Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

By Praise Davis

Ask Stanislaus Martins what Nigerian companies are getting wrong about AI and he answers the question by telling you what happens in the first ten minutes of most of his meetings.

“I ask the CEO, are you using AI? Proud yes. Every time. Then I press a little. Finance is pasting numbers into a free ChatGPT account. Research is dropping proprietary insights into Claude. HR is running employee data through DeepSeek because a friend said it was good for dashboards. The MD is on his phone using whatever app he downloaded last week.”

He calls it BROAI. Bring Your Own AI. A deliberate echo of BYOD, the Bring Your Own Device wave that had corporate IT losing sleep a decade ago. In his view, it is putting some of the country’s most valuable companies at real risk.The warning arrives at a moment when people are paying attention. Aleph Group, the global infrastructure company behind digital advertising and fintech solutions in more than 130 high growth markets, has just promoted Martins to Managing Director, Sub Saharan Africa. He is the first Nigerian to hold the position, and his remit, previously focused on West Africa, now covers the full region.

Twenty years in the room

Martins is not a commentator. He has spent over two decades inside the rooms where these decisions actually get made.He started at Insight Publicis and left as Head of Digital Business, with a client list that read like a who’s who of Nigerian brand building: Pepsi, Tecno, Heineken, Gulder, Star, MTN, FCMB, Coca Cola, Peak Milk, 7UP, Nestle and more. He crossed to Jumia as VP of Performance Marketing and later VP of Advertising, helping the ecommerce platform scale its ad business during its most aggressive growth years.

Meta came next. He served as Agency Partner for the entire Sub Saharan Africa region and led the rollout of Meta’s Authorised Sales Partnership programme across the continent, the first of its kind in Africa. He joined Aleph as Regional Meta Director for SSA, rose to Managing Director for West Africa, and with this week’s appointment takes on the full Sub Saharan mandate.

Outside the corporate roles, he has trained marketing, sales and ecommerce teams for Nestle, MTN, Jumia, Meta, Konga, ADMARP, ADVAN and several others on hands on AI adoption, digital sales, performance marketing, and business management. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK) and the National Institute of Marketing Nigeria, a Certified Digital Marketing Expert from the Digital Marketing Institute Ireland, and holds the AWS Certified Cloud Architect Professional certification. Academically, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ibadan, the Senior Management Programme from Lagos Business School, and an MBA from the Quantic School of Business.

It is that combination, agency, platform, client side and trainer, that shapes how he reads this current moment.”The chatbot is the front door. The value is behind it. We keep forgetting something simple,” he says. “These models learn from what you feed them. When you pour confidential client data, financials, company secrets and people data into several different free tools you do not own and do not control, you are not using AI. You are leaking.”

He is just as frustrated that the conversation in Nigeria has shrunk down to chatbots. “AI is not the popup that says hi, how can I help you today.

That is the front door. The real value is behind it.

He likes to use a retailer in Ogun State as a thought exercise. “The chatbot version of AI is the popup. Fine. We see it every day. The real version is an integrated system that knows which products are about to go out of stock based on the weather, salary week, and last year’s pattern. Pricing that adjusts across thousands of SKUs because a competitor moved overnight. A recommendation engine that learns each customer well enough to send the right message on the right day in the right tone in the right language. Fraud detection catching a stolen card before the order ships. The warehouse rerouting itself because a delivery van broke down in Lekki traffic. A finance team closing the month in two days instead of ten because reconciliation runs itself.”

That, he insists, is proper AI deployment. Not a tool somebody downloaded on the commute home.

The questions he thinks leaders should be asking

For Martins, 2026 is not about adopting more tools. It is about asking better questions. What tools are approved. What data are they connected to. Who is accountable when something goes wrong. What does good actually look like for this particular business. Where is the real value, and where is it just convenience. How can existing systems be made smarter rather than replaced wholesale. Does the leadership team need an AI advisor sitting alongside them.

“One integrated strategy,” he says. “Same solution. Same local data. All departments. Safe, secure, accountable. Not everyone in the company throwing company information into different models to learn from.”

It is the line he tends to repeat in workshops. “Stop celebrating that you are using AI. Start asking what it is learning from, and who owns the answer. The companies that figure this out in 2026 will pull ahead. The ones that do not will find out the hard way.”

For Nigerian boardrooms, and increasingly for policymakers thinking about the country’s digital economy posture, the advice comes from someone who has spent twenty years building the rails everyone else is running on. Stanislaus Martins advises and trains blue chip businesses across the region on the practical application of Marketing, Technology and AI in business growth.

British-Nigerian boxer, Anthony Joshua has officially signed a multi-fight deal, with the first step leading to a long-awaited clash against Tyson Fury later this year.

The fight, which is expected to be one of Britain’s biggest boxing events in recent history, will take place in Q4 2026, according to confirmation from The Ring and Saudi General Entertainment Authority.

Joshua, who is gearing up for a return to the ring after a significant hiatus following a car accident that killed two members of his team, will first face Kristian Prenga in a high-stakes fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on July 30, 2026.

This will be Joshua’s first fight since his victory over Jake Paul in December 2025.

Promoter Eddie Hearn broke the news on social media, stating, “Signed, sealed, delivered! AJ v Fury is on!” marking the official confirmation of the long-awaited fight between the two heavyweights.

The clash with Fury will be the highlight of a new deal that will see Joshua participate in several major bouts over the next few years.

Joshua’s return comes after a tough period, including his recovery from the fatal car crash in Nigeria. Speaking about his comeback, Joshua said: “It’s no secret I’ve taken some time to consolidate and rebuild to be ready for stepping back into the ring. Today is the next step on that journey, and I’m delighted to have agreed a multi-fight deal starting with July 30th in Saudi Arabia.”

A fight with Tyson Fury has long been the subject of speculation and finally appears set to take place later this year after Fury called out Joshua following his victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov earlier this month.

During a post-fight interview, Fury challenged Joshua directly from the ring, shouting, “I challenge you, Anthony Joshua, to fight me next. Do you accept?” While Joshua did not respond immediately, the challenge sparked excitement among boxing fans, with both fighters now committed to making the showdown happen.

Before facing Fury, Joshua must first overcome Kristian Prenga, a promising opponent with an impressive record of 20 wins and 1 loss, with all of his victories coming via knockout. Prenga, 35, is preparing for what could be the biggest fight of his career. “Joshua made a terrible miscalculation in picking me as his opponent,” Prenga said ahead of the fight. “This is the kind of fight that changes everything for me and for him.”

For Joshua, this upcoming fight is crucial as he looks to revive his career and return to the heights of his past achievements. Joshua was a two-time unified heavyweight champion, holding the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles between 2018 and 2019, before reclaiming the titles in 2019 with a win over Andy Ruiz Jr. His second reign ended in 2021 after a loss to Oleksandr Usyk, and although Joshua has since secured wins against Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, and Francis Ngannou, a defeat to Daniel Dubois raised doubts about his future in the sport.

For the third time in April, another Nigerian has tragically died in the United Kingdom, with Ademola Oke, 37, being found unresponsive at his workplace on April 18, 2026.

According to a GoFundMe support appeal shared by a close family friend, Adejonwo Odutola, Oke had left his home that morning in good health and remained in contact with his wife throughout the day.

However, everything seemed normal until later in the evening when Oke’s colleague, arriving for a night shift, discovered him unresponsive while seated on a sofa at his workplace.

Odutola recounted in the fundraising post, “On 18th April, 2026, Ademola, 37 years old, left home in the morning hale and hearty, with no signs of illness. He was in contact with his wife during the day, and they even shared a WhatsApp message at 2:08 pm–everything seemed normal.

Tragically and without warning, Ademola passed away suddenly while at work. Later in the day, a colleague arriving for their shift at night in the service user’s house found him seated on a sofa, unresponsive.”

Emergency services were called, but Oke was confirmed dead at the scene.

The devastating news has left Oke’s 31-year-old wife in profound shock, now facing the daunting task of raising their two young children, aged six and two, without their father. Odutola described Oke as a devoted husband and loving father, whose sudden death has deeply affected his family, friends, and community.

In response to this tragedy, the family has launched a fundraising effort to cover funeral expenses and provide financial assistance for the children as they adjust to life without their father. The appeal urges both the Nigerian community in the UK and the wider public to offer support, with every donation, no matter how small, being appreciated.

“This cause is deeply important to me because I have seen firsthand the love within this family and the profound impact this loss has had on them. No family should have to endure such heartbreak while also facing financial uncertainty. The funds raised will go towards funeral expenses and ongoing support for the children as the family begins to navigate life without their husband and father,” said Odutola in his GoFundMe message.

At the time of filing this report, Pound 4,509 had been raised out of the Pound 8,000 target.

King The meeting, which began with a private tea at the White House, set the tone for a visit widely seen as an attempt to stabilise strained relations between Washington and London amid geopolitical tensions.

The royal visit comes at a time of friction between the two allies, particularly over disagreements linked to the ongoing conflict in Iran, where President Trump has criticised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s stance.

Despite the tensions, King Charles is expected to maintain political neutrality while leveraging royal diplomacy to reinforce long-standing ties.

After the White House engagement, the King and Queen proceeded to a garden party hosted by the British ambassador in Washington, where they mingled with senior U.S. officials, lawmakers and representatives from across political, business and civil society circles.

Among those in attendance were key figures from the U.S. administration and Congress, reflecting the broader diplomatic outreach beyond the presidency.

The visit offers the monarch a rare platform to engage directly with American leadership and the wider political establishment, particularly as he prepares to address a joint session of Congress — a moment expected to carry significant symbolic weight.

The visit also coincides with celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, underscoring the enduring historical relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States.

Despite its ceremonial elements, the trip carries high diplomatic stakes, with officials describing it as a “delicate balancing act” requiring the King to navigate personal diplomacy with President Trump while representing the interests of the British government.

The visit is proceeding under heightened security following a recent shooting incident in Washington, although both sides have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the full schedule of engagements.

The Lagos State Government has formalised a sister-state relationship with the California State Assembly through the adoption of Assembly Concurrent Resolution 129 (ACR 129), marking a major step in strengthening transcontinental cooperation.

The resolution, sponsored by Assembly member Matt Haney, was unveiled at the California/Africa Climate and Economic Forum 2026, signalling what stakeholders described as one of the most significant diplomatic linkages between California and an African subnational government in recent years.

The event brought together government officials, business leaders and members of the Nigerian diaspora to deepen economic and policy engagement.

Receiving the resolution on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Office of Diaspora Affairs, Jermaine Sanwo-Olu.

Speaking at the event, Jermaine said the partnership goes beyond symbolism, describing it as a strategic framework designed to drive collaboration in key sectors.

“This is more than a ceremonial agreement; it is a structured framework for action across climate resilience, transportation, infrastructure, innovation and economic development. Both regions have much to gain, and we intend to move quickly,” he said.

He added that the initiative aligns with the governor’s THEMES+ Agenda, positioning Lagos for greater global engagement while opening new pathways for sustainable economic growth.

According to him, the partnership is expected to strengthen Lagos’ status as a globally connected city, expand trade opportunities and promote joint solutions to shared challenges, particularly in climate change and urban development.

Jermaine noted that the Lagos and Nigerian diaspora would play a central role in driving the partnership by facilitating investment, knowledge transfer and long-term collaboration between both regions.

He also acknowledged the contribution of California’s Secretary of Transportation, Toks Omishakin, in advancing the relationship.

Omishakin said the agreement would unlock opportunities in clean mobility, climate innovation, economic growth and cultural exchange.

“The LagosCalifornia Sister-State Resolution builds on the strong partnership Governor Gavin Newsom has established with Nigeria and reflects our shared commitment to practical, people-centred progress,” he said.

“As we deepen ties with Lagos and work with Assemblymember Haney, we are creating new opportunities to advance innovation and inclusive growth between two regions defined by creativity and ambition.”

By Aminu Garko

Kano governor Abba Yusuf has described display of underwear (pants) by some youths during the recent visit of First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, to the state as “disrespectful and unacceptable.”

Recall that some women and youths believed to be members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in the state were seen displaying the pants during the visit of the First Lady to the state.

It was believed that the action was in mockery of the governor’s godfather, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

But in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, on Monday in Kano Yusuf condemned the action of the youths.

Speaking during a special prayer session held at the Government House , Yusuf also described the behaviour as a breach of cultural and religious norms

He distanced himself, his administration, and the people of Kano State from the incident.

About 4,444 Quranic reciters gathered at the event to pray for peace, stability, and prosperity in the state and the country at large.

‘This behaviour is a deviation from the values underpinning my administration’s Kano First Agenda.

“Such actions contradict Islamic teachings on modesty and respect for authority.’ he said.

He warned the youths involved against repeating such conduct, noting that actions capable of tarnishing the image of the state would not be tolerated.

The governor also cautioned politicians against exploiting young people for political gains.

“Our youths should be symbols of hope and development, not tools for mockery or moral decadence,” he said, urging political actors to promote decency and focus on policies that advance the state.

The governor called on those responsible to seek forgiveness from God and apologise to the people of Kano state for the embarrassment caused.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintaining Kano’s reputation for discipline, hospitality, and religious devotion, while prioritising youth mentorship and cultural preservation.

In his remarks, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, represented by Alhaji Aliyu Harazumi, assured that the emirate would continue to organising Quranic recitations to promote lasting peace in the state.

Several Islamic scholars who spoke at the event also emphasised the need for moral discipline and collective responsibility in sustaining peace and unity in Kano state.

( NAN)

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has emphatically said that Nigeria’s government-owned refineries will never function properly, slamming the current management approach as a recipe for failure.

Speaking candidly on Sony Irabor Live aired on News Central, Obasanjo reiterated his stance, arguing that government control and mismanagement have condemned the refineries to eternal dysfunction.

His bold claim challenges the federal government’s projection that the Port Harcourt refinery will resume operations by December 2023 after its rehabilitation by Maire Tecnimont SpA.

Obasanjo, who had a front-row seat to Nigeria’s failure to maintain its refineries during his tenure, explained that the root of the problem lies in Nigeria’s persistent reliance on inefficient state-run enterprises, where corruption, lack of accountability, and political interference are rampant.

Drawing from his experience, Obasanjo pointed to the massive success of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), where the private sector holds a controlling stake. “NLNG works because the private sector has control. The model works, but it’s one the government refuses to adopt for its refineries,” he stated.

He also dismissed any hope that a government-controlled NNPC could ever compete with modern, efficient refineries, citing poor maintenance and widespread corruption that have plagued Nigeria’s facilities for years.

Recalling a failed attempt to get Shell to run Nigeria’s refineries, Obasanjo said he personally reached out to the oil giant, offering them a 10% equity stake to manage the facilities. Shell, however, rejected his proposals. According to Obasanjo, a senior Shell official candidly explained why: Nigeria’s refineries were simply too small, ill-maintained, and entangled in too much corruption to be managed profitably.

“The refineries are too small compared to global standards. Shell wanted nothing to do with them,” Obasanjo explained, adding that the refineries were underperforming because they had been poorly maintained by “quacks and amateurs.”

His criticism of the refineries’ situation is far from a technical debate–it is a damning indictment of a government that continues to ignore the hard truths about its public enterprises.

Obasanjo’s condemnation comes in the wake of President Tinubu’s rosy projections about the refineries’ rehabilitation. In December 2023, Tinubu had expressed optimism that the Port Harcourt refinery would come back online, but Obasanjo’s warning was clear: without private sector involvement and proper governance, the refineries will remain a pipe dream.

The Iyade Royal Family of Ikeja has reaffirmed the indigene status and ancestral lineage of Prince Tajudeen Muritala Raji, declaring him a bona fide son of Ikeja Town in Lagos State.

In a statement issued by the family head, Prince Olushola Coker, the family said the clarification became necessary to set the record straight and preserve historical accuracy regarding the prince’s origin.

The royal family noted that its position is backed by documented records, including an official family record dated March 22, 1966, as well as oral traditions passed down through generations.

According to the statement, the genealogy of Ikeja traces back to Jalo, regarded as the town’s earliest settler, whose lineage produced successive descendants including Ilo, Iyapo, Talabi, and Iyade, the progenitor of the Iyade Royal Family.

The family further explained that Iyade’s descendants include Ibari and Ilo, with Ilo identified as the ancestor of the royal line that produced the first monarch of Ikeja, Oba Momodu Ilo. Ilo’s son, Adeniyi Ilo, the present Oluwo of Ikeja was also cited as affirming Prince Raji’s membership of the same ancestral lineage.

Tracing the lineage further, the statement said Ilo also fathered Ogisanyin, from whom descended notable figures including Amina Oke, Shanu, Omowunmi, Ayodele, and Kasumu Bello.

It added that Omowunmi married Raji and had two sons, Laisi and Muritala. While Laisi died without children, Muritala continued the family line and had three sons–Jimoh Muritala, Prince Tajudeen Muritala Raji, and Azeez Muritala.

The Iyade Royal Family maintained that this unbroken genealogical link from Jalo to Prince Tajudeen Muritala Raji firmly establishes his indigene status in Ikeja.

The statement, the family said, was issued in the interest of public record and to preserve the heritage of the Iyade Royal Family.

The Lagos State Government has launched an ambitious Industrial Policy (20252030) designed to reposition the state as Africa’s leading industrial hub, with a strong focus on boosting productivity, attracting investment and significantly increasing its contribution to national Gross Domestic Product.

The policy, which sets out a five-year roadmap for economic transformation, targets long-standing structural bottlenecks that have constrained industrial growth, including erratic power supply, limited access to affordable finance, weak logistics networks and regulatory inefficiencies.

Speaking at a media briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, said the framework is built to deepen industrial capacity and strengthen Lagos’ competitiveness in both regional and global markets.

According to her, the policy prioritises high-impact sectors such as agro-processing, light manufacturing, healthcare, the creative economy and digital services, positioning them as key drivers of growth and job creation.

She explained that the initiative is designed not only to expand output but also to improve the ease of doing business by dismantling bureaucratic barriers and strengthening the state’s economic ecosystem.

Ambrose-Medebem stressed that small and medium-sized enterprises would play a central role in the industrialisation push, describing them as critical to employment generation and inclusive growth.

“Through this policy, we are widening access to finance, dismantling regulatory bottlenecks that have for too long disadvantaged smaller firms, and providing the technical support that enables local businesses to scale, formalise, compete and export,” she said.

She added that inclusivity remains a guiding principle, noting that industrial development must extend beyond large corporations to cooperatives and grassroots enterprises.

Implementation of the policy is already underway, with the government rolling out key initiatives aimed at stimulating growth and investment.

Among them is a 10 billion access-to-finance scheme for micro, small and medium enterprises, structured through cooperatives under a partnership involving the state government, the Bank of Industry and Sterling Bank.

The programme, known as LASMECO, is expected to unlock capital for businesses, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approving a 5 billion matching fund, while the Bank of Industry provides a corresponding contribution.

Officials said beneficiary selection is being finalised through a transparent, criteria-based process to ensure accountability and impact.

In addition, the government is advancing the development of a light industrial park in Imota and preparing for a major investment summit aimed at attracting both domestic and foreign investors.

Analysts say the policy represents one of Lagos’ most comprehensive attempts to restructure its industrial base, with a clear focus on removing barriers to growth, strengthening supply chains and positioning the state as a competitive manufacturing and innovation hub.

With implementation now underway, the success of the policy will likely depend on sustained execution, effective stakeholder collaboration and the government’s ability to translate its ambitious framework into measurable economic gains.

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

King Charles III has begun a historic four-day state visit to the United States, in a major diplomatic push aimed at reinforcing relations between Washington and London as America marks its 250th anniversary.

The monarch, with Queen Camilla will arrive on Monday, April 27, for the visit scheduled to run until Thursday, April 30, according to Buckingham Palace and the White House.

The trip is Charles’s first U.S. state visit as King and the first by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II was hosted by President George W. Bush in 2007.

The White House said President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump would receive the King and Queen in Washington, describing the occasion as the first official state visit of Trump’s second term.

The visit is expected to include engagements with the Trumps, a state dinner and a rare address by Charles to the U.S. Congress — making him only the second British monarch to address Congress after Queen Elizabeth II in 1991.

Buckingham Palace said the visit would recognise the shared history, economic, security and cultural ties between the two countries, as well as the “people-to-people connections” binding both nations.

The trip is taking place under heightened security following a recent shooting at a dinner attended by President Trump, which had raised questions over whether the royal visit would proceed. Buckingham Palace confirmed on Sunday that the visit would go ahead after discussions between British and U.S. officials.

Beyond the ceremony, the visit carries strong political symbolism. It comes at a delicate moment for U.K.-U.S. relations, with Charles expected to deploy royal soft power while remaining above partisan politics.

For Britain, the visit offers a chance to project continuity, stability and influence. For Washington, it provides a high-profile diplomatic spectacle at a time when both countries are seeking to publicly reaffirm one of the world’s most enduring alliances.