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Saliu Mustapha, Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District has called for collective efforts by all and sundry to tackle insecurity in the State.

Mustapha in a statement signed and released to journalists in Ilorin, expressed deep disturbance by the recent security challenges in parts of Kwara South and Kwara North Senatorial Districts.

According to him, for decades, Kwara proudly enjoyed an enviable reputation as one of the most peaceful State in the Federation but sadly, the recent wave of banditry and kidnapping is capable of eroding that record, ‘thereby unfortunately drawing our dear State into the wider national security concerns.

‘I extend my heartfelt sympathy to fellow Kwarans and families who have fallen victim to this senseless carnage, especially those who have paid the ultimate price. I send my deepest condolences to the families of the vigilantes, forestry guards, and others who lost their lives during the recent attacks in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area, as well as in Edu and Patigi LGAs of our State.

‘I must acknowledge the immense efforts of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR; the Kwara State Government under His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq, CON; and the gallantry of our security agencies who continue to put their lives on the line to protect us all.

‘This crisis is novel to Kwara, and this may partly explain why it has appeared intractable. I therefore urge the public to exercise understanding, patience and restraints while trusting in the capacity of both the Federal and State governments to overcome this menace.

‘More importantly, I call on all stakeholders across every spectrum political, traditional, communal, and religious to recognise this as a shared challenge requiring shared responsibility. If any part of Kwara is unsafe, then no part is truly safe.

‘I believe that we, the political class whether in government or opposition must rise above rhetoric and name-calling. This is a moment for unity, for collective action, and for prayers for divine intervention and for guidance for our leaders, whose decisions, in one way or another, affect us all as citizens.

‘We do not have another State apart from Kwara. Our future, our peace, and our prosperity depend on the choices we make today.

All hands must therefore be on deck to regain the peace and harmony Kwara State is known for.’

What began as crude phishing emails riddled with spelling mistakes has now evolved into a high-stakes battle against artificial intelligence-powered impersonations. From cloned voices to convincing video calls, cybercriminals are weaponizing AI to mimic reality so closely that even seasoned professionals struggle to tell the difference.

Cybersecurity expert, Okoli Ugochukwu, with over a decade of experience in security operations and incident response, has sounded the alarm: ‘Trust is no longer a starting point. It’s a reward that must be earned. In the AI era, we must verify first, then trust.’

According to him, traditional red flags like typos or suspicious email addresses have given way to sophisticated threats. Attackers now replicate a CEO’s writing style, voice, or even facial expressions in video calls to trick employees into releasing sensitive data or approving fraudulent wire transfers.

‘Imagine your CEO’s voice on the phone calmly asking you to authorize an urgent payment. Would you hesitate? That’s the new battlefield,’ Ugochukwu explained.

To combat this wave of AI-driven scams, he outlined five key defense strategies:

Multi-channel verification – Confirming requests across different mediums (e.g., email + phone call).

Contextual verification – Checking whether requests align with past behavior or tone. Zero-trust mindset – Treating every request as potentially malicious until verified.

AI-powered defenses – Using detection tools to flag anomalies in voice, video, or email.

Personal codes or safe words – Low-tech but effective human-only verification layers.

He emphasized that while the tools may be advanced, vigilance remains human-driven. ‘The landscape of trust has shifted. What can be faked in one channel is harder to fake across many. Habits of verification, not fear, will keep us resilient.’

With over 400 citations worldwide for his research on AI-driven cyber threats, Ugochukwu continues to push for a balance between human intuition and technology. His message is clear: as the line between truth and fabrication blurs, the key to digital safety is discipline.

Ugochukwu is a cybersecurity professional with 10+ years of experience in security operations, cloud security, and incident response. His research on AI and evolving AI-driven cyber threats has been cited over 400 times worldwide. He is committed to advancing cyber resilience through innovation, mentorship, and emerging technologies.

ýAs a way of encouraging start-ups floated by youths in the State, the Administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, has distributed the sum of N800 million to distributed to business owned by youths.

The special intervention programme flagged off on Tuesday, in Kano, is said to be designed at supporting young entrepreneurs to start and expand their businesses.

Governor Abba said that the disbursement of the money is with immediate effect, across the 44 Local Government Areas of the State.

Governor Abba gave the directive, while launching the programme that a total of 5,384 young men and women selected as beneficiaries of the programme are to received ?150,000, each.

He noted that the programme was initiated as part of the administration’s commitment to improving the lives of young people in the State.

ýGovernor Yusuf noted that the initiative was designed to help youths become active members of the business community and contribute to societal progress.

ýHe urged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the funds to grow their ventures and secure a better future.

ýHe also appealed to those who are still on the waiting list to remain patient, assuring them that the second tranche of the programme will be released soon.

ýThe governor reaffirmed that his administration would continue to prioritise policies and programmes that empower young people and create sustainable livelihoods across Kano State.

Sources told BusinessDay that the bulk of the beneficiaries of the programme were picked from among the hundred of youths that were rehabilited from being political Tmthugs across the State.

Kano, Nigeria ‘s most populated State has been experiencing escalation in youths restifuness in the recent times, due to what experts attributed to mounting unemployment among the youths in the state.

The disbursement of the money to the beneficiaries, who are mostly street boys, is expected to reduce the escalation in urban crimes, largely been driven by the unemployed youths

The Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, has commended Nigerians for their resilience and steadfastness as the nation marks its 65th Independence Anniversary.

In his Independence Day message, Senator Abiru emphasized that Nigeria’s rich diversity must continue to serve as a source of unity and strength, rather than division. He urged citizens to reject divisive rhetoric, intolerance, and actions capable of undermining national cohesion, stressing that the country’s future rests on the collective resolve of its people to work together in peace and progress.

Abiru, who chairs both the Southern Senators’ Forum and the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, also called for increased support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He noted that the President’s bold reforms are gradually yielding the desired outcomes.

The Senator’s statement reads: ‘Today, as we mark the 65th Independence Anniversary of our beloved nation, I join millions of compatriots in celebrating Nigeria’s resilience and enduring spirit. Despite the economic, social, and political hurdles before us, our dear nation remains a beacon of hope on the African continent. ‘Our diversity – with over 250 ethnic groups and more than 500 languages – is our greatest asset. Under the green-and-white flag, we must continue to strengthen our unity, guard against actions that deepen our national fault lines, and renew our collective commitment to nation-building.

‘I equally appeal to all Nigerians to continue to stand solidly with our esteemed leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as he provides bold and focused leadership that is clearly redirecting our country toward enduring sustainable development and economic growth.

‘The administration’s major policies have already begun to yield positive results. The harmonization of the foreign exchange market, among other laudable reforms, has helped to curb spiraling inflation, boost investor confidence, and lay the groundwork for a stable economic environment where enterprises can thrive – ultimately leading to shared prosperity.

‘This is not the time to give up on Nigeria. It is precisely at moments like this that our unity, resilience, and patriotism matter most. With determination and a shared sense of purpose, I am confident that we will emerge as a stronger and more prosperous nation – not just for ourselves, but for generations to come.’

Every year on October 1st, Nigerians gather to wave the green-white-green, listen to speeches, and watch parades that commemorate our independence. Yet, as we mark another year of nationhood, one must ask: independence to what end? For too long, our celebration has been heavy on symbolism and light on substance. The true measure of independence is not how many years we have been free from colonial rule, but how free and equipped our people are to live meaningful, productive lives.

In theory, our enviable demographic treasure is our Independence Dividend, a vibrant youth bulge with the potential to power industries, build new enterprises, and reimagine our national identity. But in practice, the dividend is slipping through our fingers. Millions of young people leave school with certificates that employers do not trust, while industries complain about a shortage of skilled hands. This paradox, abundance of people, scarcity of talent, is our national contradiction. And unless we resolve it, Independence Day will remain more performance than progress.

Our notion of independence certainly needs to evolve. True independence in the 21st century is not about flags, anthems, or military displays. It is about whether citizens are equipped to compete in a world driven by ideas, technology, and innovation. China, South Korea, India, etc., did not become global players by leaning on resources alone; they built people. They made national strategies out of education, training, and research. That is what gave them independence in the truest sense: freedom from dependence on foreign expertise, freedom from poverty traps, and freedom to innovate their own futures.

For us here in Nigeria, this means measuring our progress by hard numbers: How many children entered school and graduated with usable skills this year? How many young people gained employable training, not just certificates? How many new jobs were created in industries of future tech, green energy, and advanced manufacturing? How many women were empowered with access to education, leadership opportunities, and finance? Until we can answer these questions with pride, our independence remains incomplete.

So, what would it take to truly invest in people as a national strategy? It requires a framework we can consider under three pillars: education for relevance, skills for the future, and growth opportunities.

Our education system remains too theoretical, too distant from the reality in the labour market. This requires bold reforms: modernising our curricula to include digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving; investing in teacher training; and bridging urban-rural gaps through technology-enabled learning.

Beyond formal education, our technical colleges and vocational centres should be revitalised as engines of skill creation. Every region has a comparative advantage waiting to be harnessed, but this requires deliberate investment in training hubs that blend academia with industry needs.

Talent without opportunity breeds frustration. So, we must build ecosystems where young people can apply their skills. This means investing in entrepreneurship support, expanding access to credit, incentivising businesses that train and retain local talent, and creating public-private partnerships that generate jobs. Government budgets must also reflect this shift: for every naira we spend on roads and bridges, an equal commitment should be made to people’s infrastructure, training, mentorship, and innovation hubs.

This framework cannot remain in theory. We should codify it in policy and practice. Nigeria needs state-backed innovation hubs that decentralise opportunity from Lagos and Abuja into Aba, Kano, Calabar, Eket, Jos, Makurdi and others. And we need accountability: every Independence Day, the President’s speech should not only recount history but also present a Human Capital Scorecard showing what progress has been made in education, jobs, and skills development.

The opportunity cost of delay is staggering. Nigeria is projected to reach 400 million by 2050. If we fail to harness this youth bulge, we will not just miss economic growth, we will incubate instability. Idle hands are not only GDP left on the table; they are fertile ground for crime, unrest, and migration crises. But if we seize the moment, Nigeria could become one of the most dynamic workforces in the world, supplying talent to Africa and beyond.

So, on this Independence Day, let us move beyond nostalgia. Let us make October 1st a checkpoint for our most important national asset: our people. Imagine if, every year, Nigerians looked forward not just to speeches but to concrete numbers on how many new schools were built, how many youths were trained, how many jobs were created, and how many women advanced into leadership. That is how nations measure independence in the modern age, not by how long they have been free, but by how well their people can thrive.

Nigeria has never lacked potential. What we have lacked is the discipline to transform our people. It is not too late. If we begin today, then in a decade, Independence Day will not just be a memory of 1960. It will be a celebration of a Nigeria that truly invested in its people and, in doing so, secured its future.

Because flags fade, speeches are forgotten, and parades disperse. But the independence that comes from human capital, the independence of mind, skill, and opportunity, lasts for generations.

That is the independence dividend Nigeria must pursue.

President Bola Tinubu has said the Nigerian economy is recovering faster than expected due to the reforms his administration embarked on more than two years ago, adding that ‘yesterday’s pains are giving way to relief.’

‘I am pleased to report that we have finally turned the corner. The worst is over, I say. Our economy is recovering fast, and the reforms we started over two years ago are delivering tangible results,’ Tinubu said in a televised Independence Day broadcast Wednesday.

Tinubu, who took over from late President Muhammadu Buhari some two years ago, said he inherited a near-collapsed economy, a situation that warranted his resolve to take on bold market reforms to put the country on the path of growth.

The reforms, though unpopular, phased out fuel subsidies that crippled the country’s finances while benefiting ‘a tiny minority’ and unified the exchange rate in a bid to make it more market-driven and remove longstanding arbitrage. The consequences of the reforms were mixed. For Nigerians, it crushed spending power as inflation soared to a multi-year high and led to the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. Poverty rose quickly and dried up the middle-class economy.

On the other hand, Nigeria’s economy became more resilient with annual growth now at 4.23 per cent as of the second quarter of 2025, the quickest pace since 2021, while inflation has continued to cool for the fifth straight month this year, a development that has allowed the monetary authorities slashed key interest rates by half point to 27 percent in first since 2020. ‘Our administration has redirected the economy towards a more inclusive path, channeling 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.’

He noted that his administration has achieved 12 economic milestones, including achieving more than N20 trillion in non-oil revenues as of August. That’s more than the total figure for last year at N21.7 trillion.

Tinubu said Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio has reduced to less than 50 per cent from 97 per cent, adding that with external reserves at more than $42 billion, the naira has stabilised from the turbulence and volatility witnessed in 2023 and 2024.

According to the president, Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio has risen to 13.5 per cent from less than 10 per cent, with the ratio expected to increase further when the new tax law takes effect in January.

‘Nigeria has recorded a trade surplus for five consecutive quarters. We are now selling more to the world than we are buying, a fundamental shift that strengthens our currency and creates jobs at home,’ the president said.

‘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.’

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

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

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

Governor Zulum’s full statement below:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Industry experts have urged the Federal Government to embrace full digitalisation of the oil and gas sector, describing it as the only sustainable solution to crude oil theft, vandalism, and wastage.

They made the recommendation at a leadership forum in Houston, Texas, warning that Nigeria continues to lose significant amounts of income weekly to theft and inefficiency because of outdated tracking and opaque validation systems.

Charles Deigh, a petroleum engineer, and Oluwatoyin Joseph Gbadeyan, a researcher, in their joint presentation, said every barrel of oil should represent national prosperity, but large amounts are lost annually through sabotage and poor accountability.

‘This is not just unfortunate-it is unacceptable. Nigeria cannot afford to let another barrel go to waste.

‘We need bold, transformative action,’ they said.

According to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), daily crude losses dropped from about seven million dollars in 2021 to 700,000 dollars in 2025.

The agency attributed the reduction to initiatives such as the Nigeria Upstream Measurement System (NUMS), the Automated Hydrocarbon Accounting System (AHAS) and provisions in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) mandating metering technologies.

However, the experts stressed that enforcement remained weak, with manual reporting and lack of real-time oversight still enabling theft.

They recommended the deployment of advanced digital tools such as Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, drones, satellites, blockchain tracking, artificial intelligence and automated metering across the oil infrastructure.

According to them, such technologies-already in use in countries like Norway and Saudi Arabia-would cut the 10,000 to 20,000 barrels lost daily to theft and wastage, restore investor confidence and give all stakeholders access to transparent, real-time data.

The experts said Nigeria must set a firm milestone of achieving full digital coverage of its oil infrastructure by December 2025, if the country was to secure its resources and translate them into wealth.

‘Government must move beyond policy to action, ensuring digital oversight is not just written into the PIA but rigorously enforced, with real consequences for non-compliance,’ Deigh and Gbadeyan said.

They further urged oil companies to invest in durable monitoring systems and called on host communities to embrace transparency as a pathway to shared prosperity.

They warned that continued losses would erode national wealth, while urgent digitalisation could power economic growth, stability and diversification.

‘The flames of wasted oil wealth have burned for too long.

‘It is time to extinguish them with innovation, strong laws, advanced technology and political courage. The future of Nigeria depends on it,’ they said.

The Institute of Change Management (ICM) has called on Nigerian businesses to prepare for a future defined by the convergence of people, processes, and technology, noting that successful organisations will be those that approach digital transformation with intentionality and agility.

Nat Osewele, president/chairman of the council of ICM, during his address of welcome at the 2025 ICM Annual Conference themed, ‘Navigating to the Future: Synchronising People, Processes and Technology for the Next Era of Change,’ said the gathering was more than a meeting of professionals but a launchpad for transformation.

‘This conference reflects our collective commitment to shaping the future with intention, innovation, and integrity,’ Osewele stated.

He emphasised that the future is not to be feared but designed, while urging change leaders to build cultures that embrace agility, collaboration, and continuous learning.

During a panel session on ‘digital transformation and organisational agility,’ industry leaders highlighted both opportunities and challenges facing Nigerian firms.

Morolayo Igeleke, country marketing manager at UPS, stressed that successful transformation depends on leadership commitment.

‘It starts from the top,’ he said. ‘The shoulders of implementation begin with leadership, and everyone else will pick from it.

‘To invest in digital transformation as a leader, you must be digitally literate, set visions and timings, and grow incrementally. Mindset change is very difficult, but with execution and time, things will change,’ Igeleke noted. Folorunsho Aliu, group chief information officer of Dangote Industries Limited, said agility is not just speed but alignment with an organisation’s realities.

‘A lot of people are jumping to AI because it’s the real thing, but you can’t digitise processes if your business is still running on paper,’ Aliu stated. ‘You must evaluate your stage, set the right foundation, and grow organically. There is no need to rush just to catch up with everybody.’

He added that small businesses may find it easier to embed digital systems from scratch, while larger organisations must take a more structured approach.

The panel agreed that Nigerian businesses must prioritise continuous learning, workforce audits, and communication when adopting AI. Small pilot projects, investment in digital literacy, and ethical considerations were also identified as critical success factors.

Obiageli Nwobi, managing consultant at HR Allied Services Ltd, noted that AI is already embedded in everyday work.

She stated that there is an urgency to prepare today’s workforce for an AI-driven future. ‘AI has come to stay. Many of us already use it daily without realising it – from personalised recommendations to research tools.

‘The workforce of tomorrow will not only be assisted by AI, it will be shaped by it. The focus is shifting from jobs to skills, and success will depend on human-AI collaboration.’

It was noted that AI is increasingly taking over repetitive jobs, but new roles are also being created, from AI ethics officers to process improvement engineers.

‘Our jobs are not disappearing; they are evolving.’

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that Nigeria’s armed forces are making decisive gains against insurgents, separatist groups and criminal gangs, insisting the country is ‘winning the war against terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes.’

In his Independence Day broadcast on Wednesday, the President praised the sacrifices of security personnel and said their efforts had brought peace back to swathes of the country that were once under threat.

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

According to him, peace has returned to ‘hundreds of liberated communities’ in the North-West and North-East, allowing thousands of displaced people to return home. He added that security improvements were already strengthening the economy by creating a safer environment for farming, investment and trade.

Tinubu’s comments come amid continuing concerns about sporadic attacks in rural areas and the resilience of armed groups, but the President maintained that the trend was moving firmly in Nigeria’s favour.