The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Federal workers get January salary after FAAC releases N1.969tr

    Federal workers get January salary after FAAC releases N1.969tr

    A total of ₦1.969 trillion has  been released by  the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for sharing by the three tiers of government for January.

    Consequently,federal and state civil servants have started receiving their salary for the month.

    The Federal Government got  ₦653.5 billion as its own share while the 36 states received a total of ₦706.4 billion and  the 774 local governments  ₦513.2 billion.

    Oil-producing states were allocated ₦96 billion as their 13 percent share from oil revenue.

    A breakdown of the revenue showed that ₦846.5 billion came from Value Added Tax, ₦1.631 trillion from other statutory sources, and ₦38.1 billion from the Electronic Money Transfer Levy.

    Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, confirmed yesterday to The Nation that federal government workers have begun to receive their  salary through the banks.

    “Federal civil servants have started receiving their January salaries. I can also confirm that I received mine on Friday,” the minister said.

    She said if any state has not paid after the release  of the funds,that has nothing to do with the federal government.

    The Nation confirmed that several categories of federal workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have already received their salaries. Judiciary staff, workers at the Budget Office of the Federation, and some employees of the Federal Capital Territory administration were among those who confirmed receiving their January pay.

    Read Also: Dispute over N1.969tr FAAC funds delays January salaries nationwide

    Reports from the states yesterday also said many of them  including Oyo,Plateau,Niger,Kogi,Ondo,Bayelsa and Edo have fulfilled their financial obligations to their workers for the month.

    Edo State Finance Commissioner  Emmanuel Okoebor said the state does not rely on allocation from the federation account to pay salary.

    Okoebor said workers in the state government payroll have received their January salary.

    The Edo Finance Commissioner said preparations were made ahead for salary payment before revenue from the federation account is shared.

    But Kwara State civil servants are yet to be paid.

    Their salary is usually paid by the 26th of every month.

    An employee of a state owned agency said yesterday that their salary was not in as at yesterday.

    When contacted, Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman in the state Abdulraman Onikijipa confirmed the development.

    Comrade Onikijipa said that “maybe it is because of the budget. Maybe the salary will be paid next week.”

  • Mistakes Tinubu’s detractors madeover Turkey misstep —Fani-Kayode

    Mistakes Tinubu’s detractors madeover Turkey misstep —Fani-Kayode

    Ambassador-Designate and former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has condemned the decision of some Nigerians to rejoice over the misstep that caused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to stumble during his official visit to Turkey.

    In a two-page piece titled The Enemy Within (see Pages 9 & 10), the former Minister of Culture and Tourism described the celebration of the fleeting incident by some Nigerians as unfortunate, saying they forgot that anyone could slip or fall at any time.

    He said it was lost on the President’s detractors, “most of whom are proxies of a handful of political leaders in the opposition” who seek to discredit the government and destabilise the country, that an elected president is a living manifestation of the nation.

    He said: “It is to the glory of God and to the shame of our detractors and the enemy within that though our President slipped and fell in Turkey before the entire world, he rose again with strength and pride like the phoenix, and he went on to negotiate and sign numerous bilateral agreements, which will bring security, succor and prosperity to our nation with President Erdogan of Turkey.”

    Describing them as the enemy within, he accused the political leaders in question of working in cahoots with foreign powers who are part of those that are secretly encouraging and possibly facilitating the abduction of Christians in Nigeria because they make political gains from it.

    Read Also: Fani-Kayode decries false narratives on Sokoto bombings

    “They secretly crave it, yet openly condemn it because it suits their purpose, and it confirms the narrative that they want to establish.

    “For some, it proves that Christians are being targeted in Nigeria, and it plays into the Christian genocide and persecution narrative which the Americans have gladly cottoned on to, and for others, it feeds the erroneous suggestion that having a Christian candidate for the opposition or a Christian running mate for our President in 2027 are the answers to the problem and the only way of proving that Christians are safe and treated with humanity in our country.

    “Both views do not fully recognise the depth and complexity of the problem, and can therefore be fairly described as simplistic, myopic and misplaced, because the situation is much more complex than that.

    .See full text on Pages 9 & 10)

  • Navy Hospital threatens mass burial of unclaimed bodies

    Navy Hospital threatens mass burial of unclaimed bodies

    The Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital (NNRH), Ojo, Lagos has advised the public to urgently claim the bodies of deceased relatives deposited in its mortuary between August 2018 and December 2025.

    The hospital warned, in a notice, that all unclaimed bodies would be given a mass burial if they were not claimed within two weeks.

    Relatives of the deceased are required to come forward with proof of identification and documentation to facilitate the release of the bodies within the stipulated period.

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    The hospital management stated that failure to comply with the directive would leave it with no option but to liaise with the appropriate government authorities to carry out a mass burial of the unclaimed bodies, without further notice or recourse to families or next of kin.

    Hospitals across the country have lately been grappling with the challenge of congestion in their mortuaries occasioned by the failure of families to claim the bodies of their dead ones, often attributed to poverty, lack of identification, family disputes, and prolonged police investigations.

  • Be ambassadors of Christ, Abiodun tells pilgrims

    Be ambassadors of Christ, Abiodun tells pilgrims

    The Ogun State Government has issued strict guidelines to Christian pilgrims travelling to Israel, urging them to remain spiritually focused, disciplined, and law-abiding throughout their stay in the Holy Land.

    Governor Dapo Abiodun gave the charge yesterday during a farewell ceremony for the intending pilgrims at the Obas’ Complex, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. He was represented by the Chief of Staff, Dr Taiwo Oluwatoyin.

    The governor stressed that the pilgrimage is not a leisure trip but a sacred journey meant for spiritual renewal and deeper communion with God. He urged the pilgrims to conduct themselves with integrity and decorum, noting that they would be representing Ogun State and Nigeria on the international stage.

    According to him, unity, cooperation, and strict adherence to established rules are essential for the success of the pilgrimage.

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    “Pilgrims must see themselves as ambassadors of the state and the country. Your conduct abroad reflects on all of us, and unity among pilgrims is key to achieving the spiritual purpose of this journey,” Abiodun said.

    Also speaking, the Ogun Board Secretary, Mr. Oduyemi Ibiyemi, described the pilgrimage as a strictly spiritual exercise and warned against distractions capable of undermining its essence. He cautioned pilgrims against harbouring intentions of absconding, popularly referred to as the ‘Japa syndrome’.

    “You must be intentional to avoid distractions,” Ibiyemi said, advising pilgrims to dress modestly, eat moderately, remain with their assigned groups, obey the laws of the host country, follow tour guides’ instructions, and maintain good conduct throughout the journey.

    He added that prayer should remain the central focus of the pilgrimage. Ibiyemi also commended the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his continued support of pilgrimage programmes, describing government efforts as key to ensuring a well-structured and seamless exercise.

    The farewell programme also featured sensitisation sessions and briefings for operational staff, including clerics, media personnel, medical officers, and administrative teams, who were taken through their roles and responsibilities to ensure a smooth and hitch-free pilgrimage.

    A total of 172 pilgrims from Ogun State are expected to embark on the 10-day holy pilgrimage to Israel this year.

  • Wike inaugurates NDDC 9.4km road, 1,500-seater hall in Rivers community

    Wike inaugurates NDDC 9.4km road, 1,500-seater hall in Rivers community

    • They are Renewed Hope dividends of democracy, says Ogbuku

    The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, has inaugurated 9.4-kilometre Ogu Community Road Network and a 1,500-seater Royal Hall built by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Ogu, Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the two projects, Wike said they were further demonstrations of the Federal Government’s determination to develop the Niger Delta region.

    He said: “I am overwhelmed by the current level of development in Ogu, facilitated by the NDDC. I have seen the network of concrete roads with drainages and I am impressed.

    “The NDDC has impacted positively on the lives of the people of Ogu, and this is largely because of the working understanding between the NDDC Managing Director and the Executive Director, Finance and Administration.

    “This is the first time I am participating in the activities of the NDDC, and this is because I am satisfied with the performance of the current leadership of the Commission. They have demonstrated that they are working for the people.”

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    The Minister in a statement signed by the NDDC Director, Corporate Communications, Seledi Thompson-Wakama charged all government agencies to join hands to ensure the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

    In his speech, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, described the road and the town hall as dividends of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    He noted that the NDDC was spreading the good news of President Tinubu through tangible results.

    He described the FCT Minister as a “champion of development,” with footprints in Rivers State and the nation’s capital.

    Ogbuku restated the commission’s commitment to the mandate given to it by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to change the narrative in Nigeria’s oil-producing region.

    Ogbuku affirmed that the commission was engaging all stakeholders to ensure harmony and cooperation in developing the Niger Delta region.

    In his own remarks, the NDDC Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, noted that the people of Ogu were full of joy over the projects and reassured them that the present board of the Commission would not relent in spreading development to all communities.

    In his project brief, the NDDC Director of Project Monitoring and Supervision, Engr. Gbenga Omowale, explained that the Ogu Community Road Network (Phases 1 and 2) comprised a 9.450 km rigid pavement road with an average width of 7.3m.

    According to him, the road project covered a total of 12,600km of reinforced concrete line drains, slabs and ring culverts.

    Omowale said the road would provide an easy, accessible network connecting the villages in Ogu and its neighbouring communities, as well as improve socio-economic conditions in the communities along the alignment.

    On the Royal Hall, the Director explained that the 1,500-seater capacity town hall was furnished with state-of-the-art fittings, including firefighting equipment, at strategic positions, acoustic walls to ensure efficient sound filter and heat absorption, multiple air conditioners to ensure the comfort of the users and an efficient public sound system.

    In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Ogu Divisional Council of Chiefs, Chief Lawrence Egbelekpeke, expressed gratitude to the NDDC for executing various projects in the Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area. He commended the vision and leadership of the NDDC Board and Management, noting that the quality of the projects was exceptional.

  • Sanwo-Olu, others grace Lagos Country Club’s New Year party

    Sanwo-Olu, others grace Lagos Country Club’s New Year party

    Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other eminent personalities, on Friday, graced the Lagos Country Club’s 2026 New Year party.

    The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Gbenga Omotoso, said the state shares the can-do spirit of the club as he noted that in spite of the challenges faced in 2025, the state recorded huge successes in different areas that stood it out among others.

    His words: “When the president was speaking, he spoke about some of the challenges that the club had last year, some of the crises that the club faced. He was right. These are some of the things that Lagos State shares with this club. In 2025, there were so many challenges. On Christmas Eve, the 25-story Great Nigeria Insurance House building was on fire. And while people were celebrating Christmas, the Governor and I, as well as some other members of the Executive Council, were out there to see how our first responders were doing in curtailing that fire.”

    About three days after, he said, “there was a boat accident in which some people died. But then, the challenges of 2025 have grown in 2025. And in Lagos State, we always like to look at the bright side of life.

    “In 2025, we made so many admirable feats in Lagos State. 2025 was the year that we hosted the E1 Lagos GP | Africa’s First All-Electric Powerboat Race, the first ever to be hosted anywhere in the black world. And the organisers of the race said that it was the best they had ever seen.

    Read Also: Individuals must file tax returns by March 31, employers, January 31 – Oyedele

    In 2025, we hosted GITEx. GTEx is the most popular and the biggest exhibition of technology anywhere in the world. The organizers, too, have judged the one hosted by Lagos State as the best so far.

    Today, if you talk about Lagos State, people are talking about Detty December; they are talking about all the strides we have made together in tourism, in technology, and in so many other things. Despite all the challenges, we have been able to do all of these things. These are the things that we have in common with Lagos Country Club.

    “Our resilience, our courage, our endurance, our can-do spirit, the ability to bounce back when people feel that, oh, this crisis is going to consume them. I would like to say tonight that our members of this club continue to behave the way they have been behaving. They should continue to see the club as a symbol of unity, as a symbol of harmony, and as a symbol of the can-do spirit of our dear state, Lagos State.

    The only thing that I would do is to just pray that this club will continue to grow and grow.”

    Earlier in his welcome speech, the President of the club, Mr. Seyi Adewunmi, appreciated the guests and appealed to the governor to actively support the club.

     “Your Excellency, while we are a self-sustaining body of professionals, our ambitions for infrastructure renewal are vast. As our Patron and a leader who understands the power of institutions, we invite you to actively support these developmental strides.

    Your financial support would not only accelerate our facility upgrades, specifically the YES project. Still, it would also serve as a profound investment in a community that remains a critical pillar of support for your administration’s vision for a Greater Lagos.

    Also speaking,  the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Aare Kola Oyefeso, said: “As we celebrate the treasure of a new year, we are called to pause, to reflect, and to renew our covenant with one another. It is a very enduring family.In every enduring family, love is not merely spoken. It is demonstrated through understanding, tolerance, and a steadfast commitment to the collective good. These are the pillars upon which Lagos Country Club has been built, and these must remain the hallmarks of our future.”

  • Remain undeterred in enforcing ban on sachet alcohol, RDI urges NAFDAC

    Remain undeterred in enforcing ban on sachet alcohol, RDI urges NAFDAC

    The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) not to be intimidated by the alcohol and beverage industry’s blackmail tactics as it presses ahead with enforcing the ban on the production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET bottles, and glass bottles of 200ml or less.

    The enforcement exercise which began on 22 January 2026 is the culmination of more than two years of back and forth between NAFDAC and the alcohol industry over the implementation. The Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers, and Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria had signed an agreement with the Ministry of Health and NAFDAC in December 2018 to phase out production of alcohol in sachet and PET bottles less than 200 ml by January 31, 2024.

    At the expiration of the deadline a further extension was given to enable members adequately prepare for the ban.

    The Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, (FOBTOB), which claimed that the ban has disrupted operations of many of its members in different parts of the country has criticized the policy. There has also been pushback from the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), both of which also hinged their arguments on job losses.

    NAFDAC has however insisted that there is no going back on the policy, insisting that its decision was informed by health risks for children whose physiological systems are exposed to alcohol early and the damage it causes.

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    RDI Executive Director Philip Jakpor said: ”We must commend NAFDAC for this bold life-saving action. The enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol is long overdue and it is a step in the right direction. NAFDAC must remain undeterred by the usual rhetoric of the beverage and alcohol industry whose line of argument is usually about imaginary job losses because of their prioritization of profits over health.

    “We have said it time and again that alcohol harm is a major but under-addressed driver of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and mental health conditions.  Not only adults; Children are victims of this menace and science has proven it.”

    While dismissing the beverage and alcohol industry arguments, Jakpor pointed out that it is a known and well documented fact that the industry and their front groups deliberately stand in the way of any form of regulation.

    He cited the Movendi International 2025 Big Alcohol Exposed Report which documented 1,300 cases and 77 independent studies of the alcohol industry’s global system of interference that obstructs evidence-based alcohol policy despite strong public support.

    “The sustained effort by alcohol lobby in Nigeria to kill and bury the enforcement of the sachet alcohol ban through a potential job loss claim is a clear testament that reinforces a statement in the Big Alcohol Exposed Report that the alcohol industry operates through concrete policy arenas, institutional arrangements, and political moments, adapting to local contexts while following a deliberate and recognisable global strategy.

    While urging NAFDAC to stand firm in the face of the gathering storm, he said that the new policy is epochal and would be shining example to other African countries that are also entangled in the industry’s web of lies to sustain their grip on consumers including innocent children.

    “We use this medium to commend NAFDAC and its director-general, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye for placing the wellness of Nigerian citizens far and above profit motives.  Nigerians fully support this action. The false narrative and twisted rhetoric of the alcohol industry to continue business as usual will fail this time”, he insisted.

  • Nwifuru sacks all political appointees, monarchs, community leaders in Ebonyi community

    Nwifuru sacks all political appointees, monarchs, community leaders in Ebonyi community

    Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State on Saturday dissolved the entire political and traditional leadership structure of Amasiri Community, Afikpo Local Government Area.

    This followed a violent attack on Okporojo Village,  Oso Edda Community in Edda Local Government Area on Thursday, during which four persons were reportedly beheaded.

    The attack has been blamed on the people of Amasiri who the Okporojo people have been having a boundary dispute.

    Houses and properties worth millions were also destroyed in the area.

    The governor announced the sweeping sanctions on Saturday, during an on-the-spot assessment visit to Okporojo Village, where he addressed residents, community leaders, security agencies and government officials.

    Visibly saddened by the incident, Nwifuru described the attack as “most unfortunate” and said he never expected such a level of brutality to occur in the state.

    He assured the affected community that the state government would decisively deal with those responsible; stressing that the lives lost would not be in vain.

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    “I am very pained by this development. As a careful leader, when you are angry, you speak less. But I want to assure you that the government of Ebonyi State will show the perpetrators what it truly means to be a government,” the governor said.

    He urged residents to remain calm and embrace peace, warning that retaliatory violence would only worsen the situation.

    According to him, government actions would be firm but guided by the need to prevent further escalation of the crisis.

    Nwifuru revealed that the conflict had lingered for years despite several reconciliation efforts, including boundary agreements between the affected communities, lamenting that such agreements were not respected.

    He noted that his visit was a “strong signal” that the state would no longer tolerate lawlessness or disregard for the rule of law.

    Turning to the role of the Amasiri Community in the crisis, Nwifuru issued a stern warning, stating that violence would never lead to a meaningful resolution.

    He cautioned that the situation was fast approaching “a point of no return” if provocations continued.

    Consequently, the governor announced the immediate dissolution of the Amasiri Town Development Union and its executive members.

    He also ordered the withdrawal of the traditional ruler’s certificate and the removal of all village heads in the Amasiri autonomous community.

    He also ordered the sack of all political appointees from Amasiri Community, from members of management committees up to commissioners serving in his administration.

    “For the time being, all these structures are dissolved. We will do more, and we will show everyone why we are a government,” Nwifuru declared.

    Police arrest 10 suspects over murder of four

    Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested ten suspects in connection with the killing of four persons during a violent communal attack.

    According to the Police, four villagers—three men and one woman—lost their lives in the incident, while several mud houses were razed. Windows of a church building were also vandalised, and harvested paddy rice was destroyed during the violence.

    In response to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, CP Adaku Uche-Anya, fdc, on January 30, 2026, visited the affected community for an on-the-spot assessment of the damage.

    Upon receiving the report of the attack, she ordered the immediate deployment of tactical squads and personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) to the area to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

    The Police Command said the deployment has successfully restored calm and normalcy in the community.

    She disclosed that ten suspects had already been arrested in connection with the killings, adding that investigations were ongoing to apprehend other individuals involved.

    The Commissioner warned communities across the state against resorting to self-help or taking the law into their own hands, stressing that the Police would not tolerate acts of violence arising from communal or land disputes.

    She further assured residents that security presence in the area would be sustained until the situation is fully resolved.

  • Public schools surge from 117,000 to 300,000 in Abia

    Public schools surge from 117,000 to 300,000 in Abia

    The Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, says that public school enrolments in the state have skyrocketed from 117,000 last year to over 300,000 this January, tripling the number of school children in our public schools.

    Otti stated this in Umuahia, the state capital, at the banquet hall of Government House, Umuahia during the January edition of his monthly media interaction tagged “Governor Otti Speaks to Abians”

    Otti said that the positive results coming out from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education concerning the increase in the enrolment is the kind of results he wants.

    “That’s exactly the kind of result we expect. It’s good news. The recruitment of 4,000 additional teachers is on at the moment. We are paying a lot of attention to make sure that things move smoothly.

    “We will continue with our push to make education available and affordable to every Nigerian living here. Reconstruction projects continue in different schools.

    “The renovation, rebuilding, retrofitting of hostels, offices in the Abia State University, Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu, are still ongoing”

    Otti, who noted that a lot of projects are getting to finishing stages, disclosed that his administration would be commission the Omenuko Bridge and the Abam – Okobo – Amuvi – Arochukwu road.

     The State Chief Executive also announced that he would  soon flag-off the reconstruction of the Uratta road and Old Express road to achieve the complete recovery of Aba.

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    The Governor further informed Abians that the government would be flagging off the Pocket Layout Housing Estate construction and other housing estate projects including, Mbaisii, Mgbarakuma, and another one in Ubakala.

     Otti said that his government had signed a ground breaking partnership to digitally create and rate every hotel and hospitality facility in the State.

     “In the next few months, all the hotels in the State will be accessed using the Global Positioning System, and verified criteria that is used to classify hotels, guest houses, and lodges.

    “So, at the click of a button, you can see the hotels, get their rates, and then be ready to make your choice without necessarily visiting,” Otti stated.

     In the area of science and technology, the Governor disclosed that the State is launching a pilot bio-gas programme at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

    He informed the people that the whole idea is to turn waste into clean energy, to provide Abia with renewable energy from bio-gas.

     “This is a pilot programme, so, instead of the waste that we are disposing of, we can turn that with this technology into clean energy. We will be able to power a whole lot more places, particularly in the Umuahia ring fence,” he said.

     The Governor reported that the “Project Ekwueme Phase 1 project which is 200 primary healthcare centres have been completed and many of them functionalised, while those that have not been functioning will be functioning soon. He informed the people that plans are in place to start the 2nd phase of the project Ekwueme initiative.

     He added that, “We insist that before a primary health care centre is functionalized, it must have not just all the facilities and minimum standards that we have set up.

    ” We insist that before we open any primary healthcare centre, we must have healthcare professionals around those centres.

    “We hired over 600 health care professionals recently and we are deploying them. Some of them have now resumed. As they resume, we will continue to functionalize more.

    “We also have awarded the construction of a brand new general hospital in Ndoki, Ukwa East. Just recently, a contractor took over the site,” the governor further revealed.

    On the CKC Aba water project flagged off last year, Otti said that the project was almost completed and would be commissioned soon to supply water to parts of Aba, while the Ariaria area and other regional water schemes including that of Umuahia would soon be flagged-off.

    The Governor added that all efforts are geared towards making available pipe borne water to every household in the State as was the case in the past and announced that the Water project at the Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu is ninety percent completed and would be made to supply water in other parts of Arochukwu.

  • LASACO, NIIA, AASME, royal fathers call for strategic cultural diplomacy

    LASACO, NIIA, AASME, royal fathers call for strategic cultural diplomacy

    Nigeria must urgently reposition itself by deploying culture as a strategic national asset capable of driving economic growth, strengthening global reputation, and attracting international investment, Chief (Mrs.) Olateju Philips,Chairman of LASACO Assurance Plc, made the call in her keynote address, titled ‘Repositioning Nigeria through Strategic Cultural Engagement,’ at the Maiden Cultural Diplomacy Conference held in Lagos,

    The event brought together traditional rulers, policymakers, government functionaries, business leaders, cultural practitioners, development partners, and students from Nigerian universities.

    Describing cultural diplomacy as more than soft power, Philips said culture represents reputation capital that lowers investor risk, attracts tourism, and builds diplomatic trust.

    She stressed that Nigeria’s music, film, fashion, and art exports are not merely entertainment but credible ambassadors of national standards, capable of signalling structured opportunity to the global community.

    Adding a diplomatic perspective, she called for stronger institutions, investments in cultural infrastructure, protection of intellectual property rights, and “triple-helix collaboration” between government, private sector, and cultural stakeholders to unlock the full economic value of the creative sector.

    Ambassador Zainah Mohammed, Convener  said the event aims to strengthen Africa’s cultural presence in global discourse, train young cultural diplomats, and promote heritage preservation and creative economy development.

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    She disclosed that selected students would undergo mentorship to help them tell African stories and promote positive narratives across borders.

    Speaking President, Dr Ebiekure Jasper Eradiri, of All-African Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (AASME), represented  by Dr Anire Okogun urged African governments to place culture and SMEs at the heart of trade diplomacy.

    Dr Okogun said from a continental economic angle, African entrepreneurs are already practising cultural diplomacy through cross-border trade and innovation, but face challenges including complex regulations, weak digital infrastructure, and limited market intelligence.

    She called for harmonised customs systems and SME-friendly policies to support inclusive growth.

     Hajia Islamiat Oshodi, National President of the Association of Childhood Education Practitioners (ACEP), speaking on values and upbringing, she urged parents to instill positive cultural values in children from an early age, stressing that African culture promotes language, food, fashion, music, hospitality, and tourism.

    The conference was graced by the Royal Father of the Day, HRH King Sir Emperor J.D. Nkpe II, JP, Paramount Ruler of Eleme Kingdom, Rivers State, who emphasised the role of traditional institutions in preserving African values and serving as custodians of heritage in a rapidly globalising world.

    Also present was Alhaja Sinatu Aderoju Ojikutu, the first elected female Deputy Governor in Nigeria, who called for greater integration of culture into governance and national development strategies, noting that leadership without cultural consciousness risks losing national identity and social cohesion.

    Other prominent voices included Prof. Eghosa Oshahae, Director-General of NIIA, who spoke on bridging nations through cultural diplomacy; Ms Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, Founder of the Nigeria Network of NGOs; and Mrs Yekeene-Ajani, President of Women in Fashion Tech, who urged young people to embrace culture as a pathway to purpose, entrepreneurship, and global relevance.

    Mrs Helen Onwuau, Head of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), described culture as a strategic asset for nation-building and sustainable development, noting that cultural diplomacy strengthens people-to-people relations and enhances Nigeria’s credibility in international affairs.

    Highlighting the creative dimension of the event, Engr Oyama Osam  Ntun thrilled the audience with Africa Ekuum Bass with electrifying and mystic performance m

     Barrister Adeyinka Titilayo Adeyafa captivated the audience with spoken-word poetry celebrating Africa’s rich cultural heritage, while fashion parades and traditional performances showcased the diversity of African identity.

    Stakeholders at the conference concluded that cultural diplomacy, when aligned with economic strategy, offers Nigeria and Africa a human-centred, inclusive, and sustainable pathway to global influence and shared prosperity, with traditional institutions, government leadership, and the creative economy acting as key drivers of a reimagined global identity.