Category: Nigerian Tribune

The Presidency on Thursday faulted activist, Omoyele Sowore’s plan to organise a protest march to the State House, Abuja, to demand the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The activist, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general elections, doubles as the publisher of Sahara Reporters, an online news platform.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, taking to his X handle, described Sowore as ‘an anarchist masquerading as a rights activist.’

Onanuga accused Sowore of planning to incite disorder under the guise of a protest against government.

The publisher had earlier announced that the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration would be held on October 20 at 7 a.m., describing it a ‘historic’ protest to press for release of the IPOB leader.

According to the presidential spokesman, the move is a deliberate attempt to undermine the rule of law, warning that the IPOB leader’s ongoing trial on charges of treason must be allowed to run its lawful course.

He tweeted, ‘You are nothing more than an anarchist masquerading as a rights activist. You very well know that Nnamdi Kanu is facing trial for treason, and yet you want to cause a breakdown of law and order by mobilising for a protest. Is this the kind of revolution you envisage for Nigeria, where the rule of law will be violated and your idea of justice would be the law of the jungle?’

He also chided former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for expressing support for the planned protest, describing his stance as opportunistic and irresponsible for a statesman of his standing.

Onanuga notes ‘I am surprised that ex-VP Atiku Abubakar, who is always opportunistic, has supported the planned mob action. As a statesman, he should know better that matters of justice are not resolved on the streets but in the law court.’

He reaffirmed that while the judicial process in Kanu’s case may appear slow, the administration remains committed to due process and the rule of law.

He wrote, ‘While the wheel of justice can sometimes be grindingly slow, partly caused by Kanu’s lawyers, Nnamdi Kanu will eventually get the justice he deserves for his alleged transgressions.’

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to reducing the high cost of doing business and improving operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports through the implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) initiative – a flagship reform designed to streamline trade processes, enhance transparency, and accelerate cargo clearance.

Speaking at the National Single Window Stakeholders’ Forum held in Lagos, Mr. Tola Fakolade, Director of the National Single Window Project and Head of Secretariat, said the initiative reflects President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to creating a competitive, technology-driven trade environment.

According to him, the NSW will serve as a digital hub integrating all government agencies involved in import and export procedures into a single online platform, eliminating redundant documentation and reducing physical interactions that often breed inefficiency and corruption.

‘It is the President’s desire to see importers and exporters carry out their businesses seamlessly,’ Fakolade said. ‘The era of diverting consignments and investments to neighbouring ports due to inefficiencies and high costs will soon be over. This initiative will simplify and harmonise trade processes while cutting transaction time and cost.’

He noted that the project has now entered its critical development and integration phase following over a year of assessments and requirements analysis, with a Q1 2026 operational target.

‘Achieving seamless integration at this stage is essential. We are ensuring that all technical and institutional frameworks are aligned to deliver on schedule,’ Fakolade added.

The forum, jointly organised by the National Single Window Secretariat and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), brought together stakeholders from trade, logistics, maritime, aviation, and regulatory sectors to review project progress and strengthen collaboration ahead of deployment.

Participants included representatives from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), and the Truckers Association of Nigeria, among others.

Fakolade further revealed that the integration of the NSW with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework would unlock new opportunities for Nigerian exporters by reducing trade costs, enhancing supply chain visibility, and improving regional competitiveness.

‘A fully functional National Single Window will give Nigerian businesses a cost advantage and increase their participation in intra-African trade,’ he said.

Panelists at the forum shared insights on the roles of their respective agencies in supporting the implementation, while acknowledging persistent bottlenecks such as multiple cargo inspections, non-harmonised documentation, and infrastructure constraints. They assured participants that ongoing inter-agency coordination would ensure a smooth transition to the new system.

The session featured open discussions on timelines, integration readiness, and stakeholder responsibilities, with government officials assuring that measures were being put in place to guarantee the sustainability of reforms.

The organisers said the forum was aimed at fostering collaboration, alignment, and ownership among trade facilitation stakeholders. Specific objectives included: Providing updates on project milestones and next steps;

Hosting a stakeholder town hall to address questions and gather feedback; Announcing the expected launch timeline and pre-implementation readiness plans.

Participants expressed optimism that once operational, the NSW will drastically reduce clearance time, cut logistics costs, and make Nigeria’s ports globally competitive.

‘This project is a game-changer for Nigeria’s trade ecosystem,’ Fakolade asserted. ‘When fully implemented, it will deliver measurable benefits to businesses, government revenue, and the wider economy.’

The National Single Window initiative, industry experts noted, has long been identified as a critical enabler for Nigeria’s trade modernization and port reform agenda. By connecting all trade-related agencies and stakeholders on one platform, it promises to transform Nigeria into a more efficient, transparent, and investor-friendly trade hub in West Africa.

The Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), will on Saturday host a landmark event in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child.

The event will be held at the Nigeria Police Resource Centre, Jabi, Abuja.

The 2025 celebration is themed ‘Girls’ Vision for the Future,’ with a sub-theme ‘My Identity, My Power: Creating Safer Spaces for the Nigerian Girl Child.’

The celebration is aimed at empowering over 500 secondary school girls from JSS1 to SS3 through a one-day programme consisting of workshops, mentorship sessions, and creative expression challenges.

Speaking on the significance of the event, POCACOV National Coordinator, ACP Olabisi Okuwobi, said that empowering girls to embrace their unique identity and leadership potential is critical to curbing vices such as cultism, gender-based violence, cybercrime, and substance abuse.

This, the POCACOV National Coordinator stated, is in line with the preventive policing mandate of Inspector-General of Police, Dr Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.

Key highlights of the celebration include: safe girl workshops on leadership, digital skills, and civic engagement, as well as mentorship and role model sessions with trailblazing women leaders from law enforcement, education, entrepreneurship, and technology.

Others are creative expression challenge debates, spoken word, art and drama spotlighting the sub-theme, and stakeholders’ roundtable discussion to strengthen partnerships for girl-child protection and empowerment nationwide.

ACP Okuwobi called on government agencies, private sector leaders, media partners, NGOs, schools, parents, and community stakeholders to join the movement to create safer spaces for the Nigerian girl child.

‘This year’s celebration is not just a one-day event; it is a call to action. When girls know their identity and power, they become unstoppable change-makers,’ the National Coordinator emphasised.

It will be noted that POCACOV is a community-oriented initiative of the Nigeria Police Force.

Kalu Ikeagwu is a celebrated British-Nigerian actor and writer, with standout performances in many Nollywood films. A graduate of the University of Nigeria, where he earned a degree in English Literature, Kalu has also made his mark on television with appearances in award-winning series including ‘Domino’, ‘Tinsel’, ‘Super Story’, and ‘Doctor’s Quarters’. In this interview on Nollywood on Radio, he shares insights into his journey and experience in Nollywood, among other topics. ROTIMI IGE monitored the interview and presents excerpts.

You schooled in England and Zambia, and then you also graduated from the University of Nigeria, where you studied English Literature. Did your living in England and Zambia affect the man you have become today as an actor?

Immensely, because sometimes I feel like when someone says he is the son of a soldier or a policeman, I understand what they mean. You get posted everywhere, as a soldier or policeman. The children never really gather moss wherever they are; they’re always in different places. I think that’s how I feel sometimes. But kudos to my father, he made sure by that by age four, I could read and write Igbo. My father banned English from the house, you go outside and speak your English. He made sure Igbo was spoken in the house, where I learned everything I knew about my culture. So, I’m kind of a split personality, I’m a very down-to-earth village man and at the same time, I have everything mixed in me so I can play or do anything that comes to mind because my dad made sure I was rooted, all of us were rooted in our culture right from birth.

You get a lot of scripts and offers, how do you decide which of them to take?

Before anything else, I read the script. From what I learned in school, whatever movie you do is supposed to inform, educate, and entertain at the same time. I didn’t really take it that seriously until one day, I think, when my mother came to visit me. When I was seeing her off at the airport, she saw some people who were like, ‘Ah, can I take a picture? Can I sign an autograph?’ I never really told them what I was doing. So she was like, ‘Ah, this acting you went to do, it’s as if something is coming out of it. When next you’re coming to visit, bring one of your movies so we can watch.’

When I returned to visit them, my brothers were present. During the movie, it got to a point where I had a scene with Ini Edo and we had to kiss. I completely forgot that scene was there because I had looked for the safest movie I could find. As the scene was about to start, I was like, ‘Oh, this scene is coming! Sweat was running down from my armpits, and I just started retreating. My brothers already knew what was coming, so they said, ‘Ah, Mummy, where is this your son going? What is he doing?’ I disappeared from that place, and I looked at myself and thought, ‘I’m not a small boy anymore; why am I so nervous around my mother?’

It dawned on me that the training your parents give you never leaves you. Though it wasn’t a bad movie, it just made me realise I would never take part in a film my mother can’t watch. My father is late, so that one is different. I think that’s the main thing that really inspires me to make sure I read the scripts of movies I appear in. I don’t care how much you’re paying me or how big the budget is; the message is always the most important.

Are you ever going to step out of your calm persona of doing family-friendly films, perhaps an action role or a character very different from the calm persona we often see on screen?

I had a shot at that in ‘Cheta’M’. In it, people hated my guts. It was an English/Igbo series. I played three different characters all in the same body, so my body was inhabited by different spirits and stuff like that, and one was really evil. I enjoyed that one because it was outside my scope and in fact, I had to learn a different dialect of Igbo. I think that was the most challenging role I’ve ever had, and I like playing bad guys; it’s really good fun. Something outside you and I had to be very energetic outside my normal, calm self and stuff, so it was fun.

If you did not make it as an actor, what other career path would you have chosen?

Teaching, definitely or I’d have been a writer. I do a bit of storytelling too. But it would have been teaching. My father was a teacher, and he rose through the ranks. He was a primary school teacher, then went into teacher training school, then went into secondary school teaching before he was sent on scholarship to go to overseas to study, and then came back and became a lecturer. So I went through the whole gamut; I had to learn how to read and write Igbo. Originally, I was supposed to become a doctor, read medicine, but because my father made sure I read a lot of literature, I fell in love with storytelling, and that’s why I insisted I was going to read English literature in the university.

Nollywood has become such an enigma that a lot of people are watching, and we are now getting the attention of the world. What do you think informed us that made us that way? What do you think helped the industry grow into that, and where do you think is the next step for the industry in terms of growth?

It’s simple, self-confidence. My best movies are from 2000 and earlier, dating back to the early ’90s because they told stories about us, by us, for us. These films were so original and heartfelt, which is what attracted the whole world, even if they didn’t understand our culture. It was so impactful that, whenever I travel to the US, I meet people like Jamaicans giving their children Nigerian names. Everyone knows what Omugwo is, and it really helped us because, surprisingly, abroad they actually think we swing from trees like monkeys. Imagine their shock when they see beautiful houses and people with a rich culture. Especially with Nigeria, Africa as a whole, or even the black diaspora-when you see a parent disciplining a child in a movie, everyone understands what it means: that broom or slipper will follow you and hit you right on the butt. Black people understand that, and it really resonates because many times they feel alienated, like strangers.

But when they see models like Nigeria-so confident-they immediately feel they haven’t lost their culture. They feel connected, and that really endeared them to us. We went through that phase with great storytelling but lacked proper equipment; it wasn’t very strong. Most was analog, and as more sophisticated equipment came in, it became about picture quality and what you could produce. The storytelling scene was somewhat pushed aside, and often stories from Bollywood or Western tales were adapted into ours, which alienated viewers-they couldn’t connect. I believe there’s a resurgence of African stories, helped by music. Our music, unapologetically Nigerian, has gained global popularity. I think the film industry has also contributed-like the one I did with Tosin Igho, Uzor Arukwe, and others, which was an amazing story. It was a detective story, but using African methods to find the culprit-but with jazz and local traditions. Omowunmi Dada and RMD starred in it. That really resonated with us, sparking a renewal of stories by Africans, for ourselves, and exporting them to the world.

Have you ever produced a movie? There’s a new trend now that, as a producer, after you’ve done your work, you have to go the extra mile again and make sure to market it. And one of the ways to market it in Nigeria successfully is to dance. You have this sort of sage aura around you; will you dance to promote a film?

Yes, I’ve danced to promote. Dancing is not something I like to mention because I’m still very angry with Mary Lazarus. I had to dance, and I’m a terrible dancer. I hate dancing because I cannot dance to save my life. The only worse dancer than me is my younger brother. So please, don’t ask me to dance unless you pay me good, I have to rehearse very well before.

What if it’s your film?

I’ll dance. Have you seen white people dance? That’s how I dance, but a white person when they’re dancing, they dance so terribly, but they believe so much in themselves that they actually enjoy what they’re doing, making fools of themselves, that is how I’ll dance to promote my film.

Do you think it creates a dangerous trend in the industry?

You see, one thing you have to understand is why Nigerians are respected all over the world. They’re like the Agama lizard. If no one praises them, they’ll praise themselves and that is why what we are known for anything that works. That is why this country has not crumbled with all the stress it’s going through, they must find something to laugh at or smile so if it’s dancing that will do the job, so be it.

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Controls That Feel Natural

If gaming is about skill, control is the difference between winning and losing. The GT 30 Pro’s ‘GT triggers’ capacitive shoulder buttons unlock console-level gameplay on mobile. FPS players can shoot and scope with precision, while MOBA players can map key abilities for faster execution. The six-axis gyro sensor and 2160Hz touch sampling rate, makes every tilt, swipe, and tap feel like an extension of your instincts. Beyond the Match

Beyond gaming performance, the GT 30 Pro is built to complement a gamer’s lifestyle. Its 108MP main camera and 1.5K AMOLED 144Hz display deliver stunning visuals for social media, streaming, and content creation, while a 5500mAh battery with 45W wired, 30W wireless fast charging, and Bypass Charging 2.0 ensures all-day power without overheating. Wrapped in a Mecha-inspired design with Mechanical Light Waves and available in Shadow Ash, Blade White, and Dark Flare with RGB accents, it blends style with substance, performing brilliantly while expressing your gamer identity.

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Life today is about flexibility, and the GT 30 Pro is built for exactly that. Its AI toolbox includes smart features like Magic Voice Changer for in-game banter, AI Game Box for automation in titles like Genshin Impact, and dynamic AI lighting effects for personalization. Outside of gaming, the AI extends to productivity with Folax, Infinix’s AI assistant. Whether it’s summarizing documents, planning itineraries, or providing quick strategy guides.

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Limited quantity of the GT30 Pro device are currently available in Nigeria at select Infinix retailers. For more information, visit www.infinixmobility.com/ng and follow @InfinixNigeria on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter).

Google has announced a major initiative to support higher education across Africa by offering its premium AI subscription, Google AI Pro for free to university students for 12 months. The offer is available to eligible students aged 18+ in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, providing them with access to Google’s most advanced AI tools to enhance their learning, research, and creative work.

Through Google’s most capable model, Gemini 2.5 Pro, this initiative will equip the next generation of African leaders, innovators, and creators with fundamental AI literacy. By placing powerful generative AI tools directly in the hands of students, Google is helping to prepare them for a workforce where AI proficiency is increasingly essential.

‘We are seeing a new wave of innovation in Africa, driven by the energy and ingenuity of our young people,’ said Alex Okosi, Managing Director for Google in Sub-Saharan Africa. ‘By providing students with access to our most advanced AI tools, we want to empower them to not only excel in their studies but also to become critical builders and shapers of the future. This offer is about democratising access to technology and giving African students the skills to compete and lead on a global stage.’

The Google AI Pro plan provides a comprehensive suite of tools designed for the demands of academic and creative life:

Supercharged Learning and Research: With new features like Guided Learning to help students with in-depth research, summarizing academic papers, debugging code, and step-by-step guidance on complex problems.

Time-Saving Efficiency: Use Deep Research to generate comprehensive, cited reports from hundreds of web sources in minutes, transforming how students approach long-form assignments and dissertations.

Enhanced Organisation and Creativity: Leverage NotebookLM to organise notes and connect ideas, and use Veo 3 to instantly transform text prompts or images into short, high-quality videos for presentations and projects.

Massive Storage: Receive 2TB of cloud storage across Google Drive, Gmail, and Photos, ensuring ample space for coursework, research data, and creative portfolios.

THE Muslim Congress (TMC), Oyo State chapter, has called on Islamic scholars across the country to continually counsel political officeholders on policies and actions that will advance the welfare of citizens and promote national development.

The call was made during the organisation’s 2025 ‘Annual State Lecture’, held on Sunday at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

In his address, the Aare Balogun Baamofin of Ibadaland, Justice Moshood Abass (rtd), appealed to the Federal Government and religious leaders to work hand in hand in building a nation that guarantees peace, unity and prosperity for all.

Speaking on the theme, ‘The Nigerian State and Lessons from Contemporary History’, Justice Abass stressed the need for sustained national focus on pressing issues such as insecurity and economic instability.

He urged Nigerians to ask probing questions and remain steadfast in seeking solutions to the country’s challenges.

‘The Muslim Congress has again provided a platform for deep reflection on the destiny of our nation. The theme before us is timely and urgent. Nigeria stands today at a turning point. We are blessed with brilliant minds, fertile land, abundant resources and youthful energy. Yet, we remain confronted by insecurity, disunity, corruption and economic hardship,’ he said.

‘Nigeria can rise, but only if we face the truth. Shallow thinking will not rescue this nation; only peace, sincerity and courageous action will. I challenge our distinguished lecturers and speakers not merely to diagnose the problems of our state but to offer us the cure,’ he added.

Also speaking at the event, the Grand Imam of Ogbomosoland, Dr Teliat Yunus Ayilara II, called on Muslims globally to deepen their faith and urged the Federal Government to consider implementing Sharia law, which he said could foster peace and national development.

Addressing the recent banditry incidents in Kwara State, Sheikh Ayilara demanded that those responsible for the heinous crimes be brought to justice without delay.

Earlier in his welcome address, the waali (state coordinator) of The Muslim Congress, Oyo State, Alhaji Daud Oladosu, said this year’s lecture’s theme went beyond a mere title, describing it as a clarion call for Nigerians to reflect deeply on the nation’s trajectory and collective responsibility towards a more prosperous future.

‘Today, we gather under the weight of a theme that is as urgent as it is profound. It calls for sober reflection and introspection. We must learn from the triumphs and trials of our history to navigate our present challenges wisely and build a more peaceful and prosperous Nigeria,’ he said.

In a brief interaction with journalists, the chairman of Oluyole Local Government and Baba Isale Adinni of Oluyole, Mr Hakeem Olatunji, urged all tiers of government to uphold integrity and always act in the best interest of the people.

Highlights of the event included the presentation of awards to 15 outstanding participants, nine from the annual Qur’an competition and six from the spelling bee contest, as well as goodwill messages from guests.

Other dignitaries present at the occasion included the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Hajj Mabrur Ventures Ltd, Alhaji Abdul Ahmid Solate; and the Iyalaje Adinni of Oyo State, Alhaja Rahmat Romoke Ayinde.

Hospitality professional, Mr Francis Ogosi, has identified the importance of strategic planning and collaboration among stakeholders in the hospitality value chain as key factor for sustainable growth in the Nigeria and Africa hospitality space.

Ogosi, Hospitality Manager at Glocient Hospitality, who disclosed this in a panel session at the 2025 Hospitality Enterprise Network(HEN) titled ‘Risk, Reward, and Reality: Is Hospitality Still a Smart Investment?’, provided practical insights into the opportunities and challenges facing the sector, particularly in Nigeria’s remote areas.

Glocient Hospitality is the management and development company behind Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort and Conference Center in Ekiti State, which has been voted the best holiday resort in Nigeria for two consecutive years.

Mr. Ogosi highlighted security challenges and the rising cost of operations as two significant risks that investors must thoughtfully assess when considering hospitality projects in Nigeria.

He stressed that while the market holds great promise, success requires thorough groundwork. Investors must conduct comprehensive feasibility studies, prepare accurate pre-opening budgets, and develop a clear understanding of the Nigerian business landscape before launching new projects.

‘Although hospitality in Nigeria presents an attractive opportunity, success hinges on preparation and local awareness. Investors need to conduct their research, budget carefully, and acknowledge the operational realities on the ground. With the right approach, the rewards can be substantial,’ Ogosi stated.

He further emphasized that hospitality investment in Nigeria requires a blend of resilience, adaptability, and a long-term strategy. Despite the noticeable risks, Mr. Ogosi pointed out that the sector continues to show strong growth potential, fueled by business tourism, leisure travel, domestic tourism, and increasing demand for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions).

The session offered valuable perspectives for investors, operators, and policymakers navigating Nigeria’s evolving tourism and hospitality market. It underscored the importance of strategic planning, sustainability, and collaboration as the sector positions itself for long-term growth.

The HEN 2025 Conference rallied leading figures in the hospitality and tourism industry recently in Lagos (to discuss the future of investment across Africa’s emerging markets.

The event featured product sales, experiential marketing, industry insights, business-to-business customers (B2BC), collaborations, brand exposure, networking, exhibitions, conferences, and panel sessions addressing key issues affecting the industry.

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector have emphasized the urgent need to integrate modern industrial demands into undergraduate training to enhance graduates’ employability and practical competence.

They made this call at the launch of a technology hub and a book titled ‘Tower of Hope, Halls of Despair: A Journey through Nigeria’s University System’, written by Dr. Adam Muritala, an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.

Speaking at the event held on Wednesday at the African Centre of Excellence, OAU, Dr. Muritala described the book as a profound reflection on Nigeria’s higher education system-its strengths, struggles, and opportunities for reform.

Muritala, who is also the Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at OAU and founder of the African Pro-Humanity Technology Hub (APHTH), said the book serves as both a mirror and a roadmap for transforming university education in Nigeria.

According to him, the work examines the challenges confronting Nigerian universities, traces their origins, and proposes practical solutions for long-term improvement.

‘For many years, universities have been plagued by strikes, and we have observed that graduates-especially engineering graduates-are expected to be job creators. Unfortunately, most are now job seekers,’ Muritala said.

‘The book explores what went wrong. The vision of the founders of our universities was to produce graduates who would drive national development. But what we are witnessing today is far from that original dream-what we see instead is despair.’

He added that the book traces the evolution of Nigeria’s university system from the pre-colonial to the post-colonial era, examining the impact of military and civilian administrations, and offering policy recommendations for reform.

Muritala also unveiled the African Pro-Humanity Technology Hub (APHTH), which he said would serve as a platform for African-invented technologies and AI-driven education aimed at bridging the gap between research, innovation, and real-world applications.

The don, who hails from Okeho in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, explained that the hub is dedicated to advancing indigenous innovation and empowering African talents through technology.

‘In Nigerian academia, we have not been able to align university training with industrial needs. This disconnect has widened the gap between classroom knowledge and industry practice,’ he observed.

The twin event attracted eminent scholars, policymakers, vice chancellors, traditional rulers, innovators, and education reform advocates.

During the occasion, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) was honoured with the Friend of Humanity Award for promoting Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria. Similar awards were also presented to Barrister Ahmed Raji, Chief Saheed Oladele, and Chief Zakariyah for their humanitarian contributions to education and community development.

DURING the public presentation of the book ‘Ten Years of Impactful Progressive Governance in Nigeria’, authored by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodimma, I reflected on Nigeria’s decade-long journey under successive progressive administrations as Chief Presenter. Though time did not allow me to deliver my written remarks, the message remains vital to our national conversation on leadership, governance, and reform.

There are moments for politics and moments for governance. Once elections are over, governance must take precedence. Our duty as citizens is to move beyond division and measure progress not by sentiment but by delivery, performance, and impact.

Over the past ten years, Nigeria’s story has been one of courage and continuity, of institutions learning discipline, and of leaders willing to face hard truths about our economy. President MuhammaduBuhari laid the foundation of fiscal prudence, agricultural revival, and infrastructure renewal. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has advanced that legacy through decisive structural reforms such as removing the fuel subsidy, unifying exchange rates, modernising tax policy, and restoring credibility to public finance. These choices were not easy, but they were necessary. They broke habits that had become too costly to sustain and redirected public wealth toward productivity.

Since May 2023, government non-oil revenue has grown by more than 400 percent. This is not coincidence. It is the outcome of intentional policy and technological transparency. The Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee has simplified compliance, eliminated duplication, and placed technology at the centre of revenue collection. Revenue agencies that once competed now cooperate. Multiple taxation is being dismantled. Incentives for businesses are transparent and available online without intermediaries or privileged access. Every entrepreneur, large or small, can now apply for fiscal waivers or export credits within minutes. Fairness by design and technology is replacing favour by connection.

Energy stability has returned as proof that reform, though painful, delivers results. The queues that once defined our petrol stations are gone. Deregulation has reopened the downstream market and restored investor confidence in oil and gas, bringing new capital into deep-water, midstream, and modular-refinery projects. Parallel reforms in the Presidential CNG Initiative are changing urban mobility by replacing petrol fleets with cleaner and cheaper gas vehicles. At the same time, a nationwide solar-power rollout is providing electricity to schools, clinics, and small industries. Together, these initiatives reflect a balanced energy future built on efficiency, competition, and sustainability.

Security remains the foundation of every reform. In 2024, ?3.85 trillion, about 13 percent of the national budget, was allocated to defence and internal security. For 2025, that figure rose to ?6.57 trillion, with significant investment in equipment, intelligence, and personnel welfare. The Nigerian Air Force is modernising with 24 M-346 attack jets and 10 AW-109 helicopters. The Navy has commissioned new patrol ships and maritime helicopters to strengthen coastal and energy-asset protection. Across all theatres, joint operations by the Nigerian Armed Forces and intelligence agencies have neutralised tens of thousands of terrorists, insurgents and criminal elements, arrested many more, and rescued tens of thousands of hostages and displaced persons. The tempo has changed. Our armed forces now take the initiative rather than wait for it.

Infrastructure remains the bridge between ambition and opportunity. Across the country, more than 260 major projects in roads, bridges, ports, and pipelines are under construction or near completion. The Lagos to Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto to Badagry Super Highway are redefining commerce and mobility. The national Bridge Fibre Project is expanding digital connectivity across cities and rural areas, strengthening the country’s broadband backbone and opening new corridors for education, innovation, and enterprise.

Digital governance reform is also deepening national capacity. The ongoing overhaul of the National Identity Management Commission has expanded NIN registration to tens of millions of citizens, creating a reliable digital backbone for planning, financial inclusion, and social protection. For the first time, national data is being harmonised across agencies, improving service delivery, strengthening security coordination, and helping the country plan development with precision.

Work along the River Niger corridor from Lokoja to Baro Port is progressing to enable future inland-waterway operations that can reduce transport costs and improve market access across regions. These projects reflect a deliberate effort to balance regional growth, from the Niger Delta cleanup and gas expansion in the South to new exploration in the North and industrial corridors across the Middle Belt.

Reform without human investment is reform without soul. The $2.2 billion Health Sector Renewal Programme is upgrading 17,000 primary health centres and training 120,000 health workers, while free caesarean care and subsidised dialysis are easing the burden on families. In education, student-loan schemes, digital-skills initiatives, and new STEM and AI curricula are preparing our young people for a digital economy. Through the Student Loan Fund, access to higher education is becoming a right, not a privilege. Its synergy with new financing institutions such as CREDICORP and the Nigeria Credit Guarantee Company ensures that young Nigerians can pursue knowledge with the same confidence that entrepreneurs pursue capital. Free technical and vocational training at the tertiary level will supply the technicians and artisans required for industrial growth.

Agriculture and food security have become the centre of national resilience. Beyond grains, the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development is unlocking a trillion-naira value chain in meat, dairy, and leather. Expanded fertiliser blending, mechanisation, irrigation, and storage are supporting millions of smallholders. With increased investment in rice, cassava, and cash-crop processing, Nigeria is moving toward genuine food sovereignty. Food security is not an aspiration but a necessity for economic stability.

The government’s economic renewal is also anchored on access to finance, enterprise, and inclusion. The establishment of CREDICORP, the Nigeria Credit Guarantee Company, and the Student Loan Fund has strengthened the foundation for a credit-based economy as well as human capital and domestic productivity. Together, these institutions expand access to credit for small businesses, farmers, civil servants, individuals, and students while derisking lending and empowering citizens to build their future without political connections. In promoting local production over import dependence, the Nigeria First Policy is not only conserving foreign exchange but also creating pathways for skilled youth employment and industrial apprenticeship across states.

I say this not out of any search for appointment, business patronage, or reward, but from a place of patriotism and conviction. In any case, President Tinubu has made it possible for any Nigerian engaged in productive enterprise and producing goods in Nigeria to get business patronage without knowing anyone. From where I stand, and for every Nigerian, the true beauty of the Nigeria First Policy is that it invites us all to become participants in our country’s renewal. We can each now go into productive enterprise and live the Nigerian dream, so long as we care enough to believe in this nation and invest in our people, resources, and future.

In the midst of reform, President Tinubu’s words have been both compass and caution: ‘As we continue to reform the economy, I shall always listen to the people and will never turn my back on you.’ That statement captures the essence of progressive governance which I define as courage guided by compassion. Under this directive, Nigeria’s social-protection system has been rebuilt on transparency and technology. The Conditional Cash Transfer programme now reaches more than 15 million households on a verified digital register, each linked to a NIN-validated wallet or bank account for direct payment. No intermediaries and no leakages. In addition, ?344 billion has been disbursed in three tranches to the 36 states and the FCT to support local welfare and enterprise programmes. The Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, which will operate across 8,809 wards, will economically engage over 10 million Nigerians and ensure that national policy translates into local opportunity.

The humanitarian principle of progressivism is simple. Reform must lift, not leave behind. Fiscal discipline restores credibility. Social investment restores trust. When citizens see roads being built, hospitals working, and social payments arriving on time, faith in reform deepens and the social contract is strengthened. Special attention is also being given to women, rural communities, and persons with disabilities through targeted enterprise and skills-support initiatives under the Renewed Hope framework.

The numbers also tell their own story of impact and renewed hope in Nigeria. Non-oil revenues continue to rise. Exports are diversifying. Nigeria has recorded its first trade and balance-of-payments surplus in years, a sign of growing production and renewed confidence in the naira. Oil output is improving, new investments are flowing into the upstream and midstream segments, and our current account is gaining strength as reforms take hold. President Bola Tinubu and his government recognise that inflation and living costs remain a strain on households, but the fiscal discipline now taking root is designed to restore purchasing power in a sustainable way. President Tinubu has also acknowledged that meaningful reform takes time. While citizens are beginning to see the first trickles of progress, the greater task is to ensure that these trickles flow downward to communities, markets, classrooms, and farms where growth becomes tangible and human.

The task ahead is to sustain this momentum but it won’t be easy. Every child must be in school. NIWA must be further strengthened to expand partnerships for safer and cleaner waterways. NDLEA must receive greater support to combat the rising threat of drug trafficking and addiction, and NAFDAC must be empowered with stronger laboratories and technology to protect the public from counterfeit medicines and unsafe food. These are not peripheral agencies. They are frontline guardians of national well-being, and their effectiveness determines the credibility of our progress.

Communities themselves must also understand that with all the support given to our security agencies and the military, their partnership is vital. Cooperation between citizens, traditional institutions, and security operatives will solidify these gains, strengthen intelligence at the grassroots, and prevent a return to disorder. National security is not the burden of the state alone. It is the shared duty of all Nigerians determined to protect their future.

The state governors of Nigeria, under this Renewed Hope and progressive compact, also have a historic role to play. We have faith that with President Tinubu’s commitment, they can write their names in gold, but that gold must first be mined in proper service of the people.

The progress of any nation is not measured only by its wealth, but by the collective will of its people to do right, even when it is hard. That is the essence of progressive governance and the covenant that must bind us for the next decade.

I imagine a Nigeria where every child learns, every farmer prospers, every hospital has power, and every young person earns a dignified living. That is the spirit of renewal behind this progressive decade. It is the belief that courage and compassion are not opposites but partners in building a fair and prosperous country. Tomorrow’s Nigeria is not waiting to be discovered. It is waiting to be delivered with courage, competence, and care. I am Rabiu Isyaku Rabiu and I endorse the publication of this message.

God bless our President.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Alhaji Rabiu Isiyaku Rabiu is a business entrepreneur who advocates private-sector innovation that strengthens reform and institutional growth. Drawing from experience across critical sectors, his reflections on governance, accountability, and shared prosperity are grounded in both enterprise and national purpose.