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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the country has made a decisive turn in its economic reforms, declaring that the worst is over and the hardships of yesterday are beginning to give way to relief.

In a nationwide broadcast to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, the president said his administration was concerned about the temporary pains of the reforms, but added that the alternative would have led Nigerians into bankruptcy.

President Tinubu, who went down memory lane, said the founding heroes and heroines of the country believed it was Nigeria’s manifest destiny to lead the black race as the largest black nation on earth, adding that the promise of independence has been tested by profound social, economic, and political challenges, and ‘we have survived.’

He said, ‘While we may not have achieved all the lofty dreams of our forebearers, we have not strayed too far from them as the country in the last 65 years has made tremendous progress in economic growth, social cohesion, and physical development. ‘While it is much easier for those whose vocation is to focus on what ought to be, we must recognise and celebrate our significant progress. Nigerians today have access to better education and healthcare than in 1960.’

Difficult decisions

President Tinubu explained that on assuming office, his administration inherited a near-collapsed economy caused by decades of fiscal policy distortions and misalignment that had impaired real growth, saying that ‘As a new administration, we faced a simple choice: continue business as usual and watch our nation drift, or embark on a courageous, fundamental reform path. We chose the path of reform. We chose the path of tomorrow over the comfort of today.

‘Less than three years later, the seeds of those difficult but necessary decisions are bearing fruit. In resetting our country for sustainable growth, we ended the corrupt fuel subsidies and multiple foreign exchange rates that created massive incentives for a rentier economy, benefiting only a tiny minority. At the same time, the masses received little or nothing from our Commonwealth.

‘Our administration has redirected the economy towards a more inclusive path, channelling money to fund education, healthcare, national security, agriculture, and critical economic infrastructure, such as roads, power, broadband, and social investment programmes.

‘These initiatives will generally improve Nigerians’ quality of life. As a result of the tough decisions we made, the federal and state governments, including local governments, now have more resources to take care of the people at the lower level of the ladder, to address our development challenges.’

The president said his administration is racing against time to ‘build the roads we need, repair the ones that have become decrepit, and construct the schools our children will attend and the hospitals that will care for our people. We have to plan for the generations that will come after us.

‘We do not have enough electricity to power our industries and homes today, or the resources to repair our deteriorating roads, build seaports, railroads, and international airports comparable to the best in the world, because we failed to make the necessary investments decades ago.’

He, however, said the present administration is setting things right: ‘I am pleased to report that we have finally turned the corner. The worst is over, I say. Yesterday’s pains are giving way to relief. I salute your endurance, support, and understanding. I will continue to work for you and justify the confidence you reposed in me to steer the ship of our nation to a safe harbour.

‘Under our leadership, our economy is recovering fast, and the reforms we started over two years ago are delivering tangible results. The second quarter 2025 Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.23%-Nigeria’s fastest pace in four years-and outpaced the 3.4 per cent projected by the International Monetary Fund. Inflation declined to 20.12% in August 2025, the lowest level in three years.

‘The administration is working diligently to boost agricultural production and ensure food security, reducing food costs,’ he said.

Achievements

Listing some of his achievements, President Tinubu said that in the last two years, his administration has achieved 12 remarkable economic milestones as a result of the implementation of sound fiscal and monetary policies.

He listed some of them as the attainment of a record-breaking increase in non-oil revenue, achieving the 2025 target by August, with over N20 trillion.

He said, ‘Following the removal of the corrupt petroleum subsidy, we have freed up trillions of Naira for targeted investment in the real economy and social programmes for the most vulnerable, as well as all tiers of government. We have a stronger foreign reserve position than three years ago. Our external reserves increased to $42.03 billion this September-the highest since 2019. Our tax-to-GDP ratio has risen to 13.5 per cent from less than 10 per cent.’

President Tinubu said the ratio is expected to increase further when the new tax law takes effect in January.

He further said, ‘Nigeria is now selling more to the world than we are buying, a fundamental shift that strengthens our currency and creates jobs at home. Nigeria’s trade surplus increased by 44.3% in Q2 2025 to N7.46 trillion ($4.74 billion), the largest in about three years. Goods manufactured in Nigeria and exported jumped by 173%. Non-oil exports, as a component of our export trade, now represent 48 per cent, compared to oil exports, which account for 52 per cent.

‘This signals that we are diversifying our economy and foreign exchange sources outside oil and gas. Oil production rebounded to 1.68 million barrels per day from barely one million in May 2023. The increase occurred due to improved security, new investments, and better stakeholder management in the Niger Delta.

‘The administration is expanding transport infrastructure across the country, covering rail, roads, airports, and seaports. Rail and water transport grew by over 40% and 27%, respectively.

‘The 284-kilometre Kano-Kastina-Maradi Standard Gauge rail project and the Kaduna-Kano rail line are nearing completion. Work is progressing well on the legacy Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Highway. The Federal Executive Council recently approved $3 billion to complete the Eastern Rail Project.

Insecurity

Speaking on the prevailing insecurity, Tinubu said he is working to enhance national security, ensuring that the economy experiences improved growth and performance as the officers and men of the armed forces and other security agencies are working tirelessly and making significant sacrifices to keep the country safe.

He said, ‘They are winning the war against terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes. We see their victories in their blood and sweat to stamp out Boko Haram terror in North-East, IPOB/ESN terror in South East and banditry and kidnapping. We must continue to celebrate their gallantry and salute their courage on behalf of a grateful nation.

‘Peace has returned to hundreds of our liberated communities in North-West and North-East, and thousands of our people have returned safely to their homes.’

Youth programmes

Addressing the youth, the president urged them to continue to dream big, innovate, and conquer more territories in various fields of science, technology, sports, and the art and creative sector.

He said, ‘Our administration, through policies and funding, will continue to give you wings to fly sky-high. We created NELFUND to support students with loans for their educational pursuits.

‘Approximately 510,000 students across 36 states and the FCT have benefited from this initiative, covering 228 higher institutions. As of September 10, the total loan disbursed was N99.5 billion, while the upkeep allowance stood at N44.7 billion.’

He said Credicorp, another initiative of his administration, has granted 153,000 Nigerians N30 billion affordable loans for vehicles, solar energy, home upgrades, digital devices, and more, even as YouthCred, which he promised last June, is already a reality, with tens of thousands of NYSC members now active beneficiaries of consumer credit for resettlement.

In his message of hope to Nigerians, the president acknowledged that his administration’s reforms have come with some temporary pains.

He said the alternative of allowing the country to descend into economic chaos or bankruptcy was not an option, insisting that ‘Our macro-economic progress has proven that our sacrifices have not been in vain. Together, we are laying a new foundation cast in concrete, not on quicksand.

‘The accurate measure of our success will not be limited to economic statistics alone, but rather in the food on our families’ tables, the quality of education our children receive, the electricity in our homes, and the security in our communities. Let me assure you of our administration’s determination to ensure that the resources we have saved and the stability we have built are channelled into these critical areas.

‘Now, we must all turn on the taps of productivity, innovation, and enterprise, just like the Ministry of Interior has done with our travel passports, by quickening the processing. In this regard, I urge the sub-national entities to join us in nation-building. Let us be a nation of producers, not just consumers. Let us farm our land and build factories to process our produce.

‘Let us patronise ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ goods. I say Nigeria first. Let us pay our taxes. Finally, let all hands be on deck. Let us believe, once more, in the boundless potential of our great nation. With Almighty God on our side, I can assure you that the dawn of a new, prosperous, self-reliant Nigeria is here,’ he said.

The death toll from the boat accident in Ibaji local government area of Kogi State has risen to 26.

Daily Trust reports that the accident occurred Monday, while the victims were on their way to Ilushi market in the Esan South-East Local Government Area in Edo State.

In a statement, on Wednesday, the state commissioner of Information and Communication, Kinsley Fanwo, told newsmen that the death toll had risen.

He described the incident as a heartbreaking loss. The statement reads: ‘Reports indicate that the unfortunate incident has allegedly claimed the lives of not less than 26 passengers.

‘His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, has expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families.

‘The Government of Kogi State stands with the people of Ibaji LGA and will continue to support them through this difficult time’.

However, the governor has directed relevant agencies, including the State Emergency Management Agency, to work with local authorities to provide immediate support and relief to those affected.

Governor Ododo assured that the state government would intensify efforts in collaboration with federal agencies to improve safety measures on waterways in order to prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy.

He, therefore, called on the people of the state , especially riverine communities, to always prioritize safety by avoiding overloading, and by using life jackets and other precautionary measures whenever they travel by water.

His Royal Highness, Miskoom Yahaya Kwande, is the Longkwo of Kwo Chiefdom in Qua’an-Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State. Before ascending the throne, the 96-year-old elder statesman was an active politician, former Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland; teacher; civil servant and administrator. The traditional ruler in this interview shares his perspectives on Nigeria’s evolution, tracing the country’s history from before independence to its current state, highlighting key developments and challenges along the way.

You are one of those who witnessed the Independence Day celebration in 1960. How did it go?

Every part of Nigeria was celebrating in its own way. People had the opportunity to come together and make merriment.

First October has now become a possibility of putting people, families back together. Another aspect of the October 1st celebration is that it allows people to showcase their cultural heritage. Participants, especially cultural dancers, adorned themselves in unique, often custom-made costumes. This celebration brought people together, providing an opportunity for smaller tribes to display their cultural prowess. I believe this cultural display was a significant part of the October 1st ceremony.

Was there much awareness by the masses about what Nigeria was going into?

No, but people were very happy. People were very happy and whether they knew the meaning or not is another thing. It is only now that the meaning is clear, but in our days in the 60s, definitely it was not too apparent. The colonial masters used to put together schoolchildren, armed forces of different kinds, police, army to display and that used to be the ceremony. Only very few knew what it meant. For those of you who were the elite then, did you have any apprehension about whether the new set of leaders were going to manage the responsibility thrust on them?

The Britons are clever. All our colonialists were extracting what they wanted and at the same time showing love to us. I was a district officer in charge of a division, which is the area of my responsibility, I felt proud and people in the town were also happy. We were not allowed to stay in our offices more than 15 days for the 30 days of the month. You had to go and meet the people and know how they were faring; you go to a dispensary and see whether the medication is adequate, whether drugs were available.

And you went to the school and the children were so proud to see you. But at the moment, everything seems to be on the computer and the telephone. If you have a telephone, you have the whole world. So, the man you are ruling is not touched to know that there is a particular person responsible for his health. People don’t. When you look at all these, how many times will you take your mind back? Have you seen the chairman of your local government coming into your village and dancing with the villagers and chatting with them so that he would talk about their welfare? The level of education was not there as it is today. So, you couldn’t say whether the British were doing well or not doing well. All we knew was that the British were masters and they were doing things. But at the moment, people seem to be aware of the responsibility of leadership, so they can criticise. And the whole thing is now decentralised in such a way that the matter of responsibility cannot be compared with the past.

It’s 65 years now since independence, how in your view has Nigeria fared?

From an honest mind, we have progressed. I remember that there used to be only one secondary school in the whole northern Nigeria that the government was controlling. Then they had two secondary schools. My brother, we are talking about one million secondary schools now. I’m not talking about the standard of what is now being taught. But I definitely must tell you that we have progressed. This telephone is progress. Even the quality of our food is progress. Solar light is progress. Up to a small village, I don’t know if anyone who is true to himself or honest to himself, can say that Nigeria has not progressed.

Certain things have gone back, deteriorated, like transportation in the sense of railways but I must tell you that we have progressed.

You were one of those close to the Sardauna, can you recall the efforts he made towards uniting the North?

Our leaders then had different minds altogether, not only Sardauna. They had different minds of ruling. They came with the influence of honesty from the British, in the sense of not cheating who you are ruling, who you are governing. They inherited that. And we that were civil servants assisting them, believe me, we came with that fear. You didn’t need somebody to stand by you. We had what you call auditors in the midst of officers. You could not talk about corruption to the officials of the government. Unlike now that it is so rampant, even in your households, corruption is nothing anymore.

Sardauna was an individual. And of course, all his ministers were practicing what would please Sardauna. He had nothing on his mind other than improving the lot of the people. He had to delay independence at first so that he could bring his own people on board. He was a man that had no other interest than the seat of the Sultan of Sokoto.

Otherwise, he didn’t bother about anything other than uniting Northern Nigeria. We were even proud to call ourselves Northerners, as if it was a title, because our leaders couldn’t differentiate the Ngas man from the Gomai man or from the Berom man. And exactly the same thing, we grew up with friends, civil service colleagues, from Sokoto, from Katsina. And he was interested in your welfare. He wanted to know who you were and if you were happy.

They worked very hard to unite Northern Nigeria. And when he was asked by a journalist, why Northern Nigeria alone? He said, no, when you unite Northern Nigeria, you unite the whole of the Federation, because we were sober. Wealth was not what mattered to him. I served as an administrative officer, a DO in charge. They didn’t even know what Kwande was. They didn’t know it was a village, not my name alone. There was no discrimination, no religious or cultural differences. You did your own thing. They loved you even when you were not their own. A Fulani man would put a stick across his back. And if you found an Egon, he did not care whether you put it on the back or you put it in front of you. We were just citizens of Nigeria, but peculiar to be patriotic citizens.

What was the situation like in the country after the January 1966 coup?

Well, we started deteriorating. That is the bad thing about us. You know, that reminds me, when I took the wrong way to go to my village on holiday, with a difference of only about 30 kilometres, I was queried that I was displaying dishonesty. And I had to prove that the bridge on the shuttle way was broken and it was published in the New Nigerian.

And that’s why I escaped being sacked from the service. That honesty is no longer there. The traditional rulers are not making things better in the sense that the more you steal, the more they honour you. And you know, when you are made, when you are given a title, a royal title, then everybody in the village will testify that you deserve it. And the honour that the British used to give us, KBE, you were looked at as a wonderful human being who deserved the Queen’s honour.

Now it is, who do you know? If you are not careful, you will find a neighbour that is well-connected getting a higher honour than you. And you wonder what it is that makes him different from you; but it’s just a connection.

Nigeria has experienced coups and counter coups; would you say the intervention of the military helped in uniting the country?

The intention was to unite. But then the players missed the point when it appeared that a tribe were the players. That was when they missed the point about uniting this country by the military coup. But the way the late General Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy went about theirs was another thing.

The intention of the military to me was good because corruption, elements of differences between tribes were beginning to gain ground. They wanted to stop it. When your country is going down the drain, and you are in the military, and you think that you can arrest the trouble, and not make things worse, then I will support it.

The challenges confronting Nigeria since 1960 like insecurity, corruption and mutual suspicion on ethnic basis are still there. Can the country overcome these problems?

Yes, the challenges can be overcome. What we need in this country is discipline and a change of attitude. Once people change their attitude and become disciplined, there is hope. I still believe that if people want something, they can do it because in the past, Nigerians were very disciplined and trusted.

Should traditional rulers be given constitutional roles?

The set of traditional rulers we have today is not the same as what we had in the years back because most of them are graduates. They know what they are doing. They come in just because they are honouring their tradition. Why do you allow the traditional rulers to remain as part of your constitution without action, without responsibility? They can prevent insecurity because they know who is who in the village. So, once a role is given to them, they would help significantly in reducing insecurity in the country.

Where did Nigeria miss it?

The only thing that I feel is not being done by the government is the question of tax payment. I don’t know why the government of Nigeria seems to neglect head taxes, you know, individuals paying two naira, or six naira, or one naira. It is a matter of pride. When you now say you take it away from them because you now have oil money, you are taking away the patriotism of a citizen of Nigeria because he likes challenging the government by telling it that it is using the money and not doing much.

An ordinary man on his farm will turn around and if he sees somebody passing, he will think, look, they are using their money uselessly. They don’t seem to care because he has paid five naira in a year. But when you take it away from him, the responsibility of citizenship is no more there. So, if I am to advise, I would like paying head tax to be made compulsory and organised properly. That will help even the population of our country.

As Nigeria marks another Independence Day, Comrade Deji Adeyanju, human rights lawyer and activist, has said there is little evidence that the country is making real progress, stressing that democracy and accountability remain weak across many levels of government.

Adeyanju noted that while democratic institutions appear functional at the federal level, they are ‘almost non-existent’ in the states where governors wield enormous power with little oversight.

He said months ago, 19 state governors nearly derailed the operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), adding that the intervention of the judiciary was the only safeguard that kept the anti-graft fight alive.

‘The same disregard for accountability is why the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government autonomy has not been implemented. Leaders cannot choose which laws to obey. True democracy must be rooted in accountability at every level, not just in Abuja,’ he said.

On the federal cabinet, Adeyanju lamented that only a handful of ministers appear visible and active in their duties, while the majority remain ‘missing in action.’ He warned that a country of Nigeria’s size and complexity cannot afford ‘ghost ministers’ who contribute little to governance. Adeyanju also emphasized that independence is meaningless without adequate security. According to him, citizens continue to live in fear as ‘unknown gunmen’ and other criminal groups unleash violence across the country.

‘Independence Day should not just be about celebrating a date on the calendar,’ he said. ‘It should be about building a nation where democracy, accountability, and security are guaranteed for all Nigerians, not just a privileged few.’

The Auditor-General for the Federation, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, says the audit initiatives being undertaken by his Office, the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of Nigeria, to enhance public finance system is achieving the desired results in terms of improving transparency and accountability, while urging MDAs to improve on weak internal audit mechanisms

The Auditor-General, who made this remark on Tuesday during an interactive session at the sidelines of a public event to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, maintained that through innovative approach, modern technological deployment, human capital capacity building and commitment to best global standards in auditing, the Office had over the past few years aligned the nation’s public finance system audit processes with global best practice.

Specifically, he listed some of the major public audit transformational initiatives embarked on by his Office and the results achieved as including the improved Implementation Rate of Audit Recommendations; Improvements in Financial Management Practices; Strengthened Legislative Oversight; Public and Stakeholder Engagement; Enhanced Transparency in High-Risk Sectors; and improved Feedback and Independent Assessments.

The Auditor-General said: ‘In essence, the impact of our audit reports is evident not only in improved financial compliance but also in the broader culture of accountability, transparency, and fiscal prudence they are helping to entrench in Nigeria’s public sector.’

According to him, the Office has been able to achieve these results through collaboration with other relevant government, the National Assembly and international organizations.

Chira explained that with the EFCC and ICPC, his Office had strengthened the accountability chain by sharing audit intelligence that has facilitated investigations, prosecutions, and recovery of misappropriated funds by many agencies.

He added that the engagement with the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committees has improved the timeliness and depth of legislative oversight, while the partnership with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has helped the Office in advancing due process in public procurement audits, reducing loopholes for financial misconduct.

On collaboration with international organisations, he disclosed that the partnership with AFROSAI-E and INTOSAI, had benefitted the OAuGF in terms of peer reviews, technical assistance and adoption of international best practices, which have strengthened the quality and credibility of our audits.

The Auditor-General further clarified that the Office’s cooperation with development partners such as the World Bank, and donor agencies had provided capacity-building support, enabling it to integrate advanced audit methodologies such as performance and IT audits as well as driven reforms in public sector financial management, improved compliance with IPSAS, and enhanced Nigeria’s global standing in accountability and transparency indices.

However, Chira lamented that despite the improved performance of his Office, the most significant challenges being faced by the Office in ensuring compliance with financial regulations and standards were still being faced in the MDAs.

He grouped these into four broad categories, namely Capacity and Awareness Gaps, the use of Outdated and Fragmented Financial Systems, Weak Internal Control and Oversight Structures, Limited Enforcement of Sanctions, and Resistance to Change and Institutional Bottlenecks.

The Auditor-General maintained that despite these challenges, his ‘Office continues to close the gaps by intensifying capacity-building, leveraging digital audit tools, working closely with the National Assembly to enforce sanctions, and engaging MDAs through proactive audits and compliance reviews.

American comedian and talk show host, Bill Maher, recently stirred up a hornet’s nest when he claimed during a Friday episode of Real Time with Bill Maher that there is an alleged genocide of Christians in Nigeria. According to him, more than 100,000 Christians have been killed since 2009 and 18,000 churches have been burned.

There is a popular saying often attributed to Abraham Lincoln: ‘Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.’ By his infantile claim, Bill Maher did not just speak out of turn, he only exposed his ignorance.

Every sane Nigerian knows that the killings by bandits and insurgents in Nigeria are universal. They bear no religious colouration. Muslims have died, Christians have died, and traditional worshippers too have not been spared. Whole communities have been displaced irrespective of their faith. Even Bill Maher knows this, but as we say in street parlance, agenda must agend.

From Katsina to Zamfara, Niger, and other northern states, bandits have attacked mosques, killing Muslim worshippers even while they prayed. That is what makes Bill Maher’s statement, and the claim of some Western commentators about a so-called jihad war in Nigeria, not just misleading but laughable.

It is now that I truly feel Donald Trump’s pain, and why he never hid his disdain for fake news. Perhaps Bill Maher thought that by claiming a Christian genocide in Nigeria, Christians would rise up against Muslims and the country would collapse. After all, foreign experts once predicted that Nigeria would disintegrate in 2015. I am sure they are still surprised that the country remains standing strong despite its numerous challenges.

If there is anything I have deduced from Bill Maher’s fake news, it is that Nigerians are wiser now. Bill would be disappointed reading some of the comments from Christian Nigerians rubbishing his statement on social media. We know who our common enemies are when we see them.

Those killing innocent citizens in Nigeria are not Muslims, they are not Christians, they are not traditional worshippers. In truth, they are not even human, because they lack humanity. The only name of their religion is cruelty. They exist to maim, to massacre, and to tear apart the very fabric of our society. For me, this fight has always been less about religion or ethnicity and more about resource control and criminality. And it is just a matter of time before the wind blows and the fowl’s buttock is laid bare.

This is why it is dangerous when people like Bill Maher reduce a complex national tragedy into a simplistic religious headline. Such careless statements not only distort reality but also hand fuel to extremists and opportunists who thrive on division.

Bill Maher and his co-travellers in fake news want to feed off our ethnic and religious fault lines and sow more seeds of discord. We must resist this trap. Our story is ours to tell. If we allow foreigners to define our struggles, they will also define our destiny. Before they divide us further with their careless narratives, let us strengthen our unity, confront our challenges with honesty, and tell our story ourselves, because if we don’t, others will twist it against us.

As Chinua Achebe wisely said: ‘Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.’

Happy Independence to all of us. As e dey pain those like Bill Maher who want us divided, e go dey sweet us as we journey through our challenges towards a greater future (apologies to Wike).

‘Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand’.

Zayd Ibn Isah can be reached at lawcadet1@gmail.com

Twenty people have reportedly been killed in a boat accident on the River Niger, involving passengers from Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State on Tuesday.

Daily Trust gathered that they were on their way to a market in Edo State.

It was further gathered that the incident happened between Okpu and Odumomo settlements at the bank of the River Niger when the boat heading to Ilushi from Onugwa capsized midway to its destination.

According to the report from the area, the number of passengers on board is yet to be established. Local divers were said to have picked 20 bodies from the river, while many more bodies were said to be still missing.

Six people have so far been identified as having survived the incident.

‘The boat departed from Onugwa in Ibaji Local Government Area this morning to Ilushi market, but capsized shortly after taking off at Okpu and Odumomo area of the river.

‘Most of them are children and women going shopping in preparation for the Independence Day celebration on Wednesday.

‘So far, six people have been identified as survivors. And a family has been confirmed to have lost eight people in the incident,’ said Joseph Umonu from Onyedega, the capital of Ibaji Local Government Area.

Also, a report from the community said those who came for a burial ceremony in Onugwa and boarded the ill-fated boat are all missing.

‘The family members of those who came for the burial ceremony from Ilushi to Onugwa have been crying since the sad news broke.

‘They are among the passengers who boarded the boat to Ilushi after the burial ceremony. We have not seen any of them among the survivors or dead yet. Divers are still in the water, searching for more survivors or the dead.

‘We are yet to confirm the number of people onboard, dead or survivors, as the rescue mission is still being intensified at the scene of the incident,’ said Micheal Unwuchola, from the community.

When contacted, the Acting Manager, Corporate Affairs of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Suleiman Usman, did not pick up his call or respond to a text message over the incident.

However, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kogi State Police Command, SP William Aya, confirmed the incident.

‘The victims were said to be going to a market at Ilushi in Edo State when the incident happened. Our operatives at that flank are trying to confirm whether it happened at the Kogi side of the water or in the Edo State area.’

For Hajiya Rukaiya Abubakar Kushu, a near-death experience from pregnancy complications led her to start helping less privileged women with similar conditions. What started as assisting women who faced gynecological problems over the years grew into offering assistance in various sectors.

‘My passion for humanitarian work, especially in maternal and child health, was inspired by a near-fatal pregnancy complication I survived. I underwent three different surgeries during birth, and in each surgery, I had to travel abroad for medical treatment. After my third birth, doctors recommended a permanent stoppage of childbirth; in other words, I should be prevented from giving birth for the rest of my life.

‘That painful experience was what drove me into thinking of coming up with something that will save the lives of the less privileged women suffering from gynaecology-related sickness,’ she told Daily Trust.

She said the experience of her maid prompted her, in 2018, to establish the Abubakar Kushu Foundation, named after her father, to help less privileged women and children. ‘Divorced due to her gynecological complications and sent back to her parents with ten children, she spent two years at home battling with the illness and at the same time taking care of her children. The day she told me her story, I could not sleep throughout the night.

‘In the morning, I took her to the hospital and after all the necessary checkups, the doctors said she needed to undergo a minor surgery. And to my surprise, the cost of the surgery was just N30,000. So, I went back home with the intention of raising funds from family and friends.

‘I posted the woman’s case on my WhatsApp status and requested my followers to come to her rescue by donating money to cover the expenses of her surgery. In less than five minutes, people started sending their donations. It was on a Friday, I recall, and by Monday, I went to the hospital with over N200,000 in my account.

‘After the woman was treated and discharged, I told the doctors that I wanted to spend the remaining money on other patients suffering from related sickness.’

After a meeting with the management of the hospital, her request was granted, and she spent the remaining money on treating other patients. I saved the lives of seven women with the remaining money.

Following these incidents, she told the management of the hospital to contact her whenever they received such cases, and since then she has been helping women with such complications, especially the less privileged, divorced and widows. These categories of women have all been treated free of charge under this arrangement.

‘All I was after then was what I could do to ensure no woman or child suffers in silence when compassion and action could save their lives. The foundation was to handle only gynecological surgical cases because that was what I suffered. That was how I started because I realised that many women were dying simply because they didn’t have the means to treat themselves.’

A few months into the activities of the foundation, Rukaiya also saw the need for the foundation to include children suffering from pediatric-related illnesses in its programs. She said, ‘So, from women suffering from gynecological-related cases, we included children with pediatric cases in our activities. This is because anything to do with the mother has to do with her child.’

An activity that started on her WhatsApp status gradually evolved into a foundation today known as the Abubakar Kushu Foundation, which gave birth to El-Kush Community Development Initiatives, another body rendering assistance to communities in need.

Through both organisations, Rukaiya champions advocacy to policymakers, leads grassroots sensitisation, and works with communities to improve access to healthcare services. With support from family and friends, she has facilitated over 200 free surgeries, as well as providing financial support for Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) patients.

‘I have achieved all these through updating my WhatsApp status with my activities. Family and friends view and donate. My foundation has never received a donation from any foreign or local organisation. Alhamdulillah, together we are saving the lives of many vulnerable and less privileged people.

‘Whenever I hear of a patient with gynae complications in need of help, I personally go there and assist the patient with the little I have and also solicit funds on her behalf through social media, and people do contribute immensely,’ she said.

The 43-year-old mother of three has, through both platforms, remained committed to turning empathy into action, restoring dignity, and building equity in underserved communities.

Beyond health, she’s involved in humanitarian services as she has mobilised resources to provide over 200 wells and boreholes, building and equipping more than ten community schools with solar power, sanitary facilities, housing for teachers, and recruitment of qualified staff.

Rukaiya’s humanitarian services are also extended to provide potable water because of the demand from various communities. ‘What normally happens is that after I post a project like a local well on my WhatsApp status, someone indicates interest in building a mosque around the well, or if it’s a mosque that I posted, a donor will volunteer to construct a well or a borehole around the mosque.’

Also, Rukaiya was able to take off the streets over 250 out-of-school children and enrolled them into western and Islamic schools, providing them with uniforms, books, and other learning materials. She shoulders their school fees and other fees with a view to retaining them in the schools.

Apart from that, Rukaiya has also renovated several Islamiyya schools in her community through the assistance of family and friends, saying, ‘As a result of my frequent visits to the schools where my sponsored students are studying, I observed that the structures of some of the schools need renovations and therefore initiated a special project for that.

‘Some of the benefiting schools, which operate as purely Islamiyyah, now combine both Islamic and Western education,’ she said.

Rukaiya also empowers women with take-off capital for businesses, thereby promoting financial inclusion and self-reliance among women.

Explaining the secret of her success in humanitarian services, Rukaiya said: ‘I believe the secret behind my success is nothing but honesty, transparency and commitment. We do things openly; we don’t hide anything, and whatever you ask us to do with your money, we will ensure that we spend the money judiciously and for the purpose it was meant for. Whatever we do, we post it for donors to see.

‘Let me tell you an incident that involved my sister. She sent $100 from abroad as a donation from her Christian friend. It was during Christmas, so I treated a Christian child with part of the money, and when the girl was discharged, I gave her the remaining balance to celebrate Christmas. I later posted the details of how I spent the $100, and the donor was delighted when she saw it on my WhatsApp status.

‘Just two weeks ago, Favor and her mother visited my house and spent time with me. We took pictures which I posted on my WhatsApp status with the following question: Do you remember this girl? You need to see the reactions of the donors.’

She said she was motivated by the smiles on the faces of the less privileged and vulnerable families. ‘This is what I enjoy most in my life, and Alhamdulillah, I am really achieving my objectives through the activities of the foundations,’ she concluded.

Those whose lives have been touched one way or the other spoke on the emphatic nature of hajiya Rukaiya.

Malam Rabi Muhammad is the maid speaking to Weekend Trust said that she worked with Rukaiya as a maid before she got to know about her health condition and It was her co-worker that btold her about her condition.’After we had a discussion, she took me to the hospital and paid the bills for the surgery conducted on me. It’s exactly seven years now.’

‘After I was discharged and fully recovered, I returned to her house and continued with my work. However, courtesy of Hajiya’s generosity, she asked me to relocate to her residence; so, as I speak with you now, I reside in her residence. Sincerely, I don’t know how to thank Hajiya for all the things she had done for me. Asides myself, my parents have also benefited from her kindness.’

She noted thatHajiya Rukaiya is a rare person with passion for helping the less privileged and vulnerable familiesin society. She is just a kind person whose concern is to help and assist the needy. I have known her to be like this since I met her ten years ago and has not changed.’ she attested.

Malam Usman Muhammad Gambo, founder of Inara Islamic Academy at Fadamar Mada quarters, one of the schools that benefited from the humanitarian services from the Abubakar Kushu Foundation, noted that Hajiya built three additional classrooms and furnished them with seating facilities and also renovated the three existing classrooms and toilets in the school. ‘Annually, Hajiya pays not less than N360,000 as school fees for these students besides their expenses for books and other items. I recently forwarded the names of three additional students to Hajiya requesting her to sponsor their education and she promised to get back to me,’ he said.

Also commenting on Rukaiya’s contributions to the education sub-sector, Malam Ibrahim Muhmmad Inuwa, founder of Madarasatul Tathnim Litahfizul Qur’anil Kareem Wal-Dirasatil Islamiyyah, Fadamar Mada, confirmed that Rukaiya had renovated his school and provided it with seating and teaching facilities.

‘She has been sponsoring 20 students comprising 10 orphans and 10 children of the less privileged families in the school for two years now. She asked the management of the school to select the beneficiaries from within the community and she had been paying their school fees annually,’ he concluded.

Recently, Rukaiya was inaugurated as an AIM-MNCHN Advocacy Champion under the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN). AIM-MNCHN-Maternal Neonatal Child Health and Nutrition is an organisation handling a project about reducing maternal mortality.

She is also an active member of several health, peacebuilding, and development committees under the Bauchi State Network of Civil Society Organizations, and a member of the Forum of Executive Directors of CSOs in Bauchi State.

‘Through these platforms and my foundations, I remain committed to turning empathy into action, restoring dignity, and building equity in underserved communities.

A holder of a B.Sc. in Sociology and Anthropology, a M.Sc. in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Rukaiya is currently the Deputy Registrar and Head of the Guidance and Counselling Unit at the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi.

Favour Abatang, is a girls’ and women’s rights activist from Cross River State. A graduate of Philosophy from the University of Calabar, she is the Founder and Executive Director of Her Voice Foundation, a non-profit organisation focused on empowering teenage mothers and at-risk girls across Nigeria.

Her passion for advocacy began at a young age, shaped by personal loss and the harsh realities faced by girls in marginalised communities. ‘After losing my mother at the age of ten, I saw first-hand the struggles of girls from disadvantaged families.

‘That experience shaped my determination to ensure they are not denied opportunities simply because of where they were born or what they went through.’

In 2020, she founded Her Voice Foundation, formerly known as Campus Babe Initiative, to provide second-chance education, livelihood support, and advocacy for girls pushed to the margins of society. ‘We focus on breaking barriers to girls’ education and ending harmful practices such as child marriage, money marriage, and all forms of gender-based violence,’ she told Daily Trust. The foundation works in rural and underserved areas, particularly in southern Nigeria, where support systems are weak or non-existent. ‘Five years ago, I saw a 12-year-old girl pregnant and married off early. That moment changed everything for me,’ she recalled. ‘In Nigeria, 44 per cent of girls are married before their 18th birthday, and in some rural areas, that number rises to nearly 60 per cent.’

Since its existence, Her Voice Foundation has reached over 7,500 girls across 12 communities, offering literacy, life skills, vocational training, and psychosocial support. ‘These girls are not just statistics. They are dreams waiting to be realised.’ She said.

The foundation not just supporting girls also runs campaigns to challenge harmful cultural practices. In 2023, with support from UN Women under the Spotlight Initiative, it led a campaign in Becheve, Cross River State, to combat the resurgence of money marriage. ‘We mobilised 1,000 men as allies and engaged 200 traditional rulers who pledged to abandon the practice,’ she said. ‘Our policy brief became an advocacy tool, resulting in policy dialogue and survivor assistance.’

Meeting with teenage pregnant girls

Her Voice Foundation’s Second-Chance Education Programme enrolled 500 learners and equipped 2,000 girls with tools for financial autonomy. A radio show hosted by the foundation reached two million people online, while 1,500 community members pledged to promote girls’ education.

On how beneficiaries are selected, Favour said the foundation prioritises girls in fragile situations. ‘We meet each girl where she is, listening to her story and assessing what kind of support she needs most,’ she explained. ‘What matters most is not just vulnerability, but the willingness of the girl to take a step forward, however small, toward her second chance.’

Funding for the foundation comes from a mix of international partners, local organisations, and individual donors. Notable supporters include UN Women, Inspiring Girls, IGNITE, and Project Nightfall Philanthropy. ‘We continue to build partnerships, recognising that long-term impact requires broad collaboration and diverse sources of support,’ she said.

On running the foundation, sFavour said, has been both challenging and rewarding. ‘We have a team of over 60 people, mostly volunteers,’ she said. ‘It has taught me to first lead myself, to believe in the importance of what we are doing, and then to lead others with vision and purpose.’

She added that coordination goes beyond the office. ‘It’s about making sure our team is in sync with community leaders, schools, the government, other development partners, and most importantly, the girls themselves.’

Favour’s work has earned her international recognition. In 2023, she received the Princess Diana Award for social action and humanitarian work. In 2025, she was named one of the 100 Reputable Women of African Descent. Since 2022, she has served as a National Gender Youth Activist with UN Women and delivered a TEDx Talk titled ‘The Power of a Second Chance.’

She said her vision is to grow Her Voice Foundation into a global institution for girls’ second chances. ‘I envision skill hubs, technology centres, and women-run factories that generate income while providing livelihoods. ‘I want us to shape policy and advocacy at national and international levels to end child marriage and harmful practices for good.’

Favour believes sustainability is key. ‘We design programmes to be community-owned and low-cost where possible,’ she said. ‘We also focus on leadership pipelines, training young women, including survivors, to take on leadership roles.’

Despite the challenges, she remains undeterred. ‘Society won’t stop talking,’ she said. ‘No matter what you do, people will talk. So, I just work and do what I know is right.’

Her motivation, she said, comes from the girls themselves. ‘Watching how small moments add up to big impact keeps me going. Every meeting, every plan, every small win feeds into the larger vision of changing lives for the better.

‘My motivation also comes from the belief that every second chance given to a teenage mother or a marginalised girl can be her lifeline, her best chance, or even the very thing that propels her toward a sustainable future. I am motivated by the girls themselves. I think of girls like Mary, a survivor of money marriage, who, through the support she received, now runs a profitable business. This income allows her to send both herself and her child to school. Knowing that every girl who receives our intervention goes on to impact her child and her community fills me with purpose. That ripple effect, the multiplication of impact and sustainability through our interventions, is what drives me every day.

‘To any young person eager to take action, I would say: start. But don’t just start, start with the right knowledge, systems, and structure. Build a non-profit that is not centered on you, but on the people you serve. Create an institution that empowers others, gives young people the chance to lead and become changemakers themselves, and always vouch for yourself.

‘Again, personal experience in my community. I saw a girl who was pregnant at just 12 years old, and she was not alone; there were many others like her. This pushed me to look deeper into the statistics, where I discovered that teenage pregnancy and child marriage are among the greatest barriers to girls’ retention and completion of school, severely affecting their education. I was moved to act, both to give second chances to girls already in these fragile situations and to work towards breaking the barriers that hold them back. That is why I founded Her Voice Foundation.’

She urged other young people to take action. ‘If you want to start anything that will help others, you should do it now. Because no one is going to do it if you don’t start.’

Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc. (‘Sterling Holdco’) says investors’ response to its public offer has been very positive.

The holdings had opened its Public Offer of 12.581 billion ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N7 per share. This amounts to about N88 Billion.

The Offer for subscription opened on Wednesday, September 17 and closed on Tuesday, September 30.

This Public Offer is a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening the capital adequacy of Sterling Bank Limited, capitalising SterlingFi Wealth Management, and supporting the Group’s strategic expansion opportunities.

In a statement yesterday, the organisation said its public offer has quickly become one of the most talked-about opportunities in the Nigerian financial market..

It quoted analysts to have predicted that the offer will prove to be amongst the most lucrative in the sector’s investment landscape.

The Sterling Public Offer has sparked widespread interest, with market experts

noting that the price, which is about 6% below its current trading price, presents an attractive entry point for both institutional and retail investors.

‘The offer is set to close soon, but the rapid pace of interest has led many to speculate that the full subscription has already been reached or even exceeded much earlier than expected,’ the statement said.

According to leading financial analysts, Sterling Holdco’s strategic expansion plans, solid market position, and innovative financial products have positioned it as a major contender in Nigeria’s banking sector.

The public offer is widely regarded as an exciting proposition for investors looking to capitalise on a company with strong fundamentals and an ambitious growth trajectory.