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The Niger State Police Command, in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has trained its officers on election security management ahead of the 2027 general election, with emphasis on professionalism, impartiality and respect for human rights.

The training, held at the Police Officers’ Mess, Dutsen-Kura, Minna, was part of the command’s end-of-month general conference presided over by Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, Commissioner of Police, according to a statement issued by Abiodun Wasiu, the police public relations officer.

Speaking at the session, Dauda Haruna, INEC’s State Training Officer, said the police had a leading responsibility in election security management as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

He said that the police were expected to provide adequate security for voters, candidates, political party agents and electoral officials throughout the electoral process to safeguard the integrity of elections and strengthen public confidence in the democratic system.

Haruna, who spoke on the theme, ‘Professionalism, Impartiality and Accountability for a Peaceful, Safe and Credible Election,’ said security personnel must remain neutral and avoid any conduct capable of undermining the electoral process.

He explained that election security officers were required to enforce electoral laws, respond promptly to security incidents, make lawful arrests where necessary, preserve evidence, document electoral offences and maintain proper records, including the chain of custody of evidence.

The INEC official warned officers against partisan conduct, arbitrary arrests, provocative behaviour and actions based on rumours or unverified allegations.

He also urged them to prioritise effective crowd management, crisis de-escalation, responsible use of force and clear communication while ensuring the protection of all participants in the electoral process.

According to him, officers must respect human rights, avoid interference in the conduct of elections and operate strictly within their assigned mandates.

Haruna further clarified that the inspection and verification of electoral materials remained the responsibility of INEC and its authorised representatives, while police personnel were expected to provide security and protect the process within their operational responsibilities.

On handling misconduct at polling units, he explained that electoral officers were required to complete the prescribed *Authority to Remove Person from Polling Unit for Misconduct* form, duly signed by the Presiding Officer, where applicable.

He advised officers responding to such incidents to de-escalate tensions, listen to parties separately, prevent confrontations between opposing groups, protect stakeholders and preserve relevant evidence.

He also stressed the need for comprehensive incident reports and proper documentation of actions taken during election-related security operations.

The training also addressed electoral offences and their corresponding penalties under the Electoral Act 2026, as well as the responsibilities of Election Security Personnel before and after deployment.

Before deployment, officers were advised to attend operational briefings, understand their assignments and chain of command, familiarise themselves with relevant electoral laws, account for assigned personnel and equipment, and establish effective reporting and coordination channels with other security agencies.

After deployment, they were expected to participate in debriefings, submit accurate incident reports, account for personnel and equipment, hand over preserved evidence and document operational challenges and lessons learnt.

The INEC training officer also highlighted the introduction of Registration Area Centres (RACs) and Super Registration Area Centres (Super RACs) to address delays in the commencement of voting arising from the transportation of electoral materials over long distances.

He said the arrangements were designed to facilitate the timely movement of materials to polling units and ensure that voting commenced within the stipulated period.

He also introduced the Collation Support Result Verification System (CSRVS), a technical support mechanism designed to identify and address errors during the collation of election results to promote accuracy, transparency and accountability.

Responding, Elleman commended the INEC State Training Officer and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the collaboration, assuring the commission of the command’s continued support towards ensuring peaceful and credible elections.

The police commissioner described training and retraining as a core policy of the command, saying sustained capacity building was necessary to strengthen professionalism and improve operational effectiveness.

He disclosed that further training on election security management was ongoing nationwide through the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF), adding that a training team would soon visit the Niger State Police Command to further equip officers ahead of the 2027 election.

Reviewing security developments during the month, Elleman directed officers to intensify surveillance patrols, strengthen intelligence gathering and ensure prompt intervention in addressing emerging security challenges.

He also directed officers to provide adequate security during political campaigns and submit timely reports on such activities to the command.

The police command noted the training formed part of efforts to strengthen preparedness, inter-agency cooperation and responsible conduct among security personnel before, during and after the 2027 general election.

To guard against the destruction of campaign materials of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, security operatives were deployed to strategic roads, roundabouts and major routes leading to the Kaduna Township Stadium where the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu kicked off his 2027 campaign.

Officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Authority (KASTLEA), the police and plain-clothes operatives were placed on 24-hour watch, particularly at night, ahead of the October 24, 2026 campaign flag-off. The operation was designed to prevent vandalism of billboards featuring President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and Governor Uba Sani.

The contrast captures Nigeria’s familiar election script: security agencies warn parties against violence, the electoral umpire urges compliance, officials promise offenders will face the law. The credibility depends on what happens after the meetings end.

On October 15, 2026, the Lagos State Police Command and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) brought political parties, security agencies, civil society groups and other stakeholders together ahead of the 2027 general election.

Commissioner of Police Fatai Tijani warned against deploying thugs to attack political opponents, disrupt rallies, intimidate voters or cause violence. Lagos Resident Electoral Commissioner, Abayomi Salami, also stressed the importance of peaceful political competition and credible elections.

The meeting was necessary, but its significance will be measured by whether the police, INEC and relevant state agencies enforce the rules consistently, including when allegations involve politically influential actors. That is the test facing Lagos as political mobilisation intensifies ahead of 2027.

From warnings to enforcement

The immediate concern surrounding the engagement was the alleged destruction of opposition posters and billboards and pressure on property owners to remove campaign materials. Complaints reportedly emerged from parts of Alimosho, Somolu, Kosofe and Ajao Estate.

These allegations warrant investigation, particularly where campaign materials were lawfully displayed and their removal was politically motivated. The police should establish the complaints received, investigate each incident and disclose the outcomes of cases where evidence supports prosecution.

The applicable law must also be identified correctly. The Electoral Act 2026 repealed the 2022 Act, so offences and penalties must be assessed under the current legislation and other applicable laws. The destruction of an ordinary campaign poster should not automatically be treated as an offence under a provision dealing with election materials.

For Tijani, the real test is whether the command can demonstrate progress through documented investigations, prosecutions and other lawful sanctions. Without such evidence, another warning risks becoming an annual ritual.

The economic cost of unequal political visibility

Electoral fairness extends beyond preventing violence to ensuring that political parties can communicate with voters. The cost of outdoor advertising, campaign offices and other publicity can give candidates with substantial financial resources an advantage over smaller parties.

Abia State illustrates the controversy. In July 2026, the state’s signage agency announced campaign advertising permit fees of N200 million for presidential candidates, N150 million for governorship candidates, N100 million for Senate candidates, N50 million for House of Representatives candidates and N20 million for state assembly candidates.

The charges raise questions about affordability and equal political access. Although governments can regulate outdoor advertising for planning, safety and environmental reasons, campaign-specific fees may become barriers to competition if they are disproportionate to legitimate regulatory costs.

Lagos has its own signage framework. The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency’s published rate schedule sets annual permit fees according to billboard size and location. For a 48-sheet billboard, the listed fees range from N109,200 in a normal zone to N910,000 in an airport zone.

These figures are permit fees, not necessarily the full commercial cost of advertising space. Campaign expenditure may also include rental charges paid to media owners, printing, installation and maintenance. Assessing the financial burden on political parties therefore requires separating regulatory fees from commercial advertising costs.

Nevertheless, the broader question remains: can parties with modest resources obtain lawful advertising space and campaign offices without facing prohibitive costs or arbitrary administrative obstacles?

If smaller parties struggle to secure visibility while wealthier competitors dominate public spaces, formal equality under electoral law may coexist with substantial inequality in practice.

Claims that landlords have been pressured to deny offices to opposition parties also deserve scrutiny. Affected parties, tenancy records and landlords should be consulted to establish whether political intimidation has occurred. Similarly, allegations that opposition posters are removed while ruling-party materials remain untouched should be tested against documented complaints, dated photographs and permit records.

Why Lagos matters

INEC’s official report on the 2023 general elections recorded 7,060,195 registered voters, 245 Registration Areas and 13,325 polling units in Lagos. These historical figures demonstrate the scale of the state’s electoral administration, although the latest register should be consulted for current numbers.

Lagos is also Nigeria’s principal commercial centre. Electoral disruption can affect transport, retail activity, business operations and confidence in the stability of the operating environment. While these economic consequences should not be exaggerated, the cost of insecurity should not be ignored.

The police and INEC have complementary responsibilities. Section 214 of the Constitution provides for a national police force, while Section 4 of the Police Act 2020 sets out police functions, including crime prevention, apprehension of offenders and preservation of law and order. Section 95 of the Electoral Act 2026 addresses police security for political rallies and processions.

INEC’s constitutional mandate includes organising and supervising elections and maintaining the register of voters. The commission must ensure that its preparations translate into timely deployment of personnel and election materials, accessible voter services and transparent procedures for accreditation and result management.

It must also communicate contingency arrangements for the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). Technical problems should be handled transparently, with clear distinctions between voter accreditation, the recording of results at polling units, collation and electronic publication.

For the police, identifying electoral flashpoints is only the beginning. Officers must respond promptly to credible complaints, protect vulnerable communities and ensure that security deployments do not become instruments of partisan intimidation.

Lessons from 2023

The 2023 election remains an important reference point for assessing electoral security in Lagos. Allegations of voter intimidation, ethnic hostility and obstruction at polling centres generated public concern and undermined confidence among affected communities.

These claims should be assessed through election observer reports, verified footage, police records and judicial proceedings. They should neither be dismissed because they are politically inconvenient nor presented as established facts without evidence.

The controversy surrounding the Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate, who was arrested after comments about protecting his community, illustrates the need for careful scrutiny. His statements and the circumstances of his arrest should be examined alongside documented complaints of intimidation, the police response and the eventual legal outcome.

The wider lesson is that threats against voters require a credible response regardless of ethnicity, political affiliation or social status. Security agencies must investigate specific threats and evidence of wrongdoing rather than allow political disputes to escalate into ethnic confrontations.

A peaceful election is not merely one in which violence is contained. It is one in which voters can participate without intimidation, and parties can organise within the law.

Five tests for 2027

As preparations continue, five measurable tests will determine whether the latest assurances amount to more than rhetoric. First, accountability for violence. The police should investigate documented cases of political thuggery, intimidation and vandalism, publish credible enforcement updates and disclose the outcomes of completed cases. Impartiality matters more than the number of arrests announced.

Second, equal access to political visibility. LASAA and other relevant authorities should publish applicable charges, approval procedures and timelines. Parties must have accessible mechanisms to challenge inconsistent decisions.

Third, operational readiness. INEC should communicate its plans for voter registration, accreditation, election-material deployment, result management and technical contingencies. Preparedness must be demonstrated through operational capacity, not assurances alone. Fourth, protection of voters. Security deployments should reflect documented local risks, with officers protecting voters without favouring candidates or parties.

Fifth, public accountability. INEC, the police and signage regulators should provide channels for citizens and political parties to submit complaints, track responses and obtain information on enforcement outcomes.

The October 15 engagement provided an opportunity to establish expectations before political competition intensifies. But the credibility of the institutions involved will depend on whether those expectations are enforced consistently.

For a first-time voter in Alimosho, an opposition candidate seeking to display a lawful campaign poster, or a business owner pressured to take political sides, the question is not whether the authorities have read the riot act.

It is whether the law will protect them when it matters.

That is the standard by which Lagos’s electoral authorities should be judged in 2027.

Following the destruction of more than 270 health facilities, killing of scores of health workers, abduction of many and desertion of several others from Borno State at the heat of the 17-year-long Boko Haram insurgency conflict in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states hope for a stable life in Borno was almost gone.

Interestingly, the recently built Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital has demonstrated the resilience of Borno people and is adjudged to be a game-changer in the country.

BusinessDay Sunday findings revealed that during the occupation, the terrorists destroyed virtually all public service facilities like hospitals; at least 270 hospitals and primary healthcare centres were destroyed in Borno State between 2013 and 2017, which include 248 primary healthcare centres and 20 general hospitals, most of which are in 21 local government areas of the state and were captured by Boko Haram terrorists in 2014 for nearly three years.

For Governor Babagana Zulum, education and healthcare service delivery are not just policies; they are a bedrock of development and the long-term antidote to violent extremism. The Zulum administration has employed nearly 2,000 health workers in the past two years to address workforce shortages and improve healthcare delivery across the state. Evidently, the recruitment of doctors, nurses, and other health professionals has helped reduce staffing gaps in the state’s healthcare system.

On October 23, 2026, once again in Borno State, it rewrote the narrative of its healthcare service system with the multi-billion-naira Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital, described as a masterclass and the biggest hospital in the West African sub-region, equipped with the most advanced equipment, built by Governor Babagana Zulum’s administration.

Looking at the event, Kashim Shettima, Vice President of Nigeria, while speaking at the inauguration of Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital in Borno State. He described investments in healthcare and education as essential to economic productivity, national development and the recovery of communities affected by insecurity.

The Vice President stated that the true measure of public service lies not in the privileges of office but in the institutions established and the opportunities created for future generations.

According to him, ‘Someday, and that day is nearer than we imagine, we shall be judged by what survives our time in office. The offices we held, the aides who surrounded us and the length of our convoys will have surrendered their importance. What will endure are the institutions we built, the roads we constructed and the lives made better because we served.

Commending Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum for prioritising healthcare and education, Shettima said the newly commissioned facilities demonstrate how purposeful investments can translate into practical benefits for citizens.

He noted that the teaching hospital would bring specialised healthcare closer to communities, reduce the burden of travelling outside the state for treatment and strengthen medical training and research.

‘For a family already burdened by illness, the cost and anxiety of travelling outside the state can compound their suffering. This hospital offers the prospect of expert attention nearer home,’ he said.

On education, the Vice President observed that rebuilding schools in communities affected by insurgency was fundamental to restoring hope, expanding opportunities and preparing the next generation for productive participation in the economy.

‘In a state the communities of which have endured the disruption of insurgency, a classroom carries a particular significance. It restores the expectation that tomorrow can be planned for,’ Senator Shettima stated.

Drawing from his experience as a former Governor of Borno State, the Vice President acknowledged the challenges of delivering development amid insecurity and praised Governor Zulum’s determination to sustain investment in critical public infrastructure.

‘To improve lives and livelihoods in a state that has withstood such a climate of insecurity demands uncommon fortitude. I know the weight of that responsibility. As the street language goes, I have been there and done that,’ he said.

He conveyed President Tinubu’s felicitations to the government and people of Borno State, and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the state’s reconstruction, peacebuilding and human capital development efforts.

‘Our investment in human capital proceeds from the conviction that a healthier, better educated population can produce more, earn more and contribute more. The Federal Government will continue to support Borno’s efforts to consolidate peace, rebuild communities and expand opportunities for its people,’ he said.

The Vice President noted that Borno’s reconstruction experience offers valuable lessons in rebuilding communities emerging from conflict, particularly through the restoration of essential public institutions.

He commended the state government, healthcare professionals, educators, contractors, development partners and security personnel for their contributions to the projects.

Shettima, however, stressed that the success of the facilities would ultimately depend on their ability to deliver quality services to the people.

‘The responsibility now is to keep these institutions worthy of that faith. Their value will be measured in the care patients receive and the education children acquire,’ he said.

The Vice President stated that the true measure of public service lies not in the privileges of office but in the institutions established and the opportunities created for future generations.

This is a game-changer in health sector – Analyst

Commenting, Abubakar Mohammed Kareto, a Public Affairs analyst, maintained that for years, Borno bore the brunt of a devastating insurgency, suffering billions of naira in destroyed public infrastructure and managing a lean internally generated revenue base.

He alluded that the recent commissioning of the 400-bed Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital (KIUTH) in Maiduguri marks a decisive turning point in Borno State’s journey from conflict to recovery.

‘For over a decade, residents faced a severe shortage of advanced medical care, forcing families to make long, dangerous trips to Kano, Zaria, or Abuja for basic scans and surgeries. This lack of facilities drained household savings and cost lives. By delivering a modern tertiary hospital directly to the people, the state has moved beyond emergency relief to build a lasting public health institution that serves not just Borno, but the entire Lake Chad Basin.

‘What makes this milestone remarkable is the fiscal context in which it happened. Yet, while wealthier littoral states and oil-rich counterparts receiving hundreds of billions in monthly federal allocations and 13percent derivation often struggle to complete secondary clinics or keep diagnostic machines running, Borno has quietly outpaced them.

‘By committing over 15percent of its annual budget to health-meeting the benchmark set by the African Union’s Abuja Declaration, which over 30 Nigerian states consistently miss-the state proved that developmental outcomes depend on political discipline and fiscal hygiene, not the size of a treasury.

He opened an on-site medical oxygen plant to remove the supply bottlenecks and vendor price spikes that crippled many healthcare centres across the country during recent emergencies, and ensuring continuous care for critical patients.

‘Equipped with a 1.5-Tesla MRI machine, a 160-slice CT scanner, digital mammography, and modern ultrasound suites, the facility matches the standard found in top tier-one centres in Lagos and Abuja. These tools end the long wait times that often turned curable illnesses into terminal conditions, allowing complex neuro-trauma and cancer cases to be handled close to patients’ support systems.

‘This landmark project is not an isolated achievement; it builds on seven years of steady healthcare investments under Governor Babagana Umara Zulum. Since 2019, the administration has constructed and refurbished over 70 solar-powered Primary Healthcare Centres in resettled communities, bringing maternal and child care to the grassroots. At the secondary level, general hospitals in towns like Gwoza and Monguno were upgraded, alongside the expansion of the Biu General Hospital into a 400-bed Specialist Hospital for southern Borno.’ He commended.

It will reduce medical tourism in the country – Zulum

However, Governor Zulum said the teaching hospital stood as one of the most tangible expressions of his administration’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art healthcare facilities for the people of Borno State.

He explained that the teaching hospital was not merely another building but a centre of learning, a provider of specialised healthcare services and a facility that would bring hope to millions of people across the North East.

The governor said the facility would serve as a clinical training centre for the College of Health Sciences of Kashim Ibrahim University, providing training for medical students, resident doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals.

Governor Zulum assured that the Borno State Government would continue to invest in the Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital, saying, ‘We have recruited and we will continue to recruit qualified healthcare professionals. We will provide equipment, utility infrastructure and an enabling environment for the hospital to function at the highest standard.’

Also, the Pro-Chancellor of Kashim Ibrahim University, Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, said the commissioning of the teaching hospital represented a remarkable achievement and a milestone in the collective commitment to providing quality healthcare services, medical education, research and professional training.

He expressed optimism that the hospital would strengthen healthcare delivery in Borno State and contribute meaningfully to the well-being of people across the North East.

On his part, the Chairman of the Governing Board of Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, described the hospital as a landmark project of unprecedented significance in the state.

Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director of Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Ibrahim Musa Kida, said the greatness of the hospital would be determined not merely by its buildings and equipment but by the quality of its personnel and the dedication of its staff.

On her part, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Prof. Fatima Kyari, assured that the Council would facilitate the accreditation of all relevant medical science courses at the institution.

This hospital is designed to reposition Borno as a leading state in quality healthcare delivery and medical training in Nigeria, the 400-bed teaching hospital comprises 13 specialist departments, including General Outpatient, Accident and Emergency, Radiology, Medical, Surgical, Paediatrics, Internal Medicine, Physiotherapy, and a Simulation Centre, among others.

Stanbic Bank Botswana has launched a 1.37 billion pula ($94 million) initial public offering to sell a 20 percent stake in the lender, marking the latest attempt to deepen local ownership and revive activity on the Botswana Stock Exchange after years without new listings.

The offer comprises 319.4 million existing shares priced at 4.30 pula each, according to a statement issued by the bank on Friday. Stanbic Africa Holdings, a subsidiary of South Africa’s Standard Bank Group and the selling shareholder, will retain an 80 percent stake in the Botswana business after the sale.

Retail investors have been allocated 63.9 million shares, while the remaining shares are reserved for institutional investors. The public offer will close on November 27, with trading expected to begin on the Botswana Stock Exchange on December 7.

The bank said the listing is intended to broaden local ownership, support citizen economic empowerment and encourage wider participation in the country’s capital markets. By making part of the business available to domestic investors, the offer will give individuals and institutions an opportunity to take an ownership position in a lender that has been part of the Standard Bank Group’s operations in Botswana.

The IPO is the third share offer on the local exchange in recent weeks, following a decade-long period without new listings. The recent activity could signal renewed interest in the market and provide a boost to efforts to attract more companies and investors to Botswana’s capital markets.

Biodun Oyebanji, Governor of Ekiti State, has inaugurated the State’s All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council with a charge to accelerate grassroots mobilisation and secure victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The inauguration ceremony, held at the Conference Hall of the Governor’s office in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, brought together key party leaders, including the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. (Hon.) Adeoye Aribasoye, former governors, former Deputy Governors, serving and former members of the national assembly and the state House of Assembly, serving federal political appointees, governorship candidates of other political parties, local government chairmen, and political stakeholders from across the 16 local government areas of the state.

Governor Oyebanji emphasised that the critical task before the council is not organising campaigns and rallies, but ensuring that registered voters who failed to participate in previous elections are identified and mobilised to vote.

He said the focus should be on unit-by-unit tracking of registered voters across the State.

Reflecting on the state’s gubernatorial poll where the party secured 85.7% of total votes cast, Governor Oyebanji declared that anything short of 90 percent of the total number of registered voters for President Tinubu would be a collective failure on the PCC members.

‘The real work is to get the voters registered in a unit and identify those who don’t want to vote. Our focus should be on voter tracking.’

Expressing concern over poor turnout figures during the governorship election in June, Governor Oyebanji highlighted the gap between one million registered voters and less than 400,000 citizens who actually voted, tasking the committee to discover why over 600,000 registered cardholders stayed at home, stressing the need to bring them to the polls in January to vote for the President.

Acknowledging potential operational obstacles with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic transmission, the Governor urged party stakeholders to develop strategic workarounds through continuous voter education and mobilisation.

‘We don’t like to do the heavy lifting. We want to do campaigns, arrange cars and drive round towns. We are not going to do that this time around. Our real work is to get the voters registered in each unit and identify those who have not come out to vote. After this inauguration, everybody should go out and agree on how we are going to do voter tracking. That is our job.

‘We can’t have a quality collection of leaders like this, and still be sitting on 400,000 votes. That is something we should never contemplate. The most important assignment we have now is to track those voters, to track the 600,000 people who did not come out to vote and find out why they did not come out.’ The Governor asserted.

Earlier, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Barr. Sola Elesin charged members of the Council (PCC) to work assiduously towards securing unprecedented votes for President Tinubu in the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

The APC chairman described the assignment before the council members as a serious national responsibility, expressing confidence that their wealth of political experience and commitment would translate into victory for the President.

Elesin said members of the council had been carefully selected based on their pedigree and previous contributions and proven capacity to deliver electoral victories, urging them to deploy their wealth of experience, political networks and organisational abilities towards ensuring a resounding victory for the party.

He noted that the political landscape in Ekiti had witnessed an unprecedented level of collaboration, with members of other political parties and some governorship candidates also joining the campaign effort. According to the party chairman, the growing coalition reflects the governor’s ability to provide purposeful leadership, demonstrate humility and bring people together, thereby promoting unity and peaceful coexistence in the state.

Delivering an acceptance speech on behalf of the council members, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, assured President Bola Tinubu and Governor Oyebanji of the readiness and commitment of members to deliver an improved electoral performance for the party as he commended the Governor for ensuring that the composition of the council was comprehensive and inclusive of all relevant stakeholders.

He expressed appreciation to the governor for the confidence reposed in the members through their appointments, noting that the inauguration marked the beginning of a serious assignment towards securing victory for President Tinubu in the forthcoming election.

The Senate Leader, however, cautioned against taking the assignment with levity, stressing that the council was determined to surpass the previous electoral record and secure a significantly higher number of votes for the President in Ekiti State.

While also acknowledging the presence of governorship candidates from other political parties and other political leaders at the inauguration, Senator Bamidele described their participation as significant to the collective political effort to re-elect President Tinubu.

The Senate Leader welcomed them into the council’s fold and urged them to feel at home, noting that many of them had shared political backgrounds and relationships with the APC before moving to other political platforms. He expressed optimism that their renewed political collaboration would produce a historic outcome that none of the stakeholders would regret.

Pawavox, an election technology platform, has secured the N13 million grand prize from Yiaga Africa to deploy its cryptographic evidence infrastructure ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. The platform is designed to help election observers document incidents at polling units, authenticate photos and videos, and analyse reports in real time, amid growing concerns about misinformation and the use of AI-generated content to undermine electoral credibility. In this interview with TAOFEEK OYEDOKUN, Jason Omu, co-founder of Pawavox, explains how the technology works, how it differs from INEC’s IReV portal, the challenges of deploying it across more than 170,000 polling units and the role it could play in strengthening electoral transparency and accountability. Excerpts:

Pawavox has secured the N13 million grand prize from Yiaga Africa ahead of the 2027 elections. What problem in Nigeria’s electoral system is your technology designed to solve, and what convinced the judges that your approach could make a difference?

Pawavox solves a three-fold crisis in election monitoring: the data collection bottleneck, the threat of synthetic media (deepfakes), and analysis paralysis in situation rooms.

During an election, observers across 176,000 polling units send in thousands of reports, text, video, and audio in multiple local languages. Without a structured way to collect this, situation rooms are overwhelmed. Secondly, we are entering the AI era. When an observer submits a video of an incident today, the immediate question is: Is this real, or was it AI-generated, edited, or recycled from a past election? Finally, manually transcribing and analysing these thousands of reports takes hundreds of hours of human labour.

Pawavox automates and secures this entire pipeline. We convinced the judges by demonstrating that we can seamlessly capture reports in any local dialect, mathematically verify that the media is authentic and unedited using cryptographic hashing, and instantly analyse that data using our ElectionGPT AI to highlight critical incidents in real time.

You describe Pawavox as a cryptographic evidence infrastructure. In practical terms, how does the technology work, and how can an ordinary voter, observer or journalist use it to verify what happened at a polling unit?

For the ordinary user on the ground, it is as simple as pointing their camera and pressing record. All the complex cryptography happens in the background.

In practical terms, the moment a video or photo is captured through Pawavox, our infrastructure immediately ‘signs’ it. It locks in the device’s unique ID, the precise geo-tag, and the exact timestamp, creating what is known as a cryptographic hash. This acts as an immutable digital seal.

If a bad actor intercepts that video and edits even one second of it, the hash breaks. Therefore, when a journalist, tribunal judge, or civil society organisation receives a Pawavox file, the mere presence of an intact cryptographic hash is mathematical proof that the evidence is 100 percent authentic. It takes the guesswork out of digital verification.

Nigeria’s electoral process already has INEC’s IReV portal for publishing polling-unit results. How does Pawavox differ from IReV, and how will your technology complement existing electoral systems rather than duplicate their functions?

INEC’s IReV portal is an excellent tool for transparency, but it is primarily designed for the end of the process – uploading the final tally sheets. However, election integrity is also about the process before the counting begins.

IReV cannot tell you if polling materials arrived on time, if voters were intimidated, or if the process was peaceful and fair throughout the day. Historically, people have relied on unverified WhatsApp or X (Twitter) videos to document these process-related issues, which leads to misinformation. Pawavox fills this gap. We complement IReV by providing irrefutable, cryptographically secured evidence of the actual voting process, ensuring that the journey to those final results was transparent and fair.

You have won the N13 million grand prize. How will the funding be deployed, what milestones do you intend to achieve before the 2027 elections, and will the amount be sufficient to deploy the technology at national scale?

As Nigerians, we are highly resourceful, but to be completely transparent, N13 million is not sufficient to independently mobilise and protect human observers across all 176,000 polling units. However, it is a powerful catalyst for our infrastructure layer.

The funding will be deployed over a strict nine-month operational roadmap. The immediate focus for Q4 is scaling our server capacity and hardening the technology infrastructure to ensure zero downtime during the January 2027 elections. The remainder of the runway will fund the mobilisation and coordination of our civic observer network, as well as post-election data archiving.

Nigeria has more than 170,000 polling units, with significant differences in internet connectivity, device access and security conditions. How will Pawavox operate in areas with poor connectivity, and how will you prevent its deployment from excluding voters or observers in underserved communities?

We built Pawavox specifically for the realities of the Nigerian landscape. We employ an ‘offline-first’ architecture. The cryptographic hashing happens directly on the device, meaning it does not require an active internet connection to secure the evidence. If an observer is in a deep rural ward with zero connectivity, Pawavox encrypts and stores the data locally. The moment the device catches even a faint 2G network signal, it automatically syncs to our servers.

Regarding security, we built this with the safety of frontline journalists and observers in mind. Any media captured via Pawavox is stored in a highly encrypted, hidden vault within the app – it never saves to the phone’s standard gallery. If an observer is harassed and their phone is searched, the videos cannot be found or deleted by malicious actors.

Election technology can become a target for cyberattacks, political interference and attempts to discredit independent monitoring. Who will oversee Pawavox’s verification process, will its methodology be open to independent scrutiny, and how will you protect the evidence and the identities of those submitting it?

The beauty of cryptographic hashing is that it relies on decentralised mathematics, not human intermediaries. However, to ensure total transparency, Pawavox is an open-source platform. Our codebase and methodology are open to independent scrutiny by software engineers, cybersecurity experts, and civil society.

To protect against political interference and data poisoning, our system tracks the unique device IDs attached to every hash. If a coordinated cyberattack or a bad actor attempts to flood the system with malicious or false reports, we can instantly identify the anomalous device IDs and quarantine that data from the central observation pool.

Looking towards 2027, what concrete change should Nigerians expect Pawavox to deliver? Will the platform work with INEC, Yiaga Africa, other civil society organisations, election observers and newsrooms, and how will you measure whether it has improved electoral transparency and accountability?

The era of dragging unverified AI images and recycled videos into election tribunals or social media debates is over. The concrete change Nigerians should expect from Pawavox in 2027 is the delivery of absolute, mathematical truth.

Because our infrastructure is open and verifiable, we look forward to collaborating closely with Yiaga Africa, other leading civil society organisations, newsrooms, and ultimately INEC itself. We measure our success by one metric: the adoption of cryptographic evidence as the undisputed standard for transparency. When the judiciary, the media, and the public no longer have to guess if an election video is real, we will have successfully improved democratic accountability in Nigeria.

Rising operating costs, empty return trips and underutilised trucks continue to undermine profitability in Nigeria’s haulage industry, prompting stakeholders to explore technology and stronger collaboration as solutions at the forthcoming HAULMACE 2026 conference in Lagos.

The event, organized by Haulage and Logistics Magazine is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, November 4, at The Stable Event Center, Surulere, Lagos, under the theme, ‘Technology as an Enabler for More Efficient Haulage Operations: The Need for Industry Collaboration.’

It will bring together operators, manufacturers, technology providers and other industry players to examine how digital platforms and stronger collaboration can improve goods transportation.

A major issue expected to feature in the discussions is the problem of empty return trips, where trucks deliver goods but travel back without securing cargo for the return journey.

The practice leaves transport operators with unproductive vehicle capacity while still incurring expenses on fuel, maintenance, driver wages and other operational costs, reducing the revenue potential of their fleets.

Alfred Okugbeni, convener of HAULMACE, said inadequate coordination between cargo owners and transport operators, alongside underutilised trucking assets and rising operating expenses, continued to undermine the efficiency and profitability of the industry.

He said digital freight-matching platforms, data sharing and improved fleet management systems could help connect available trucks with cargo owners, reduce empty journeys and improve vehicle utilisation.

According to him, stronger collaboration among manufacturers, cargo owners, logistics providers, haulage operators and technology companies is necessary to develop practical solutions to the industry’s operational challenges.

The conference will also examine how technology adoption and strategic partnerships can reduce avoidable costs, maximise trucking capacity and improve the commercial sustainability of haulage businesses.

Jean-Claude Homawoo, co-founder and chief executive officer of Lori Systems, will deliver the keynote address, bringing perspectives on the application of logistics technology to transportation operations.

The event will also feature a panel discussion involving Anuoluwapo Agboola, chief operating officer of Dukeridges; Omotunde Adunbi Ogunbowale, chief executive officer of Tripple A Logistics; and Oluwafemi Oladokun, managing director of Trucksoft Logistics – Telematics Services.

The panellists are expected to discuss operational realities in Nigeria’s haulage sector and examine how digital solutions, better coordination and industry partnerships can address existing constraints.

Beyond the conference sessions, an exhibition will provide an opportunity for participating organisations to showcase products and services, while stakeholders explore potential business relationships and partnerships across the logistics value chain.

HAULMACE has been organised annually by Haulage and Logistics Magazine since 2015 to promote industry dialogue, knowledge sharing and business networking.

Discussing Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage brings to mind a vibrant tapestry of costumes, music, dance, and visual arts, as well as our foods and drinks. When we extend the conversation to the rest of Africa, the world usually listens to our stories. Nigerian musicians are taking Afrobeats to international audiences; Nollywood productions are travelling across borders; African fashion designers are attracting global attention; and writers are challenging conventional narratives about the continent.

These creative endeavours do more than entertain as they influence perceptions, shape identities and create economic opportunities.

This is why the forthcoming Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) is particularly significant. Scheduled for November 5-8, 2026, at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos, the event will bring together creative professionals, investors, financiers, policymakers and business leaders from Africa and the diaspora.

Organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, the African Union Commission and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, CANEX WKND aims to connect African creative talent with investment, markets and commercial opportunities. Its theme, ‘One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World: From FESTAC ’77 to CANEX ’27’, captures the relationship between cultural identity and economic ambition.

The event should be understood as more than a colourful gathering of artistes, performers and entrepreneurs. It presents an opportunity to rethink how Africa organises, finances and commercialises its creative industries.

Culture as an economic asset

For too long, discussions about Africa’s cultural heritage have concentrated on its historical and social significance. Those dimensions remain important, but culture also possesses considerable economic value. Music, film, fashion, publishing, visual arts, design, gastronomy and sport can generate income, create jobs, attract tourism and expand exports.

The global visibility of Afrobeats and Nollywood illustrates the possibilities. Nigerian music has developed international audiences, while the country’s film industry has established a distinctive presence in global entertainment. African fashion, cuisine and literature are also contributing to the continent’s growing cultural influence.

However, international popularity does not automatically translate into commensurate economic returns for creators and their home countries. For example, a song can become a global sensation without its creators possessing the commercial infrastructure required to maximise royalties.

The challenge, therefore, is to move from visibility to value creation. Africa must develop creative businesses that can produce consistently, compete internationally, protect their intellectual property and retain a greater share of the revenue generated by their work. This requires a combination of investment, professional management, appropriate regulation, reliable infrastructure and access to markets.

CANEX WKND offers a platform for bringing these elements together.

The journey from FESTAC ’77 to a commercial future

Nigeria’s hosting of CANEX WKND carries historical significance. In 1977, Lagos hosted the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, popularly known as FESTAC ’77. The festival assembled artistes, writers, musicians, performers and cultural representatives from Africa and the diaspora in a remarkable expression of Pan-African identity.

Culture journalist, enthusiast and practitioner Jahman Anikulapo, who is also the editorial director of Naija Times, an online newspaper, says FESTAC demonstrated the capacity of culture to unite people across geographical boundaries and historical experiences. According to him, FESTAC also affirmed the importance of African heritage in a world where the continent’s stories were frequently interpreted through external perspectives.

Almost half a century later, the central challenge has evolved. It is an opportunity for researchers to explore how Africa must preserve the spirit of cultural solidarity while building commercially sustainable creative industries.

The approaching 50th anniversary of FESTAC in 2027 provides an opportunity to assess what has been achieved and what remains unfinished. Cultural celebrations are valuable, but their legacies should extend beyond performances, exhibitions and commemorative ceremonies. They should inspire institutions, businesses and policies that enable creative professionals to build enduring careers.

What Lagos can learn from Algiers: Turning deals into lasting impact

The case for CANEX WKND is strengthened by the results recorded at its 2024 edition in Algiers, Algeria. Held from October 16 to 19, the gathering attracted nearly 4,000 participants from 81 countries, featured 108 exhibitors and facilitated and agreed deals valued at more than US$540 million, according to Afreximbank. These figures suggest that a creative economy platform can do more than bring artistes together; it can connect cultural production with finance, investment and commercial partnerships.

One of the most significant transactions was a pound 245 million global facility agreement with New World Television (NWTV) to part-finance its acquisition of sports broadcasting rights across 24 African countries. The agreement demonstrated the commercial value of sports content and the opportunities available when African businesses secure the resources to acquire and distribute premium media rights.

Afreximbank also announced a US$3 million financing facility for Mediwood Studios to support the expansion of Tunisia’s film industry. This targeted intervention highlighted the importance of financing production capacity, with potential implications for employment, skills development and the growth of a regional film ecosystem.

Another initiative, CANEX Presents the Angels, demonstrated how smaller creative enterprises could attract investment through direct engagement with potential backers. At the pitch session, angel investors committed US350,000tosupportthreecreativebusinesses.CameroonianfashiondesignerKibonenNfireceivedaUS250,000 pledge from investor Moji Hunponu-Wusu, while a consortium committed a further US$100,000 towards investments involving Kibonen Nfi and Zimbabwean designers Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri and Thulani Ngazimbi.

The event also invested in emerging African storytellers. CANEX Shorts selected three winners from 147 submissions for its short-film competition, with cash prizes awarded to filmmakers from Ghana, Kenya and Botswana. The CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa recognised Cassava Republic Press for Female Fear Factory, a book by Pumla Dineo Gqola.

These initiatives connected creative recognition with opportunities for professional development, financing and market exposure. They also demonstrated the breadth of the creative economy, from broadcasting and film production to fashion, publishing and short-form storytelling. This is why the Lagos edition should facilitate similar and bigger deals.

Afreximbank has committed US$2 billion to support Africa’s creative industries over the 2024-2027 period. The challenge is to ensure that the commitment translates into accessible finance, viable businesses, stronger production capacity and sustainable employment across the continent.

CANEX WKND 2026 should build on Algiers by demonstrating that the platform can facilitate transactions and help turn financial commitments into enduring economic outcomes.

Financing talent and viable businesses

One of the most important barriers confronting African creative entrepreneurs is access to finance. Conventional lenders may consider creative businesses too risky because their assets are often intangible, revenues can be unpredictable and intellectual property is not always straightforward to value or use as collateral.

This financing gap prevents many businesses from expanding beyond small-scale operations. The CANEX Finance Summit and Deal Room provide opportunities for eligible creative businesses to present commercially viable projects to financiers and investors. For the Lagos edition, the priority should be to convert networking into transactions.

Investors need credible projects, transparent financial information and confidence that contractual obligations will be honoured. Entrepreneurs, in turn, need fair financing terms, mentorship and access to the expertise required to manage growth.

Not every creative idea will become a viable business, and not every project will attract investment. The objective should be to build a system in which promising enterprises can be assessed fairly and supported according to their commercial potential.

Governments and development finance institutions should also explore financing models suited to the creative sector, including guarantees, equity investment, revenue-based financing and facilities that recognise intellectual property as a potential source of economic value without abandoning sound commercial discipline.

Intellectual property and the value of ownership

Africa’s creative ambitions also depend on effective intellectual property protection. A creator’s work is an economic asset. Copyright, trademarks, licensing agreements and other legal protections help determine who can use that work, under what conditions and who receives payment. When these arrangements are weak or poorly enforced, creators risk losing income even when their work achieves widespread recognition.

Digital technology has expanded opportunities for African content to reach global audiences. Streaming services, social media, online publishing and digital marketplaces have reduced some traditional barriers to distribution. But they have also made it more important to understand licensing, royalties, digital rights management and the commercial terms governing the use of creative content.

While African governments must strengthen the institutions responsible for protecting intellectual property, there is also a need for stronger commercial literacy. Talent alone is not enough. Creators must understand contracts, negotiate distribution agreements, maintain records of ownership and distinguish between immediate exposure and long-term commercial value.

Africa should not be satisfied with exporting creativity while surrendering control over the assets that make it valuable.

AfCFTA and the opportunity of a continental market

Another reason CANEX WKND matters is its relationship with the African Continental Free Trade Area. Africa’s creative entrepreneurs need access to markets beyond their national borders. The AfCFTA provides a framework for expanding intra-African trade, including trade in services. However, the existence of a continental trade agreement does not automatically eliminate practical barriers.

Differences in regulations, payment systems, customs procedures, professional standards, distribution infrastructure and consumer markets can still complicate cross-border business. Language differences also require attention, particularly when creative products move between Anglophone, Francophone, Lusophone and Arabic-speaking markets.

CANEX WKND can help bridge these gaps by bringing businesses together, encouraging partnerships and identifying practical obstacles that policymakers need to address. The objective should be to create a more integrated African marketplace in which talent, capital, services and creative products can move more efficiently. Such a market would also strengthen the continent’s negotiating position with international distributors, technology platforms and investors.

Lagos must deliver more than hospitality.

Hosting CANEX WKND provides Nigeria with an opportunity to demonstrate its creative capacity and strengthen its position as a meeting point for African commerce and culture.

Lagos is an appropriate setting. Its music, film, fashion, publishing, advertising, entertainment and technology ecosystems provide a foundation for engagement between creative professionals and commercial partners. The city also offers international participants access to Nigerian entrepreneurs and a wider network of African businesses.

But the benefits of hosting a major international gathering should not be measured only by attendance, hotel occupancy, media coverage or the visibility of prominent personalities. Nigeria must ensure that local creative businesses participate meaningfully. Small and medium-sized enterprises should be able to meet prospective buyers, access technical expertise, explore financing and build partnerships that survive beyond the event. Emerging artistes and entrepreneurs should have opportunities to learn from established professionals and investors.

The government should also consider what happens after the delegates leave. Improved coordination among relevant ministries, stronger industry data, clearer regulations and more accessible support for creative businesses would provide a more durable legacy than a successful four-day programme.

This matters particularly as Nigeria prepares to host the Intra-African Trade Fair in 2027. CANEX WKND can help build relationships and demonstrate the organisational capacity required for a larger continental trade gathering.

Technology and the next generation

Technology is reshaping the creative economy. Artificial intelligence, digital production tools, online distribution and new payment systems are changing how content is created, marketed, distributed and monetised.

For Africa’s young creative professionals, these developments offer opportunities to reach global audiences without necessarily depending on traditional gatekeepers. However, they also introduce questions about copyright, consent, fair remuneration, data ownership and the use of creative material to train artificial intelligence systems.

African policymakers and industry leaders should ensure that innovation does not undermine the rights of the people whose creativity gives these technologies value.

Investment in skills is equally important. Training in production, design, digital marketing, business management, financial literacy and intellectual property can help transform informal creative activity into sustainable enterprise. Access to affordable broadband, reliable electricity, appropriate workspaces and production facilities remains essential.

It must be noted that Nigeria’s ministers, Jumoke Oduwole (Investment, Trade and Industry) and Hannatu Musawa (Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy), have been strong advocates for a creative economy that is treated as a serious contributor to our economic diversification.

Measuring success beyond the spectacle

CANEX WKND provides a valuable opportunity to celebrate African creativity, but the event’s most important achievements may not be visible on the concert stage or the fashion runway. The Lagos edition should establish a clear framework for measuring success. Organisers and relevant institutions should report the value of deals announced, the financing actually disbursed, the number of businesses supported, the jobs created or sustained, the markets entered and the cross-border contracts completed.

They should also track outcomes for young people, women-led enterprises and emerging creative professionals. These indicators would provide a clearer picture of whether CANEX is strengthening the foundations of the creative economy or merely generating temporary excitement.

A post-event scorecard, followed by periodic progress reports, would distinguish announcements from completed transactions and identify areas where further intervention is required. Such transparency would strengthen investor confidence and help policymakers determine which financing models produce the greatest economic value.

CANEX WKND 2026 offers an opportunity to advance that agenda. Its significance lies in helping to build an economy in which African stories, designs, performances and ideas generate sustainable value for African people.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has reeled out what it described as the sins of President Bola Tinubu’s administration against opposition parties, accusing the government of orchestrating attacks on opposition leaders, demolishing party facilities, denying rivals campaign venues, intimidating political figures and using financial inducements to weaken opposition ranks ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement on Sunday signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, its Director of Media and Publicity, the ADC-PCC said the incidents went beyond conventional political rivalry, describing them as a state-sponsored assault on freedom of association and the constitutional right of Nigerians to participate in politics.

‘These are calculated atrocious actions skewed to scare Nigerians ahead of the general elections,’ the council declared.

Ologbondiyan cited reported attacks on ADC leaders and members in Kaduna, the alleged assault on Alhaji Munir Dan Iya, the party’s Sokoto governorship candidate, by operatives of the Sokoto Marshals along Airport Road, Sokoto, and the reported demolition of the party’s governorship campaign office in Kebbi State.

The council also accused authorities of denying Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, access to a campaign venue in Enugu State.

It further referenced reported attacks on Omoyele Sowore,

the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, and other opposition figures, arguing that the incidents pointed to growing political intolerance.

The ADC-PCC warned that the alleged actions would neither weaken the opposition nor extinguish Nigerians’ democratic aspirations, recalling the resistance that frustrated former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third-term agenda.

It accused the APC of attempting to deny other political parties the same democratic freedoms it enjoyed while in opposition, insisting that political participation and freedom of association must be guaranteed irrespective of party affiliation.

The council also raised concerns over the continued detention of Nasir El-Rufai,

its National Vice Chairman and former Kaduna State governor, alleging that he was being unlawfully detained and denied bail.

‘The world is watching, and the burden of this illegality rests squarely on those responsible,’ the campaign council said.

On alleged attempts to weaken opposition ranks through financial inducements, the council accused the ruling party of offering money and material benefits to compromise political actors.

‘President Tinubu is at liberty to corruptly buy a few consciences with money and material inducements. Millions of Naira are being offered to weak individuals to mortgage their rights, but not all Nigerians are for sale,’ it declared.

Lotus Capital is targeting a bigger role in financing the country’s productive economy, with plans to expand its investments in manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure, real estate, and renewable energy following two decades of building the country’s non-interest financial services market.

Hajara Adeola, managing director and chief executive officer of Lotus Capital, made this known during the anniversary celebration, held on Friday in Lagos, themed ’20 Years of Creating Wealth the Halal Way.’

‘We want to move closer to the real economy. We want to contribute to the productive economy, finding innovative ways through technology as well to finance the agriculture sector, the real sector, the real estate sector, and the renewable energy sector,’ Adeola said.

The ambition comes as Nigerian businesses continue to face limited access to affordable long-term financing, particularly in capital-intensive industries where investments require substantial funding and longer gestation periods.

Adeola said Lotus Capital intended to work more closely with entrepreneurs and industrial groups to address their financing requirements, from smaller businesses to large corporations.

‘We would deepen our partnerships with industrial players, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and international financial institutions to develop financing solutions for productive assets, marking a strategic shift towards supporting economic activity beyond traditional wealth management,’ she said.

Fola Adeola, chairman of the board of Lotus Capital, said the company’s 20-year journey had demonstrated the viability of non-interest finance in Nigeria, despite initial resistance and limited public understanding of the concept.

Reflecting on the company’s beginnings, he recalled that its establishment was a bold move at a time when conventional banking and capital market instruments dominated Nigeria’s financial system.

‘When my wife said she wanted to set up an Islamic financial institution in this city, I said to myself, you know what, we have to do this. And I told her that, you know, as one person, I’ll back you, and we’ll go on the journey, but I don’t know Islamic finance at all,’ he said.

He said the company’s first investment product, the Halal Fund, exceeded its initial fundraising target, demonstrating that demand for Sharia-compliant investments existed beyond initial expectations.

The board chairman said Lotus Capital’s contribution went beyond introducing investment products to helping Nigerians understand that non-interest finance could operate alongside conventional financial services while providing investors with alternatives aligned with their values.

He argued that financing instruments should be assessed on their economic value rather than religious perceptions.

The board chair also called for a more ambitious approach to non-interest finance, particularly in addressing Nigeria’s shortage of long-term capital for industrial development.

His position aligns with that of Aliko Dangote, president and chief executive of Dangote Group, who challenged Lotus Capital to move beyond incremental expansion and become a major facilitator of industrial financing.

Dangote, during his keynote speech, said his family was among Lotus Capital’s earliest major corporate clients. He added that the country’s financing structure remained heavily dependent on short-term, expensive funding, creating challenges for businesses undertaking long-term investments.

‘Industrial investment requires substantial financing, often with a long gestation period, before meaningful returns can be realised. Unfortunately, much of our domestic financing remains relatively short-term and expensive,’ he said.

He argued that non-interest financing instruments, including asset-backed financing, leasing arrangements, equity participation, profit-sharing structures and Sukuk, could broaden the pool of capital available to businesses.

‘These instruments do not eliminate commercial risk or financial costs. However, when appropriately structured, they can provide greater flexibility, broaden the investor base and create additional channels for mobilising patient capital,’ Dangote said.

He urged Lotus Capital to extend its involvement beyond government-backed infrastructure projects to private-sector investments, particularly manufacturing plants, industrial parks, ports, agricultural processing facilities, and renewable energy projects.

Dangote said the next phase should involve making non-interest finance a more significant contributor to Nigeria’s industrial development rather than limiting its relevance to a niche segment of the financial market.

‘Twenty years in business is an important achievement, but twenty years of pioneering a new financial concept, building public confidence and sustaining an institution through changing economic conditions is an even greater accomplishment,’ he said.

Lotus Capital’s expansion strategy builds on its two-decade contribution to Nigeria’s non-interest financial services market. The company had established four Securities and Exchange Commission-registered public mutual funds and collaborated with the Nigerian Exchange to develop the NGX Lotus Islamic Index.

It also advised the Federal Government on its first three sovereign Sukuk issuances, which, according to management, supported the construction of more than 4,000 kilometres of roads and nine bridges.

Its latest initiatives include the Waqf Endowment Fund, a mutual fund structure that channels investment income to charitable causes in perpetuity. Lotus Capital also founded Lotus Bank, which the company identified as Nigeria’s third non-interest bank.

The wider industry now comprises at least five asset management companies, five Islamic banks, five Takaful insurance companies, and more than 20 mutual funds, according to the managing director.

Gregory Ogbegbor, head of structured finance at Lotus Capital, said the company’s early years were characterised by limited awareness of Islamic finance, requiring sustained investor education to demonstrate its commercial viability.

‘The journey has been tough, but we fought through. Islamic finance then, when we started, nobody knew about Islamic finance. So we had to do a lot of work in terms of educating people,’ he said.