC), said the Agency realised enforcement action is reducing as compliance is increasing. He assured that the Agency would continue to increase inspection across the state as enforcement is returned.

Mojola also stated that the agency would ensure that Vertical Transportation Equipment are fully enforced to the letter as Lagos continues to move on. He reiterated that over 20,000 facilities already registered have GPIS with pictorial evidence.

Earlier, Olugbenga Oyerinde, Commissioner for Special Duties and lnter-Governmental Relations, stressed that occupational and general public safety remains a top priority to the State Government, saying, ‘every Lagosian, deserves to live, work, and move freely without any fear.’

Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, has said that Nigerians will start enjoying the benefits of the new tax laws beginning from January 2026.

Oyedele, who spoke at the ongoing Nigerian Economic Summit (NES31) in Abuja on Tuesday, said that about 98 per cent of Nigeria’s population will no longer pay the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax.

President Bola Tinubu, in June 2025, signed the four (4) Tax Reform Bills into law. These laws include the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA), the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), the Nigeria Revenue Service Act (NRSA) and the Joint Revenue Board Act (JRBA).

The Acts comprehensively overhaul the Nigerian tax landscape to drive economic growth, increase revenue generation, improve the business environment and enhance effective tax administration across the different levels of government.

Oyedele emphasised that the new tax laws are not targeted at the low-income earners or those at the poverty line.

‘From January 2026, you will feel the impact. If you earn a salary, when you are paid your salary at the end of January 2026, for 97- 98 per cent of Nigerians, they will either no longer pay PAYE, or they’ll pay less PAYE.

‘That is about 33 percent of workers in the public and private sector combined, will no longer pay PAYE, because they will be exempted. The remaining 2 percent plus will pay more,’ he said.

He explained that the committee has established a poverty line, which can be determined through a household income and not individuals.

‘So if you look at the amount, you don’t know how many people depend on that amount. So we looked at the study that was done by the NBS, and the average household size in Nigeria is five. Based on the data on employment, gainfully employed people, you have a little over two out of the five who are employed.

‘We came up with a conclusion of between N100,000 and N120,000 a month. Two people would then earn around 230,000 to 240,000 to cater for five people so they don’t fall below the poverty line. Under the old laws, you earn 30,000 Naira a month, you’re paying tax. So this is significant improvement,’ he said.

Oyedele, speaking further, stressed that the laws are made to enhance businesses and reduce their risks. He also explained that the law, with the reduction in personal income tax to 25 percent, seeks to create incentives for business formalisation.

He said that the law also reduces the corporate tax rate from 30 to 25 per cent. He also stated that under the new law, if your annual turnover is 100 million Naira or less, as a company, your corporate tax rate is 0 per cent.

‘Low income, no tax. Upper income, a bit more. Now, in many countries around the world, what you will find is that the top rates for personal income tax is usually higher than the rate for corporate tax so that you can incentivise business formalisation.

‘So when you operate in the informal sector and you want to pay your taxes, your maximum income tax doesn’t even hit 20 percent. Same business, formalize it, register as a company, your tax burden goes to over 40 percent. And then we lament that the informal sector is too big. We were creating it, we created a disincentive to formalization. We are now trying to reverse it. It’s the reason why we have to take the top rates for personal income tax to 25 percent.’

In line with its commitment to decarbonise Nigeria’s construction sector, Lafarge Africa Plc, a foremost innovative and sustainable building solutions company and manufacturer of a range of cement brands, has officially launched EcoCrete, Nigeria’s first low-carbon ready-mix concrete.

The innovative product was unveiled at Lafarge’s Abuja Ready-Mix (RMX) plant recently, according to a statement.

The statemen said the EcoCrete delivers a minimum of 20% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to conventional CEM I concrete, without compromising on strength, durability, or performance.

Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, group managing director/chief executive officer of Lafarge Africa Plc, stated that Lafarge’s Abuja Ready-Mix plant has now been converted to 100% EcoCrete production, making a bold step in the company’s journey toward excellence, sustainability, and customer satisfaction.

‘Over the last year, we have introduced products like Ecoplanet Elephant and Unicem cement, each one a step forward in our journey toward excellence, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. Today, with the introduction of our low-carbon Readymix solution, EcoCrete, we take another bold step forward’, he said.

In his keynote address, Temitope Akinyemi, special adviser to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy on Climate Finance and Green Growth, commended Lafarge for leading sustainable innovation in the industry, stressing that the launch of EcoCrete aligns with Nigeria’s green growth strategy.

‘Also, this aligns with our global climate commitments, and also Nigeria’s journey towards our next-gen economy. Today, as we launch EcoCrete, we also launch a bold message that Nigeria is ready to lead in sustainable construction, to innovate and to prove that economic growth and environmental stewardship can go hand-in-hand.’

Speaking at the launch, Xu Gang, Vice President for International Business, Huaxin, said EcoCrete is a product of global expertise and local ambition, adding that the conversion of the Abuja plant signifies Huaxin’s commitment to the Nigerian market.

A new study by Surfshark has raised alarms about the future of privacy in messaging apps as the European Union pushes forward with its Child Sexual Abuse Regulation, dubbed ‘Chat Control.’

Set for a vote on October 14, 2025, the proposal aims to combat serious online crimes by requiring messaging platforms to scan private communications or provide lawful access to encrypted services.

However, privacy advocates warn that these measures could dismantle end-to-end encryption, a cornerstone of secure digital communication, putting users, vulnerable groups, and businesses at risk.

Surfshark’s analysis of 10 popular iOS messaging apps, including Apple’s Messages and the nine most downloaded apps in 2025, highlights the current state of privacy protections.

Nine of the 10 apps employ end-to-end encryption, with Signal and iMessage offering quantum-secure cryptography for enhanced security.

However, Apple’s Messages app falls short when messages are sent to Android devices, converting them to unencrypted SMS/MMS, which leaves them vulnerable to interception.

Discord stands alone as the only app studied that lacks end-to-end encryption for text-based messages.

The study underscores Signal’s leadership in privacy, scoring 0.99 out of 1 for its minimal data collection- only phone numbers for app functionality-and its avoidance of user tracking.

In contrast, apps like LINE, Discord, Rakuten Viber Messenger, and Meta’s Messenger scored below the average of 0.52, with LINE ranking lowest.

Notably, Messenger by Meta collects 30 out of 35 data types listed in the App Store, often for purposes like advertising and user behavior analysis, raising significant privacy concerns.

The EU’s Chat Control proposal has sparked widespread opposition. Eight member states currently oppose the regulation, while 12, including France with its 81 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), support it.

Seven countries, representing 36 percent of the EU population and 260 MEPs, remain undecided, with Germany’s 96 MEPs holding significant sway.

Critics argue that mandating message scanning would create vulnerabilities exploitable by malicious actors, undermining the trust in Europe’s digital infrastructure.

‘Having end-to-end encryption for communication and other digital services is just essential hygiene. Without it, all other efforts by apps to protect user privacy and security become largely meaningless. Proposals to introduce message scanning would inevitably create vulnerabilities that malicious actors could exploit. There is no such thing as partial encryption: either it is intact, or it is broken. Therefore, weakening encryption risks undermining trust in Europe’s digital infrastructure and setting a dangerous global precedent,’ says Vytautas Kaziukonis, CEO at Surfshark.

The study also flagged privacy risks from AI features, present in 90 percent of the analyzed apps. Features like conversation summarization or AI assistants could expose private data to app owners or third parties, further complicating the privacy landscape.

Sometimes progress doesn’t fail for lack of ideas; rather, it falters for lack of proximity.

We talk about innovation as though it lives in code, capital, and conference declarations. But the truest measure of progress is how close our solutions come to people’s everyday lives. It’s not about technology in itself; it’s about the distance between a brilliant concept and the mother waiting in a rural clinic, or the young entrepreneur who just needs digital access to unlock possibilities.

In last week’s article, I reflected on innovation as who we are. But innovation without proximity is performance. It dazzles on paper but struggles in practice. As leaders, especially in Africa’s rapidly evolving public and private sectors, we are being invited to locate progress not in the clouds of aspiration but in the closeness of impact.

‘For Africa, this lesson is timely. As we push for continental self-determination in health supply chains, digital sovereignty, and green transitions, our leadership must blend diplomacy with groundedness.’

The global headlines behind the headlines

This past week’s global news cycle was a study in contrasts. From the USAID indictment involving stolen HIV test kits in Kenya to new global pledges for digital infrastructure and climate finance, one thread runs through them all: how fragile systems can become when proximity is lost.

The case of diverted commodities is not simply a governance story; it’s a proximity story, a reminder of how complexity, distance, and limited local ownership can strain even the best-intentioned systems. When people closest to the challenge feel ownership, integrity grows stronger and trust deepens.

By contrast, India’s digital public infrastructure offers a powerful lesson in what happens when systems are designed with proximity in mind, meeting people where they are and translating access into empowerment. It worked not because of technological superiority, but because it honoured connection.

Even climate conversations are circling back to this truth. As John Kerry said in Geneva, the world’s energy transition isn’t about sacrifice; it’s about investability. That word, ‘investability’, is proximity in motion. It signals a shift from pledges to participation, from promises to practice.

Reclaiming proximity in leadership

In African development, proximity is not a soft value; it’s a structural one. The success of any programme or partnership depends less on what’s written in the strategy document and more on who feels seen by it.

When we design digital health systems in Lagos or Mogadishu, the actual innovation is not in the platform; it’s in how we ensure that the nurse using it in a rural clinic finds it intuitive, affordable, and human.

When we build cross-sector partnerships, the power lies in our ability to create belonging for government officials, private innovators, and local actors alike.

I often say that Africa’s strength is not its scale but its synchronicity: how governments, citizens, and partners can align when the goal is shared and the context respected. Proximity is the architecture of that alignment.

Proximity and trust in the age of global transitions

The world is undergoing a set of overlapping transitions – digital, demographic, and climatic – that will redefine how we measure growth and governance. The IMF’s latest research on fiscal resilience, the EAT-Lancet report on just food systems, and the new wave of private finance-led aid models all point to one reality: progress must be local to be lasting.

The risk is that in our pursuit of global relevance, we lose relational depth. We become fluent in frameworks but tone-deaf to context.

But proximity reminds us that trust is still the global currency of leadership. Without trust, data becomes suspect, and even the most elegant digital system remains a shell.

For Africa, this lesson is timely. As we push for continental self-determination in health supply chains, digital sovereignty, and green transitions, our leadership must blend diplomacy with groundedness. The distance between Addis Ababa and Abuja, Geneva and Garoua, or New York and Nairobi must be bridged not only by planes and policies but also by perspective.

The quiet revolution of staying close

The next era of leadership in Africa will not be won through scale alone but through sensitivity. The leaders who will define the next decade are those who understand that proximity is not a step backward from ambition; it is the only way to make ambition real.

In a sense, this is Africa’s moment to model what the world needs most: relational governance.

Africa has always led through community, through connection, dialogue, and shared responsibility. That ethos, if embedded in our institutions, can redefine what global cooperation looks like.

When a government official in Ghana collaborates with a startup in Kenya to digitise primary care, or when African scientists co-design solutions with communities rather than for them, proximity becomes a force multiplier. It turns partnerships into pathways and strategies into stories people can trust.

A closing reflection

The future will reward leaders who can be both visionary and proximate, global in reach but local in touch. The ones who can translate between systems and citizens, who understand that sustainability is built one relationship at a time.

So, as global conversations swirl around aid reform, climate transition, and digital acceleration, perhaps the quiet question we must keep asking is, How close are we, really, to the people we serve?

Because in the end, leadership is not about distance travelled, but connection sustained.

And progress, like trust, only grows stronger when we choose to stay close.