Category: Business Day

Nentawe Yilwatda, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said President Bola Tinubu has earned Nigerians’ confidence and deserves a second term to consolidate his reforms and deliver greater prosperity.

Yilwatda spoke on Saturday at the flag-off of the APC’s 2027 presidential campaign in Kaduna, expressing confidence that the ruling party would secure victory in the January 16 presidential election.

‘Mr President, the people have spoken, and their voice is loud and clear. Nigerians are happy. Our women are happy, our youths are happy, and the people are encouraged by your leadership,’ Yilwatda said.

He described Tinubu as a courageous leader willing to take difficult but necessary decisions in the country’s interest, insisting that the APC was united, prepared and confident of winning the election.

‘We are proud to present to Nigerians the most competent and credible candidate for the presidency,’ the APC chairman said.

Yilwatda urged Nigerians to assess the administration not only by the economic challenges confronting the country but also by its efforts to address longstanding structural problems.

‘The task before us is to consolidate the gains, deepen the reforms and ensure that the promise of Renewed Hope translates into greater opportunities, improved livelihoods and shared prosperity for our people,’ he said.

‘We believe that the President deserves the opportunity to complete this work and take Nigeria to the next level,’ he added.

The APC chairman said the party’s campaign would focus on the administration’s record, ongoing reforms and plans for national development, expressing confidence that the benefits of its policies would become more evident over time.

At the rally, Yilwatda also presented APC flags to governors of the North-West, describing the region as strategically important to the party’s electoral prospects.

He urged party leaders and supporters across the seven states to strengthen grassroots mobilisation, maintain unity and rally behind Tinubu and other APC candidates ahead of the 2027 general election.

‘The journey to 2027 has begun, and the APC is ready. We have a President with the courage to lead, a party with the capacity to mobilise and a vision centred on the prosperity of our people,’ he said.

The Kaduna rally marks the commencement of the APC’s nationwide presidential campaign as Tinubu seeks re-election amid mounting economic and security challenges.

Development agencies have expressed interest in adopting a memoir by Dr Ifeoma Esther Charles-Monwuba, a development specialist and former senior leader in international organisations with more than three decades of experience. She publicly presented her memoir, Grace and Grit: My Journey of Faith, Purpose and Leadership, on Wednesday, 21 October 2026.

Dr Ifeoma Charles-Monwuba reading from the memoir.

The presentation was held at RovingHeights Bookshop in Garki, Abuja. The Social Development Action Trust (SDA Trust) organised it as part of activities marking the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child. The event aligned with the official 2026 International Day of the Girl Child theme: ‘End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights!’ The gathering brought together colleagues from the development sector, advertising and the media, as well as family and friends.

The event featured a reading from the memoir and an interactive session with the author. The discussions went beyond one family’s story to examine the systemic drivers of child marriage and the barriers to girls’ education in Nigeria, with stakeholders calling for stronger implementation of existing laws and greater investment in safe, accessible schools.

The Memoir and Its Author

Grace and Grit, published in 2026 by May Publishing Limited in Lagos, is a candid and inspirational memoir structured around a preface, a prologue (‘The Becoming’), and eleven chapters. It traces Charles-Monwuba’s journey from her birth in Nnewi during the Nigerian-Biafran Civil War, as the eldest of ten children raised by parents of modest means, to senior leadership roles in international development and diplomacy across West Africa and beyond.

She holds a PhD in Development Communication from Caleb University, Lagos (a thesis on Nollywood and the representation of gender roles, particularly women’s unpaid care work); a BSc in Mass Communication from Anambra State University of Science and Technology; an MSc in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan; a master’s in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos; and a certificate in International Health from the University of Washington.

Her career spanned advertising at Sunrise, public health communication at the Society for Family Health, leadership roles at WaterAid Nigeria and ActionAid (including transformative work in Haiti and Senegal), and service as Ghana Multi-Country Director/Representative of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), covering Nigeria, The Gambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The book’s governing premise is that grace sustains, but grit must answer it. Leadership is portrayed not as a crown but as a humble calling rooted in service. Charles-Monwuba wrote the memoir to give back, especially to young people who feel locked out of big careers because of their backgrounds, and to parents making decisions for their children. She urges readers to be intentional about their children’s lives and encourages girls to pursue their ambitions.

A Narrow Escape from Child Marriage

At the heart of the memoir is Charles-Monwuba’s narrow escape from child marriage. At 16, as she prepared for university, her father’s struggling business attracted an offer from prospective partners who would provide capital if she married a younger brother in their family. Her late father, Sir J.O.S. Ufondu-a mechanic and Biafran Corps of Engineers veteran-refused to trade her future for money. He insisted she would go to university, declaring that education is the only inheritance no one can take from you.

That decision opened the way to higher education and a distinguished career. At the launch, speakers repeatedly returned to this story as a powerful illustration that educating girls does not prevent them from becoming wives, mothers and contributors to society. Dr Charles Usie, Country Director of Plan International Nigeria, highlighted the father’s role and asked: ‘What role are you playing in the life of girls? Either your daughter, your sister, your friend, what role are you playing? Are you enabling this problem or are you part of the solution?’

Voices from the Launch

Amina Baba-Manu, Director of Strategy, Innovation and Impact at SDA Trust, noted that poverty, culture, insecurity, and a lack of nearby schools drive early marriage. She cited a community in Sokoto State where the nearest senior secondary school is about two hours away on foot, deterring families because of the distance and safety concerns. ‘We have the policies. We have the laws in place. But it’s just the implementation of those policies,’ she said, calling for better enforcement and government investment in educational infrastructure.

Dr Charles Usie urged fathers to be part of the solution and highlighted the fathers’ support groups his organisation backs in Sokoto and Bauchi, recommending their expansion nationwide. He emphasised that men must actively protect girls’ rights and ensure they complete their education before marriage.

Dr Andrew (Andre) Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, said the memoir aligns with ActionAid’s Girls initiative and expressed a desire to partner with the author to empower girls.

Dr Charles-Monwuba added that schools must be safe, within reach, and properly equipped-with appropriate sanitation for girls, qualified teachers, and digital resources. She called on states to adopt and enforce protections against marriage before 18 and urged parents to be intentional about their children’s lives.

Broader Context and Calls to Action

The 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, observed globally on 11 October, has the official theme ‘End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights!’ The theme calls for urgent action to protect girls from early marriage and to invest in their education, health, and rights. According to UN and UNICEF data, more than 12 million girls are married before adulthood each year-roughly one every three seconds-with the highest prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, stakeholders stressed that civil society efforts alone cannot succeed without coordinated government action on safe schools, poverty reduction, and security.

Key calls emerging from the launch include:

Stronger implementation and enforcement of laws and policies prohibiting marriage before 18.

Invest in safe, accessible, well-equipped schools, including sanitation facilities and qualified teachers, particularly in rural and insecure areas.

Active engagement of fathers and male allies through support groups and community mobilisation.

Stronger partnerships among development organisations, government, and communities to address poverty, culture, and insecurity as root drivers.

Parents and caregivers to make deliberate choices that prioritise girls’ education and long-term futures.

One woman’s story of resilience as a symbol

By presenting Grace and Grit in the context of the International Day of the Girl Child, SDA Trust and the development community have framed one woman’s story of resilience as a symbol and a call to action for the millions of girls in Nigeria still at risk of child marriage and educational exclusion. The memoir serves as both personal testimony and practical instruction: purpose is refined through disciplined choices, and leadership is earned through service.

As Charles-Monwuba has written, finding the delicate balance between grace and grit-where strength is not the absence of fear but the resolve to press forward-offers a path for young people, parents and policymakers alike. The event reinforced that ending child marriage requires more than awareness; it demands intentional action from families, communities and governments.

A crown is not won with words. In Ijebuland, royalty rests on one thing: blood you can trace. Who was your father? Who was his father? Who was your mother, and the people she came from? You follow the line back, on either side, until it reaches the ruling house. That is how it has always worked. That is how it must stay.

So there is a simple question for Mr Abimbola ‘Bimbo’ Onabanjo, who is said to be linked to the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Agunsebi, Ijebu-Ode. Through whom does the line run, his father or his mother? A claim to a ruling house must pass through blood, and blood comes down from a parent. Either the Fusengbuwa connection comes through his father’s side, or it comes through his mother’s side. One of them must carry it. Which one?

Begin with what his father has said in public, in his own voice. In an interview marking his 80th birthday, carried by The Nation and republished online, Otunba Dipo Onabanjo described his own background himself. He said the people who gave him his Otunba title are his people in Ijebu Ogbeere, in Ogun State. He spoke of schooling in Ijebu-Ode as a boy. And he named his wife, Bimbo’s mother, as Chief Mrs Margaret Onabanjo, nee Akintola, from Odosida in Ondo State.

Read that again. Ijebu Ogbeere on one side. Odosida, in Ondo State, on the other. Neither one is the Fusengbuwa house.

Now, at last, an answer has been offered. But notice first that it does not come from Bimbo Onabanjo himself, who to this day has not explained his own lineage in his own mouth. It comes in statements pushed on his behalf by a handful of paid bloggers. And when you read what they put out slowly, it does not settle the question. It deepens it.

The statement says Bimbo descends from Fusengbuwa through his maternal great-grandfather, a certain Lamina Aderibigbe, known as ‘Daily Woollen.’ Then, in the very next breath, it says Bimbo’s father, whom it now styles Prince Stephen Oladipupo Onabanjo, is the ‘first grandson’ of that same Lamina Aderibigbe.

Both of those cannot be true. If the man is reached through the mother, the line runs on the mother’s side. If the father is his grandson, the line runs on the father’s side. To say the same single ancestor sits on both sides at once is to say that Bimbo’s own father and mother are of one blood, from one grandfather. No family makes that claim about itself, and no ruling house is built that way. A statement that contradicts itself in two sentences has not proved a lineage. It has only shown that its authors do not know which parent they are claiming.

Then comes the most troubling turn of all. The woman the father himself named, with pride, as his wife and Bimbo’s mother, the lady from Odosida in Ondo State, is now waved away in the same statement as a mere ‘stepmother,’ and a new, unnamed biological mother is produced to carry the bloodline that the named mother cannot. No name is given. No marriage, no record, no family that anyone can point to. When a man’s own mother, acknowledged by his own father in print, must be quietly replaced to win an argument, the argument is already in trouble.

Let us be plain about what does not count. Going to school in Ijebu-Ode does not make a man royal. Living there, working there, or keeping good friends there does not make a man royal. A ruling house is a family, not a town. If schooling in a place conferred a throne, half the country could claim one.

And let us be just as plain about money. The throne is not for sale. It cannot be bought with projects, gifts, or donations spread around the town. A man may build roads, fund events, and give generously in every direction, and still not be of the blood. Generosity is welcome, but generosity is not genealogy. The stool answers to ancestry, not to a bank account.

Asking for proof is not an insult. It is respect for the throne, for history, and for every true son and daughter of the house. The one who makes the claim carries the burden. Those who ask the question are not required to disprove anything. Our people put it simply: ir?´ ní ?s?` kúkúrú, a lie has short legs, and cannot run far before it falls.

So the questions remain on the table, sharper now than before:

Does the Fusengbuwa claim come through the father, or the mother? It cannot be both, from the same man.

If through the father, who are the ancestors, by name, from Dipo Onabanjo back to Fusengbuwa?

If through the mother, who is she, and how does her family connect to a ruling house in Ijebu-Ode?

And who is the recognised head of the Fusengbuwa house, not paid bloggers, ready to stand up and confirm any of this?

Until these are answered without contradiction, this remains a claim awaiting proof, not settled history. Fusengbuwa is older than today’s politics. It belongs to the people and to children not yet born. It cannot be bought, and it deserves the truth.

Michael Carrick says dropping Bruno Fernandes to the bench for Manchester United’s Premier League clash against Bournemouth was a ‘pure football’ decision, dismissing suggestions that the move was punishment for the captain’s criticism of his tactics.

Fernandes was named among the substitutes for Sunday’s match at Old Trafford, days after questioning United’s passive approach out of possession during their 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League.

Carrick, under pressure after United went seven games without a win in all competitions, said his selection was based on what he believed would give the team the best chance of producing a strong performance.

‘Picking the team is always a difficult decision,’ Carrick told Sky Sports. ‘We’ve got to make what we feel is the right one for the team to try to get the performance we want.’

He added: ‘When you have options, it’s always a difficult decision. We have to make the right one for today and the team to get that performance we want.’

The United manager rejected the suggestion that Fernandes had been dropped in response to his public comments, describing the decision as a footballing judgement.

Manchester United entered the clash with seven points from their opening seven matches. Carrick is under pressure to secure a result against Bournemouth and ease speculation surrounding his future.

Fernandes had criticised United’s defensive approach after Como’s emphatic victory in Italy, raising questions about the team’s tactics at a difficult moment in the season.

The Portugal international, 32, enjoyed an outstanding campaign last season, winning multiple individual awards and setting a Premier League record with 21 assists as United finished third. His influence has been more limited this season, apart from a hat-trick against Ipswich in August.

Carrick made four changes to his starting lineup, with Matheus Cunha, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui also dropping out. Ayden Heaven, Leny Yoro, Carlos Baleba and Amad Diallo came into the side.

Fernandes’ remarks followed criticism from teammate Lisandro Martínez, who had questioned whether United’s board did enough to strengthen the squad during the transfer window.

Martínez, however, was not dropped for those comments and was replaced at half-time in last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Leeds after suffering an injury. He was named among the substitutes against Bournemouth.

Ezekiel Ikotun, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Flinchglow Travels Limited, company that services the travel value chain, shook the audience at a workshop on air travel in Port Harcourt with how Nigeria’s prosperity in the tourism industry has been stifled.

Spoke at the workshop which took place at the Ogeyi Place in the GRA 2 section of the Garden City where he revealed how insecurity had badly affected the growth of the tourism sector. It was a workshop that brought together the airlines and agencies in the sector.

Explaining more to newsmen on the drawbacks, Ikotun said: ‘The first thing is insecurity which drives people away. Who wants to come to a space where you hear about a lot of kidnapping, hear about bandits, and all of that?

‘If insecurity can come to an end, and better business architecture where there’s certainty in the business area is installed, you’ll see investors coming in to invest heavily in our space, and we’ll see how tourism is going to grow exponentially.’

He said people want to come to Nigeria because Nigeria has a lot of natural endowments across the entire region of Nigeria.

Setting at the seminar in PH

‘There’s no area that does not have something natural for which people can fly in from anywhere in the world to come and see. But in terms of investment, government support is not there. But if we can have that, have security, everything will be fine.’

On how the event came about and its inspiration, the CEO said it is called ‘Partner Plus Connect’. ‘We are a travel consolidator. We are agents’ agent. So, we service everybody within the travel space. We buy from airlines in bulk and resell to other travel agencies.

‘For the fact that we are driven by volume, we get better discounts because of our position, then we can resell better to other travel agencies.’

In the past, he said, ‘We discovered that there’s been a lot of uneducated travel agents in the Nigerian space. And part of the product that we offer is to ensure that all our travel agencies are better positioned in terms of awareness, in terms of capacity building.

‘If you look at the engagement today, you can see that all airlines are coming to make presentations about their products and services, and then in turn, our partners, our sub-agents can ask questions or be better enlightened on how best they can do their business.

‘Most of them don’t even have the opportunity or the privilege to have this kind of gathering, if not for us coming up with it to bring all of these airlines together and other GDSs to be able to serve them better.’

On benefits to travelers and agents, he said it is an ecosystem which is connected. ‘It means that if the sub-agents are properly educated, that means they will serve the traveler better.

‘Now, for the agents also, once they can serve better, they can have better businesses. For those who are in our own ecosystem, that simply means they will know better about the business, and they can serve their customer better.

‘Look at this information now about Ethiopian Airlines, it’s coming to them firsthand. They now have the contacts of these airlines so they can reach out to them and go through us for ticket issuance. So, they have firsthand information about how best they can service their customers.

Let all airlines sell tickets in Naira:

On what the FG should be doing to lift agents to make the sector more formidable, the expert pleaded on forex as the greatest challenge they faced. ‘We are asked to issue tickets in dollars, remit in dollars, but we have limited dollar access. So, if that can be properly handled, our local currency is Naira. If all the airlines can be mandated to sell in Naira, then we can remit in Naira. So, we don’t have any problem when it comes to remittances.’

In terms of awareness, he said the aviation industry worldwide is one of the most viable sectors. ‘If you look at the GDP of the world, what travel and tour industry is contributing is not a small fraction. So, if a lot of investment can be done in that regard like Kenya does. People travel from America to Kenya simply because of how their tourism industry is being structured.

‘So, if you have something similar in our space in Nigeria, that means that industry will even give more to the GDP of Nigeria.’

He said they were excited about the next move. ‘AI is taking the front door of every conversation. If you look at the investment globally, this year is over $1 trillion, the investment. Meaning any industry that is a bit structured is going to be heavily hit by AI.

‘So, the next phase is about building a robust architecture technology that can accommodate some of the things we talked about in terms of automation, in terms of availability of products and services, access to technology, and all of that. So, what’s next for us is to see how we can be a major player when it comes to that particular ecosystem where technology will meet AI, then automation makes work a lot easier for both the travel agency and the travelers.’

Oluremi Olusunde, CEO of Realms Travels and Tours Limited: How to survive as an airline agent

Also speaking to newsmen, Oluremi Olusunde, CEO of Realms Travels and Tours Limited, admitted that the event was smoothly executed, saying it was a time of learning. ‘It was a time of getting renewed information in the travel industry.’

He said the panelists were just simply brilliant and interesting. And for the airlines that came, all the questions they had about their services, their offers, their perks were answered adequately. It was really a time well spent.

‘I have been over a decade in the industry. The industry has its challenges, however, I think that it is a huge place. And if you are able to carve a niche market for yourself, and you’re able to adequately update yourself regularly, you can keep your customers and you will thrive in the industry.’

‘On how this event was organized, I am beyond impressed with this meeting. I’m someone who doesn’t like to stay out, to take a lot of time out of work, but for this meeting, I think for every minute I’ve spent here, it’s been worthwhile. It’s been a nice experience.’

How to use AI in this industry:

He went on: ‘Yes, we came to this training on AI, and I want to say AI is everybody’s friend as long as you know how to use it. AI does not replace human intelligence. It is artificial intelligence for a reason. It is faster but you always need human intelligence because you need that balance to be able to curate things according to how humans will need it curated.

AI just gives you data. Human intelligence filters the data and adapts it to every individual.

So I don’t think AI challenges my position in the industry. I just think it’s a tool that I can use to make myself better.’

Ethiopia Airlines happy to return to PH:

The airline was at the seminar in Port Harcourt and revealed their plans to resume flights to the Garden City.

Speaking, Firiehiwot Mekonnen, Area Manager – Nigeria, Ethiopian Airlines, gave her take home from the seminar, first saying the event was very good. She profusely commended Finchglow Travels for bringing all travel partners together.

‘It’s really an amazing event, and they keep on doing it every year. So, we really want to appreciate and thank you, Finchglow Travels, for that.’

She also said she was glad that they were able to meet and discuss with all the travel partners, travel agencies around this area. ‘They have already expressed their support for Ethiopian Airlines. They have expressed their appreciation for Ethiopian Airlines to commence flights to Port Harcourt.

‘As Ethiopian Airlines, we are also really happy and excited to start our fifth frequency or fifth destination in Nigeria, which is Port Harcourt. We expect that this operation, which we are starting with four frequencies per week, is going to grow to daily frequency with the support of Finchglow Travels and all the travel partners that we have met today.

‘We have also taken all their comments and feedbacks, and we are committed to working on that.’

She described their experience in Nigeria one of resilience. ‘You know, Ethiopian Airlines started operating to Nigeria right after one month of Nigeria’s independence. So, this year we have celebrated our 65 years of anniversary in Nigeria.

‘And in Ethiopian Airlines, since we have started, we have been continuing, we have never stopped through thick and thin, no matter what. There are times where so many airlines were challenged and suspended their flights, but Ethiopian Airlines never did that.

‘So, throughout all these years, we kept on adding and making sure that we bring the best to the Nigerian public. We bring the best of the airlines. We fly with A350,000 to Lagos, Abuja, and then we are going to bring that as well to you.’

She said Nigerians love Ethiopian Airlines. ‘So, the experience that we have had in operating in Nigeria is very good. It’s a Nigerian airline, that’s what we can say and that’s how our passengers claim as well. So, the experience is very good, very vibrant people, very warm people, and then we keep on growing and we keep on giving back to Nigeria.’

Explaining further, she said she just arrived from Lagos. She said her colleague, Agitu Tesfaye, will be working in Port Harcourt. She said she considered it good news to the agents.

‘So, Mr. Agitu is going to be the Traffic and Sales Manager of Ethiopian Airlines here in Port Harcourt; someone who is going to be closely working with you.

‘We will just give you a brief overview of Ethiopian Airlines. This airline has been flying to Port Harcourt, and this presentation is like a discussion, an interaction.

‘Ethiopian Airlines has been flying to Port Harcourt back in 2019. Now, we are resuming our flights in December 2026. So, I just want to give you a brief introduction about Ethiopian Airlines, and then I want us to discuss.

‘I want you to ask, request, and comment as well on our services. Ethiopian Airlines is an 80-year-young airline. So, this is just to give a note about Ethiopian Airlines. Ethiopian Airlines was founded in 1945. This year, we have already celebrated our 80th year anniversary. It is fully owned by the government.’

Chigozie Nnah: Key lecture on ticket pricing mechanism:

Nnah is the Account Manager, Lufthansa Airlines, Port Harcourt, and he spoke on what he called continuous pricing mechanism in the industry.

He said: ‘We are used to our Reservation Booking Designators (RBDs), K-class, Lima class, and the rest of them. Now, what this continuous pricing normally does is that when it looks at a booking situation in any period and sees that there are seats not sold and the other ones the seat before that or the RBD before that is sold.

‘So, what the system does is instead of if K-class is N90,000 and then Lima is N100,000, instead of charging you N100,000, what it does is it tries to do what we call a little of differentiation and gets a price in between and offer it to anyone who is booking.

So, it’s only applicable or available within a specified period of time. The moment you book it and you do not pay, you want to wait until the next day, it may not be available.’

Now, he said, the New Distribution Capability (NDC) is a win-win game, so to speak. ‘We have attractive NDC smart offers, transparent, value-added, full customization and personalization deals. What do we mean by personalization? Individualization to suit each and every customer if you so wish.

‘And then the technology, the trade and technology partner, we have better servicing functionalities, value-based commercial models, and it comes with increased efficiency.

‘The most difficult thing for a man to do is change which is difficult, change is the only thing that is constant.’

He said when he hears people say they cannot change from the traditional way of booking to the new and the smart way such as the NDC that is a smart way of booking; ‘It clearly tells you that in the new way of doing business, it offers you more efficiency than the old way of doing your business, especially as time and tides change.

‘Again, we have its installer of innovative NDC smart offers. We have different offers available for our partners and the state-of-the-art shopping experience. Gradually the airline industry will come to a point like what you have on Amazon and the rest, where you have a shopping cart. You can pick this and put to that cart, put this and all in that one cart, and then at the end you have just a basket of all the things that you need. So, this is how it’s going to run, and that’s what is seen. It’s the state-of-the-art shopping experience, and it comes with value-based willingness to pay.

‘I need to talk about ancillary. This is one topic or one subject I think we have not actually fully utilized; ancillary.’

With additional services on the local government, he went on, travelers can make their journey even more individual and comfortable.

‘There’s ancillary, you have the extra leg room, there, you can make advance seat reservation. Recently, I had some people say, ‘I do not have the money to pay for premium, and I need comfort. You can simply book advance seats, make an advance seat reservation. That way, your customer becomes comfortable even though at that period is not able to pay for the higher class.

‘So, this is part of what we should offer as professionals, at least, give them the complete package, ensure that these ancillaries are effectively and properly utilized. We have the sleeper rolls and then the fixed price upgrade.

‘Many of you may not know about the fixed price upgrade. We have fixed price upgrade and bid upgrade, and even the excess bag rate.

‘For the fixed price upgrade, there’s a fixed price to upgrade for instance from one class to the other. For the bid price, if you make a booking even though you did it in your office, you can go online and then you can ask for an upgrade. That upgrade is not fixed. You’re allowed to make quotes or bid. You’re allowed to make an offer. And at the end of the day, when it’s close to the flights especially, the person that has the highest offer is given that offer to upgrade.’

He explained with examples: ‘So, sometimes, if somebody has bid at $100, another person bid $105, another one $112; at the end of the day they pick the one that had the highest bid. If there are other avenues to make some other upgrading, take them just like that. So, this is how it works.

‘The one I want us to dwell on is the one of the extra bag. Recently, we have seen cases of people who have been saying that the extra bag amount is quite on the high side.

‘Just this Tuesday, a passenger was traveling and he told me wanted an extra bag, and asked how much for it. I said $305, he shouted. I said, but you know you can go to Lufthansa website and ask for an extra bag at a cheaper rate. He did and at the end, he got it at $132.

That’s shocking. Look at the difference.

‘So, for partners here, you can give your customer better services, you can also save them money, you can as well make more money for yourself.

‘I want you to make some money when you click. Why should I go to the airport and pay $305 whereas I can do it online? You can do it online and give to my clients, and also get some fringe from it.

‘We have the latest services we just mentioned.

Now, allegries. It is our latest in the market in terms of seats. It’s only in Lagos. We have the allegries that come with our flights, dreamliner that comes into Lagos. The allegries is simply a new configuration of seats that gives you additional maximum comfort.’

It’s found in all the cabins in the business class. ‘The suites are the one in front. If you have someone who always flies first class, and he is so used to first class, and there is unfortunately on this route there is no first class.

When you book the person in business class, please, pay for that business suite.

If you go online it’s cheaper. It’s more or less like first class, the services are top-notch.

You can find same in premium and as well in economy class.

‘As experts (agents) you should be registered with Lufthansa experts. It is a where we communicate our products, services, and other information that ordinarily you cannot get anywhere else. Lufthansa gives you credit.

‘Some ask for group discount. Any class you book, your staff, the family, you are entitled to 20% discount. Contact the airline, or read down the ticket. We have Lufthansa group meetings, we call it miles meetings, incentive and all that. And then we have the partner plus benefit.

‘The green fares are part of the fair family on the Lufthansa fair basis. Green fair simply means the fair that helps to promote a greener environment, safer environment, reduce carbon dioxide emission.’

He said when anybody books green fair, what the airline does is a little bit higher, but the benefit that weighs what you pay is that whereas you pay surcharge to ask for refund or rebook, this one is free. ‘Again, the additional benefit for green fair is that a customer enjoys 20% more on their miles and more.’

Shoprite Nigeria is planning to open standalone neighbourhood stores as part of efforts to revive its retail operations, moving away from its traditional reliance on large shopping malls. Adekunle Adebiyi, Investments Executive Director disclosed this during an interview on Nairametrics where he discussed the retailer’s financial challenges, restructuring efforts and recovery plans.

According to Adebiyi, three Shoprite stores have reopened following a temporary shutdown of operations to allow the company to negotiate with suppliers and address its financial obligations.

‘We took a very, very drastic decision to just shut everything down whilst we negotiated with suppliers. Now three stores are back open,’ he said.

He explained that the company intends to expand through smaller, standalone neighbourhood outlets rather than depending primarily on shopping malls, a strategy he described as consistent with its original business plan.

‘We’re going to be opening standalone neighbourhood stores, which was always the plan,’ Adebiyi said.

He noted that the strategy would allow Shoprite to concentrate on retail operations without committing substantial capital to property development. Adebiyi explained that the traditional supermarket model relies on leasing suitable commercial properties rather than acquiring buildings outright. He said retailers could negotiate long-term leases, sometimes extending to 10 years, and invest primarily in shelves, refrigeration equipment and other operational infrastructure.

According to him, this approach differs from the expectations of Nigerian banks, which typically favour businesses with substantial fixed assets that can serve as collateral. He disclosed that MBO Capital encountered difficulties securing bank financing during the acquisition of Shoprite Nigeria because lenders struggled to identify sufficient tangible assets against which to provide credit.

Despite Shoprite generating billions of naira in revenue, its business model did not fit conventional asset-backed lending requirements. Consequently, the investors turned to alternative funding arrangements to complete the acquisition. Adebiyi also identified foreign exchange volatility as a major factor behind Shoprite Nigeria’s financial difficulties.

He revealed that approximately 17 of the retailer’s 28 stores had dollar-denominated rental agreements at the time of the acquisition. The subsequent depreciation of the naira significantly increased rental obligations, placing additional pressure on operating costs. According to him, rent should ordinarily account for approximately 8% to 10% of a supermarket’s revenue. However, some Shoprite locations experienced substantially higher rental costs.

Beyond foreign exchange pressures, Adebiyi acknowledged operational shortcomings, including weaknesses in inventory management and the loss of access to the former parent company’s enterprise resource planning system. He said replacing the system required billions of naira in additional investment, diverting funds that could otherwise have supported the business.

The proposed neighbourhood-store expansion represents the next phase of that recovery strategy, although the company has not disclosed the number of planned outlets, their locations or an opening timeline. As previously reported by Nairametrics, Ketron Investment Limited, a consortium led by Persianas Investment Limited, completed the acquisition of Shoprite Nigeria in June 2021, following the South African retailer’s decision to exit direct ownership of the Nigerian business.

The transaction saw Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited take over operations under a franchise arrangement, with MBO Capital Management Limited among the advisers involved in the acquisition. In June 2024, Nairametrics reported that Shoprite announced the closure of its Wuse store at Novare Wuse Central Mall in Abuja, citing the prevailing business climate and the outlet’s financial performance.

The retailer’s challenges continued into 2025, with reports of temporary store closures and operational disruptions linked to working capital constraints, electricity costs and other expenses. However, in March 2026, Shoprite told Nairametrics that it was not exiting Nigeria but implementing a phased restructuring programme that began in August 2025 Bunmi Adeleye,Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited Chief Strategy Officer disclosed plans to reopen outlets at The Palms Shopping Mall and Circle Mall in Lagos while exploring smaller neighbourhood store formats to reduce rental, electricity and diesel expenses.

JMC-Alliance Co-operative Society Limited recently raised expectations in the cooperative enterprise community as it stepped into the future of this enterprise with the launch of Digital Cooperative Enterprise and Grassroots Financial Empowerment.

The launch is a foray into a new era of cooperative enterprise and has positioned JMC-Alliance as a digital-first public cooperative, redefining how communities access shared resources, financial empowerment and collective growth.

By combining technology with grassroots engagement, the cooperative seeks to build a legacy of trust and innovation that resonates with Africa’s next generation of leaders.

At the launch, the cooperative emphasised three pillars: inclusive growth, financial inclusion and financial security. What makes JMC-Alliance unique is its dual approach.

On one hand, it is fully digital, designed to empower tech-savvy youth with micro-lending and wealth-building tools accessible through smartphones. On the other, it deliberately incorporates traditional, offline methods to ensure market traders and grassroots communities are not left behind.

Whether through mobile apps or physical registers at the market square, the cooperative promises accessibility for all.

Joseph Onwuka, JMC-Alliance chairman, explained that the model was inspired by the need to merge traditional cooperative structures with digital innovation.

‘We are adopting a more pragmatic and market-driven model. The objective is not to abandon the traditional approach but to combine it with digital innovation so we can build a more flexible, accessible and sustainable business for the future,’ he said.

Technology is central to the cooperative’s vision. Onwuka noted that digital platforms will enhance transparency, member participation and sustainability. Members will be able to monitor their accounts, access services and resolve issues remotely, ensuring continuous communication and responsiveness.

Mary Okafor, a director at the company, highlighted the cooperative’s role in connecting the diaspora to local opportunities. She said structured channels would allow Nigerians abroad to invest earnings back home, supporting market women and small business owners with responsible loans that enable sustainable growth.

‘Instead of simply giving people money, we can provide responsible loans that enable market women and other small business owners to stock their businesses, keep trading, increasing their turnover and ultimately growing their enterprises,’ she explained.

Looking ahead, Onwuka said the cooperative’s legacy would be measured by the people it empowers. ‘We are going further into the grassroots, reaching people directly and creating opportunities that can make a real difference in their lives.

‘Our vision is to become a major player in Nigeria’s financial sector. Very soon, you will see JMC -Alliance everywhere, across Nigeria,’ he assured.

The launch signals a new chapter in cooperative development, one where digital transformation meets grassroots empowerment. JMC-Alliance is positioning itself not just as a financial association but as a community vehicle designed to drive inclusive prosperity and build a trusted nationwide brand.

Its ambition is to create a cooperative that is both modern and deeply rooted in the realities of everyday Nigerians, ensuring that financial inclusion is not just a slogan but a lived experience for millions.

Brazil would on October 25, 2026, take the hand of Nigeria to political school, the second in one month. The first one, like in kindergarten, Brazil showed the world, nay, Nigeria, that it is possible for a developing country to conduct an election without rancour, vote buying, and violence.

Coming closely to the time Nigeria is about to go to the polls in January, 2027, there is no reason to give excuses by Nigeria. The first round of the presidential election in Brazil took place on October 4, 2026; in that election, the incumbent President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro locked horns looking for a fair share of the 158.7 million votes from voters, in the end, no ballot box snatching, no burning of results sheets, and results were known same night, while the runoff was rescheduled for October 25.

With a population of approximately 213.8 million to 214.2 million people in 2026, according to Worldometer Brazil tracker, Nigeria’s own population hovers around same figures.

Indeed, Nigeria and Brazil share a lot in common: large population, diverse federation, high inequality, and history of military rule. Brazil has over 158.7 million voters while Nigeria has over 103 million registered voters. Such high volume of voters in Brazil is as a result of the fact that Brazil made voting compulsory for every adult citizen, unlike Nigeria where voting is optional.

The first round of election in Brazil has come and gone, with so many lessons, however, the issue is, if a country like Nigeria is ready and humble enough to learn without feeling too big.

Election in Nigeria has become a four-yearly national political event which keeps testing the nation’s strength, maturity, civility, unity, among other indices of civilization, sometimes it appears the nation will simply break away, but in the end it will not, some see it as a game, some see it as serious business, while still it is seen as a necessary end because there is no other credible alternative to democracy.

Indeed, Nigeria’s democracy continues to go by the baptismal name, nascent, in another it is still a young adult, since independence and its republican stage from there up to the present Fourth Republic. Many a time, the nation’s elections are characterised by violence, rigging, cutting corners, many a time election are rigged before the actual voting, many a time, constituencies are delineated to favour a political party, codenamed gerrymandering, sometimes it comes in the form of appointments of the members of electoral commission, they tell them that they are independent, when they are not really.

Again, they make sure they make the judiciary beggarly by appointing their cronies as those in charge of the judiciary so that what they need is for the electoral umpire to pronounce them winners, the rest would be handled by the judiciary, you don’t need to call them, already they know what to do. The pre-election rigging did not exclude those that make laws as they continually create loopholes for manipulation to favour the highest bidders, depending if the election is at state or National level. As in Nigeria, we talk about using paper to right result when there is network issues, but Nigerians have argued that such clause has no meaning, that if bandits, terrorists and kidnappers in the remotest forests can make videos of their activities and there is no network issues, that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should do better by finding solution so as to make the election in Nigeria truly electronic, because technology doesn’t lie. As it is Brazil has been using complete electronic means to conduct election since 1996.

Of course, that is the bane of Nigeria’s electoral system. From the First Republic down the line, election in Nigeria has never come without complaints. The one that remains indelible in the minds of the people is the 1993 election, adjudged to be the freest and fairest in Nigeria, but what happened, the then military president, General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the election.

It took the doggedness and patriotic stubbornness of the then Chairman of the Electoral Commission, the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu to declare that result, and of course, the military authorities never liked what he did, in fact Prof Nwosu, it was who made it possible for Nigerians to know that the election was won by the accountant-turned businessman, socialite and philanthropist, Moshood Abiola.

That election, if you noticed, is also indicative of lack of accountability in our nation. In a twinkling of an eye, General Babangida cancelled years of planning, sleeplessness, dreams, party engagements, public and individual spending and all of that went down the drains. How much was spent in that 1996 election? The parties that took part in the 1993 general election spent between N120 million to N1 billion.

Even looking at it, it is not for want of good laws, but it is the potentialities of the politicians to cut corners, because they know that this is a game where there is no second position, the nation also practices winner-takes-all, so, it becomes a do-or-die affair, especially when that politician has either not done his homework and assignment well, he wants a shortcut by all means.

Obviously, Brazil used 100 percent electronic voting machines, which they have started using since 1996. No paper ballot to snatch, no ink to smear. All that was needed was, you press, it records, it transmits encrypted to the electoral court (TSE) and Result of the election was in 2-3 hours.

In contrast, for Nigeria, BVAS/IReV is good progress, but still depends on manual collation and upload, which creates loopholes.

In the Brazil presidential election, because no one got 50percent + 1, the two presidential contenders are now expected to go to a runoff on October 25, 2026, to decide the winner. That’s where the real lesson for Nigeria is.

In the Brazilian Election the whole votes were counted same day with electronic machines, by TSE, no ballot snatching. What is TSE? The Brazil’s Tribunal Superior Eleitoral or Superior Electoral Court in English, is not just an organiser, it is a court. It can arrest, fine candidates, remove fake news within hours, but in Nigeria, INEC is administrative. It still needs police and courts to enforce. Brazil shows that when the electoral umpire has judicial power, impunity drops.

Another lesson is that voting is compulsory in Brazil, 53percent of voters are women. Civic education starts early. People see election as duty, not do-or-die. In Nigeria, there is still voter apathy and thuggery, voting is also optional.

In Brazil no godfather control of ballot materials. Also in Brazil, there is no ‘collation centre chaos’ because there is almost nothing to collate physically. Logistics failure is near zero because machines are deployed weeks ahead and tested publicly.

There is swift punishment for electoral violence, and in Brazil, trying to disrupt election is a federal crime with immediate arrest. In Nigeria, ballot snatchers often walk the street free, and top politicians usually what happens to voting from their mansions.

If we want Brazil-like elections, we must move from human-managed to system-managed elections, make BVAS work offline and transmit automatically, give INEC prosecutorial powers like Brazil’s TSE, and punish electoral offenders on election day, not 3 years after.

Brazil proved that even a deeply polarized country, son of jailed ex-president vs sitting president can be in contest without violence as the system makes violence useless.

Nigeria must learn from international best practices even as it concerns election. The will of the people must be upheld in all election, just as Brazil has just demonstrated.

Idris Shuaibu, Kaduna-born politician contesting the ADC governorship position in his state, said: ‘The current general election taking place in Brazil is a test case for democracy especially Nigeria. As usual, it’s a cycle that’s usual after every 5 years. It’s a contest between the two ideological divides of the left and the right. Current President Lula Da Silva and his long-standing rival Flavio Bolsonaro of the left and the right of the centre respectively. Lula scored about 46 percent while Flavio scored 47percent of the votes cast.

For Adetokunbo Pearse, no country in the world is perfect. ‘No democracy is without flaws’, he said.

He further said: ‘You notice even though they would say there is corruption in Brazil, the electoral commission would do the right thing; if he doesn’t do the right thing, they would kill the national chairman, they would burn his house down. In France, 6000 people arrested, over 200 schools shut down, 20 schools burnt, teachers, parents, students’ unions, on the streets asking for good education’ as the people protest.

The Kwara State House of Assembly has approved a proposed alteration to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide a legal framework for the establishment of state police.

The approval followed deliberations during plenary after the Speaker read a letter from the Clerk of the National Assembly requesting the state legislature’s consideration of the proposed constitutional amendment.

Leading the debate, Mogaji Oba Abdulkadri, the House Leader, highlighted the potential benefits of state policing in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.

Other lawmakers who contributed to the debate supported the proposed amendment, arguing that state police would bring law enforcement closer to the people and strengthen the protection of lives and property.

They expressed optimism that decentralising policing would enhance security operations and enable law enforcement agencies to respond more effectively to threats at the grassroots level.

Following the approval, Yakubu Danladi Salihu, Speaker of the House, directed Ahmed Olayiwola, the Clerk of the Assembly, to formally communicate the House’s decision to the National Assembly for further legislative action.

Meanwhile, residents of the Kwara State capital have expressed mixed views on the proposed state police framework, with some welcoming the initiative while others called for broader public consultation.

Abdulrasheed Femi Yusuf, Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, described the proposed state police framework as a welcome development that could help address security challenges at the grassroots.

He said decentralising the security architecture would bring policing closer to communities and improve the protection of lives and property.

‘If we have our own state police, security will be closer to the people, making it easier to protect lives and property at the local level,’ he said.

Yusuf added that his local government was prepared to support the implementation of state policing, noting that community-based security arrangements were already being deployed to tackle criminal activities.

‘In response to the security challenges in our state, we have already been working with local vigilantes to protect our communities. We also collaborate with local hunters and forest guards, who have played a vital role in maintaining security and controlling criminal activities,’ he said.

He expressed confidence that the experience gained from these existing arrangements would support the successful implementation of state policing at the local level.

Similarly, Aliyu Musa, a public analyst, described the proposed amendment as a welcome development in view of Nigeria’s contemporary security challenges.

He said the initiative could bring about a significant shift in the country’s security architecture but stressed the need to prioritise local intelligence in preventing and combating crime.

Musa also urged authorities to ensure that rural communities received adequate attention in the deployment of state police personnel.

‘Local intelligence should be top-notch as a way of making greater impact on crime prevention,’ he said.

However, Florence Emmanuel said the state legislature should have provided an opportunity for residents to express their views before approving the proposed amendment.

Emmanuel said she learnt about the Assembly’s decision through a radio broadcast, arguing that public engagement would have enabled citizens to contribute to discussions on such an important security reform.

‘We just heard on the radio that the bill has been approved by the State Assembly. Ideally, the Assembly should have called people and heard their views about it before approving it,’ she said.

She, however, acknowledged the potential benefits of the proposed reform, adding that public consultation would have made the process more inclusive.

‘Nothing is bad about the move, but at least they should have allowed citizens to express their views and contribute to it,’ she noted.

The proposed state police framework comes amid persistent security concerns across parts of Nigeria, including kidnapping and violent attacks, which have intensified calls for a more decentralised and community-responsive policing system

Nigeria’s Lekan Otufodunrin has been elected as the president of the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) Africa Region, to lead its next phase of growth across the continent.

Otufodunrin, president of Journalists for Christ International Outreach, was elected along other new executive members at its recent General Assembly for four year tenure.

Also elected with him are Amie Joof-Cole of Inter Africa Network for Women, Media, Gender and Development (FAMEDEV), Senegal emerged as the vice president; while Blessing Oladunjoye, emerged as secretary.

Otufodunrin and Amie would also serve as board members of WACC UK board.

Otufodunrin in his acceptance pledged that the new executive will implement programmes that will promote the focus of WACC on digital, gender and climate justice among other issues in the continent.

Kehinde Adegboyega, convener, West Africa Digital Rights Defenders Coalition, called for universal access, rights safeguards and data sovereignty in a keynote address on Ensuring Digital Justice in Africa.

‘No digital future is just until it is inclusive, free and grounded in dignity for all Africans,’ Adegoyega stated, reiterating that the road map for regional action should include capacity building, policy advocacy, coalition building and community action.

Sarah Macharia, staff liaison, Africa Region, commended the last executive headed by Matomklawè Kpalla for its accomplishments and urged the new executive to do more to enhance the status of the WACC in the region.

Other executive members include Secretary, Blessing Oladunjoye, BO Foundation For Inclusive Media, Nigeria; Treasurer, Mwendwa Kivuva, Member, Board of Trustees, The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), Kenya, Alternate executive members – George Stewart, Media Development Specialist, Liberia and Opeyemi Lawal, Journalist, Nigeria.