Category: Nigerian Tribune

Global Afro-fusion sensation Sean Dampte has launched ‘The ASK Project,’ a revolutionary new movement that promises to redefine the music and cultural landscape. ASK, which stands for Awoodah Sounds of Kalakuta, is a multifaceted initiative that combines music, philosophy, and lifestyle, built around four core pillars: ASK for the Vibe, ASK for the Sound, ASK for the Culture, and ASK for Awoodah.

This innovative project marks a new era in Afro-fusion, blending luxury, street wisdom, and spiritual resilience into a unique experience. With its gradual rollout, ‘The ASK Project’ has generated significant buzz, with fans and industry insiders speculating about its format and scope.

Sean Dampte, known for hits like ‘Dem Go Dance’ and ‘Legedis to Leventis,’ describes the project as ‘a coded invitation for those walking in purpose.’ The movement aims to celebrate the global Afro spirit, honoring roots and embracing evolution.

The project will span music releases, short films, live experiences, and philosophical writings, solidifying Sean Dampte’s position as a leading voice in Afro-fusion. As the Awoodah Nation grows, Sean Dampte invites fans to join the movement, tune in, and live with intent.

Pastors, theological scholars, and church leaders from across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed to the United States Senate to rescind its decision to include Nigeria among countries designated as violators of religious freedom.

The appeal was part of the resolutions reached at the end of the 65th Annual Ministers’ Conference of the Baptist Theological Seminary, held in Kaduna.

In a communiqué issued on Friday and signed by Rev. Joseph John Hayab, Chairman of the Board of Governors, and Rev. Dr. Mannaseh Panpe, Acting President of the Seminary, the conference expressed deep concern over the U.S. Senate’s move to label Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

According to the communiqué, such a designation could worsen insecurity and religious tension rather than resolve them.

‘While the Conference acknowledged that Christians in Nigeria face persecution, not only through killings but also through various forms of discrimination based on faith, it appealed to foreign governments and international bodies not to place Nigeria on the CPC list,’ the statement read.

The conference argued that branding Nigeria as a CPC could restrict access to critical military assistance and security equipment, thereby weakening the country’s capacity to fight terrorism, banditry, and other violent crimes.

‘Delegates further cautioned that labeling Nigeria as a CPC could inadvertently escalate violence, as such action may limit access to military assistance and legitimate security equipment,’ the communiqué added.

Instead, the Baptist leaders urged the U.S. and other international partners to adopt constructive and collaborative measures to support Nigeria in promoting religious freedom and addressing insecurity.

The conference also lamented the growing hardship facing Nigerians, citing banditry, insurgency, and unemployment as factors that have disrupted livelihoods and weakened community ties.

‘The government must lead with the fear of God, formulate people-centered economic policies, and prioritise human welfare above political interests,’ the communiqué stated.

While acknowledging the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State in strengthening national unity and security coordination, the delegates urged governments at all levels to sustain ongoing reforms, support local peacebuilding efforts, and ensure justice for victims of violence.

A former Senate deputy Chief Whip and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo, Senator Agboola Ayoola, popularly called Alleluyah, has resigned his membership from the party.

A letter to this effect was made available to the newsmen in Ibadan on Friday.

‘I, Senator Agboola, a member of PDP and a leader, both at the state and national level, appreciate the party for the opportunities afforded me to serve the party as a member and leader, as well as the achievements made therein.

‘However, you will observe that I did not participate in all the congresses held recently, that is, the local and state congresses, due to future political pursuits which are necessary at this material time.

‘Consequently, I hereby resign my membership from the PDP effective from October 10, 2025, as I wish the party success in its activities.’

Agboola had served as former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the administration of the former Governor, and now the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, between 2003 and 2005.

He was also nominated as Commissioner for the same portfolio by the late former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala between 2007 and 2011.

Agboola was the only elected senator under the PDP in the whole South-West region between 2011 and 2015.

I’d been taking about 30 minutes a day to walk for almost two years, thinking I was doing all I need to be healthy and in shape, when I went in for my annual physical and was shocked to discover that bone density had decreased and that my muscle mass wasn’t what my doctor wanted it to be for a woman my age. In view of this, I want to know if walking is enough exercise for me.

Imele (by SMS)

It has been confirmed that while walking is absolutely wonderful and provides fantastic cardiovascular benefits, weight management, and mental health, it’s really only one component of the exercise equation that our bodies need as we get older.

Walking significantly involves your cardiovascular system and your larger muscle groups in your legs but does not provide the resistance training your bone density and your muscle mass require, especially after the age of 50 when we all naturally start losing approximately 1-2% muscle mass each year.

The research was very specific that you need to incorporate some sort of strength training at least twice per week to maintain your bones and prevent sarcopenia, which is this loss of muscle mass with age.

In addition, walking really doesn’t contribute much towards flexibility, balance, or core strength, all of which are very helpful in preventing falls and remaining functional in mobility as we grow older.

While your daily walking was great for your lungs and heart, you were not getting the overall benefit to physical functioning of resistance exercises, stretching, and balance training. Incorporating some bodyweight exercises, resistance bands, and yoga into your routine two times a week and continuing to keep with your every-day walking, will be very good for you.

Walking is definitely great as an exercise base if you’re just doing it, but adding in some strength and flexibility exercises a couple of times a week will make a huge difference in your overall health and aging process.

President Bola Tinubu will travel to Rome on Sunday, October 12, to attend the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Level Meeting, according to the State House.

The agenda is primarily on the security crisis in West Africa.

A statement on Saturday night by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, explained that the meeting would bring together Heads of State and Government, senior intelligence and military officials from African countries, and representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations to discuss the evolving security challenges in the West African sub-region.

‘The Aqaba Process Meeting is a counter-terrorism initiative launched by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015. It is co-chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Italian Government.

‘It recognises the complex security challenges confronting West Africa, including the expansion of terrorist networks, the growing crime-terror nexus and the increasing overlap between land-based terrorism in the Sahel and the maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea,’ the State House said.

It added that participants would exchange assessments of the current security landscape in West Africa and foster collaboration between regional and international partners to address cross-border security challenges, in addition to developing strategies to counter the terror threat on land and the sea.

The statement read further, ‘The meeting will discuss ideas on how to coordinate efforts to combat online radicalisation and disrupt digital networks that facilitate terrorist propaganda and recruitment.

‘In addition to attending the plenary sessions of the Aqaba meeting, President Tinubu will hold bilateral talks with other leaders to explore ways of addressing the rising security challenges across the subregion.

‘The President will be accompanied by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, and other senior government officials.’

PLAYING host to over 20 million people is a challenge for any government or state. Beyond contending with such a massive population and the inevitable squabbles over limited amenities, managing the volume of waste generated daily becomes burdensome if not approached creatively.

This, in recent times, has been the reality for Lagos, the city of Aquatic Splendor.

The coastal city, according to the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), currently generates approximately 13,000 tonnes of solid waste daily and is grappling with the complex challenge of effective waste management.

Despite efforts by the state government to keep the metropolis clean, mountains of waste continue to dot both legal and illegal spaces across the city. Interestingly, while many residents argue that the government lacks the capacity to manage waste effectively, the government insists that the biggest obstacle to achieving a cleaner city is the attitude of some residents toward waste disposal.

Some residents who spoke with Saturday Tribune blamed the situation on the perceived lack of capacity by LAWMA officials and Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators, alleging delays in waste collection.

According to some, refuse often remains uncollected for more than a week.

‘Sometimes, it stays more than two weeks before PSP operators come to take them away. The odour is terrible and it poses a serious health risk, especially for those working around the area. We inhale this stench every day,’ said Ayodele Kazeem, a resident of Ketu-Ikosi.

Another resident, a shop owner named Mrs Titilope, alleged that people from outside the community regularly dump refuse at a particular spot in Ikotun.

‘The refuse here isn’t dumped by residents alone. People, especially motorists, come from as far as Ijegun to dispose of their waste here. Some even fling the refuse out of their vehicles and leave. It’s embarrassing that a major road in this area looks like this,’ she said.

But Robert Abiodun, a resident of Alimosho, disagreed.

‘While the government may have its issues, residents cannot be exempted from blame,’ argued Abiodun, who works around Alausa, Ikeja.

He explained that many communities have intentionally stopped paying refuse disposal fees to LAWMA, instead resorting to illegal methods of waste disposal.

‘I go out daily, very early in the morning, and I see all these things. Many Lagosians dump their waste at that hour. Some leave it on the road medians, while others throw it into nearby rivers. Some even wait for the rain to fall before pouring their waste into the floodwaters,’ he noted.

However, another resident, Gloria, who lives in Aboru, Oke Odo Local Council Development Area, placed the blame squarely on the government, arguing that it had failed to provide residents with a reliable waste disposal system.

‘It’s not true that residents prefer alternative methods of disposing of waste. They do it because they have no choice. Where I live, despite paying LAWMA, they don’t reach us because the roads are bad. Even if you leave your waste by the gate expecting it to be collected, it remains there. So what do you expect people to do in that situation?’ she asked.

Gloria attributed the inefficiency of government agencies to the recruitment process, claiming many PSP operators are not chosen on merit.

‘That was one of the reasons the former governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, sacked some PSP operators and brought in Visionscape. But we all saw what happened. That decision backfired and look at where we are today,’ she added.

Expectedly, LAWMA does not share this perspective.

Its Managing Director, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, told Saturday Tribune that residents’ behaviour continues to pose the greatest challenge to waste management in Lagos.

He argued that a key issue is residents’ failure to realise that ‘waste is wealth,’ leading many to discard potentially valuable items on the roadside or in drainages, only to be picked up by scavengers.

‘It shouldn’t be like that. We want people to look at what they have and say, ‘Ah! This has value. What can I make from this?’ and keep it separate,’ he said.

It will be recalled that in January 2024, the state government banned the use and distribution of styrofoam and other single-use plastics (SUPs) to curb environmental pollution. This policy was fully enforced by July 2025.

Yet, despite these efforts, Gbadegesin said, some residents continue to hamper effective waste management by dumping refuse in drains, medians and setbacks, flouting government warnings against such illegal activities.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, assured that the state remains committed to maintaining cleanliness across Lagos.

He disclosed that more than 3,000 environmental offenders had been arrested and prosecuted in recent months.

‘We have a waste-to-wealth initiative, where organic waste becomes compost fertilizer, and plastic waste is recycled. All of this is meant to encourage Lagosians to build a proper waste disposal culture like we see in other parts of the world.

‘The state’s waste management approach includes converting 4,000-5,000 tonnes of waste daily into resources, 2,500 tonnes are converted to energy, while another 4,000-5,000 are transformed into fuel for LAMATA buses. Lafarge also takes a large portion of combustible waste to power its factory.

‘The long-term goal is to have fewer than 1,000 tonnes of waste ending up in landfills each day,’ Wahab said.

He also revealed plans to decommission the dumpsites at Olusosun and Soulos 3, explaining that waste segregation would significantly reduce the volume of waste ending up at landfills.

Wahab pointed out that homeowners often try to evade waste collection fees, resorting instead to illegal disposal practices.

‘If PSP operators are inefficient in your area, please call LAWMA. They have more than 200 trucks available to step in temporarily and investigate the performance of your assigned PSP operator,’ he stated.

LAWMA MD, Dr Gbadegesin, also noted that the agency is deepening its partnerships to solve the waste management crisis.

One of the major initiatives is the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with reputable international and multilateral companies. These MoUs aim to enhance resource recovery, as well as improve waste collection and recycling for both solid and liquid waste.

Highlighting the administration’s commitment to strategic partnerships, Wahab said that in May, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu signed an MoU with Dutch firm, Harvest Waste Consortium. This agreement will see the construction of a high-efficiency 60-80 MW Waste-to-Energy plant at the Epe landfill, using advanced technology to generate clean energy from municipal, commercial and industrial waste. The plant is expected to consume 2,500 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily and power up to 40,000 homes, boosting energy security.

Another major partnership is with the Jospong Group, represented by Zoomlion Nigeria, for the construction and operation of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and Transfer Loading Stations (TLS) in key areas. The project targets processing 3,500 tonnes of solid waste and 4,000 cubic metres of liquid waste daily.

Further agreements include a collaboration with Netherlands-backed company Close the Loop BV to establish an e-waste smelter plant in Lagos, aimed at managing the state’s vast deposits of electronic waste while creating jobs and stimulating a new economy.

Additionally, a Swedish-backed MoU was recently signed to explore more ways of converting solid and liquid waste into energy across the state.

On the issue of moribund recycling plants, Wahab countered that Lagos is home to numerous private recycling facilities.

‘For example, just three months ago, Coca-Cola opened a recycling plant in Apapa, and it’s doing well. They’re now expanding their collection to cover Apapa, Iganmu, Ijora-Badia, and other areas. Other producers like 7-Up are also establishing recycling plants,’ he said.

He, however, identified scavengers, now referred to as ‘urban miners,’ as a challenge, noting that they focus mainly on plastics, depriving recycling plants of raw materials.

‘There are also unregistered Chinese companies that collect these plastics for export, leaving local plants with insufficient supply. But we’re tackling this. Any unregistered company will be shut down to ensure local plants have enough raw materials,’ Wahab said.

Many believe that for Lagos to make real progress in waste management, it must urgently address the issues of uncooperative residents and underqualified PSP operators, two persistent obstacles that continue to hamper progress.

A coalition of civil society and accountability advocates under the umbrella of the Network for Transparency and Economic Reform (NETER) has commended Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), his ‘transparent and reform-driven leadership’ in opening the company’s books to parliamentary and public scrutiny.

The commendation comes in the wake of confirmation by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts that the NNPCL has formally responded to 19 audit queries raised against it by the Auditor-General of the Federation, relating to discrepancies of about N210 trillion in its financial statements between 2017 and 2023.

In a statement on Friday, Dr. Lukas Yusuf, President of NETER, said the decision of the NNPCL management to engage directly with the Senate and provide detailed responses to all audit questions marks ‘a refreshing departure from a culture of opacity that had long defined Nigeria’s oil sector.’

‘For once, Nigerians are witnessing an era where their national oil company no longer hides from scrutiny. The fact that the management of NNPCL, under Bayo Ojulari, took the initiative to respond comprehensively to all 19 audit queries shows a willingness to submit to institutional accountability. This is how confidence in public institutions is built,’ Yusuf said.

He said Ojulari’s conduct since assuming leadership of the NNPCL has reflected a ‘clear break from the past,’ noting that his approach to corporate governance aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader vision of transparency, fiscal discipline, and reform within state-owned enterprises.

‘The reforms happening under Ojulari’s watch are in direct sync with President Tinubu’s call for the restoration of integrity in public corporations. When a company like NNPCL opens its financial records to legislative scrutiny, it sends a powerful message that accountability is no longer negotiable,’ Yusuf added.

The group urged Nigerians and the media to give the process time to run its full course, noting that the Senate Committee had already confirmed receipt of the company’s responses and was preparing to scrutinise the documents in detail.

‘We commend the chairman of the Senate Public Accounts Committee, Senator Aliyu Wadada, for maintaining professionalism in handling such a complex process, It is important that this exercise is completed transparently and that the public is fully briefed when the committee presents its findings,’ Yusuf advised.

He also noted that this is the first time in the NNPCL history that it is publicly engaging with an audit exercise of such scale and depth since its transition to a limited liability company under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

‘Before now, NNPC’s books were a mystery to everyone. For a long time, Nigerians only heard figures without ever seeing the process behind them. Today, we are seeing a new phase where financial and operational data are being shared, audit questions are being answered, and accountability mechanisms are being tested in real time. That is historic,’ he added.

Yusuf further called on citizens, civil society, and industry stakeholders to support the ongoing reforms rather than politicise them, saying the process represents a national effort to rebuild public trust in the management of oil revenues.

‘Transparency does not thrive in isolation. The same citizens demanding accountability must also encourage it when they see genuine effort. We urge Nigerians to see this as a collective win for governance, for democracy, and for the economy,’ he noted.

The Network for Transparency and Economic Reform also reaffirmed its commitment to tracking the implementation of NNPCL’s responses to the audit queries once the Senate completes its review, saying it would issue an independent assessment of the process later this year.

‘Our mission is to ensure that this new wave of accountability in the petroleum sector endures. The transparency we are beginning to see in NNPCL should become the new standard for all public institutions in Nigeria,’ the statement added.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said on Friday that the appointment of Professor Joash Omupitan to head the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must end the ‘inglorious era of glitches and inconclusive elections’ in the country’s democratic journey, an assignment placing a huge burden on the shoulders of the Professor of Law.

The opposition party noted that while it would not question the constitutional power of President Bola Tinubu to nominate his choice for the position of the INEC chairman, Omupitan himself must be prepared to meet the expectations of Nigerians by conducting free, fair, transparent, and credible polls at all times.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Honourable Debo Ologunagba, who gave the party’s position in Abuja, also challenged the Senate to be thorough in screening the nominee by asking ‘all the relevant and important questions voters expect to hear from them.’

He said, ‘Over the years, we have said we need to have strong institutions. The Senate and the nominee must know that INEC is critical to the sustenance of democracy.

‘The nominee will have a heavy burden and will help to reduce and eliminate the concerns that Nigerians have about free, fair, and credible elections.

‘INEC has been a beneficiary of so much goodwill, and the nominee must know that Nigerians will no longer accept excuses.

‘The idea of glitches and inconclusive elections is no longer welcome.’

Ologunagba also spoke again about the defection plans of several governors from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), clarifying that the PDP was about the people, not individuals or groups of individuals.

At least two governors, Douye Diri of Bayelsa State and Peter Mbah of Enugu State, have been rumored lately to be considering joining the APC.

Incidentally, Mbah is the Secretary of the PDP’s National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) for its Ibadan convention scheduled for Ibadan on November 15.

Douye, last month, chaired the party’s zoning committee, which recommended the zoning of its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, a recommendation that was eventually endorsed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP.

Ologunagba argued that it would amount to ‘unnecessary waste of energy’ for the PDP to devote time to the ‘distractions of defection’ when the party’s convention was certain to be held next month.

He added, ‘There is unnecessary attention being given to defection or no defection, especially when the defections are induced by the coercion, intimidation, and harassment of the APC.

‘What will make a difference in the 2027 poll is the insecurity that is ravaging Nigeria. People will have to join the PDP in rescuing the country from the APC, from the insecurity and the hunger they have caused.

‘That is why the APC is jittery. So, defection or no defection is not sufficient to derail us.’

Oyo State Deputy Governor, Dr Adebayo Lawal, who also spoke on the rebuilding of the PDP, exuded confidence that the party would bounce back in 2027 to reclaim control of the Federal Government.

Lawal, who chairs the Sub-Committee on Venue for the Ibadan convention, explained that the determination of party loyalists to strengthen the PDP was the main reason for the convention to elect a new National Working Committee (NWC) to steer the party into 2027.

‘Nigerians are waiting for us as an alternative. We will come out united and stronger to take our place after the 2027 election’, he said soon after the inaugural meeting of his committee in Abuja on Friday.

‘PDP is forming the next Federal Government of Nigeria. There is hope, commitment, and understanding.

‘Today, we came to inaugurate our venue sub-committee. The venue of any convention is critical to the success of that particular event.

‘We can’t afford to have chaos at our convention. We have divided ourselves into further 10 sub-committees to make our work easier and faster’, the deputy Governor said.

On its part, the Labour Party (LP) called on Professor Omupitan to distinguish himself in office by serving the interests of the majority of Nigerians and not necessarily those who put him in office.

LP’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Mr Tony Akeni, reacting on behalf of the party, stated, ‘He must choose who he will serve and the legacy he wishes to leave behind for his name and posterity.

‘He must choose whether to be honoured by more than 230million Nigerians who employed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or to serve the unconstitutional wishes and caprices of a single man, Tinubu, who appointed him.

‘To help him make that choice, Professor Amupitan will do well to reflect how more than 230million Nigerians at home and all over the world will forever remember his immediate predecessor, Professor Yakubu Mahmood.’

Every few years, technology delivers a new wave. Right now, it’s AI. And unlike some past eras, this one may give Nigeria more than just catch-up: we have real chances to lead.

Nigeria is not just another market; we’ve got land, population, a young, adaptable workforce, and growing digital density. Combine that with recent investments in skilling and policy momentum, and you have conditions where AI could power not only tech firms, but entire sectors. Look at energy, logistics, agriculture, telecoms: all filled with opportunity areas that AI can help fix. But what will really determine where Nigeria lands is how we turn potential into action by fixing gaps, building trust, and investing in real infrastructure.

A Roadmap to Follow

The Nigerian government’s National AI Strategy signals that AI is no longer a pipe dream but a national priority to drive economic growth, social development, and technological leadership.

That vision is now backed by real research and investment. Microsoft, in partnership with PwC and Lagos Business School, recently released a report outlining how Nigeria can accelerate AI adoption. Among its findings: the nation already shows early success across fintech, agriculture, and health tech. The report highlights the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program and Microsoft’s AI Skills Navigator, both designed to close Nigeria’s digital skills gap. The roadmap emphasizes governance, infrastructure, and ethical frameworks as critical enablers for sustained AI progress.

Why Nigeria Has Real Advantages

Few countries can match Nigeria’s combination of population, ambition, and raw data. With over 200 million citizens, growing smartphone penetration, and a vibrant startup ecosystem, the data backbone for AI already exists.

? Energy and Power: While erratic power supply is often cited as a challenge, it could spark innovation in predictive maintenance, smart microgrids, and load-balancing AI systems.

? Logistics and Mobility: AI can streamline routing, optimize deliveries, and reduce congestion costs in urban centers like Lagos and Port Harcourt.

? Agriculture: With thousands of smallholder farmers, AI can improve crop yields, weather prediction, and supply chain visibility.

? Fintech and Telecoms: Nigeria’s fintech dominance from mobile money to fraud detection is already powered by data science. The next leap is AI-driven automation and personalization at scale.

Global giants are investing in Nigeria’s AI strategy. Microsoft’s AI Skilling Initiative plans to train one million Nigerians by 2026, and Google continues to fund AI research hubs and cloud infrastructure across Africa.

Turning Challenges into Opportunities

The country’s chronic infrastructure issues, from unstable electricity to poor broadband, should no longer be treated solely as barriers. They are invitations for innovation and investment. The same instability that frustrates entrepreneurs could encourage smarter distributed energy networks (microgrids) and more resilient edge computing systems to bring data processing closer to where it’s generated.

But technology without governance is fragile. Meta’s recent $220 million fine by Nigeria’s data protection authority and competition commission for mishandling user data shows the cost of lagging in oversight. A second settlement worth $32.8 million this year reinforced the point. These cases underline the urgency of data sovereignty, ensuring Nigerian data fuels Nigerian growth, not foreign algorithms.

Ethical AI isn’t a Western luxury. It’s a necessity for trust, especially in economies where digital adoption is skyrocketing faster than regulation. Stronger data audits, user consent enforcement, and transparency in how models are trained will determine whether AI benefits citizens or exploits them.

Thinking Big, Acting Local

Nigeria’s AI strategy and Microsoft’s roadmap offer a joint playbook: build capacity, enforce trust, and enable collaboration between public and private sectors. The government’s task now is execution, ensuring incentives for startups, reliable energy, and active monitoring of AI deployments.

Through years of working on data and technology programs across different contexts, one insight has become clear: innovation thrives where infrastructure and ethics meet. For Nigeria, that intersection could define not only our digital future but our global influence.

Next Steps for Nigeria’s AI Ecosystem

? Power Infrastructure Reform: Expand incentives for renewables and storage, supporting continuous AI operations.

? AI Talent Acceleration: Scale programs like 3MTT and AI Skills Navigator nationwide.

? Data Governance: Enforce transparent audits, clear data ownership, and ethical AI standards.

? Local AI Development: Fund pilot projects in energy, logistics, and agriculture showcasing homegrown solutions.

? Public-Private Coordination: Build a cross-sector AI council to align strategy, funding, and regulation.

Kevwe Onome-Irikefe is a technical program manager with extensive experience in data analytics, engineering, and quality at companies including Salesforce and Google. She leads programs that ensure data reliability and coordinate cross-functional teams across industries and regions. Outside of her technical work, she mentors underrepresented professionals through Code and Culture and serves on the board of the Society of Women Engineers, Columbia River Section, United States.

Looking after your health is highly important. Diet and exercise are the two most important changes you can make. Even if you’ve never been active, it’s never too late to get started. A healthy diet and physical activity are good at any age. As you age, these healthy habits strengthen muscles and bones.

Strong muscles and bones reduce serious injuries related to falls. When your muscles are strong, activities like getting up from a chair or opening a door are easier. When lifting weights, start with a 1-pound or 5-pound weight. If you don’t have weights, use a can of soup, a book, or a full bottle of water. Keep your weights in the same room as your television. Do a few exercises while you watch.

Another way to build muscle is to use a resistance band. This is also called an exercise band. Resistance bands are flexible and come in different lengths. They are commonly used to strengthen upper arm and leg muscles. Try these tips when aiming for a healthy diet and exercise. You don’t have to change your diet all at once. Try making 1 small change at a time. For example, instead of eating 2 slices of white toast for breakfast, replace 1 of them with a slice of whole grain bread. If you drink orange juice every day, eat an orange 3 days a week instead.

Eat whole fruit rather than drinking fruit juice. If you like salty snacks, try low-fat popcorn instead of potato chips. Add more fiber to your diet. Fiber reduces constipation; helps with weight loss; reduces the risk of diabetes, pre-diabetes, heart disease and colon cancer; and lowers your blood cholesterol level.

Men over age 50 should get 30 grams of fiber per day; women over age 50 should get 21 grams per day. Good sources of fiber include beans, whole grains, vegetables, and fruit. Try the Mediterranean diet. This heart-healthy diet promotes foods such as fish, fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. It does not include a lot of meat, dairy, or sweets. Drink more water. Water flushes out toxins. Staying hydrated will give you more energy. Eat more whole foods. This means eating food as close to its natural state as possible, like fresh fruits and vegetables and food that is the least processed possible, such as whole grains. Exercise can improve chronic diseases, such as diabetes. It also can improve your emotional outlook.

A healthy diet and exercise help feed your brain. This improves your decision-making abilities as you get older. Consider these changes: Exercise 20 to 30 minutes on most days. A combination of aerobic (walking, swimming) and strength training (weights) is best. Walking is one of the easiest activities to start. You don’t have to do all 30 minutes at once. Try walking for 15 minutes twice each day. Or walk for 10 minutes 3 times each day.

Exercise with a partner. This makes exercising more fun and it’s social. Consider a group, an individual, or even your dog. If you don’t like to walk, consider other activities. Try gardening, dancing, fishing, tai chi, or yoga. Any active activity that you enjoy can benefit your health. Talk with your doctor before starting an exercise program. Your muscles will likely be sore when you first increase your physical activity. But don’t consider that a reason to stop. Mild soreness will go away in a few days as you become more used to exercise. How active you are and what you eat are habits. Adopting healthy habits can be tough at first. By starting small and rewarding yourself for each step you take, you can make a difference in how good you feel. You may find it easier to be more physically active and eat more fiber if you think of every day and every meal as a chance to do something good for yourself.