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The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has directed its candidates nationwide to commence campaigns for the 2027 general elections, in line with the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The party also directed its candidates to use its original logo – the two-finger victory sign – since the modified digital version is still undergoing approval by INEC.

It announced plans to inaugurate its various campaign committees as part of preparations for the elections.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the NDC directed its presidential, National Assembly, governorship and State Assembly candidates to begin consultations and engagements with stakeholders and constituents in their respective constituencies.

The party urged the candidates to work with state and local chapters to roll out campaign programmes to promote their candidacies and communicate the NDC’s message as a grassroots-oriented party.

‘To all candidates, we are directing that they begin their familiarisation, sensitisation and consultations. Similarly, local campaign events can now continue,’ the statement said.

The party added, ‘The party will soon release the composition of its campaign organs, which will be announced and inaugurated on a date to be announced.

‘We direct all candidates across the country to begin their campaigns. State chapters, local government chapters and down to the wards should organise and draw up itineraries for their own local campaigns.’

The NDC said its campaigns would be guided by its commitment to issue-based politics, stressing that its candidates and supporters must avoid violence, abusive language and inflammatory rhetoric.

‘In keeping with the ideology of NDC, the party reiterates that all campaigns must be issue-based and devoid of violence and foul language. The NDC has no room for violence,’ it said.

The party also clarified the status of its logo, following reports and concerns about the appropriate symbol for its candidates and supporters to use during the campaign.

The NDC said it had, in consultation with INEC, modified its logo and formally notified the electoral commission of the change.

According to the party, administrative processes surrounding the replacement of the existing logo with the modified version are still being resolved.

It therefore directed candidates and members to continue using the existing logo – the two-finger victory sign – for campaign activities until the process is concluded.

‘The NDC, in consultation with INEC, have also modified our logo and notified INEC appropriately, at a meeting INEC themselves attended with us,’ the statement said.

‘For some reasons, however, there have been some administrative details which we’re working round the clock to resolve before the existing logo would be replaced with the modified version.’

‘Until then, however, we enjoin all our candidates and members to continue using the old logo, which is also the two-finger victory sign, for campaign purposes, pending the conclusion of all engagements and arrangements with INEC regarding the replacement.’

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has approved the promotion of 7,472 personnel, comprising 2,134 officers and 5,338 marshals.

According to a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Osondu Ohaeri, on Friday, the promotion aims to strengthen professionalism, leadership and operational effectiveness in road safety management.

He said the promotion was also part of the Corps’ human capital development programme and was intended to reward merit, competence, discipline and commitment to service, while injecting fresh capacity into its leadership and operational structure.

Osondu said the affected personnel would begin wearing their new ranks following decoration ceremonies to be conducted by heads of departments, corps officers, heads of special units and commanding officers from Wednesday, August 26, to Friday, August 28, 2026.

‘The decoration is to be carried out in line with the Administrative Instruction on the Decoration of Newly Promoted Officers and Marshals,’ he said.

Osondu said the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, had described the promotion as both a reward for service and a call to greater responsibility.

‘He charged the newly promoted personnel to justify their elevation through higher standards of professionalism, accountability, leadership and service delivery to the Nigerian motoring public,’ he said.

Mohammed said the strength of the FRSC was not determined solely by its patrol vehicles, technology or enforcement architecture, but fundamentally by the quality, character and commitment of its personnel.

He congratulated the promoted officers and marshals, urging them to regard their new ranks as a mandate to do more and lead better.

‘Every additional stripe, pip or insignia represents increased expectations from the Corps, the Federal Government and the Nigerian people,’ he said.

The Corps Marshal also stressed the need for the promotion system to remain an instrument for building a professional, responsive and performance-driven institution capable of responding to the changing demands of road safety management.

He urged the newly promoted personnel to demonstrate discipline both on and off the road, treat members of the public with dignity, uphold the integrity of the Corps and remain committed to reducing road traffic crashes.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government and regulatory agencies to ensure policy stability, faster approvals and predictable regulations to attract more investment into the oil and gas sector.

PENGASSAN also urged the government to submit recent executive orders on the petroleum industry to the National Assembly as an executive bill seeking amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act, stressing that the process should be transparent and involve all stakeholders.

The union made the demands in a communiqué signed by PENGASSAN President, Comrade Festus Osifo, and its General Secretary, Comrade Jerry Amah, at the end of its three-day 5th PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit in Abuja, from August 19 to 21, 2026.

The summit, with the theme, ‘Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks as a Catalyst for Stability and Growth in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry,’ brought together government representatives, regulators, oil and gas companies, investors, organised labour, industry professionals and other stakeholders.

The association said Nigeria needed a stable and competitive fiscal and regulatory environment to attract the long-term capital required to develop its oil and gas resources.

It urged the government and regulatory institutions to minimise abrupt policy changes and ensure adequate consultation with stakeholders before introducing major changes in the industry.

PENGASSAN also called for improved coordination among regulatory and government agencies to eliminate overlapping mandates, repetitive approvals and conflicting directives which, it said, increased the cost of doing business and weakened Nigeria’s competitiveness for global energy capital.

The union said regulation should protect national interests, workers, host communities, investors, safety and the environment while enabling legitimate businesses to operate efficiently.

It urged regulators to embrace digitalisation, set clear approval timelines, and adopt transparent processes, arguing that regulatory effectiveness should be measured by its impact on investment, production, revenue generation, worker protection, and national value creation.

On investment and production, PENGASSAN said Nigeria could not rely solely on its large hydrocarbon reserves to attract investors, noting that the country was competing with other oil-producing jurisdictions for limited global capital.

It therefore urged the government to consolidate recent reforms and incentives that had encouraged fresh investments and Final Investment Decisions in the sector.

The association also identified gas as a key driver of industrialisation, noting that Nigeria had more than 215 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves but had yet to fully convert the resource into reliable energy and economic growth.

It called for an integrated national gas development strategy covering upstream supply, processing, pipelines, storage, LNG, LPG and CNG infrastructure.

PENGASSAN further urged the government to accelerate the use of gas for electricity generation, manufacturing, transportation, fertiliser, petrochemicals and domestic cooking, while reducing routine gas flaring and methane emissions.

The union also called for sustained policies and investments to expand domestic refining capacity and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.

It stressed the need to protect refineries operating within Nigeria, including the Dangote and Waltersmith refineries, saying greater domestic refining and processing would create jobs, conserve foreign exchange and promote industrial development.

On labour issues, PENGASSAN said capital and labour were complementary rather than competing interests, stressing that sustainable investment required skilled, motivated and fairly treated workers.

It called for stronger protection of jobs, accrued benefits, pensions, collective bargaining agreements and other established workers’ rights, particularly during mergers, acquisitions, divestments and asset transfers.

The association also warned that increased production must not come at the expense of workers’ lives and well-being, insisting that occupational health and safety remain non-negotiable.

On Nigerian content, the union called for a shift from procurement targets to developing Nigerian companies and professionals capable of competing globally on competence, quality, governance, and cost.

It also demanded stronger enforcement of expatriate quota requirements to ensure that foreign expertise was deployed only where genuine skills gaps existed and accompanied by measurable knowledge transfer and succession plans for qualified Nigerians.

PENGASSAN urged the government to sustain collaboration with security agencies, operators and host communities to consolidate recent gains in the fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

It also called for effective implementation of the Host Communities Development Trust framework under the PIA, saying host communities must become genuine partners in petroleum development.

The association said Nigeria’s major challenge was no longer a lack of resources, laws, institutions or human capacity but the failure to translate them into bankable projects and measurable outcomes.

It therefore called for stronger execution discipline, measurable targets, clearly assigned responsibilities and transparent monitoring of commitments.

The union said, ‘Policies must translate into implementation; resources into projects; projects into production; production into value; and investment into sustainable jobs and national prosperity.’

PENGASSAN called for deeper collaboration among the Federal Government, regulators, NNPC Limited, operators, investors, organised labour and host communities to resolve bottlenecks and accelerate investment and production.

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro, has called on the people of the Niger Delta to reciprocate President Bola Tinubu’s developmental efforts by voting en masse for him in the 2027 elections.

Otuaro spoke in Abuja, where the PAP sent a new batch of 150 postgraduate scholarship beneficiaries to universities in the United Kingdom.

A statement signed by Otuaro’s Special Assistant on Media, Igoniko Oduma, said the figure brought the total number of offshore deployments the PAP, under the leadership of Dr Otuaro, had made this year to 243, with 93 dispatched in January and May.

The statement explained that before the recent deployments, about 270 had been sent to study programmes such as cyber security, software engineering, data science analytics, law, forensic audit, fintech analytics, construction engineering management, global public health, and oil and gas engineering at universities in the United Kingdom.

Speaking at the pre-departure orientation for the 150 fresh beneficiaries held at the PAP headquarters, Otuaro described the scholarships as an investment in a greater tomorrow for communities in the Niger Delta and Nigeria.

He reiterated that the large-scale sponsorships were also aimed at sustaining peace and stability, closing the region’s human capital development gap, and building a substantial human resource base for the area.

Otuaro said, ‘We are again here to send some of the most brilliant and vibrant youths of the Niger Delta for postgraduate studies in select disciplines in the UK.

‘We are able to do this because our father and leader, Mr President, is committed to the peace, security and development of the Niger Delta.’

‘I must say that as a people, we should make sure we vote massively to ensure his victory in the 2027 general elections. This is the best way to show gratitude to a President who has taken these deliberate steps to help our people and the region.

‘This year, in January and May, we sent 93 beneficiaries for offshore post-graduate programmes. Now, we have 150 that we are sending abroad, and about 56 made first class while about 140 made second-class upper division. We already had 270 in UK universities before these recent deployments.

‘This exercise underscores our commitment to ensuring that the Niger Delta youths have greater access to higher education within and outside Nigeria as we build a solid foundation for the region’s future.’

According to him, the large-scale deployments were made possible by President Tinubu’s unprecedented support for the programme under his Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said, ‘As of today, we have 8700 in-country. That is what President Tinubu has done for the Niger Delta. By the grace of God, we will increase the number this year.

‘We have deployed 270 beneficiaries to offshore universities: 11 for undergraduate programmes, 238 for master’s degrees, and 21 for PhDs.

While 57 have graduated, many with distinction, 248 are in training. From onshore universities, we have recorded 54 master’s and doctoral graduates. In the 2024/2025 academic year, we recorded over 50 first-class and over 134 second-class upper division graduates.

‘That is our investment for a greater and better tomorrow because it will help our communities and our region tomorrow’, Dr Otuaro added.

He expressed appreciation to the President for his massive support, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his efficient supervision, deep insights and professional inputs that have helped the programme.

The PAP boss urged the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously and be good ambassadors of Nigeria and the Niger Delta, stressing that they are expected to come back home after their programmes and add value to their communities and nation-building in the spirit of patriotism.

He also advised them to respect the laws of the country in which they would be studying and the rules and regulations of their respective institutions.

Two of the beneficiaries, who spoke on behalf of others, Opukeme Gideon (MSc, Cyber Security, University of Aberdeen), and Afiyagba Peredisabofa (MSc, Oil and Gas, Coventry University), thanked President Tinubu and Dr Otuaro for the opportunity, pledging to study hard and make the nation and the region proud.

In their separate goodwill messages, the Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Dr Boladei Igali; Prof. Ben Binebai of the Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State; Niger Delta activist, AnnKio Briggs; Senior Policy Adviser to the Delta State Governor, Funkekeme Solomon; and the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Dr Doubra Okotete, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for sustaining the programme and investing in the region’s youths.

They commended Otuaro for his vision and the expansion of the scholarship scheme, adding that ‘it is a legacy that will impact several generations.’

They also lauded the PAP helmsman for his sensitivity to gender parity in the painstaking selection process, pointing out that the female-to-male ratio was very pleasing.

At the event, the beneficiaries were sensitised on ‘Social and Cultural Dynamics’, ‘Academic and School Expectations of Your Trip’, ‘Security Dynamics of Schooling Abroad’, and ‘Obligations of the PAP Office to Beneficiaries/Economic Prudence’.

Other stakeholders of the Niger Delta present at the event were the PANDEF Secretary, Engr. Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, and the Treasurer, Hon. Mrs Ifeoma Agbomah; and the Ijaw Women Connect (IWC) led by its President, Mrs Rosemary Oduone.

Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, leading activities to strengthen the party’s structures across the state.

The mobilisation is aimed at securing support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election and consolidating the party’s position in Lagos.

Under Ojelabi’s leadership, the party said it had intensified ward-level meetings, stakeholders’ engagements and consultations across the state’s 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas.

The party is also engaging women groups, youth organisations, market associations, community leaders, artisans and other stakeholders as part of efforts to strengthen its grassroots network ahead of the general election.

Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Lagos State APC Chairman, Ayaba Omobola Nowoola, said the mobilisation would focus on taking the party’s message to wards, communities and polling units, while highlighting the performance of the President Tinubu administration at the federal level and Lagos State.

The party cited ongoing infrastructure projects in Lagos, including the Blue and Red rail lines, road construction and rehabilitation, urban renewal and human capital development programmes as areas it intends to use in its campaign for continuity.

At the federal level, APC is expected to campaign on the economic reforms of the Tinubu government, including fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange reforms and fiscal restructuring.

The party also pointed to investments in infrastructure, transportation, education, health care, agriculture and social development as part of the administration’s achievements.

Among the federal infrastructure projects highlighted are 1,068-kilometre superhighway, 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, 114.5-kilometre Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road, 465-kilometre Calabar-Abuja Superhighway and other major road projects across the country.

The senior special assistant said the 2027 campaign would provide an opportunity for the party to explain its policies and present what it described as its record of governance to voters.

It said the objective of the mobilisation was to connect the party’s programmes with voters and translate its grassroots organisation into electoral support.

The party further said a continuation of the APC administration in 2027 would allow for the completion and consolidation of ongoing infrastructure projects, expansion of transportation networks, continued economic reforms, increased investment and job opportunities, and improved access to social services.

With Ojelabi coordinating the state-level mobilisation, Lagos APC said its structures were being positioned to engage voters across the state as the 2027 general election approaches.

The party said it would intensify engagement at the ward, local government, community and polling-unit levels as part of its preparations for the presidential election.

The Special Committee, led by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, investigating the ownership and funding of the Museum for West African Art (MOWAA) has submitted its report.

Last December, the Edo State House of Assembly, in its recommendations following its investigation into MOWAA, asked Governor Monday Okpebholo to take possession of the entire premises on which MOWAA is built, since the state government funded the entire project.

The recommendation stated that the property remained that of the Central Hospital, as it was never revoked, and urged Governor Okpebholo to immediately take steps to put the property to good use in the best and overriding public interest of the people.

However, former Governor Oshiomhole’s Special Committee recommended changing the name MOWAA to the Benin Royal Museum of African Art and handing it over to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, for proper management.

Speaking while submitting the report to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Oshiomhole said former Governor Godwin Obaseki spent N3.8 billion of taxpayers’ money on the MOWAA project and repeatedly changed the museum’s name for personal reasons.

Oshiomhole said the state government under Obaseki agreed to fund the construction of the Benin Royal Museum on land provided by the Oba of Benin.

He said Obaseki’s administration took several steps, demolished the Central Hospital, and decided to change the original name of the museum to the Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWA) and later to the Museum for West African Art (MOWAA).

The former Edo Governor said the Edo State government raised N800 million in seed money.

He said the investigation revealed that MOWAA’s claims that funds were raised for archaeological work and excavations were false.

He recommended that ‘The facility should not be demolished because it can’t be remodelled; the museum is allowed to stay, and the facility be given a proper name that will reflect the true ownership.

‘The name should be changed to Benin Royal Museum of African Art. The governor can use the same instrument of government to revert the name. This will attract artefacts from across the globe.

‘The museum should be returned to the Oba of Benin to manage it henceforth, as the government comes and goes but the Benin Monarch remains, and the artefacts can be protected better by the institutions that own them’.

On his part, Governor Okpebholo said the quality of the committee’s report showed the fairness and seriousness of the job.

He said, ‘At this point I will set up another committee to enable us to have a white paper on the issue, and the committee will liaise with the Ministry of Justice so that the recommendation will be turned into a white paper.’

‘I watched a video clip where Obaseki promised to build a Royal Museum to celebrate our Royal father but dramatically changed it to MOWAA. You have done a great job, and our ancestors will bless you all.’

The traditional ruler of the Ikate-Elegushi kingdom, Eti-Osa, Lagos State, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, has congratulated the Olu of Warri kingdom, Ogiame Atuwaste III, on his fifth anniversary on the throne.

In a statement from his Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Temitope Oyefeso, the monarch described the Olu of Warri as a dynamic king who has brought innovative ideas and purposeful leadership to the Warri kingdom, resulting in increased development in the ancient city of Warri and among its people over the past five years.

Oba Elegushi said, ‘In the last five years, I have watched with admiration the purposeful leadership you have provided for your people and how you continue to inspire and support them towards making life better for your people; this you often emphasise in our various interactions over the years.’

He added that the Olu of Warri is a bridge builder, continuing to extend a hand of friendship to other traditional rulers across the country, contributing to national development and promoting peace among all Nigerians, regardless of tribe or religion.

Oba Elegushi prayed that the reign of Ogiame Atuwatse will continue for many years and that his impactful leadership will continue to benefit the Warri people and Nigerians in general.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Friday, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the Bill establishing the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology in Obio Akpa, Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

He also lauded Governor Umo Eno for promptly releasing the Obio Akpa campus of the Akwa Ibom State University to ensure the smooth take-off of the institution.

Akpabio made these remarks at the funeral service in honour of the former Majority Leader of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, the late Hon (Elder) Imo Akpan Ibokette.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted Akpabio as saying, ‘I look forward to the admission of the first batch of students into the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology in this Senatorial District. Let me thank President Bola Tinubu for signing the bill which established the University. Let me also thank our dear Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for releasing a campus of the Akwa Ibom State University for the commencement of academic activities this year.’

‘Late Ibokette, we are laying to rest today, was the first to call and thank me on hearing of the passage of the bill establishing the University. His death is a personal loss to me. The Ibokette family and I share an intimate affinity that spans decades. Even the weight of political differences did not attenuate the relationship we shared. So, I personally mourn his demise,’ he stated.

The funeral service in honour of the late lawmaker was held at the Abak International Nursery/Primary School in Abak Local Government Area and was conducted by the Apostolic Church Nigeria.

Akpabio described him as a patriot, a selfless leader, a loving father, and a hardworking personality who braved the odds to achieve what he did before his demise, saying, ‘He did his best and witnessed the uncommon transformation which he fought and worked for before his departure.’

Bolt, a global mobility platform, has expanded its on-demand delivery service, Bolt Send, to Owerri, Imo State, allowing residents and businesses to send and receive packages across the city through the Bolt app.

The expansion enables users to request courier services directly on the platform to pick up and deliver packages to specified destinations, eliminating the need to make separate transportation arrangements.

Bolt Send was introduced in Nigeria in 2023 and allows individuals and businesses to send items including documents, clothing, small gifts, personal belongings and small business parcels.

Senior General Manager, Bolt West Africa, Teddy Appa-Dankyi, said the expansion to Owerri was driven by growing demand for convenient, on-demand delivery services.

‘We are excited to officially announce Bolt Send in Owerri and give more people access to a convenient way to move packages around the city,’ Appa-Dankyi said.

He said the service would enable residents to send documents, personal items and small business parcels without making separate transport arrangements.

‘Bolt Send is designed to make everyday deliveries easier and more accessible. We also encourage users to follow the service guidelines so that every delivery is safe, seamless and reliable for everyone involved,’ he said.

According to the company, users must package and seal their items properly and provide accurate pickup and drop-off information.

Bolt said packages must comply with the service requirements, including a maximum weight of 25kg and a maximum value of ?50,000.

It advised customers against sending prohibited, hazardous, highly fragile or highly perishable items through the service.

To use Bolt Send, customers open the Bolt app, select the delivery service, enter the pickup and drop-off locations and provide the relevant package details. A courier partner is then assigned to collect and deliver the package.

The company said the expansion would improve access to on-demand delivery services in Owerri while providing individuals and small businesses with a flexible option for moving packages within the city.

Bolt urged customers to provide accurate delivery information and ensure that packages are securely sealed before handing them over to courier partners.

Chairman of the House Committee on NELFUND, Ifeoluwa Ehindero (APC-Ondo), said on Friday that the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration have paved the way for the actualisation of the long-awaited better Nigeria by creating opportunities for youths and strengthening key institutions.

Ehindero spoke just as the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said that about 239,726 young Nigerians have so far been equipped with digital and practical skills through the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), while over 1.2 million certificates have been issued to young people showing up to build.

Speaking at the presentation of a book titled ‘No More Future: Why Waiting Is Over, What to Build Instead’ authored by a young Nigerian, Mr Christopher Olusa, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, Ehindero said Tinubu’s administration had shown, through concrete action, that the future is indeed something to be built and not merely being awaited.

He drew attention to the gains in the education sector through the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which he said has opened the doors of tertiary education to thousands of Nigerian youths who would otherwise have been locked out by financial constraints.

He said the landmark Tax Reform introduced by the President has begun to reposition Nigeria’s revenue architecture for efficiency, fairness, and long-term national prosperity.

According to him, through the pursuit of local government autonomy, President Tinubu demonstrated a firm commitment to deepening democracy and ensuring that development truly reaches the grassroots.

He said policies, including the ongoing constitutional amendment to create state police, were part of Tinubu’s approach to actualise the much-desired better future for Nigerians.

‘These are not promises for tomorrow; they are foundations being laid today. It is this same spirit of building rather than waiting that we celebrate in Christopher Olusa’s work.

‘The book is a powerful call to action; it reminds us that the future is not something we should merely wait for; the future is something we must actively create.

‘For too long, many young people have been encouraged to wait for government, for opportunities, for employment, for someone to discover them, or for circumstances to become perfect.

‘The reality is that nations are transformed when their citizens move from expectation to action, from dependency to enterprise, and from complaining about the future to building it,’ he said.

Minister for Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, represented by Dotun Omoleye, urged Nigerian youths to take advantage of government policies and programmes to build a desirable future for the country.

He said that the era of waiting for the government to fix things before building, waiting for the right connections before starting, and waiting for permission to become what we already have the capacity to be is over.

The minister said that Nigeria’s greatest asset is not what exists under that soil, but what is inside young people, adding that through the Renewed Hope Agenda, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA) to equip youths with relevant skills.

The minister said Nigeria does not lack potential, but sometimes lacks the collective courage in young people to stop waiting and start building.

According to him, the book is a call for that courage; the government’s investment in young people is a call to that courage, and I believe that this generation is finally ready to answer it

The minister said that seven million young Nigerians have been trained, and five million new jobs have been created.

‘Through NiYA StartUp, 200 young business owners have each received one million naira, and a further 200 young Nigerians working in the informal sector have received a N500,000 grant each.

‘Just this month, we are pairing 20 early-stage entrepreneurs with intensive investment-readiness training, mentorship, and non-dilutive funding of up to five million naira each.

‘Government is repositioning NYSC from a routine rite of passage into a genuine platform for skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, and productive engagement after service.

‘To young people in this room, and to the many more who will read this book: the Renewed Hope Agenda has opened a door that did not exist for the generation before you.

‘What you do with that open door is the story that has not yet been written. Christopher has given you a framework. The Ministry of Youth Development will continue to give you platforms, capital, and training, but the actual building of your future remains yours to do,’ he said.

Book reviewer, Prof. Jerry Ugokwe, said many people have treated the future as a destination, or something will happen or be given, stressing that the book has destroyed that illusion that presents the future as what one waits for, rather than something to build.

According to him, we live in a generation of extraordinary contradiction, as this generation has more access to information but still struggles with direction.

‘One of the most compelling strengths of this book is its intellectual honesty. It does not romanticise the Nigerian condition, nor does it weaponise victimhood. Instead, it balances realism with responsibility.

‘The systemic issues are acknowledged- educational gaps, economic volatility, institutional delays but the reader is not allowed to hide behind them.

‘The message is clear: you may not control the system, but you are responsible for your response to it,’ he said.

Speaking in an interview, the author said the book is a product of research and the collection of personal and societal experiences.

Olusa said young people have been taught to wait, and the societal structure keeps them waiting for a bright future.

‘We are expected to wait, and what happens after that is disappointment; so this is put together to help young people; instead of waiting, they can start and build.

‘Life is a process; if we sit down and expect something we did not work for, we will get disappointed at the end of the day.

‘My charge to young people is that they should build. This book challenges the culture of waiting. The future is not something we just move into; it is something we have to build. If you don’t build it, do not expect it,’ he said.