Category: Nigerian Tribune

Amid a wave of relentless bandit attacks, residents of Kebbe Local Government Area in Sokoto State have appealed to the Federal Government to grant them the right to bear arms for self-defence.

Their appeal follows fresh assaults by the deadly Lakurawa bandit group, which have left several people dead, many displaced, and entire communities living in fear.

Addressing journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Sokoto on Saturday, the leader of the group, Alhaji Adamu Haruna Kebbe, said residents have lost confidence in the government’s ability to protect them.

‘We can no longer sleep with our eyes closed. Our people are being killed almost daily, and the government has abandoned us to our fate,’ Haruna lamented.

He accused the state authorities of failing to assess the worsening security situation or provide adequate support to local security volunteers battling the bandits.

The community leaders also demanded direct federal allocations to local governments to enable them to fund and equip local security operatives. They argued that empowering communities would help them defend themselves and curb further bloodshed.

Sokoto has been one of the epicentres of banditry in northern Nigeria, with new militant groups such as the Lakurawas and the notorious gang led by Bello Turji terrorising villages across Isa, Sabon Birni and Kebbe local government areas.

Although the state government has acknowledged the growing threat, residents insist that government efforts have been too little, too late.

Security analysts say the residents’ desperate call for self-defence reflects the erosion of trust in the state’s capacity to safeguard lives and property.

‘If the government cannot protect us, it should allow us to protect ourselves,’ another community leader said.

As the attacks persist, the people of Kebbe warn that they will no longer sit idly by while bandits destroy their communities. Their message to the government is clear: act now or give us the right to defend ourselves.

The Federal Government has commended the Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, for spearheading the transformation of the health sector in the state, describing it as a model for health system strengthening in Nigeria.

The commendation came from the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, during the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Accident and Emergency (A and E) unit at the General Hospital, Kaltungo.

Built from the ground up by the Inuwa Yahaya-led administration, the new A and E complex boasts consulting rooms, a triage area, seminar rooms, a library, restrooms and offices.

State Commissioner for Health, Dr Habu Dahiru, explained that the facility is part of sweeping upgrades aimed at repositioning the hospital for effective service delivery.

In his remarks, Pate praised the governor’s comprehensive reforms, spanning primary healthcare revitalisation, hospital upgrades, human resource development, and specialised medical centres.

He said, ‘His Excellency and his team have done an amazing job in improving the health system. From revitalising PHCs and upgrading general hospitals, to converting the former Kumo General Hospital into a Federal Medical Centre, these efforts are in tune with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.’

The minister also lauded Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s recent approval of CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures for health workers, calling it a bold and strategic step toward retaining skilled personnel.

Inuwa, in his remarks, attributed the success to teamwork and collaboration.

‘All the praise belongs to the team. Facilities alone are not enough, which is why we incentivised our health workers so our facilities, from primary to tertiary, can function effectively,’ the governor said.

While on inspection of the Snakebite Treatment and Research Centre, Kaltungo, the minister emphasised its regional and international importance, particularly during farming seasons when snakebites are most common.

‘This centre treats between 2,000 and 3,000 patients annually, many of whom come not only from Gombe but also from across the Northeast and even neighbouring countries.

‘The Federal Government, in partnership with Gombe state, will formalise arrangements to expand its role, not only as a treatment hub but also for training, research, and, ultimately, local production of anti-snake venom,’ Pate said.

Ondo State Government on Friday presented cheques worth N38 million to 39 residents of the state to support and assist in their medical treatment.

The Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, who made the presentation in Akure, said the beneficiaries were selected after screening by a medical assistance board.

Ajaka explained that some of the beneficiaries required kidney transplants and other costly procedures, noting that 39 applicants were approved out of 54 who applied for the intervention.

The Health Commissioner said, ‘We are giving out a total amount of N38m to 39 residents to assist them. Some of them have kidney problems that they have to do transplant, and it’s very expensive, and this is what we’re able to distribute to them that Mr. Governor approved.

‘There was a board that they all undergo, where they applied, we looked at their documents and examined them. So, the board did that diligently and picked those that are deserving of assistance. 39 people succeeded out of the 54 people that are keyed into the exercise.’

The commissioner also urged residents to enroll in the state’s contributory health insurance scheme, which he said allows civil servants and other categories of workers to access healthcare without paying out of pocket.

‘The Abiyamo scheme also provides free maternal and child healthcare, including cesarean sections, for registered beneficiaries,’

What we are saying is that the contributory health insurance scheme in Ondo State is compulsory for every person. So we started with the formal sector, the civil servants, the government workers, the local government workers, and they are now enjoying it.

‘You don’t need to have money in your pocket to access the service, and it goes to the level of when you even need to do an operation, and you’re paying 40 percent while the government is paying 60 percent.

‘Also, there’s another aspect of it, the Abiyamo scheme is for maternal and child health, free of charge, provided you register. You take your delivery, whether spontaneous vaginal delivery or cesarean section, without paying a dime.

‘While I will advise all the beneficiaries to use whatever is being given to them for the purpose for which it is given, and God will grant them good health.

‘They should take good care of their health. And to the people of Ondo State, let us take care of our health because it’s very important for us.’

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Adeniran Ikuomola, commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for approving and releasing the funds, noting that the governor had consistently provided medical assistance to residents in need.

‘I want to appreciate, especially our own governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for approving this exercise. Not only has he approved, but he has also released the funds. He has been assisting people who are in need of medical assistance in the state since he became the governor.

‘So it is better for all of us to key into the Contributory Healthcare Insurance Scheme, an opportunity for every one of us to key into, so that anytime there is a need for us to take care of our health, we will go to the hospital without paying out of pocket.

‘We want to recommend it for all of us as long as the government continues to assist people that are in need, it is better for all of us to key into Contributory Health Scheme, so that every time, any time that we require health services, we can receive it without paying from our pocket.’

One of the beneficiaries, Caroline Jimoh, while speaking on behalf of others, appreciated the state government for the support, describing it as timely and life-saving.

She said, ‘Many of us had given up on treating our health problems because of lack of money. This gesture has restored hope to us,’ Jimoh said.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), Chief Wole Olaonipekun (SAN), Major General Ike Nwachkwu, Prof. Patrick Lumumba, and other prominent leaders have emphasize the need for Nigeria to stand tall as the giant of Africa and strengthen the continent’s place on the global stage.

They made the call on Thursday as they all gathered at the Island Club 2025 Nigeria @ 65 Independence Lecture and Awards Night, themed: ‘Nigeria and the African Reawakening: The Giant That Must Not Sleep,’ held at the Peacock Hall, Island Club, Lagos.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, while making the call, stressed that Nigerians needed to join hands and fight to ensure that the country hits its potential in all areas of human endeavor to strengthen African unity, foster economic growth, and secure its rightful place as a global leader.

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, noted that Nigeria stands tall as Africa’s most populous nation with over 220 million people, considered as a demographic dividend fuelling growth, with over 60 per cent believed to be young and in their productive stage, further stressing that not many countries can boast of this youthful, productive, and vibrant demographic.

‘We need to join hands and fight to ensure that Nigeria hits her potential in all areas of human endeavours. With private sector leadership or collaboration with captains of industry, like the esteemed Island Club members, this giant of a nation will wake up, move up, and stay up,’ he said.

Governor noted that the theme of the event was a reflection on Nigeria at 65, saying that it should be an exhibition of collective ideas on how this giant of a country can live up to its stature as a true giant, responsible and respected nation, honoured and valued at home and abroad.

This was just as he reaffirmed that Lagos remained committed to contributing its quota as a hub of enterprise, creativity, and progress to Nigeria’s bright future and Africa’s awakening.

Highlighting Lagos’ pivotal role in Nigeria’s economic progress, Sanwo-Olu noted that the state now ranks as the second largest city economy in Africa with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $259 billion based on Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), adding that the state GDP is more than 18.7% of Nigeria’s GDP and about 20% of the country’s non-oil GDP.

‘Nigeria has all that it takes to succeed. We are home to the largest number of millionaires in Africa – a true reflection of our economic vibrancy. Lagos State epitomizes entrepreneurial dynamism; a commercial heartbeat driving Africa’s economic pulse.

‘It is working towards becoming Africa’s model megacity, one that is safe and secure, functional and productive. It has the ambition of becoming a global economic and financial hub in which businesses thrive and with high returns on investment,’ the governor said.

Similarly, former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Fashola (SAN), called for a national consensus on what the ‘Nigerian Dream’ truly meant, stressing the importance of defining clear standards for success and leadership.

Fashola, while emphasizing that success was not static but must be redefined over time to reflect the nation’s evolving challenges and opportunities, urged Nigerians to establish a gold standard for leadership, to ensure that the nation recognize and rally behind true visionaries.

Referencing Nigeria’s role in continental infrastructure, Fashola highlighted the country’s contributions to the Trans-African Highway and other projects, noting that three of the nine highways across Africa terminated in Lagos.

He explained that such investment from the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to the Kano-Maradi Railway reflected Nigeria’s responsibility in shaping Africa’s shared future.

Also speaking, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Olaonipekun (SAN), underscored the importance of structural and constitutional reforms to rebuild Nigeria’s foundations, even as he stressed that the responsibility now rests on Nigerians and Africans themselves to define a new path.

‘The responsibility now rests on Nigerians and Africans themselves to define a new path. With a call for justice, unity, and moral rebirth. Nigeria must be born again, contextualized, structural, constitutional, and legal. Only then can we inspire Africa and the world,’ he said.

The former Foreign Minister, Major General Ike Nwachkwu, in his own remark, noted the importance of strong opposition in safeguarding democracy, recalling how past opposition figures helped preserve nation’s stability and accountability.

Lamenting the weakening of opposition politics today, Nwachkwu warned that democracy cannot thrive without genuine checks, fairness, and focus, calling on Nigerians to unite, rise above selfish politics, and demand governance that prioritizes the collective good over personal ambition.

The Keynote Speaker, an Internationally Celebrated Pan-Africanist and Thought Leader, Prof. Patrick Lumumba, challenged Nigerians to embrace their historic responsibility as Africa’s leader, warning that the nation can no longer afford ‘business as usual.’

Lumumba, while making the call, noted that Nigeria, despite its vast resources and human talent, had yet to achieve its true potential, pointing to persistent challenges in governance, education, healthcare, electricity, and the economy.

The erudite scholar emphasized that leadership at all levels must rise above self-interest and tribalism to deliver real transformation, declaring pointedly that ‘the day Nigeria wakes up is the day Africa wakes up.’

He, therefore, urged Nigeria to take bold steps in diversifying its economy, reviving local industries, strengthening education, and investing in innovation, rather than relying on imports.

Imagine trying to teach a ghost to paint. It has no hands, no eyes, and no physical form. All you can do is show it millions of paintings and tell it, ‘This is a cat,’ or ‘This is a starry night.’ Over and over again, you provide examples until, miraculously, the ghost starts to understand the essence of ‘cat’ or ‘starry night.’ It learns the patterns, the styles, and the concepts. Eventually, you can ask it to paint something new-a cat on a bicycle under a starry night-and it can conjure an image from the patterns it has absorbed. This enchanting, almost magical process is, in simple terms, how generative AI works. It’s a digital ghost in the machine, learning from vast amounts of data to create something entirely original. The process involves recognising complex patterns, much like a seasoned player develops an intuition for games of chance. On platforms like https://fortunica-online.com/en-gb, success often comes from understanding probabilities and patterns over time. Similarly, generative AI doesn’t rely on luck; it masters its craft by analysing countless examples until it can predict the next logical step, whether that’s a word in a sentence or a brushstroke in a painting.

This powerful technology is no longer confined to science fiction; it’s reshaping our world, from how we work to how we play. But how does it go from being a student of human creation to a creator in its own right? Let’s demystify the magic.

What Is This Digital Ghost?

At its core, generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can produce new and original content. Unlike other AIs that might only recognise or classify information, generative models create. They can write poems, compose music, design images, and even generate code. Think of them as incredibly advanced mimics that, after seeing enough examples, can develop their own unique style.

These systems are powered by complex algorithms called neural networks, which are loosely inspired by the human brain. They learn by identifying underlying patterns and relationships in massive datasets. This training allows them to generate outputs that are not just copies but are statistically plausible creations based on the data they’ve learned from.

This brings us to the most crucial part of the process: the training. Without it, our digital ghost would have an empty canvas and no inspiration.

The Library of Everything: Training Data

The fuel for any generative AI model is data-colossal amounts of it. An AI that generates text, like ChatGPT, is trained on a vast corpus of text from the internet, including books, articles, and websites. An image generator like MidJourney or DALL·E, on the other hand, learns from billions of images paired with descriptive text captions. This library of examples is what teaches the AI about the world.

Here’s a breakdown of the kind of data used for different models:

Text Models: Fed with terabytes of text from the web, they learn grammar, context, facts, and conversational styles.

Image Models: Trained on huge databases of images and their descriptions, they learn to connect words like ‘surrealist painting of a fox in a top hat’ to specific visual elements.

Music Models: Learn from countless hours of music, absorbing melodies, harmonies, rhythms, and genre conventions.

This data doesn’t just teach the AI what things are; it teaches the AI the intricate connections between them.

Learning the Rules of Art (and Everything Else)

Once the AI has its library, the learning begins. During training, the model tries to predict and reconstruct the data it’s given. For example, a text model might be given a sentence with a missing word and tasked with guessing it. An image model might be shown a blurry image and asked to make it sharp.

With each attempt, it receives feedback on how well it did. If it guesses the wrong word, it adjusts its internal parameters. This process is repeated billions of times, and with each iteration, the AI gets better at understanding the patterns. It’s not memorising the examples but rather building an internal, abstract representation of the information. This is how it learns the ‘rules’ of language, art, and logic without ever being explicitly programmed with them.

This foundational understanding is what allows the AI to move from simply recognising patterns to generating them on its own.

From Apprentice to Master: The Creation Process

After extensive training, the AI is ready to create. The process of generating new content usually follows a few key steps, starting with a prompt from a user. This is where you get to collaborate with the digital ghost.

Here is a simplified step-by-step guide to how generative AI creates something new:

Receiving the Prompt: You give the AI a command, known as a prompt. This can be anything from ‘Write a short story about a time-travelling detective’ to ‘Create an image of a crystal palace on Mars.’

Interpreting the Concept: The AI breaks down your prompt into concepts it understands from its training. It associates words like ‘crystal,’ ‘palace,’ and ‘Mars’ with the patterns it has learned.

Generating From Noise: For many models, especially image generators, the process starts from a field of random noise (like TV static). The AI then gradually refines this noise, shaping it step-by-step to match the concepts in the prompt.

Refining and Iterating: The model continuously checks its own work against the prompt, making adjustments to better align the output with the request. It’s essentially asking itself, ‘Does this look like a ‘crystal palace’?’ until the result is a close match.

This generative ability allows the AI to produce a near-infinite variety of outputs, making it a powerful tool for creativity and problem-solving.

Comparing Different Generative AI Models

While the underlying principles are similar, different generative AI models are specialised for various tasks. Understanding their strengths can help you choose the right tool for your needs. The table below offers a comparison of common model types.

As this table illustrates, each type of generative AI excels in its own domain, having been trained on data specific to that medium. This specialisation is what allows for such high-quality and context-aware outputs.

Unleash Your Inner Creator

Generative AI is more than just a technological marvel; it’s a new frontier for human creativity. By understanding how it works-not as magic, but as a sophisticated process of pattern recognition and generation-we can demystify the technology and harness its potential. From the initial spark of a prompt to the final, polished creation, AI acts as a collaborative partner, a tireless assistant, and an endless source of inspiration. It’s the ghost we taught to paint, now ready and waiting for our next masterpiece.

The next time you see a stunning AI-generated image or read a cleverly written piece of text, you’ll know the secret behind it. It’s not about a machine thinking for itself, but about an algorithm so well-trained on human culture that it can reflect it back to us in new and unexpected ways. So why not try it yourself? Experiment with a text or image generator and see what you can create. You might just be surprised by the artist within you.

The remains of the former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, on Friday interred in Benin, the Edo State capital amid tears from family members, friends and former colleagues.

Solomon Arase was buried at a private ceremony witnessed by few family members and closed associates.

The former IGP was interred after a funeral mass was held at the St. Paul Catholic Church, Airport in Benin.

In his homily, Reverend Father Andrew Obiyan, urged the congregation to work towards making heaven after leaving the physical world.

Obiyan said people would want to go everywhere on earth but refused to go to the House of God.

He expressed disappointed at attitude of some humans towards donating for the work of God.

According to him, ‘Our own life is in heaven. We must never be distracted. We now see old age creeping into our lives daily powerfully.

‘It crept in to remind us of immortality. We study so hard to receive so many titles. At death, those titles mean nothing to God. The only title that means so much is a grace of battle.

‘We have the assurance that Arase will reap the fruit of baptism in the presence of the eternal King.

‘Sometimes we go everywhere but we dont want to go to the House of God except when we want to please people. We do not want not to come to the House of God.

‘Late Arase feared and loved God. Policing is a profession with risk. We see soaring crime rate yet many police officers are exemplary hard.

‘We give glory to God for Arase’s getting to the peak of his career. The lord do not take from you what he cannot give.’

Governor of Bayelsa State, Duoye Diri, said late Arase was of great service to the Nation.

‘Moments like this are for us to know that one day we will lie down like this. We should be humble to serve our state and country to the best of our ability.

‘All about him are great and good testament. From his professionalism and service to the country, his relationship with the rest of society marked his humility and spreading love everywhere he goes.’

Dignitaries at the event were Governor Monday Okpebholo represented by his Deputy, Dennis Idahosa, Oba Ewuare II represented by Chief Oseni Elamah and Chief Uso Osaretin, the Usoh of Benin Kingdom.

Others were former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, FRSC Zone 5 Commander, Stella Orakwe, Secretary to the Police Service Commission, Onyeabuchi Nnamani, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, Senator Neda Imasuen, amongst others.

Osun State House of Assembly has warned commercial banks in the state, Osogbo branch, not to honour unauthorised financial instructions on local government accounts.

Speaker of the House, Honourable Adewale Egbedun, who dropped the warning via a letter, drew attention to unlawful financial directives allegedly issued in some local governments, including Boluwaduro Local Government, authorising deductions of up to 15 percent of September 2025 allocations in favour of private individuals.

He described such actions as illegal, unconstitutional and without any budgetary approval, stressing that treasurers are not legally recognised signatories to local government accounts under extant laws.

The House reaffirmed that only the local government chairman and the Director of Administration and General Services, both officers of the Local Government Service Commission are empowered to operate such accounts in line with the Osun State Guidelines on Local Government Administration and the Public Financial Management Law, 2020.

Citing its resolution of September 29, 2025, the assembly reiterated that no withdrawals or deductions may be made from local government accounts without strict compliance with the constitution, internal regulations and approved budgets. It further warned that any financial institution processing unauthorised instructions would be deemed complicit in financial misconduct in violation of multiple national anti-corruption laws, including the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and would face the weight of the law.

The speaker cautioned that erring banks risk severe consequences, including summons before the House, arrest warrants and referrals to anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution.

The letter reads:’ I write with reference to our earlier letter dated September 29, 2025, by which the assembly, pursuant to its oversight powers under Sections 128 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), demanded disclosure of all local government accounts domiciled with your bank.’

‘This House has been made aware that certain local government areas in the state, including but not limited to Boluwaduro Local Government, have issued financial instructions authorising deductions from their accounts in favour of private parties. One such instance is the instruction to deduct 15 percent of funds received in September 2025, allegedly authorised by the local government’s treasurer and chairman.’

‘ Apart from the fact that such an expenditure is illegal and does not conform with the provisions of internal regulations, it is equally not provided for in the 2025 approved budget of the local governments.’

‘ Let it be stated for record purposes that the treasurer is not a legally recognised signatory under the extant Osun State laws governing the operation of local government accounts. Specifically, Section 14 of the Guidelines for the Administration of Local Government stipulates that only persons listed by the assembly resolution, which stipulates that only the local government chairman, Director of Administration and General Services, as officers under the employment of the Local Government Service Commission, are authorised to operate such accounts.

‘These provisions are further supported by the Osun State Public Financial Management Law, 2020.

‘Furthermore, the resolution of this House passed on Monday, September 29, 2025, affirms that no withdrawals or deductions may be made from local government accounts without compliance with the Constitution, the Guidelines and the Financial Management Law.

‘The said resolution also declared that any bank which processes instructions issued by unauthorised persons shall be deemed to have aided and abetted financial misconduct in violation of the Constitution, the Criminal Code Act, the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission Act.

‘Accordingly, you are hereby formally warned not to honour any instruction, verbal, written or electronic authorising disbursement, deduction or diversion of public funds from any local government account domiciled in your bank unless such instruction originates from the legally authorised signatories and is supported by express budgetary provision approved by the House.

‘Any transaction in breach of this position shall attract the constitutional and legal consequences, including summons before the House, the issuance of warrants of arrest and referrals to anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution. Your institution will also stand the risk of blacklisting and recommendation for withdrawal of the privilege to operate government accounts.

‘You are reminded that your response to our initial request remains due within the 24-hour timeframe already communicated.

‘This matter is of public interest and must be treated with the utmost urgency and seriousness it deserves’, it said.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the state, on Thursday, told members of the union to disregard the sponsored story of a particular political party that said leadership of the union has directed its workers to resume work.

The union’s chairman, Dr Nathaniel Kehinde Ogungbangbe, in a statement made available by Mr David Olalekan Owoeye, the state publicity secretary in Osogbo, said the claim was to cause commotion and disorganise the well – informed NULGE members in the state.

‘The union is using this medium to inform our well-respected members to know that such information did not emanate from the elected NULGE executives under the leadership of Dr Ogungbangbe and there is no directive of such from the national body of our union under the leadership of Haruna Aliyu Kankara.

‘It was authored to destabilise the peace of the state through which our members could be massacred and reduce our membership strength.’

Therefore, the union is urging all members to see the write-up as the handiwork of the killers of destiny which needed to be jettisoned and stay away from office until further directive from the real elected state NULGE executives in the state.

‘It is equally pertinent to note that NULGE has not directed our members to resume work.

How do you think your experience in LegalTech has influenced your approach to problem-solving in other industries, such as FinTech and CareTech?

My career began in LegalTech at LawPavilion Nigeria, where I worked on digitising case law and legal processes. That experience sharpened my ability to translate highly regulated, paper-heavy workflows into streamlined, user-friendly systems. The legal sector taught me that compliance, accuracy, and trust are non-negotiable. Every solution had to be airtight because the cost of mistakes in law is incredibly high.

When I transitioned into FinTech and later CareTech, I carried that mindset with me. It wasn’t just about building products that looked good or functioned on the surface; it was about designing systems that could stand the test of regulation, scrutiny, and scale. In finance, trust is the currency, and in healthcare, safety is paramount. My LegalTech foundation gave me the discipline to balance innovation with responsibility, ensuring that solutions not only solved problems but also met regulatory and ethical standards.

Can you share some insights into the technical architecture of the Loan Management Portal you developed at LSETF, and how it achieved a 40 per cent increase in productivity?

At the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, we were faced with the challenge of managing large volumes of loan applications manually. The process was not only slow but also prone to human error. To solve this, we built the Loan Management Portal on a modular, service-oriented architecture. Each module handled a specific function-whether that was loan application intake, credit assessment, approval work flows, or reporting.

We also implemented role-based access so that everyone from loan officers to compliance managers had clearly defined permissions. Automated credit assessments reduced approval times, and integrated reporting created transparency for management. What used to take days could now be accomplished in hours. The productivity increase of over 40 per cent came from automation of repetitive tasks, smarter workflow orchestration, and data-driven dashboards that gave decision-makers a real-time view of what was happening. It transformed LSETF’s operations from a manual, paper-heavy process into a dynamic and scalable digital platform.

What role do you think artificial intelligence and machine learning play in enhancing financial inclusion, and how have you incorporated these technologies into your projects, such as Wyrr and GenCapita?

AI and ML have the potential to rewrite the financial services playbook. Traditional credit scoring models often exclude people without a formal credit history, which is a large portion of the African population. With AI, we can look at alternative data, such as mobile phone usage, transaction patterns, or even behavioral analytics, to make fairer credit decisions.

At Wyrr, we experimented with fraud-prevention models that analysed transaction patterns in real time, flagging unusual behavior before it caused damage. At GenCapita, the focus was on investment pattern recognition. By applying machine learning, we were able to recommend smarter portfolio allocations to users based on their behavior and risk appetite. These aren’t just technical improvements; they are steps toward financial inclusion, creating opportunities for people who were previously invisible to traditional banking systems.

How do you balance the need for innovation with the requirement for regulatory compliance in your work, particularly in the FinTech sector?

This balance is one of the toughest challenges in FinTech. Many startups are eager to move fast and disrupt, but ignoring compliance is a ticking time bomb. My approach has always been ‘build fast, but build right.’ For instance, at Gen Financial Limited, we had ambitious goals around securities trading and payment processing. But we knew from the start that we had to work closely with regulators.

We engaged with them early, explaining our product roadmaps, and aligning with KYC, AML, and data-protection frameworks. Instead of seeing compliance as a burden, we treated it as a competitive advantage. Once regulators trusted us, it gave us the freedom to innovate more confidently. That discipline is what has allowed me to build products that are both groundbreaking and sustainable.

What are some of the key lessons you learned from developing the Buy Now, Pay Later platform at QOOP, and how have you applied these lessons to other projects?

The BNPL platform at QOOP was an eye-opener. The technology itself was straightforward-creating a credit line for users and integrating it into e-commerce platforms. But the bigger challenge was human behavior. Many African consumers are still new to digital credit, and that means issues like repayment discipline, trust in the platform, and understanding the terms are critical.

We learnt very quickly that education and transparency had to be built into the product. Instead of hiding fees in fine print, we made repayment terms clear and user-friendly. Instead of focusing solely on growth, we focused on responsible lending. That approach reduced defaults and built long-term trust. I’ve carried those lessons into other projects, always ensuring that innovation is accompanied by financial literacy and user education.

As a co-founder and CTO of Aisiki, what was the inspiration behind building a logistics and agriculture-tech platform, and how do you see this sector evolving in the future?

Aisiki was born out of the realisation that one of Africa’s greatest challenges-agriculture-is also one of its biggest opportunities. Farmers were losing significant income because they lacked reliable logistics and direct access to markets. We set out to build a platform that connected farmers with logistics providers and buyers, reducing waste, improving efficiency, and increasing incomes.

The agriculture sector in Africa is primed for disruption. With the right mix of data, logistics, and financing, smallholder farmers can scale beyond subsistence farming. Looking ahead, I see technologies like IoT sensors for crop monitoring, mobile platforms for market access, and decentralised finance for micro-lending as key drivers of this transformation.

Can you tell us more about the technical challenges you faced in developing Caresyntra, and how you overcame them to create a seamless care management platform?

Caresyntra was a complex project because it sat at the intersection of healthcare, compliance, and technology. Care management requires strict adherence to regulations, but at the same time, caregivers need a platform that is intuitive and not overly bureaucratic. We had to build features like rostering, compliance tracking, and secure communication, all while ensuring that users found the platform easy to adopt.

The solution was to design the platform in a modular way, using cloud-based microservices for flexibility. Real-time synchronisation via secure APIs ensured that patient and staff data was always up-to-date and protected. It wasn’t just about solving technical problems; it was about designing for empathy. A platform in healthcare has to serve patients, families, and caregivers equally well, and that’s what we achieved with Caresyntra.

How do you think the ticketing industry can be transformed through technology, and what innovations have you introduced at TixTrack to enhance the user experience?

The ticketing industry has long suffered from inefficiencies and fraud. At TixTrack, we looked at how technology could make ticketing more transparent and accessible. I worked on features like transferable tickets, which allowed users to resell tickets safely, and group sales optimization, which helped event organizers cater to bulk buyers. We also introduced advanced reporting for organizers, giving them real-time insights into sales patterns.

These innovations don’t just improve efficiency-they improve trust. Event-goers feel safer knowing they won’t be duped by fake tickets, and organizers gain better tools to manage revenue and engagement. The result is a win-win ecosystem for everyone involved in live events.

What motivated you to create PayBridge.SDK, and how do you see this open-source project contributing to the developer community and the broader tech ecosystem?

Payment integration is one of the biggest headaches for developers. Each gateway has its quirks, and integrating multiple ones can be time-consuming. I built PayBridge.SDK as a unified API wrapper that supports both local and international gateways, drastically reducing integration time.

Making it open-source was intentional. I believe the best tools should be shared, not hoarded. Open-source projects like PayBridge democratise access, allowing small teams and startups to build at the same level as larger firms. It also encourages collaboration-developers can improve on it, adapt it, and feed those improvements back into the community. My hope is that PayBridge becomes a foundation stone for the next generation of African startups that want to scale globally.

Through your technical blog, tundehub.dev, you’ve shared insights on a range of topics, including microservices and cloud computing. What do you think are some of the most pressing issues in these areas, and how can developers stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies?

Microservices and cloud computing are exciting but also tricky. The biggest issues I see are around security, scalability, and cost optimization. Many startups rush to adopt microservices without putting observability, governance, and cost controls in place. That leads to chaos when the system scales.

Developers can stay sharp by engaging with open-source communities, studying real-world case studies, and experimenting with emerging technologies in safe environments. Writing for tundehub.dev keeps me honest. It forces me to learn continuously, to explain concepts clearly, and to share both successes and failures. That cycle of learning and teaching is what keeps me current.

With TechNaija FM, you’re creating a platform for voices in fintech, edtech, and digital transformation. What do you hope to achieve with this podcast, and how do you see it contributing to the tech ecosystem in Africa and the UK?

TechNaija FM is my way of giving back to the ecosystem. It’s a platform where African and UK voices can come together to share stories of innovation, resilience, and collaboration. Too often, the African tech narrative is told from the outside. I wanted to create a space where founders, developers, and investors could tell their own stories in their own voices.

My hope is for TechNaija FM to become a knowledge hub and an inspiration platform. If a young developer in Lagos or a founder in Manchester hears an episode and feels motivated to push through challenges, then the podcast has done its job. By amplifying diverse voices, we strengthen both ecosystems and build bridges across continents.

As someone who has worked on several high-impact projects, what do you think are some of the key factors that contribute to a project’s success, and how do you measure impact in your work?

From my experience, three factors stand out: clarity, collaboration, and adaptability. Clarity means everyone on the team understands the vision and the problem we’re trying to solve. Collaboration ensures that ideas flow freely and that no one feels siloed. Adaptability means being ready to pivot when new information emerges or when the market shifts.

I measure impact not just by whether the code works, but whether people actually use and trust the product. Adoption metrics, efficiency gains, and user satisfaction are my benchmarks. A project is only truly successful if it makes life easier for its users.

What role do you think collaboration and knowledge sharing play in driving innovation in the tech sector, and how have you incorporated these principles into your work?

Collaboration is the lifeblood of innovation. No one builds in isolation. Open-source projects, community events, hackathons, and mentorship all exist because innovation thrives when ideas are shared. Personally, I’ve embraced this through my blog, podcast, and developer

I’ve also seen firsthand at conferences how a single conversation can spark an entire startup. Knowledge sharing doesn’t just benefit the community; it benefits the individual too. By sharing what you know, you deepen your own understanding and open doors to opportunities you might never have imagined.

How do you think technology can be leveraged to address some of the most pressing socioeconomic challenges in Africa and the UK, such as financial exclusion and inequality?

Technology has already shown us glimpses of its power to transform lives. In Africa, mobile money has lifted millions out of financial exclusion. But we can go further-with blockchain providing transparency in public finance, AI offering fairer credit scoring, and telehealth making medical services accessible in remote areas.

In the UK, inequality manifests differently, but the tools are similar. Digital skills training can empower underserved communities, and AI-powered care platforms like Caresyntra can make healthcare more efficient and equitable. The key is designing technology that is inclusive, affordable, and accessible to those who need it most.

Looking back on your career, what do you think have been some of the most significant milestones, and how have these experiences shaped your approach to technology and innovation?

Looking back, there are several moments that shaped me. At LawPavilion, digitising legal processes taught me discipline and respect for compliance. At LSETF, driving financial empowerment showed me the power of technology to change lives on a large scale. Building BNPL and cooperative platforms at QOOP and getQoop.com taught me the importance of user trust and responsible growth.

On the technical side, creating open-source contributions like PayBridge.SDK and TableauSharp reinforced my belief in community-driven innovation. Launching TechNaija FM and planning the Obokun Tech Summit reminded me that storytelling and convening people are as important as writing code. Each milestone reinforced my core philosophy: technology should be a tool for empowerment. My approach today is simple-build solutions that matter, scale them ethically, and create opportunities for others.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) chapter, Ondo State, on Friday raised the alarm over what it described as years of neglect of the state-owned institution by successive administrations, calling for urgent intervention by the state government.

The lecturers, who threatened a showdown with the government, accused it of starving the university of critical funding, noting that no capital grant had been released to the institution in the last seven years despite annual budgetary provisions.

Addressing journalists at a press briefing held at the AAUA Business School in Akure, the Chairperson of ASUU-AAUA, Dr. Boluwaji Oshodi, said staff welfare, infrastructure, and general funding had deteriorated to the worst levels since the university was established in 1999.

Oshodi, who spoke on behalf of the union, lamented that academic staff were currently being owed two months’ salaries (August and September 2025) in addition to a backlog of allowances and arrears running into billions of naira.

According to him, ‘The citadel of learning has witnessed serious neglect in the last six years. The major challenge confronting AAUA is inadequate funding, particularly the low monthly subvention and the non-release of capital grants by the Ondo State Government.

‘It may amaze you to know that the state government has not released a kobo as capital grant to the university for the past seven years. Meanwhile, the Ondo State House of Assembly appropriates these grants every year.’

He queried, ‘The question is, what happens to this money? It is a wonder what happens to the money budgeted annually for the university’s capital projects.’

Oshodi explained that while the university’s monthly salary and overhead obligations stood at over N555 million, the government only provides a subvention of N223 million, leaving a shortfall of more than N333 million monthly.

Speaking on infrastructural decay, the ASUU chair noted that lecture halls, laboratories, and libraries were in dire need of rehabilitation.

He specifically said the Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Education buildings had become uninhabitable due to collapsed roofs and waterlogged offices whenever it rained.

He lamented that the withdrawal of TETFund interventions from AAUA had worsened the situation, leaving the institution without any reliable source of capital funding.

According to him, the university has had to rely on internally generated revenue to survive, but the shortfall remains overwhelming.

The union further listed several outstanding obligations owed to its members, including unpaid promotion arrears, minimum wage arrears from 2014 and 2019, cooperative deductions, and unremitted third-party deductions.

On the state of access roads to the institution, the union said both routes linking AAUA to the Owo-Ikare highway were in deplorable condition, making it difficult for staff, students, and visitors to commute to the university.

Oshodi recalled that after writing several letters to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the union met with the Deputy Governor, Dr. Olayide Adelami, alongside top government officials in June 2025, where it was agreed that a verification team from the Ministry of Finance would visit AAUA within two weeks.

However, according to ASUU, no verification team has visited to date, despite several reminders, expressing disappointment in the government’s attitude towards the plight of the institution.

The union also faulted what it described as preferential treatment of another tertiary institution in the state, which, according to Oshodi, had benefitted from over N2.5 billion in special interventions from both the late Akeredolu administration and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s government.

‘Why should AAUA be left to decay? An institution that has been prudently managed and sustained by the dedication of its academic staff deserves equal attention. What is good for the goose should also be good for the gander,’ Oshodi said.

ASUU-AAUA therefore demanded the immediate release of special intervention funds to clear outstanding salaries and allowances, as well as an upward review of the university’s monthly subvention to match its wage bill.

Oshodi added, ‘While another tertiary institution in the state has received special financial interventions worth over N2.5 billion from both the Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa administrations, AAUA has been completely sidelined. We ask: what has AAUA done wrong or failed to do right?’

ASUU-AAUA called on Governor Aiyedatiwa to urgently release special intervention funds to settle outstanding salaries and allowances of its members and to increase the university’s monthly subvention to reflect its wage bill of over N500 million.

‘AAUA is our pride. It is a 21st-century university that deserves support, not neglect. With the prudence and commitment of its managers and staff over the years, this university deserves better,’ the union declared.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has assured that his administration will continue to provide an enabling environment for corps members to feel wanted, loved, appreciated and respected during their national service in the state.

The governor gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Olakunle O. Nafiu, at Lagos House, Marina, on Thursday, even as he commended the vital role corps members played in different communities in Lagos State.

Governor Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed his government’s commitment to supporting them as they serve and grow, assuring that his government was fully committed to building the NYSC permanent site project in the Ikorodu area of the state.

‘We are being very deliberate and intentional. It is very gratifying that a large number of corp members in the country are in Lagos. I want to assure you again that we will continue to provide an enabling environment for corps members to feel wanted, loved and appreciated during their time in Lagos.

‘We commend all our youth corpers. It is always something of joy to identify with them, to see those uniforms and to continue to encourage them and for them to thrive in whatever they do. It is a national pride and something that everybody must carry with dignity and honour.

‘We will do whatever is expected of us to make their time and period here a memorable one. We want to assure you that as a government, we will continue to support and make the scheme interesting and memorable for corps members at all times,’ the governor said.

Speaking earlier, Brig. Gen. Nafiu, commended Governor Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Government for the marvellous things they were doing for NYSC in Lagos, noting that based on the visible imprints everywhere, corps members were always excited to come to Lagos, just as he disclosed that over 44,000 corps members were currently serving in Lagos.

The NYSC boss said the purpose of his visit was to further cement the already cordial relationship that existed between the state government and the National Youth Service Corps, pledging his organisation’s continued support in deploying corps members to Lagos State for socio-economic development.

‘Lagos State is the number one destination for corps members in the country. As of today, Lagos State has over 44,000 corps members serving in Lagos. NYSC has 303 doctors serving in Lagos State. We deployed about 7,148 teachers teaching in the public schools and 274 nurses. We have about 35,000 serving in other public and private sectors within the state, making Lagos State the highest in terms of core postings in the country.

‘NYSC saved Lagos about N14.8 billion annually when we consider the cost of paying corps members in the state if they were to be employed full-time. The NYSC scheme has continued to remain a viable scheme not only in uniting the country and building bridges across culture, religion and socio-economic divides, but it also contributes immensely to the socio-economic development of the state and communities where our corps members are deployed.

‘We appreciate the security in Lagos. It makes it very peaceful, and parents are always eager and comfortable when their sons and daughters are posted to Lagos. Parents are comfortable with their daughters serving in Lagos State. Lagos State consistently for the past five or six years has been having more female corp members than male corp members. We want to thank the Governor for the enabling environment you have continuously provided for us in Lagos State,’ he said.