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ýýThe Abia State leadership of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has endorsed the re-election bid of Governor Alex Otti ahead of the 2027 governorship election. The forum commended his administration for what it described as the remarkable transformation of the state.

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ýThe forum made its position known on Thursday, October 22, 2026, during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Caleb Ajagba, at Government House, Umuahia.

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ýBaba Lawal, state chairman, AYF, while speaking on behalf of the organisation, pledged the forum’s support for Governor Otti’s re-election, citing the administration’s achievements in infrastructure, security, healthcare, education and commerce.

ýLawal noted that the government’s policies and ongoing projects had renewed public confidence in governance and positioned Abia as an emerging model of development and inclusive leadership.

ýHe also reaffirmed the commitment of the Arewa community in the state to peaceful coexistence and sustained collaboration with the government to promote development, strengthen unity and preserve harmonious relations among residents of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds.

ýResponding, Ajagba described Abia as a reference point for democratic governance, attributing the state’s transformation under Governor Otti to the Governor’s commitment to inclusive leadership, merit-based appointments, security and a people-oriented administration.

ýThe Chief of Staff commended the forum for its support during the 2023 governorship election, noting that the administration’s performance had demonstrated that good governance was achievable when competent leaders were entrusted with public responsibility.

ýHe stressed that the state government remained committed to treating all residents fairly, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or state of origin.

ýAjagba cited the appointment of non-indigenes to key positions, including the Head of Service, ýBenson Ojeikere, from Edo State and a Permanent Secretary, Sunday Jackson of Rivers State, as well as the recruitment of qualified personnel based on merit as evidence of the administration’s commitment to inclusiveness and equal opportunity.

He further emphasised that peace and security were indispensable to sustainable development, urging residents to support efforts aimed at maintaining stability and fostering cooperation across communities.

ýWhile appreciating the forum for its pledge of support ahead of the 2027 election, the Chief of Staff urged its members to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and ensure that their political decision to re-elect Governor Alex Otti is reflected at the ballot box.

ýHe assured the delegation of the state government’s continued support for residents who uphold peace, truth and responsible citizenship.

ýKenneth Wiper, Special Assistant to the Governor on Religious Affairs, and other top government officials were present during the visit.

The emergence of airlines, the expansion of routes and renewed investment in airports across Nigeria deserve attention for their potential to benefit the wider economy.

A dependable flight connection can shape where a company holds a conference, whether an investor visits a project and how easily a producer reaches a buyer.

The opportunity is not just to move more passengers, but to turn improved access into sustained business activity, infrastructure investment and employment.

That is the context in which I believe we should assess recent developments. United Nigeria Airlines’ approach to the capital market, Air Peace’s international expansion, Ibom Air and Enugu Air, along with new airport projects and terminal improvements, all point to an evolving aviation market. They also raise a broader question: how are the places these airlines serve preparing to benefit from improved connections?

An airline’s financial performance matters because services cannot continue indefinitely without viable operators. But its revenue is only one part of the broader economic picture. A passenger arriving for a meeting may pay for accommodation, use local transport, dine in restaurants, and purchase professional services.

A successful conference generates demand for several businesses at once. These effects reach beyond the airline’s accounts and the airport’s operating income.

Reliable services can also influence decisions before a passenger travels. A company may be more willing to maintain a regional office if its managers can travel predictably. Conference organisers need confidence that delegates can arrive and return conveniently. Investors considering a factory, hotel or commercial development will assess access alongside power, security and market demand. Aviation can strengthen a location’s appeal, though it cannot overcome every weakness.

Akwa Ibom offers a useful Nigerian example. Ibom Air and Victor Attah International Airport are complemented by investment in hospitality, tourism and aviation support facilities.

The state has connected its aviation ambitions to projects such as the Arise Palm Resort, convention facilities and hotels. In February 2026, it signed an agreement to manage four government-owned hospitality properties, including the resort and Ibom Icon Hotel and Golf Resort.

The significance lies in how these assets work together. Flights make the destination accessible, while attractions and business events give passengers reasons to visit. Hotels accommodate visitors, and restaurants, retailers and transport operators compete for their spending. Maintenance facilities can create demand for technical skills and supporting services. Each element must be commercially viable, but together they offer a stronger development proposition than anyone could alone.

Abia’s airport project at Nsulu should be assessed against the needs of its productive economy, especially Aba. Improved access could make it easier for buyers, suppliers and technical partners to visit.

Northern connectivity proposals deserve the same careful scrutiny. Long distances and challenging journeys can limit trade and investment, while regular flights could improve access to markets and projects. Regional airline plans should therefore respond to clear travel needs and show that their operations are sustainable.

Investment in existing gateways is equally important. The reconstruction of Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal 1 gives Nigeria an opportunity to look beyond renovating a terminal building. The nearly 50-year-old terminal is being stripped to its structural frame and rebuilt with new passenger-processing, mechanical, electrical, security and commercial systems.

The approved design for a monorail linking the Lagos Red Line at Ikeja to the airport takes that thinking beyond the terminal complex. The proposed stops are Ikeja Station, Domestic Airport Station, Beesam Station, Toll Gate Station and MMIA Terminal 1. Design approval is an important step, but construction has not yet commenced, and no completion date has been announced. The proposal nevertheless recognises that rebuilding an airport without improving access for passengers and workers would leave an important part of the problem unresolved.

The real opportunity is to make these investments work together as one system. The rebuilt terminal should improve movement and the passenger experience within the airport, while the monorail and redesigned roads improve access. The precise location of the Domestic Airport Station and how it connects to the domestic terminals will be especially important.

A station within the airport district is not enough if passengers still have an inconvenient transfer to the terminal.

If properly integrated, the combined investment can do more than shorten journeys. Easier access can influence passenger spending, retail demand, advertising exposure, hospitality services and the attractiveness of surrounding commercial locations.

Therefore, consider commercial spaces, passenger services, and interchange facilities alongside the engineering works, not after the principal decisions have been made. The airport must be treated as an economic gateway connected to the city, rather than as a building standing apart from it.

Dubai South shows how public authorities can take this approach further. Al Maktoum International Airport is part of a broader development that brings together aviation, logistics, commercial premises and housing.

Dubai’s April 2024 approval of an AED128 billion airport expansion reinforced this long-term direction. Its planned capacity of 260 million passengers a year is a future ambition, not a measure of current activity.

What interests me more is the work around the airport. Road and utility infrastructure, links to Jebel Ali Port, free-zone arrangements, and dedicated business districts have given companies reasons to locate there. Dubai South has also partnered with private developers to provide logistics premises suited to occupiers.

The government did not assume the airport alone would drive development; it helped bring together a location where transport access, facilities, and commercial arrangements could work together for investors.

There are tangible results beyond drawings and announcements. Dubai South reported 653 new companies in 2025, bringing its total number of operational businesses to more than 4,200.

These results reflect years of development and Dubai’s broader trading strengths, so they should not be attributed solely to the latest airport expansion. Still, they demonstrate the value of planning for businesses alongside aviation infrastructure.

Nigeria can apply the lesson without matching Dubai’s scale. Opportunities around each airport should reflect the local economy. A tourism destination needs accommodation and attractions; an agricultural export proposition needs suitable produce, buyers, inspection arrangements and reliable cold storage. Aviation maintenance requires technical partners, skilled workers and sufficient demand. Facilities should meet credible needs, not follow a standard airport-city template copied from elsewhere.

This is where commercial property becomes essential. Warehouses, hotels, workshops, shops, and offices provide the space where the wider activity takes place. Their success depends on appropriate sites, clear land arrangements, utilities and access. Prospective occupiers should help shape development early. Their willingness to commit is more informative than a general assumption that proximity to an airport will make every property successful.

Local businesses also need a practical route into the opportunity. A growing visitor economy can buy food, transport, maintenance and other services from nearby communities. Connecting local suppliers with the standards and requirements of larger buyers gives them a better chance to grow alongside the investment.

For government, coordination is therefore part of the infrastructure investment itself. Airport development, rail and road access, land-use planning and business promotion must align behind a common direction. Private operators need clarity about what will be delivered, by whom and when. Development can then be phased around firm commitments, with financing matched to each asset’s useful life. This reduces the risk of expensive facilities sitting idle as they wait for customers who were never properly identified.

The growth of Nigerian airlines and investment in airports present an opportunity we should take seriously. Our next task is to connect that growth with the activities our states and cities want to attract. We should measure results not only by passenger numbers or terminal capacity, but also by viable services, businesses established, premises occupied, and jobs sustained. The broader return on aviation investment will depend on how deliberately we prepare the economy to benefit.

The Nigerian Navy has uncovered an estimated 132,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Allison community, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, in an operation aimed at disrupting illegal petroleum storage and crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.

The discovery was made on Thursday by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny under Operation Delta Sentinel, following actionable intelligence, according to a statement by Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, on Friday.

The operation led to the discovery of 10 dugout pits containing suspected stolen crude oil, which the Navy said could have served as a storage point within the illicit petroleum supply chain.

The Navy said the site and recovered petroleum products were handled in accordance with existing regulations.

According to Navy, the operation highlights the military’s continued efforts to identify concealed petroleum stockpiles and dismantle the infrastructure supporting crude oil theft and the unauthorised movement of petroleum products across the Niger Delta.

It noted that crude oil theft and illegal refining remain major concerns for Nigeria’s petroleum industry, with illicit activities posing risks to oil production, government revenue and the security of critical petroleum infrastructure.

The Navy said it would sustain efforts to locate and dismantle illegal refining facilities while disrupting the networks responsible for crude oil theft across the region.

It also stressed the importance of intelligence-led operations in identifying hidden storage facilities and preventing stolen petroleum products from moving further through illegal supply chains.

The Navy called on community leaders, residents, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to provide security agencies with timely information on suspected crude oil theft, illegal refining, suspicious petroleum storage and the unauthorised movement of petroleum products.

According to the statement, credible information from communities could enable security agencies to respond promptly and prevent illicit activities from expanding.

The Navy further emphasised that protecting Nigeria’s critical petroleum assets requires vigilance and active cooperation between security agencies and the communities in which oil-related activities take place.

It urged residents to remain alert and support lawful efforts to safeguard national resources.

Nigeria’s rapidly changing urban landscape is creating new opportunities for real estate developers. However, weak planning institutions, inefficient land administration, and inadequate infrastructure threaten to deepen the housing crisis and undermine city sustainability.

From Lagos to Abuja and other emerging urban centres, the expansion of residential estates, commercial developments, and mixed-use properties is reshaping how Nigerians live, work, and invest. Yet the pace of construction raises fundamental questions about whether urban development is keeping pace with the institutional capacity required to manage growing cities.

The challenge is no longer simply how many buildings can be constructed or how much capital can be attracted into the property market. The critical question is whether development is producing functional cities with affordable housing, reliable infrastructure, efficient transportation, and a decent quality of life.

These concerns featured prominently at the Housing For All Support Initiative’s two-day summit on City Evolution and the Changing Characteristics of the Modern Urban Environment, held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Conference Centre in Ikeja on October 21-22, 2026.

The event brought together built-environment professionals, academics, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to examine the future of Nigerian cities.

Discussions highlighted the need to place housing and sustainable urban development at the centre of economic planning, particularly as population growth, technological advancement, environmental pressures, and changing investment patterns transform the urban landscape.

Timothy Nubi, a Professor at the University of Lagos, in his remarks at the summit, emphasised the importance of understanding cities as evolving systems rather than physical spaces filled with buildings. His contribution drew attention to the historical significance of urban design and the need to rethink contemporary planning.

Echoing these concerns, fellow academic Prof. Kemiki Adebowale noted that physical expansion without corresponding policy frameworks leads to systemic urban failure. He stressed that institutional alignment across municipal authorities remains essential to preventing haphazard structural development.

The implications for the property market are significant. The commercial success of individual developments cannot be separated from the quality of the broader urban environment in which they operate.

According to a September 2025 report on Lagos by the African Cities Research Consortium, the city’s development challenges are closely linked to political and governance arrangements. The report identified significant inadequacies in transportation, water, sanitation, energy, and waste management. These weaknesses affect city operations and constrain wider economic transformation.

For property developers, such deficiencies translate into higher development costs, greater operational uncertainty, and increased pressure on surrounding infrastructure.

Where public transportation is unreliable, residents spend more time and money commuting. Where drainage and waste management systems are inadequate, neighbourhoods become vulnerable to flooding and environmental degradation. Where electricity and water supplies are inconsistent, developers and households face additional expenses to secure essential services.

These problems illustrate a central weakness in Nigeria’s urban model: private investment can deliver buildings, but it cannot independently provide public infrastructure and institutional coordination.

Increasing construction volume alone cannot resolve the housing crisis. In December 2025, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development disclosed that approximately 15,2-million housing units nationwide were structurally inadequate, underscoring the qualitative dimension of the deficit.

The distinction is critical for real estate investment. A building may provide shelter without meeting the requirements of adequate housing, particularly where occupants lack dependable water, electricity, sanitation, accessible roads, and social infrastructure.

The market also faces a severe affordability problem. As construction costs rise and access to long-term financing remains limited, developers have strong commercial incentives to target high-income buyers.

An Estate Intel report on the Lagos Real Estate Development Pipeline Report 2025/2026 estimated that more than 34 800 residential units were in the Lagos development pipeline. Yet the report identified a persistent supply gap in the middle-income and affordable housing segments despite heightened construction activity.

This imbalance creates a structural contradiction. A city can experience a construction boom while a substantial proportion of its population remains unable to afford suitable accommodation.

The consequence is a widening divide between formal developments serving higher-income households and lower-income residents pushed towards distant settlements, overcrowded accommodation, or unplanned areas.

Beyond affordability, the effectiveness of institutions responsible for land administration, physical planning, building approvals, and infrastructure delivery remains central to market stability.

A functioning land administration system provides clarity over ownership, reduces disputes, and helps investors assess transactional risks. Effective planning institutions determine where development should occur, the infrastructure required to support it, and the environmental constraints that must be respected.

Where these systems are weak, developers and buyers face uncertainty over land titles, approval processes, and the legality of existing structures.

The Federal Government acknowledged these challenges in March 2025 when the housing ministry announced plans to strengthen documentation through the National Land Registration, Documentation and Titling Programme.

At the time, the ministry stated that less than 10% of land in Nigeria was registered, citing inadequate ownership records, inefficient registration processes, and insufficient data for land valuation.

Weak land administration discourages formal investment, prolongs transactions, and exposes buyers to competing property claims. It also complicates public infrastructure provision because authorities struggle to establish clear ownership or coordinate land use.

When physical planning is poorly enforced, buildings emerge without consideration for road capacity, drainage, or environmental risks. Such developments impose costs on the wider population when authorities must subsequently address flooding, traffic congestion, and unsafe structures.

Institutional weakness carries a measurable economic cost. It reduces investor confidence, increases operational uncertainty, and makes the delivery of affordable housing more difficult.

The transformation of Nigerian cities requires a reconsideration of the relationship between private real estate investment and public responsibility.

Developers mobilise capital, acquire land, employ construction workers, and build properties. However, the broader urban environment depends on decisions across multiple public institutions responsible for roads, transportation, water, electricity, drainage, and environmental protection.

When public institutions operate without coordination, the result is disconnected development: new estates emerge without public transport, commercial districts expand without road capacity, and residential communities grow faster than sanitation networks.

A 2025 report by the African Cities Research Consortium identified the interaction between political arrangements and urban systems as a major factor shaping Lagos’s challenges. The analysis suggests that addressing infrastructure gaps requires attention to the governance structures that determine how services are delivered.

This reality makes governance reform as important as attracting new property capital.

State and local authorities require stronger planning capacity, reliable urban data, and transparent development approval systems. Land records must become accessible, while building standards and environmental regulations must be enforced consistently.

Governments must also coordinate infrastructure investment with residential and commercial expansion. This coordination ensures new developments connect to functioning transport networks and essential services rather than leaving residents to bear the cost of institutional failure.

The Housing For All Support Initiative summit provided an opportunity to move the discussion beyond construction volume towards long-term urban quality.

Its central theme, City Evolution and the Changing Characteristics of the Modern Urban Environment, underscores the need for collaboration among government, developers, built-environment professionals, investors, and communities.

Summit speakers emphasised that housing is more than a physical structure: it is fundamental to family stability, economic productivity, social inclusion, and human development. The organising committee called for practical recommendations that can translate into public policy, professional practice, and community initiatives.

For Nigeria, the task is to ensure urban expansion produces more than new skylines and rising property values.

A successful strategy must incorporate affordable housing, protect residents from environmental risks, improve access to essential services, and provide institutional certainty for responsible investment.

Housing policy, land administration, transport planning, and environmental management are interconnected; failure in one area undermines progress in the others.

As Nigerian cities expand, governance quality will determine whether real estate development drives inclusive economic growth or reinforces existing inequalities.

Ultimately, the measure of a successful city is not the number of buildings it contains, but whether residents can live safely, move efficiently, access economic opportunities, and afford decent homes. Without stronger institutions and accountable urban governance, Nigeria risks building larger cities without building better ones.

Shoprite Nigeria is planning to open standalone neighbourhood stores as part of efforts to revive its retail operations, moving away from its traditional reliance on large shopping malls. Adekunle Adebiyi, Investments Executive Director disclosed this during an interview on Nairametrics where he discussed the retailer’s financial challenges, restructuring efforts and recovery plans.

According to Adebiyi, three Shoprite stores have reopened following a temporary shutdown of operations to allow the company to negotiate with suppliers and address its financial obligations.

‘We took a very, very drastic decision to just shut everything down whilst we negotiated with suppliers. Now three stores are back open,’ he said.

He explained that the company intends to expand through smaller, standalone neighbourhood outlets rather than depending primarily on shopping malls, a strategy he described as consistent with its original business plan.

‘We’re going to be opening standalone neighbourhood stores, which was always the plan,’ Adebiyi said.

He noted that the strategy would allow Shoprite to concentrate on retail operations without committing substantial capital to property development. Adebiyi explained that the traditional supermarket model relies on leasing suitable commercial properties rather than acquiring buildings outright. He said retailers could negotiate long-term leases, sometimes extending to 10 years, and invest primarily in shelves, refrigeration equipment and other operational infrastructure.

According to him, this approach differs from the expectations of Nigerian banks, which typically favour businesses with substantial fixed assets that can serve as collateral. He disclosed that MBO Capital encountered difficulties securing bank financing during the acquisition of Shoprite Nigeria because lenders struggled to identify sufficient tangible assets against which to provide credit.

Despite Shoprite generating billions of naira in revenue, its business model did not fit conventional asset-backed lending requirements. Consequently, the investors turned to alternative funding arrangements to complete the acquisition. Adebiyi also identified foreign exchange volatility as a major factor behind Shoprite Nigeria’s financial difficulties.

He revealed that approximately 17 of the retailer’s 28 stores had dollar-denominated rental agreements at the time of the acquisition. The subsequent depreciation of the naira significantly increased rental obligations, placing additional pressure on operating costs. According to him, rent should ordinarily account for approximately 8% to 10% of a supermarket’s revenue. However, some Shoprite locations experienced substantially higher rental costs.

Beyond foreign exchange pressures, Adebiyi acknowledged operational shortcomings, including weaknesses in inventory management and the loss of access to the former parent company’s enterprise resource planning system. He said replacing the system required billions of naira in additional investment, diverting funds that could otherwise have supported the business.

The proposed neighbourhood-store expansion represents the next phase of that recovery strategy, although the company has not disclosed the number of planned outlets, their locations or an opening timeline. As previously reported by Nairametrics, Ketron Investment Limited, a consortium led by Persianas Investment Limited, completed the acquisition of Shoprite Nigeria in June 2021, following the South African retailer’s decision to exit direct ownership of the Nigerian business.

The transaction saw Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited take over operations under a franchise arrangement, with MBO Capital Management Limited among the advisers involved in the acquisition. In June 2024, Nairametrics reported that Shoprite announced the closure of its Wuse store at Novare Wuse Central Mall in Abuja, citing the prevailing business climate and the outlet’s financial performance.

The retailer’s challenges continued into 2025, with reports of temporary store closures and operational disruptions linked to working capital constraints, electricity costs and other expenses. However, in March 2026, Shoprite told Nairametrics that it was not exiting Nigeria but implementing a phased restructuring programme that began in August 2025 Bunmi Adeleye,Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited Chief Strategy Officer disclosed plans to reopen outlets at The Palms Shopping Mall and Circle Mall in Lagos while exploring smaller neighbourhood store formats to reduce rental, electricity and diesel expenses.

The Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG) has called for stronger protection of intellectual property rights to promote creativity, innovation and sustainable growth of Nigeria’s creative economy.

The call was made at a South-East zonal advocacy and sensitisation programme on copyright protection and the responsible use of intellectual works held on Thursday at Amadeo Recreation Centre, Enugu.

Speaking at the event, Uchenna Cyril Anioke, Chairman of the Programme Planning Committee, highlighted REPRONIG’s role in protecting authors and publishers against the unauthorised reproduction and secondary use of printed and digital materials.

He explained that the organisation collects royalties on behalf of authors and publishers and distributes the proceeds to rightful copyright owners, ensuring that creators receive financial benefits from their intellectual works.

Anioke urged participants to deepen their understanding of the Copyright Act 2022 and collaborate with REPRONIG to safeguard their intellectual property rights.

He also encouraged them to disseminate the knowledge acquired at the programme to their institutions, professional associations, departments and publishing houses to promote wider awareness of copyright protection.

He stressed the need for collective action to build an academic and creative environment where intellectual property is respected, protected and appropriately rewarded, particularly in the South-East and Nigeria at large.

Anioke commended the resource persons, including Macfoy Akachukwu, Sam Owokoniran, Sunny Udeze and Mary Oyesola Adewumi, a REPRONIG administrative officer, as well as members of the planning committee and participants who attended physically and virtually.

The programme attracted librarians, publishers, academics and representatives of corporate organisations from Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Anambra and Imo states.

Also speaking, Sunny Udeze of the Department of Mass Communication, Enugu State University, explained the role of academia in REPRONIG’s activities and called on academics and other stakeholders to register with the organisation.

Udeze emphasised the importance of institutional participation in promoting respect for copyright laws and ensuring that authors and researchers benefit from the use of their intellectual contributions.

In his remarks, Owokoniran, who described Udeze as intellectually sophisticated, said the programme was designed to sensitise stakeholders to opportunities provided by the government and REPRONIG for the protection and responsible use of intellectual property.

He commended the organisers for the programme, noting that REPRONIG had been conducting advocacy activities across the country.

‘We have been doing advocacy around the country, but I tell you, this is the largest media crew I’ve ever seen,’ he said.

Owokoniran explained that the programme sought to improve understanding of Nigerian copyright law and promote the responsible use of intellectual works, particularly within the South-East’s academic and professional communities.

He noted that copyright protection was relevant to universities, lecturers, researchers, students, authors, polytechnics, colleges of education and other knowledge-driven institutions across the country.

He condemned the practice of individuals reproducing and profiting from books and other intellectual works without the permission of their creators, describing such activities as unfair to those who invest their time, resources and expertise in producing original materials.

According to him, the objective of copyright protection was not to discourage education or restrict access to knowledge, but to establish a sustainable balance between access to information and fair compensation for intellectual work.

The programme was therefore aimed at encouraging stakeholders to understand their rights and responsibilities under Nigerian copyright law while fostering a culture that recognises and rewards creativity, research and innovation.

Valentine Onyeka Ogunaka, Nigerian storytelling diplomat, poet, and development communications professional, has introduced a new framework aimed at transforming how refugees and vulnerable communities are represented in development communications, while warning that today’s narratives could become tomorrow’s artificial intelligence biases.

Speaking at the Communications for a Better World Conference, which was held in New York and virtually, Ogunaka presented Framing for a Cause (FFAC), a framework developed through his work with Ecrafti and years of field documentation in displacement and migration contexts.

His presentation, ‘Development Narratives Diplomacy: The Framing for a Cause Framework for Dignifying Refugee Portfolios and the Future of Storytelling as AI Listens,’ argued that many humanitarian narratives continue to portray vulnerable populations primarily through crisis, dependency, and need, often overlooking their capabilities, aspirations, and contributions.

‘People should not have to trade their dignity to be seen,’ Ogunaka told participants. ‘Behind every refugee portfolio or displacement story is a person with identity, agency, skills, and dreams.’

Developed from field experience across Nigeria, FFAC is built around four pillars: identity, agency, contribution, and possibility. The framework encourages communicators to move beyond deficit-focused storytelling and present refugees and vulnerable communities as active participants in shaping their own futures.

A central theme of the presentation was the growing impact of artificial intelligence on global communications.

‘If our development narratives consistently portray vulnerable populations through deficit, crisis, and dependency, what happens when machines learn those narratives and reproduce them at scale?’ Ogunaka asked.

The question resonated with ongoing global conversations around AI ethics, representation, and responsible communication.

He currently serves as Communications Coordinator for the ARRIVES Project at the International Trade Centre (ITC) and has contributed to communications initiatives involving migration, displacement, and refugee communities, including work connected to UNHCR. He is also internationally recognised for using poetry and storytelling as tools for social change and development advocacy.

The New York presentation marks a significant milestone for Ecrafti, bringing a framework developed from African field realities into international discussions on development communications, human dignity, and the future of AI-informed storytelling.

As institutions increasingly seek ethical approaches to communication, Ogunaka believes the challenge is no longer simply telling stories about vulnerable populations, but ensuring those stories reflect the full humanity of the people at their centre.

‘How we frame people today may shape how societies and AI understand human dignity tomorrow,’ he concluded.

In furtherance of its water regeneration initiative, Nestlé Nigeria has commissioned eight smart boreholes and water treatment facilities to serve communities in the Agbara axis.

These facilities form part of a wider programme spanning the Agbara catchment in Ogun State and the Abaji catchment in the Federal Capital Territory.

The Water Regeneration Project is structured around four connected pillars: Water access, delivered through 24 climate-smart boreholes-eight in Agbara and 16 in Abaji; Water quality, supported by treatment plants, routine monitoring, the National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign and practical water safety guidance; Water conservation, advanced through rainwater harvesting systems; and Water governance, strengthened through community water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) committees and governance training.

These measures provide local oversight, clarify responsibilities for safe operation, preventive maintenance, fault reporting and water quality checks, and strengthen community ownership to protect the long-term value of the infrastructure.

For Nestlé Waters and Premium Beverages, the water regeneration project links measurable community impact with watershed resilience, responsible water management and business continuity.

It provides an integrated model in which infrastructure expands access, treatment safeguards quality, rainwater harvesting supports conservation, advocacy strengthens stewardship and local governance sustains performance.

Speaking at the commissioning, Business Executive Officer, Nestlé Waters and Premium Beverages, Nestlé Nigeria Plc., Olutayo Olatunji said: ‘The Agbara commissioning is an important milestone within our wider Water Regeneration Project and reflects Nestlé’s commitment to helping regenerate local water cycles.

By combining treated water infrastructure with local governance and performance monitoring, we are creating a model that improves access, strengthens watershed resilience and delivers enduring value. As we finalise the remaining scope, our focus remains on rigorous delivery and measurable outcomes that benefit communities and support business continuity.’

Also speaking on the project, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumun Utsev, said: ‘Commissioning a facility is only the beginning; ensuring that it continues to provide safe, reliable and sustainable service is the true measure of success. It is encouraging that this initiative places strong emphasis on governance and water stewardship through the development of a governance training manual for water regeneration and stewardship.’

In his address, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, added: ‘This project demonstrates what strategic public-private collaboration can achieve. By working with regulators, local authorities and host communities, Nestlé has supported an ecosystem for sustainable and equitable access to safe drinking water. The initiative advances Sustainable Development Goal 6 and aligns with Nigeria’s environmental priorities.’

Welcoming the project on behalf of the host community, His Royal Majesty, Oba Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade, Olute III, the Alagbara of Agbara Kingdom, said: ‘Today is a day of gratitude for the people of Agbara. Safe water touches every part of our lives: the health of our children, the dignity of our homes and the hopes of our families.

‘Today, it has come closer to all of us. But Agbara has received more than boreholes; we have received a responsibility.

‘As custodians of this land, I charge our chiefs, Baales, WASH committees and every resident to treat these facilities as our own, guard them against misuse and report faults promptly. What has been started here today, Agbara will sustain for our children and for generations yet unborn.’

Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Victoria Uwadoka, said: ‘Through the National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign and the National Water Quality Handbook developed with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and OPS-WASH, we are helping to take water safety knowledge beyond project sites into homes, schools, communities and institutions. Access alone is not enough. Water must be safe, it must be protected, and communities must have the knowledge to manage it responsibly.’

The commissioning of the projects in Agbara reflects the strength of collaboration among public authorities, regulators, traditional institutions, community leaders, WASH Committees, OPS-WASH and other technical partners.

As the Abaji sites are completed and handed over, Nestlé Nigeria will maintain its focus on disciplined delivery, transparent validation and strong local ownership to create lasting value for communities, strengthen watershed resilience and support the long-term sustainability of the business.

The 5th agribusiness international conference taking place in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, has secured the partnership and endorsement of key stakeholders, including UN agencies, intended to boost agriculture and food security.

With the theme, ‘Accelerating agribusiness transformation, unlocking value chains to achieve food security, nutrition sustainability, job creation, poverty alleviation and national prosperity,’ the conference is expected to draw participants from entrepreneurs, farmers, agricultural experts, top government officials including governors and federal ministers in charge of agriculture, trade and investments.

Howard Usen, chairman of the central planning committee, who made this known while briefing a representative of Governor Umo Eno, said preparations for the conference were progressing following the strategic meeting of the agribusiness unit, office of the governor, adding that the committee was working with key partners to deliver a well-coordinated and productive conference.

According to him, the meeting provided an opportunity for the committee to brief the director of agribusiness unit on the conference’s level of preparedness, programme planning, stakeholders engagement adding that the conference ‘will provide an opportunity to bring government officials, industry experts, farmers, investors and development partners together to ‘identify practical ways to strengthen agricultural value chains and expand agribusiness opportunities,’ he said.

‘All hands are on deck to ensure a successful conference, one that promotes meaningful dialogue, practical partnership and lasting value for Akwa Ibom State and the wider agribusiness community,’ Usen said.

In his remarks, Ofonmbuk Nelson, director of agribusiness, governor’s office, expressed delight over the conference, which he said was in line with the state government’s emphasis on agriculture as seen in the Arise Agenda, an economic blueprint of the state government.

The conference has received formal endorsements from the federal ministry of agriculture and food security and the federal ministry of trade and investment as both permanent secretaries have confirmed their participation.

Also, representatives of key United Nations agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), United Nations Industrial Organisation (UNIDO) are also expected at the conference. Usen explained that the conference was designed to provide a meeting point for policymakers, agribusiness experts, farmers, processors, financiers and technology providers to provide solutions on the challenges facing agriculture and agribusiness.

He said the key areas of discussions would include agricultural value chain development, food security and nutrition, processing and value addition, post-harvest loss reduction and access to finance.

Other areas he said would also include climate resilience, trade and market access, skills development and the participation of women and young people in agribusiness.

Usen also disclosed that exhibitors would have platforms to present their products, technologies, service and investment opportunities to network with conference participants while farmers, cooperatives and entrepreneurs would also be able to connect with relevant organisations and explore potential business and institutional partnerships.

JMC-Alliance Co-operative Society Limited recently raised expectations in the cooperative enterprise community as it stepped into the future of this enterprise with the launch of Digital Cooperative Enterprise and Grassroots Financial Empowerment.

The launch is a foray into a new era of cooperative enterprise and has positioned JMC-Alliance as a digital-first public cooperative, redefining how communities access shared resources, financial empowerment and collective growth.

By combining technology with grassroots engagement, the cooperative seeks to build a legacy of trust and innovation that resonates with Africa’s next generation of leaders.

At the launch, the cooperative emphasised three pillars: inclusive growth, financial inclusion and financial security. What makes JMC-Alliance unique is its dual approach.

On one hand, it is fully digital, designed to empower tech-savvy youth with micro-lending and wealth-building tools accessible through smartphones. On the other, it deliberately incorporates traditional, offline methods to ensure market traders and grassroots communities are not left behind.

Whether through mobile apps or physical registers at the market square, the cooperative promises accessibility for all.

Joseph Onwuka, JMC-Alliance chairman, explained that the model was inspired by the need to merge traditional cooperative structures with digital innovation.

‘We are adopting a more pragmatic and market-driven model. The objective is not to abandon the traditional approach but to combine it with digital innovation so we can build a more flexible, accessible and sustainable business for the future,’ he said.

Technology is central to the cooperative’s vision. Onwuka noted that digital platforms will enhance transparency, member participation and sustainability. Members will be able to monitor their accounts, access services and resolve issues remotely, ensuring continuous communication and responsiveness.

Mary Okafor, a director at the company, highlighted the cooperative’s role in connecting the diaspora to local opportunities. She said structured channels would allow Nigerians abroad to invest earnings back home, supporting market women and small business owners with responsible loans that enable sustainable growth.

‘Instead of simply giving people money, we can provide responsible loans that enable market women and other small business owners to stock their businesses, keep trading, increasing their turnover and ultimately growing their enterprises,’ she explained.

Looking ahead, Onwuka said the cooperative’s legacy would be measured by the people it empowers. ‘We are going further into the grassroots, reaching people directly and creating opportunities that can make a real difference in their lives.

‘Our vision is to become a major player in Nigeria’s financial sector. Very soon, you will see JMC -Alliance everywhere, across Nigeria,’ he assured.

The launch signals a new chapter in cooperative development, one where digital transformation meets grassroots empowerment. JMC-Alliance is positioning itself not just as a financial association but as a community vehicle designed to drive inclusive prosperity and build a trusted nationwide brand.

Its ambition is to create a cooperative that is both modern and deeply rooted in the realities of everyday Nigerians, ensuring that financial inclusion is not just a slogan but a lived experience for millions.