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Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Tony Elumelu, has been honoured with the 2025 Appeal of Conscience Award by the Appeal of Conscience Foundation (ACF) in New York.

The award, founded by Rabbi Arthur Schneier, recognises leaders who promote peace, coexistence, and economic empowerment. Elumelu’s wife, Awele Elumelu, received the award on his behalf and delivered his acceptance remarks at the gala.

In his speech, Elumelu dedicated the award to colleagues recently lost in a tragic incident, and to young African entrepreneurs supported through his foundation. ‘Before all else, I wish to honour their memories with a moment of silence.’

Elumelu, founder of Heirs Holdings and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, emphasised his philosophy of Africapitalism, the belief that the private sector plays a critical role in driving inclusive growth.

He noted that his businesses employ more than 40,000 people globally, including through UBA, which operates in New York.

‘Through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, a personal commitment we made in 2010, we have identified, trained, mentored, and provided over USD100million in seed funding to over 24,000 young African entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries.’

‘By empowering a generation with economic opportunities and the means to shape their own destinies, we are combating the despair that fuels economic instability, migration, and insecurity,’ he said. Elumelu added that there’s more to be done. Thus, the Appeal of Conscience Foundation award not only strengthens my resolve to do more, to deepen our impact, but it is a call out for collaboration with those who share similar values.

The 2025 ceremony also honoured Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York.

Rabbi Schneier, founder of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, praised Elumelu as ‘a beacon of ethical entrepreneurship and visionary leadership.’

‘Business can be a powerful force for peace, stability, and human dignity. His commitment to uplifting others is a living example of conscience in action,’ he added.

Brian Moynihan, chair and CEO of Bank of America and Gala Chair, described the honourees as embodiments of moral leadership.

He said, ‘The Appeal of Conscience Foundation has chosen to honour Tony Elumelu and Cardinal Dolan because they personify the moral leadership and global responsibility that ACF stands for. Their works in faith, community, and economic empowerment remind us that progress and conscience go hand in hand.’

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended its industrial action, which commenced on Monday.

This follows the reconciliatory meetings which took place in Abuja on Monday and Tuesday, at the instance of Muhammad Dingyadi, the minister of labour and employment. Dangote Refinery, at the meeting had agreed to deploy disengaged workers, while PENGASSAN committed to call off the strike.

PENGASSAN had embarked on the strike action to protest the sack of 800 workers by Dangote Refinery. The Association had said the action is an affront to all workers in Nigeria and a deliberate violation of Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and ILO conventions. However, Festus Osifo, President of PENGASSAN, who announced the suspension on Wednesday in Abuja, noted that the union suspended the strike strictly out of respect for the Federal Government and its institutions involved in the conciliation process.

He warned that the union would not hesitate to resume the strike if Dangote’s management fail to act in accordance to the agreement to recall the affected staff.

He said: ‘We are not happy with the terms of the agreement because it did not capture our main demand of recalling the 800 sacked Nigerians. But out of respect for government institutions, for the National Security Adviser, the DSS, the Chief Reconciliator of the Federation, and ministers who worked tirelessly into the early hours of the morning to mediate, we decided to suspend the action.

‘However, let me be clear: if Dangote fails to keep its part, we will resume immediately, without any warning.

‘We know that Dangote does not play by the rules or respect agreements. We believe and suspect that some of the promises extracted during the negotiations will not be honoured. But because we respect due process and institutions of government, we will give them that benefit of doubt. Yet, any breach will be met with severe and immediate response.’ Osifo speaking further, explained that PENGASSAN’s resolve to withdraw services nationwide was to protect young oil and gas workers who voluntarily agreed to be part of the union.

He noted that the oil and gas workforce has carried the burden of Nigeria’s economy for decades, providing over 90 percent of the nation’s foreign exchange earnings. ‘We know who we are and what we stand for. We are patriots who love this country more than any single individual, and that is why, despite our reservations, we chose to suspend this strike in deference to government efforts.

‘We will be monitoring closely. Any slip, any breach, any part of this agreement that is not kept, we will not issue further notice. We will not give any warning. We will resume the suspended industrial action immediately. That is our resolution.

‘Let’s see where they will take them to, the grey area where we were not happy with was very clear, it was the fact that we wanted them to send all of them to the Refinery but the government moved other wise, to find a middle point.

‘On paper it has been that they will take them back but in reality we have not seen it, so the issue is that we will not be deceived because they said they will take them back, then we will now wait, one, to five days, if we do not see any traction, we will not be deceived and that is why what we said was that we have suspended the industrial action.

‘We are in good faith as a demonstration to government that we respect institution, that we are extremely patriotic but this suspended action, we will go back to the trenches immediately we see any foul play, we will come back without any notice.’

Osifo affirmed that PENGASSAN’s struggle was not against progress but against injustice, and that the union would remain steadfast in defending the rights and welfare of its members, no matter whose interest was at stake.

Sterling Bank has announced the removal of Account Maintenance Fees (AMF) on all personal accounts, marking another bold step in its push for customer-focused banking in Nigeria.

The announcement, made on Independence Day, comes just months after the bank scrapped transfer fees on local online transactions in April. Together, the two decisions position Sterling as one of the most aggressive challengers of long-standing industry practices in the Nigerian banking sector.

In 2024 alone, Nigerian tier-1 banks earned more than ?650 billion from account maintenance and e-banking charges, according to industry data. Sterling’s decision effectively strikes at a key revenue stream for banks, while offering its customers relief from charges that have long been a source of complaint.

‘Every fee we remove is one less barrier between our customers and true financial freedom,’ said Abubakar Suleiman, Managing Director of Sterling Bank. ‘This was the rationale behind eliminating transfer fees in April, and it is the same principle we uphold as we eliminate account maintenance fees.’ Reinforcing this, Obinna Ukachukwu, Growth Executive for Consumer and Business Banking, said:

‘This initiative is about building lasting relationships that fuel sustainable growth. We put transparency and customer value first, and in doing so, we are building a foundation that serves both our customers and Sterling’s future.’

Industry analysts say the move could trigger fresh debate on banking charges in Nigeria, particularly as regulators continue to face pressure from consumer groups to reduce the cost of financial services.

Sterling Bank described the scrapping of AMF as a ‘declaration of financial independence’ for its customers, in line with the symbolism of the October 1st holiday.

With the back-to-back removal of transfer fees and now account maintenance charges, Sterling is consolidating its reputation as one of the most disruptive players in Nigeria’s retail banking landscape.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has called on Nigerians to remain steadfast in their commitment to building a stronger and more united nation, even as he observed that the country’s economy has improved tremendously.

Oborevwori, in his Independence message signed by Festus Ahon, his chief press secretary (CPS), urged Nigerians to continue to support President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ as well as his administration’s ‘MORE Agenda’, which, he said, were designed to improve the living standards of the people.

He noted that his government was investing heavily in massive infrastructure upgrades across Delta State, advancing a power revolution through a renewable energy mix, and creating an enabling environment to attract foreign direct investments. The efforts, he explained, were aimed at making life more meaningful for Deltans and residents and significantly boosting the state’s economy. The governor also used the occasion to appeal to all ethnic groups in the state to embrace peace and remain united, stressing that peace was a prerequisite for sustainable development.

Oborevwori reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance and pledged to continue working for the progress and prosperity of all Deltans.

‘Sweet Us’, the masterpiece song by a hitmaker Timaya, was popularised by former governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

While he was in Rivers and now in Abuja, he adopted the song as his signature tune and dances to its rhythm. In fact, he relishes the lyrics every time he commissions a project.

Is he living the music? Your guess is as good of mine!

For 65 years, Nigeria has had a combination of military and democratic regimes. In all of these years, one thing has remained constant- they against us!

The ruling class smiles while we frown. They laugh while we cry. They celebrate while we weep. They enjoy themselves to the fullest while we pine in abject poverty. They parrot patriotism while they are the most unpatriotic, and they preach belt-tightening but revel in all manner of extravagance.

The ruling class has always considered itself a special breed. They use the opportunity of office to better their lots. That is why ‘former this and former that.’ in Nigeria never know poverty again after holding public office no matter how short their exposure to power is. They use the opportunity of their office to make themselves stupendously rich.

Whether it was in the military era or in the democratic era, former and present leaders are among the wealthiest citizens. They flaunt this wealth to the chagrin on many of their compatriots.

Since Independence in 1960, no past president or head of state of Nigeria has ever been officially probed over appropriation or misappropriation of funds, even when there are stark evidences pointing to their high level of maleficence.

In all of these years, Nigeria has been mercilessly milked and raped by so-called leaders.

While the nation’s public debt stock continues to rise dangerously, currently standing at N149.39trillion (about US$97billion, there are few individuals in Nigeria that can be said to be richer than the country with no known viable businesses other than their exposure to public till.

Nigeria’s borrowing binge became a serious concern recently that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas cried out, calling for urgent reforms in borrowing practices and oversight.

‘.Even more concerning is the debt to GDP ratio, which now stands at roughly 52 percent, well above the statutory ceiling of 40 percent set by our own laws. This is not just a budgetary concern but a structural crisis that demands urgent parliamentary attention and coordinated reform,’ Abbas said.

But the greater concern is in the outlandish lifestyle of those who should be cautious about the perilous and state of the country. They rather chose to live above their means and drive the costliest automobiles in town in a country with high multidimensional poverty with the 2022 National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) indicating that 63 percent of the population (133 million people) are multi-dimensionally poor

Today, it is safe for leaders to reel out their efforts in steadying the economy, but at the same time they flaunt their lavish lifestyles before the traumatized citizens. Confucius, Chinese philosopher, said: ‘In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of; in a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.’

What this means is that when a government is effective and provides for its people, the existence of poverty is a sign of a societal failure, reflecting a lack of capability in the populace. Conversely, in a poorly governed society, immense wealth (such as the one being exhibited by leaders) can be seen as a symptom of corruption or exploitation of others, making it a source of shame.

Security

On this front, Nigeria has moved from a nation where citizens moved freely in the past to a point where any movement from one part of the country to another is fraught with enormous danger. Killers in the name of bandits, kidnappers, organ harvesters, Boko Haram and other assorted criminals lay siege every inch of the way, so much so that Nigerians now engage in days of prayer and fasting before they embark on interstate journeys. In those days, parents would hand over their children to complete strangers travelling with commercial busses or train to another part of the country, several kilometers away. Those children arrived their destinations in peace. Such things no longer happen today. Only politicians with heavy armada of security personnel and body guards easily move around these days. Nigeria has descended to a level where communities are signing memorandum of understanding (MoU) with bandits to be allowed to live in peace in their own domain.

Housing

This is another serious challenge in the country. With housing deficit over 20 million, many citizens live in unhealthy environments. Thousands of citizens live and sleep under the bridges and in uncompleted buildings in cities whereas their leaders in government live in palatial homes provided for them with tax payers’ money. They also own multiple houses within and outside Nigeria. A good number of public office holders are said to hide stolen wealth in real estate. High rise buildings and estates are built in highbrow areas of the country and in undeveloped places in Abuja, Lagos and other places across the country.

These buildings are left uninhabited for many years because the owners did not make the money in clean ways. Such buildings serve as store of value, whereas people are homeless everywhere.

Education

The story of education in Nigeria has moved from one that was qualitative to being wishy-washy as a result of many years of neglect of the sector. In the early years after Independence, the nation’s universities attracted students from foreign countries, who deliberately proffered to school in Nigeria to other places. They admired the quality education in Nigeria and they got it.

In those days, there were scholarships to certain levels which enabled children from poor homes to go to school. Many of them, upon graduation, got good jobs through which they lifted their poor families. But as years rolled by, those who were responsible for making policies for the nation’s education watered down everything and scholarship became a matter of ‘who you know.’ Corruption also became entrenched in the system. Education budgets became food for the boys and government schools began to lose their charm. Then, those who used to come from other lands became discouraged and disinterested. Private schools began to spring up to the point that quality became compromised.

Public office holders and other wealthy Nigerians began to send their children abroad for studies. Although Nigeria today has about 276 registered universities (73 federal, 67 state and 136 private) according to the National Universities Commission (NUC), many of them are just existing by name. The growth of a nation’s education cannot be determined by the number of schools there are in a country. It is the quality that determines it. The most pathetic story is that over 70 percent of the graduates every year do not have a job. Many of them are forced to go into ‘menial jobs’ to eke out a living. There is the need, urgent need for that matter, to declare an emergency in the nation’s education sector.

Healthcare

Perhaps, no other sector captures the stunted growth of Nigeria than the health sector. There is no denying the fact that a lot is being done and has been done, but they all amounted to ‘too little too late’. In the past, many Nigerians believed so much in the health institutions in the country. The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), University Teaching Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) and a few others were go-to places and gave Nigerians hope, but today, they have become a shadow of their old selves. Apart from chronic dearth of qualified personnel because of the ‘japa’ syndrome occasioned by frustrating operating environment, the high cost of running the facilities has hampered quality service delivery. Today, such institutions are groaning under the weight of high electricity bill among others. The neglect of the nation’s healthcare sector became total when presidents and other public office holders began to jet out to London, France and India to treat throat and ear infections.

Deepening fault lines

Many Nigerians, except those in government, speak in tandem that Nigeria is perhaps, more divided today than it has ever been in its 65 years. The acclaimed social cohesion is non-existent, and the evidence is everywhere. What many Nigerians are seeing today is a nation that is being gradually driven to a precipice. People now talk about their ethnic leaning more than their Nigerianness. People today are apprehensive living outside their geo-political zones. These are no signs of a progressive country. And as e dey sweet the powers that be, e dey pain the people!

While the leaders revel in endless enjoyment and claim of a burgeoning nation, the masses are gnashing their teeth and the nation continues to totter.

One thing that has so much affected the country is the increasing trust deficit. Until the ruling class begins to win back the trust of the people, the expected growth may continue to be in the realm of aspiration.

Nigeria is a sinking ship whose occupants are swimming to safety on the pieces of lifebuoy thrown to them. Are Nigerians not leaving in droves for foreign countries? And are they not serving as food to the famished sharks and whales in foreign seas?

The fact is that Nigeria, a well-endowed country, has become an unlivable geographical space from which her citizens are fleeing. Daily, in Nigeria, hundreds of people are needlessly killed by bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, and the killer herdsmen. The nightmarish security challenges in our country seem to be unending. And millions of Nigerians, who have been reduced to subhumans through our political leaders’ mismanagement of our economy, are living below the breadline now.

Nigeria’s sad and bad condition is attributable to the leadership crisis, which has affected the country over the years. Since our country’s attainment of political sovereignty in 1960, good political leadership has continued to elude her.

Until 1999, dictatorial military regimes, which alternated with corrupt political leaderships, stunted our economic development, stymied our technological advancement, worsened our infrastructural rot and deficit, and caused the deepening of our religious and ethnic fissures.

In 1960, six years after we had achieved political emancipation, the Nigeria-Biafra civil war raged with its calamitous and disastrous effects. The fratricidal civil war caused the depredation of our economy, the destruction of our national infrastructure, and the decimation of our population. Thereafter, we experienced a military interregnum, which culminated in the birth of the second republic in 1979.

The second republic was truncated by the coup d’état executed by Muhammadu Buhari. It took place on December 31, 1983. Before the execution of the coup by the beret boys, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, a political dark horse, had piloted the affairs of Nigeria from 1979 to 1983. His government was toppled because it was alleged to be corrupt.

And between 1983 and 1998, save the brief period when Chief Ernest Shonekan held the reins of power, military officers took turns to rule Nigeria. While Muhammadu Buhari, who was known for his Spartan lifestyle, enacted draconian and retroactive decrees to rule Nigeria, Ibrahim Babangida institutionalised corruption in the country. And he took Nigeria on a transition to civilian rule rigmarole that landed us in a political cul-de-sac. But in the midst of the political quagmire into which Nigeria was thrown owing to the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, the vampiric Sani Abacha shoved aside the interim government of Ernest Shonekan to take the saddle of power. Sani Abacha was a blend of thieving tendencies and sanguinary proclivities.

Not only did he steal Nigeria blind, but he also liquidated some democracy activists, who were agitating for the revalidation of the late MKO Abiola’s stolen political mandate.

Happily, Nigeria transitioned to democratic rule upon Sani Abacha’s demise in 1998. And since 1999 and until now, we have enjoyed twenty-six years of unbroken democratic governance with one political leader handing over political power to another political leader without the country descending into an anarchic situation. That in itself is a milestone achievement considering Nigeria’s deep-seated disunity, which is caused by the existence of ethnic animosity and religious intolerance among Nigerians. However, the fact is that the elections that produced our past successive national leaders in the Fourth Republic were marred and marked by election malpractices. For example, in 1999, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was helped to become the president of Nigeria to placate the indignant Yoruba people regarding the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election. Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua, who succeeded Chief Obasanjo as the president of Nigeria, confessed that the election that brought him to office was deeply flawed.

And the declaration of Ahmed Bola Tinubu as the president-elect in 2023 was hotly contested in the court then.

It is a known fact that when the electoral processes that bring a politician to power are flawed, the political will and choices of the people will be subverted. And that situation negates the political axiom, which says that political sovereignty belongs to the people. And a national leader who enters the saddle of power via electoral malpractice will not be accountable to the people.

So, not surprisingly, corrupt political leadership has become endemic and pervasive in our country. Now, our political leaders who hold sway at different governmental strata perceive their occupation of exalted political offices as opportunities for them to acquire money by dipping their fingers into our exchequer.

Consequently, our country’s economy oscillates between slipping into recession and exiting from it. So millions of young Nigerian graduates pound the streets daily in search of the non-existent white- and blue-collar jobs. And innumerable Nigerian workers, who are not paid living wages, live below the breadline. They scrounge for food, which they will eat, sacrificing their dignity in the process.

Again, Nigeria suffers from an infrastructural deficit and rot. Long stretches of some federal roads have fallen into a state of disrepair. And the healthcare delivery system in Nigeria is comatose. Consequently, rich Nigerians, who are ailing, embark on health tourism in foreign countries for the treatment of their various health conditions. And the dysfunctionality of our educational system, which is caused by decades of governmental neglect, is at the root of our universities’ production of unemployable graduates, who are found wanting in character and learning.

Worse still, Nigeria is ravaged by grave security challenges, which have returned her to the Hobbesian state of nature where life is short, brutish, and nasty. Is the north not still in the firm grip of Boko Haram insurgency, terrorism, banditry, and the killer-herdsmen menace? And in the southern part of Nigeria, kidnapping rich people for ransom has become a lucrative business venture for kidnappers.

Nigeria, as she is now, is a rudderless ship cut adrift on the tempestuous sea of political, technological, economic, and educational uncertainties. As it is on autopilot, it is being tossed about on the choppy water by the pitiless currents.

But the solution to our many hydra-headed problems lies in our electing patriotic leaders who possess probity and leadership qualities. It is only they who can fix our national problems and entrench unity among us. And it is only they who can give Nigeria a people’s constitution, which will transform Nigeria into a true federal state.

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum acknowledged the challenges the country has faced over the past six and a half decades, but emphasised that Nigeria has consistently emerged stronger. He called for continued unity, mutual understanding, and peaceful coexistence amongst its citizens.

Zulum congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other Nigerians on Wednesday on the occasion of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day Celebration.

The Governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and continued support to the armed forces and other security agencies involved in counter-insurgency operations in the North East, particularly in Borno State. Zulum, in a statement he personally signed, also expressed commitment to providing peace and development to Borno, stating, ‘We will not rest. We will not be complacent. We will continue to work, strive more, and fight for a Borno where everyone can dream of a better life, every farmer can till their land, our industries can thrive, and every family can sleep in peace.’

Governor Zulum’s full statement below:

‘As we join our brothers and sisters across the country to mark the 65th anniversary of our independence. We celebrate the Nigerian nation’s freedom, unity, and resilience. But on this day, our reflections in Borno are particularly profound. Our journey has been uniquely tested, yet our hope remains unbroken.’

‘It is indeed worth celebrating 65 years of nationhood as an indivisible nation. Despite the threats of insecurity, such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other criminal elements, our gallant military officers and security forces are winning the battle. We must unite as a people to fight the common enemy.’

‘We remember with solemn gratitude the sacrifices of our gallant men and women in uniform, the military, the police, the Civilian JTF, and all security agencies who have paid the ultimate price to keep us safe. We honour the memory of our sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, who were lost to the insurgency.’

‘ Let me use this opportunity to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and continued support to the armed forces and other security agencies involved in counter-insurgency operations in the North East, particularly in Borno State.

‘Our primary and most sacred duty has been the restoration of peace and security. We adopted a multi-faceted approach, understanding that a purely kinetic solution is not enough.’

‘We have consistently and directly supported our security forces. From providing hundreds of operational vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, and sophisticated communication and other operational gadgets to consistently visiting difficult frontline locations, so that we ensure that our troops are motivated and better equipped to face the enemy. We have built and renovated accommodations for our security operatives, among many other supports.’

‘Peace cannot be complete without restoration. Therefore, we have undertaken the most ambitious resettlement programme in Nigeria. We have successfully closed all the official internally displaced persons (IDP) camps within Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, moving our people from a state of dependency to dignity and self-reliance.’

‘We have supported the safe and voluntary return of a significant number of our displaced population to their ancestral homes by providing them with livelihood packages. We have constructed thousands of resettlement houses across local government areas, providing shelter for returnees.’ ‘We have rebuilt critical infrastructure, including hundreds of healthcare centres, primary and secondary schools, ensuring that our children can learn and our sick can be treated in their communities.’

‘Dear Citizens of Borno, our vision extends beyond survival to prosperity. We are laying the foundation for a post-insurgency economy.

‘Our administration’s peacebuilding and recovery efforts are greatly succeeding. The integrated policies, designed to address the root causes of insurgency, build community resilience, and promote reconciliation, have been fruitful.

Trade and Commerce as a cornerstone, we have reestablished and upgraded to an international standard our cattle markets in Gamboru Nagal, Banki and the one in Kasuwan Shanu in Jere Local Government Area.’ ‘We are pursuing the establishment of the African Inter-Continental Free Trade Zone in Banki and a Dry Inland Port in Maiduguri. We have invested a lot of resources to support the federal government’s initiative of international operations at Muhammadu Buhari Airport. These, among other strategic plans we have drawn, will significantly boost the economy of our state and create several employment opportunities.’

‘Through our various empowerment schemes, we have provided startup capital, tools, and training to tens of thousands of our youths and women, turning them from victims into entrepreneurs and employers of labour.’

We have constructed and equipped modern and specialised hospitals, two nursing colleges, and recruited hundreds of healthcare professionals to bring quality medical services to our people. Our world-class Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital will soon be activated.’

‘We have invested hugely in the education sector, recruited over 4,000 teachers and renovated schools across the state. Our scholarship programmes have sent thousands of Borno indigenes to universities at home and abroad, investing in the human capital that will drive our future.’

‘In the agricultural sector, we have distributed thousands of tonnes of fertiliser, improved seeds, and agricultural machinery to our farmers. We have revived some sections of the South Chad Irrigation Project, enabling the cultivation of thousands of hectares of land and moving us towards food sufficiency.’

‘My dear people, the journey is not over. Challenges remain. We still face the threat of remnant terrorists. But there is a gradual return to peace in Borno. Many of our communities have reestablished themselves, our markets are bustling, and our farms are again yielding bountiful harvests.’

‘On this Independence Day, let us draw strength from our collective resilience. Let us renew our commitment to unity, peace, and the progress of Borno State within a prosperous Nigeria.’

Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO, has warned that the United Kingdom (UK) and other major economies face a crippling shortage of skilled tradespeople like electricians and plumbers.

The deficit, according to him, could be best met by encouraging more workers from overseas.

The technology chief underscored the urgent need for a massive increase in the blue-collar workforce to keep pace with the accelerating global boom in data centre construction.

This fast-growing sector, essential for powering the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, requires a vast physical infrastructure, and Huang insists the required skills are not on track to be filled domestically. ‘If you’re an electrician, you’re a plumber, a carpenter we’re going to need hundreds of thousands of them to build all of these factories,’ Huang stated.

He projected an explosive demand in the sector, claiming, ‘The skilled craft segment of every economy is going to see a boom. You’ve going to have to be doubling and doubling and doubling every single year.’

The call for overseas labour

Huang’s comments echo the anxieties of other leading business figures who have highlighted immigration policies and a lack of interest among young people as creating a perfect storm for construction and manufacturing.

Earlier this year, Larry Fink, BlackRock CEO, voiced his concerns to the White House, specifically pointing to the negative impact of immigrant labour deportations on the ability to build essential AI data centres in the United States (US). ‘We just don’t have enough,’ Fink lamented, noting the shortfall in skilled workers like electricians needed for the construction drive.

This view was recently backed by Jim Farley, Ford CEO, who cited a gap between political ambitions to ‘reshore’ manufacturing and the reality of the domestic workforce.

According to Farley, the US is already short by over half a million construction workers and 600,000 factory staff, demonstrating that ‘there’s nothing to backfill the ambition’ of large-scale, national projects. The demand for these workers is not speculative. Industry analysts project that global capital expenditure on data centres will soar to $7 trillion by 2030.

Each large-scale data centre can demand up to 1,500 construction staff during its initial build, with many roles offering six-figure salaries without the requirement of a university degree.

Huang’s stance signals a shift, suggesting the most lucrative opportunities now lie in the physical side of technology rather than the software. When asked what he would study if he were a young man today, the Nvidia CEO confessed he would now choose disciplines rooted in the physical sciences.

With AI threatening a swath of traditional white-collar, entry-level roles, it is obvious that the future workforce needs to be ready to get its hands dirty, and a major influx of domestic and foreign talent is required to power the next industrial revolution.

Heliconia Park has officially opened the doors of its newest and third destination, the Heliconia Park Port Harcourt Hotel and Golf Resort. The launch is said to mark a significant milestone for the brand, bringing a new standard of hospitality, lifestyle, and leisure to Port Harcourt.

According to the owners, guided by a vision that blends refined elegance with tailored experiences, the resort is said to reaffirm Heliconia Park’s mission to deliver secure, stylish, and welcoming spaces for both business and leisure guests.

Set within the quiet Intels Camp, Aba Road Estate, the resort says it is designed to be more than a place to stay.

With a golf course, and stylish suites the hotel combines Italian sophistication with African warmth, fine dining restaurants that are said to celebrate global and local cuisines, swing pool, tennis court, squash amidst sumptuous green areas, the Port Harcourt resort is seen as a destination where comfort meets timeless elegance, and every detail has been created to welcome guests with warmth and a sense of belonging, according to the promoters.

Speaking at the launch, Pasquale Fiore, the CEO of Heliconia Park, said: ‘This is not just another hotel. This is a destination and a home for excellence. Port Harcourt has long been a hub of energy, commerce, and culture, and by investing here we reaffirm our commitment to this city, its people, and its future. Heliconia Park was founded on the belief that true luxury is welcoming, personal, and tailored, and this resort embodies that very spirit.’

He went on: ‘We started Heliconia Park in 2022 with the opening of its first hotel in Port Harcourt, followed by the Lagos Luxury Apartments and Suites in 2024, officially inaugurated in February 2025. The launch marks a significant milestone in the brand’s growth journey in Nigeria, each chapter reflecting a vision of fine hospitality rooted in excellence, inspired by culture, and crafted with timeless standards of service.’

Also speaking at the event, Mike Epelle, Director at Heliconia Park, remarked: ‘The arrival of Heliconia Park Hotel and Golf Resort is a welcome addition to Port Harcourt. It reflects the city’s growing appeal as both a business and leisure hub, and we are proud to see such an investment that will not only elevate hospitality standards but also contribute to local tourism and economic growth.’

The launch of the Port Harcourt Hotel and Golf Resort underscores Heliconia Park’s philosophy of ‘Approachable Luxury,’ where prestige meets comfort and every guest feels both valued and at home. It is also a powerful reaffirmation of the brand’s growth journey, from its beginnings in Port Harcourt, to Lagos, and now back to the Garden City with a bold new resort, positioning Heliconia Park as one of Nigeria’s most dynamic luxury hospitality brands.

Heliconia Park is indicated as a home-grown Nigerian luxury hospitality brand redefining the guest experience with secure, stylish destinations, guided by its philosophy of ‘Approachable Luxury.’ Founded in 2022 with the launch of Heliconia Park Hotel and Suites in Port Harcourt, the brand says it has has since expanded with the Lagos Luxury Apartments and Suites in 2025 and now celebrates its third branch, the Heliconia Park Port Harcourt Hotel and Golf Resort.

It is located within the prestigious INTELS Aba Road Estate, the resort is both a retreat and a lifestyle destination. With event facilities, fine dining, pools, tennis courts, and a golf course, it reflects Heliconia Park’s mission to create elevated spaces and warm service where every guest feels at home.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to establish an endowment fund for the creative sector following the completion of the National Theatre, now renamed the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts.

Speaking at the official reopening of the iconic facility in Lagos, the President said he would personally contribute to the proposed fund, which is aimed at supporting long-term growth and sustainability in Nigeria’s creative industry. Tinubu also urged citizens to shift their mindset, emphasising the importance of telling positive stories about Nigeria and fostering belief in the country’s potential.

CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, speaking at the event, revealed that the Bankers’ Committee invested N68 billion in the restoration and modernisation of the National Theatre complex.