Category: Business Day

Looking at the economic situation in the country, Ashraf, a medical doctor and co-founder of Ashiraaf Hospital, has said that the hospital is not purely a business venture; there is also a human side.

He stated this while interacting with BusinessDay on Friday in Lokoja, pointing out that the right to choose a hospital depends on the services rendered, saying, ‘This is me speaking for all the private hospitals in the state’.

‘You find out that in a private setting, there is a business side to it. It is natural that services rendered in private hospitals may not be the same as in government hospitals.

‘Some patients make the choice based on general perception, and it has to do with the sentiment they have about doctors.

‘Private hospitals are not purely a business venture; there is also a human side. Lokoja is not such a big place where they pay before services are rendered. But when you are faced with a situation where the patient is unable to pay, they sign a document which will help them to pay. It is not easy for the masses, nor is it easy for the hospital, but this is how we have been doing it’.

Speaking on doctors diverting patients to private hospitals, he said it is difficult to completely erase it, and it is difficult to say its truth, because it is the patient that will make the choice.

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On quackery, Ashraf pointed out that the government has a lot to do about that, saying certain factors in a community encourage quackery. Sometimes non availability of basic amenities, roads, and water. Health personnel contribute to what fuels it.

‘My personal advice is that the government should strengthen the aspect of the Ministry of Health that caters for quackery in the medical profession, and they should empower them so that such practice is clamped down on. Because if they don’t do that, it will increase the need for commutable diseases that come to the hospital; they will increase the number of morbidity we find in our patients; they will increase the money the patient has to spend. They will increase the work our hospital has to do’.

He urged the state government to employ more personnel in the ministry so that it will be easy to address the issue of quackery in the state and Nigeria, adding that private sectors don’t have much work to do except medical awareness and health education because they don’t have the power to impose certain laws in the country. Governments are the ones that should provide the laws or enforce the laws.

On the issue of counterfeit drugs, he pointed out that it has really affected the health sector in the country for a long time; sadly, the situation is getting worse by the day. This is because there are more people going into the business of producing counterfeit drugs, and because of the economic situation, people tend to buy the cheaper ones.

‘It is difficult for us to detect counterfeits, so for hospitals to go for quantity, they have to be careful. It is better to go to the companies that manufacture it. But when it comes to detecting counterfeit drugs, NAFDAC, SON, and other relevant agencies are to help us in detecting counterfeit drugs and also raise awareness in rural areas. We can only decide not to buy certain drugs when we notice they are counterfeit.

‘The government has to let us know the drugs that we should stay away from. If the government plays its part by dictating counterfeit drugs, health personnel will tell patients, and their circulation will reduce, and eventually these people will run out of business. If everyone plays their part, it will help the masses to get the proper medication for their ailment’.

At 19, Fatima Yakubu is a farmer, student, entrepreneur, and Integrated Pest Management Community Champion in Kwakuti, Niger State. She farms, but she also shares knowledge with fellow farmers on identifying pests early and using more environmentally friendly ways to manage them.

‘Farming has given me a lot: knowledge, income, and confidence. I want to keep learning, and I want to teach others too. Especially girls. We can do so much if we’re given the chance.’ – Fatima Yakubu

In Nasarawa State, 21-year-old Inarigu Emmanuel balances farming with another passion: football. By accessing high-quality seeds, fertiliser, training, and field support from One Acre Fund (OAF), he boosted his maize yield from a single bag to seven. The extra income helps support his family while funding his goal of becoming a professional goalkeeper.

Neither story begins with a young person reluctantly turning to agriculture because there are no other options.

They are stories of young people choosing to engage with agriculture and finding ways to make it work alongside the lives they want to build.

That matters because one of the most persistent assumptions about agriculture is that young people are not interested in it. interested in it.

The evidence tells a more complicated story.

Young Nigerians are participating in agriculture and the wider agrifood economy in ways that extend beyond traditional farming. The question is not whether young people are interested. It is whether Nigeria’s food system can create enough viable opportunities for them to enter, grow and stay.

That question is becoming more urgent as Nigeria confronts a serious food-security challenge.

In June 2026, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme placed Nigeria among the world’s highest-concern hunger hotspots. Their latest assessment projected that 34.8 million Nigerians could face high levels of acute food insecurity between June and August 2026, including 1.8 million people at emergency levels.

Young people will not solve this challenge alone. But a country facing simultaneous food and employment pressures cannot afford to overlook a generation already participating in its food economy.

The myth of an uninterested generation

A 2025 analysis by the International Food Policy Research Institute offers a more nuanced picture of young people’s relationship with Nigeria’s food system. Between 2003 and 2022, agriculture’s share of total employment fell from 58% to 35%, while employment in non-farm agrifood activities rose from 12% to 33%. Over the same period, youth participation in non-farm agrifood employment quadrupled.

The story, then, is not simply that young people are leaving agriculture.

Nigeria’s food system is changing, and young people are moving through it.

Some are farming. Others are processing, trading, transporting, building businesses or providing services around food. The boundaries between agriculture and other forms of enterprise are increasingly blurred.

Fatima and Emmanuel represent one part of that picture: young people making agriculture work alongside other ambitions.

The challenge is to make these pathways productive and sustainable enough for more young people to enter and for those already participating to build viable livelihoods.

Choosing agriculture does not make the path easy

Opportunity, however, does not mean access.

According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, agriculture contributes more than a fifth of GDP and remains a critical source of livelihood across the country. Yet less than 5% of banks’ credit goes to the sector, and the CBN identifies limited access to finance from traditional banks as a major challenge to agricultural development.

For a young farmer, that gap has practical consequences.

Capital is often needed before planting, when income from the crop is still months away. A loan that arrives too late may miss the production cycle. A repayment schedule designed around a monthly salary may not fit a farmer whose income comes after harvest.

Finance is only one part of the challenge.

Recent IFPRI research highlights that financial exclusion remains one of the largest bottlenecks for young people entering agriculture. In northern Nigeria, where more than half the population is unbanked, traditional credit is rarely structured for farming cycles. To bridge this gap, organisations like One Acre Fund provide young farmers with high-quality farm supplies on flexible credit tailored to harvest timelines, ensuring they have access to capital when it matters most.

Listening to young farmers drives better decisions.

Too often, youth interventions are built on assumptions, offering generic training or digital tools without understanding real daily constraints. Sustainable impact happens when feedback directly shapes programme design.

When programmes actively listened to farmers like Fatima Yakubu and Inarigu Emmanuel, support moved beyond standard input delivery. Hearing Fatima’s passion for peer learning informed the expansion of community champion networks, while listening to Emmanuel’s dual ambitions led to flexible training schedules aligned with local realities. Listening turns evidence into context, enabling agricultural support to adapt, test, and continuously improve.

By anchoring initiative design in real-time farmer experiences, policy and investment can build viable pathways across farming, processing, and trading.

Young farmers are already shaping the future.

Fatima is already doing more than farming. She is sharing knowledge and helping other farmers adopt better approaches to pest management.

Emmanuel is doing more than growing maize. He is using agriculture to support his family while pursuing another ambition.

Their stories remind us that young farmers should not be defined only by the challenges they face. They are already building businesses, solving problems and shaping their own futures.

The task for institutions is to recognise that agency and make it easier for more young people to turn it into lasting opportunity.

Nigeria’s food-security challenge is immediate. Its food system is changing. And a new generation is already finding its place within it.

The question is no longer whether young people belong in agriculture.

It is whether Nigeria can build a food system in which more of them can enter, grow and stay.

Young farmers are not simply the future of Nigerian agriculture. They are already shaping it.

Esther Adegunle is a development professional, future economist, and business expert. She leads the Nigeria Strategy and Impact Division at One Acre Fund.

The Ebonyi State Government has activated emergency response measures following flooding in Akaeze, Ivo Local Government Area, and other parts of the state, which displaced households and destroyed farmlands, crops, property and other sources of livelihood.

The government, in a statement issued on Sunday by Ikeuwa Omebeh, commissioner for Information and State Orientation, expressed sympathy to residents affected by the flooding and acknowledged the hardship caused by the disaster.

Omebeh said Governor Francis Nwifuru had directed the Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency (ESEMA) to intensify assessments of affected communities and coordinate appropriate emergency measures, including relief and rehabilitation.

He added that the state government was engaging the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant federal emergency-management institutions for complementary intervention and support to affected communities.

According to him, the government’s response would be guided by verified assessments of the needs of affected residents, with priority given to addressing immediate humanitarian concerns and restoring livelihoods.

The commissioner urged residents in affected communities to remain calm and cooperate with emergency officials carrying out assessments and coordinating relief operations.

He also advised residents against returning prematurely to flood-prone areas or occupying structurally compromised buildings until they had been declared safe by the relevant authorities.

The government further cautioned political parties, candidates and other political actors against politicising the disaster or exploiting the plight of affected residents for partisan purposes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

‘While political actors have the constitutional right to canvass for public support, the government considers it important that public discourse remains issue-based, responsible and devoid of inflammatory rhetoric capable of aggravating the anxiety and vulnerability of disaster-affected communities,’ the statement said.

The government also urged residents to heed flood and weather alerts issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and other competent authorities, particularly those living in flood-prone communities.

It advised residents to monitor official forecasts and early-warning information, comply with evacuation advisories where necessary, avoid crossing flooded roads, bridges and waterways, and promptly report emerging threats to emergency-response agencies.

Omebeh said the government appreciated the resilience of residents and the support of traditional institutions, local government authorities, security agencies, first responders and humanitarian organisations in responding to the incident.

He reaffirmed the Nwifuru administration’s commitment to protecting lives, safeguarding livelihoods and strengthening the resilience of communities against future flooding and other natural hazards.

‘The government therefore reassures the people of Akaeze, Ivo Local Government Area, and all other affected communities that they are not alone in this difficult period,’ he said.

Nigeria’s real estate market does not have a shortage of buyers. It has a shortage of certainty.

Housing demand is being driven by population growth, urbanisation and the continuing need for better housing, while Nigerians at home and abroad continue to view property as an important store of wealth. Yet many potential transactions take longer than they should because buyers cannot easily establish whether a developer, title, approval or promised delivery can be trusted.

That uncertainty has an economic cost. Buyers spend more time and money on due diligence, developers face longer sales cycles and higher customer-acquisition costs, investors price in additional risk, and capital moves more slowly. In a market that needs substantial investment to expand housing supply and urban infrastructure, the cost of uncertainty should not be treated as a minor inconvenience.

The problem is particularly visible among Nigerians living abroad. The World Bank estimates that Nigeria received about $20.9 billion in remittances in 2024, making it one of the largest recipients in sub-Saharan Africa. A significant share of diaspora wealth is invested in property, but distance makes verification more difficult. A prospective buyer in London, Houston or Johannesburg may be asked to commit substantial funds to a development that they cannot inspect regularly and whose documentation or delivery claims they may struggle to verify independently.

This creates a fundamental distinction between demand and effective demand. People may want to buy property, but willingness to commit capital depends on their assessment of risk. Where confidence is weak, demand can remain visible in enquiries and conversations without translating into completed transactions.

That distinction matters for the industry’s growth. If the constraint were simply insufficient demand, developers would need more marketing, better financing or stronger distribution. If uncertainty is suppressing transactions, however, the response has to be different: clearer information, stronger verification, reliable documentation and greater accountability.

Nigeria already has many developers that operate responsibly, obtain the required approvals and deliver projects to agreed standards. The difficulty is that buyers do not always have an efficient way to distinguish such developers from operators whose claims are less reliable. When information is difficult to verify, reputation becomes heavily dependent on personal recommendations and informal networks. That may work for people with extensive local connections, but it creates a significant barrier for first-time buyers and diaspora investors.

The consequences extend beyond individual transactions. When buyers cannot readily assess the quality of a development or the credibility of its promoter, they may demand greater discounts, delay decisions, or avoid the transaction altogether. Developers then spend more resources establishing credibility. Financial institutions and other investors may apply additional risk considerations. The cumulative effect is a less efficient market.

This is why independent verification deserves greater attention in Nigerian real estate. Organisations such as Thorpe Real Estate (TRE) are built around the proposition that buyers should be able to assess property opportunities using independently verifiable information rather than relying solely on assurances from sellers. The value of such an approach depends on the quality and transparency of the verification process itself.

Verification cannot eliminate commercial or legal risk, and it should not replace professional legal, financial, or technical due diligence. Its value is narrower but important: it can make relevant information easier to assess before a buyer commits capital.

A credible verification framework should therefore examine matters that can be independently established, including the identity and track record of the developer, title documentation, relevant planning and development approvals, project status and the consistency between what is marketed and what is actually being delivered. The methodology should be transparent, the evidence should be traceable, and assessments should be subject to periodic review.

Such standards would also benefit responsible developers. At present, a company that invests in proper approvals, documentation and delivery can face the same initial credibility hurdle as an operator that makes similar claims without equivalent evidence. A stronger verification culture would allow the market to attach greater value to demonstrable compliance rather than relying primarily on assurances.

Government has an important role, but this does not necessarily mean creating another regulatory institution. Existing land registries, planning authorities and development-control agencies already hold much of the information required to establish whether fundamental claims are valid. The greater challenge is making relevant information accessible, consistent and sufficiently reliable for buyers and investors to use.

Industry participants can complement this by adopting common disclosure standards. Developers could publish clear information on ownership, title status, approvals, project timelines, payment structures and material changes to delivery schedules. Where information changes, buyers should be told rather than left to discover the change after committing funds.

The market should also become more disciplined about claims. A property advertisement can create expectations about location, infrastructure, completion dates and returns that are not always equivalent to what a buyer will ultimately receive. Greater transparency would reduce the distance between marketing and measurable reality.

None of this removes the need for buyers to conduct their own due diligence. Property remains a significant financial commitment, and independent legal and technical advice will remain necessary. But a market in which every buyer must reconstruct basic facts from scratch is inefficient.

The question for Nigerian real estate is therefore not simply how to build more homes or attract more capital. It is how to reduce the uncertainty that prevents existing demand and capital from becoming transactions.

Nigeria has demand. It has developers with the capacity to build. It has domestic and diaspora capital seeking investment opportunities. What remains underdeveloped is the market infrastructure that enables participants to distinguish credible opportunities from uncertain ones.

Thorpe Real Estate’s focus on verification reflects a wider issue the industry must confront: trust becomes more valuable when it is supported by evidence. The more of it that can be converted into verifiable information, transparent standards, and accountable processes, the more efficiently capital can move towards projects capable of meeting Nigeria’s enormous housing and urban-development needs.

Fola Adeola, Co-founder of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), has urged African entrepreneurs to build institutions that can outlive their founders, warning that businesses dependent on the personalities of their founders rarely achieve lasting impact.

Adeola said sustainable institutions require deliberate structures, strong governance, consistent standards and the continuous development of leaders capable of running organisations without their founders.

During his keynote speech to more than 1,200 founders, entrepreneurs and executives at the Building Beyond You Conference in Lagos on Friday, Adeola said the future of Africa’s business environment would depend on the ability of its leaders to transition from founder-dependent enterprises to enduring, self-sustaining institutions.

‘When people come to me to say, ‘Help me with this organisation I’m trying to put together,’ the first question I ask them is, ‘How long do you want the organisation to last?” he said.

‘When they say anything from five to 10 years, I tell them you don’t need me. Organisations will last five years and beyond, maybe up to 10.’

Adeola likened businesses without structures for longevity to people trapped under collapsed buildings, saying the human body can survive for days without food, but organisations similarly need structures that allow them to survive beyond the people who founded them.

He said legacy should therefore not be measured by personal fame, wealth or public recognition, but by the ability to create institutions and values that continue after the founder is gone.

According to him, legacy is the total devotion to an interest that is bigger than your own self-interest.

‘Legacy is a deep, unshakable commitment to a cause, to an institution, or a value system that does not depend on public praise, personal enrichment or executive applause,’ Adeola added.

Founders, according to him, should be willing to commit their intellect, energy and resources to building systems that can survive for generations rather than structures designed around their individual personalities.

‘Since’ is a testament to consistency

Adeola also used the word ‘since’ to illustrate the importance of institutional consistency, pointing to organisations that have survived for decades or centuries.

He cited examples including Coca-Cola, Barclays Bank, Oxford University and Cambridge University, arguing that the longevity of such institutions is evidence of their ability to maintain standards across generations.

‘Since is not a statement of age. Since is a testament to consistency,’ he said.

‘It tells the customer we have performed this service, maintained this standard and honoured this promise across decades to centuries, through booms and busts, through world wars, through presidential times, through generations. Guess what? We are still standing.’

Adeola said businesses seeking to build for centuries must therefore avoid short-term decision-making and resist compromising their standards for immediate gains.

He recalled telling colleagues at GTB that he wanted the bank to one day carry a sign stating ‘Since 1990’, with the hope that generations of Nigerians would still see the institution operating centuries later.

‘We are building an institution that must last at least two centuries, and if you are building for 200 years, your decisions today cannot be reckless. Shortcuts cannot be tolerated,’ he said.

He noted that several Nigerian businesses and institutions had also crossed major longevity milestones, citing the Church of Nigeria, House of Tara and the Dangote Group among organisations that had sustained operations over decades.

Succession is central to institutional survival

Adeola said one of the biggest requirements for institutional longevity is the ability of founders to deliberately raise leaders and embed a culture that does not depend on them.

‘Unless you intend to run a tiny one-man show until you die, there is a physical and intellectual limit to what one individual can accomplish,’ he said.

Adding that: ‘As a founder, if you have not raised leaders capable of executing without you, your organisation inevitably enters a phase of diminishing returns.’

He said founders who fail to develop successors risk seeing their businesses lose momentum as their energy declines and the organisations become increasingly dependent on them.

He pointed to the transition at House of Tara, founded by Tara Fela-Durotoye, as an example of deliberate succession planning.

He commended Durotoye for building the beauty business from her living room nearly three decades ago and eventually handing over executive leadership after 25 years to focus on developing the next generation of business leaders.

‘You have demonstrated that African excellence can be codified, can be scaled and can be sustained,’ Adeola said.

According to him, the responsibility of today’s entrepreneurs should extend beyond building successful businesses to creating institutions capable of sustaining their values, standards and impact long after they have left.

Most children have deviated and carry out deadly practices that stun their parents, when discovered. In most homes these days, pornography is commonplace, immorality is full, cult practices are in vogue, guns are hidden under the bed, and most sons are into yahoo-yahoo, yet parents hardly knew.

Thus, on the day Cecilia Thomas, a deaconess at the Lutheran Church of God in Diobu District marked her 73rd with her first son, Edidiong, being unveiled as an Elder, the congregation admitted that the deaconess was truly a ‘Silent Queen’ who raised her children the most perfect method.

Many thus looked up to her methods especially as her husband died early and she was saddled with the task of bringing up two boys and a girl in a place such as Diobu.

When asked to reveal her template, she waved prayer as the key. ‘Some of our women are not with their children in same location. Prayer is the weapon that can reach them wherever they are because God is faithful. Maybe, one day, God will touch and change them. They will come back to the right path.’

What dominated the thanksgiving ceremonies was the fact that the deaconess was the silent type, yet all her children turned out excellently well in character and career.

She disclosed her method: ‘We brought them up in Christ and church culture. They were well taught and they were made to know that whatever we as parents asked them to do, if they did not believe it, they should follow the word of God. So that is why.’

The Mummy showed huge appreciation to the guests and to God that gave a bright weather on a day in September in a rainy region. She said: ‘God is faithful.’

Edidiong Thomas: Children caring for children:

Edidiong Thomas is the first child of the Thomas family. He was made ‘Elder’ on the day her mom was unveiled on her 73rd. Responding to the accolades to her family for being well brought up, he said it’s all about family norms and values.

He emphatically said why children are going astray very much is because their parents are mere children. ‘Children are bringing up children’, he declared.

As a way of advice, he urged parents of today to emulate good models they see around them. ‘Copy from the old time religion, copy those things that had been existing, plus all the norms and values that were there before now. Then imbibe those things into your children.

‘You don’t just say you know because of career. A lot of people are missing the mark. They become too focused on career and then leave the most important thing which is taking care of the children.’

On the double celebration for mother and son, Thomas said he felt happy and elevated for what God has done; being installed as an Elder. ‘Above all, I am happy for what God has done in my life and my family. Today also is my mom’s birthday. I am overjoyed. And then lastly I asked for and prayed for a fair weather and we god it, all day to this moment. So I am extremely overjoyed.’

He admitted that while growing up, they stuck to their parents’ words. ‘I know that children of today appear to be much into Yahoo life, immorality, lack of attention in the class, cultism, etc. Looking at the lives of then and now, the difference seems huge.

‘To me, it’s all about norms and values. As a person and for my family, we held onto norms and values. Apart from that, we were trained and catered for by parents.

‘Most parents are not mature in the spirit, not mature in the head. And then they become influenced by social factors. I also know it’s because of the information that we have today. Then, there was no internet, etc. Exposure was limited. Internet was created to improve life. Some parents can still help their children use it to better their lives instead of using them to be more corrupt than they should be. So, it’s all about norms and values. We were given norms and then we hope that we will also transfer them to the children we are raising.’

Cleric, Oliver Iwoha on why evil men fill govt positions:

Oliver Iwoha, reverend and Port Harcourt District Superintendent of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria, Diobu, who hails from in Imo State threw much light in why bad men fill up government positions.

He admitted that churches and community townhall meetings look for best of their best to serve in positions, but said it is not so when it comes to electing persons into office.

The Superintendent, who arrived Diobu back after many years of leaving the District, said: ‘What God requires from us is faithfulness, sincerity, straightforward. But now, what we are seeing today is the opposite. Those in authority will like to bring in those that will do their bidding and cover them and their mistakes. They will not touch people that are sincere and straightforward.

‘The leaders suppress good people and elevate evil persons. They prop up those people that are like them so that they will cover for and protect each other. That is what we see these days. It is not only in Lutheran Church that they seek out good men and women. Other churches do so, too.’

On advice to voters, he urged the society to try the true Christian way; ‘Vote on tested and confirmed people you know. Choose people that are God-fearing. God requires those that are straightforward, sincere, humble, etc. This is because if you elect a leader, he or she must represent you and be accountable.

‘So, look for people that will truly represent you, that will tell you the truth, that will help you, that will lead you and tell you what the government is all about. It should not be people that will turn round to silence you.’

He mentioned Peter Obi as one of those loved by the ordinary people but said those in authority seem to fear him. ‘Today in Nigeria, politicians have used money to buy and deceive the people. During election, they will begin to share money to people, an end up blind their eyes.

‘Now the people will no longer see the good people that are straightforward, people that can represent them fully. Because of that money that they will eat today, tomorrow that money will not be there. The people that can serve may not have that particular money, but they are ready.

‘We know a man that is very ready and prepared to serve as President but they would not allow him because of his straightforwardness. They fear he may expose the rot in government.’

Throwing back, he said he arrived the previous evening only to learn that the family his co-minister left behind was doing double celebration. He talked about his journeys from Diobu to Owaza (Abia State) to Enugu, Bayelsa, etc, and now to Diobu as head.

‘Upon return here, I was officially notified that Sister, Deaconess Cecilia Thomas, and her son, Edidiong Thomas, would have great thanksgiving. Incidentally, the late husband of the woman was the one that I took over from as a lay preacher in Owaza 1987. Today, I am here witnessing the 73rd year of his wife who actually was behind the success of man as family head. Here now, we are receiving and celebrating them as our Elder and Deaconess; and to work with them here in the church.

From what he knew about them, he drew some lessons for young mothers and today’s children. ‘Yeah, like I said, the late Bro Moses Thomas was a dedicated and agile minister. Every Sunday, he would travel from here in Diobu Port Harcourt to Owaza in Abia State to conduct church service until I was sent. The wife was very supportive.

‘She is a straightforward woman, very dedicated, humble, and sincere. I know her very well as a strong member in the Women Fellowship. I was happy when I arrived yesterday, I was informed that she has been installed a Deaconess in this church. The son was very young those days.

‘To the glory of God, today, both mother and son are now Deaconess and Elder in our midst; and I am privileged to work with them. It’s a blessing, and honour, and also a responsibility.’

He regretted that the hunt for money has caused distraction for families but that the deaconess is very humble.

‘I advise women to emulate her humility. She is respectful and dedicated. Dedication is always expected in this work. When you dedicate yourself, people will see, because it was as a result of her dedication that the people at home saw that dedication, saw the humility and faith, and they picked her to be a Deaconess.

‘In the same way, our brother, Edidiong, was found to be dedicated and humble and sincere, and they picked him and made him and Elder. So, that can serve as a lesson to young people to realise that people are watching them, especially in the body of Christ. They must learn that when you are dedicated, when you know your work, when you are sincere and straightforward, God and the body of Christ will find you and use you. All that God wants from us is dedication, straightforwardness, sincerity. That is also what will take us to heaven.’

The African Union (AU) and the International Executive Committee of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) have unveiled the global calendar for the landmark 10th edition, with the main events scheduled for May 18-23, 2027, in Lagos, Nigeria, culminating in the grand awards ceremony on May 23.

The calendar was unveiled at the 10th AFRIMA Creative Industry Roundtable and Global Calendar Unveiling held at Sofitel in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States. AFRIMA President/Executive Producer, Mike Dada, announced that the Call for Entries will open worldwide on October 11, 2026, and close on January 10, 2027.

According to Dada, collation and pre-screening of entries will take place from January 11-14, followed by adjudication from January 15-22 and the global announcement of nominees on January 29. Public voting will run from February 21 to May 21, 2027.

Eligible creative works must have been produced and released within the official eligibility period, from August 10, 2025 to January 10, 2027

Dada also unveiled the international build-up programme, tagged #Road2AFRIMA10Xperience, covering London, Windhoek, Cotonou, Nairobi, Accra, Paris, Warri and Port Harcourt.

In Lagos, the AFRIMA 10X Conference, Media Parley and Industry Night will be held on April 14, alongside university activations and concerts between February and April, ahead of the main events from May 18-23, 2027, starting with the AFRIMA Diamond Showcase.

‘The journey will culminate in Lagos with the 10th AFRIMA Main Events from May 18 to 23, 2027, and the grand awards ceremony on May 23,’ Dada announced.

Speaking on the significance of the milestone, Dada said the 10th edition would celebrate a decade of African musical excellence while strengthening AFRIMA’s contribution to Africa’s creative economy. ‘African artistes are filling arenas around the world. African sounds are influencing global culture. But visibility alone is not enough. We must turn visibility into opportunity, opportunity into investment, and investment into sustainable creative industries. Africa must not only export culture; Africa must capture the capital and build wealth from its culture,’ he said.

Describing the global calendar as more than a list of dates, Dada said it represents ‘a roadmap for engagement, collaboration, investment and cultural exchange,’ bringing together artistes, creatives, investors, policymakers, media and industry leaders. He added that every stop on the #Road2AFRIMA10Xperience is designed to create new conversations, partnerships, opportunities and pathways for African creativity.

At the well-attended event, the Los Angeles unveiling marks the latest stage in the build-up to the 10th AFRIMA, following earlier #Road2AFRIMA10Xperience engagements in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; and Rabat and Casablanca, Morocco. The Los Angeles event attracted personalities from Africa and the United States, including comedian Darryl Vega; actors Razz Adeoti, Bayo Akinfemi and Ozie Nzeribe; digital creator Laurence Brahm; artiste Seyi Brown; producer Septimum; The Africa Channel COO Narendra Reddy; DJ Sly King from Ghana among others; and renowned Guinness world record holder choreographer, dance instructor and fitness coach Kaffy, who also hosted at the event.

Award-winning American artiste and producer Septimius The Great delivered the welcome remarks.

‘The connection between African artistes and American artistes is more important than ever. We have the talent, the creativity and the stories, but when we build the bridge between Africa and America, we create opportunities that can take our music and our culture to an even bigger global audience.’

Also speaking at the conference, Reddy called for a more sustainable African creative economy where creators receive fair commercial value for their work. ‘Creators must make real money from their work, not be used and discarded after their content generates value. Africa’s 54 nations must collaborate and build stronger partnerships with the rest of the world to open markets, attract investment, and take African music and creativity to global audiences,’ he said.

Established in 2013 by the International Executive Committee of AFRIMA in partnership with the African Union, AFRIMA has become Africa’s biggest, most prestigious and longest-running music awards platform, developing, celebrating and promoting African music, culture and creative talent globally. Its broadcast reaches audiences in more than 84 countries, with millions of viewers worldwide.

For many years, Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW), as a religious organisation, have based its stand on blood transfusion on the interpretation of Mosaic Law, which, among other things, forbade believers from anything that relates to blood.

According to the organisation, Jehovah connects the sacredness of life with blood. It therefore bases its stand on Jehovah’s command to Noah in Genesis 9: 4, which says ‘…only flesh with its life, its blood you must not eat.’

Over the years, JW have operated strictly against blood transfusion, which many have endured even at the expense of loved ones.

But a recent update from its leadership, tagged ‘2026 Governing Body Update #6 ‘, discussed an adjustment to JW’s position on blood components – further indicating that ‘Christians are not under the Mosaic Law.’

While the organisation holds the right to its interpretation of the Bible as a religious sect, many adherents have lost their lives for refusing to accept blood transfusion in their critical moments, while the belief lasted.

In recent months, several natural disasters like earthquakes in Venezuela, Japan, and Colombia, wildfires in Europe and in North America, and devastating mudslides in Asia have affected many, including Jehovah’s Witnesses.

In many of the affected places, Jehovah’s Witnesses were directly involved in rescue efforts involving fellow witnesses, where local brothers and sisters donated over half a million dollars’ worth of food, clothing, and other supplies.

While JW branch offices in affected areas set up relief centres to help people in need of essential items, those in critical condition and in need of blood transfusion could not get the help required because the organisation they belong to does not support blood transfusion.

According to the Governing Body, Jehovah’s Witnesses have always endeavoured to reflect on God’s view of the sacredness of life. While that position is true and justified, it was, however, based on a misinterpretation of the scriptures.

The occurrence of natural disasters and medical advancements in a way forced the Governing Body to reevaluate the organisation’s position on blood transfusion – therefore positing that ‘It’s an opportunity for each of God’s servants to reflect Jehovah’s view of life.’

According to the Governing Body, obedience to Jehovah’s view of life includes avoiding the consumption of blood.

‘And since the underlying principle is respect for life, it also includes avoiding blood guilt caused by murder or by careless or reckless conduct that could result in the loss of life.’

Furthermore, the Governing Body, in obedience to the apostolic command to abstain from blood, reiterated that the Bible does not comment on the use of a person’s own blood in medical and surgical care.

‘Therefore, like other choices about health care, each Christian must make his own decision about the use of his own blood in all medical and surgical care.’

New perspective/Biblical understanding on blood transfusion

The Bible expressly warned that believers are not to add or remove from any part of the scripture. However, this part of the Bible and other commandments have been interpreted from various points of view.

Therefore, it is not surprising to see the JW Governing Body review the organisation’s stand on blood transfusion – which for many years have exposed Jehovah’s Witnesses to controversies in many places.

‘It’s more about Biblical understanding of the principle about the use and consumption of blood that became clearer,’ a witness who wanted to remain anonymous told BusinessDay.

She added that there has been no pushback from within the organisation to force the Governing Body to review her position on blood transfusion.

‘There are so many people that I know that would still refuse any form of blood, because their conscience doesn’t allow them.’

She also clarified that whole blood is still not taken by Jehovah’s Witnesses, but they can only take the four components as required for treatment

‘If their conscience allows it, they can store their own blood and reuse it for medical procedures. The former principle was to take fractions of the components of whole blood and not whole blood or the full components,’ she said.

The anonymous Witness also disclosed that the review was not directly influenced by technological advancements. ‘JW’s have always been tech-savvy and use tech to their advantage.

‘We’ve always had very successful no-blood surgeries, backed by the world’s most advanced doctors,’ she added.

Importance of blood transfusion

Blood transfusion is primarily needed to save a person’s life when they have lost too much blood. It helps people with severe anaemia by giving their body the red blood cells it needs to carry oxygen.

Blood transfusion is also very important during major surgeries, accidents, childbirth, and other emergencies, where the patients’ blood count is low.

Similarly, some patients with serious illnesses may also require blood or blood components as part of their treatment. ‘Having enough safe blood available in hospitals means doctors can respond quickly when someone’s life is at risk,’ Said Yekeen, former chairman, YMLSF OYO State branch, told BusinessDay.

According to Yekeen, hospitals need regular blood donors to ensure that blood is available when patients need it urgently – hence people should be open to blood donation and transfusion.

‘People should be willing to donate blood because their small act of kindness can save someone’s life,’ Yekeen said.

According to him, donated blood is carefully tested/screened and matched to make the transfusion as safe as possible. ‘By donating blood and being open to receiving it when necessary, we can help save lives and support one another,’ he added.

Power of decision given to each Witness

While the recent review of the Governing Body is seen as a welcome development, much still has to be done in areas of acceptance because the U-turn now places the power to give or receive on individual Witnesses.

Therefore, the Governing Body warned that taking the matter lightly could harm a Christian’s conscience and his relationship with Jehovah.

The warning according to the Governing Body was based on the fact that members of the Body are not masters of other believers’ faith, but are rather fellow workers in faith.

‘This scriptural clarification allows each Christian to do as stated in Galatians 6: 5. Each one will carry his own load.

‘After further prayerful consideration, the Governing Body has decided that this same principle applies to the four primary components of whole blood,’ the Governing Body stated.

On the back of this, the Body urged Witnesses to prayerfully consider all factors relevant to their situation when making medical decisions involving products derived from blood.

‘In this way, each Christian can make a decision that leaves him with a clean conscience and shows deep respect for Jehovah, the source of life.’

The Governing Body also touched on how individual Witnesses can view the acceptance or rejection of any blood-related product.

‘Each Christian will likely reason differently. Some might reject all such products because they believe that taking any part of blood is wrong.

‘Others might accept certain products because they represent a small percentage of whole blood,’ the Governing Body stated.

Industry professionals has reiterated the need for manufacturers to move beyond AI experimentation and embrace practical, scalable solutions that can boost productivity, strengthen competitiveness and deliver measurable economic value across the region.

They argue that Artificial intelligence could unlock billions of dollars in economic value for Africa’s manufacturing sector, but companies must first address weaknesses in data, infrastructure, energy and technical skills.

Stakeholders at the recent GITEX Nigeria 2026 explored how artificial intelligence can be practically deployed across the manufacturing sector.

Speaking during a session filled with excitement, fresh ideas and solutions-driven contributions, Ian Leslie, Chief Information Officer of Dangote Cement, said that African manufacturers have an opportunity to use AI to leapfrog decades of legacy industrial systems that have slowed digital transformation in more developed markets.

Leslie said that AI should not be viewed as a substitute for fixing the continent’s fundamental industrial weaknesses.

According to him, the problem with automation in manufacturing worldwide is fragmented, poor-quality data, which is locked into proprietary systems that were never designed to share it,’ he stated.

‘One of the genuine advantages I think Africa does have is the absence of legacy,’ ‘New capacity can be born digital rather than retrofitted,’Leslie said.

He further said that manufacturers across the continent face pressure to improve productivity and compete in a global market where advanced technologies are increasingly being deployed to optimise production, supply chains and industrial operations.

The GITEX Nigeria provides an important platform for those connections, bringing together the innovators, entrepreneurs and organisations driving Africa’s digital transformation.

The event also included discussions that centred on productivity, operational efficiency, return on investment, workforce augmentation, and the critical role of data and digital infrastructure in driving AI adoption at scale.

Building Africa’s next digital chapter Africa’s digital opportunity is therefore about more than moving services online or increasing digital transactions. It is about creating the infrastructure and conditions that allow digital participation on to translate into broader economic opportunity.

I have attended enough UN General Assembly weeks over the years to know that the General Assembly itself is only part of the story. The speeches matter, the bilateral meetings matter, and the symbolism matters. But increasingly, the real business of UNGA week happens outside the UN building-in hotel conference rooms, investment forums, private dinners and side events across Manhattan. This year, that reality became impossible to miss. The side events were no longer really ‘side’ events. In many ways, they were the main event.

And Nigeria showed up.

Not simply to attend, make speeches and take photographs, but increasingly to negotiate, attract capital, build partnerships and convert international interest in Nigeria into actual commercial conversations. Nigeria arrived in New York under the impressive and energetic leadership of Vice President Shettima, with state governors, ministers, business leaders, investors and entrepreneurs spread across dozens of engagements. What struck me was not simply the size of the Nigerian presence, but the seriousness and focus.

For me, nothing captured the potential of the week better than one 24-hour period midweek. One evening at Nigeria House, Solid Minerals Minister Dele Alake and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau signed a Critical Minerals Framework Agreement between Nigeria and the United States.

The following morning in an event co-hosted by Dr. Jumoke Oduwale, Nigeria’s Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, and the US Chamber of Commerce, Nigerian mining company Promethean Resources was signing commercial agreements with a series of American partners: Vermeer for precision mining equipment; Renewvia for renewable power for mining and processing operations as well as surrounding host communities; and Terra Industries for mining security infrastructure.

Government creates the framework. Business follows with transactions.

Investment follows opportunity. And ultimately, communities and the wider economy should benefit. That is how these things are supposed to work. A framework signed one evening and commercial partnerships being advanced the following morning is certainly not proof of success. But it is the right sequence-and one we need to see much more often.

Call it Naija dey carry first.

Even by Friday, when UNGA fatigue had set in across New York, Wale Adeosun, the CEO of Kuramo Capital was still able to bring together a strong room of investors and financiers from Nigeria, across Africa and beyond. People were not there simply as a courtesy. They came because there was business to discuss. And another deal was signed there by Hannatu Musa Musawa, Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy – this one focused on Nigeria’s booming creative sector.

Nigeria was indeed one of the stories of UNGA 81. We should, however, be careful not to confuse attention with achievement. Nigeria is not the only country with critical minerals. Across Africa and the rest of the world, governments are competing aggressively for the same capital, technology and strategic partnerships. Some have better infrastructure. Some have simpler regulatory environments. Some have fewer security challenges. And many are moving quickly.

The opportunity Nigeria has today is therefore real-but it is not permanent. Signing ceremonies create attention. Framework agreements create opportunity. Neither creates a mine. That requires the far less glamorous work of financing, exploration, permitting, infrastructure, security, logistics, power and sustained engagement with host communities. It requires projects actually moving forward in places suc/h as Kaduna, Plateau, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Niger and Bauchi-far from the ballrooms of Manhattan.

If the agreements being celebrated today are still only agreements twelve months from now, investors will move on. What made this UNGA week particularly interesting, however, was that the minerals story was only one part of a much broader Nigerian story.

Dangote’s recent ‘peoples IPO’ and his expanding regional industrial ambitions in Kenya and beyond were a big part of the conversation-a Nigerian industrial platform increasingly looking beyond Nigeria itself. United Nations Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed remained one of the most visible figures in global diplomacy, demonstrating again that Nigerians are not simply participating in international institutions but helping lead them. And the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority signed an agreement with the World Bank and Africa50 for a $300 million distributed renewable energy fund for the country, yet another milestone of the week.

Meanwhile, some of the biggest Nigerian investment stories of the week were happening thousands of kilometres away from New York. TotalEnergies and AMNI International announced an $800 million final investment decision for the Ima gas development offshore Bonny Island, designed to supply significant gas volumes to Nigeria LNG’s Train 7 expansion. Importantly, the project also carries substantial Nigerian financing and local-content participation. And in Paris with President Tinubu himself in attendance, the Ogun State Government and DP World advanced a proposed multibillion-dollar deep-sea port and Blue Marine Special Economic Zone-an ambitious project intended to create another major industrial and logistics gateway while helping relieve the chronic pressure on Lagos ports.

Mining, renewable energy, and creative economy agreements in New York. Gas investment offshore Nigeria. A major port and industrial-zone initiative being advanced in Paris. Different sectors. Different investors. Different locations. But all within the same week. That begins to look less like an event and more like a broader shift in how Nigeria is engaging global capital.

And then there is Nigeria’s cultural economy, which increasingly requires no government delegation at all. Popular restaurant Lagos Times Square was doing brisk business. Afrobeats seemed to follow you through Manhattan, even in elevators. And the Tony Elumelu Foundation marked fifteen years of entrepreneurship impact with a gathering of entrepreneurs, investors and partners from across the continent.

These may appear disconnected from mining, renewable energy, gas and ports. They are not.

Countries attract investment partly through economics, but also through relevance. Nigeria’s culture, diaspora, entrepreneurs and business leaders have created a global presence that government could never manufacture through a communications campaign alone. Perhaps that was what struck me most about the week. No single ministry coordinated all of this. No single government agency could have. Nigeria’s presence emerged simultaneously through government, business, finance, infrastructure, culture, entrepreneurship and the diaspora.

That makes it more credible.

When a country’s global presence is visible at the same time in critical-minerals negotiations, renewable energy funds, mining equipment and offtake agreements, gas investments, port infrastructure, global institutional leadership, entrepreneurship gatherings, Afrobeats and restaurants, it begins to look less like national branding and more like economic momentum coming from multiple independent directions.

But momentum is useful only if it is converted into outcomes. So the real test of UNGA 81 will not be how many Nigerian events were held in New York, how many ministers spoke, or how many agreements were signed. The test will come over the next twelve months.

Are the mining agreements translating into equipment arriving at operating sites? Is renewable power reaching mines and host communities? Are security systems being deployed? Is Nigerian tin entering international supply chains under new offtake arrangements? Are the gas investments progressing? Is the port project moving from announcement toward construction?

Those are the measures that matter. Nigeria showed this week that it can command attention. More importantly, it showed how to use that attention to negotiate partnerships rather than simply celebrate its potential. Now comes the harder part: execution. The opportunity may have been created in New York, Paris and other global centres this week. But whether it becomes real will ultimately be determined back home-in the mines, communities, ports, industrial zones and project sites across Nigeria.

That is where the next UNGA story needs to be written, hopefully long before UNGA 82.

Dr. Wiebe Boer, Chief Growth Officer, JIPA Network, and member, BusinessDay Editorial Advisory Board