Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) said yesterday that it is going ahead with the unveiling of the membership of its Presidential Campaign Council tomorrow.

The announcement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary Osa Director came amid reports of internal tension over the composition of the council.

National leader of NDC Senator Seriake Dickson and the presidential candidate Mr.Peter Obi were said to have held divergent views on some of the names proposed by the former Anambra State governor as members of the campaign council.

The disagreement according to party sources was largely responsible for the delay in releasing the list of the council members.

It was originally scheduled for release last Tuesday only for the party to announce a postponement sparking speculations in the political circle.

Seriake and Obi subsequently travelled out of the country.

However Seriake said on his X handle late Friday that he had returned to Nigeria and ‘received our Presidential Candidate His Excellency Peter Obi CON who paid me a visit.’

He added: ‘I also received the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation His Excellency Engr. Babachir Lawal a senior member and leader of our great party the NDC. Together we held very fruitful discussions on the state of the party particularly our readiness for the 2027 general elections.

‘We were later joined by the National Chairman Senator Moses Cleopas who came with members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of our party.

‘I later held another meeting with the NWC with Babachir in attendance.

‘The Chairman and the NWC briefed us on preparations for the official unveiling and inauguration of our National Campaign Council scheduled for Monday.’

In a separate statement yesterday spokesman of the party Osa Director said the Monday event would also feature the presentation of the party’s statement of account at the third National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

He said the presentation of its financial statement by the National Treasurer would demonstrate its commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of party finances.

He challenged other political parties particularly the ruling APC to adopt similar measures to promote openness in their financial affairs.

‘For the NDC it is no longer politics as usual’ the statement said.

Obi/Kwankwaso supporters defy party over campaign account

However supporters of Obi and his running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso are adamant in running their own account separate from the party’s.

Obi’s supporter Aisha Yesufu confirmed this much on her X handle @AishaYesufu yesterday.

She narrated how she directed that a gift of $10000 she received ‘in the course of my work for the campaign ‘ be paid into an account bearing the name Obikwankwaso 2027.

Her words:’ As a Muslim any gift received in the course of your work does not belong to you. It belongs to your organization. In the course of my work for the campaign I was gifted $10000 (ten thousand USD) and I have directed that the amount be paid into the ObiKwankwaso2027 account.’

Speaking on the composition of the NDC national campaign council a party source said the handling of the council’s composition had raised concerns about transparency consultation and the distribution of authority within the party.

The source claimed that Dickson had indicated he would personally review the lists submitted for the council and determine who would occupy the various positions.

The allegations however have not been independently established and the party has denied that the delay reflects an internal disagreement.

On Friday Osa Director dismissed as untrue speculations about infighting over the composition of the council.

‘Our Presidential Campaign Council will be inaugurated on October 26’ he said.

‘If we have not yet constituted the council you cannot expect us to inaugurate it. I don’t think the speculation is coming from our party secretariat.’

He added: ‘We can say that we are saving the best for last. It will happen on October 26.’

Asked directly whether there was a disagreement within the party the spokesman responded: ‘No issue whatsoever.’

The contrasting accounts have drawn attention to the challenges confronting the NDC as it prepares to organise a national campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The controversy over the campaign council emerged publicly in September when the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement a support organisation mobilising for Obi and his running mate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso announced a 59-member presidential campaign council.

The move prompted objections from the NDC leadership which maintained that the responsibility for establishing an official presidential campaign structure rested with the party rather than an independent support group.

The dispute raised a fundamental question about the relationship between the party’s formal structures and the political movements supporting its candidates.

Obi’s political following extends beyond the membership of any single party while Kwankwaso also brings an established political network and support base.

Integrating these constituencies into a coordinated campaign requires agreement on leadership appointments responsibilities and the chain of command.

The earlier disagreement over the support group’s campaign structure therefore provided the background against which the subsequent delay in constituting the official council has been interpreted.

However the existence of disagreements over campaign arrangements does not in itself establish a personal confrontation between Obi and Dickson.

A source familiar with the discussions expressed concern about the process for constituting the campaign council alleging that the party leadership had not adequately communicated the progress of deliberations to some supporters.

‘The truth is that the national leader is not transparent when it comes to this composition of the campaign council. He said he will personally compare the lists’ the source said.

The source also questioned the handling of meetings concerning the council arguing that party members should have greater clarity about the agenda and the outcome of discussions.

‘Usually they are supposed to put the agenda before the meeting. Although they have said those of us who are devotees should not be in attendance we are on the platform together’ the source said.

The source complained that attempts to obtain information about discussions had not yielded satisfactory answers.

‘You said the agenda will be disclosed at the meeting. Then when they come back I try to ask ‘What did you discuss?’ They will not tell me. You can imagine the way-how do you operate like that?’ the source said.

The source questioned whether such an approach was consistent with the operation of a political party with established organs including a National Working Committee (NWC).

‘If you said we are one party NWC and all of that then you can’t disclose what you have gone to discuss?’ the source asked.

The allegations point to possible dissatisfaction among some party supporters over their access to information and the degree of consultation in decisions affecting the campaign.

They do not however establish that the NWC has been excluded from the process or that the party’s formal decision-making procedures have been breached.

The source’s principal concern was the reported division of responsibilities between the party leadership and the two principal candidates.

According to the source Dickson had indicated that Obi and Kwankwaso would be invited to make inputs into the proposed composition of the council but that he would ultimately determine who occupied the different positions.

‘The national leader said he has asked the presidential candidate to bring an input. He has also asked Kwankwaso to bring an input. But that he would decide who takes what position’ the source said.

Questioning the arrangement the source added: ‘How can you do that? One man alone?’

The account raises questions about how the NDC intends to balance the authority of its national leadership with the candidates’ expectations regarding the people who will manage their campaigns.

The council is expected to play a central role in campaign strategy communications mobilisation finance and coordination across the country. Its composition is therefore a significant organisational decision for the party.

Obi and Kwankwaso would need to work with the officials responsible for translating their political programmes into a coordinated national campaign while the party leadership would be expected to maintain organisational discipline and ensure that the campaign operates within the party’s structures.

How these responsibilities are shared could influence the working relationship between the candidates and the party’s leadership.

Members of the League of Veteran Journalists have joined eminent Nigerians and people all over the world in mourning the passing into glory of the Leader of Afenifere and Asiwaju of Yoruba Chief Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti OFR CFR.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Chairman League of Veteran Journalists Banji Ogundele.

The group said it was delighted to note that Chief Fasoranti both in his private and public life spent a century on earth without a stain on his name adding that ‘His character had no blemish.’

The group said further that besides being a man of integrity the centenarian was a study in how to handle personal vicissitudes of life as he bore personal tragedies such as the demise of his wife and the painful circumstance of the murder of his daughter with equanimity and stoic grace.

Part of the statement reads:

‘We recall that long before he became a moral compass of the South-West Chief Fasoranti was a builder of minds as he deployed the power of education to empower people. A man who in his personal and public life exemplified self-discipline honesty and moral rectitude ardently demonstrated the finest _Omoluabi_ ethos of moral cultural and democratic values. Thus through personal examples he imparted discipline knowledge and moral rectitude to generations of leaders in the finest tradition of his hero and mentor Chief Obafemi Awolowo GCFR SAN.’

Besides his noble achievements in the field of education the veterans noted the late Afenifere leader’s commitment during the struggle spearheaded by the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) for the restoration of the June 12.

The presidential election was remarkable as he survived targeted assassination attempts by regime gangsters.

‘In the face of all these he never wavered never bent and never compromised on his vision of impacting positively on society realising a better deal for the people as well as participating in activities meant to institutionalise true federalism and justice for all Nigerians.

‘The League extends its deep condolences to the Fasoranti family the Akure Kingdom Government and people of Ondo State Afenifere family worldwide the Yoruba people and all lovers of democracy in Nigeria.

‘May the soul of Asiwaju Yoruba rest in peace’ the group concluded.

Chairman of Akure South Local Government in Ondo State Dr. Gbenga Fasua has put a lie to a raging rumour that the council’s newly built shop complex in Mojere Market Akure is only available to moneybags.

The chairman issued the clarification on Friday on the heels of insinuations that the 80-shop complex is being leased out at N25 million per stall for a period of 35 years.

Debunking the rumour the chairman said ‘Our administration has embarked on building modern structures in markets across the local government area and we have successfully achieved that in Mojere Market in the popular Ilesha Garage area.

‘The job was given to developers with an arrangement that they would let out a part of the building while the local council will let out the other part.

‘While it is understandable that the developers could hike the rent fees for the stalls alloted to them rest assured that my administration is there engaging them on your behalf to reduce their rent charges.

‘But as for the stalls being rented out by Akure South Local Government all can testify to it that they are up for rent at rock-bottom rates.’

Fasua who is also the chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria Chairmen in Ondo State noted that all the local councils in Ondo State operate a common template of providing amenities to ease the suffering of the masses and that the idea of building affordable market stalls and complexes was one of such.

‘We are all guided by the ‘OUR EASE’ Agenda of our masses-friendly governor Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa in embarking on physical projects that impact positively on our people and this idea of reconstructing hitherto rickety and dilapidated market structures is one of it’ the council boss explained.

He disclosed that the second phase of the Mojere Market’s modern complex was about to take off to accommodate the area’s teeming population of traders.

‘In the same vein a similar shop complex is due to take off at the popular NEPA market in Akure with determination to cover the other market squares in due course’ he assured.

Meanwhile the council chairman enthused that the popular Erekesan Market in Akure has now been restored after its developers had spent out their 20-year lease on hold thus signalling a new lease of life to the local traders.

His administration he said will review the rent regime in the market with a view to introducing affordable rents.

Dr. Fasua particularly thanked Governor Aiyedatiwa for the free-hand and encouragement given to local administrations in the state on timely deliverance of dividends of democracy to the people.

The Kebbi State Government has rejected claims that the state lacks national media visibility calling an article by Abba Anwar flawed unverified and contradictory.

In a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday the Special Adviser to Governor Nasir Idris on Public Enlightenment and Orientation Ibrahim Jambale said Anwar’s article titled ‘Kebbi: The Performing State Nobody Sees’ acknowledged the governor’s performance but questioned the competence of his media aides.

Jambale questioned how the writer could catalogue the administration’s achievements while simultaneously describing its communication machinery as ineffective.

He also faulted the article’s claim that Kebbi ranked 31st in media visibility with less than 0.9 per cent share of voice arguing that the figures were presented without a credible methodology sample size or verifiable sources.

‘A statistic does not become credible merely because it is expressed in percentages. If the writer conducted a genuine media audit he should publish the methodology for public scrutiny’ he said.

The special adviser argued that media prominence should not be confused with governance performance which he said should be assessed through outcomes in education healthcare infrastructure agriculture and security.

He maintained that the governor’s media team had taken deliberate steps to improve the state’s national profile including visits to major media organisations and engagements with editorial and management teams.

According to him the engagements led to retainer arrangements for sustained coverage with Channels Television TVC the Nigerian Television Authority and Third Eye Africa with the governor’s approval.

On reports about insecurity Jambale said media organisations operated independently and could not be expected to suppress security-related stories to promote a preferred narrative.

He also described attempts to link the location of national television stations’ bureaux to the competence of the governor’s press office as misleading.

The government further rejected the suggestion that low media visibility would cost Kebbi investment arguing that investors consider factors such as infrastructure security market access and expected returns not publicity alone.

While acknowledging the need for continuous improvement Jambale said the pursuit of greater visibility should not be turned into an accusation of wholesale professional failure.

‘Kebbi is not invisible. Its development story is being communicated its media engagement is evolving and it deserves to be evaluated through verifiable evidence rather than sweeping generalisations’ the statement said.

The Kautal Pulaaku Fulbe Association of Nigeria under the Confederation of Pastoralist NGOs (CONPA) has urged the Federal Government to protect and fund Nigeria’s ?30 trillion livestock sector and to immediately end the dangerous ethnic profiling of Fulani pastoralists.

The demand was made in Abuja on Sunday by the President of Kautal Pulaaku Dr. Huseini Buzaye at a press conference attended by the association’s General Secretary Abdullahi Ardo.

Speaking on behalf of more than 30 pastoralist organisations representing millions of herders across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ardo emphasised that livestock production is a vital pillar of national food security and economic prosperity that can no longer be neglected.

Commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development after 60 years of agitation the group expressed concern about the ministry’s lack of operational funding and grassroots presence.

‘Livestock is a N30 trillion economy. It cannot be treated with levity’ Ardo warned appealing for the ministry to be fully activated at the community level to realise its core mandate.

To unlock the sector’s full value the group called on President Tinubu and the National Assembly to implement three critical policy measures. These include allocating at least 30 per cent of the national agricultural budget to the Ministry of Livestock Development immediately gazetting all 417 existing grazing reserves across the country and launching pilot ranches and commercial fodder production schemes across all six geopolitical zones.

‘We are Nigerians. We are pastoralists. We are not bandits. We love this country. Our cattle feed this nation’ Ardo stressed highlighting the sector’s central role in feeding the population and sustaining millions of rural livelihoods.

Alongside economic reforms the leadership decried the ongoing criminalisation of pastoralists which they warned fuels jungle justice hate speech and extrajudicial killings of innocent herders women and children.

‘For too long the word ‘Fulani Pastoralist’ has been profiled and criminalised as synonymous with banditry kidnapping and terrorism’ the address stated.

‘We condemn in totality all forms of banditry and criminality. Criminals are criminals and have no tribe. We call on security agencies and the media to stop ethnic profiling but arrest and prosecute criminals as individuals not as an ethnic group. An entire community cannot be punished for the sins of a few.’

Highlighting recent unprovoked attacks in Plateau Niger Sokoto Kebbi Zamfara and other states the group reported that hundreds of pastoralists have been killed thousands of cattle have been rustled and entire Rugas have been burnt down with little media coverage compensation or security protection.

Pointing out that a decade of farmer-herder conflicts has claimed over 20000 lives and cannot be resolved by military action alone the coalition called on President Tinubu to declare a National Dialogue and Reconciliation involving Miyetti Allah traditional rulers CAN JNI security agencies and state governments.

At the same time the leadership urged pastoralist communities to take internal responsibility by respecting farmers’ property preventing cattle from encroaching on farmland exposing criminal elements and informants within their ranks and prioritising their children’s education.

‘We are Nigerians. We are pastoralists. We are not bandits. We love this country. Our cattle feed this nation’ Ardo stressed announcing that the coalition will launch a nationwide sensitisation campaign across all six geopolitical zones.

The group then called for collaborative action among stakeholders advocating ‘justice without discrimination security without exclusion development without marginalisation and peaceful coexistence based on mutual respect and the rule of law.’

‘Let us replace suspicion with dialogue conflict with cooperation poverty with opportunity and exclusion with inclusive national development.’

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have been recognised among the best-performing federal agencies under President Bola Tinubu’s administration in an assessment conducted by a coalition of civil society organisations.

Participants discussed the assessment at a roundtable in Lagos where they examined the performance of selected ministries departments and agencies (MDAs) focusing on transparency accountability institutional efficiency and service delivery.

The BPP led by its Director-General Dr Adebowale Adedokun was recognised for procurement reforms that reportedly saved the Federal Government approximately N1.1 trillion in 2025.

According to the assessment the reported savings highlight the role of procurement regulation in controlling costs reducing waste and improving the use of public funds.

The bureau’s initiatives include price intelligence and cost benchmarking measures designed to help government agencies compare contract estimates with prevailing market prices.

Other measures highlighted in the assessment include digitising procurement processes revising Standard Bidding Documents updating procurement guidelines and developing electronic procurement systems.

The BPP has also pursued a National Debarment Policy targeting contractors involved in serious misconduct alongside training and certification programmes for procurement officers.

The coalition noted that effective procurement oversight could reduce corruption risks promote competition and ensure public spending delivers value for money.

The ICPC was also recognised for its mandate to investigate corruption-related offences enforce relevant laws and promote preventive measures within public institutions.

The commission’s responsibilities include addressing abuse of office protecting public resources and promoting ethical conduct in government agencies.

The assessment highlighted the importance of oversight in public procurement where weak controls and corrupt practices can expose government funds to losses.

Participants also stressed the need for sustained anti-corruption efforts credible investigations effective enforcement and stronger cooperation among regulatory agencies law enforcement institutions and civil society groups.

Beyond the two agencies’ performance the roundtable examined how government institutions could demonstrate measurable improvements in public service delivery.

Participants said agencies should be assessed not only on the policies they introduce and the activities they undertake but also on their impact on citizens and the efficient use of public resources.

They called for continuous independent monitoring of government agencies arguing that regular assessments could identify effective practices address institutional weaknesses and encourage reforms.

The coalition also stressed the need for the BPP to sustain its reported procurement savings through stronger regulatory enforcement improved project monitoring wider adoption of digital systems and professional development.

It noted that lower contract costs should translate into quality projects and tangible benefits for Nigerians.

For the ICPC participants emphasised the importance of preventive measures credible enforcement and institutional collaboration in strengthening public confidence in anti-corruption efforts.

The coalition said continued engagement between civil society organisations and public institutions would be important in promoting accountability protecting public resources and improving governance.

Top politician and Deputy Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council in Ondo State Dr. Olumuyiwa Sylvester Adu has commiserated with the people of Ondo State and the entire Yorubaland on the death of leader of Pa Reuben Fasoranti leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere.

In his condolence message Adu popularly known as Adu Cubana eulogised the late Afenifere leader describing his contributions to political growth and democratic advancement in Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole as unquantifiable.

Adu Cubana recalled Fasoranti’s role during the turbulent period of military dictatorship noting that he remained fearless refused to be cowed and was at the forefront of the pro-democracy struggle through the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).

His words: ‘Pa Fasoranti was principle personified and fearless always standing with justice and the truth.

‘He refused to be cowed and was at the forefront of the struggles along with other patriots like the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin former Governor of Ondo State; the late Pa Alfred Rewane; the late Pa Abraham Adesanya; now President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and others to restore democracy.’

Adu described Fasoranti’s political style as principled and uncompromising stressing that the late Afenifere ‘believed in due process and the rule of law.’

He described Fasoranti’s life as a blessing to generations who benefited from his wisdom guidance and leadership noting that Ondo State was fortunate to have had him as a leader whom politicians turned to for counsel and direction particularly during periods of political turbulence.

‘We cherish his years of glowing contributions to our socio-political and economic well-being as a people; much more pleased that he lived to the rare ripe age of 100.

‘He will be sorely missed’ says Adu Cubana.

Adu Cubana noted that Fasoranti’s death should be seen as a celebration of a fulfilled life rather than an occasion for mourning.

The Federal Government said Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy will largely depend on its ability to transform small businesses into large enterprises that create jobs attract investment and compete in international markets.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Taiwo Oyedele said small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remained central to the country’s economic development because they sustain millions of livelihoods provide employment and support activities across different sectors.

Oyedele represented at the fourth edition of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) Prize for Innovation in Abuja on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Investments Marie Ukpere said the country must create an environment in which small businesses could grow into medium-sized enterprises medium-sized businesses could become large companies and Nigerian firms could compete across Africa and the world.

He said ‘Our mission to build a trillion-dollar economy will depend in no small measure on our ability to help small businesses become medium-sized enterprises medium-sized enterprises become large companies and Nigerian companies become competitive players across Africa and the world.’

The Minister said that although investment in infrastructure industrialisation and fiscal stability remained important government priorities the economy’s strength ultimately depended on businesses that produced goods provided services employed people and created opportunities.

He described SMEs as the backbone of the economy adding that their capacity to innovate increase production and reach new markets would be critical to Nigeria’s long-term growth.

The NSIA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Aminu Umar-Sadiq said supporting small businesses was a core part of the authority’s investment strategy alongside its infrastructure investments.

He said the authority had supported SME development through initiatives including the Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria the Development Bank of Nigeria and the NSIA Prize for Innovation.

‘Without SMEs you have no job creation. Without SMEs you are unable to actually grow economically’ Umar-Sadiq said.

He explained that the innovation prize was designed to give Nigerian entrepreneurs the education equity funding and exposure they need to turn their ideas into sustainable businesses.

The programme’s fourth edition featured 12 finalists selected through a competitive process. The entrepreneurs were expected to present their innovations to judges and demonstrate how their businesses could address economic and social challenges while building commercially viable enterprises.

The Minister said the government recognised that many promising businesses struggled to expand because they could not obtain the financing skills and institutional support needed to grow.

He outlined several government interventions intended to address the challenges including the Development Bank of Nigeria the National Credit Guarantee Company (NCGC) and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CrediCorp).

He said the NCGC is designed to reduce lenders’ risks and encourage financial institutions to provide more credit to small businesses and manufacturers.

CrediCorp he said was working to expand access to responsible consumer credit strengthen purchasing power and support domestic demand.

The Minister also cited the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises programme which he described as a $618 million intervention to give businesses in Nigeria’s technology and creative sectors access to finance skills development and business support.

He said the NSIA had played an important role in establishing the Development Bank of Nigeria and the NCGC.

Beyond these interventions the government is looking to expand access to investment capital for businesses with strong growth potential.

Oyedele said the NSIA was anchoring venture capital funds to mobilise institutional investment into promising Nigerian enterprises.

He also said the authority was developing an impact innovation fund in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and British International Investment expressed interest in participating.

The proposed fund is expected to support commercially viable businesses that address key economic and development challenges.

The Minister said entrepreneurs often need more than conventional loans to expand noting that patient capital experienced investment partners and access to networks are also necessary for companies seeking to enter new markets.

He described the NSIA Prize for Innovation as an important platform for preparing businesses for growth by allowing entrepreneurs to test their ideas demonstrate commercial viability and engage with experienced investors.

Oyedele noted that the programme’s focus on viable businesses was particularly important for young Nigerians seeking opportunities to build enterprises rather than depend solely on available jobs.

He said government had a responsibility to create conditions that would allow young people to establish businesses develop new industries and employ others.

The Minister stated that the programme placed commercial viability and the ability to execute business plans at the centre of its selection process.

‘The real measure of your success will not be the prize you receive today. It will be the businesses you go on to do afterwards’ he told the finalists.

He expressed hope that some of the businesses represented at the event would grow into major companies that employ thousands of Nigerians attract significant investment and develop solutions for markets across Africa.

Taiwo Oyedele urged the entrepreneurs to remain ambitious disciplined and committed to building their businesses regardless of the competition’s outcome.

The Managing Director of the NSIA Aminu Umar-Sadiq said the programme’s support went beyond the financial rewards available to the finalists.

He put the equity support at about $350000 and said entrepreneurs had access to accelerator programmes designed to strengthen their ideas and business models.

According to him the support process began with the top 200 applicants who could participate in accelerator programmes before the selection narrowed to the finalists.

He said the top 12 would also undertake a six-week learning programme at Lagos Business School after the demo day.

Strategic partners including Wema Bank Pula and Cascador had also provided additional prizes and support for selected entrepreneurs.

Umar-Sadiq described the programme’s approach as ‘education equity and exposure’ saying the combination was intended to prepare businesses for expansion and help them attract further investment.

He said the programme had evolved over four years with more strategic partners participating and a stronger focus on reaching more entrepreneurs.

The NSIA chief added that the authority would continue working with businesses after providing investment to improve their operations and growth prospects.

He said the authority worked with the management teams of supported companies to strengthen their business propositions improve governance and expand demand for their products.

‘This is really the beginning of the journey’ he said adding that the value-creation process could eventually produce future unicorns or companies valued at $1 billion or more.

He cited Money Africa and Sycamore among previous beneficiaries whose businesses had continued to perform well.

However he cautioned that the success of such programmes should not be judged only by results recorded within one or two years.

He said a medium-to-long-term view including about five years was needed to assess whether businesses had achieved the expected scale.

Meanwhile Dr Abdu Mukhtar National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) said Nigeria’s healthcare sector offered substantial opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors.

He estimated the addressable market across the healthcare value chain at about $20 billion and cited International Finance Corporation figures indicating that approximately 250000 SMEs were already operating in the sector.

Mukhtar said opportunities existed beyond hospitals covering pharmaceuticals clinical research medical devices telemedicine digital health and healthcare logistics.

The PVAC boss urged entrepreneurs to build businesses that generate profits while improving healthcare delivery and access to affordable services.

He said the sector’s impact should be measured not only by financial returns but also by the lives saved diseases prevented maternal deaths reduced children brought out of malnutrition and jobs created.

Mukhtar added that the healthcare initiative was ready to work with entrepreneurs to make the sector more attractive to investment and support innovative solutions to the country’s healthcare challenges.

The founder and Chief Executive Officer of ReelFruit Affiong Williams who served as lead judge urged the finalists to build businesses around customers’ needs rather than concentrating only on the novelty of their products.

Drawing on her 14 years of experience building the dried-fruit manufacturing business she said entrepreneurs must understand what customers want and what they are willing to pay for.

She explained that it was easier to expand a business offering products that people wanted than to develop a product and then struggle to persuade customers to buy it.

Williams also advised entrepreneurs to build strong reputations demonstrate commitment and prepare their businesses to meet investors’ expectations.

The ReelFruit founder said she had raised more than $7 million over the years from individuals and institutions attributing her fundraising experience to preparation resilience a strong track record and the relationships she had built.

She urged entrepreneurs to develop networks of investors advisers and business leaders who could help them improve their businesses and identify opportunities for expansion.

Affiong Williams also advised them to remain resilient in the face of economic pressures currency movements policy changes and other challenges associated with operating in Nigeria.

Recalling her own experience she said she had faced rejection when seeking business support but continued pursuing other opportunities until she achieved success.

She urged the finalists not to regard the competition as their only opportunity to secure support describing their selection as an important step in their entrepreneurial journey.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial candidate in Ogun Central Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo has declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election and dismissed reports linking her to a purported political alliance with the Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Democratic Congress (NNPP) Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 general elections.

She described the report of an alliance with Obi as false saying she had never met Obi for political discussions and had not entered into any arrangement with him over a proposed cross-party voting strategy.

Her clarification followed a social media post attributed to the blog Very Nigerian which claimed a political arrangement tagged the ‘Rainbow Coalition’ was emerging in Ogun Central with the former Senator allegedly considering endorsing Obi.

But Obasanjo in a swift response said her support for Tinubu stemmed from her longstanding political relationship with the President and the respect he had consistently shown her.

She said ‘I have never met Obi for any political discussions ever.’

‘I am supporting Tinubu because I know him best of all the presidential candidates as a much senior politician and he has always treated me with respect.’

The Iyabo Obasanjo Senatorial Campaign Organisation also rejected the alleged alliance calling the publication fabricated and accusing its promoters of trying to mislead voters and create confusion within the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson Peter Macjob the campaign organisation maintained that Obasanjo and Obi had held no meetings consultations or agreements regarding the alleged coalition.

It further insisted that Obasanjo remained the duly cleared PDP senatorial candidate for Ogun Central and was concentrating on her campaign to return to the National Assembly.

The organisation urged voters and media organisations to disregard the report calling for political discussions to focus on candidates’ records policy proposals and capacity to deliver effective representation rather than unsubstantiated claims of secret alliances.

It said the campaign’s priority was to mobilise support across Ogun Central and convince constituents that Obasanjo’s return to the Senate would advance grassroots development and improve representation.

Obasanjo a former Senator representing Ogun Central is seeking a return to the National Assembly as political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Her declaration of support for Tinubu while retaining her PDP senatorial candidacy highlights the distinction between her stated presidential preference and her ambition to contest the Ogun Central seat under the opposition party.

However the campaign organisation reiterated its call for issue-based politics urging the electorate to assess candidates on their individual merits programmes and ability to address their constituents’ concerns.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) will unveil its National Campaign Council (NCC) and present its statement of account at its third National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday.

In a statement from its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the party said it would hold the meeting at JD Event Centre, Kashim Ibrahim Way, opposite A-Class Park, Maitama, Abuja, by 10 am.

The party said the National Treasurer’s presentation of its financial statement would demonstrate its commitment to transparency and accountability in managing party finances.

It also challenged other political parties, particularly the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to adopt similar measures to promote openness in their financial affairs.

‘For the NDC, it is no longer politics as usual,’ the statement said.

The party, however, attributed its inability to raise more funds to the country’s economic hardship, claiming that about 80 per cent of its candidates could not afford the expression of interest forms.

According to the statement, the party had to provide the forms free of charge to the affected candidates.

The NDC also said the NEC meeting would unveil its National Campaign Council, which it described as an all-encompassing structure covering presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and state House of Assembly campaigns.

The party added that it would present candidates contesting various elective positions with their respective Certificates of Return.

Expressing confidence in its preparedness for the political contest, the NDC said it was ready to offer Nigerians what it described as altruistic leadership.

‘A New Nigeria is possible. We can do it!’ the party declared.