Category: Business Day

The Central Bank of The Gambia has directed commercial banks to phase out existing non-Gambian employees and replace them with suitably qualified Gambian nationals by the end of 2026, potentially forcing significant changes to the workforce of foreign-owned lenders operating in the country.

The directive was contained in a September 16, 2026 circular addressed to managing directors of all banks and signed by Paul J. Mendy, Second Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG).

The regulator directed banks to adopt a phased approach to replacing non-Gambian employees, while making arrangements for skills transfer and continuity of operations.

The transition must be completed by December 31, 2026, according to the circular seen by BusinessDay.

‘Consequently, all banks are required to adopt a phased approach to replacing existing non-Gambian staff with suitably qualified Gambian nationals, with appropriate arrangements for skills transfer and continuity of operations,’ the CBG said.

The directive follows a meeting between the central bank and managing directors of banks on August 27, 2026, where the employment of non-Gambian staff in the banking industry was discussed.

According to the regulator, an industry study found that a ‘relatively high number’ of non-Gambians were employed by banks in addition to recognised expatriate staff.

‘This is in violation of the provisions of the Labour Act 2023 and also not in line with guideline 9 on expatriate staff,’ the CBG said.

The regulator directed banks to ensure full compliance with the country’s labour laws and its guidelines governing expatriate employment. ‘You are hereby directed to ensure full compliance with the law and strict compliance with CBG’s guidelines,’ it said.

BusinessDay contacted the central bank on Monday to confirm the authenticity and details of the circular, particularly because the directive had not been published on the regulator’s website. The CBG had not responded as of Thursday.

Nigerian banks face exposure

The directive has implications for Nigerian banking groups that have established subsidiaries in The Gambia as part of their wider African expansion.

They include Access Bank, FirstBank, Guaranty Trust Bank and Zenith Bank, which operate subsidiaries in the country.

Ecobank Gambia is part of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, the Togo-headquartered pan-African banking group.

However, the directive is not specifically targeted at Nigerian banks. It is addressed to all banks operating in The Gambia and covers non-Gambian employees generally.

The CBG has not announced a blanket ban on foreign employees. Instead, it instructed banks to replace existing non-Gambian staff with qualified Gambian nationals and put in place arrangements to transfer skills and responsibilities to local employees.

Foreign lenders dominate banking sector

The directive also comes against the backdrop of a banking industry with significant foreign ownership.

The Gambia has 11 licensed commercial banks, including four subsidiaries of Nigerian banking groups: Access Bank Gambia, First Bank Gambia, Guaranty Trust Bank Gambia and Zenith Bank Gambia.

Other foreign or regional banking groups include Ecobank, BSIC, Bloom Bank Africa and Vista Bank, while Agib Bank Gambia and Trust Bank are locally owned and Mega Bank Gambia is government-owned.

The World Bank has previously described The Gambia’s banking sector as predominantly foreign-owned, with significant participation from Nigerian and other African banking groups.

For Nigerian banks, the directive highlights a broader challenge associated with their expansion across Africa: balancing regional growth with local employment and workforce requirements in host markets.

Skills transfer becomes critical

The December deadline gives banks just over three months to complete the transition.

Rather than simply replacing foreign employees, the CBG requires banks to make ‘appropriate arrangements for skills transfer and continuity of operations’.

This could require lenders to identify Gambian employees capable of assuming responsibilities currently held by non-Gambian workers and provide the necessary training before the deadline.

The number of employees affected remains unclear. The CBG circular describes the number identified in its study as ‘relatively high’ but does not provide a breakdown by bank, nationality, job function or seniority.

It also does not specify whether exemptions will be available for specialised positions where suitably qualified Gambian nationals are unavailable.

Those details will be important in determining the scale of the directive’s impact on foreign-owned banks.

For now, banks operating in The Gambia have until December 31 to complete the transition and comply with the CBG’s localisation directive.

The news of the death of Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, ‘The Lion of LUFODO’, was broken to the world recently through a statement from his family.

In a bizarre, dramatic sequence, there had been repeated reports of his death for several years. At one point, the family was compelled to respond, through pictures and videos, to prove that Olu was still very much around.

Olu in his prime might have seen irony, and perhaps even some mirth, in the premature announcements of his death. He might have been mindful of the experience of Mark Twain, the famous American writer, who, when confronted by journalists in England, in 1897, about newspaper reports that he was dead, responded, ‘The report of my death was an exaggeration’. Over time, the witty one-liner has been transformed into a more quotable ‘The news of my death has been greatly exaggerated’. Obviously, Mark Twain was more amused than annoyed. Perhaps he understood that embedded in the psychology of public adulation of genius and accomplishment was also a secret death wish, a primordial unconscious assurance to the ordinary mortal in his ordinariness that such greatness could not last forever.

It is widely recognised that the Creative Arts are among the greatest natural endowments possessed by Nigeria. Music, Drama and other artistic expressions are part of the lived experience in all the cultural ethnicities of the country. That Afrobeats, for instance, is just now receiving mainstream attention in the rest of the world is not to imply that its richness and its rival genres have not always been around. That Nollywood churns out annually now more films than Hollywood is not a fluke, but a reflection of an innate tendency of Nigerian people to recreate the theatre of their lives before an audience, whether made up of children sitting on grass in a village square, or clustering together to watch drama on the new medium of Television introduced to the country by WNTV since 1959, or laughing over radio plays such as ‘Alao and Shakey-Shakey’. There was an early tradition of Travelling Theatre groups who went on the road to recreate life in various towns and cities, from north to south, east to west.

An ‘early adopter’ who crossed the barriers between Theatre, Radio, Television, and Film was Chief Hubert Ogunde. In Kano, during one of his Travelling Theatre performances, Ogunde would ignite a spark in a young boy in the audience. That boy was born in Abeokuta on 11th July 1942, and he was growing up in Kano. One day he attended a performance by Ogunde’s travelling troupe at the Colonial Hotel.

He was mesmerised. He had found his metier. His name was Oludotun.

He would travel to the United Kingdom to study drama at the elite Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, a high-octane environment which had nurtured and honed the skills of some of the greatest actors in the world.

He soon established a sterling reputation in Theatre, Television and Film in the United Kingdom. He became a notable presence in British television series such as The Professionals. He also took major Theatre roles, including Shakespeare’s plays and Tom Stoppard’s ‘Night and Day’. He played prominent roles in films, including the film adaptation of Frederick Forsyth’s ‘Dogs of War’.

He was a towering, imperious presence who inhabited his roles totally, whether as an African politician, or a red cap Igbo Chief, or a family patriarch in the throes of an early dementia. In real life, he was a genial, courteous figure.

At the height of his international fame, he returned home to Nigeria.

He got married to Ajoke Silva, a diva of Stage and Film in her own right. Together, in almost four decades, they have become one of the most formidable teams in Nigerian Arts. They founded the LUFODO Group, including a LUFODO Academy of Performing Arts (LAPA).

Olu’s entrance into Nollywood mirrored its rapid evolution from infancy to efflorescence. He has appeared in more than one hundred and twenty films. The gravitas and professionalism of his presence have helped to elevate the quality of the content, which had often been an area of challenge.

LUFODO operates Glover Memorial Hall, the iconic monument in central Lagos. Olu’s shadow was hovering in the background recently when Ajoke showed this writer around the modifications to the old structure, as you discussed a pending film project. She was keenly aware of the historicity of the hall, as Olu himself undoubtedly was. Here, in 1903, the first film-show in the land that would be named Nigeria was staged, at the behest of Herbert Macaulay. Here, on a day in 1944, the women of Lagos had packed the hall in a raucous gathering to honour an illiterate market woman named Pelewura.

Olu died on 16th September, at the age of 84. He had been living with Lewy Body Dementia for some years.

Showing remarkable courage and character, his family had not hidden him in a closet. He had enjoyed all the love and support anyone could hope for. It showed, right till the end.

Olu holds the national honour of Member of the Order of Nigeria. He received many awards in his life, including an Industry Merit Award for Acting at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.

The Lion of LUFODO has passed this way and roared his last. He has inspired an industry that is struggling for a front-row seat in the world, so it can reach its full potential and contribute to the nation’s development and prosperity. He has inspired a younger generation to believe they can become whatever they aspire to, without shortcuts or self-doubt. He has left behind a doughty, spirited Amazon in his widow Ajoke, along with a family and an organisation that will assuredly go on to scale new heights to honour his memory.

May the soul of Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs rest in perfect peace.

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has been appointed Deputy Chairman of Atiku Abubakar’s Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), placing the former governor at the centre of the opposition party’s campaign structure.

The appointment was announced on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, media aide to Atiku, as the ADC unveiled its campaign council ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Kashim Ibrahim-Imam was named chairman of the council, while Senator Austin Akobundu was appointed Director-General and Campaign Manager.

The appointments mark a further step in the efforts by the ADC and its coalition partners to establish a nationwide political structure ahead of the elections.

The campaign council said its agenda would focus on issues including the rising cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power, placing economic and security concerns at the centre of its campaign messaging.

El-Rufai’s appointment also gives him a prominent organisational role in Atiku’s presidential bid, following his involvement in the political coalition that preceded the emergence of the ADC as a platform for opposition politicians.

From PDP to ADC

Atiku’s latest political move followed years of political activity within the PDP, where he emerged as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 and 2023 elections.

Before joining the ADC, Atiku resigned from the PDP as opposition politicians began discussions around forming a broader political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.

Atiku had previously left the PDP and contested the 2007 presidential election under the Action Congress before returning to the PDP.

He served as vice president from 1999 to 2007 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

His political career has therefore spanned several parties and political alignments, with the 2027 election marking another phase in his attempt to secure the presidency.

El-Rufai, on the other hand, emerged as one of the prominent figures associated with the opposition coalition following his tenure as Kaduna governor.

He governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 after previously serving as minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

His tenure in Kaduna was marked by programmes in infrastructure, education, public-sector reforms and urban development, alongside political controversies and criticism over some of his administration’s policies.

After leaving office in 2023, El-Rufai remained active in national political discussions, particularly on issues concerning governance, the economy and the direction of opposition politics.

Coalition takes shape

The emergence of the ADC campaign structure is part of a broader effort by opposition politicians to create an alternative political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.

The coalition has brought together politicians with different political backgrounds and previous affiliations, including figures who have operated within the PDP, APC and other political platforms.

The development has also placed the ADC at the centre of discussions over opposition coordination ahead of the election, although the strength and structure of the emerging alliance will depend on its ability to establish party structures and campaign networks across the country.

With the unveiling of the campaign council, the party has now begun assigning specific responsibilities to senior figures involved in its presidential campaign.

Ibrahim-Imam, as chairman, will provide leadership for the council, while Akobundu will coordinate its day-to-day campaign activities as Director-General and Campaign Manager.

El-Rufai’s position as deputy chairman puts him among the senior figures expected to participate in coordinating the campaign and advancing the coalition’s political message.

Focus on economy, insecurity

The campaign council has identified the cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power among the major issues it intends to place before voters.

These issues have remained central to political debate in Nigeria, with political parties expected to present competing approaches to economic management, job creation, security and household welfare as the 2027 election approaches.

The ADC is expected to use the campaign period to communicate its policy proposals while expanding its structures across the states.

For Atiku, the campaign represents another stage in his long-running presidential ambition, while El-Rufai’s appointment gives the former Kaduna governor a formal role in the organisation of the bid.

The development is also expected to test how effectively the coalition can translate the political relationships among its leading figures into a coordinated nationwide campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Martin Bredenoord is the general manager of Sheraton Lagos Hotel, who leads a team of hospitality professionals to deliver high-quality service offerings, amid world-class facilities.

In this interview, he shares insights on the role of the pioneer hotel in the development of Nigeria’s hospitality industry, why it is still thriving after four decades in business, the changing landscape of the industry, especially with technology, sustainability practice, place of human capital in the business, and his message on World Tourism Day 2026. Excerpt.

Sheraton Lagos has been part of Nigeria’s hospitality landscape for more than four decades. What does that history mean to the hotel and the wider tourism industry?

Sheraton Lagos opened its doors in 1985, at a time when Nigeria was beginning to strengthen its position as an important business and travel destination in Africa. Over the past four decades, we have had the privilege of being part of the country’s evolving hospitality and tourism story.

For us, that history represents much more than longevity. It represents continuity, resilience, adaptation and the responsibility that comes with being an institution within an industry.

Generations of business travellers, diplomats, tourists, families, airline crews and Nigerians returning home have passed through our doors. We have hosted major meetings, conferences, celebrations and events that have brought people together from across Nigeria and the world.

Our location in Ikeja, close to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, has also positioned Sheraton Lagos as an important gateway for visitors arriving in Lagos.

So, when we speak about our history, we are really speaking about the history of the people, businesses and travelers who have contributed to Nigeria’s hospitality ecosystem over the years.

As a pioneer in the industry, how would you describe Sheraton Lagos’ role in the development of the tourism and hospitality industry?

I would describe Sheraton Lagos as one of the pioneering internationally branded hotels that helped establish global hospitality standards within Nigeria.

Bringing an international hospitality brand into a developing market introduces systems, operating standards, service culture, training frameworks, and a level of consistency that can influence the wider industry.

Over the years, Sheraton Lagos has served not only as a hotel, but also as a training ground for hospitality professionals. Many people who began their careers here have gone on to hold leadership positions across Nigeria and other parts of the world.

We have also contributed to the business tourism ecosystem by providing accommodation, meeting spaces, food and beverage experiences and event facilities for corporate and international visitors.

Ultimately, our role has been to help connect Nigeria to the global hospitality ecosystem while ensuring that the experience remains relevant to the Nigerian market.

Nigeria has called for stronger and sustained international partnerships to address the country’s evolving security challenges and wider threats confronting the Sahel region.

Christopher Musa, Minister of Defence, made the call at a side event held on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week in New York.

The event, themed, ‘Confronting Nigeria’s Multidimensional Security Challenges: A Whole-of-Society and Partnership-Based Approach,’ brought together diplomats, security practitioners and representatives of the United Nations, African Union and Economic Community of West African States.

Musa said Nigeria’s security challenges had implications beyond its borders, requiring a coordinated response involving government institutions, communities, regional organisations and international partners.

He said the country’s recognition that it could not address the challenges alone should not be interpreted as dependence, but as an acknowledgement of the increasingly multidimensional nature of modern security threats.

‘Sustainable security requires resilient communities, effective institutions, inclusive development, and good governance,’ he said.

The minister outlined measures being implemented by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.

These include the recruitment of an additional 22,000 personnel into the Armed Forces and the expansion and reorganisation of the Nigerian Army’s divisional structure.

He also highlighted ongoing efforts towards establishing state police and dedicated forest guard arrangements to improve the security of rural and border communities.

According to him, the government is also implementing a presidential approval for a unified intelligence and reconnaissance programme designed to eliminate operational silos among government agencies.

The programme, he said, would improve situational awareness and strengthen interoperability across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Musa further identified the strengthening of domestic defence production as another priority, noting that the government was supporting the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to enhance self-reliance and reduce dependence on external sources of military equipment.

He said Nigeria was also integrating advanced technologies into its security operations, including drones for real-time surveillance and improvised explosive device detection.

The minister also cited the rollout of a comprehensive national criminal database among measures being pursued by the government to strengthen the country’s security architecture.

According to a statement by Leah Katung-Babatunde SA (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Defence, discussions at the event extended beyond military responses, with participants examining intelligence, border security, economic stability, cybersecurity and community participation as components of a comprehensive national security strategy.

A panel moderated by Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to the President, recalled Nigeria’s concentric-circles foreign policy and stressed the need for Africa to position itself as an active contributor to global frameworks, particularly in the area of artificial intelligence.

On homeland security and early warning, Adeyinka Famadewa, Special Adviser on Homeland Security, advocated the fusion of intelligence and integrated response capabilities.

He also called for systems that would protect citizens who report security threats, saying effective citizen reporting could contribute to the early identification and prevention of emerging threats.

Abdul Ibrahim, a former Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), called for community-based approaches to border security.

He also urged the implementation of the Office of the National Security Adviser’s Border Management Strategy, revitalisation of the MNJTF and stronger efforts to target terrorist taxation and financial networks.

Kingsley Obiora, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, said economic stability remained a core pillar of national security.

He proposed the establishment of designated economic zones, drawing on Colombia’s experience, to stimulate business recovery in areas affected by conflict.

Mvemba Phezo Dizolele of Johns Hopkins University cautioned African countries against relying on external templates in addressing their security challenges.

He urged African countries to develop solutions that reflected their specific circumstances and were designed with and for local populations.

Omosigho Ozo-Eson, a cybersecurity expert, warned against excessive reliance on foreign artificial intelligence systems.

He stressed the need to protect Nigeria’s Critical National Infrastructure while developing indigenous cyber-defence capabilities.

In his closing remarks, Musa reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to combating terrorism and banditry and commended the country’s defence cooperation with international partners, including the United States.

He, however, stressed the need for greater African ownership of regional security mechanisms.

While acknowledging the support provided by international partners such as the European Union to mechanisms including the MNJTF, the minister said African member states needed to increasingly finance and sustain their own security frameworks.

According to him, greater domestic and regional financing would help guarantee ownership and sustainability of African-led security mechanisms.

Musa also highlighted government efforts to strengthen legal frameworks, protect vulnerable health workers operating in high-risk areas and create a stable business environment capable of attracting investment.

He said the objective of the discussions should go beyond reaffirming the nature of Nigeria’s security challenges to identifying concrete areas of cooperation and defining responsibilities and practical next steps.

‘Our objective should be straightforward. We should not merely reaffirm our understanding of the challenges; we should seek to identify concrete areas of cooperation, clear responsibilities, and practical next steps,’ he said.

Earlier, Bosede Olaniyi, Director in the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, welcomed participants to the event and called for robust engagement capable of producing meaningful outcomes for national development.

The Federal Government has taken over emergency rehabilitation of the 125-kilometre Benin-Asaba Road after worsening deterioration of the strategic corridor triggered severe gridlock, prolonged travel delays and growing hardship for motorists and businesses.

President Bola Tinubu, represented by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, inaugurated the emergency intervention in Benin on Thursday, saying the decision followed the failure of the concessionaire, Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company (BAECC), to deliver the road in line with the terms of its Public-Private Partnership agreement.

Tinubu said the concession arrangement was expected to deliver the road within three years but that the pace and manner of execution had fallen short of expectations, leaving motorists and communities along the corridor to bear the consequences.

‘We are witnessing the response of a government that has heard the cries of its people and has chosen to act. That is why today’s intervention is truly a rescue operation,’ the President said.

The Benin-Asaba corridor is a major transport artery linking Edo and Delta states with other parts of the country and carries significant passenger and freight traffic, making its deteriorating condition a major concern for commerce and logistics in the South-South.

David Umahi, Minister of Works, said the Federal Ministry of Works had commenced immediate palliative rehabilitation after efforts to secure the cooperation of the concessionaire failed.

Umahi clarified that the emergency works were not awarded to Hi-Tech or another contractor, explaining that the ministry hired equipment directly for the intervention. He said more than 50 pieces of equipment had been deployed, with additional machinery expected.

According to him, major contractors had been directed to work on three sections of the road to restore failed portions and ease the hardship faced by motorists. He said the entire corridor would subsequently be redesigned for permanent reconstruction using reinforced concrete pavement.

The minister said the intervention would also address portions where asphalt had been removed, leaving the road base exposed to rainfall and further deterioration.

Okpebholo thanked Tinubu and Umahi for responding to the plight of commuters, urging the contractors to comply strictly with approved specifications and deliver quality work within the agreed timeframe.

‘To the new contractor, this is a road of great economic importance to Edo, Delta and Nigeria. We expect quality work, strict compliance with the approved project specifications, and delivery within the agreed timeframe. There must be no excuses,’ he said.

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by Information Commissioner Charles Aniagwu, said the intervention was significant to residents and businesses in both states, describing the Benin-Asaba Road as an important link for commerce and social ties.

Meanwhile, Umahi disclosed that the proposed realignment of the Coastal Highway would commence from the Benin bypass through Delta and Bayelsa to Eleme Junction, with the objective of diverting traffic from Benin City and improving connectivity across the Niger Delta.

Economic reforms, investment activity and improved external balances are expected to cushion Nigeria’s economic growth as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) lowered its growth forecast for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in its latest Regional Economic Prospects report.

The EBRD forecast Nigeria’s economy to grow by 4.2 per cent in 2026, unchanged from its previous projection, before moderating slightly to 4.0 per cent in 2027.

The unchanged forecast for Nigeria contrasts with the bank’s broader downgrade of its outlook for SSA economies, with regional growth now projected at 4.8 per cent in 2026, down from 5.1 per cent previously, before moderating slightly to 4.7 per cent in 2027.

According to the EBRD, economic activity across SSA remained resilient in the first half of 2026, supported by services, agriculture and commodity exports. However, the external environment has become more challenging, with higher oil prices and disruptions to global trade routes linked to the conflict in the Middle East increasing costs across the region.

For Nigeria, the EBRD said growth is expected to be sustained by economic reforms, investment activity and improved external balances.

The bank, however, warned that higher energy prices, trade disruptions and climate-related risks could weigh on the country’s outlook and moderate the pace of economic expansion.

The EBRD said growth across the region is expected to remain supported in the near term by agriculture, manufacturing, services and commodity production, although momentum is projected to soften as commodity windfalls fade.

The report noted that progress on reforms has strengthened confidence in a number of African economies. Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana completed International Monetary Fund-supported programmes in 2026, while Benin, Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria received sovereign rating upgrades during the year.

Despite these improvements, high debt-servicing costs continue to constrain fiscal space in several countries, creating additional pressure on governments as they respond to higher energy and other external costs.

The regional outlook has also been affected by weaker cocoa prices, El Niño-related risks and disruptions to global trade routes, which the EBRD said would continue to weigh on prospects in several markets.

Among the major economies covered in the report, Benin is forecast to grow by 7.0 per cent in 2026 and 6.7 per cent in 2027, while Côte d’Ivoire is expected to expand by 6.1 per cent this year before accelerating to 6.5 per cent next year.

Ghana’s growth is projected at 5.0 per cent in both 2026 and 2027, down from 6.4 per cent in the first half of 2026. Kenya’s economy is expected to grow by 4.7 per cent in 2026 and 4.6 per cent in 2027.

The EBRD said higher freight costs linked to trade disruptions have affected Kenya’s exports and contributed to renewed inflationary pressures, while rising oil prices and El Niño-related risks remain concerns.

Senegal presents a sharper example of the fading commodity boost, with real GDP growth projected at 2.5 per cent in 2026 after the initial boost from the start of production at the Sangomar oil field faded. Growth is expected to pick up slightly to 2.7 per cent in 2027.

The EBRD said non-hydrocarbon sectors, particularly services, have strengthened in Senegal, while inflation has remained low and external balances have improved. However, significant fiscal vulnerabilities remain, with central government debt at around 120 per cent of GDP at the end of 2025.

Overall, the EBRD said the near-term outlook for SSA remains resilient but faces increasing pressure from external shocks, fiscal vulnerabilities and climate-related risks.

For Nigeria, the bank’s 4.2 per cent growth projection for 2026 indicates that reforms and improving external balances are providing some support to economic activity, although the moderation to 4.0 per cent growth in 2027 points to the challenges posed by a less favourable global environment and fading commodity-related momentum.

… Co-authors include William Ruto, president of Kenya; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organisation; Jeffrey D. Sachs, economist; others

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has launched a new publication tackling how nations can foster job creation, economic prosperity, and resilience without repeating past development errors or breaching planetary boundaries.

The book titled ‘Future of Industrialisation: Rethinking Economic Development ‘ was edited by Gerd Mller, DG, UNIDO and unveiled in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Hosted at the Penn Club, the launch event was co-organised by UNIDO in collaboration with Columbia University’s Centre for Sustainable Development and the International Organisation of Employers.

Through its core message, the publication calls on the international community to reimagine what industrial growth can achieve through the power of global cooperation. Although industrialisation built the modern world, the book argues that it must now be reframed into a story of opportunity amid mounting geopolitical and economic challenges.

In his opening reflections, Mller pointed out that traditional growth trajectories are no longer viable, saying, ‘The old model of industrialisation, based on fossil fuels, resource extraction, and exclusion, has run its course,’ he stated. ‘We need a new model, one that is green, fair, inclusive, innovation-driven, and fit for the future.’

To achieve this shift, the book advocates for an urgent, practical, and visionary industrial agenda. It emphasises turning digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and fair supply chains into drivers of inclusion, thereby enabling developing countries to leapfrog outdated economic frameworks.

However, addressing the technological dimension, Mller cautioned that progress requires deliberate oversight: ‘Digitalisation and AI present the most powerful engine for future productivity, but also the gravest risk of exacerbating inequalities within and between nations, making a proactive governance and capacity-building agenda essential.’

To capture diverse perspectives on this transformation, the publication gathers insights from a lineup of heads of state, international executives, and academic scholars. Alongside Mller as editor, prominent contributors include William Ruto, president of Kenya; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO); Mia Mottley, prime minister of Barbados; Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF); Christian Klein, CEO of SAP; and Jeffrey D. Sachs, professor and director of the Centre for Sustainable Development at Columbia University.

Elaborating on the strategic potential for emerging economies within this framework, President Ruto highlighted Africa’s pivotal role, saying, ‘The global community stands at a crossroads: continue with business as usual or choose a new path of sustainable prosperity by decoupling growth from carbon emissions’

‘For Africa, this is also a tremendous opportunity as our continent can be a hub of green growth that benefits the whole world’, he noted.

Underpinning these leadership perspectives is a shared consensus that fundamental systemic change is required rather than surface-level adjustments. As Sachs notes, ‘The green transition is not a simple environmental ‘add-on’ to an otherwise stable economic model. The green transition requires a deep reengineering of the economy.’

Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, says Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia requires more political tutelage to govern effectively, following the recent obstruction of Peter Obi’s convoy in the state.

Kwankwaso, speaking on Untold Stories with Adesuwa, described the September 8 incident on the Makurdi-Gboko road as ‘unfortunate and unnecessary’ and said the governor should not have allowed it to happen.

He linked the episode to a wider governance challenge among first-time governors who, he said, stop listening to advice after assuming office.

‘I don’t think he was a politician. I never heard his name,’ Kwankwaso said of Alia, recalling that the Benue governor emerged with the support of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and former Benue governor, George Akume.

According to him, winning an election is not enough to govern successfully.

‘For you to be a successful governor, you need to be a successful politician and someone who has learnt something,’ he said, adding that leaders must understand the workings of government, study the mistakes of their predecessors and acquire sufficient experience before taking office.

Kwankwaso described the Benue episode as a ‘big mistake’ and said it raised questions about the quality of political leadership at the subnational level. He also noted that the political environment governors operate in today is markedly different from 1999, a shift he said presents additional challenges for President Bola Tinubu in managing relations with state governors.

Benue govt hits back

In a swift reaction, the Benue State Government accused Kwankwaso of meddling in its affairs.

Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alia, described the comments as an ‘unfortunate and unwarranted insult’ and urged the former Kano governor to focus on political issues in Kano State.

Kula rejected Kwankwaso’s account of Alia’s emergence, insisting the governor was overwhelmingly elected by the people of Benue and retains a popular mandate.

The dispute stems from the obstruction of Obi’s convoy as the NDC presidential candidate travelled to Yelwata to meet families affected by the 2025 attacks. Obi alleged that suspected political thugs blocked his movement, while the Benue government denied involvement, stating that the former Anambra governor failed to properly notify the state of his visit.

The police said they were informed of the visit for security purposes and that the circumstances surrounding the blockade were being investigated.

The exchange has added a fresh political dimension to the controversy over Obi’s disrupted Benue visit, with Kwankwaso framing it as a failure of governance and the Alia administration dismissing his intervention as unwarranted criticism.

ick off their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Madagascar on Friday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

The 26-year-old striker is expected to start in the absence of injured Victor Osimhen, with Eagles coach Eric Chelle likely to start Adams ahead of George Ilenikhena, Tolu Arokodare, Taiwo Awoniyi and Moses Usor.

Adams has established himself in the Super Eagles since making his debut against Lesotho in October 2025. The 26-year-old has sau for their second qualifier against Guinea-Bissau at the 24 September Stadium on Tuesday, September 29.

Chelle demands strong start

Chelle has challenged his players to start the qualifying campaign on a winning note, insisting that Nigeria must target maximum points from their opening game.

‘We have to show everyone from Day One that we want it, and the only way to do that is to go for it with our hearts and refuse to slow down at any point,’ Chelle said.

‘We must go for the points without any hesitation.’

The Franco-Malian coach wants the Super Eagles to avoid putting their qualification campaign under unnecessary pressure by dropping points at home.

The Super Eagles have been drawn in Group D alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and other opponents, with the opening two fixtures providing an early test of Chelle’s team.

NFF targets maximum points

Emmanuel Ikpeme, NFF acting General Secretary, has also urged the Super Eagles to secure victory against Madagascar.

‘We are back to the familiar surroundings of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for another qualifying race. It was here in Uyo that the Super Eagles won the tickets to the 2019 and 2025 AFCON finals,’ Ikpeme said.

‘The NFF has absolute confidence in the team to run another good race and win the ticket with matches to spare.’

Ikpeme said the immediate target was to secure three points against Madagascar before turning attention to the trip to Guinea-Bissau.

‘Surely, the only way we can do that is to start with the maximum three points tomorrow and then with another three points in Bissau on Tuesday,’ he said.

‘However, since we are taking it one match at a time, the focus now is on Madagascar on Friday.

Nigerians are looking forward to victory tomorrow, and I know the Super Eagles will give them joy.’

The match kicks off at 5pm Nigerian time on Friday in Uyo.