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General Pastor of Ark International Assembly, Murphy Nwaneri, has called on churches to support Federal Government’s efforts to promote development, warning that Nigeria’s growth cannot be left to the President alone.

Speaking at the church’s inaugural service and two years anniversary celebration, Nwaneri charged Christian leaders to look beyond the pulpit and contribute to the progress of the nation.

‘The church should help government promote development. The country should not be left for the President alone. He is doing his best and should be commended, not criticised. Every citizen has a role to play in Nigeria’s growth,’ he said.

Nwaneri urged church members and leaders to work hand in hand with government institutions, emphasizing that building a strong nation requires unity and shared responsibility.

According to him, revival and community transformation must go beyond spiritual teachings to include support for policies that improve the lives of citizens.

He added that while political regulations may affect institutions temporarily, no human law can undermine the divine role of the church in shaping society.

Nwaneri reaffirmed that the Ark International Assembly was not established to compete with existing denominations but to ‘uphold the truth of God’ and contribute to building a better Nigeria.

Also speaking at the event, Deacon Igwe Onyedickachi described the church as a ‘balance’ in national development, saying it helps to build morally, mentally, and spiritually sound citizens.

‘From time immemorial, government and the church have worked together because the church is at the grassroots. By grooming responsible citizens, the church indirectly strengthens governance,’ he said.

As part of its outreach during the anniversary, the Ark International Assembly provided free medical care to residents in its host community, underscoring its commitment to social development.

The church, which was officially registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2020, traces its origins to a divine call received by Pastor Nwaneri over two decades ago.

A female student of ATM Science and Technical College Jato Aka, Miss Gloria Songo, has been shot dead by soldiers of Operation Whirl Stroke, deployed to fight banditry in Kwande Local Government in Benue State.

The late Gloria was one among the three students that were shot by the soldiers on Tuesday and died yesterday in a hospital.

Students of the college, each bearing a poster, marched round Jato Aka town, singing in remembrance of the late Miss Songo, who they described as disciplined and hardworking.

The students wept uncontrollably on major streets of Jato Aka amid tension. They called for the soldiers to be withdrawn from their community.

The death of Miss Gloria raised the number of soldiers killed to three in Jato Aka, and Turan within four days.

Recall that soldiers from Operation Whirl Stroke opened fire on mourners, who were returning from a burial, killing two students on the spot, while others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the hospital.

Police Public Relationship Officer, Edet Edeme, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said hoodlums opened fire on soldiers on patrol and the soldiers returned fire.

There are protests in Jato Aka and other adjoining settlements against the action of the soldiers

Elders of Jato Aka, who spoke to The Nation, wondered why soldiers who were deployed to protect the harmless community members, turned around to kill them.

In the wee hours of September 29, Nigeria lost Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a talented journalist, model, lawyer and shining star during an armed robbery attack at her residence in the Kamtape area of Abuja. Sommie, as she was fondly called by family, friends, colleagues and her admirers, was a victim of an egregious and gruesome attack on residents who were helpless and had their hearts in their mouths.

At such moments, you are afraid, worried, and not sure how violent the attackers would be. Families stay huddled together, praying and anticipating the worst-case scenario. Those fearful and traumatic moments are worse than death itself. Sommie died, not by the slow grind of economic hardship, but by the animal boldness of a blood-thirsty and murdering gang that will never know peace.

The 29-year-old Arise TV news anchor was a multi-faceted individual who made a name for herself in various fields. Sommie who was a warm and vibrant personality did not die from bullet wounds as early reports suggested. She died because terror itself cornered her. That night, armed robbers stormed her apartment complex, moving from flat to flat like a hunting pack, stripping residents of money, phones and dignity.

Frantic calls to the police rang unanswered. As the intruders closed in, Sommie, unsure of what would happen next, made a desperate bid to save herself. According to the latest account narrated by her obviously distressed colleague, Ojy Okpe, on The Morning Show on Arise News, she jumped from her window. The fall proved fatal.

It was not surprising that Okpe betrayed her emotions as she recounted the events. The Arise News family was thrown into an unexpected grief and deep mourning, followed by tributes from the high and mighty which has become a tradition. These are the same people who should use their positions and access to privileges to improve the quality of our lives.

During the programme, I sent a message to Reuben Abati, the lead anchor. ‘I don’t know Sommie, but her untimely death is a personal tragedy,’ I told Abati. ‘Her dreams have been suddenly cut short, family ties broken forever. How low have we become in this country?’

Her death is not an isolated tragedy. It is the latest entry in a grim national ledger written in blood. Nigeria is being held hostage by criminals of various hues, stalking our homes, streets and, too often, our dreams. What can we do differently as a way out of the encircling gloom of insecurity? Are state and community policing options to be considered? It looks like it is now every man for himself.

Sommie’s story is heartbreakingly familiar. She was a lawyer by training and a journalist by conviction; a young woman who had returned from the UK not to flee Nigeria’s chaos but to help mend it as a TV news anchor, producer and reporter. She advocated for social justice, particularly on issues like gender-based violence and education reform. Studying law aligned with her passion for social justice and public service.

Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, was designed to be a secure centre of power and governance. Instead, the city is turning into a hunting ground for marauders.

The FCT Police Command described the incident as ‘cruel and senseless’ and promised to deploy tactical teams and intelligence units. Yet, words mean little when people die, and response times are counted in hours rather than in minutes.

Residents say the robbers operated without fear of interruption. Tenants barricaded themselves indoors while help failed to arrive. A young journalist’s life ended not for lack of courage, but because the state that owed her protection was absent.

This insecurity is no longer confined to remote villages. It stalks urban centres from Lagos to Abuja. The men who terrorise neighbourhoods are by-products of an economy that excludes millions who are poor, a collapsed education system and a healthcare and social welfare system that exists mostly on paper.

If a 29-year-old forward-looking professional, highly educated, visible and engaged in public life cannot find safety in her own home, what hope is left for ordinary citizens? Sommie would have 30 years old on December 26.

The beauty queen now joins a sorrowful roll-call: Okezie Nwokocha, a tech innovator shot in his sleep; Chinelo, the young emigrant whose journey to a better life was cut short, and many others whose names are reduced to mere statistics. These are not random tragedies – they are the symptoms of a failing state where the powerful offer condolences on television while families grieve in silence.

Nigerians can no longer rely on prayers and promises. We must demand accountability with the same force that Sommie brought to her reporting. The lorry-loads of tributes by government officials are empathetic, but they are not enough to solve our embarrassing security challenges.

To her colleagues at Arise News, Sommie was more than a pearl and bright presenter. She was a reminder that journalism, at its best, stands against darkness, oppression, corruption, and bad leadership. A bright star was dimmed in the journalism firmament – just like that. Every form of death is painful, but Sommie was not sick. Her death is deeply painful and completely heart-breaking. Her passing leaves searing questions: Who will save us? Are we safe?

Answers to these questions must begin with citizens insisting on protection of life and property, with communities practicing vigilance and shinning their eyes. Our political elite and those in authority must be willing to take full responsibility for security lapses and confront the blood on their hands.

We have reported cases of kidnappers and unknown gunmen wreaking havoc across the entire length and breadth of the country, unrestrained. But it shouldn’t be so; we should feel safe at all times of the day – whether at home, in the work place or on the road.

Sommie’s voice may be gone, but the fire she lit against impunity and bad behaviour without consequences must not die; let the glow constantly remind us of our immortality.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to inclusiveness, security, prosperity, and renewed hope.

He said the present administration would continue to engage religious and community leaders across the country in the pursuit of peace and development.

The SGF spoke at the Northern Christian Religious Leaders Assembly (NOCRELA) official inauguration and investiture with the theme: The Role of Christian Leaders in Nation-Building, at the Dominion Chapel International Church, Area 1, Garki, Abuja.

Akume stressed that the cooperation between the church, mosque, and government is crucial to nation-building.

The SGF urged Christian leaders in the North to continue to pray for President Tinubu’s success.

He said: ‘You are the custodian of faith and an integral component of society that plays a vital role in shaping moral conduct and promoting social values of; integrity, accountability, transparency and hard work.

‘His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is striving very hard to revamp the economy through restructuring and gradual devolution of powers to the sub-nationals. His policies are already yielding positive results as more money is periodically sent to states and local governments.’

Akume noted the favorable disposition of the President to inclusive governance, saying the current administration has ensured even spread of key appointments and the execution of capital projects across all regions to engender inclusive growth and development.

‘This administration recognises the existence of diversities that have lived on for decades, and Mr. President is conscious about harnessing the positives to foster unity for a more prosperous nation,’ he said.

Commenting on this year’s theme, the SGF said: ‘There is no doubt that the theme of this retreat is both timely and relevant. Across history, the Church has not only been a sanctuary of worship but also a driver of education, health, social welfare, and moral values. In Nigeria, Christian leaders have played pivotal roles in serving the society, fostering peace, and speaking the truth to those in power.

‘All of you here did a great job. There’s no doubt about that. I come from a state that is 99 per cent Christian. Your voice and your example carry weight in guiding communities towards peace, unity, justice, and righteousness.

‘Today, Nigeria faces some challenges, which are normal. Society is in transition. There are security problems. They are being handled.

‘Economic reforms are being celebrated across. On the right path, the youth bloc is handling the situation. We are on course to locate the programs for the youth in this country. These programs are unprecedented and remarkable. We need a stronger social cohesion. These challenges are being adequately addressed. Positive signs are already manifesting. In this regard, your role as Christian leaders is indispensable. You are called to promote peace and reconciliation.

‘Take advantage of youth development programmes. Put in place a government that has already been raised. Quite frankly, look at the programmes they have made. Look at the fact that they can also go to school without tears, without toil and sweat. It’s the first of its kind in Africa. You don’t have to be born to wealth and privilege before you have access to higher education, tertiary education.

‘Over N90 billion has already been disbursed. Let me tell you frankly, most of them are from the northern part of this country. You don’t have to be denied access. The money is there for you to access. Exemplify the change we desire in governance and the government. The whole thing about democracy, about the power of the people.

‘This government took off in very rough weather. Zero account in our reserves. What Tinubu did in Lagos, he is going to replicate the same. And that is basically what he is doing. There’s no doubt about that. Every president has toyed with the idea of rthe emoval of subsidies. What was lacking was what? the courage to do so. But Tinubu removed the subsidy.

‘Again, you need to know the amount of money that is going to the states and to the local government. Huge. It is not that it is only the Federal Government that can feed the nation. All of us have the responsibility to do so. I speak from an advantageous position because I started from the grassroots. I am a village boy. Better days ahead of us.’

Archbishop Daniel applauded President Tinubu’s fair and inclusive appointments, despite the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Daniel, who is also the Presiding Archbishop of Dominion Chapel International Churches, said the administration had dispelled fears of marginalisation among Christians in the North.

‘We don’t feel sidelined. We feel part of this government. Without fear of intimidation, we can say this administration has allayed a lot of fears,’ he told reporters.

According to him, several road and other infrastructure projects in Abuja, including in Area 1 and Durumi, have been abandoned for decades but are now being fixed under President Tinubu’s watch.

‘It is not about a Muslim-Muslim ticket. Every section must feel represented, needed, and important in this country. We give him kudos for that,’ Daniel added.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said that football could not solve conflicts, but it must carry a message of peace and unity as Israel’s military operation in Gaza and other global tensions fuel calls for the sport to take a stand.

‘At FIFA, we are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world,’ Infantino told a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich. ‘Our thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today, and the most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity.’

Infantino said world football’s governing body could not solve geopolitical crises, but ‘it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.’

FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football.

The issue has been under review by FIFA for months, but no decision has been taken. Infantino has consistently said such matters require consensus with the confederations and must be handled with caution.

The comments came a day after FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani noted that any decision over Israel’s participation in European competitions, including World Cup qualifiers, was a matter for UEFA to decide, effectively putting the onus on the European body.

‘First and foremost, it (Israel) is a member of UEFA, no different than I have to deal with a member of my region for whatever reason. They have to deal with that,’ Montagliani told reporters at the Leaders sports business conference on Wednesday.

Israel are third in Europe’s Group I of the qualifying stage for next year’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Amnesty International on Wednesday sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA calling on them to suspend the Israel Football Association.

Europe must take a more aggressive approach with Russia by shooting down drones that enter European airspace and boarding shadow fleet ships illicitly transporting oil to deprive Moscow of war revenue, French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday.

But, Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday threatened a ‘decisive’ response to any threats against Russia, declaring that Western attempts to subdue the country through sanctions have failed despite their maximum efforts.

Speaking at a European summit in Copenhagen, Macron and other European leaders called for more sanctions against Russia – notably targeting its energy sector – and emphasised that Ukraine is on the front line in a widening hybrid war against Europe.

Indeed, the positions of some of Europe’s leaders toward the continuing drone incidents, acts of sabotage, cyber-attacks and sanction-busting appear to have hardened over two days of talks in Copenhagen, including a closed session among them without phones or advisors.

Macron urged the more than 40 leaders at the European Political Community summit to simply protect their interests without signaling their intentions to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

‘I think the main answer should be more unpredictability and more strategic ambiguity,’ he said.

‘It’s very important to have a clear message: drones which would violate our territories are just taking a big risk. They can be destroyed, full stop,’ he said. ‘We are not here to provide the full notice. We will do what we have to do.’

For over five decades, Nigeria’s global standing has risen, fallen, and risen again. The other day, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, addressed the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) in New York. His statement rekindled Nigeria’s role as Africa’s leading voice and reminded the world of its historic place as a defender of justice, fairness, and reform.

Tinubu’s call for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council for Africa, fairer access to trade and finance, equity for resource-rich nations, and closing the digital divide re-echoed the spirit of the country’s diplomacy in 1976, when General Murtala Ramat Muhammed stood before the world and declared that Africa would no longer be a pawn in global politics. His short but bold tenure set a standard for Nigerian diplomacy-one that Tinubu’s government now seeks to revive.

Muhammed’s administration (July 1975 to February 1976) marked the dawn of Nigeria’s assertive foreign policy. At the 31st UNGA in 1975, he denounced apartheid, colonialism, and foreign interference in African affairs, backing liberation struggles in Angola, Mozambique, and Southern Africa. This moral boldness earned Nigeria respect among developing nations and placed Africa at the centre of international debate.

After his assassination in 1976, General Olusegun Obasanjo continued this foreign policy activism, consolidating Nigeria’s reputation as a defender of African freedom and a rising global power. However, the years that followed (between 1979 and 1999) told a different story, as there was a decline in Nigeria’s image. President Shehu Shagari’s civilian administration (1979 to 1983) was marred by economic mismanagement and corruption, eroding Nigeria’s credibility abroad. The military regimes that followed-Generals Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, and Abdulsalami Abubakar-deepened the decline.

Babangida briefly regained influence through peacekeeping in Liberia and Sierra Leone, but authoritarianism and annulled elections overshadowed those gains. Under Abacha, Nigeria became a pariah, suspended from the Commonwealth in 1995 after the execution of writer and environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni activists. By 1999, Nigeria’s reputation had plummeted to its lowest ebb.

The return to democracy in 1999 offered a chance at renewal. President Obasanjo restored Nigeria’s international image, secured debt relief from the Paris Club in 2005, re-engaged with multilateral institutions, and reasserted Nigeria’s peacekeeping leadership.

His successors contributed unevenly. Umaru Yar’Adua emphasised the rule of law but was hampered by ill-health. Goodluck Jonathan pursued regional peace and electoral reforms, while Buhari focused on anti-corruption and counter-terrorism. Yet insecurity, economic fragility, and governance challenges limited Nigeria’s ability to command consistent respect on the world stage.

President Tinubu’s current push to reclaim Nigeria’s voice in the international arena is anchored on four pillars of reform.

The first pillar is the quest for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. ‘When the United Nations was founded in 1945, Nigeria was absent from the table where decisions shaping its destiny were made’, Tinubu declared. Today, with over 236 million people-projected to be the world’s third most populous country by 2050-Nigeria insists that Africa’s 1.4 billion people deserve permanent representation at the UN’s top chamber.

Nigeria has contributed troops to 51 of 60 UN peacekeeping operations since its independence, from Liberia and Sierra Leone in the 1990s to ongoing missions today. Tinubu argued that multilateralism loses credibility when the world of 1945 still dictates in 2025. For Africa, Nigeria’s case is both moral and practical.

The second pillar is debt relief and fair access to trade. This revolves around the debt trap suffocating developing economies. He called for a binding international mechanism to manage sovereign debt-a ‘financial equivalent of the International Court of Justice.’

The argument is not one of charity but fairness. In 2005, Nigeria secured $18 billion in debt relief, but today, cycles of debt have returned across the Global South. Without fairer access to trade, financing, and markets, nations face cruel choices between food security, schools, and defence.

Tinubu linked Nigeria’s own painful reforms-ending fuel subsidies and restructuring currency controls-to this global demand, framing the country as a credible advocate for broader financial justice.

The third pillar is equity for resource-rich nations. Decades of oil extraction in Nigeria’s Niger Delta created immense wealth for multinationals while leaving local communities impoverished and polluted. The same paradox haunts Africa’s mineral-rich states, from Sierra Leone’s blood diamonds to Congo’s conflict minerals.

Tinubu insisted that fairness requires investment in local processing and job creation. With demand soaring for minerals like lithium and cobalt, Africa must not again become a theatre of exploitation. Instead of exporting raw ore, African nations should export finished products, ensuring real benefits for their people.

The last one, which reflects the future, seeks to close the digital divide. Tinubu reminded the Assembly that technology is reshaping governance, law, finance, and conflict, yet the digital divide between developed and developing nations risk becoming the new frontier of inequality. Fake news, cybercrime, and misinformation already destabilise societies. But more dangerous, he warned, is the emergence of a generation that believes nothing and trusts less, corroding the foundation of democratic governance.

Tinubu declared that for Nigeria-where over 65 per cent of the population is under 30-digital inclusion is a survival strategy. He called for a global initiative uniting governments, researchers, and the private sector to expand access and literacy. He also tied digital equity to peace and governance, warning that unchecked disinformation could corrode trust and democracy.

In the same speech, he reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for a two-state solution in Gaza, linking technology, peace, and human rights in a forward-looking vision for the Global South.

Tinubu’s UNGA80 speech was more than rhetoric-it was a blueprint for repositioning Nigeria as a credible, reformist voice in the international system. By linking domestic reforms to global priorities, his administration projects Nigeria as a serious player once again.

From Murtala Muhammed’s uncompromising stand against apartheid to Tinubu’s call for Security Council reform, Nigeria’s journey has come full circle. With a reviving economy, stronger governance, and a commitment to fairness in global affairs, Nigeria is repositioning itself as both a continental anchor and a global partner.

This is more than diplomacy-it is the restoration of respect and relevance among the community of nations.

Sir: Housing is one of the most important needs of man, but unfortunately, housing remains a pressing challenge in Nigeria, with access to affordable shelter remaining out of reach for millions, particularly in the face of population growth and rapid urbanization. Mostly affected are Nigerians in the middle and low income categories.

The challenges in housing could be categorized under three major areas. The first challenge has to do with availability of serviced and titled plots or land for housing development. You can only provide housing on land. Yes land is everywhere, but not ready for development. The lands you see lack the basic facilities that will make the land available or suitable for development. They lack the much-needed official certification or title that will make such land or property built on it marketable. This is a major impediment to housing provision.

Finance is another impediment. It is a major challenge because housing is capital intensive; no matter the standard or scope of the project, you need quite a lot of money to accomplish it. We lack organized housing finance system in Nigeria. Mortgage financing is highly insufficient and inefficient.

Another challenge is expertise and technology. Housing involves construction and development and sometimes, the type of skills required are not readily available, particularly when you want to go into mass production. We don’t have the capacity, technology and system that can throw up a lot of housing at a time. We still rely so much on the traditional way of mortal bricks and it takes the normal time it will take even when the population is growing at a much higher rate that it will take to meet up with what is required of housing.

These challenges points toward the absence of planning. Housing has received very little attention from successive administrations, unlike other sectors, such as health and aviation. The nation’s housing deficit according to industry experts is about 28 million, with about N5 trillion and 2.7 million housing units annually needed to bridge the growing housing gap over a period of ten years.

Successive administrations since independence have struggled with the housing issue, with little or insignificant success. Going forward, government should make housing its utmost priority, and allow the professionals, particularly Estate Surveyors and Valuers to manage the sector. Most of the people who have administered housing in Nigeria know very little about housing, and this is not good for the sector.

Policies should also be put in place to make building materials affordable to the less affluent members of the society who constitute the larger percentage of the population and who are mostly affected by the housing deficit.

The Kano/Jigawa Command of the Nigerian Customs Service yesterday handed over a suspect and total of 261,750 capsules of Pregabalin (300 milligrams) and 228,700 tablets of Tramadol hydrochloride (225 milligrams) to the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The illicit drugs, concealed in five jumbo agro sacks, were seized by Customs around the border.

Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar, said the drugs were hidden in 35 packets of Pregabalin and 28 rolls of Tramadol tablets.

Speaking while handing over the seized illicit drugs to NDLEA representative, the Kano/Jigawa Controller, Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar, said the substances pose serious health risks to the body, including organ damage, addiction, and restlessness, particularly among the youth.

Abubakar warned about the wider social implications of drug abuse, linking it to violence, crime, immorality, economic loss, and insecurity in the region.

He said a suspect was arrested with N455,500 intended as a bribe, alongside a black-tinted green Nissan Pathfinder, marked DUT196AE

A cutting knife was also among the exhibits recovered from the suspect.

‘The seizure was in line with sections 55C and 234 of the Nigerian Customs Service Act 2023, which mandated the protection of public health and prohibits the possession of smuggled goods,’ Abubakar said.

Commander of Narcotics Mohammad Maiaduwa Usman, received the suspect and exhibits on behalf of NDLEA.

He said NDLEA will conduct further investigations for the prosecution of the suspect.

He reiterated the agency’s commitment to continued synergy with other security agencies in the fight against drug abuse.

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has unveiled his giant strides and developmental growth since he came into the saddle. He said his administration was committed to making Ekiti the new investment destination.

The governor said his government had undertaken a combination of transformative policy decisions and pushed critical infrastructure development to a new height.

He made this known at the 13th edition of the MARKETING EDGE EDGE awards and dinner held in Lagos. He won the 2025 Grand Prix at the awards.

On advertising development and its relevance to economic growth, Oyebanji said advertising remained a powerful catalyst for economic growth because of its role in stimulating consumer demand for goods and services across the world.

The governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Niyi Adebayo, disclosed in his key note speech that the ‘world over, advertising remains a powerful catalyst for economic growth, stimulating consumer demand for goods and services, fostering competition among businesses, driving mass production and in the process, lowering costs and prices, and creating jobs.”

He said: ‘From advanced economies to emerging markets, the marketing communication industry plays a critical role in shaping commerce and consumer behaviour. In Nigeria, the marketing communications industry has been even more pivotal to national growth and development.

‘Over the years, practitioners have projected the country’s image and supported the visibility of local businesses, helping to attract investments and position brands for competitiveness. From its humble beginning, advertising in Nigeria has grown into a multi-billion-naira industry.’

Oyebanji noted that ‘Nigeria’s advertising market was valued at N605.2 billion in 2023, with projections pointing to N893 billion by 2028, representing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18.7 per cent since 2018. This trajectory highlights the sector’s resilience and its contribution to the broader economy. The figure will be much higher if we factor in public relations, corporate sponsorships, social media influencing and a host of below-the-line marketing spending.’

MARKETING EDGE publisher and the chief organiser of the annual award, Mr. John Ajayi, thanking the Nigerian business community and the marketing and advertising sub-sector of the national economy for their years of support, patronage and acceptability, noted: ‘Every year, we gather to celebrate brands and advertising excellence; you always add colour and grandeur to it by making it a festival of brands and ideas.

‘Without you, this event would not have been this colourful and memorable. Ours have become one of the most anticipated events in the social calendar of the Nigerian integrated marketing communications eco-system.

‘We are gathered here to celebrate the achievements of some of the most successful brands, creative agencies, public service and political brand personalities, talented and dedicated personalities and professionals of distinction and honour across borders.

‘These outstanding personalities, brands, services, businesses and personalities have made significant contributions in different sectors of the economy, and we are grateful for their consistency, hard work and dedication that continue to impact every facet of our national growth and development.’