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BIC, one of the leaders in stationery, lighters, and shavers, has reaffirmed its commitment to education in Nigeria by spotlighting the vital role of teachers at the Let There Be Teachers Conference in Lagos.

The landmark event, which set a new Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of teachers, provided a platform for dialogue on strengthening education and celebrated teachers as key drivers of national development.

With education at the core of its sustainability agenda and in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, Quality Education, BIC has pledged to improve learning conditions and enhance access to quality education for millions of children worldwide.

This is in line with BIC’s commitment to improving learning conditions for 250 million students by 2025. In Nigeria, the company aims to achieve that through a holistic approach to education starting with equipping classrooms with the necessary writing tools for academic performance, creating inspirational learning environments, unleashing creativity outside of the classroom, all the way to supporting students as they transition from the academic to the professional world and integrate into the workforce.

Speaking at the conference, Anthony Amahwe, General Manager of BIC Nigeria, said: ‘The belief that education is the backbone of societal progress and development is rooted in BIC’s DNA.

‘This is a key driver for us to continue to support millions of students and teachers and play a key role in raising a generation capable of building sustainable and productive societies. Now, more than ever, we must strengthen education, not just as a path to employment, but as a foundation for self-expression, creativity, and deep understanding of our environment.’

The conference also drew attention from government representatives. Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, OFR, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), stressed the need to address systemic education challenges and emphasized that teachers must be at the centre of reform efforts. Keynote sessions and panel discussions reflected the urgency of strengthening Nigeria’s education system, with themes ranging from building a sustainable nation one classroom at a time to empowering teachers for quality education and repositioning the teaching profession for national development.

Experts and stakeholders explored ways to enhance teachers’ status, integrate technology and innovation into learning, reform education policies, and promote strong leadership for transformation in the sector.

The event reinforced BIC’s global initiative, Writing Our Future, Together, which inspires millions of students across more than 180 countries to take action for a sustainable future.

In Nigeria, this mission continues to shape classrooms and empower educators-affirming BIC’s belief that every teacher trained today is an investment in tomorrow’s nation.

BIC Nigeria is committed to enhancing learning conditions for students and investing in teacher.

Over the years, the company has partnered with foundations, organisations, and government agencies to elevate learning environments, led teacher training workshops and events, supported local education initiatives, and introduced creative learning programs.

Google has announced a new education initiative designed to equip university students across Africa with cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools through a 12-month free subscription to its premium Google AI Pro plan.

This initiative aims to build foundational AI skills in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The offer, available to eligible students aged 18 and above in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. gives access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, Google’s most advanced AI model, as part of efforts to strengthen AI literacy and prepare young Africans for the future of work.

‘We are seeing a new wave of innovation in Africa, driven by the energy and ingenuity of our young people. By providing students with access to our most advanced AI tools, we want to empower them to not only excel in their studies but also to become critical builders and shapers of the future,’ said Alex Okosi, managing director for Google in Sub-Saharan Africa.

‘This offer is about democratizing access to technology and giving African students the skills to compete and lead on a global stage,’ he said.

Through the Google AI Pro plan, students will gain access to an array of tools designed to enhance academic performance, creativity, and productivity. The features include supercharged learning and research with tools such as Guided Learning, which assists students with research, summarising academic papers, debugging code, and tackling complex problems.

It also has time-saving efficiency with deep research that can generate comprehensive, cited reports from hundreds of sources within minutes, transforming how students approach essays and dissertations.

It has enhanced organisation and creativity with NotebookLM and Veo 3 where students can organise notes, connect ideas, and convert text or images into high-quality video presentations.

It also has ample cloud storage with 2 TB of Google Drive, Gmail, and Photos storage for coursework, data, and creative projects. Eligible students can verify their university status and activate the free plan. The offer is open for redemption between October 7 and December 9, 2025, and activation requires a simple verification process, including adding a form of payment, though no charges will be applied.

This move follows earlier efforts such as the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa and the Digital Skills for Africa initiative, which have supported millions of individuals and small businesses in advancing their digital capabilities.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged investors to seize the current opportunities and consider Nigeria as their preferred investment destination, noting that the country has overcome its period of economic instability.

Shettima stated this while declaring the Bauchi Investment Summit 2025, open, on Wednesday.

He noted that the administration assumed office in 2023 with a promise to turn around the fortune of the nation’s economy that was already tottering on the edge of financial crisis, with debt service-to-revenue ratio shooting up to about 100 percent.

He attributed the milestone to the decision made by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to get rid of the hurdles that had hitherto clogged the wheels of the country’s economic progress.

He told investors and stakeholders at the two-day summit that under the Tinubu administration, debt service-to-revenue ratio has been reduced to less than 50 per cent, while the GDP growth stood at 4.23 percent as of last month.

‘Our non-oil revenues grew by 411 per cent year-on-year in the same month. Our tax-to-GDP ratio now stands at 13.5 per cent, up from barely 7 per cent a few years ago. Our debt-to-GDP ratio remains at 38.8 per cent, far below the limits set by the Fiscal Responsibility Act at 60 per cent, and those of ECOWAS and the World Bank at 70 per cent.

‘Our external reserves have grown to 43 billion dollars as of September 2025. Nigeria has exited its phase of economic instability, and I assure investors present here that there is no better time to choose Nigeria,’ the Vice President stated.

Explaining why the first decision made by President Tinubu ‘was to remove those obstacles that had become termites in the timber of’ the nation’s progress, VP Shettima said, ‘You cannot guarantee enduring growth without stability.

‘Our predecessors are here to testify to this truth. Each of them endured a fair share of obstacles and pushbacks in their efforts to introduce reforms that set the nation on the path of rediscovery and stability.’

Shettima observed that no system can claim to be suitable for business if it cannot predict the outcome of its investment, maintaining that there can’t be a more potent treatment for a bad economy ‘than a stable economic stimulus,’ which is why the Tinubu administration embarked on bold reforms.

According to him, ‘It was this dread that inspired our bold reforms to harmonise the exchange rate regime and to dismantle the fuel subsidy structure, an avenue that had become a theatre for round-tripping and rent-seeking, where the privileged few converted the nation’s collective patrimony into their private poverty alleviation scheme.

‘We may spend eternity debating the theories of our inactions, but the truth remains that nobody builds a house in a tsunami.’

The Vice President listed priorities in the administration’s development plan to include job creation, food security, value-chain development, and the unlocking of subnational comparative advantages, even as he pointed out that the plan ‘is anchored on promises that can only be realised when’ stability is achieved.

These priorities, according to him, are inherently rooted in the investment opportunities Bauchi State offers, including ‘vast arable land and agricultural potential, abundant solid minerals, tourism and game reserves, renewable energy prospects, and improving infrastructure and business-enabling reforms.

‘The Federal Government remains resolute in its commitment to ensuring security across the nation because no economy can thrive where fear replaces freedom and where insecurity undermines enterprise,’ he added. Shettima said Bauchi State can spearhead ‘climate-smart agriculture, commercial outgrower schemes, and agro-processing hubs linked to national and export markets,’ with its vast arable land and livestock, among other rich natural resources and cultural heritage that are capable of boosting tourism, hospitality, and the creative industries.

‘The solid mineral reserves of this rich state can also enable responsible mining and downstream industrialisation through transparent tendering, geological mapping, and community benefit frameworks. ‘Bauchi’s natural assets and cultural heritage can boost tourism, hospitality, and the creative industries, while its renewable energy and gas potential can power industrial clusters through public-private partnerships and off-grid solutions,’ he maintained.

Applauding the vision of Governor Bala Mohammed for opening Bauchi State to investment, VP Shettima reaffirmed President Tinubu’s promise that under his watch, the Federal Government will treat ‘each state as a priority beyond the fiscal glories that accrue from the increased allocations now enjoyed across the federation.

‘This is so because an affliction to any state slows down the pace of development in other parts of the nation, and this is the burden of federalism that we must never allow to slow us down. We must either grow together or falter apart,’ he added

He charged participants and stakeholders ‘to move beyond talk and commit to concrete memoranda of understanding, set timelines, and appoint joint implementation teams,’ to ensure tangible milestones in project execution, insisting that programmes and projects ‘must align with social and environmental sustainability considerations.’

Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo described the summit as ‘an indication that there is hope for Nigeria, there is a need for partnership as a way of strengthening businesses.’

He outlined what he termed the five Ps – Politics, People, Protection, Partnership and Progress, describing them as the bedrock of good investment, just as he expressed worry over the cement situation in Nigeria, calling for more action to strengthen the cement industry.

‘Governance must be right because it’s about the people and there must be protection (security), or else investors will not come. There must be strong partnership at the local, community, state, and national levels, as well as the civil society, with the public and private sectors. We need partnership,’ he stressed.

For his part, Governor Bala Mohammed thanked the Vice President for always identifying with the state, assuring participants and the people of Bauchi State that the recommendations reached at the summit would be implemented.

The Governor hailed the federal government for establishing the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), which he said is driving development across the six states of the region.

He also assured investors of the safety of their lives and businesses in Bauchi, saying, ‘We will also utilize partnership and fight corruption in order to enable businesses thrive in our state,’ he said.

Also speaking, Babagana Zulum, Chairman of the North East Governors’ Forum, and Borno State Governor, commended Governor Mohammed for convening the summit, saying Bauchi State’s potential in agriculture is the bedrock for its development.

He urges investors to tap from the available resources as they invest in the state, Zulum said, ‘Northerners are hospitable. Mineral resources and hydrocarbons are also found here in large quantity. I believe investors will have the opportunity to play around for our future development. There is ease of doing business in Bauchi and the entire North; come and do business here.’

Delivering the keynote address, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, noted that while leadership is about creating room for others to grow, the current global challenges require serious attention and action.

In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Abubakar Sa’ad III, regretted that while he had attended a good number of summits in the country, most of them ended with little commitment towards implementation of resolutions.

‘What have we achieved? Have we really achieved the goals of such summits? I want to challenge the Governors of Northern states on this. Have we really moved our states and the north forward? I want to challenge all of us to really look inwards. Nobody can take us out of these economic challenges except we, ourselves. The North has everything needed for development,’ he said.

The royal father applauded Vice President Shettima’s unflinching support for President Tinubu in leading Nigeria, just as he pledged the support of religious and traditional leaders at all times.

Stressing the need for adequate security, the Sultan said, ‘Our support is unwavering. But whatever you do, if there’s no security, you can’t really achieve anything,’ appealing to all Nigerians to love their country and pray for their leaders instead of cursing them.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Borno state government has trained a total of 1,033 survivors of Boko-Haram terrorists in vocational skills and essential child protection services in six local government areas of the state.

Wafaa Saeed, country representative, UNICEF Nigeria stated this during the ‘formal launch of the Economic Reintegration Programme for Children Affected by Armed Conflict,’ held in Maiduguri on Wednesday.

Saeed who was represented by Shah Mohammad Khan, UNICEF child protection manager, stressed that the event underscores the resilient children, and families in northeast Nigeria, highlighting the opportunity for the conflict affected adolescents to acquire practical skills that foster resilience and self-reliance.

He said, ‘These girls and boys have faced unimaginable challenges, yet their potential and resilience remain unbroken. From technical training to entrepreneurship, this training will equip our adolescent girls and boys with the tools they need to build a better future.’

According to UN agency, a 2024 study commissioned by UNICEF, the economic cost of conflict in Northeast Nigeria has cost the country a staggering N10 billion over the last ten years.

He added, ‘But the impact of protracted conflict didn’t not just shrink national economy, it has crippled personal income and earning power of families and young people. For too many children and adolescents in the region, especially girls, the chance to learn a skill or pursue their dreams was taken away. ‘Currently, 1033 children (567 boys and 366 girls) are benefiting from vocational skills training and essential child protection services in six government vocational skills training institutions in Maiduguri, Bama, Biu, Damboa, and Konduga.

‘They are provided with practical and market driven skills such as tailoring, ICT, car mechanics, shoemaking, carpentery and more,’ Wafaa explained.

He opined that UNICEF remain fully committed to collaborate with government, partners, donors, and local communities to protect children education and promote peace.

Lawan Abba Wakilbe, the commissioner for education, science, technology and Innovation thanked the United Nations agencies and partners who has been working on the project for their support

He assured that the formal launching of project is a critical step towards restoring hope, dignity and opportunities for thousands of adolescents girls and boys in the northeast Nigeria.

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to three scientists – Susumu Kitagawa of Japan, Richard Robson of Britain, and Omar M. Yaghi of Jordan, for their pioneering work in developing metal-organic frameworks, a new class of materials with extraordinary potential in tackling global challenges.

Announcing the award in Stockholm on Wednesday, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said the trio’s discovery has ‘provided chemists with new opportunities for solving some of the challenges’ the world faces, from clean water and energy storage to environmental protection ‘These molecular constructions, called metal-organic frameworks, can be used to harvest water from desert air, capture carbon dioxide, store toxic gases, or catalyse chemical reactions,’ said Heiner Linke, chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry. ‘They have enormous potential, bringing previously unforeseen opportunities for custom-made materials with new functions.’

Turning chemistry into a tool for global good

Metal-organic frameworks, often abbreviated as MOFs, are crystalline structures made by linking metal ions with organic molecules. What makes them remarkable is their incredibly porous nature – like molecular sponges – which allows them to trap, store, and release gases or liquids with high efficiency.

In practical terms, these frameworks could help draw drinking water from dry desert air, filter pollutants from industrial emissions, or even store hydrogen for cleaner energy. Chemists say they could one day transform industries that rely on energy storage, gas separation, or catalysis. The scientists behind the science

Kitagawa, a professor at Kyoto University, is recognised as one of the founders of the field, having first demonstrated how metal-organic frameworks could be built with large internal spaces. Robson of the University of Melbourne contributed to the early theoretical and experimental groundwork, while Yaghi of the University of California, Berkeley, expanded the field dramatically by designing MOFs with tunable properties, tailoring them for specific tasks such as gas storage and water harvesting. Together, their work laid the foundation for a new branch of chemistry – one that blurs the line between molecular design and materials engineering.

The chemistry prize continues a tradition of recognising scientists whose work shapes the building blocks of modern science and technology. Last year, the Nobel went to David Baker, a biochemist at the University of Washington, and Google DeepMind researchers Demis Hassabis and John Jumper, for using artificial intelligence to decode the structures of nearly all known proteins – a feat that could revolutionise drug discovery.

In 2023, the award went to researchers who developed quantum dots, tiny particles now used in LED displays and medical imaging. This year’s winners, by contrast, are celebrated for opening new possibilities in materials chemistry – a field that touches everything from climate solutions to manufacturing and medicine.

The three laureates will share the 11 million Swedish kronor (£830,000) prize. Each joins a long line of scientists whose curiosity and perseverance have reshaped how humanity understands – and uses – the materials that make up the world.

As Heiner Linke of the Nobel Committee put it, ‘Their discovery shows that chemistry is not only about understanding nature, but also about creating new ways to make life better.’

The UK Manufacturing Africa has designed a programme to accelerate industrial growth by streamlining the connection between manufacturers and investors. By identifying and actively removing the various barriers that hinder successful deal flow, the programme is acting as a crucial intermediary, ensuring manufacturing businesses are presented with investment opportunities and vice versa.

The UK government-funded Manufacturing Africa (MA) programme, in collaboration with the Private Equity and Venture Capital Association of Nigeria (PEVCA), has today hosted an Investor Showcase and Roundtable aimed at connecting Nigerian entrepreneurs in the manufacturing sector with leading investors.

Tunji Shekoni, vice president at the private equity arm of CardinalStone said the programme provided a value chain approach to due diligence.

‘ Manufacturing Africa supported with a number of things across the deal execution stage, we were going to do due diligence on this business in three key areas. One was market study, supply chain review, and third was around Environment, Social Governance. All of which they did extensive work on,’ Shekoni said. The event, held on Tuesday and themed ‘Aligning Vision with Capital’, presented a curated pipeline of investment-ready companies to investors while creating a platform for dialogue on how to enhance capital flows into Nigerian manufacturing.

High-potential businesses across health, FMCG, energy, and agriculture, supported by Manufacturing Africa, presented their investment opportunities to a room of investors, showcasing innovative solutions that are driving industrial transformation across the country. Some of the investors are: CardinalStone, Uhuru Capital, Kuramo Capital, Sahel Capital, Afrinvest, and many others.

‘Manufacturing Africa is excited to host its maiden investor engagement forum in Lagos. We believe that by showcasing some of the most exciting growth businesses, we will be able to support win-wins from a development perspective. Investment in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector will drive good-quality jobs, which is good for the country’s growth and its people. Meanwhile, investors will also meet firms operating in a growth market with a young population and significant domestic demand.’ Thomas Pascoe, Manufacturing Africa program Team Leader, said.

Manufacturing Africa (MA) is a UK government (FCDO) funded programme that aims to contribute to Africa’s economic transformation by attracting £1.2 billion of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into African manufacturing and create 90,000 jobs in the sector by 2026. As of July 2025, we have already helped companies close £2 billion of FDI investments and create 100,000+ jobs.

‘At PEVCA, we recognise that Nigeria’s manufacturing sector holds enormous potential, but unlocking that potential requires sustained collaboration between investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. This Showcase demonstrates what is possible when barriers are reduced and credible opportunities are brought to market. We are proud to partner with Manufacturing Africa to accelerate capital flows into Nigerian manufacturing, and remain committed to advocating for the policies and platforms that enable private capital to thrive,’ Anna Evi-Parker, Executive Secretary, Private Equity and Venture Capital Association of Nigeria (PEVCA).

During this Customer Service Week 2025, with its rallying theme ‘Mission Possible’, we are reminded that excellent customer service is not a marketing campaign-it is a culture, a mindset, and a lived reality.

In African tradition, we understand the wisdom of community. A harvest is only bountiful when every hand tills the soil, and a village thrives only when the well is maintained by all. The same truth applies in business: no single department can own customer service. It requires leadership, human resources, finance, operations, and every employee to recognise that their daily work touches the customer.

‘In African business cultures, hierarchy often creates deference. Staff may bow, nod, and echo ‘yes, sir’ out of habit, not genuine respect. True respect shows when employees volunteer ideas, take initiative, and go the extra mile.’

‘If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ – African Proverb

The paradox of service in business

Too often, service is misinterpreted as the polite smile at the front desk or the scripted greeting at a call centre. In truth, it is the cumulative effect of every internal process that affects the customer journey. An invoice delayed by finance, a late delivery by logistics, or a payroll error by HR-all these ripple into customer dissatisfaction.

That is why the African proverb resonates. To go far in the mission of service excellence, organisations must go together. Service is not about heroics; it is about systems aligned toward the customer.

Mission Possible: Breaking the myths

The theme Mission Possible challenges the myth that world-class service is unattainable in the face of Africa’s infrastructure deficits, economic pressures, or talent shortages. The truth is that:

Mission Possible begins with clarity of purpose. Employees who understand how their role connects to customer satisfaction bring ownership into their work.

Mission Possible thrives on empowerment. A staff member trusted to resolve a customer issue instantly creates more loyalty than a scripted apology.

Mission Possible is sustained by systems. Good intentions collapse without structures-training, recognition, clear feedback channels, and accountability.

Leaders who treat poor service as inevitable institutionalise mediocrity. Leaders who believe service excellence is possible-and back it with deliberate systems-prove that the impossible can be made possible. Examples that Inspire

Across Nigeria and Africa, both private and public institutions have demonstrated that Mission Possible is not a slogan but an achievable reality.

Private sector champions

Stanbic IBTC Bank (Nigeria) was recognised in 2025 as Bank of the Year for Customer Service at the Industry Summit/Awards. Even in a crowded sector, it proved that digital channels, empowered staff, and operational efficiency can distinguish customer experience. PalmPay (Nigeria/Africa) won Consumer-Friendly Business of the Year at the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) Awards. By investing in trust, responsiveness, and grievance resolution, it showed that fintechs can scale without losing empathy.

Access Bank (Nigeria/Africa) continues to earn awards for innovation and customer-centric banking. Its reputation as the Best SME Bank demonstrates how aligning technology with customer support builds loyalty across markets.

Keystone Bank (Nigeria), once considered a smaller player, has been recognised for customer service excellence. By focusing on accessibility and consistency, it proved that service culture can be a differentiator even without the scale of the largest banks.

Advans Nigeria (Microfinance) was named Microfinance Bank of the Decade at The Edge Awards in 2025. In financial inclusion, where trust is everything, Advans demonstrated that serving underserved communities with fairness and dignity is both good business and social impact.

Public sector lessons in Africa

Across Africa, several public-facing institutions provide lessons. Rwanda’s civil registration services, Kenya’s eCitizen portal, and South Africa’s municipal service desks have been highlighted in governance reports for streamlining citizen access, improving transparency, and treating citizens as customers.

The lesson is clear: service excellence is not the preserve of private enterprise. With the right systems, even government agencies can transform citizen experiences and rebuild trust.

HR as the custodian of service culture

Human Resources must be positioned as a central driver of customer service culture. Recruitment should prioritise service orientation, not just technical competence. Training should emphasise empathy, responsiveness, and problem-solving. Performance systems should reward behaviours that protect and enhance customer trust.

Service excellence is not about perfection. Customers do not expect flawless processes, but they do expect responsiveness and care. A mistake corrected with urgency and humility often leaves a stronger impression than a seamless but impersonal transaction.

The African business lesson

In the African marketplace, service has always been personal. Customers return to the same market stall not just for the goods, but because the seller greets them by name, extends credit when times are hard, and keeps promises. The modern challenge is to scale that intimacy across large organisations and digital platforms without losing its humanity.

Technology can accelerate service, but culture sustains it. Without a culture of accountability, even the most advanced platforms collapse under the weight of indifference.

Conclusion

As we commemorate Customer Service Week 2025, let us remember the proverb: ‘If you want to go far, go together.’ Service excellence cannot be achieved by a single department. It is the business of everyone, from the boardroom to the shop floor.

The Nigerian and African institutions highlighted above prove that Mission Possible is not aspirational-it is achievable. Their example teaches us that service excellence is built not by chance, but by purpose, structure, and culture.

When organisations embed service into every process and empower every employee to act with empathy and accountability, customers do not just stay-they become advocates. That is the essence of making ‘Mission Possible’ not just a theme, but a way of life.

The federal government has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend its planned strike, assuring that it remains fully committed to addressing all outstanding issues raised by the union.

Maruf Olatunji Alausa, minister of education, made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the progress of ongoing negotiations, stressing that President Bola Tinubu had directed that every effort be made to avert disruptions in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

Alausa disclosed that the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee had been reconstituted and inaugurated to fast-track talks with both academic and non-academic unions in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

‘We are finalising the components of the condition of service that ASUU has proposed. Our counterpart committee is also working to conclude its response, and hopefully, by the end of today or tomorrow, the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Committee will present the Federal Government’s counter-offer to ASUU,’ the minister said.

He explained that President Bola Tinubu had given clear directives that all efforts must be made to avoid another disruption in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

‘The President has mandated us to do everything humanly possible to avoid a strike. People at the highest level of government have been working several hours behind the scenes to come up with a robust but affordable response to the unions’ demands. These issues have dragged on for over 10 to 15 years, but this administration is determined to resolve them once and for all,’ he said. The minister stated that unlike in the past, where separate committees handled negotiations for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, the government had now adopted a unified approach to ensure efficiency and coherence in the process.

According to Alausa, about 80 per cent of the unions’ requests are similar across the tertiary subsectors, while the remaining 20 per cent relate to peculiar career and institutional needs. ‘We have seen all the requests, and we understand their peculiarities. The new committee has started work already and will continue to engage the unions expeditiously to reach a mutually beneficial agreement,’ he said.

The minister also urged ASUU and other unions to embrace dialogue as a first option rather than resorting to industrial action.

‘We know you have been patient, but please don’t use strike as your first resort. These are issues that have lingered for decades. President Tinubu has shown genuine political will and benevolence towards education. We will resolve this matter comprehensively, respectfully, and in a way the government can afford,’

Alausa highlighted several steps already taken by the government to demonstrate commitment, including the release of N50 billion for earned academic allowances and the provision of N150 billion in the 2025 budget for the revitalisation of tertiary institutions.

‘The President has kept his promises. We have addressed promotional arrears, and the issues of wage awards and allowances have been resolved. By next year, all arrears will be fully cleared, including the 2025 wage award. The government is sincere and committed,’ he added.

He assured that discussions on the new conditions of service would soon be concluded, noting that this was the final component of the ongoing negotiation process.

‘We have resolved most of the concerns raised by the unions, and we are now at the final stage of the conditions of service. We are pleading for patience. The government is truthful and genuinely interested in resolving this crisis once and for all.’

Meanwhile, ASUU has already begun full mobilisation of its members in preparation for a possible nationwide warning strike ahead of its 14-day ultimatum, which is set to expire on Sunday this week.

Moniepoint Inc., a leading Nigerian fintech unicorn, is laying the groundwork to transform financial access for Nigerians in the UK through its subsidiary, Moniepoint GB, despite reporting a £1.2 million loss for the 2024 financial year.

According to a financial statement reviewed by BusinessDay, the loss reflects strategic setup costs for entering the UK’s highly regulated market, including a $2.5 million equity deposit for the acquisition of Bancom, a UK electronic money firm, completed in July 2025.

These investments are poised to enhance financial services for the UK’s African diaspora, particularly Nigerians seeking seamless cross-border transactions. Incorporated in February 2024, Moniepoint GB recorded no revenue during the year as it focused on building a secure and scalable platform.

The company clarified that the £1.2 million figure represents essential investments in technology, regulatory compliance, and customer support infrastructure, not an operational shortfall.

‘What has been reported as a loss actually reflects set-up costs,’ Moniepoint stated, emphasising that such expenditures are typical for fintechs entering markets with stringent standards like the UK. A key milestone in Moniepoint GB’s strategy is the acquisition of Bancom, an entity authorised by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This move provides a robust regulatory foundation, enabling Moniepoint GB to offer compliant and reliable financial services. ‘By acquiring an already-authorised firm, we secure a solid regulatory foothold, which is paramount for providing reliable financial services,’ the company said.

This foundation is critical for serving Nigerians abroad, who rely on secure and efficient remittance channels to support families and businesses in Nigeria. Moniepoint GB’s first product, MonieWorld, launched in April 2025, allows UK residents to send money directly to any Nigerian bank account using a MonieWorld account, British bank cards, or Apple Pay and Google Pay. This service addresses a critical need for the UK’s Nigerian diaspora, offering a convenient and accessible way to transfer funds.

Moniepoint has signaled plans to roll out additional products, further strengthening financial connectivity between the UK and Nigeria.

Backed by a $110 million investment in 2024 from investors including Google, which elevated Moniepoint Inc. to a $1 billion valuation, the company is well-positioned to deliver on its mission of financial happiness.

Nigeria’s telecommunications sector is poised for a significant leap forward as operators pledge over $1 billion in new investments to expand broadband coverage, spurred by a wave of state-level reforms slashing Right-of-Way (RoW) fees.

Dr. Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), who disclosed this at the Business Roundtable on Improving Investments in Broadband Connectivity at the Digital Economy Complex in Mbora, announced that five additional states, Adamawa, Bauchi, Enugu, Benue, and Zamfara, have eliminated RoW charges entirely.

This builds on the earlier decision by six states: Anambra, Katsina, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Osun, and Plateau, to eliminate RoW fees, bringing the total to 11 states offering zero-cost RoW to accelerate broadband infrastructure deployment.

This move is set to accelerate Nigeria’s ambitious goal of achieving 70 percent broadband penetration by the end of 2025, unlocking economic growth and digital inclusion across the country. The RoW fee waivers address one of the telecom industry’s most persistent barriers: the high costs imposed by state governments for laying fibre optic cables along public roads. Despite a 2013 Nigerian Governors Forum resolution capping RoW fees at N145 per linear meter, inconsistent and often exorbitant charges have slowed broadband deployment, particularly in underserved regions.

Maida highlighted that the decision by 11 states to waive these fees, with 17 others adhering to the N145 cap, signals a growing recognition of broadband’s role as a catalyst for economic transformation. ‘These reforms are a game-changer. They reduce costs for operators, boost investor confidence, and pave the way for faster, more affordable connectivity for Nigerians,’ Maida said.

The $1 billion investment commitment from telecom operators, confirmed by Maida, is a direct response to these policy shifts and recent NCC regulatory actions. Earlier this year, the NCC approved cost-reflective and competitive tariff rates, bolstering investor confidence in a sector already contributing significantly to Nigeria’s GDP.

With broadband penetration at 48.81 percent as of August 2025, serving over 140 million internet users, the sector is a cornerstone of the nation’s economy.

Research cited by Maida suggests a 10 percent increase in broadband penetration could drive 1.38 percent GDP growth in developing economies, potentially adding billions in economic output, new jobs, and innovation hubs across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The stakes are high in a country with over 200 million people and a median age of 18. Maida emphasized that reliable, affordable connectivity is critical to equipping Nigeria’s youth for the global digital economy. ‘Our graduates can compete globally, our entrepreneurs can access international markets, and our states can foster innovation-driven ecosystems,’ he said, pointing to Rwanda’s success as a digital services hub and India’s $240 billion IT outsourcing industry as models Nigeria could surpass with the right infrastructure. However, challenges remain.

The EVC noted that between January and August 2025, Nigeria recorded 19,384 fibre cut incidents, 3,241 cases of equipment theft, and over 19,000 denials of access to telecom sites, causing outages, revenue losses, and increased security costs.

These disruptions underscore the urgency of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Presidential Order, signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June 2024, which strengthens protections for telecom assets.

The NCC, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has established a Telecommunications Industry Working Group to enforce site security standards and has launched public awareness campaigns to curb vandalism.

To further streamline broadband expansion, the NCC is promoting a ‘dig-once’ policy to coordinate fibre deployment with public works, reducing accidental cuts and civil works costs. The commission also commissioned a wholesale Fibre Study to ensure transparent interconnection terms for backbone owners and Internet Service Providers, unlocking last-mile expansion. On October 9, the NCC will launch two tools: the Ease of Doing Business Portal, a one-stop platform for state-level telecom information, and the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Index (NDCI), a scorecard to rank states’ digital readiness and drive accountability.

Maida called on governors to adopt uniform RoW policies, institutionalise coordination with operators, and support hybrid power solutions to enhance network reliability. ‘Every state holds a strategic lever. Alignment across all 36 states can transform Nigeria into a continental digital powerhouse,’ he said.

States that have waived RoW fees are already seeing expanded networks, proving the impact of pro-investment policies. As Nigeria races to meet its National Broadband Plan target of deploying 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic infrastructure by year-end, the RoW waivers and operator investments signal a turning point.