Category: Nigerian Tribune

The loss of each ophthalmologist to migration, otherwise known as ‘japa’, costs the Nigerian economy about $150,000 annually, the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (OSN) has said, warning that the continued brain drain is worsening the shortage and maldistribution of eye-care specialists across the country.

The President of OSN, Dr Gloria Patrick-Ferife, disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja while presenting the communiqué of the society’s 51st Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, tagged Abuja ASO 2026, held from September 2 to 4.

Patrick-Ferife said the society was concerned about the increasing migration of ophthalmologists and other eye-care workers, particularly the widening gap in access to specialists between urban and rural areas.

‘The cost of losing one ophthalmologist was estimated at about $150,000 per annum to the economy,’ Patrick-Ferife said, calling for improved facilities, security and welfare to make practising in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas, more attractive.

According to her, more than 24 million Nigerians are living with visual impairment, with cataracts, glaucoma, uncorrected refractive errors and diabetic retinopathy remaining the leading causes of blindness.

She noted that about 84 per cent of the visual impairment burden was preventable or treatable, stressing that Nigeria continued to experience a high prevalence of avoidable blindness despite years of interventions by eye-care professionals.

The OSN president said the conference, which attracted more than 850 ophthalmologists and ophthalmologists in training from Nigeria and other African countries, focused on ‘Reimagining Eye Care in the Digital Era’, with emphasis on ethics, care of the carer and the aesthetics of eye care.

She said the society identified inadequate and unaffordable cybersecurity, ethical concerns surrounding artificial intelligence, poor electricity supply, high data costs and a shortage of skilled personnel as major barriers to the digital transformation of eye care.

Patrick-Ferife also expressed concern over the high cost of subspecialty training abroad, burnout among ophthalmologists and the need to retool postgraduate and residency training to reflect emerging technological developments.

She said the society would advocate greater use of teleophthalmology and artificial intelligence to extend eye-care services to underserved communities, stressing that AI should complement rather than replace human expertise.

‘Government cannot employ all ophthalmologists everywhere. We don’t even have the numbers. But if we can leverage on what we have, leverage on the skills that are available in major centres, leverage on teleophthalmology, leverage on AI, on digital technology, we should be able to take eye care to the remote areas,’ she said.

The society also called on the federal, state and local governments to employ more ophthalmologists and other eye-care workers to address the uneven distribution of the workforce.

It urged governments to create an enabling environment for specialists to practise in rural communities, while calling for increased investment in training and retraining, particularly in artificial intelligence, electronic medical records and digital diagnostics.

The OSN further called for the immediate integration of eye-health data into the National District Health Information System (DHIS) platform to strengthen planning and evidence-based decision-making.

Patrick-Ferife said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had developed an eye-health dataset and that the society was awaiting its implementation.

‘We hope, if this is done, eye health data will easily be on the DHIS platform, which is the National Health Data Platform. And that will help us with planning, advocacy, and all that needs to be done,’ she said.

On the high cost of digital services, she appealed to telecommunications and technology service providers to offer incentives for healthcare-related data services, particularly those supporting digital eye-care delivery.

The society also advocated the use of solar power to support digital eye-care services at primary healthcare centres, especially in rural communities where unreliable electricity remains a major obstacle.

The society also raised concerns over the growing activities of quacks, unauthorised local and foreign health practitioners and alternative medicine operators in eye care.

Patrick-Ferife said OSN had begun discussions with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to address the broader problem of unqualified persons offering healthcare services.

‘Recently, we had a discussion with the president of the Nigerian Medical Association because we hope to tackle it from the general angle with the medical. Because it’s not an eye-specific problem. It affects all health care aspects,’ she said.

She said OSN had constituted a committee to collaborate with the NMA in tackling the problem.

Among other resolutions, the society called for the implementation of tax waivers on medical equipment and supplies, including digital eye-care equipment; improved access to modern technological equipment; continuous telecommunications networks to support digital clinical services; and the inclusion of vital parenteral intraocular medications for retinal disease management on the National Health Insurance Authority drug list.

The society also called for clearer delineation of professional boundaries among eye-care workers and an end to what it described as unhealthy rivalry and encroachment among professionals.

It urged ophthalmologists to uphold medical ethics and ensure that technology and automation did not erode empathy, effective communication, appropriate demeanour and workplace harmony.

The conference also noted progress in OSN membership, with the proportion of financially up-to-date members rising from 30 per cent in 2025 to more than 60 per cent in 2026.

The society said it would strengthen mentorship and promote wellness among its members while continuing collaboration with international and continental ophthalmology organisations.

The Vice President of OSN, Professor Abdukadir Rafindadi, said the society would continue to press governments at all levels to provide the infrastructure and security needed to attract and retain health professionals in rural areas.

He said the increasing urbanisation of Nigeria meant that digital eye-care solutions were also important for densely populated urban communities that remained underserved.

‘Leveraging on digital technology is also very relevant to people in urban centres. Like, for example, now people in Mararaba and places like that, very densely populated areas, they may not have access to come into the big medical centres in town,’ Rafindadi said.

He said the society was advocating both online and offline consultation models under which ophthalmologists could review patient data and screenings conducted at remote centres after their regular clinical duties.

According to him, such an approach would expand access to specialist care and contribute to reducing avoidable blindness.

Rafindadi also called for wider deployment of solar power at primary healthcare centres.

‘There’s nothing Nigeria can do without solar power. Some states have been doing that. They’ve been increasing solar power coverage, solarisation of most of their primary health care centres. And we look forward to more across the state,’ he said.

The Chair of the Conference Planning Committee, Professor Regina Morgan, meanwhile, urged the media to play a stronger role in public education on eye health and the challenges confronting the sector.

‘The press has a lot to do too. Because you can help us with letting the public know many of these things. And even the government. Because by the time you say it all the time, people who were not ready to listen would get interested in whatever we’re doing,’ Morgan said.

She urged journalists to help amplify the society’s advocacy efforts among policymakers and the wider public, saying the media remained crucial to drawing attention to eye-health challenges.

Recently, with the prevalence of technology and mobile devices, a fashion seller takes orders through WhatsApp, a caterer builds a loyal customer base from referrals, or a small trader begins importing products with money saved from another job.

At first, there can seem to be little reason to complicate things. But growth changes the equation. And once customers become more demanding, suppliers start asking for formal documentation and bigger contracts come into view, operating only under a personal name can become a serious limitation. You can be making money, but it still lacks the formal identity that many institutions expect.

This is where the CAC business registration benefits Nigeria offers become particularly important.

Registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) does more than produce a certificate. It gives a growing enterprise a verifiable identity, creates a clearer foundation for commercial relationships and can position the business for opportunities that require formal documentation.

The transition, however, should not be viewed simply as ticking a government requirement off a checklist. It is a shift from running a business informally to deliberately building an organisation that can survive, expand and operate beyond its founder.

Why informal success eventually reaches a ceiling

An informal business can be perfectly capable of generating revenue. And registration does not suddenly make a product better, increase sales, or guarantee profitability. What it does is give the enterprise a formal identity that other parties can verify and be trusted.

The CAC is Nigeria’s official corporate registry and is responsible for registering and maintaining records for companies, business names, limited liability partnerships, limited partnerships and incorporated trustees. Its stated functions also include overseeing compliance, corporate governance and record-keeping.

Therefore, a trader who has spent years building a customer base may already have something valuable, such as market experience. What may be missing is the legal and administrative structure needed to present that business professionally to banks, corporate customers, investors, suppliers and government programmes. So, registration helps bridge that gap.

Choose the structure that matches the business

One of the first mistakes entrepreneurs make is assuming every growing business should immediately become a limited liability company.

The CAC provides separate registration routes for business names and companies. Its business-name process is designed for proprietors and partnerships, while company registration creates a corporate entity with its own legal structure. The appropriate option depends on the ownership arrangement, scale, risk exposure and long-term plans of the enterprise.

For a sole proprietor whose immediate goal is to formalise an established trading operation, registering a business name may be an appropriate starting point. An entrepreneur planning to bring in shareholders, attract substantial investment or build a more complex corporate structure may instead need professional advice on incorporating a company.

Registration turns name into verifiable business identity

Consider two suppliers competing for the same corporate contract. One operates under a personal name and can provide invoices and social-media pages. The other can provide CAC registration details, a registered business address and formal documentation that a prospective client can independently verify. The second business has an obvious advantage in credibility.

The CAC says registration gives businesses legal recognition under Nigerian law and helps them become verifiable to partners, clients and investors. It also states that registration can enable businesses to open corporate bank accounts, execute official contracts and access government or financial services.

That does not mean every customer will automatically trust a registered business, or that registration guarantees a contract. It simply removes one major question from the table: Does this business formally exist?

For an entrepreneur trying to move from individual transactions to institutional customers, that matters.

Formal registration can strengthen access to finance

Access to finance is another reason informal entrepreneurs should take formalisation seriously.

Banks and other financial institutions assess businesses using several factors, including cash flow, creditworthiness, repayment capacity, documentation and the nature of the business.

Although CAC registration does not guarantee approval for a loan, but formal business documentation can be an important part of presenting a business as a legitimate commercial operation.

The same principle applies to grants and government-backed programmes. Eligibility rules differ from one programme to another, so entrepreneurs should never assume that simply obtaining a CAC certificate automatically qualifies them for funding.

However, where a grant, loan or procurement programme requires a registered business, remaining informal can prevent an otherwise qualified entrepreneur from applying.

In other words, registration does not create funding. It can remove a formal barrier to opportunities for which registration is a requirement.

Professional customers often expect documentation

The informal approach can work remarkably well when customers are individuals. A customer orders a product, transfers money and receives the goods. There may be little need for elaborate paperwork. Corporate transactions are different.

A company buying products or services from a small supplier may require registration documents, invoices, bank details, contracts and other compliance information before approving a vendor. Larger organisations also have internal procurement and verification procedures that make it harder to onboard businesses that cannot provide basic corporate documentation.

This is where formalisation begins to pay off beyond the certificate itself. The entrepreneur can start presenting the business as an organisation rather than simply as an individual selling something.

CAC registration also introduces responsibilities

Formalisation should not be treated as a one-time transaction.

The CAC oversees compliance and annual returns, and its current registration portal indicates that annual-return filing is available for registered business names, with compliance processes also applying to companies.

That means an entrepreneur who registers must also take record-keeping and regulatory obligations seriously.

A business that obtains a certificate and then ignores its subsequent obligations is not truly becoming corporate. It is merely acquiring a document.

The stronger approach is to separate personal and business finances where appropriate, maintain accurate records, preserve registration documents and keep required filings current. Depending on the business, there may also be tax, sector-specific licensing, employment, consumer-protection or other regulatory obligations outside CAC.

The transition does not have to be complicated

For business-name registration, the CAC currently provides an online process through its Company Registration Portal. Entrepreneurs first check the availability of the proposed name, complete the pre-registration application, upload the required documents and pay the applicable filing fee.

The Commission says individuals and proprietors can register business names without using a lawyer, chartered accountant or chartered secretary.

For companies, the process involves name availability, reservation, digital pre-registration, submission of supporting documents and payment of applicable filing and stamp-duty fees before the registration documents are issued.

The CAC’s published service timelines currently indicate 24 working hours for new company and business-name registrations once the required documents have been received or outstanding queries have been resolved. Actual completion can still depend on the application and whether the Commission raises a query.

Entrepreneurs should therefore use the official CAC portal rather than paying unnecessary middlemen simply because the process appears intimidating.

Formalisation should change how the owner runs the business

The biggest benefit of registration may not be the certificate at all. It is the change in mindset that should follow.

An entrepreneur who has been mixing business income with personal spending may need proper financial records. Someone who has relied entirely on verbal agreements may need written contracts. A trader who has never tracked inventory properly may suddenly discover that knowing sales is not the same as knowing profit.

These changes make the business easier to understand and, eventually, easier to manage.

That becomes particularly valuable when the owner wants to hire employees, bring in a partner, seek financing, supply larger customers or eventually transfer ownership. A business built around undocumented personal arrangements can become difficult to value or hand over.

From hustle to enterprise

There is nothing inherently wrong with starting small. In fact, many successful Nigerian businesses began informally, with the founder testing an idea before investing heavily in it.

The danger is staying informal after the business has clearly outgrown that stage.

When customers, suppliers, lenders and potential partners begin demanding evidence of legitimacy, the question is no longer whether registration is convenient. It becomes whether the business is prepared for the next level.

The CAC business registration benefits Nigeria entrepreneurs most when registration is treated as part of a wider formalisation strategy: establish the right legal structure, maintain accurate records, comply with ongoing requirements and build a business identity that does not depend entirely on the founder’s personal reputation.

Meanwhile, a CAC certificate will not make a weak business successful. It will not guarantee a grant, loan or major contract. But for an entrepreneur ready to move from informal trading to a more structured enterprise, it can provide something increasingly important: a formal identity from which the next stage of growth can be built.

Controversy further raged on Saturday over the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship ticket in Oyo State, 72 hours after the national leadership of the party released the list of candidates for 28 states.

Two camps have been at loggerheads over the ticket in Oyo since the conduct of parallel primaries to produce the party’s standard-bearer for the 2027 general election.

A matter on the issue is pending before a High Court in Ibadan, the state capital.

A contestant in the primaries, who was recently chosen as the running mate for the election, Barrister Niyi Aborisade, said in a statement on Saturday that a court of competent jurisdiction would decide on the valid candidate of the ADC for the state in the forthcoming governorship election.

His words: ‘The court will soon adjudicate on this matter and we are confident that justice will prevail at the end of the day.

‘We are appealing to all our members and our supporters to remain calm and that we will soon be on the ballot and the positive change that we are promising you will become a reality.’

He added that the party members would not be intimidated into abandoning legitimate and constitutional means of seeking justice and fairness, as he and other party faithful would soon embark on electioneering ahead of the general election.

Part of his statement read: ‘The list of governors and deputy governors published by ADC is not a reflection of the situation on the ground, particularly in Oyo State.

‘The Oyo State governorship candidates’ matter is already in court.

‘It is well known by the members of Oyo ADC that Dr Gbemileke Alagbe Eleniyan won the primary election conducted on 22 May 2026. Dr Alagbe has also picked Chief Niyi Aborisade as his deputy. In the recognised primary, Mr Aborisade came second. Dr Alagbe has been issued with a CTC.

‘It therefore came as a surprise when the INEC published the names of Oloye Taofeek Adegboyega Adegoke as the candidate of the APC.

‘Oloye Adegoke confessed publicly that he manipulated the system to include his name and others who were not on the INEC list.

‘This was a great assault on our democracy, and we have taken the matter to court to seek appropriate remedy.

‘The court will soon adjudicate on this matter and we are confident that justice will prevail at the end of the day.

‘We are appealing to all our members and our supporters to remain calm and that we will soon be on the ballot and the positive change that we are promising you will become a reality.

‘We will start our campaign very soon and we shall be victorious in the coming election in 2027. ADC, arise and shine, for your light has come.’

She said the visit, which took place on a Saturday, was at the directive of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The Special Adviser to the Senate President on Diaspora and NGOs, Dr Jibril Tafida, made the clarification in a statement in Abuja.

He said a claim by an online publication that Mrs Akpabio had an ‘unholy access’ to the Senate chamber was false.

Tafida explained that the visit followed complaints by senators and staff about poor facilities and shoddy work done by contractors, adding that it was undertaken at the instance of the Senate President.

He dismissed claims that Mrs Akpabio came with ‘marabouts’ and persons of questionable character, saying the people who accompanied her were engineers and technicians.

According to him, the team comprised electrical, ICT, audio-visual and building maintenance experts who were brought in to assess the faults and determine the state of the facilities.

‘Relevant officials were aware of the visit and no security protocol was breached,’ he said.

Tafida added that Saturday was deliberately chosen for the inspection so as not to disrupt plenary or other legislative activities.

He described the media report as misinformation and speculative journalism aimed at creating controversy where there was none.

He urged the public to disregard the report and called on Naijanewsdirect and other platforms to check their facts before publishing stories that attack public officers and their families.

Tafida stated that Mrs Akpabio was known for her philanthropy and integrity, while the Senate President remained focused on his legislative duties and would not be distracted by unfounded allegations.

‘The National Assembly remains secure and well managed,’ he added.

The Executive Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, Hon. Oluwaseun Olufade, has commended the quality and people-oriented representation being provided by lawmakers elected on the platform of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) in Ibadan North, describing their performance as a reflection of the party’s ‘Nigerian-first’ ideology.

Olufade, while assessing the performance of the APM lawmakers representing Ibadan North at both the Oyo State House of Assembly and the National Assembly, praised Hon. Olufunke Comforter, representing Ibadan North Constituency I; Hon. Adebayo Babajide Gabriel, representing Ibadan North Constituency II; and Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle DON, representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency.

According to the chairman, the three lawmakers have demonstrated that genuine political representation goes beyond rhetoric, publicity and the display of names and photographs on billboards, stressing that the real measure of representation is the positive difference made in the lives of constituents.

He said the APM lawmakers had consistently maintained what he described as their ‘social contract’ with the people through various empowerment programmes, social welfare interventions, infrastructure projects, provision of basic amenities and financial assistance to residents.

Olufade noted that these interventions had produced tangible results across communities in Ibadan North, adding that the lawmakers had continued to demonstrate commitment to the welfare and development of their constituents.

Highlighting some of the achievements of the lawmakers, the chairman cited the recent commissioning of six motorised boreholes, a bridge and a community gate by Hon. Adebayo Babajide Gabriel across Ibadan North Constituency II.

He described the projects as practical interventions capable of directly improving the quality of life of residents, particularly in communities where access to basic infrastructure remains a major concern.

Olufade also commended Hon. Olufunke Comforter for her interventions in Ibadan North Constituency I, particularly the construction of an Amotekun security building in Akingbola Ward 5.

According to him, the project is aimed at strengthening community security and providing a more conducive operational environment for personnel of the Amotekun security outfit, thereby contributing to the protection of lives and property.

He further acknowledged the numerous empowerment initiatives and financial assistance provided by the lawmaker to constituents, describing them as evidence of a representation that remains connected to the needs of the people.

Speaking on the performance of Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle DON at the federal level, Olufade said the federal lawmaker had prioritised the welfare of residents of Ibadan North through several interventions.

He specifically mentioned the distribution of food palliatives on six consecutive occasions, describing the initiative as an important intervention at a time when many households are facing economic pressures.

The chairman also pointed to the construction of several pedestrian bridges connecting communities within the federal constituency, saying the projects had addressed critical mobility and accessibility challenges confronting residents.

He further highlighted the commencement of the construction of the 1.17-kilometre Atenda-Alawada Road, describing it as another significant intervention expected to improve connectivity, ease transportation and enhance access for residents and businesses within the constituency.

Olufade also revealed that the three APM lawmakers had facilitated the distribution of solar-powered streetlights to several communities across Ibadan North Federal Constituency, noting that the initiative would contribute to improved visibility, community safety and economic activities after dark.

The council chairman maintained that the collective interventions of the three lawmakers demonstrated what he described as the practical meaning of the APM ideology.

‘The ideology of the Allied Peoples’ Movement is truly Nigerian first. These lawmakers have shown that representation is about the people.

They have maintained the social contract they entered into with their constituents and have continued to fulfil it through empowerment, social welfare, infrastructure, basic amenities and financial interventions.’

Olufade contrasted this approach with what he described as a style of representation that places greater emphasis on visibility through billboards than on tangible constituency projects.

He particularly took a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State and serving Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Barrister Sharafadeen Alli, saying that, in his assessment, the senator’s visibility had been more noticeable through billboards than through what he considered meaningful constituency impact.

The chairman said some members of the public had consequently resorted to referring to the senator as ‘Senator Billboards,’ a description he attributed to perceptions surrounding the senator’s public visibility.

Olufade, however, stressed that political representation should ultimately be judged by its impact on the people rather than the number of billboards erected.

‘Representation goes beyond the display of billboards. The best display should not be on billboards; it should be on the lives that have been meaningfully impacted,’ he said.

He argued that residents were capable of distinguishing between publicity and tangible service delivery, insisting that the people of Oyo State could not be swayed merely by political branding.

According to him, ‘Oyo State people are wise and they cannot be cajoled by Senator Billboards.’

Olufade urged political office holders and aspirants to focus more on delivering tangible benefits to the people, stressing that the ultimate legacy of any elected representative would be determined by the lives touched and communities transformed during their tenure.

He commended the three APM lawmakers for what he described as their commitment to grassroots development and urged them to sustain the momentum by continuing to place the welfare and aspirations of their constituents at the centre of their legislative responsibilities.

The chairman maintained that the interventions recorded across Ibadan North offered a practical demonstration that effective representation could translate legislative positions into real development outcomes for ordinary citizens.

Common Mistakes People Make

Let me warn you now, so you don’t fall into the same trap.

1. Copying Friends

Your friend’s investment is not your investment.

2. Chasing Quick Money

If it sounds too good, slow down.

3. Not Understanding What You Invest In

If you can’t explain it simply, don’t put your money there.

4. Putting Everything in One Place

Diversify – don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

As we say, *’What is good for goat is not always good for ram.’*

A Simple Way to Structure Your Investments

Let’s make it practical.

Think of your money in two parts:

Safe money (low risk)

Growth money (higher risk)

Now, based on your profile:

Conservative:** 70% safe, 30% growth

Moderate:** 50% safe, 50% growth

Aggressive:** 20% safe, 80% growth

Safe = bonds, treasury bills

Growth = stocks, equity funds

You don’t have to be perfect. Just start.

My Final Thoughts

In Part 1, we talked about controlling your spending.

In Part 2, we talked about growing your money.

Now in Part 3, you understand **how to grow it the right way for you**.

Because the truth is this:

The best investment is not the one making the most noise.

It is the one you can stay committed to – even when things are not perfect.

‘Don’t invest based on noise – invest based on your nature. The right investment is the one you can stay with, even when the market is shaking.’

Now that you understand your risk appetite, let me ask you a simple question:

What have you done with it?

Because knowing your risk level is one thing.

Using it is another thing entirely.

Let me tell you about Chinedu.

After reading about risk profiles, Chinedu proudly declared, ‘Coach, I am an aggressive investor.’

He liked the sound of it. It felt bold. Confident. Powerful.

So he went ahead and put all his money into stocks.

No plan. No structure. No balance.

Just vibes and confidence.

A few months later, the market dipped.

And suddenly, ‘aggressive investor’ turned into

‘Coach, I’m scared o.’

Now, here’s the truth:

Your risk appetite is not a title. It is a guide.

And if you don’t use it properly, you can still make costly mistakes.

Step 1: Match Your Risk to Your Goals

Before you invest, ask yourself:

What is this money for?

Because not all money should be treated the same way.

Money for rent next year is not the same as money for retirement

Money for school fees is not the same as money you won’t touch for 10 years

As we say, *’Person wey wan cross river no go use same cloth go farm.’*

Short-term money (0-2 years):

Keep it safe. Don’t take unnecessary risk.

Medium-term money (3-5 years):

Mix safety with some growth.

Long-term money (5+ years):

This is where you can take more risk and aim for higher returns.

Step 2: Build Your Investment Structure

Now that you know your risk level, it’s time to organize your money.

Think of your investment like building a house. You need structure.

Break your money into three buckets:

1. Safety Bucket

This is your foundation.

* Emergency savings

* Treasury Bills

* Bonds

This money protects you when life happens.

2. Growth Bucket

This is where your wealth increases.

Stocks

Equity funds

Business investments

This is where your money works hard.

3. Opportunity Bucket

This is for calculated risks.

New ventures

Higher-risk investments

But be careful – this should not carry all your money.

Step 3: Start Where You Are (Not Where You Wish You Were)

Many people delay investing because they think:

‘I need big money first.’

That’s not true.

You can start with what you have.

Even if it’s small.

Even if it feels insignificant.

Because *’na small small wey dey full basket.’*

Consistency beats size every time.

?50,000 invested monthly will do more for you than waiting five years to invest ?5 million once.

Step 4: Automate Your Discipline

Let’s be honest – willpower is not always reliable.

So remove the stress.

Set up:

* Automatic transfers to your investment account

* Standing orders for savings

* Monthly investment routines

Make it difficult to ‘forget’ your future.

–

Step 5: Review, Don’t Panic

Your investments will go up and down.

That is normal.

Don’t behave like Kunle from Part 3 – checking your phone every minute.

Instead:

* Review monthly or quarterly

* Adjust when necessary

* Stay focused on your long-term goal

Remember, investing is not a sprint. It is a marathon.

–

Step 6: Protect Yourself First

Before you go deep into investing, ask yourself:

Do I have:

* Emergency savings?

* Insurance (health, life where necessary)?

Because one unexpected event can wipe out your investments if you are not prepared.

Protection first. Growth second.

My Final Thoughts

Now you know your risk appetite.

But knowledge without action is just comfort.

Real financial growth starts when you:

* Align your money with your goals

* Build structure

* Stay consistent

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about being conservative, moderate, or aggressive.

It’s about being intentional.

Kogi-born political activist, Comrade Usman Okai Austin, has expressed confidence that the INEC National Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, will ensure fairness to all parts of Kogi State in the creation of electoral wards.

Okai stated this in a statement he personally signed on Saturday, explaining that his initial concerns were based on information that did not indicate that the ward creation process could be initiated through requests and appeals from other parts of the state.

He, therefore, urged other regions in Kogi State to submit their applications and make their requests known to the commission.

Okai said Amupitan’s handling of the recently concluded Assembly restoration process demonstrated what he described as ‘fairness to the various senatorial districts in the state’.

He called on the INEC chairman to see himself as one of the leaders of Kogi State, assuring him of the support of stakeholders across Kogi East, Kogi Central and Kogi West.

According to him, Amupitan’s conduct during the recent Osun State election also demonstrated professionalism.

Okai also cited the INEC chairman’s handling of the crisis involving the African Democratic Congress as another indication of his professional approach.

He called on like-minded individuals to support Amupitan in the successful discharge of his responsibilities as INEC chairman.

Okai said fairness and equal consideration for all parts of Kogi would strengthen confidence in the electoral process.

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo, Olooye Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke, has extended hands of fellowship to all other aspirants that contested the party’s primary with him before his emergence to join him and the party to get victory in the governorship elections slated for February 2027.

Adegoke said he has not at any time been of the opinion that he can do it all alone, saying like the symbol of their party, the ADC, all hands must be joined and work together to win the elections next year.

Adegoke made this known while addressing the party leaders and members in Saki on Friday as part of his thank-You-Visit to Saki West; Saki East and Atisbo Federal Constituency.

The Oyo ADC governorship candidate revealed efforts he made after securing the party’s ticket to seek the cooperation of the fellow contestants, especially, Chief Bisi Ilaka, saying he called him on the phone asking him to join him in the task of winning the governorship race in Oyo State.

‘I want reconciliation so that we can move forward. Those who are angry should sheath their swords. They should let us work together, hand in hand like the symbol of our party.

‘Nobody can do it alone; we must work together to achieve victory. Let us talk to one another, and when we win, we will all enjoy the dividends of hard work.

‘I am saying this because when I won the governorship ticket, I didn’t just sit down as a candidate; I approached our leaders for reconciliation. I told them that we should work together, we should cooperate so that development will come to Oyo state.

‘ I am talking to people in our party and even in the other political parties to join hands with me as we go for the governorship elections in February next year,’ Adegoke said.

He also promised to repair minimum 10 township and inner roads in each of the 33 local government areas of Oyo State in his first 100 days in office.

Also speaking on the reconciliation, the ADC House of Representatives Candidate, Architect Bashiru Lawal, and the ADC Oyo North Senatorial Candidate, Dr Lanre Agoro, called for peace and unity within the party.

They spoke on the need to seek reconciliation, urging members and leaders not to engage in hostility but should seek peace with one another.

The duo also called on members to desist from attacking each other in the media, especially on social media, saying that in unity the party will secure victory in the forthcoming polls.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Oyo State ADC Chairman, Afees Jimoh, thanked the people of Saki for their support for the ADC.

He urged the ADC members and leaders in Saki to rally support for the party ahead of the next year’s general elections.

The ADC Chairman in Oyo State urged the supporters to begin a house-to-house campaign and called for mobilisation for all the candidates of the ADC in the forthcoming elections.

A coalition of northern civic groups has defended the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), against what it described as attempts to scapegoat and politically misrepresent him over his recent interview on Channels Television.

The groups, under the aegis of Citizens Support for Good Governance (CSGG) and the Arewa Concerned Citizens Forum (ACCF), said Musa should be judged based on his decades of military service, professional record and commitment to national unity rather than what they described as narrow interpretations of his comments.

The position was contained in a joint statement issued in Kaduna and signed by the Convener of CSGG, Dr Olumide Olayinka Adeosun, and the President of ACCF, Comrade Hamis Danbaba Malumfashi.

The coalition said attempts to portray Musa as acting out of political ambition overlooked his long career in the Nigerian military, during which he held several critical command and operational positions.

Before his appointment to political leadership, Musa served as Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East and was later appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Reacting to the controversial Channels Television interview, CSGG and ACCF acknowledged that the minister’s comments were frank, particularly his views on Nigeria’s security situation, the political environment and historical developments in Kaduna State.

During the interview, Musa criticised aspects of the administration of former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that certain policies contributed to societal division in the state.

He, however, commended the efforts of the incumbent governor, Senator Uba Sani, towards promoting reconciliation and social cohesion.

The coalition cautioned against interpreting Musa’s comments as a personal vendetta against El-Rufai, noting that the minister used the term ‘misguided’ in describing the governance approach and instead advocated political leadership that promotes unity rather than division.

It urged Nigerians to subject the claims made during the interview to available evidence instead of accepting or dismissing them based solely on the identity of the person who made them.

According to the statement, Musa was referring to publicly available interviews, speeches and videos in which El-Rufai himself discussed his administration’s security policies.

The groups therefore called on journalists and commentators to examine the original materials, verify the statements and consider their full context before reaching conclusions.

At the same time, CSGG and ACCF cautioned against treating allegations involving serious wrongdoing, including claims of deliberate involvement in killings, as established facts without appropriate investigation or formal judicial proceedings.

The coalition also recalled that when President Tinubu nominated Musa as Minister of Defence in December 2025, he explicitly acknowledged his extensive military experience and distinguished service at the highest levels of Nigeria’s defence architecture.

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Abibat (by SMS)

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