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Cross River Governor Bassey Otu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, assuring young people of sustained investment in skills acquisition and opportunities for economic advancement.

Otu gave the assurance through the Deputy Speaker of Cross River Assembly, Hon. Sylvester Agabi, who represented him at a youth training and empowerment programme where 4,500 youths were trained in various vocational and emerging skills.

The Governor said his administration had recorded significant progress in its first three years but acknowledged that more remained to be done, assuring Cross Riverians that areas yet to benefit from government interventions would be reached as the administration continued to spread development across the state.

He said young people remained critical stakeholders in Cross River’s development, pledging to deepen government’s partnership with the youth and create more opportunities for them to acquire relevant skills, become self-reliant and contribute to economic growth.

Otu commended the organisers for training 4,500 youths, describing the initiative as an important investment in the future of the state. He also appreciated government officials and agencies involved in the programme, particularly the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development and Mobilisation, Dr. Julius Kijuo, for coordinating the initiative.

‘Today, we have about 4,500 youths trained in different skills. That is wonderful, and we intend to do more,’ the governor said, adding that his administration would continue to support initiatives that equip young people for productive engagement.

The training covered digital marketing and entrepreneurship, welding, fabrication, electrical installation, robotics, drone technology and artificial intelligence, providing beneficiaries with practical competencies relevant to both traditional trades and emerging sectors.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development and Mobilisation, Dr. Julius Kijuo said the programme was designed to give young people practical skills capable of providing sustainable livelihoods, rather than temporary assistance, stressing that access to opportunity could transform the prospects of youths from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Kijuo, who drew from his personal experience of hardship, said many young people had struggled with poverty and limited opportunities, but noted that the training demonstrated that their circumstances did not have to determine their future.

He expressed appreciation to Governor Otu and his wife for supporting youth-focused initiatives, saying the administration had invested in skills, dignity and opportunities capable of helping young people build sustainable futures.

Kijuo urged beneficiaries to put their newly acquired skills to productive use, saying their competencies could drive entrepreneurship, employment creation and economic development while demonstrating that young Cross Riverians could compete effectively in the evolving global economy.

The security and intelligence agencies got yesterday a matching order from the President for an immediate and coordinated operation to rescue victims of the recent mass abduction in Niger State.

They were also directed to ensure all those taken captive are accounted for.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant security and intelligence agencies to work together to secure the release of the victims.

Tinubu, who expressed outrage over the abduction and killing of innocent citizens by criminal elements in the state, also ordered the Service Chiefs to provide him with regular briefings on the progress of the rescue operation until all those abducted are accounted for.

The presidential directive followed attacks on several communities in the remote Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, during which scores of residents were abducted, including worshippers attending Friday prayers at a mosque in Kpenya village.

Borgu Local Government Chairman, Abdullahi Mohammed Nasir, said at least 60 people were kidnapped in the attacks, while an unspecified number of residents sustained gunshot injuries as they attempted to escape from the assailants.

Residents had put the number of those abducted at between 60 and 80, although the police did not immediately provide an official figure.

Niger State Police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, said the gunmen attacked the mosque in Kpenya after raiding a string of villages in Borgu on Friday.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu described the perpetrators as enemies of peace and humanity and vowed that they would be brought to justice.

‘Those who carried out this cowardly attack on defenceless Nigerians are enemies of peace and enemies of humanity, who will not go scot-free’, the President said.

He condoled with the families of those killed in the attack and assured relatives of the abducted victims that the Federal Government would deploy the necessary resources to secure the safe return of their loved ones.

‘I extend my deepest condolences to the families of those who were killed in this barbaric assault and pray that Almighty God grant them eternal rest, and grant their loved ones the fortitude to bear this painful loss.

‘You are not alone. The entire nation shares your anguish. We will not rest until your sons, daughters, mothers and fathers are brought back safely to you’, Tinubu said.

The President said the attack would not weaken the government’s resolve to confront terrorism and other forms of criminality threatening communities across the country.

‘Terror will not cow Nigeria. We will defend our people, protect our communities, and uphold the sanctity of human life’, he declared.

Tinubu also assured the Niger State Government of the Federal Government’s full support in responding to the attack, including assistance for recovery and relief efforts as well as reinforcement of security in affected communities.

‘My prayers are with the people of Niger State at this difficult time. The Federal Government stands firmly with the state government and will provide all necessary support to aid recovery, relief, and security reinforcement’, the President said.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPR) has arrested at least 10 suspected criminals and recovered firearms, a stolen Lexus SUV, mobile phones, laptops, cattle, and other valuables in separate operations across several states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The operations, carried out between August 22 and 25, also prompted coordinated search and rescue efforts for victims of kidnapping in Oyo, FCT, Bauchi, and Zamfara states.

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in the State-by-State Executive Summary of the Force’s operational successes for August 26, 2026, issued from the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

In Oyo State, police operatives arrested two suspected members of a trans-border armed robbery syndicate allegedly involved in the theft of exotic vehicles across Kwara and Oyo states.

According to the statement, intelligence led operatives to deploy along the Ibadan-Ilorin Expressway to arrest the suspects after intercepting a stolen Lexus RX 350.

The suspects reportedly abandoned the vehicle and fled into the bush, but a sustained pursuit led to the arrest of Adewale Abiola, 33, and Kabiru Abobarin, 36, also known as KB.

Police recovered the stolen Lexus, four HP laptops, an iPhone 15 Pro Max, seven wristwatches, and jewellery belonging to the victim.

The State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Ibadan is investigating the case.

In Akwa Ibom State, five suspected armed robbers were arrested by detectives of the Eagle Response Squad following an investigation into an armed robbery.

The suspects were reportedly identified through CCTV footage and confessed to the crime.

Two locally-made pistols and two shirts allegedly worn during the operation were recovered.

Similarly, in Ekiti State, three suspected cultists were arrested following an attack by armed hoodlums in Ijadu Community.

Police operatives who responded to the incident engaged the attackers and arrested three suspects, recovering a locally-made single-barrel gun, an axe, an expended cartridge shell, charms, and other exhibits.

The police said efforts were ongoing to arrest fleeing members of the group, including its alleged leader.

In Lagos State, a suspected armed robber was arrested at Alakija after police operatives responding to a distress call during a stop-and-search operation apprehended the suspect.

A prototype short gun, two suspected stolen Android phones, cash and other exhibits were recovered, while efforts continued to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.

In Gombe State, police responding to an armed robbery in Pata, Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area, recovered two stolen cows from a bush at Daban Magarya Village, Balanga LGA.

The victim reportedly sustained fatal injuries.

Police said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and recover a stolen motorcycle.

In the FCT, police recovered an abandoned Toyota Prado Jeep at a car wash in Mpape after an unidentified person left the vehicle there and failed to return for it.

The vehicle was photographed, recovered, and towed to the police station for safe custody and further investigation.

Meanwhile, the Police Force said it had activated joint search and rescue operations following separate kidnapping incidents in Oyo, FCT, Bauchi, and Zamfara states.

In Oyo State, police operatives, Amotekun Corps members, vigilantes, and local hunters mobilised following the abduction of a resident at Taaju Settlement, Iseyin.

The Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad subsequently reinforced the operation, with intensive bush-combing underway to locate and rescue the victim.

In the FCT, police operatives and local vigilantes launched a joint tracking operation following the abduction of a 51-year-old man at Bobota Village, Kwali.

Three empty K-2 ammunition shells were recovered from the scene as security personnel intensified efforts to track the victim’s mobile phone, rescue him and arrest the abductors.

Also in Bauchi State, police operatives from the relevant division and the Anti-Kidnapping Unit mobilised after a woman was abducted from her residence at Lamba Village, Itas/Gadau Local Government Area.

Surrounding areas were being combed in an effort to rescue the victim and apprehend the perpetrators.

Zamfara State recorded multiple abductions following separate armed attacks along the Fegin Mahe-Mada and Shemori-Mada roads in Gusau Local Government Area.

Police tactical teams and other security personnel launched search and pursuit operations.

The police said the corpses of victims killed during the attacks were evacuated to hospitals for autopsy.

In a separate attack at Take Tsaba Village, Talata Mafara LGA, Police VCRU operatives and military personnel visited the scene and commenced combing surrounding bushes in an effort to rescue abducted persons and apprehend the attackers.

The police said the various cases were under investigation by the SCID in the affected commands, while investigations and operations to apprehend fleeing suspects and rescue kidnapped victims were ongoing.

The Federal Government has challenged the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to enforce professional discipline, uphold ethical standards and make industrial action a genuine last resort as part of a proposed mutual undertaking to rebuild trust in Nigeria’s health sector.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Adekunle Salako, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NMA, saying doctors must accept responsibility for the aspects of healthcare delivery within their control.

Salako said the NMA should ensure that emergency services were not withdrawn during industrial disputes, lead the fight against quackery, promote ethical conduct and strengthen inter- and intra-professional collaboration.

He said: ‘From the NMA, this administration asks: institutional discipline against unethical conduct; industrial action as a genuine last resort with emergency services never withdrawn; leadership of the anti-quackery campaign at state and local level; inter- and intra-professional respect and ethical conduct befitting of the leader of the health team.’

The Minister, however, stressed that the Federal Government was not seeking to shift responsibility to doctors or evade its own obligations, saying government must equally be held accountable for delivering on its commitments to health workers and the health system.

He therefore proposed a reciprocal undertaking under which the government would be required to honour collective bargaining agreements, sustain the upward trajectory of health-sector funding, improve the flow of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), protect health workers at their duty posts, expand training capacity without compromising accreditation and give the NMA a voice in decisions on health workforce and scope of practice.

‘So let me propose an exchange of undertakings. From government you may hold us to: honouring our commitments and the Collective Bargaining process; sustaining the health budget’s upward trajectory and the flow of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund; protecting you at your duty post through the aggravated-offence legislation; expanding training capacity with accreditation intact; and giving the NMA a seat where health workforce and scope-of-practice decisions are actually made,’ he said.

Salako said the two-way commitment was necessary because neither government nor the medical profession could transform the health system independently.

He said the government had taken steps to demonstrate its own commitment, citing increased health-sector funding, recruitment of healthcare workers, improved incentives and expanded medical training.

According to him, the health sector’s share of the national budget has risen to 5.2 percent, while BHCPF funding increased from ?131.5 billion in 2024 to ?299 billion in 2026.

He added that more than 37,000 workers had been recruited into federal tertiary hospitals since 2024, about 75 percent of them in clinical positions, while annual medical school admission quotas had doubled from about 5,000 to 10,000.

The Minister said ?110 billion had also been committed through TETFund to rehabilitate 18 medical, dental, pharmacy and nursing training institutions.

He said the government had adopted a National Policy on Health Workforce Migration and was also pursuing initiatives to strengthen collaboration with Nigerian health professionals in the diaspora.

Salako, however, said government investment and policy interventions could lose their impact if patients continued to encounter poor professional conduct in health facilities.

He urged the NMA to strengthen clinical governance, including mortality and morbidity reviews, maternal and perinatal death surveillance, monitoring of waiting times and consultant availability, as well as effective disciplinary processes.

On quackery, the Minister called on doctors to work with government agencies to identify and expose unlicensed practitioners, noting that the profession often knew about such activities within its communities.

He disclosed that NAFDAC had screened more than 7,000 shops and removed 87 truckloads of falsified, banned and expired medical products, valued at about ?1 trillion, from open drug markets in Aba, Onitsha and Lagos.

Salako also defended task-shifting and task-sharing as necessary responses to Nigeria’s shortage of health professionals, but said such arrangements must be competency-based, regulated, supervised and restricted to clearly defined scopes of practice.

He urged the NMA to resolve disagreements over professional roles through established institutional and regulatory channels rather than through the media or withdrawal of services.

The Minister said the proposed undertaking was ultimately about establishing shared responsibility, with government and doctors each accepting accountability for the areas within their control.

‘No health system in history has been transformed by a Ministry acting alone, and none has been transformed against the wishes of its doctors,’ he said.

Nigerian organisations have moved more than N150 billion in non-cash reward value through the corporate rewards economy over the past decade, according to a new report by SureGifts.

The report, titled Beyond Cash: The State of Corporate Rewards in Nigeria, said the market had recorded significant growth, with twice as much reward value issued since the beginning of 2024 as was issued during the entire preceding decade.

The report, described as the first of its kind in Nigeria, is based on SureGifts’ proprietary transaction data covering more than 1,000 corporate organisations and over 400 merchants, as well as findings from the SureGifts Corporate Rewards Pulse 2026 survey of corporate decision-makers.

The company’s Managing Director, David Fisayo, said corporate rewards had evolved from occasional gestures into a significant economic activity.

‘For years, corporate rewards were treated as an afterthought: a festive gesture here, a sales incentive there, scattered across budgets and rarely counted,’ Fisayo said.

‘But somewhere along the way, the numbers stopped looking like gestures. Rewards have quietly become an economy of their own.’

The report also challenged the perception that corporate rewards are primarily an employee recognition tool, noting that employee rewards account for 40 per cent of spending.

The remaining spending supports sales incentives, customer loyalty schemes, distributor and channel partner programmes and corporate gifting.

It noted that sales, loyalty and channel programmes were increasingly being run throughout the year rather than as one-off initiatives.

While technology and financial services firms are among the strongest adopters, the report said the use of structured reward programmes cuts across industries, with no single sector accounting for up to 20 per cent of participating organisations.

Organisations using structured reward programmes include MTN, NLNG, Leadway, Nigerian Bottling Company and HBM Nigeria Plc.

Commercial Director, West and Central Africa at Campari Group, Kingsley Ogwuche, said the company had used SureGifts cards to provide more flexible reward experiences across its trade, customer and consumer promotions.

The report further found that 79.1 per cent of redemption value goes to supermarkets and grocery stores, linking corporate reward budgets directly to household spending.

More than N1 in every N5 of redemption value flows beyond groceries into retail, e-commerce, electronics, connectivity and household bills.

Head of Finance at Jendol Superstores, Olabode Abraham, said the platform had helped increase the company’s footfall and expand its customer base.

Fisayo said the pattern of spending showed that corporate rewards were increasingly contributing to everyday economic activity rather than luxury consumption.

‘What surprised us is where that value actually lands: not in luxury, but in supermarkets, groceries and the everyday economy,’ he said.

‘Corporate reward budgets are flowing through employees, customers and channel partners into everyday purchases and ultimately into sales for Nigerian merchants. That is what makes this infrastructure, not just gifting.’

The report identified measurement as the next major challenge for the industry, with only 29 per cent of corporate decision-makers saying their organisations formally measure the impact of their rewards programmes.

However, 57 per cent said spending on rewards had increased over the past three years, while 78 per cent expected spending to remain at the current level or increase over the next 12 to 24 months.

The report said growing expenditure would increase demand for greater personalisation, improved visibility and clearer evidence of the impact of reward programmes.

It argued that the next phase of the market would be defined by the ability of organisations to connect reward spending with changes in behaviour, engagement and broader business outcomes.

SureGifts said it had served more than 1,000 corporate clients since 2014 and partnered with over 400 merchants across Nigeria and Kenya.

The Federal Government has given the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company (BAECC) three options to enable it to continue with the Benin-Asaba-Onitsha highway project.

The first phase of the 10-lane highway was scheduled for completion in March 2027. However, 16 months after construction began, motorists have continued to endure difficult conditions along the route.

The situation recently worsened as motorists, including heavy-duty vehicle operators, became stranded on the road for five days before individuals intervened by filling some sections with stones.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, presented three options to BAECC at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Edo State Government House in Benin City.

Umahi said he had assembled three reputable contractors who were ready to take over the construction of the highway if BAECC accepted the terms.

Under the first option, he said BAECC could write to terminate the contract and subsequently be granted the right of first refusal to toll the road after the Federal Government completes the construction.

According to him, the arrangement would enable the company to recover whatever it had already spent on the project.

The second option, he said, was to terminate the contract on the basis of an agreed existing dispute, with all relevant stakeholders duly informed.

Under the third option, Umahi said BAECC could introduce a contractor already operating in Nigeria to undertake the construction, while the Federal Government would handle the design and supervision of the project.

He said under the arrangement, BAECC would retain the right to toll the road and receive 70 per cent of the revenue, while the Federal Government would take the remaining 30 per cent.

Describing the three options as a generous offer to BAECC, Umahi said, ‘We are available for trouble.’

‘This is a generous offer. If the public sues us and sues you, the court will now determine our fate. Road construction is not content creation. It is not something you engaged in smartly.

‘By the concession agreement, we played into the hands of the Concessionaire. Every decision we make has implications. It is up to the Concessionaire to lower his pride. He is a young man speaking arrogantly before his elders.

‘I will ask that you (BAECC CEO) be removed from the site. YOU add no value to the project. The Independent Engineers will take measurements of all works done, excluding negative work. We want to plead: we do not see you having the capacity to fix the road. Allow the Ministry of Works to bring in competent contractors. You have no technical capacity. It is a highly technical job. It will require committed personnel. Give us written approval to do this.

‘You cannot avert public disorder. We have not asked you out of site. Remove all unprofessional staff from site. A dispute has existed; we will be writing to reinstate all removed asphalt at the client’s cost. Remove water directed to the carriageway. Restore free flow of traffic. Remove the Project Director whose qualifications are in doubt. Show us technical competence and proof of roads done before. Remove dust used in the name of stone base. You are to provide technical design for storm water channelisation.’

Umahi also listed areas where BAECC defaulted, including an inability to heed instructions from Independent Engineers, refusal to remove unqualified personnel, intentional destruction of national assets, lack of equipment and incompetent engineers, lack of knowledge of road construction, creating public disorder, and abandoning the site without notice to contractors.

Governor Monday Okpebholo said he felt terrible about the state of the road.

‘What we are seeing now is not what we are supposed to be seeing after 16 months. You cannot give what you do not have.

If they were competent, we should have seen part of this road completed. Do the needful. Edo people are watching. Something has to be done between now and Christmas. I believe in what people will see. You cannot make a profit where you are not working. There has to be a laid-down principle.’

Head of Legal at BAECC, Peterson Okponam Fabian, described the FG’s options as friendly and collaborative.

Fabian asked for more time to engage, saying there would be no reason for investors’ funds to be eroded.

‘I believe that everything that is being discussed here is not conclusive in itself. We will have a more robust, collaborative way of handling things going forward.

‘Every stakeholder here, allow us more time to engage. I believe that we will have more pathways forward to further collaborate,’ he said.

Some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State have rejected the presidential bid of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, backing President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.

The leaders under the auspices of Concerned Ekiti PDP members and supporters also threw their weight behind the party’s governorship candidate, Dr Wole Oluyede, over his decision to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The PDP leaders, in a statement on Tuesday signed by Bayo Lawal, said Oluyede’s position was his legitimate political choice, stressing that no individual or faction within the PDP had the right to dictate who he should support ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

They urged Governor Makinde to disregard claims by some political actors that they controlled the Ekiti PDP structure or could deliver the party’s members to the Allied Peoples Movement, insisting that such individuals did not speak for the majority of PDP members in the state.

‘Governor Makinde should not be deceived by political actors making claims they cannot substantiate. They do not own PDP membership in Ekiti.

‘Oluyede’s decision to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election is his legitimate political choice and should not be interpreted as abandoning the PDP. His position is also consistent with the position of recognised PDP stakeholders at the national level supporting the President.

‘The PDP belongs to its members, not to any faction or individual. Those claiming to control the party should prove their grassroots strength rather than rely on press statements.

‘Oluyede has earned the right to make his political decision. He has sacrificed for the PDP, contested under its platform and spent his personal resources to keep the party alive. Those who disagree with him are free to express their disagreement, but they cannot dictate to him who he should support,’ the group stated.

The group cautioned Senator Duro Faseyi and former Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker, Tunji Odeyemi against claiming the control of the PDP structure in Ekiti, saying the party belonged to all its members.

It alleged that some established interests were uncomfortable with Oluyede’s growing influence among younger members and grassroots supporters, challenging those claiming stronger support to demonstrate it through genuine engagement with party members across the state.

It also challenged the Odeyemi to account for resources allegedly received during the governorship poll, asking him to disclose what was received and how the funds were utilised.

The group further called for an honest assessment of the PDP’s performance in the governorship election, including the role allegedly played by former Governor Ayodele Fayose, whom it accused of supporting the All Progressives Congress during the poll.

It said the issue was not Fayose’s current position on Tinubu, noting that both Fayose and Oluyede had publicly expressed support for the President’s re-election, but rather his alleged conduct during the Ekiti governorship election.

The group urged the PDP National Working Committee to protect members who had made genuine sacrifices for growth of the party and promote a new generation of leadership.

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, has condemned the escalating post-election violence and the tragic loss of lives in parts of Osun State.

Oyetola, yesterday in a statement by his Special Adviser, Dr Bolaji Akinola, in Osogbo, described the attacks on citizens across the state as a grave assault on the peace, heritage and democratic values of the people.

He stressed that no political ambition, local interest or commercial consideration could justify the loss of human lives, urging stakeholders to reject violence and embrace dialogue in resolving disputes.

‘Politics must be a vehicle for development, not a catalyst for bloodshed,’ he said.

The minister expressed his deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the violence.

He called on Osun Police Command and other security agencies to act decisively to restore order and protect residents, particularly in areas affected by the unrest.

Oyetola urged the security agencies to deploy adequate personnel to volatile locations, reclaim public spaces from hoodlums and ensure those responsible for the killings and other acts of violence were apprehended and brought to justice.

The minister appealed to residents across the state to prioritise peace and restraint, warning that the progress and prosperity of Osun must not be sacrificed on the altar of political or commercial interests.

He reaffirmed his commitment to the peace, security and development of the state, urging citizens to work together to preserve its long-standing reputation for civility, enterprise and democratic values.

Osun State Police Command said two civilians were killed and two of its officers sustained injuries during an attack by suspected political thugs in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of the state.

A statement by the police spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, yesterday in Osogbo, said unidentified assailants, suspected to be political thugs, attacked a police patrol team attached to the Ikire Division at about 11am on Monday along the Ife-Ibadan Expressway.

He said the patrol team, accompanied by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ikire Division, was responding to a distress call over the alleged abduction of one Sunkanmi, whose surname was unknown.

According to him, upon arrival at the location, the officers came under a sudden and unprovoked attack by a group of unidentified hoodlums.

He said the assailants opened fire on the officers while they were inside their operational vehicle and succeeded in snatching an AK-47 service rifle.

‘The hoodlums used the stolen weapon to fire indiscriminately, resulting in the tragic death of two innocent civilians.

He added that the police were taking steps to recover the stolen rifle and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

Group Managing Director, Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, has urged youths in the state to leverage the newly passed Benue State Startup Act to transform their talents, ideas and innovations into sustainable businesses.

Asemakaha gave the advice while ministering at the Benue Youth Fire Conference, a youth-focused programme featuring talent hunts, entrepreneurship, business and fashion activities, held at Dunamis Church in Makurdi.

Speaking on entrepreneurship and wealth creation, the BIPC GMD challenged young people to move beyond the mindset of job seekers and become job creators capable of contributing to economic growth and reducing unemployment in the state.

His ministration, titled: ‘Turning Your God’s Given Potentials into value addition,’ focused on the need for young people to combine character, talent and hard work in building businesses that create value and impact.

Asemakaha identified three critical forms of capital every young entrepreneur must develop before chasing financial resources: spiritual capital, human capital and financial capital.

According to him, spiritual capital represents character and integrity, which he described as the foundation upon which sustainable businesses must be built. He warned that financial success without integrity could ultimately destroy an entrepreneur and his business.

He described human capital as the gifts, talents and skills possessed by individuals, stressing that young people should identify their abilities and develop them into marketable solutions.

‘Your gift is your first capital,’ he told the youths, urging them to stop seeing lack of money as an excuse for failing to start a business.

He noted that talents in fashion, technology, agriculture, catering and other creative industries could be developed into viable enterprises if properly harnessed.

The third capital, financial capital, according to Asemakaha, requires hard work, discipline, planning and productivity. He urged young people to start with available resources, grow gradually and acquire knowledge before seeking substantial funding.

Asemakaha further identified fear, procrastination and unhealthy comparison as major obstacles that prevent young people from turning their ideas into businesses.

He advised youths to start small, pursue excellence, continue learning and build enterprises capable of creating jobs and solving problems in their communities.

According to him, the ultimate goal of entrepreneurship should go beyond personal wealth to include job creation and positive social impact.

He therefore donated seed capital to participants encouraging them to return home and begin building with the resources, talents and knowledge available to them.

Energia, an indigenous energy company, has over the past 25 years grown from an indigenous exploration and production company into an energy business with capabilities spanning crude oil production, gas processing, crude storage and export infrastructure.

As the company commences its 25th anniversary celebration, Chairman, Energia, George Osahon said the company has continued to pursue strategic opportunities across the wider oil and gas value chain.

He said the 25th anniversary celebration marked a quarter-century of resilience, innovation, operational excellence and value creation in Nigeria’s energy sector.

He noted that Energia was established in 2001 by Nigerian oil and gas professionals, many of whom were core members of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), with a shared ambition to demonstrate the technical and operational capabilities of indigenous companies within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

He commended the people and relationships that have shaped Energia’s journey over the two and half decades.

‘Reaching 25 years is an important moment for Energia and a tribute to the vision, resilience and collective commitment of everyone who has contributed to the company’s journey. As we celebrate this milestone, we recognise the foundation laid by our founders, employees, host communities, partners and stakeholders. That foundation gives us confidence as Energia continues to build responsibly for the future,’ Osahon said.

He noted that a defining milestone in Energia’s journey came in 2009, when it achieved First Oil from the Ebendo/Obodeti field, marking the beginning of a new phase of production and operational growth.

The years that followed saw strategic investments in field development, production infrastructure and gas processing. Between 2010 and 2013, Energia collaborated with Xenergi on the installation of a 25 MMSCFD gas processing plant, which reached pre-commissioning in December 2011. In 2012, the company reprocessed its 3D seismic data to support further field development, successfully drilled and completed its first development well, and achieved one million barrels of cumulative crude oil production.

Energia subsequently expanded its production and storage infrastructure, including the construction and commissioning of additional crude storage tanks and the upgrade of its flow station capacity to 8,000 barrels of oil per day and 25 MMSCFD of gas in 2014. The company reached five million barrels of cumulative crude oil production in March 2016 and 10 million barrels in 2020.

Osahon noted that since 2021, Energia has continued to strengthen its technical and operational capabilities through investments including the completion of a produced-water treatment plant, the acquisition and processing of new 3D seismic data, and the successful drilling of two new wells in the northern part of the field. The company is also working towards upgrading field capacity to 20,000 barrels of oil per day.

Alongside its upstream activities, Energia has continued to expand its strategic footprint. The company has secured interests in the Ugbo and Irigbo marginal fields and is developing a 5,000-barrel-per-day crude distillation unit at Onshore Kwale, Delta State, as part of its ambition to deepen its participation across the oil and gas value chain.

He said the anniversary theme, ‘Honouring Energia’s Legacy. Shaping Tomorrow’s Energy,’ reflects both the company’s achievements and the people, partnerships, capabilities and experiences that have shaped its journey.

He added that the theme also signalled Energia’s focus on applying the lessons of the past 25 years to the opportunities that will define its next chapter.

According to him, the five-month anniversary programme would bring this story to life through initiatives highlighting Energia’s milestones, people, partnerships, community impact and contribution to Nigeria’s energy sector. It will also create opportunities for stakeholder engagement and industry conversations about the future of energy.

Managing Director, Energia, Oladimeji Bashorun, said the next chapter would be defined by disciplined execution and responsible growth.

‘Twenty-five years is a significant milestone in Energia’s journey, and it is an opportunity to reflect on the vision, determination, technical capability and partnerships that have shaped our growth. From our beginnings as a wholly indigenous exploration and production company, we have continued to build our capabilities, strengthen our operations and create value for our stakeholders.

‘As we honour our legacy, we are equally focused on the future. Our next chapter will be defined by operational excellence, responsible energy development, innovation, strategic growth and stronger partnerships. We remain committed to building on the foundation we have established and contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s long-term energy future,’ Bashorun said.

He added that Energia’s journey has also been closely connected to the communities and stakeholders within its operating ecosystem.

According to him, over the years, the company has invested in community development initiatives spanning education, healthcare, infrastructure, youth development, agriculture and community welfare, reflecting its commitment to creating lasting value beyond its core operations.

He highlighted that as Energia looks towards the next 25 years, it remains focused on strengthening operational capabilities, expanding strategic opportunities, advancing gas monetisation, developing its asset portfolio and contributing to a more productive and sustainable energy future for Nigeria.