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The National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has at its meeting held on Tuesday, pursuant to its powers under the Constitution approved the dissolution of the Akwa State Executive of the party.

Consequently, the NWC approved the composition of a 31-member caretaker committee to run the affairs of the Akwa Ibom State Chapter from Tuesday, September 30th, 2025 for a period not exceeding three months, or until such a time a new State Executive Committee would be elected in the State.

BusinessDay reports that the members of the Akwa Ibom State PDP Caretaker Committee, including Igwat Umoren, Chairman; Harrison Ekpo, Deputy Chairman; Borono Bassey, Secretary; and Ewa Okpo, a Lawyer, as the Publicity Secretary. Others include Emman Mbong, Organising Secretary; Aniekan Asuquo, Youth Leader; Mary Silvia Abara, Woman Leader; Enoch Enoch, a Lawyer as Legal Adviser.

Also appointed are Aniebiet Cornelius, Member; Udim Peters, Member; Ayanime Obot, Member; Ofon Michael, Member; Esther Bassey Effiong, Member; David Umanah, Member; Usenmfon Ibanga, Member; and Unwana Assam, Member; among others.

Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, who made the announcement in a statement made available to the media, called ‘on all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our Party in Akwa Ibom State to remain united and continue to work together for the progress of the Party.’

BusinessDay fruther reports that since Governor Umo Eno defected from PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in June, 2025 the party has been unable to assert itself as an opposition party in Akwa Ibom State.

Bassey Otu, Cross River State governor, has felicitated former Governor Donald Duke on the occasion of his 64th birthday, describing him as a statesman of rare distinction whose legacy continues to inspire the state and the nation.

In a statement conveyed through his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Linus Obogo, Governor Otu extolled Duke as a leader whose name sparkles in the annals of Cross River’s political history. He noted that his tenure as governor remains a shining testament to courage, compassion and progress.

According to Governor Otu, ‘Former Governor Duke’s time in office was not merely about governance but a renaissance of vision, service and passion. It was a season when hope blossomed, and Cross River’s pride was rekindled. His leadership lit a path that continues to guide our collective aspirations.’

The governor stressed that Duke’s legacy is not measured only in physical structures or projects, but in the intangible yet enduring values he championed-innovation, creativity, and a bold belief in the ability of Cross River to lead where others hesitated. These, he said, remain living testaments to the power of vision-driven leadership.

He recalled that the Duke years saw Cross River reimagined as a hub of culture, tourism, and enterprise, where the Carnival Calabar gained global acclaim and the state became a reference point for creative governance. ‘Those were years when Cross River’s name was etched on the national and international map in colours too bold to fade,’ Otu remarked. Otu added that the former governor’s contributions went beyond infrastructure, capturing the very soul of the people through policies that touched lives, ignited dreams and rekindled faith in the boundless possibilities of purposeful leadership. ‘Such footprints,’ he declared, ‘cannot be erased from the sands of time.’

The governor further observed that even beyond office, Duke has remained a beacon of wisdom, radiating the qualities of an elder statesman whose words carry weight and whose life is a wellspring of inspiration for the younger generation. His enduring relevance, Otu said, speaks to a life anchored on service and vision.

‘As you celebrate sixty-four glorious years, I rejoice in your new chapter as a statesman and fountain of inspiration,’ Governor Otu said, while praying that God grants him renewed strength, abiding joy and enduring fulfilment in the years ahead.

‘On behalf of the Government and the good people of Cross River State, I heartily felicitate with you, Your Excellency, and wish you a happy 64th birthday. May your light never dim, and may your days be crowned with peace, laughter and divine favour,’ the governor added.

The Federal Government has announced plans to expand the annual enrollment of medical students to 20,000 in order to expand access to medical education and retain critical health manpower in the face of the rising japa trend, which has seen many professionals leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad.

Maruf Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, made this known on Monday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at the launch of the Federal Ministry of Education’s Communication Strategy (2025-2027).

According to him, the reforms are part of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), inspired by President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which positions education as a catalyst for national renewal.

Alausa disclosed that enrollment in Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy has doubled in recent years, with medical student intake rising from about 5,000 to a projected 20,000 in the 2025/2026 academic session. Nursing admissions have also grown exponentially, from 28,000 to 115,000 nationwide.

‘We have doubled the intake of students in Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy in our health educational institutions. For medical students for example, from an enrollment of 5,000 students a couple of years back, we are well on our way to achieving 20,000 this new academic year. These are all aimed at addressing the critical manpower shortages in the health sector.

‘These interventions are deliberate steps to address critical manpower shortages in the health sector and ensure that Nigerians are not denied access to quality healthcare because of the japa syndrome,’ the minister said.

He further disclosed that 18 medical schools are being equipped with modern facilities, while 1,000 laboratories are being upgraded in senior secondary schools in partnership with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

‘We are partnering with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) to equip 1000 Laboratories in our senior secondary schools nationwide. ‘Nursing student intake has risen to 115,000 nationwide, from an initial figure of 28,000 which we met on ground. This would greatly increase the number of Nurses that would serve the nation despite the JAPA syndrome we are currently facing now,’

Beyond medical education, the minister highlighted other NESRI achievements, including the government’s foundational education strategy, which has expanded access to basic education in underserved and rural communities.

The minister noted that in just six months, 4,900 classrooms were constructed, 3,000 renovated, 34 model and smart schools established, and 353,000 furniture supplied, impacting more than 2.3 million learners nationwide. On tackling out-of-school children, Alausa disclosed that the Almajiri Commission has mapped nearly one million children, while 35,000 learners have been reintegrated into formal education through TVET centres. He added that 1,400 Tsangaya teachers have been trained and policies on Almajiri and non-state schools strengthened.

Other initiatives outlined by the minister include: The launch of a TVET digital platform that has attracted over 1.3 million applicants.

Free education in federal and selected state technical schools from the 2025/26 academic year, covering tuition, boarding, feeding, and a ?22,500 monthly stipend.

Nigeria’s membership of WorldSkills International, giving artisans global certification opportunities.

The training of 6,000 teachers in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to prepare learners for the digital future.

The introduction of the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), a ?10 million interest-free revolving loan scheme for staff of public tertiary institutions.

The minister reiterated that education remains central to national renewal, assuring that the government will continue to implement reforms that bridge gaps in access, quality, and relevance while tackling brain drain across key sectors.

Speaking on the Communications Strategy (2025-2027), Alausa said it is designed to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public trust through unified and data-driven communication.

According to him, the strategy provides a coordinated framework for the Ministry, its agencies, and parastatals to communicate reforms effectively. Its key objectives include: establishing clear priorities and target audiences, standardising processes and branding, enhancing public awareness of policies, and improving interdepartmental alignment using evidence-based planning.

The plan rests on five strategic pillars: Unified Messaging and Branding, Stakeholder Engagement and Public Trust, Crisis Communication and Reputation Management, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning and Capacity Building and Professionalisation of Communication.

To achieve these, the strategy outlines measures such as appointing departmental communication focal points, activating a shared content calendar, developing a knowledge hub, and training communication officers in media relations, digital engagement, and crisis response.

System-strengthening measures include integrating communication into departmental budgets, institutionalising stakeholder feedback loops, and applying real-time monitoring to adjust messaging and channels.

Expected outcomes, according to the ministry, include consistent and credible messaging across the education sector, stronger alignment between communication and policy delivery, improved public awareness, and an institutionalised culture of proactive, data-driven communication.

Alausa reaffirmed that education remains central to Nigeria’s national renewal, adding that the twin goals of expanding human capital and building public trust will drive the sector forward under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Two weeks ago in this column, I argued that Africa must look beyond aid if we are to build sustainable futures. That argument was not theoretical. At last week’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), I saw it in practice; African innovators, governments, and communities demonstrating that we are not waiting for permission, we are already shaping the solutions the world urgently needs.

‘The thread running through all of this is clear: innovation is not a product to be bought; it is a system to be nurtured.’

It was a privilege for eHealth Africa to co-host Africa-led Innovation: Shaping Sustainable Futures With or Without Aid, alongside PSI, Population Council, and Reach Digital Health. The title was deliberate. For too long, aid has dominated the development conversation. But in the packed room of leaders, practitioners, and funders, the energy was different. The focus was on Africa’s leadership and on the kinds of partnerships that can make our innovations last.

The global stage, the African voice

Our session was just one of many at UNGA80 grappling with the reality that the development landscape is undergoing a shift. A long-anticipated declaration on noncommunicable diseases stalled in last-minute controversy, yet what stood out to me was not the discord but the clear momentum from governments and civil society pushing for accelerated action. Similarly, bold replenishment calls in global education reminded us of the urgency; nearly 900 million children could leave school by 2040 without decisive investment.

These global debates underscore why Africa’s voice matters. We cannot afford to be mere recipients of frameworks negotiated elsewhere. We must co-create the solutions and ensure they are rooted in our realities.

Innovation as identity

Hon. Minister Chernor Bah opened our dialogue with the simple truth that ‘innovation is who we are as Africans.’ This is not new. From community systems that bridged gaps in the absence of state capacity to the digital health platforms now connecting workers across borders, our history is one of innovating out of necessity and resilience.

But as Minister Salima Bah reminded us, innovation must be sector-specific. Different challenges require tailored responses. A one-size-fits-all model of aid or investment will not deliver sustainable futures.

From shiny objects to systems

Too often, innovation is confused with technology alone. Yet as Michael Holscher observed, ‘innovation is rarely about a single shiny object.’ Policy, partnerships, and business models are just as important. Without them, even the most brilliant app or device risks fading after a promising pilot.

Fara Ndiaye underscored that accountability only works when governments, funders, the private sector, and communities move side by side. Dr Kemi DaSilva-Ibru reminded us that solutions must be designed with the most marginalised in mind. Judith Bruce made a compelling call for investment in ‘female infrastructure’ as a foundation for sustainable growth.

The thread running through all of this is clear: innovation is not a product to be bought; it is a system to be nurtured.

Health as an economic driver

Another theme at UNGA80 resonated deeply: health is not a drain on economies; it is a driver of prosperity. Vanessa Kerry, WHO’s Special Envoy on Climate and Health, captured it well when she said, ‘Health workers are the very versatile front line of responding to all the crises we see today.’ Strong health systems stabilise communities, support economic growth, and provide the resilience needed to withstand climate shocks.

The capital question

But if innovation is who we are, financing remains the test of whether it can endure. Too much capital in global health and development is rigid, short-term, and donor-driven. What Africa’s innovators need, what the world needs, is flexible, trust-based capital.

Trust-based does not mean unchecked. It means financing that respects local expertise, allows for adaptation, and creates room for growth. It is the kind of capital that recognises that those closest to the problems are often closest to the solutions. This approach is gaining traction globally, but it must become the norm, not the exception.

Building forward together

Leaving UNGA80, I felt both urgency and optimism. Urgency, because the scale of global challenges, from climate change to noncommunicable diseases to education gaps, is staggering. Optimism, because I saw first-hand the brilliance and resilience of African leaders, innovators, and communities who are already shaping solutions.

The lesson for all of us is clear. Health, education, climate, and finance cannot be siloed. Partnerships must be cross-sectoral, inclusive, and long-term. Women, girls, and marginalised communities must be at the centre. And innovation must be nurtured not as a series of pilots, but as systems built to last.

If we do this, Africa will not only shape its own sustainable future, but it will also help shape the world’s sustainable future.

Nigeria is seeing an increasing cases of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), with a treatment cost that is deepening household poverty, health experts and multiple studies show.

As Nigerians join the rest of the world to mark World Heart Day today, experts warn that CVDs are becoming a major casue of mortality and also impoverishing households. They stress that poor awareness of risk factors, a shortage of specialists, and the country’s weak health insurance coverage are compounding the crisis, leaving millions of citizens to pay out-of-pocket for expensive treatments.

Also, several studies reviewed by BusinessDay found that the cost of care doubles the poverty headcount among households.

Akin Osibogun, chairman of the Nigeria Heart Foundation, noted that the prevalence of CVDs had risen from 10% in 1990 to 28% today, and globally, about 20 million people die annually from CVDs.

Osibogun decried Nigeria’s low health insurance coverage, stressing that the cost of care remains unaffordable for many. According to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), barely 10% of Nigeria’s estimated 220 million people are insured, while the rest are forced to pay out-of-pocket.

A study published in the Public Library of Science in 2021, based on a survey of patients who accessed healthcare in public and specialised heart hospitals, revealed that patients paying out-of-pocket faces catastrophic health expenditure (CHE).

The study found that 54.6% of CVD patient households incurred CHE, with the poorest households facing a 60-fold higher chance of incurring CHE relative to wealthier households.

The study also concluded that health expenditures doubled household poverty headcount, from 8.13% to 16.4%.

Private hospitals also report prohibitive costs. Lagoon Hospitals noted that cardiology care in Nigeria remains out of reach for most families. At Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), a valve replacement procedure costs about ?3.2 million, while a hole-in-the-heart surgery ranges between ?2.5 million and ?2.7 million. With average monthly incomes ranging between ?85,700 and ?1.5 million and with 63 per cent of Nigerians living below the poverty line, experts say life-saving procedures are priced as luxuries for the majority.

It found that heart failure, cardiomyopathies, rheumatic heart disease, and coronary artery disease-are increasingly prevalent in Nigeria, adding that Hypertension remains the leading risk factor, yet one-third of hypertensive Nigerians receive no treatment, while another third fail to maintain controlled blood pressure.

On addressing treatment cost, Osibogun, emphasised the need to strengthen local manufacturing to reduce the cost of healthcare and make treatments more accessible to Nigerians.

The expert expressed concerns that ‘Ignorance is the greatest challenge,’ in addressing CVDs as many Nigerians are no aware of risk factor such as excessive salt intake.

He also warned that air pollution is an emerging driver of heart disease. ‘Due to air pollution, the concentration of oxygen is reduced by pollutants, so the heart has to work harder, almost in overdrive,’ Osibogun said.

He also urged citizens to adopt healthier lifestyles, highlighting the benefits of eating well and engaging in regular physical activity. ‘We need to move more,’ he said, stressing that exercise is a key preventive measure against cardiovascular diseases.

He recommended that primary healthcare centres (PHCs) provide cardiovascular healthcare services, as they are the closest point of care for most Nigerians.

Furthermore on prevalence, a 2022 study published in the National Library of Science found that CVD-related admissions are rising in Nigeria and across Africa. Conducted in a Lagos tertiary hospital, the study reviewed CVD admissions over a 16-year period and revealed exponential increases.

Between 2002 and 2005, cumulative CVD admissions stood at 468. By 2009, the figure had risen to 1,490, a 201.1% increase. By 2013, it had climbed to 2,883 – representing a 516% increase. By 2017, total admissions stood at 4,436, an 847.9% increase from the 2002 baseline. The study noted that both admissions and death rates were rising sharply, reflecting Nigeria’s ongoing epidemiological transition.

A 2024 study, ‘The Burden of Cardiovascular Disease Attributable to Hypertension in Nigeria: A Modelling Study Using Summary-Level Data’, published in Global Heart, confirmed hypertension as the primary driver of CVDs. The findings showed hypertension contributes to 13.2% of myocardial infarctions, 24.6 percent of all stroke cases, and 21.6 percent of ischaemic stroke cases. Its role is even greater in intracerebral haemorrhagic strokes, accounting for 33.1 percent.

Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), on Monday urged newly called-to-Bar police officers to uphold integrity, professionalism, and discipline as they assume dual responsibilities as law enforcement officers and legal practitioners.

Addressing the officers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the IGP described their success as a milestone achievement that would add strategic value to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and strengthen the country’s justice system.

‘It gives me great pride to welcome you. Today, we are not only recognizing personal success; we are celebrating an achievement that strengthens the Nigeria Police Force and adds value to our country,’ he said.

He also congratulated the officers on their successful completion of the Nigerian Law School programme, noting with pride that one of them graduated with First Class Honours, which he described as a rare and outstanding feat that has brought honour to the Force.

The Police Chief emphasized that law enforcement cannot be effective without a strong legal foundation.

He stressed that the officers’ legal training positioned them to serve as defenders of the law in the field and as custodians of justice in the courtroom.

According to him, every action taken by the Police must be grounded in law, every power exercised must be backed by law, and every responsibility borne must be judged by law.

Egbetokun highlighted that their entry into the profession coincided with the recent elevation of the Police Legal Section to the Force Directorate of Legal Services, now headed by an Assistant Inspector-General of Police.

He explained that the upgrade was not symbolic but strategic, designed to provide sharper legal direction, ensure watertight prosecutions, safeguard the institution against legal vulnerabilities, and influence policy at the highest levels.

He told the officers that they were joining the Directorate at a defining moment and that its success would depend heavily on their contributions.

He further stressed that the Police did not need lawyers in uniform for decoration, but officers who would add tangible value to the institution.

He urged them to ensure that prosecutions are handled professionally, conduct themselves with integrity that is above reproach, and provide legal opinions that commanders can rely on with confidence.

He also encouraged them to help align the Force with constitutional standards, human rights obligations, and international best practices, while serving as role models to other officers who aspire to combine policing with legal practice.

The IGP reminded the officers that their call to the Bar had doubled their responsibilities, making them accountable to the Force, the legal profession, and the Nigerian people.

He cautioned them against misusing their legal knowledge for personal advantage, urging them instead to channel it into service that would strengthen the Directorate and uplift the Police Force.

‘Excellence will be recognized and rewarded. Mediocrity will not be tolerated,’ he said.

He added that the combination of their uniform and the lawyer’s gown placed them in a demanding yet privileged position, requiring humility, discipline, and loyalty to the Force.

Egbetokun charged the officers to justify the investment the Police had made in their legal education, insisting that their performance would not only shape their careers but also determine the credibility of the Nigeria Police as a professional law enforcement institution.

He declared that the achievement was not merely about the gown they would wear in court, but about the standards they would set while in uniform.

‘The Police at this time, more than ever before, need lawyers who will make the law work for justice, for discipline, and for Nigeria,’ he said.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will inaugurate the Governor’s Annual Lecture Series on Friday, October 3, 2025, at the Honeywell Auditorium, Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University.

Themed ‘Next Generation Leadership in Monetary Policy and Nation Building,’ the lecture marks the launch of a flagship platform under the CBN Governor’s Knowledge Acceleration and Thought Leadership Initiative. The series is designed to strengthen dialogue between the Bank and thought leaders across academia, business, policy, and civil society.

This inaugural edition coincides with the second anniversary of Team Cardoso’s leadership at the CBN, a milestone reflecting reforms that have stabilised the naira, improved key economic indicators, and restored international investor confidence in Nigeria’s economy.

The platform will convene policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and students from leading tertiary institutions, highlighting the central role of monetary policy in driving stability, growth, and nation-building.

The choice of Lagos Business School as the inaugural host reflects its reputation as a hub for leadership and policy innovation, offering an environment that bridges theory and practice and encourages rigorous debate.

Through this initiative, the CBN underscores its commitment not only to safeguarding Nigeria’s macroeconomic stability but also to investing in the next generation of leaders who will sustain and build on today’s progress.

In northern Nigeria, the hum of diesel generators that long defined everyday life at Katsina General Hospital has begun to fade. In its place, a quiet transformation is underway. A newly commissioned 250-kilowatt solar system with a 300-kilowatt-hour battery capacity now powers wards and operating rooms, reducing reliance on costly, polluting fuels while ensuring uninterrupted electricity for critical care.

The shift is emblematic of a broader trend sweeping across Africa: clean energy projects that are less flashy than billion-dollar mega dams or grand national grids, but far more immediate in their impact. At the centre of this movement stands Genesis Energy Group, a Lagos-based developer that is reimagining how power is delivered to the continent’s most underserved communities.

Founded in 2005, Genesis has spent two decades quietly building one of Africa’s most diverse portfolios of clean energy projects.

Its guiding mantra, ‘lighting up Africa one community at a time’, is proving more than just corporate rhetoric.

By working directly with state governments, hospitals, schools, and local industries, the company is making the case that access to affordable, reliable power is as much about health, education, and economic resilience as it is about kilowatt hours.

A growing crisis in energy access

Despite abundant natural resources, Africa’s power challenge remains stark. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), over 600 million people on the continent live without access to electricity, and nearly 1 billion still cook with traditional fuels like wood, charcoal, or coal. The consequences are profound: respiratory illnesses from indoor air pollution, millions of hours lost each year to fuel collection, and stagnant productivity in communities cut off from reliable power.

Nowhere are these challenges more acute than in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy. The World Bank estimates that only 55% of Nigerians have access to electricity. Rural electrification rates are even bleaker, dropping to just 24%, compared to more than 80% in urban areas. Kerosene lamps, diesel generators, and firewood remain the default solutions, entrenching a cycle of high costs, pollution, and inequality.

The urgency is underscored by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7): ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy by 2030. Meeting that target requires bold action across the board-government reforms, international financing, and private-sector innovation. Increasingly, it is companies like Genesis Energy that are showing what that future can look like on the ground.

Genesis Energy’s state-level bet

In early 2025, Genesis signed a $500 million Memorandum of Understanding with the Katsina State Government to roll out decentralised clean energy infrastructure across the northern state. The initiative targets hospitals, schools, and government facilities as a first step in building what executives describe as ‘replicable models’ for state-led electrification.

The first phase includes a 1,000-kilowatt solar system with matching battery storage at the Katsina Government House and smaller installations at public health facilities, including Katsina General Hospital. Together, these projects form part of a broader 10-megawatt pipeline that Genesis aims to complete in the state.

‘This is not about building a single showcase project,’ said one Genesis executive familiar with the plans. ‘It’s about demonstrating that decentralised, clean power can be deployed quickly, affordably, and in ways that directly improve lives. Once proven, the model can be replicated across Nigeria’s 36 states.’

The strategy reflects a broader shift in Africa’s energy landscape: away from a singular focus on national grids, and toward distributed systems that can bypass the chronic bottlenecks of state utilities.

Financing the transition

Genesis is no stranger to the complexities of financing clean energy in emerging markets. In 2019, it issued West Africa’s largest clean energy bond at the time, worth $36.1 million, unconditionally guaranteed by InfraCredit and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The raise gave the company both credibility and flexibility to scale projects across the region.

Since then, Genesis has invested over $150 million into clean energy ventures, from solar and battery storage to gas-to-power facilities. Among its more notable undertakings is an 84-megawatt private off-grid gas-to-power plant that supplies electricity to critical national infrastructure in Nigeria, reducing reliance on diesel and heavy fuel oil.

With a development pipeline of 4.5 gigawatts and nearly 458 megawatts already in operation or under construction, Genesis has positioned itself as a key intermediary between global financiers and Africa’s fragmented energy markets. Its access to equity risk capital and large-scale funding sets it apart from smaller players often constrained by capital scarcity.

A portfolio beyond solar

While solar remains central to Genesis’s identity, the company has deliberately built a multi-technology portfolio. Its projects leverage solar photovoltaics, battery energy storage systems (BESS), hydro, wind, and hybrid gas-to-power systems, depending on the specific needs of communities and industries.

One flagship example is the Banana Island Local Grid in Lagos, a distributed energy system serving more than 2,000 residents with up to 98% power availability. By replacing noisy diesel generators with a hybrid clean energy solution, Genesis has not only improved quality of life but also demonstrated the commercial viability of decentralised urban grids.

This flexibility is key in markets where one-size-fits-all solutions rarely succeed. ‘Africa’s energy future will not be defined by a single technology,’ Genesis executives argue. ‘It will be a mosaic of solutions tailored to local contexts.’

From clinics to classrooms

The social ripple effects of these projects are hard to overstate. With reliable power, clinics can refrigerate vaccines, students can study after dark, and farmers can store perishable produce in solar-powered cold rooms.

The World Health Organisation estimates that nearly 60 percent of health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa lack reliable electricity. Genesis’s installations at hospitals like Katsina General represent a step toward closing that gap, enabling better maternal care, emergency surgery, and disease response.

Similarly, electrification projects in schools and community centers extend opportunities for education and digital inclusion, while small businesses benefit from lower energy costs and improved productivity.

A voice in global forums

Genesis’s influence extends beyond project sites. At forums such as the Africa Energy Forum 2025 and the Youth Energy Forum 2025, the company has emerged as a leading voice on Africa’s clean energy transition.

At the Africa Energy Forum, Genesis executives participated in a panel on ‘Financing Gas: Is 2025 the Year Financing Is Unleashed?’-arguing that transitional fuels like natural gas remain critical for Africa’s near-term stability, even as renewables scale.

At the Youth Energy Forum, the company emphasised workforce development, offering guidance to students and young professionals seeking careers in clean energy. It also showcased how it tracks CO2 displacement across its solar and hybrid projects, underscoring a commitment to measurable impact.

This dual role-as both project developer and policy advocate-has helped Genesis influence the broader narrative around Africa’s decarbonization, balancing pragmatism with ambition.

Balancing legacy fuels with renewables

The tension between Africa’s fossil fuel wealth and the urgency of decarbonization looms large over every clean energy conversation. Nigeria, for example, is among the world’s top oil producers, and natural gas accounts for a significant share of its domestic energy use.

Genesis has sought to bridge that divide by positioning gas-to-power as a transitional tool. While critics argue that gas risks locking Africa into carbon-intensive pathways, Genesis insists that hybrid solutions are essential for maintaining reliability in regions where renewable intermittency remains a barrier.

‘We cannot leapfrog into a 100% renewable future overnight,’ a company spokesperson noted at a recent panel. ‘But we can chart a path that reduces emissions, displaces diesel, and builds the infrastructure for a sustainable energy mix.’

Measuring Impact

For Genesis, impact is measured not just in megawatts, but in lives improved. The company tracks outcomes such as reduced diesel consumption, CO2 displacement, and cost savings for clients. It also emphasises community engagement, working with local governments and residents to ensure projects are aligned with social and economic priorities.

This emphasis reflects a broader shift in how investors and policymakers assess energy projects. Beyond financial returns, stakeholders increasingly demand evidence of social dividends-health, education, and gender equity among them. Genesis’s model, by targeting schools, hospitals, and underserved communities, is designed to deliver on that mandate.

Next steps

With less than five years until the 2030 SDG 7 deadline, the scale of Africa’s energy challenge remains daunting. Achieving universal access will require not just billions in new investment but also regulatory reforms, cross-border cooperation, and a willingness to embrace decentralised solutions.

Genesis Energy is betting that its state-level partnerships, diversified portfolio, and proven financing record will allow it to scale faster than many peers. The Katsina initiative, if successful, could serve as a template for other Nigerian states-and potentially across Africa.

For now, the quiet hum of solar panels and battery systems in Katsina may seem like a small step. But for patients at the hospital who no longer face blackouts during surgery, or students who can now study after sunset, the change is nothing short of transformative.

And for Genesis Energy, it is proof that a clean power boom doesn’t always arrive with fanfare. Sometimes, it begins with the lights staying on.

Nigeria is rewriting its governance story through the steady leadership of three women whose work is moving the country from promise to proof. In parliament, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara is turning representation into results. She treats consultation as a discipline, keeps citizens in the room, and converts their priorities into credible parliamentary asks. Her hearings are purposeful, her follow-up is visible, and her message is clear: legitimacy grows when people are heard and policy is grounded in evidence. In an era of flood risks, cost-of-living pressures, and rapid urbanisation, that kind of citizen-centred law-making helps lower tensions, align MDAs around shared outcomes, and accelerate delivery where it matters.

On the nation’s highest bench, Hon. Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji, JSC anchors confidence in the rule of law. Predictable jurisprudence is not a luxury, it is the bedrock of investment, innovation, and social protection. Her careful reasoning signals that rights are real, contracts have consequences, and the vulnerable are not invisible. In a time of digital disruption, climate shocks, and intense political competition, her work shows how an independent, development-minded judiciary safeguards both liberty and growth. Justice becomes infrastructure, and infrastructure invites enterprise.

Within the executive, Fatima Ango offers a masterclass in execution. Recently elevated to Deputy Director at the Central Bank of Nigeria, she has championed learning systems, competency frameworks, and monitoring and evaluation that link training to performance and policy to service quality. Capability is her strategy. By hard-wiring standards, skills, and feedback loops into daily work, she helps institutions move faster, learn quicker, and serve better. That is how service delivery becomes consistent, and how confidence in government compounds.

Together they form a clean arc of national renewal. Parliament gives inclusive voice. The courts provide steady verdicts. The executive delivers value at scale. This is the alignment Nigeria needs to tackle today’s biggest tests: resilience in the face of climate risks, productivity in a tightening global economy, probity in public finance, and inclusion that leaves no community behind. It is also why their leadership is newsworthy. At a moment when citizens demand performance as well as vision, these three women show that excellence is attainable, measurable, and repeatable.

Celebrate them, because they are modelling how Nigeria wins: empathy with standards, vision with systems, ambition with accountability. Their example is not just inspiring. It is a practical blueprint for good governance, nation-building, and inclusive, sustainable development that reaches every ward and every household.

Nigeria’s healthcare system is facing a growing shortage of orthodontic specialists, leaving many patients without access to timely and affordable care. The concern was brought to the fore as the newly elected President of the Nigerian Association of Orthodontists (NAO), Idia Ize-Iyamu, pledged to confront the challenge head-on during her tenure.

Orthodontics, a branch of dentistry that deals with correcting irregularities of the teeth and jaws, has become an area of rising demand in the country. However, the number of trained orthodontists remains alarmingly low compared to Nigeria’s vast population of more than 200 million people. Experts say this shortage has created long waiting periods, high treatment costs, and a widening gap in access between urban and rural communities.

Ize-Iyamu, a professor of orthodontics and former dean at the University of Benin’s Faculty of Dentistry, said her administration will prioritise the training of more specialists. She stressed that access to quality orthodontic care should not be limited to the elite few who can afford treatment abroad or at expensive private clinics.

‘We cannot continue to run a system where less than 200 orthodontists are expected to serve millions of people across the country. This imbalance leaves many Nigerians untreated, especially children, whose conditions worsen with age,’ she said while addressing members of the association.

The shortage has far-reaching consequences. Malocclusion (poor alignment of teeth) is not merely a cosmetic issue, experts argue, but one that can affect speech, chewing, oral hygiene, and even self-esteem. In many cases, untreated dental problems in children lead to lifelong complications. Yet, with few orthodontists spread across major cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, patients in smaller towns and rural communities often have no access at all.

The association says part of the problem lies in limited training opportunities. Orthodontics requires years of specialised postgraduate training, but Nigeria has only a handful of accredited programs. Even then, these programs admit a small number of candidates each year due to resource constraints.

According to the NAO, collaboration with government and universities is crucial to expand training capacity. Prof. Ize-Iyamu has also called on policymakers to invest in dental health infrastructure, provide incentives for young dentists to specialise in orthodontics, and create opportunities for continuous professional development.

Stakeholders note that brain drain is another serious challenge. Many young Nigerian dentists who receive specialised training abroad often remain overseas, where working conditions, pay, and research opportunities are more attractive. This exodus further depletes the pool of local specialists, compounding the crisis.

The situation has also fueled inequality in healthcare. Orthodontic treatment in private clinics can cost anywhere from ?500,000 to ?3 million depending on the severity of the case, a price far beyond the reach of average Nigerians. Without a strong public healthcare system to subsidise treatment, orthodontic care is becoming a privilege for the wealthy.

Parents like Mrs. Chinyere Nwosu in Enugu express frustration over the lack of affordable care. ‘My daughter has badly misaligned teeth. We were told she needs braces, but the cheapest we found was over ?700,000. It’s heartbreaking because we know it will affect her confidence, but we cannot afford it,’ she lamented.

Health experts argue that awareness is also a major barrier. Many Nigerians only seek orthodontic treatment when conditions become severe, often due to ignorance about early intervention. The NAO says public education campaigns will be scaled up to ensure parents know when to bring children for check-ups, ideally between ages seven and nine.

Ize-Iyamu noted that tackling the shortage requires a holistic approach combining training, policy, awareness, and international collaboration. She expressed optimism that with the right partnerships, Nigeria can build a stronger orthodontic workforce.

Her election as NAO president has been described by colleagues as timely, given her experience in both academia and practice. Supporters believe her leadership could mark a turning point for orthodontic care in Nigeria.

‘Nigeria has the talent, the passion, and the patient demand. What we need is investment, planning, and commitment. Orthodontic care should not be a luxury it should be a standard part of our healthcare system,’ she concluded.