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On the outskirts of Bonwire, Kumasi, old weaver Mama Kofi folds a strip of vibrant Kente over her shoulder – midnight blue, gold, black zigzags, stitched with stories her mother taught her.

For decades, buyers offered lower and lower prices, telling her, ‘just add ‘Ghana-style” before selling abroad. She knew those copies could never carry the weight of the loom, the dye, the hand.

Then, September 30, 2025, came. At the La-Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, among Ghanaian officials, Kente artisans, musical interludes, and craftspeople, the Registrar-General’s Department, with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), declared Ghana’s iconic cloth the country’s first-ever Geographical Indication (GI) product.

Mama Kofi heard her loom’s voice recognised. From this point on, only the cloth woven in designated Ghanaian communities by traditional methods can be sold globally as authentic ‘Kente.’ Taglines like ‘Kente-style’ or ‘Kente lookalike’ won’t legally carry the weight of origin any more.

This wasn’t just a legal declaration. It was a reclaiming of heritage, identity, and economics for voices long unheard. But its ripples reach far beyond Bonwire – across borders, across looms, and across Nigeria’s textile heartlands.

Why This Matters: The Kente GI Equation

Authenticity and Reputation

A GI is more than words. It is intellectual property tied to place. It forbids misuse of the name ‘Kente’ for fabric not made in the eligible weaving communities in Ashanti and Volta using specified techniques. This ensures buyers globally can trust what they are buying.

Brand Value and Economic Upside

With legal protection, weavers can command better prices. The recognition elevates Kente from ‘pretty cloth’ to premium heritage good. Ghana’s weaving communities, numbering thousands (estimates vary, but Bonwire alone has hundreds of weaving families), now stand to benefit from both export markets and tourism.

Cultural Guardrails for Future Generations

The GI move safeguards not just fabric, but a lineage: how colours are chosen, motifs designed, weaving methods preserved. It ensures that Kente remains more than a costume for events; it remains a living heritage.

Nigeria’s Looms, Nigeria’s Losses

While Ghana acts, Nigeria’s textile crisis deepens. Some numbers:

Textile import bills skyrocketed to ?726.18 billion in 2024, a 297.8% increase over 2020’s ?182.5 billion.

Export growth in Nigerian textile articles did happen – from ?6.022 billion in 2020 to ?36.981 billion in 2024. Yet this pales beside the import flood and is heavily driven by currency depreciation rather than structural competitiveness.

The textile industry’s contribution to GDP is shrinking, and many mills have shut down. From over 180 textile mills some years ago, only about 20 remain active.

Under AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act), Nigeria’s textile and apparel exports to the U.S. amount to $548,000 (2023) – about 0.01% of total apparel imports under AGOA.

Tall numbers. But behind them are women like Mama Kofi, weavers, dye pits, looms silent, traditions fading. Many young people leaving the craft.

What Nigeria Can Learn / Do

Ghana’s Kente GI is a live template. Here’s what Nigeria can do – not someday, but now:

Pass GI-]Specific Legislation for Textiles and Crafts

Nigeria needs a sui generis GI law or amend existing IP laws to explicitly cover fabrics, traditional textiles, handlooms, dye works, motifs.

Map Origins and Code of Practice

Identify weaving regions (Iseyin for Aso-Oke, Abeokuta for Adire, etc.), document weaving techniques, materials, motifs. Create ‘books of specifications’ like Ghana did for Kente.

Empower Weaver Associations and Clusters

Local associations, craft guilds, state textile councils must be equipped to own GI processes: apply for protection, enforce use, educate members.

Protect Authenticity Legally and Commercially

Once GI status is secured, misuse (fake fabrics, ‘Kente-style’, ‘Aso-Oke inspired’) must be actionable. Use customs, IP offices, standards bodies to enforce.

Brand and Market Nigerian Textiles Globally

Use heritage, craftsmanship, origin story to build premium brands. Export, tourism, designer collaborations can project Nigerian cloths as luxuries.

Plug the Economic Leaks

Reduce import dependency, value addition at home, better export infrastructure. Nigeria needs to reverse trends: textile import growth is up ~300% over 5 years; exports up, yes, but still tiny. GI protection for key fabrics can shift this balance.

Portrait of Possibility

Imagine a world with these scenes:

A government-certified ‘Authentic Aso-Oke’ label worn by fashion influencers in Paris.

Tourists visiting weaving villages in Oyo, seeing dye pits and looms, buying directly from artisans.

Aso-Oke, Adire, Hausa weaves being exported under protected origin labels, commanding premium prices.

Nigerian designers, weaving communities, textile clusters celebrating authenticity, income rising, traditions breathing again.

Closing: Looms Reclaimed, Identity Insured

Mama Kofi takes her cloth off the loom. She holds it up – the colours deep, the pattern sharp. Shadows of imposter fabrics won’t fool the eyes anymore. With GI protection, her weave is hers alone.

Ghana’s Kente GI signals that fabric is law, heritage is economics, identity is global currency. Nigeria has everything it needs – fibre, hands, colours, stories. It just needs the courage to codify, protect, and tell.

The loom sings; the cloth carries stories. When Nigeria claims its fabrics, it claims its narrative – and its place among nations that weave heritage into prosperity.

The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC), Musa Garba-Maitafsir, says over 60 million adults in Nigeria lack basic literacy and numeracy skills.

He has also advocated improved funding for adult education in Nigeria.

Musa Garba-Maitafsir spoke in Kano on Tuesday at the opening of the 2025 Nigeria National Council for Adult Education (NNCAE) Annual National Conference.

The historic national event, holding at the Convocation Arena, Bayero University, New Campus, Gwarzo Road, Kano, opened on Monday and will run till Friday.

It has as theme, ‘The Future of Adult Learning in Nigeria: Leveraging the 5th Industrial Revolution for Inclusive, Equitable, and Sustainable Development’.

He said, ‘This is not just a statistic, it’s a call to action.

‘Adult education is no longer an afterthought or a remedial option; it is a strategic lifeline that empowers individuals.’

Garba-Maitafsir stated that in all the 774 LGAs, whether rural communities, informal settlements, or underserved communities, including hard to reach locations, adult education offers a vital second chance.

The NMEC boss added that education opens doors to dignity, economic inclusion, and lifelong learning.

He added, ‘Yet, in spite of its profound importance, this sector still struggles for recognition, adequate funding, and full understanding.’

According to Garba-Maitafsir, the theme reminds Nigerians on how crucial it is to reflect deeply on the path ahead.

He said, ‘We live in extraordinary times, marked by rapid technological change and complex social challenges.

‘Yet, within these challenges, there are many opportunities to uplift millions of adults who have been overlooked by traditional education systems.’

The executive secretary said there were many daunting realities like hunger, poverty, inequality, environmental concerns, insecurity and more.

Garba-Maitafsir, therefore, stressed the need to reposition adult education at the heart of the 5th Industrial Revolution and align it firmly with the SDGs, especially Goal 4.

According to him, it champions inclusive, equitable and quality education for all

He added, ‘Fundamental skills like reading, writing and Mathematics are the keys to unlocking personal empowerment and active citizenship.’

Garba-Maitafsir described the NNCAE members as the backbone of adult education in Nigeria.

He stated, ‘Your unwavering advocacy and tireless efforts have been a powerful force behind many innovations that have shaped the landscape of adult and Non-formal Education.

‘Your dedication has inspired where it once seemed impossible.

‘However, we all recognize there is still more work to be done ahead

‘Supporting the vision and mission of the Commission demands continued collaboration, creative situations, and a shared commitment to reaching every Nigerian adult and youth in need.’

Garba-Maitafsir also applauded them for their steadfast partnership and for being champions of change.

He continued, ‘Together, we can forge a future where no adult is left behind, where education truly becomes a lifelong journey accessible to all.

‘Thank you, and may this conference be wellspring of fruitful ideas and renewed determination.’

Forensic examination of a phone and WhatsApp chats in the $4.5 billion fraud trial of former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has suffered a major setback.

This was revealed on Tuesday at an Ikeja Special Offences Court.

The examination, meant to be conducted jointly by experts from the prosecution and defence, failed to proceed due to disagreements over execution modalities.

Emefiele is facing a 19-count charge bordering on receiving gratification and corrupt demands. His co-defendant, Henry Omoile, faces a three-count charge for unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents.

The duo are charged with offences involving $4.5 billion and ?2.8 billion.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, Emefiele’s Lead Counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had twice obstructed the court-ordered forensic process.

Justice Rahman Oshodi had on Sept. 15 ruled that the mobile device, marked ‘iPhone 2,’ and its WhatsApp contents, tendered as evidence by the EFCC, must undergo scientific examination.

The ruling followed a defence application seeking the test in the interest of justice, with experts from both sides participating.

Ojo informed the court that on Sept. 24 and Sept. 25, the scheduled dates for the exercise, nothing was achieved despite the presence of both parties and the court’s registrar.

He said the first obstacle was that EFCC officials claimed the phone could not be fully exposed to the joint team.

‘On the second day, even after the registrar clarified the order, EFCC representatives failed to produce the phone when Apple’s expert requested it,’ Ojo said.

He argued that unrestricted access was essential for the experts to perform their duties and urged the court to issue a fresh directive to ensure compliance.

Responding, EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), said the initial forensic examination by the defence expert was flawed and breached standard procedures.

He claimed the expert lacked a physical laboratory or verifiable office and conducted parts of the analysis online, risking data integrity.

‘The implication of their request is that Exhibit E could be altered. The data might auto-sync, compromising its authenticity,’ Oyedepo said.

He added that the iPhone remained in flight mode and untampered with, insisting that any handling must follow proper forensic standards.

However, the defence urged the court to halt further testimony until the examination was completed, stressing that the WhatsApp chats were central to their case.

The court acknowledged the defence’s concerns and directed the prosecution to file the forensic report within 24 hours.

Justice Oshodi also ordered both parties to adopt electronic service of documents to avoid further delays.

The case was adjourned until Oct. 8 for continuation of trial.

The mortgage market in Nigeria will be getting a major boost as 20 new branches are on the way following Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Mortgage Bank’s N20 billion expansion plan which it unveiled recently.

The ambitious plan seeks to strengthen the bank’s role in Nigeria’s housing finance sector, with projections to open 20 new branches nationwide, grow its active customer base to 100,000 families, and scale its loan portfolio to N100 billion within the next three years.

Hayatudeen Auwal, the bank’s managing director, who disclosed this recently at the commissioning of the bank’s new head office in Abuja, explained that the strategy is aimed at expanding access to mortgage financing while sustaining the bank’s record of financial discipline.

‘We intend to establish at least 20 branches nationwide in the next three years, grow our active customer base to 100,000 families, and scale our loan portfolio to N100 billion, Auwal disclosed in a statement at the weekend, adding that, with the support of their chairman, the entire housing development financing window has been opened to support the bank.

According to him, the dream of bridging Nigeria’s housing finance gap and supporting the Federal Government’s housing delivery agenda was alive, revealing that he was proud to say they have not only sustained that dream, but also expanded it, turning vision into measurable progress.

‘Our key achievement is being the number one collaborator with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN),’ he said, announcing that the bank had already achieved significant milestones, including facilitating over N27 billion in mortgages for 3,427 Nigerians across the federation and enabling more than 6,000 citizens to access mortgage loans through the PENCOM retirement savings window.

He noted that the bank’s credibility rests on its consistency in meeting obligations, a factor that has earned it trust within the financial sector.

‘From the National Housing Fund (NHF), despite accessing a huge loan portfolio, we have never defaulted. We have never defaulted in making repayments, and we have never defaulted in meeting our objectives,’ he emphasised.

Auwal stressed that housing finance remained central to achieving the government’s broader economic vision, commending President Tinubu, who has challenged Nigerians to envision a $1 trillion economy. ‘We believe the housing sector is well-positioned to contribute to that goal. With the effort and commitment of our chairman, the bank will play its part in achieving it,’ he said.

As part of its growth agenda, the bank is also preparing to launch a Diaspora Mortgage Project to help Nigerians abroad own homes back home, while exploring partnerships with pension funds, insurers, and international development agencies.

Auwal disclosed that the bank was making efforts to secure a national banking licence. ‘We are aiming to become a national bank. The Central Bank of Nigeria has already been informed and has given us a checklist of outstanding requirements. With our commitment, we are confident that, before long, FHA Mortgage Bank will attain national bank status,’ he assured.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has been called upon to contest the 2027 Presidential election in order to bring a total turnaround to the economy of the country and the welfare of its teeming people.

This call was made on Tuesday by Local Government Secretaries, Chiefs of Staff to Local Government Chairmen, Supervisory Councillors and Special Assistants from all the 33 Local Government Areas of the State, who converged on the Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, for a solidarity rally.

The Local Government appointees pointed out the massive transformation of Oyo State on Governor Makinde’s watch, tasking the governor to present himself to deliver the good governance, which Oyo State has been enjoying in the last six years and some months, to the entire country.

According to the appointees, who thronged the Secretariat in hundreds and were received on behalf of the Governor by Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal the Deputy Governor of the State at the frontage of the Governor’s Office, Governor Makinde has proven his leadership mettle over the years.

Ayodeji Oladepo, the Chairman of Oyo State Supervisory Councillors’ Forum speaking on behalf of the ýpolitical supporters, said Governor Makinde had demonstrated his leadership ability and would be able to bring transformative governance to the country for the benefits of all citizens.

He assured of the forum’s readiness to mobilise support for the governor’s presidential bid in 2027.

In his response, the Deputy Governor, who received them, thanked them and commended them for their thoughtfulness.

ýHe affirmed that Governor Makinde is eminently qualified to be the President of Nigeria, adding that the governor has significantly raised the standard of governance in the state and that he would bring his excellent performance to bear on national leadership.

ýHe assured the political supporters that the Governor would respond to their request at the appropriate time.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after receiving the crowd of supporters, Lawal said: ‘Well, you saw the crowd. I didn’t know they were coming. But having seen how lively, enthusiastic and happy they were, I could not but come out to address them in spite of the fact that the governor is otherwise engaged.

‘The main reason they came, according to them, is to urge our governor to come out to contest for the Presidency. It is a legitimate call because, by all standards and by all means, the governor is eminently qualified.

‘Like many other people, they have come out from the 33 local government areas of Oyo State and it shows clearly that these people genuinely wish our governor well.

‘The choice entirely is the governor’s, but that is what they wish, and I have told them that the message will be delivered to the governor.

‘I know that, at the appropriate time, the governor would respond to the yearnings and the callings of the people.’

In response to ongoing reports of violence, Senator Ted Cruz has introduced new legislation, and a group of U.S. lawmakers is urging the State Department to officially redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). The Nigerian government strongly denies allegations of religious persecution.

Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Lawmakers introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 and urged the Senate to redesignate Nigeria.

Their key rationale is to address ‘egregious violations of religious freedom’,; halt violence against Christians and other religious minorities by Islamist terrorist groups (Boko Haram, ISIS-WA, Fulani militants) and end the enforcement of blasphemy laws.

The Nigerian Government denies allegations of religious persecution and targeting Christians. Instead, Nigeria considers that violence originates from terrorism and banditry, not religious targeting; emphasises religious diversity in key appointments, and states that attacks also affect Muslims.

The Push for ‘Country of Particular Concern’ Designation

Alongside the legislative effort, there is a concurrent push for the U.S. State Department to officially label Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

Historical Context: The U.S. previously designated Nigeria as a CPC in December 2020 under Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. This designation was removed in 2021 by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Current Pressure: In March 2025, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended that Nigeria be reinstated on the CPC list. Following this, a group of Republican senators, including Ted Cruz, wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio to advocate for this redesignation, which would grant the President authority to impose specific penalties on Nigeria.

Potential Impact: A CPC designation would place Nigeria in a category with countries such as Eritrea, Iran, China, and North Korea, and could lead to targeted sanctions or other diplomatic measures.

The situation involves deeply conflicting narratives. To form a balanced view, you may consider:

The Scale of Violence: The statistics cited on violence against religious communities are highly contentious but remain central to the argument of U.S. lawmakers.

Complex Drivers of Conflict: The Nigerian government and some analysts caution against a solely religious framing, highlighting other factors such as resource competition, weak governance, and widespread criminality.

Geopolitical Context: This issue occurs amid other diplomatic tensions, such as recent U.S. restrictions on visa terms for Nigerians. However, U.S. officials state that the visa changes are based on technical and security benchmarks.

2. Failed presidential visit sparks political fireworks in Abia State

The cancelled visit of President Bola Tinubu to Abia State on October 3, 2025, has led to significant political fallout, creating a public dispute between the state government and opposition figures, and sparking various claims about the reasons behind the cancellation.

Different parties involved have provided conflicting explanations for the cancelled visit, which has intensified the political controversy.

The Abia State Government officially announced the visit, stating the state was preparing to welcome President Tinubu to commission several road projects in Aba.

The Presidency explained a last-minute schedule change due to the President’s attendance at a funeral in Plateau State. Some reports suggest APC stakeholders advised against the visit because Governor Otti has not joined the APC.

The Abia State Government stated that the Governor personally asked the President to delay the visit because he (Otti) needed to be in Abuja for his Attorney-General’s SAN inauguration.

The contending parties are the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Benjamin Kalu, and Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, the media aide to Governor Otti.

Kalu first accused the Abia State Government of insufficient gratitude and recognition for the president’s contribution to infrastructure renewal in Abia State through his policies of subsidy removal, which increased funds to states. He alleged that Abia State receives N38 billion monthly from the FAAC allocation.

Kalu then vowed that the APC would take over Abia State in 2027 from the Labour Party.

Ekeoma responded by discussing Abia’s FAAC receipts, the increased employment of civil servants, and an additional 5,000-plus teachers for public schools. He stated, ‘Abia’s 2025 Year-to-date FAAC allocation (8 months), including LGA, stands at 125 Billion Naira. Meanwhile, if we were to go by Kalu’s false claim of a monthly sum of N38 billion, it would have been N304 billion. Should a Deputy Speaker of a Federal Legislature be associated with such bare-faced lies?’

Project Legitimacy and Broader Criticisms

The commissioned projects, especially the Port Harcourt Road, have become a focal point of criticism from the opposition.

Cost Controversy: The Abia APC Renaissance Group alleged that the 5.8-kilometre Port Harcourt Road was reconstructed at a ‘staggering’ cost of N36.5 billion, a sum they claim is grossly overpriced compared to an earlier bid of N9 billion.

Broader Grievances: Critics have also pointed out other issues, including Governor Otti’s refusal to move to the official Government House, concerns over the treatment of Abia civil servants’ wages despite increased federal allocations, and allegations of mismanagement of funds intended for public school renovations.

The event has transitioned from a simple project commissioning into a significant political event, clearly outlining the battle lines for the upcoming 2027 elections in Abia State.

Governor Alex Otti

Deputy Speaker HOR Benjamin Kalu

3. More engagements over PENGASSAN versus Dangote Refinery

A week after its resolution, the PENGASSAN strike action against the Dangote Refinery continues to generate intense debates.

Analysts blame an increase in the price and shortage of domestic cooking gas on the action.

Influential citizens and groups also joined in condemning PENGASSAN for the action. Notably, among them is Senator Adams Oshiomhole, a renowned former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

Oshiomhole described the nationwide shutdown as an unnecessary escalation from a simple dispute with one company to a ‘secondary’ solidarity action. He argued that the action harmed innocent Nigerians and other businesses and risked the jobs of individuals who were not involved. He suggested that new, large-scale investors like Dangote Refinery need time to mature and become stable, ensuring good jobs, and that aggressive labour action too early could ‘cripple’ the business.

Beyond Senator Oshiomhole’s comments, the dispute between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery has drawn reactions from a wide range of stakeholders, including business associations, regional socio-political groups, and economic experts.

Business associations, such as the Nigerian Employers Consultative Group and the Centre for the Promotion of Enterprise, as well as economic analysts and regional groups like the Arewa Consultative Forum, joined in condemning the strike.

While the Arewa Forum viewed it as a security threat, analysts emphasised the negative impact on the economy.

Nigeria’s share of debt as a percentage of its gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to drop in 2025, the first time in more than a decade, helped by stronger growth and a more stable exchange, according to the World Bank.

‘The debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to decline from 49.2 percent in 2024 to 39.8 percent in 2025, the first decline in more than a decade; and the debt service to revenue dropped significantly to levels not seen in many years,’ the Washington-based lender said in its Nigeria Development Update report, ‘From Policy to People: Bringing the Reform Gains Home’, Wednesday.

‘Fiscal resilience, stronger growth, and exchange rate appreciation have helped ease debt pressures.’

Nigeria’s total public debt surged by N27.72 trillion to N149.39 trillion as at first quarter of 2025, largely due to a weak naira that’s continued to balloon the country’s external obligations.

But a stronger growth that rose to its highest in five years in the second quarter to 4.23 percent and a naira that’s been stable all through the year is expected to reduce debt burden.

The Adamawa State Government has released N300 million as a matching grant into the Child Nutrition Fund aimed at intensifying efforts to combating malnutrition across the State.

Speaking during the inauguration of the State Council on Nutrition under the Federal Nutrition 774 Initiative, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri represented by Kaletupwa Farauta his Deputy, noted that the Administration had consistently increased budgetary allocations to nutrition over the past six years.

Farauta described malnutrition as a ‘silent calamity’ that threatens the future of children in the State.

‘Malnutrition impairs growth, learning, and cognitive ability. It threatens our human capital and undermines development,’ she said.

She reaffirmed the State Government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable populations through innovative platforms and interventions. She also charged local Government chairmen, who serve as focal persons for the initiative, to replicate its success in their respective LGAs.

Earlier, Uju Vantasia, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health and Focal Person on Nutrition in the Office of the Vice President, described malnutrition as ‘Nigeria’s quietest but deadliest emergency.’

‘One in every three Nigerian children under five is stunted, and nearly half of all child deaths in the country are linked to malnutrition,’ she stated.

‘This, Your Excellency, is not just a health issue it is a national emergency hiding in plain sight. It knows no religion, ethnicity, or boundary. It is the language of inequality and poverty, and we must respond with urgency, strategy, and unity’, she added.

Vantasia urged both State and Federal Governments to see nutrition investment as critical to national development.

‘For every $1 invested in nutrition, we gain $23 in economic returns. That’s almost four times what we get from infrastructure investment,’ she added.

The Nutrition 774 Initiative, which aims to strengthen nutrition governance and intervention across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas, is a flagship project under the Office of the Vice President.

Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the 2025 Supplementary Appropriation Bill, of N779 billion naira presented by the Governor Monday Okpebholo for passage.

Governor Monday Okpebholo had earlier on Monday presented the Supplementary budget of N779 billion to the House for consideration and passage.

The passage was sequel to the consideration of the report submitted by Fada Egberemolen, Chairman House Committee on Appropriation.

Lawmakers, in separate submissions, said the Supplementary Bill would fastrack the development of all ongoing projects in the State as the dry season draws near .

On his part, Fada said the Supplementary Appropriation Bill would address all pressing financial needs and support all ongoing developmental efforts across the state.

The Supplementary Budget of ?799 billion represents an increase of N125 billion in the N675 billion earlier passed by the house in December 2024.

In the same vein, the House confirmed nine nominees for the Ecological Funding Management Commission and the Edo State Lottery Regulatory Commission while a nominee was confirmed as Commissioner-designate in the State Executive Council.

This followed the presentation of a report by Jonanthan Ibhamawu, chairman Committee on Rules, Business, and Government House for consideration.

According to the confirmation the nominees for the Edo State Lottery Regulatory Commission include, Frank Okiye as Chairman, Elvis Uwadia, Ndidi Akhimie, Habibat Yakubu as Members.

The confirmed nominees for the Ecological Funding and Management Commission are Blessing Aigbonmere as Executive Chairman, Felix Ivbade as Executive Director (Projects), Ivie Uwaifo as Executive Director (Administration), Khadijat Yusuf as Executive Director (Finance)

The House also confirmed Omoh Annabor, as Commissioner for the Edo State Executive Council.

When Luis Franceschi, assistant secretary general of the Commonwealth, took the stage at the BeDoCare 2025 conference in Nairobi, he began not with policy jargon or diplomatic niceties, but with a story about fried spiders and scorpions in Bangkok.

Africa, he said, has been ‘eating spiders and scorpions,’ trying to cleanse corruption with new laws instead of building justice.

‘No matter how much we fry a spider, it remains a spider,’ he said. ‘And no matter how much chilli you sprinkle on a scorpion, it remains a scorpion.’

Beneath the humour was a truth about the continent’s governance model, one that mirrors a system where leaders and institutions act rationally in their self-interest, even when it undermines the collective good.

‘The more laws we pass, the less justice we seem to have,’ Franceschi said. ‘Without justice as the foundation, even the strongest bridges and the best airports will eventually collapse, they are houses built on sand.’

A continent full of laws, empty of trust

The Venezuelan-born Kenyan citizen spoke with the candour of an insider who has seen too many well-written constitutions crumble under bad politics.

Across Africa, he said, citizens live under some of the world’s most elaborate legal systems. Yet, trust in government, parliaments, and courts is falling. Afrobarometer data shows that the share of Africans who prefer democracy has fallen from 73 percent in 2014 to 66 percent in 2024, while trust in courts and parliaments is plummeting.

Franceschi argued that the continent has become obsessed with legislating problems instead of fixing them. When corruption scandals break out, leaders rush to create new agencies or committees. When the public loses faith in elections, governments announce constitutional reviews.

‘We keep sealing holes in the wall,’ he said, ‘instead of fixing the foundation.’

It is a pattern ordinary citizens recognise. Every reform comes with fanfare, yet the results are painfully familiar. Jobs remain scarce, prices keep rising, and people still bribe to access services that should be free. The incentives for those in power never change.

The cost of corruption, counted in schools and hospitals

Franceschi broke down what corruption really costs Africa. Each year, the continent loses between $100 billion and $148 billion to financial crimes, money siphoned through trade misinvoicing, inflated contracts, and procurement fraud.

‘If we used that money well,’ he said, ‘Africa could build 200,000 new schools, 10,000 hospitals, 10,000 kilometres of paved roads, and still have billions left for refineries and innovation.’

By comparison, all the development aid Africa received last year was only US$36 billion, four times smaller than what corruption drains annually.

This, he suggested, shows that the continent is not poor but poorly governed. The wealth that should serve millions often ends up concentrated in the hands of a few, politicians, contractors, and cronies. The costs are spread thinly across society, in classrooms without chairs, hospitals without oxygen, and youth left idle without jobs.

When democracy becomes a game of appearances

Franceschi’s critique went further. He said the decline of trust is not only economic but political. ‘In at least five of our so-called African democracies, opposition leaders are in prison,’ he said. ‘We are invited to observe elections where there is only one horse in the race, no matter how different the colours look.’

His words echoed a familiar frustration: elections have become rituals rather than choices. Leaders speak of democracy while bending institutions to protect themselves. The public sees through it but feels powerless to change it.

Yet Franceschi did not dwell on despair. He cited examples of hope, Mauritius, Botswana, Ghana, Malawi, and Zambia, where leaders have lost elections peacefully.

In those places, he said, trust, not law, is the real backbone of democracy. ‘Trust cannot be legislated,’ he warned. ‘But without it, no law can save a country.’

When technology meets ethics

Midway through his speech, Franceschi introduced ‘Avatar Ministers.’ Developed by the Commonwealth, these digital assistants for health, law, and finance will help presidents make faster, evidence-based decisions.

The idea is simple, he said, it uses artificial intelligence to simulate expert advice, improving coordination in countries where bureaucracy is slow and expertise scarce.

Still, Franceschi’s point was not about machines replacing people. ‘Even an avatar cannot fix moral failure,’ he said. Technology can assist leadership, but it cannot substitute integrity.

In that sense, the avatars symbolise Africa’s double-edged modernity: governments chase innovation and digital solutions, while the ethical foundations of governance remain weak. The future, Franceschi implied, cannot be built on code alone.

The real infrastructure is character

Franceschi ended his address with a reminder that Africa’s greatest infrastructure project is not a highway or a port, but character.

Quoting Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, he said the three pillars that transformed Singapore, meritocracy, pragmatism, and honesty, can do the same for Africa if leaders embrace them.

‘Leadership requires both competence and character,’ he said. ‘It is not enough to be a skilled professional; you must also be a good human being.’

Africa’s biggest challenge, he argued, is not external interference or lack of resources but a moral crisis within.

‘We cooked the spiders and scorpions ourselves,’ he said. ‘The West may have helped, but we served the meal.’