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Real Estate Discussions and Awards (REDA) is a two-day event organised by Thinkmint Nigeria. It is dedicated to advancing Africa’s real estate sector through insightful discussions, exhibitions, and strategic networking. The platform brings together developers, investors, policymakers, and key industry players to exchange ideas, explore opportunities, and shape the future of the built environment.

The 6th Edition is themed ‘Back to the Basics – The Future of Real Estate’ and will take place on Tuesday, 21st and Wednesday, 22nd October 2025 at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

The day will feature keynote addresses, in-depth discussions, and masterclasses led by top voices in finance, policy, and urban development.

Participants will also explore an exhibition of projects and services, join high-level networking sessions, and connect at receptions designed for partnerships and deal-making. The evening will conclude with the prestigious REDA Awards, celebrating excellence and innovation across Africa’s real estate ecosystem.

The keynote address at REDA 2025 will be delivered by Dr. Armstrong Takang, CEO, Ministry of Finance Incorporated, and Engr. Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lagos State.

The event will also feature distinguished government leaders, industry experts, and corporate executives, with Special Guests of Honour invited from both the public and private sectors to enrich the conversations and engagements.

Topics of discussion will explore the future of real estate, with a focus on funding, investment, and market growth. Speakers will also examine the evolving dynamics of retail and commercial developments, the impact of technology on property management, and insights into emerging trends shaping the industry’s direction.

This event will welcome over 500 real estate professionals, investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs. Participants will engage in high-level discussions, exclusive networking sessions, and deal-making opportunities. With a dedicated exhibition area, receptions, and an awards ceremony, REDA 2025 is designed to create maximum visibility, meaningful connections, and real value for businesses and brands across the real estate ecosystem.

The conference will host over 40 industry leaders and experts, including: Engr. Oluwole Olumide Sotire (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical and Urban Development, Lagos State), Dr. Olajide Abiodun Babatunde (Special Adviser to the Governor on E-GIS and Urban Development), Dr. Emeka Henry Inegbu, (Executive Director of Operations, Family Homes Funds), Ayo Olowookere (MD/CEO, Imperial Mortgage Bank), Femi O. Awofala (Founder/CEO, The African Catalyst), Abiodun Mamora, FCCA, (Director, GAI Holdings), Dr. Olumide Adedeji, PhD, FCA, FCTI, (MD/CEO, Living Trust Mortgage Bank), Babatope Davies, CFA, FCCA,( Executive Director/COO, Wealthbridge Capital Partners), Dr Ayobami Alo, (CEO, Castle Price Holdings), Lanre Olutimilehin, (Strategic Advisor, Diya Fatimilehin and Co / Director, Trillium Partners), Olawunmi Alade, (Partner, Detail Commercial Solicitors), Ronke Akinleye, (Executive Director, Gateway Mortgage Bank), Monsurat Muhammed, (Head, Family Homes Funds), Ayotunde Adesulu, (CEO, Novare Fund Manager Nigeria), Laide Agboola, (CEO and Co-founder, Purple Group), Azubuike Emodi, (MD/CEO, Afriland Properties), Obinna Udeagha, (Managing Director, ONL Group), Olurogba Orimalade, (Principal Partner, Rogba Orimalade and Co), Ayo Akinmade (Executive Vice Chairman, IWG PLC (REGUS PLC)), Tolu Dima-Okojie (Managing Partner, Kola Akomolede and Co), Peace Adetutu Ezeafulukwe (Founder, Openhouse Africa), Bukunmi Ajiboye (Co-Founder, VAMP FI), Adekunle Jinadu (Co-Founder/CEO, Good Tenants), Ayomide Temitope A (Co-Founder/COO, Dormot), Tolulope Arobieke (CEO, Moradia Ltd), Ibukun Ajiboye, (Deputy Manager, Urban Shelter), Odunayo Ojo (MD/CEO, UPDC), Habinuch Owhondah (Country Manager, CBRE | Excellerate Nigeria Limited)

The 6th Edition of the Real Estate Discussions and Awards (REDA) is proudly supported by LSDPC, Ministry of Finance Incorporated, Urban Shelter, Purple Group, Elanorris Real Estate, Axial Pacific Real Estate, Dormot Technologies, Moradia Limited, Babalakin and Co etc.

The Nigerian Pension Commission (PENCOM) recently welcomed a new chairman, Otunba Opeyemi Agbaje. He is a fine gentleman I have followed since his days at GTBank. We started writing for BusinessDay Newspapers around the same time. I religiously followed his column. I have also been an active participant in his Policy Council from its inception, both on television and now as a WhatsApp forum. I can claim to know him.

PENCOM has been fortunate to have a long line of very competent people. They include those who birthed the industry in Nigeria and have regulated it since the beginning. I expect nothing less from Mr. Agbaje and his board.

I want to suggest an agenda for them. This will give me something to benchmark their performance against in the future.

Lessons from the Capital Market.

This is not the first time I have proposed an agenda for a regulator. Sometime in 2010, I suggested an agenda for Ms Arunma Oteh. She was appointed the Director General (DG) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) during a crisis in the Nigerian capital markets. Reporters at BusinessDay Newspapers asked for my suggestions in an interview they later published.

I suggested three focus areas for her:

Resolve Disputes: Clean out all disputes and claims from the collapse of the Nigerian Stock Market in 2009.

Foster Self-Regulation: Focus on the rapid development of market associations. These associations would serve as her monitors in the market. Many of the groups we see today did not exist then, apart from a few like the Association of Issuing Houses (AIHN),. responsible for the primary side of the capital market . actually (the Association of Investment Bankers, which cuts across the bank and non-bank institutions in the market) . These associations are now monitored and self-regulating entities. They keep the market vibrant and self-correcting. The market has fewer infractions today than at any other time in its history. I believed then that self-regulation was the best regulation. If market participants organise and work with regulators, the market becomes more accountable. Regulation then becomes easier and more efficient.

Implement Reforms: Focus attention on implementing the Dotun Suliaman committee report on the Nigerian Capital Market. This committee was prompted by the 2008 financial crisis in the US. It was a proactive move by the then-SEC Chairman, Senator Udo Udoma, to better prepare the market for the impending crisis in Nigeria.

The Suliaman Committee’s Impact.

The committee consisted of some of the brightest minds in our market, including people within Nigeria and in the diaspora.

For instance, Ms Yvonne Ike, managing director of Renaissance Capital, West Africa, who was previously a managing director at JP Morgan, was a standout. Her work ethic and devotion were second to none. I was a member of that committee, and I know how often she hosted a small group in her home to ensure the work got done. The committee’s work was detailed and benchmarked against best market practices globally. Many of its recommendations are why the market is working so well today.

This work could have been more impactful. It might have partially saved the market from the 2009 stock market crisis if the government had taken our suggestions seriously and intervened. Unfortunately, the authorities did not react quickly enough before the crash came. During our work, we stumbled on a brewing crisis and feared its impact. We set up a subcommittee to focus on what we found.

Warning the Government.

The sub-committee’s report was grave. The SEC Chairman, Senator Udo Udoma, called the attention of the federal authorities to it. He arranged a meeting at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja.

Attendees included the Minister of Finance, Mallam Shamsuddeen Usman, as our host; the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Chukwuma Soludo; the Director General of SEC, Mr Musa Al-Faki; the Economic Adviser to the President, Mr Yakubu Tanimu; and Mr Udo Udoma, representing the Government.

Three of us were chosen to represent the market: Mr Dotun Sulaiman, the committee chairman, is a very experienced former chairman of Accenture, the consulting firm. Mr Tola Mobolurin, a capital market expert, and I.

We presented our findings, stating that the exposure of our banks was far larger than reported. Our review indicated the Banks were exposed in a bad way that could lead to a serious crisis. We asked for immediate intervention. We feared a market crash, coupled with a large exit of foreign portfolio investors, that could trigger a currency crisis.

Despite our alarm, the Government’s reaction was understated. Professor Soludo, the CBN Governor, outrightly dismissed our concerns. He said most bank managing directors were his personal friends and that he would have known if the numbers were that large. The Minister of Finance, Mallam Shamsuddeen Usman, jokingly laughed us out of his office. He quipped that we had privatised the profits when times were good but now wanted to socialise the losses in bad times.

The arguments grew heated. Mr Mobolurin became frustrated and agitated. He warned that this was exactly what US officials did in 1929, burying their heads in the sand before the crash. Our cool-headed chairman, Mr Sulaiman, intervened. He admonished us to step back. He said we had done our job and should leave them with the reports to do what they wished. The government did not take specific action before the market crash. However, Professor Soludo, the CBN Governor, must have read our reports later. He issued notices for banks to fully disclose their exposure to the capital markets.

The problem was complicated because many banks did not distinguish between a margin loan trading line and an overdraft backed by shares. A margin loan was a credit line to trade securities. Beneficiaries had to put up a 30 percent margin upfront. This margin absorbed any market decline. The bank controlled the trade and could halt it if the 30 percent margin vanished and the trader failed to replenish it. An overdraft line was simply a loan to buy specific stocks the bank believed would be profitable. The blurring of this line made the true exposure much bigger than anyone knew.

Given that Ms Oteh implemented all three recommendations, her tenure was successful. She was effective and brought about many changes.

The Agenda for PENCOM.

I am now encouraged to do the same for our pension subsector. It is another important segment of Nigeria’s financial markets. The Nigerian pension industry is vast and full of unrealised opportunities. Its potential has not been fully exploited. Therefore, I need to highlight and put up three broad agenda items for the new chairman and his board to consider.

1. Growth in Size: Participants and Investment

No industry needs size more than the pension industry. Its growth must be continuous and perpetual because its liabilities are also perpetual. It must have perpetual streams of revenue and contributions to always meet these obligations. Revenues are more critical than profits, even though profitable investments are the goal. Revenues to meet day-to-day obligations are more important.

The current move to tap the huge opportunities in the informal sector is a step in the right direction.

I would like to see pension companies come together. They should tackle our huge infrastructure deficits, which also hold vast commercial opportunities. They should enter into syndication arrangements and pool resources to make commercial infrastructure projects work. This will create a perpetual source of revenue while diffusing the associated risks.

Imagine two or three large pension companies backing a project like the Lagos-Abuja rail line. They would de-risk the project, then invite other investors and infrastructure companies to join. This is a practical way to create revenue. It would take care of our very young population, who are now contributing to their pensions.

These projects not only reduce our infrastructure deficits but also create other opportunities, jobs, and new pension contributors.

My expectation is that the current size of the industry, currently about N25 trillion (Assets Under Management), can be five times larger by the time Mr Agbaje and his team complete their first five-year term.

2. Expanding the Investment Horizon.

The regulator should also issue guidelines to allow pension companies to invest abroad. The recent stability in the Naira presents an opportunity.

The sovereign and pension companies of Norway and Singapore all invest abroad. This diversifies risks and earns in places where there is growth. Our pension industry’s size is tiny compared to its potential. It should be a consistent capital formation source that many other industries can rely on for their growth. Creating these investment revenue streams is essential to quickly developing the industry. They should also aim to benefit from available investment management expertise by using multi-managers for assistance.

3. Aim To Be The Top-Ranked Regulator.

They must take their regulatory responsibility seriously. They must understand that their role is an enabler of the industry they are regulating. They must avoid the penchant for constantly creating revenue for the regulator. This happens through all manner of fees and constantly playing the police. They should adopt the thinking that less regulation is not necessarily bad regulation. They should help their industry modernise its processes. They should bring plenty of insights for constant improvements to better serve their stakeholders.

Our pension industry has a long way to go. It has the potential to influence development in many other areas. Mr Agbaje and his board have the opportunity of a lifetime to make a huge difference.

Mr Victor Ogiemwonyi is a retired investment banker and writes from Ikoyi, Lagos.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is launching a phased operational overhaul of the Nigerian Fixed Income Market starting in November. The initiative aims to significantly boost transparency and efficiency across Nigeria’s financial ecosystem.

The first phase of the reform is set to begin in November. As detailed in a formal communication signed by Okey Umeano, Acting Director of the Financial Markets Department, the CBN will be taking full, direct control of both the trading platform and the settlement process for all fixed income transactions.

‘This transition will enable the CBN to assume direct responsibility for the management of the trading platform and handle end-to-end settlement activities under the Bank’s established settlement system for financial market transactions,’ the statement read.

This market intervention is a key part of broader financial market reforms. The CBN’s core objective is to enhance regulatory oversight and strengthen the market’s ability to effectively support the transmission of monetary policy and, ultimately, foster economic growth.

The first phase of the overhaul is structured around four key milestones. It begins with User Acceptance Testing (UAT), which is scheduled for the second week of October 2025 and involves comprehensive testing of the new settlement infrastructure.

Following successful UAT, a Pilot Phase will run concurrently with the existing system to guarantee operational stability before full migration.

The first major step, Go-Live 1 (Settlement Process), is slated for November 3, 2025, marking the full migration of fixed income market activities to the new settlement process.

Finally, the second major step, Go-Live 2 (Trading Platform), is targeted for December 1, 2025, and will activate the CBN-sponsored trading environment for Primary Dealers, Market Makers (PDMM), Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), and other authorised participants.

The CBN acknowledged FMDA’s pivotal role in developing Nigeria’s financial markets and called for continued cooperation.

‘We look forward to your continued partnership as we work together to deliver a more efficient, transparent, and resilient fixed income market,’ the Bank stated.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last Thursday hosted a European Union (EU) Follow-Up Mission to review progress on recommendations made by the EU Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) following Nigeria’s 2023 General Elections.

Receiving the delegation, Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said the Commission welcomed the EU’s sustained engagement with Nigeria’s electoral process, noting that this was the first time a sitting INEC Chairman would host such a follow-up mission.

Yakubu recalled that in previous years, INEC had received EU Chief Observers, including Santiago Vincenzo in 2017 and Maria Karina in 2022. He commended the EU’s consistency in monitoring Nigeria’s elections since 1999, describing it as a key partner in electoral reform.

On the 2023 EU-EOM report, Yakubu explained that the Mission had made 123 recommendations, out of which 10 were directly addressed to INEC.

He disclosed that the Commission had already implemented administrative actions on several of the recommendations and was working with stakeholders on those requiring broader reforms.

‘Some recommendations require constitutional amendments and legislative action, while others call for collaboration with political parties, civil society, the judiciary, and the media,’ the INEC Chairman said.

‘We have acted on those within our administrative purview, and we await ongoing discussions on legal and policy reforms with the National Assembly.’

Yakubu emphasised that INEC had published its own comprehensive review of the 2023 elections and that both reports were available on the Commission’s website. He stressed that electoral reforms remained urgent, particularly as preparations for the 2027 General Elections gather momentum.

‘We look forward to the National Assembly’s consideration of strategic electoral reforms. Without clarity in the law, we cannot finalize regulations, guidelines, or training manuals for future elections,’ he stated.

Speaking on behalf of the EU delegation, Barry Andrews, member of the European Parliament and Chief of Mission for the EU Follow-Up Mission, said the EU was impressed by Nigeria’s efforts to implement the recommendations despite constitutional and time-related constraints.

Andrews noted that the EU deployed one of its largest observation missions for the 2023 polls, underscoring Nigeria’s importance in Africa and globally. ‘We are here to review progress, to listen, and to share international best practices that strengthen democracy,’ he said.

He added that while significant steps had been taken, further work was required, particularly on constitutional reforms, transparency in result publication, and inclusivity in the electoral process.

‘We acknowledge that many reforms require legislative and constitutional changes, which are complex. But we are encouraged by the level of engagement and progress already recorded,’ Andrews said.

The EU delegation, which has been in Nigeria for the past three weeks, will continue consultations with stakeholders including civil society, political parties, and the media before concluding its mission.

Both INEC and the EU reaffirmed their commitment to deepening Nigeria’s electoral credibility ahead of the 2027 polls, stressing that international observation remains a vital tool for improving electoral standards and democratic governance.

Nigeria and China are set to consolidate their fast-rising bilateral trade relations, which have already crossed $20 billion annually in the last years, through the 2025 edition of the China Commodities Expo-Nigeria (CCE).

The annual Expo, scheduled to be held from November 5 to 7 in Lagos, is expected to host over 250 Chinese manufacturers and more than 5,000 Nigerian and international business representatives.

CCE is organised by the Trade Development Bureau of China’s Ministry of Commerce in collaboration with Brightway International Exhibition.

Speaking on the significance of the event, Muheez Ojulari, Chief Representative Officer of Brightway International Exhibition, said the Expo was designed to consolidate the upward trend in bilateral trade.

‘This Expo is not just about trade, it is about building bridges of opportunity that connect Nigerian entrepreneurs with global supply chains. We want Nigerian firms to walk away not only with contracts, but with long-term partnerships that can strengthen their competitiveness at home and abroad,’ he said.

The Expo comes at a time when bilateral trade between the nations is witnessing robust growth. According to Chinese customs data, trade volumes between Nigeria and China reached $23.9 billion in 2022, with China exporting $22.3 billion worth of goods to Nigeria while importing $1.6 billion. In the first three quarters of 2023, trade hit $17.25 billion, boosted by a 22.5 percent rise in Chinese imports from Nigeria.

By 2024, volumes again surpassed $20 billion, while in the first seven months of 2025 alone, bilateral trade climbed to $15.48 billion, a 34.7 percent year-on-year increase, positioning Nigeria as China’s second-largest trading partner in Africa.

Since its inception in 2007, the annual CCE has grown into one of Nigeria’s largest trade events, supported by key Nigerian chambers of commerce, trade associations, and ministries at both state and federal levels. It is expected to draw importers, exporters, industry captains, government officials, and entrepreneurs from across Africa.

China’s investment footprint in Nigeria continues to deepen, with more than $1.5 billion committed to zones such as the Lekki Free Trade Zone and Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone, generating over 7,000 jobs. Beyond trade, the Expo is also targeting youth-focused entrepreneurship by linking Nigerian startups and SMEs with Chinese venture capital and technology partners.

Ojulari said, ‘This Expo matters because it gives Nigerian firms direct visibility before Chinese manufacturers who control global supply chains. It’s a chance to negotiate better terms, secure financing, and diversify our exports.’

With Nigeria-China trade already on a strong growth trajectory, the 2025 Expo is poised to serve as a critical platform to sustain momentum, unlock investment opportunities, and deepen bilateral economic relations.

Goodluck Jonathan, former President has disclosed that he had hoped Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s immediate past president, would be able to solve Nigeria’s Boko Haram insurgency problem since he was once nominated by the group to represent them in peace talks with the federal government during his administration’s search for a negotiated settlement.

Jonathan made the revelation on Friday at the public presentation of Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (rtd), held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

‘One of the major scars on my government is the scar of the Chibok girls. It is a scar that will die with me.

‘During one of the processes we initiated for dialogue, the insurgents put forward Buhari to lead their team to negotiate with government’, Jonathan said.

The former president explained that he had hoped Buhari’s later emergence as president would ease the path to dialogue and a possible surrender. ‘But the insurgency still persisted,’ he lamented, describing the crisis as ‘far more complex than often presented.’

Jonathan recalled that as vice president under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, he had witnessed the success of dialogue and amnesty in resolving militancy in the Niger Delta.

However, he admitted Boko Haram proved more complicated, with external involvement suspected in the flow of sophisticated arms and ammunition into Nigeria.

‘The issue of carrots and the stick may be adopted,’ Jonathan suggested, adding that his administration had explored multiple committees and approaches.

‘If it was just about hunger, it would have been easy to solve. Boko Haram is beyond that’, he added.

On the Chibok girls abducted in 2014, Jonathan said the tragedy left a permanent mark on his administration.

‘No plastic or cosmetic surgery can remove it,’ he said, adding that he still hopes one day Boko Haram leaders will document their motivations and actions to help Nigerians understand the group’s origins.

President Bola Tinubu, represented by Mohammed Abubakar, the Minister of Defence, pledged that his administration would not relent until insecurity is defeated across Nigeria.

He described Irabor’s book as ‘not only history, but guidance for the present and a roadmap for the future,’ stressing the need for collective effort to restore peace. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who chaired the event, said insecurity had evolved from insurgency in the Northeast to banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes across the country.

Drawing from his 2011 visit to Maiduguri after the UN building bombing, he argued that Boko Haram’s roots lay more in socio-economic grievances than religion or politics.

‘We cannot continue this way,’ Obasanjo warned, urging those with inside knowledge of the group’s early years to write books or speak up.

Babagana Monguno, former National Security Adviser, described Scars as ‘apt’ and called for national re-engineering to address issues of power struggles, resource allocation, and ethnic mistrust, which he said fuel insecurity.

He lamented Nigeria’s lack of cohesion and warned that ‘you can never address insecurity in as much as there is impaired national cohesion.’

Matthew Kukah, Book reviewer, said Boko Haram is more of an ideological war than a military one, adding that ‘all the military operations with different code names have not ended the insurgency.’

He stressed the need for ‘soft power’ approaches such as good governance, reconciliation, and civic engagement.

‘The urgency is not about more guns but about building a ‘war room’ where military and intelligence leaders think ahead about tomorrow,’ Kukah argued.

Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto, reinforced the call for tolerance, stressing that Islam advocates good governance and not extremism.

He condemned the misuse of ‘jihad’ as justification for violence.

Lucky Irabor, author of the book, said Scars was written to focus national attention on credible solutions to insecurity.

‘This is not an indictment. It is a national soul-searching presentation. I have always believed man exists to solve problems, and this book is my contribution to that effort’, he emphasized.

He urged Nigerians to recommit to building a nation anchored on justice, equity, and peace.

The event was attended by dignitaries including Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, former Service Chiefs General Alexander Ogomudia and Vice ,

Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Planning.

Others who spoke at the event, acknowledged the devastating impact of Boko Haram since 2009 and called for innovative strategies to finally end a menace that has outlived four administrations.

The boardroom was silent as the project update wrapped up. The leader had spoken with confidence, charts were polished, and strategies were neatly outlined. But everyone in the room knew the reality: the numbers didn’t add up. The missing voice wasn’t leadership; it was followership. No one wanted to be the person to puncture optimism. Fear of being dismissed, labelled, or sidelined kept lips sealed. The plan moved forward, the project derailed, and the cost was millions. At its heart, the breakdown wasn’t just in strategy but in trust.

Trust, or the absence of it, is the invisible currency of organisations. Leaders may design the vision, but followers decide whether that vision lives or dies by their willingness to engage, challenge, and commit. And followers, in turn, only bring their full selves when trust makes it safe to do so. Without trust, followers retreat into silence, leaders double down on control, and organisations bleed creativity.

‘Without trust, followers retreat into silence, leaders double down on control, and organisations bleed creativity.’

The conversation around leadership has always been obsessed with authority, charisma, and strategy. Yet the overlooked truth is this: trust is the glue that makes followership work. When followers trust their leaders, they contribute boldly. When leaders trust their followers, they grant space to influence outcomes. In fact, the strength of any organisation rests not on individual brilliance but on the mutual trust between those who lead and those who follow.

A 2024 Deloitte study found that 79 percent of employees who strongly trust their leaders are more engaged, productive, and willing to innovate. Conversely, in workplaces where trust is fragile, turnover increases by nearly 40 percent. The research is clear: trust isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s the engine of performance. But here’s the nuance often missed: trust doesn’t just flow downward from leaders to followers. It flows upward and sideways, too. Followers, through their integrity, accountability, and courage, earn and extend trust just as much as leaders do.

The art of followership is, therefore, inseparable from the practice of trust. Courageous followers do not confuse silence with loyalty. They speak truthfully, but they also do so responsibly, to advance collective success rather than vent frustration. They hold themselves accountable, delivering not only on tasks but also on the unspoken commitment to strengthen the social contract of trust in their teams. And they amplify peers, reinforcing a culture where trust is shared rather than hoarded.

Consider the subtle but powerful difference between two employees. One notices a flaw in a rollout plan but says nothing until the mistake surfaces. The other raises it in the meeting, framing it as a contribution to success: ‘I see a potential gap here; how might we address it before it becomes a problem?’ The first employee protects themself but erodes trust. The second risk is discomfort but it builds the team’s confidence in collective honesty. Trust grows when followers practise this kind of courage.

Of course, trust is fragile. Followers often wonder: What if my leader retaliates? What if speaking up costs me opportunities? These are valid fears. But the paradox is that this trust cannot exist without risk. To follow well is to invest in trust even when outcomes aren’t guaranteed. And when multiple followers model this courage consistently, they create a climate where leaders are compelled to reciprocate.

So, what does it look like to practise followership through the lens of trust? It looks like reframing your voice as a contribution rather than a confrontation. It looks like stepping into the initiative rather than waiting passively for permission. It looks like building coalitions of peer courage so that truth-telling is shared, not isolated. Above all, it looks like aligning actions with integrity so that your presence adds weight to the culture rather than subtracts from it.

Here are questions worth pausing over: Do I withhold my perspective out of fear, and in doing so weaken the trust my team needs? Do I treat my leader’s shortcomings as reasons for withdrawal or as opportunities to engage constructively? When colleagues speak truth, do I add my voice in solidarity or quietly watch from the sidelines? And perhaps most uncomfortably: am I trustworthy myself in the way I handle responsibility, honesty, and accountability?

This week, I challenge you to practise one deliberate act of trust-building as a follower. Speak up with honesty in a meeting where silence feels easier. Take ownership of a task without waiting for direction. Or affirm a colleague who risks candour, so their courage doesn’t echo in a vacuum.

Because here’s the truth: leadership without followership is empty, and followership without trust is impossible. The future of work will not be defined by charismatic leaders alone but by brave followers who choose to trust, engage, and act with integrity. Trust is not given; it is built. And every follower holds the power to shape it.

In the end, leaders may set the direction, but it is trust cultivated daily by those who follow that determines whether organisations merely move or truly soar.

Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, better known as Jandor, says President Bola Tinubu will face no serious challenge in the 2027 presidential election, while also confirming that he will once again contest the governorship of Lagos State.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, the former Lagos PDP governorship candidate, who recently returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC), said Tinubu’s political influence had grown stronger since 2023, making another upset unlikely.

‘In 2023, Jandor and his Lagos for Lagos movement were outside, but now we are back inside. So, it won’t be the same thing you witnessed in 2023,’ he said. According to him, the president’s hold on politics has gone beyond Lagos. ‘2027, not only in Lagos but in the entire country, is going to be a walkover for the man whose courage has given us a lot in this country today,’ Jandor added.

Jandor had left the APC in 2022 to run under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos. He came third in the March 2023 governorship election behind incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC and Labour Party’s Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour. But in March this year, he made a surprise return to the ruling APC, saying the party was better positioned to win elections regardless of the candidate. His defection ended months of speculation about his next political move after his defeat in 2023.

Now firmly back in the APC fold, Jandor has wasted no time in declaring his interest in contesting the 2027 Lagos governorship election. ‘What you heard yesterday is for us once again to express our can-do ability and give another shot to the same seat that we went for during the last electioneering process,’ he said. ‘There is no vacancy in Aso Rock till 2031. If not, maybe the next thing would have been me running for president. For now, the focus is on Lagos, and I have so declared my intention to run again.’

Jandor’s declaration is already setting the stage for what may become another heated Lagos governorship contest. His renewed loyalty to the APC also puts him in a complex position, competing for the ticket in a party dominated by the political machinery of President Tinubu. But Jandor insists he is not worried. Instead, he has openly welcomed the idea of competing against Tinubu’s son, Seyi, should the younger Tinubu enter the race for governor. ‘He is eminently qualified to run,’ Jandor said. ‘And if the party gives him the ticket, I will give him my full support.’ For political watchers, Jandor’s confidence about Tinubu’s re-election chances in 2027 is not just about loyalty but also strategy. By aligning himself closely with the president, he positions himself as a loyal APC member who can be trusted with the party’s ticket in Lagos. Tinubu, who lost Lagos to Peter Obi of the Labour Party in the presidential election last year, is widely expected to strengthen his political base ahead of 2027. Jandor seems certain that history will not repeat itself. ‘In 2023, the opposition had unusual strength. But now, things are different. The president has consolidated, and I believe it will be a landslide in 2027,’ Jandor declared.

Jandor’s first gubernatorial run was marked by high expectations. Backed by the ‘Lagos for Lagos’ movement, he promised to break the APC’s dominance in the state. But his inability to galvanise enough votes left him far behind Sanwo-Olu and Rhodes-Vivour. After the elections, analysts said his defection from APC to PDP may have weakened his grassroots ties, while the Labour Party’s rise in Lagos further squeezed his chances. Now, by returning to APC, Jandor is effectively betting on the ruling party’s structure to give him a second shot.

Even though the 2027 elections are still nearly two years away, the battle for the APC’s Lagos governorship ticket promises to be intense. Party insiders say Jandor’s chances will depend not just on his popularity but also on how much trust he can rebuild with Tinubu’s loyalists, who once viewed him as a defector. But Jandor appears prepared for the long haul. ‘We are keeping our eyes on the ball, doing the needful, and galvanising support for the party across the state,’ he said. Political analysts believe his willingness to back whoever emerges as the APC’s candidate could help him avoid being sidelined, even if he loses the ticket.

For Jandor, aligning with Tinubu and the APC’s political machinery could either pave the way for his ambition or keep him in the shadow of more powerful figures within the party. Still, he maintains that his focus is clear: ‘For Jandor, I am running in 2027, and I have so declared.’

With this, Lagos politics looks set for another round of drama-where loyalty, strategy, and the shadow of Tinubu will once again define who sits in the seat of power at Alausa.

Maruf Tunji Alausa, minister of education has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to aligning education with labour market realities.

He noted this during a side event in New York themed: ‘Skills-to-Jobs: Strengthening Nigeria’s workforce systems for economic growth’ which was geared towards reaffirming Nigeria’s leadership in global workforce and education transformation.

‘Our vision is to ensure that every Nigerian learner is not only acquiring knowledge but also future-ready skills that unlock decent work opportunities. By strengthening the connection between classrooms and careers, we are laying the foundation for inclusive growth and national prosperity,’ Alausa said.

The side event was organised by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (FMLE) in partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Tech4Dev, Semicolon Africa, and Avaara Partners, the high-level gathering convened policymakers, private sector leaders, development partners, and innovators to showcase Nigeria’s bold steps in linking education, skills, and employment for sustainable growth.

65% of Nigerian employers cite skills gap as a barrier to organisational transformation

Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, minister of State for Labour and Employment, also emphasised the government’s determination to deliver systemic workforce reform.

‘The future of work demands bold action. Our ministry, is investing in systems that prepare young Nigerians for the jobs of tomorrow, building bridges between skills providers, employers, and industries to ensure that no talent is left behind,’ she stated.

The first high-level panel explored policy reforms, digital infrastructure, and opportunities in the creative and green economy.

The key contributors included Rimamskeb Nuhu, special assistant to the vice president on Strategy and Policy, Moriam Ajaga, special adviser to the president on Art and Culture, Barr. Ismaeel Ahmed, executive chairman, Presidential CNG Initiative, Olumbe Akinkugbe, executive director, Galaxy Backbone and Sam Immanuel, CEO, Semicolon Africa.

A second panel examined skill-to-job linkages with insights from Rosy Fynn, country director, Mastercard Foundation Nigeria, Victoria Strokov, program manager, Partnership for Economic Inclusion at HSPGE), Oladiwura Oladepo, executive director, Tech4Dev and Sanyade Okoli, special adviser to the President on Finance and the Economy. Okoli stressed that reforms must translate into livelihoods, noting,

‘Finance must show up on payslips, not just in statistics. That is why we are linking innovation, credit, and social protection directly to employment outcomes so that every investment fuels opportunities for young Nigerians.

The event featured an interactive dialogue featuring youth voices, development partners, and private sector leaders. Discussions reinforced Nigeria’s commitment to closing the training-to-employment gap, strengthening cross-sector partnerships, and advancing reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

By aligning education, skills development, and labour policies, Nigeria is not only positioning its youth for the jobs of tomorrow but also cementing its influence in shaping the global future of work.

The Nigerian private sector closed the third quarter of 2025 on a strong note, with business activity expanding for the tenth consecutive month, even as the pace of expansion slowed from the previous month.

According to the latest Stanbic IBTC Bank Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), the headline PMI posted 53.4 in September, slightly below August’s 54.2, but still firmly above the 50.0 benchmark that signals expansion.

‘Growth was supported by a surge in new orders, driven by improved customer demand and the launch of new products. Although the rate of expansion eased to a three-month low, business activity recorded a sharp increase across all four broad sectors. Firms responded by raising output, expanding operating capacity, and boosting purchasing activity,’ the report disclosed.

Muyiwa Oni, head of equity research, West Africa at Stanbic IBTC Bank, said Nigeria’s business conditions ended the quarter on a strong note, although the pace of strengthening moderated relative to August. Specifically, the headline PMI settled at 53.4 points in September from 54.2 in August, buoyed by improvement in output and new orders, while inflationary pressures also continued to soften.

‘The rate of expansion in output, at 56.1 points compared with 56.8 in August, remained strong despite easing slightly, supported by better material availability and rising customer demand. New orders, at 55.4 points, stayed well above the growth threshold for the 11th consecutive month, though at a slower pace than August’s 58.3 points,’ he added. The PMI figures align with the broader economy, which grew by 4.23 per cent year-on-year in Q2 2025, compared with 3.13 per cent in Q1, bringing first-half growth to 3.69 per cent. Oni said.

He added that ‘Agriculture and oil were the strongest drivers, expanding by 2.82 percent and 20.46 percent, respectively, and jointly contributing 35.6 percent of real GDP growth. Non-oil sectors such as ICT, finance and insurance, real estate, and trade also recorded positive gains.’

The PMI report hinted that Stanbic IBTC projects sustained growth into 2026, supported by a likely reduction in interest rates, lower inflation, and reduced exchange rate volatility.

The bank expects oil and non-oil sectors to grow by 14.3 per cent and 4.4 per cent year-on-year, respectively, in Q3 2025, translating into overall GDP growth of 4.5 per cent.