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Victor Osimhen was in sensational form as the Super Eagles of Nigeria thrashed Benin Republic 4-0 in Uyo to book a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup intercontinental play-offs.

The Galatassary striker struck a superb hat-trick, while Frank Onyeka added a fourth in stoppage time as Nigeria produced one of their most commanding displays of the qualifying campaign.

Osimhen opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, finishing calmly from Samuel Chukwueze’s pass to set the tone for a dominant evening. He doubled the lead in the 37th minute with a towering header from another Chukwueze cross before completing his hat-trick early in the second half, nodding in Moses Simon’s delivery to make it 3-0. Frank Onyeka capped off the victory in stoppage time, firing Simon’s low cross into the roof of the net to seal a memorable win for Finidi George’s men.

Despite the emphatic result, the Super Eagles narrowly missed out on automatic qualification after South Africa defeated Rwanda 3-0 in Nelspruit to top Group C with 18 points, just one ahead of Nigeria.

Nigeria finished second with 17 points and now advances to the CAF play-offs, where the four best runners-up across all groups will compete for a spot in the intercontinental play-offs next March.

The Super Eagles’ focus now shifts to the play-off stage, where they will battle for one of Africa’s remaining slots for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Around 92 per cent of workers operate within the informal sector, meaning there are no verifiable records of their employment history.

In addition, approximately 70 per cent of CVs are unverifiable, leaving businesses uncertain about who they are hiring and job seekers vulnerable to exploitation.

Fraudulent recruitment agents have been known to demand up to half of a jobseeker’s first salary in exchange for employment opportunities.

In the most tragic cases, such as that of Iniobong Umoren, fake job interviews have resulted in the loss of life. Across Nigeria and much of Africa, jobseekers face dangers that extend far beyond unemployment. Fake job offers, exploitative agents, scams, and unverified interviews continue to place millions of young people at risk. And for every widely publicised case, there are countless others that go unreported.

Employers are also affected. Many businesses lose significant sums through high staff turnover, rehiring costs, and unreliable vendors.

In sectors such as hospitality, the average restaurant in Nigeria replaces nearly a third of its staff every six months. What appears to be inefficiency is, in reality, a systemic failure. Why traditional recruitment tools are no longer enough

For decades, recruitment across Nigeria and Africa has relied on CVs, reference letters, and spreadsheets. CVs can be forged within minutes, and reference letters are rarely verified. Manual record keeping also fails to scale in a country with over 84 million people in the labour force.

Such outdated methods not only slow recruitment processes but also heighten risk. Fake job interviews, misleading advertisements, and manipulative ‘career seminars’ are now part of the experience for many graduates. The desperation to secure employment has left many vulnerable to fraud and even physical danger.

Exploitative HR and recruitment practices

Many Nigerian jobseekers face exploitation even before securing work, often forced to pay for application forms, surrender part of their salaries, or cover agency fees charged to both them and employers, practices that are widespread, unethical, and target the most vulnerable.

Weak background verification

Even with national identification systems such as the National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN), background checks remain inconsistent and unreliable. Many employers still rely on informal phone calls to verify candidates’ histories, a process prone to bias and misinformation.

In addition, workplace culture often discourages open verification. Many employers hesitate to issue reference letters, fearing it may indicate that an employee intends to resign. Employment is frequently treated as ownership, with loyalty demanded and mobility punished. This culture erodes trust between employers and employees, reinforcing a system of mutual suspicion.

Employee manipulation and job hopping

The lack of trust affects both sides. Some employees have responded by manipulating their employment records, inflating roles or omitting past jobs to conceal difficult exits. Others move frequently between positions, driven by dissatisfaction and a lack of stability within the labour market. What appears to be inconsistency is, in many cases, a reflection of survival in a flawed system.

Fake CVs: A hidden crisis

Another growing issue is the spread of falsified CVs. Employers often encounter applicants who claim to have held positions or worked for companies that have no record of them.

The root cause: Lack of data and structure

At the heart of these challenges lies one fundamental problem. Without verifiable data, employers continue to make poor hiring decisions, while jobseekers remain unprotected from fraud and exploitation. High turnover rates persist, and the cycle of distrust deepens.

A sustainable solution requires a coordinated, transparent system that records and validates employment history, ensuring fairness and accountability across the labour market. Only then can both employers and jobseekers operate within an ecosystem built on trust rather than survival.

Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, executive director of Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa), has called on women in Africa’s mining sector to replace unhealthy competition with purposeful collaboration, stressing that collective strength remains the most powerful tool for industry transformation.

Speaking during an ongoing hybrid engagement of women miners and entrepreneurs in Sierra Leone, Asokoro-Ogaji emphasised that sustainable progress in the continent’s mining industry depends on women supporting one another through partnerships, joint ventures, and cooperative models.

‘Collaboration is the true alternative to competition,’ she declared. ‘When women compete destructively, it divides our strength and slows our progress. But when we collaborate, we build power that moves the sector-and the continent-forward.’

The WiM-Africa executive director explained that genuine collaboration within the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) ecosystem should translate into functional cooperatives where women pool their resources, share equipment, and jointly enhance production and safety standards.

She added that at the corporate level, collaboration could mean merging capacities and forming joint ventures to increase competitiveness and resilience.

Asokoro-Ogaji also called on women-led mining organisations to extend collaboration to advocacy and policy engagement. She encouraged the design of joint advocacy programs that strengthen institutions rather than competing for recognition or donor attention. In response to discussions on replicating WiM-Africa’s programs across the continent, Asokoro-Ogaji endorsed the initiative and urged national and community chapters to prioritize ‘NextGen’ programs that develop young female professionals.

According to her, Africa’s mining future depends on grooming ‘a new generation of vibrant, intelligent, and professionally grounded women’ to lead in governance, ESG, technology, and enterprise.

‘Copy all that there is to copy from WiM-Africa,’ she advised. ‘Adapt the frameworks, fellowships, and leadership models to strengthen your structures and ensure continuity of impact.’ She further called for closer ties among women-led enterprises, mineral sourcing companies, and beneficiation industries to align their initiatives with the African Union’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, ensuring women play a central role in driving responsible mineral value chains and economic transformation.

Asokoro-Ogaji reaffirmed WiM-Africa’s commitment to building an inclusive and sustainable mining ecosystem through its Five-Year Action Plan (2025-2030), which focuses on empowering women miners, strengthening cooperatives, and expanding industrial value addition across the continent.

Davido’s 5IVE Tour in Nigeria marks a shift for Afrobeats, as one of the genre’s biggest stars prioritizes local performances after years of global focus. As the first of the ‘big three’ artists-Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy-to organize a multi-city domestic tour in the Afrobeats export era, it addresses a gap in accessible live music for Nigerian fans.

The tour covers regions from south to north, using venues that symbolize national unity, at a time when economic pressures limit spending. However, sponsors cover production costs, keeping tickets affordable enough to draw large crowds.

Davido announced the tour on October 14, 2025, via social media, following his sold-out North American leg.

‘I’m blessed to perform all around the world, and everywhere I go-Nigeria goes with me. But this time. I’m bringing it HOME,’ he wrote. ‘After an unforgettable North American tour, it’s only right we bring that energy back where it all began. 5IVE TOUR NIGERIA, y’all ready??!! This one’s for the culture. This one’s personal. This one’s for us.’

The five-stop itinerary starts October 26 in Akwa Ibom at Godswill Akpabio Stadium (30,000 capacity), followed by Adamawa on October 29 at Mahmud Ribadu Square (25,000), Enugu on November 1 at Michael Okpara Square (20,000), Ibadan on November 9 at Obafemi Awolowo Stadium (25,000), and ends December 25 in Lagos for a festival.

Music journalist Joey Akan called it a ‘great move’ on X, noting its symbolic route: Uyo for the south, Enugu for the east, Ibadan as a western extension beyond Lagos, and Adamawa as a northern surprise. ‘This is both a marketing endeavor, and a labour of love,’ Akan wrote, adding that macroeconomic factors have reduced disposable income, making the tour a risk.

Sponsors including Guinness, Afreximbank’s CANEX, Martell, Wema Bank, and GAC Motors handle core production, ensuring low ticket prices and high attendance. This would be a huge ticketing exercise for promoters and online ticket vendors.

Other Afrobeats artists have taken the same route earlier this year bringing more fans to the live show system to explore their favorite artists. Llona’s Homeless Nationwide Tour, which hit 21 cities starting in Zaria and sold out venues like Muhammadu Buhari Civic Center in Lokoja, promoting indie accessibility. Odumodublvck’s Greatest School Tour targeted universities nationwide, starting in April and partnering with events like The Mainland Block Party to build local touring infrastructure.

The decision by Davido drew praise from industry voices. ChartsAfrica wrote: ‘@davido announces 5ive tour in Nigeria..!!!’, signaling broad excitement. Olamide, YBNL label head shared the dates, amplifying reach.

This tour revives live music engagement in Nigeria, where fans have relied on Lagos-Abuja circuits. By blending commercial strategy with cultural return, Davido sets a model for Afrobeats sustainability at home.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has commended Nigeria for making notable progress in revenue collection and for improving transparency in its foreign exchange and reserve management.

The Fund made these remarks during a press briefing on the Global Financial Stability Report, held as part of the ongoing World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C.

Those who addressed journalists at the session included Tobias Adrian, Financial Counsellor and Director of the IMF’s Monetary and Capital Markets Department (MCM); Vamvakidis Athanasios, Deputy Director of the department; and Jason Wu, Assistant Director. The briefing was moderated by Meera Louis, Communications Officer at the IMF.

During the discussion, the IMF officials highlighted that movements in exchange rates play a critical role as a natural buffer that helps economies adjust to external shocks. They explained that a depreciating exchange rate is not inherently negative and can, in fact, be beneficial when it helps restore balance and competitiveness within the domestic economy. The Fund observed that Nigeria has implemented important policy steps aimed at strengthening its macroeconomic framework, particularly in the area of monetary policy. It reiterated its support for Nigeria’s transition toward a more flexible exchange rate regime, describing it as a vital reform that aligns with the broader goal of enhancing the country’s economic resilience.

According to the IMF officials, Nigeria has not only improved its capacity for revenue collection but has also made significant progress in increasing transparency around its foreign exchange operations and reserve positions. These actions, combined with tighter monetary policy measures by the Central Bank of Nigeria, have helped reduce inflation from above 30 percent last year to around 23 percent this year while also bolstering the nation’s external reserves. ‘The direction of travel appears to be positive,’ one IMF official noted, expressing cautious optimism about Nigeria’s economic trajectory.

Despite the progress recorded, the IMF warned that Sub-Saharan Africa as a region continues to face notable headwinds. It pointed out that although growth across the region has remained relatively robust amid easing global financial conditions and the resumption of capital inflows, the cycle of heavy inflows followed by abrupt withdrawals remains a risk. A sudden reversal, the Fund cautioned, could expose underlying vulnerabilities, particularly in economies that are heavily dependent on foreign investments.

The IMF therefore emphasised the need for countries across the region, including Nigeria, to continue consolidating recent gains by maintaining sound fiscal and monetary policies, improving debt management, and accelerating structural reforms, especially those that boost domestic revenue mobilization. The officials also called for sustained international support to help African economies navigate emerging risks and maintain their momentum toward stronger, more stable, and inclusive growth.

The United States Army War College (USAWC) has posthumously honoured the late Taoreed Lagbaja, Nigeria’s 23rd Chief of Army Staff, by inducting him into its prestigious International Hall of Fame (IHOF).

The ceremony, held on Monday, October 13, 2025, during the opening of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Convention at the Walter E. Washington Convention Centre in Washington D.C., celebrated Lagbaja’s exemplary military leadership and global contributions to peace and security.

Trevor Bredenkamp, USAWC Commandant, presented the award in a ceremony, describing the late General as a ‘visionary leader whose service embodied professionalism, courage, and dedication to humanity.’

The recognition, he noted, underscores Lagbaja’s distinguished military career and his remarkable impact as an alumnus of the U.S. Army War College.

The posthumous induction marks a historic milestone as Lagbaja is the first Nigerian Army officer ever to be enshrined in the USAWC International Hall of Fame since the institution’s founding 124 years ago.

According to a statement by Appolonia Anele, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, he was one of six distinguished global military leaders honoured at this year’s event.

Representing Olufemi Oluyede, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, at the ceremony was Adeleke Ayannuga, who received the award on behalf of the Nigerian Army, alongside Maria Lagbaja, the widow of the late General. Other dignitaries in attendance included the Director General of the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, G.O. Adesina; Director General, Defence Headquarters Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre, G.T.O. Ajetunmobi; Deborah Aboderin of the Office of Security Cooperation, U.S. Embassy, Abuja; and Nigeria’s Defence Attaché to the United States. Also present were Nigerian Army officers undergoing advanced professional military education at the U.S. National Defense University, the U.S. Army War College, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, as well as other senior officers participating in the AUSA 2025 Annual Convention.

Reacting to the honour, Oluyede, described the induction as a proud and defining moment for the Nigerian Army.

He said it immortalizes Lagbaja’s contributions to military excellence, leadership, and peacekeeping.

‘This recognition reinforces our shared commitment to the ideals of professionalism, discipline, and global peace,’ Oluyede stated, adding that the Nigerian Army will continue to uphold the legacy of service and honour exemplified by the late Lagbaja.

The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to allocate the 753-unit housing estate recovered from Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to internally displaced persons (IDPs), low- and middle-income earners, and other vulnerable Nigerians.

The House tasked the federal ministry of Housing and Urban Development to develop and publish a transparent and inclusive allocation framework for the recovered estate prioritising vulnerable groups and submit a comprehensive report within 60 days on the proposed use, allocation criteria, and beneficiary selection.

This is sequel to a motion sponsored by Jafaru Leko representing representing Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa constituency during plenary on Tuesday.

The estate, comprising 753 duplexes and apartments, located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja was originally acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities allegedly linked to Emefiele.

The property was recently handed over by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the federal ministry of Housing and Urban Development, following a final forfeiture order granted by the Federal High Court.

The Hosue noted that the Estate, if properly managed, could meaningfully contribute to addressing the severe housing deficit in Nigeria currently estimated at over 17 million housing units, particularly in urban centres like Abuja. Representatives expressed concern that without a transparent, accountable, and equitable framework for the allocation of such public assets, there is a risk that these recovered properties could fall into the hands of privileged elites, thereby defeating the purpose of asset recovery and denying ordinary Nigerians access to decent housing.

The House further expressed concerns that the absence of a publicly available beneficiary selection process or legislative oversight over such transfers may erode public confidence in the sincerity of government’s anti-corruption and social justice programmes. The House further urged the federal government to institutionalise a national database of forfeited assets, with mechanisms for public tracking and civil society oversight, to promote accountability and public trust.

It also mandated its Committee on Housing and Habitat to liaise with federal ministry of Housing and Urban Development to ensure the allocation process is guided by principles of equity, fairness, and transparency and report within four weeks for further legislative action.

A candidate’s Curriculum Vitae (CV) says one thing, an interview reveals another, and the true nature of a candidate often only unfolds months into the job.

But in a world where businesses now need to move fast, hire smarter, and get it right the first time, this old routine is proving too slow, too subjective, and too expensive. Enter talent signals: a new language of hiring powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and shaped by behavioural data, online patterns, and digital footprints that tell us far more than a static résumé ever could. The way we hire is no longer just about what people say they have done, it is about how they work, learn, think, and how they might grow.

Talent signals are subtle indicators, think GitHub activity for engineers, writing consistency on Substack for content creators, problem-solving patterns on game-based assessments, or even how a candidate collaborates in asynchronous environments.

They are the digital fingerprints of capability, attitude, and potential. And in the hands of AI-driven platforms, these signals are being read, analysed, and matched to roles with growing sophistication. Instead of relying on keyword-based CV parsing or biased gatekeeping interviews, employers can now assess performance, learning agility, and cultural fit using models trained on millions of data points.

Algorithms do not get tired; they do not forget to call back, and they certainly do not judge a candidate’s accent or postal code. When properly designed, they seek signal in the noise, and for the first time in hiring history, they can see what we have always missed.

Across Africa, where youth populations are growing rapidly and formal job opportunities are scarce, talent signal-based hiring is a game-changer.

Platforms like Andela, Shortlist, and LinkedIn’s Skills Path are integrating AI to connect high-potential talent with global jobs that are not only based on pedigree but on demonstrable skill and behaviour. A 2023 World Bank report found that over 60 percent of youths in Sub-Saharan Africa engage in informal or underutilised employment, underscoring the urgency of more inclusive, skill-based hiring models that don’t rely solely on traditional markers like degrees or job titles. Companies like Google, Unilever, and Deloitte are also using AI-powered tools like Pymetrics and HireVue to assess candidates; soft skills and problem-solving ability using behavioral signals and neuroscience games.

The 2023 McKinsey report reveals that organizations using AI-based screening tools recorded a 23 percent increase in hiring diversity, particularly in technical and creative roles.

AI in hiring is not only about efficiency, it is also about scale and equity. In large organisations, hiring manually at scale means inconsistent standards, human fatigue, and unconscious bias. AI enables companies to process thousands of applications quickly while applying the same rubric to all. Done right, this levels the playing field, allowing talent to shine on the merit of output rather than the polish of presentation.

Data from IBM’s 2024 Global AI Adoption Index further reveals that 35 percent of HR leaders globally now use AI tools to help identify hidden talent, reduce time-to-hire, and support equitable recruitment decisions, a statistic that will only grow as talent becomes more distributed and digital.

Of course, the shift is not without its caution flags. Algorithms are not neutral, they learn from the data they are fed, which often reflects the biases of the past. If trained on skewed hiring histories, AI can replicate old patterns under the guise of objectivity. This is why the most forward-thinking firms are now investing in explainable AI tools that can provide rationales for those decisions, and not only make decisions. Transparency in hiring isn’t just ethical, it builds trust with candidates and ensures fairness is coded into the process. The European Union’s (EU) AI Act and similar regulations across other jurisdictions are already mandating accountability in algorithmic decision-making, signaling a new era of responsible AI adoption.

Hiring is, at its core, a bet on the future. With AI and behavioural signals, that bet is becoming smarter, more inclusive, and more grounded in evidence than ever before.

The CV may not die, but its dominance is ending. In its place, a new paradigm is rising, one that values potential, captures nuance, and brings long-overdue fairness to how we discover and invest in talent. The way we hire is changing, not because it must, but because it finally can.

Ruby Igwe is the country director for ALX Nigeria.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the adoption of a consensus mode for the conduct of its 2026 governorship primary election in Ekiti State.

This announcement is coming a week after the party had stated that it had disqualified two of the aspirants, namely, Kayode Ojo and Abimbola Olawumi for the election.

In a statement signed by Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, and dated October 14, 2025, the APC said the decision followed the voluntary withdrawal of one of the two cleared aspirants, Atinuke Omolayo, from the race. According to the statement, Omolayo in a letter to the party conveyed her decision to withdraw from the contest and endorsed the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, as the consensus candidate.

‘The change from the earlier indicated direct primary to consensus mode of primary was necessitated by the voluntary withdrawal of one of the two cleared aspirants, Mrs. Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo,’ the statement read.

‘In a letter to the Party, Mrs Omolayo conveyed her decision to withdraw from the contest and endorse His Excellency, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, as a consensus candidate, and expressed her support for any arrangement adopted by the Party in nominating its flag bearer in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Party’s Constitution.’

Morka explained that the party had duly informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its decision through a letter dated October 13, 2025, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

I want to begin by expressing a deep gratitude to God and Ndi Enugu.

For we are indeed at a moment of reflection, gratitude and renewal.

Today, I stand before you to announce a break from the past, and to share a decision that will shape the road ahead. This concerns our values, how we organise ourselves politically, and how we secure the future of our projects and our people.

I offer my sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to this journey over the past 28 months.

At the top of that list is Ndi Enugu. At a time when confidence in political leaders had almost collapsed, you chose to believe in us.

When I declared that ‘Tomorrow Is Here,’ it struck a chord in your hearts. You put aside long-held skepticism and stood by us. Without that trust, the transformation we see today would never have happened.

Let us pause for a moment and consider what this transformation looks like.

It looks like Smart Green Schools nearing completion and primary healthcare centres in all 260 wards.

It looks like crime down by 80percent; Maternal, Under-5 and infant mortality rates reduced by 400 percent.

It looks like a Command and Control Centre with AI-embedded Security Surveillance System and 150 Distress Response Squad vehicles that guarantee safe streets and neighbourhoods.

It looks like water flowing again through new mains and restored supply.

It looks like over 1000 kilometres of paved roads.

It looks like Internally-Generated Revenue up 600percent.

It looks like a fully booked International Conference Centre pouring money into our local economy.

It looks like direct flights taking off – with Enugu Air linking us to key cities across Nigeria and beyond.

It looks like 3 million visitors to Enugu by 2026 – with Nigeria’s first zipline, 4 immersive eco-tourist sites.

It looks like commuting in comfortable CNG buses at 5 world-class terminals; and having 260 Farm Estates that bring production to scale.

It looks like Hotel Presidential and Nigergas revamped; and several moribund assets roaring back to life.

Of course, it looks like winning the Renewed Hope Initiative’s Model Green State Award as the Cleanest State in Nigeria.

It looks like Enugu on the national – indeed global – map.

Ndi Enugu, your trust and support have been the bedrock of our success, and we pledge to honour that by delivering on our election promises.

Our elder statesmen have also demonstrated generosity and foresight.

Many of you had witnessed decades of broken promises. When we approached you, we did not ask for blind loyalty but some faith in our vision.

You gave us that faith. Together, with your vote of confidence, we have achieved remarkable progress.

To my colleagues in the administration, I am grateful for your resilience. We have walked a path that often felt like a marathon without rest. Many of the ideas we put forward were dismissed as unrealistic. Yet you kept pushing the boundaries of what was possible.

Because of your dedication, today we hear applause for Enugu across Nigeria and beyond.

To the Peoples Democratic Party, which provided the platform on which we campaigned and won, I extend deep gratitude. The PDP supported us through a demanding campaign and joined in celebrating the victory.

For nearly 3 decades, the PDP and the people of Enugu walked side by side, united by shared purpose. Together, we built relationships that will always matter to me personally and to this state.

Yet, leadership sometimes demands difficult – even painful – decisions in the service of higher principles and goals. And there always comes a time when everyone must make a bold choice to determine their destiny.

Today, after a long reflection, we have made the decision to leave the PDP and join the All Progressives Congress. This is no whimsical decision. It’s a collective move by the political family in Enugu State, comprising members of the National Assembly, members of the State House of Assembly, the State Executive Council, all the Local Government Chairmen and Councillors, all political appointees and over 80% of party executives.

Over the past months, I have thought carefully about the path forward. In the end, after much soul searching and discussion, I have concluded that we must stand for the principles and institutions that honour transparency, trust, and above all – the people we serve.

For decades, the South East – especially Enugu – has stood firmly behind the PDP, showing loyalty that shaped the party’s success.

Yet despite this history, our voices were too often disregarded when it mattered most.

It has therefore become necessary to seek affiliation where our interests as a region are represented in the form of fair partnership.

We are not moving from a place of resentment or fear. We are confident of our future.

We have no axe to grind, no personal point to make. But fairness, respect and integrity must guide our choices for that future to be ours.

Today, in joining the APC, we are embracing a visionary partnership.

I have found in His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, not just a leader of our nation, but a partner in purpose, a man with the courage to look beyond today and make the tough choices that secure lasting prosperity for tomorrow.

Together, we share a conviction that transformation must be bold and disruptive – that roads, railways, and airlines must stretch out from the heart of the South East; that Enugu’s promise, its security, its schools, its hospitals, its markets, its communities – must be reinforced.

The President has shown not only interest, but a deep and vested commitment to Enugu, one that recognises our region as a pillar of national progress.

We both share a belief that renewal does not stop at the grand highways or the balance sheets. It must reach the ward, the village, our grassroots. It is in the daily life of the farmer, the trader, the young entrepreneur that reforms come alive.

We both welcome initiatives that decentralise opportunity, that strengthen the capacity of local government, that bring seed capital and credit to our youth, and that expand healthcare and education at the community level.

Just as we do in our ward-based development initiatives, these convictions are boldly expressed in the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, an idea conceived to empower over 8.8 million Nigerians across the country’s 8,809 electoral wards.

Yes, some choices demand sacrifice. Removing subsidies, unifying our foreign exchange markets, confronting crippling inefficiency – these are not easy decisions. But these are the smart choices that free resources for investment in our people.

His Excellency, the President, has shown he is not afraid to make the tough decisions for a fair and stable nation. And here in Enugu, we have been just as audacious.

This move is bigger than politics – it is about alignment at scale. It is about connecting Enugu’s destiny with the central hub of broader reforms shaping our nation.

Of course, this does raise some questions:

Will the voice of Enugu be heard now in Abuja?

How will the change affect our progress at home?

How will your lives be touched by this decision?

Let me be clear, I will represent our state and our region with the same strength of purpose as I have always done. Our Igbo DNA does not change; our destiny does not change. What changes is that our vision now finds stronger reinforcement at the federal level.

The progress you see today will not slow, and the projects we have begun will be completed. Yes, there have been challenges and delays along the way, but make no mistake – schools, hospitals, roads, and our services will be finished as promised.

To the political elite across the South East, I say this: our people are watching. What they care about most are results. True leadership is about service to the people, not service to self. Principles, not personalities, must guide us.

To Ndi Enugu, let me say this: this will not break our stride. We are a force of endeavour, and we need an ally who can match our ambition.

Let me reassure you – this is not a detour, but a conscious step towards a more compelling future.

As we begin this new chapter, I ask for your understanding, your trust, and your continued support.

Let us gather with renewed hope to build the Enugu – and the Nigeria – that our children deserve.

Finally, I want to express our most profound gratitude to Mr President for his support and encouragement of our vision. I’m confident this marks the beginning of a new era of growth and progress.