The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Catholic bishops to Nigerians: Evil will not prevail

    Catholic bishops to Nigerians: Evil will not prevail

    The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) on Friday reassured Nigerians that evil will not prevail.

    CBC urged Nigerians not to lose hope despite challenges.

    In a Christmas message, Lucius Ugorji, president of the CBCN and Archbishop of Owerri, said the birth of Jesus Christ remains a powerful reminder that God has not abandoned Nigeria, even amid deep national challenges.

    He added that the Christmas season offers reassurance that “evil does not have the final word.”

    “At Christmas, the Church proclaims the truth upon which all Christian hope rests: the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. God did not respond to the brokenness of the world with distance or indifference. He responded by drawing near,” he said.

    Read Also: Catholic Bishops to Fed, state govts: expose kidnappers, bring them to justice

    The cleric lamented the scale of suffering across the country, citing economic hardship, insecurity, displacement and persistent violence that have left many Nigerians “fearful, weary, and uncertain.”

    He said families had been torn apart, livelihoods destroyed and lives lost to lawlessness.

    Ugogji recalled the abduction of students and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, describing it as a painful reminder of the insecurity facing communities across the country.

    “We recall with deep pain the abduction of students and staff from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, and the anguish of families whose loved ones remain in captivity, alongside countless others across the country living under similar threats,” he said.

    The CBCN president stressed that Christmas should not be interpreted as a denial of suffering but as a declaration that suffering is not the end of the story.

    “Christian hope does not deny evil, but it refuses to concede that evil is final,” he said.

    “Even when answers are delayed and outcomes remain uncertain, hope assures us that no life is forgotten.”

    Ugorji said peace, unity and justice are achievable if Nigerians commit to truth, integrity and respect for human dignity, adding that corruption and violence, though deeply rooted, are not irreversible.

    “Our nation longs for a future where integrity overcomes corruption and violence gives way to security. What has been fractured can be rebuilt, and what has been wounded can be healed,” he said.

    The archbishop said despite challenges, there are still signs of hope across the country, pointing to Nigerians who continue to choose honesty, courage and service in their daily lives.

    “These daily acts of faithfulness remind us that the moral heart of our nation is still alive,” he said.

    Ugogji urged Nigerians to embrace the true meaning of Christmas and renew their commitment to justice, reconciliation and peace, expressing hope that the season would bring healing and renewed purpose to the country.

  • Report decries Chinese infiltration of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector

    Report decries Chinese infiltration of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector

    A report, ‘Silent Conquest: The Chinese Infiltration of Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Sector’, launched by rights group, Renevlyn Development Initiative, RDI, has  decried exploitation of mineral resources in the country by the Chinese without recourse to the people and the environment.

    The report established a link between illegal mining in some Nigerian communities to terrorism.

    Speaking at the launch, Philip Jakpor, the Executive Director of RDI said the report was influenced by their work in host communities across Nigeria where sold minerals are mined.

    “In the communities we have visited either in Zamfara or Nasarawa, Niger or even Cross River, we have observed a common pattern.

    “Our natural resources are being extracted and carted away without recourse to the people and environment, and the gaps in monitoring and regulation of the solid minerals sector makes us feel our government institutions are surrendering to foreign interests.

    “Disturbingly, we have seen some security agencies fighting each other to protect the illegal miners and the report also draws a nexus between illegal mining and terrorism currently ravaging the northern part of the country.

    “Our findings further show that the invasion of our country, which most Nigerians fear, has already happened and it is the Chinese that have invaded all the spaces where solid minerals like gold and transition minerals like lithium are found.

    “From Nasarawa to Zamfara, Niger, Kwara, Ogun and Abia to Akwa Ibom the story is the same. Not only has the sector been captured, the players are not ready to play by our rules,” Philip Jakpor said.

    The 29-page report was reviewed at the launch by Jimoh Babatunde, Vanguard Editorial Board member.

    The launch, moderated by Vanessa Adie, a media strategist, was attended by Sam Orovwuje, writer and social entrepreneur, and journalists from across traditional and digital media, and rights groups.

    The Centre for Transparency Advocacy; Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP; Pan African Vision for the Environment, PAVE; Environmental Defenders Network, EDEN; Peace and Development Projects, PEDEP, and Community Development Advocacy Foundation, CODAF, were also present.

    Read Also: On Loyalty: Five exemplary paradigms

    The report recommends criminalisation of illegal mining as economic sabotage, strengthening and modernising the legal framework, and tightening scrutiny of foreign operators.

    The RDI report also recommended that the EFCC be adequately funded and provided with the necessary technologies to carry out its enforcement functions; reform visa issuance for foreign mining workers, and hold polluters to account.

  • Opposition parties and fear of one-party state

    Opposition parties and fear of one-party state

    A spectral nightmare assails Nigeria’s opposition parties. They have become so befuddled by their own actions and inactions that they cannot explain where they are and where they want to go next. Their ordeal apparently arose from an inferiority complex, but they won’t admit it. They regularly conjure up the image of the polity lapsing into a one-party system. But they cannot justify their claim without indicting themselves. They depict the portrait of a ruling party that set out to ruin the opposition, but they forget that politics is like a football match. The result you get is determined by the tactics of the players and not the complaints about the rival team. The opposition parties have so far demonstrated tactlessness. They appear to prefer rancorous engagements to rational arrangements. They blame others for their immobile motions. They display an ego that emanates from the figment of hyperactive imagination; they brandish a yellow card – to the ruling party – out of sheer illusion of grandeur. Their persistent complaints have become their only weapon for blackmailing the ruling party.

    Instead of coming together to present a formidable front, opposition parties are already accusing the governing party of rigging the 2027 general election, which has not been conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    APC is expanding its coast because it is utilising the opportunities at its disposal very well. It is building on the antecedents of the legacy parties that fused in 2014 and succeeded in managing their internal cleavages. The wisdom that permitted APC chieftains to resolve to stay and survive together is grossly lacking in their rivals.

    In a heterogeneous country like Nigeria, having a one-party state can only be a product of daydreaming. But what cannot be ruled out is the dominance of one party that has done its homework accurately under a dynamic leader. Yet, this is not final. No particular party can dominate the polity forever.

    Nigeria can only officially become a one-party state if the Constitution prescribes it. That possibility is highly remote in a highly diversified nation-state where freedom of association and assembly can never be outlawed.

    Like the party in power, the opposition parties swim in an ideological vacuum, without clear, unambiguous, coherent beliefs and guiding principles. The sole motivation is floating a vehicle that can catapult their leading lights to power. The link between ideological doctrine and corresponding governance focus is lost.

    Read Also: Let’s focus on good governance, not one-party state, APC Women Leader urges Nigerians

    Since there is no unifying idea, individual opposition parties work at cross-purposes, oblivious of the fact that there is strength in unity and cohesion.

    Under the current presidential system, the 1999 Constitution (as amended) guarantees a multi-party system, which fundamentally satisfies the criteria of diversity, representation and inclusivity. The prevailing political order reflects the plural nature of Nigeria’s society and accommodates diverse ethnic, religious, and cultural groups, thereby offering platforms for varied interests.

    Currently, 18 political parties are on the register of the umpire. In September, 14 political associations that applied for registration as political parties were shortlisted for vetting.

    Five of the pre-existing 18 parties – the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) – are potentially strong. The fifth party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), only operates in a region, the Southeast, with Anambra State as its undisputed and permanent stronghold. It should be noted that the ADC qualifies to be among the Big Five because of the Atiku Abubakar factor, although the borrowed platform is surprisingly not waxing stronger.

    In the second category are three parties – Accord (A), often used and dumped, but now adopted for next year’s governorship poll by desperate Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke; the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which is increasingly being popularised by the wealthy lawyer and businessman, Adebayo Adewole; the Young Progressive Party (YPP), which was orphaned by the exit of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah; and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), which is always praying for adoption by aggrieved defectors from the major parties.

    Other platforms, largely considered as mushroom parties, are the Action Alliance (AA), African Action Congress (AAC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Boot Party (BP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). On poll days, their presidential candidates are like spectators.

    Both the ruling and opposition parties face similar challenges in varying degrees. The only difference is their diverse responses to the problems, their leadership, the place of the crisis resolution mechanism, and how they are playing their roles as political parties.

    While the ruling party is expected to monitor the government it has midwifed to ensure that it delivers on its cardinal campaign promises and never sleeps on guard, the role of the opposition is to offer constructive criticisms and provide robust checks and balances to the ruling party and the government. So far, the role of opposition in democracy has not been effectively felt.

    Also, both the ruling and opposition parties face the constraints of internal division and external pressures. But while the ruling party, being the controller of power and resources under a strong and dynamic leadership, can easily exert influence on its members, resist external pressures, insist on party supremacy, enforce discipline and whip erring members to line, members of the opposition parties, already left in the cold outside the power calculus, are easily uncontrollable, especially when their national leaderships are disputed or when they become the source of division, destabilisation and discord.

    Individually, the scattered opposition platforms are in disarray, aptly bogged down by infighting. Their inability to put their houses in order cannot be the fault of the ruling. The intra-party crisis has led to fragmentation, particularly in the main opposition party, the PDP, the LP and the NNPP, which persistently suffer from avoidable leadership tussles, factionalisation and futile reconciliation.

    The PDP spends more time in court than on the mobilisation field. Tragedy has hit the platform, decimating the fold with the exit of the Atiku camp. Even those left behind cannot close ranks. While a section wants to keep the platform as a proper opposition party, a section is actually pushing for a deal with the ruling party.

    Leadership is a bone of contention in the PDP. Only the court can interpret the lingo of its Babel. The party is polarised; neither the Wike camp or the Turaki group can accurately predict where the pendulum will swing. That is why key chieftains, including the governors, are jumping from what has become a sinking ship.

    Defections are not peculiar to the PDP. It cut across the opposition community. In their cross-carpeting desperation, the chieftains are not learning the tactics and strategies for survival, which are the legacies of the former Opposition Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is now the President. As a party leader, he made patriotic sacrifices, deployed resources, and served as a bridge builder, manager of crisis and symbol of the organisation.

    In those 16 years of the PDP hegemony, the party had 28 governors. As people defected from the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to the PDP, those in the opposition went to the drawing board to strategise. By dint of hard work and courageous moves, they aborted the prolonged and planned permanent dominance of the polity by the PDP, which boasted that it would rule Nigeria for the next 60 years.

    Unlike Asiwaju Tinubu and his compatriots, today’s opposition figures tend to prioritise personal advancement, financial incentives, and the “lure of political relevance” over ideological alliance, sacrifice and commitment to broad goals of salvaging the country.

    Also, the opposition cannot stir meaningful debates on government policies and programmes because they cannot really approach voters with alternatives that can elicit public confidence. Their indulgence in personality attacks and a campaign of calumny, instead of showcasing their programmes, accounts for their low popularity rating. Although Nigeria is going through challenging times, the opposition cannot boldly say that the government of the day is not working hard to reposition the critical sectors through its bold socio-economic reforms.

    Neither is the opposition’s recourse to wiping emotions capable of yielding sufficient political capital. While the PDP and other smaller parties have accused the ruling party of deploying the anti-graft agencies to intimidate, witch-hunt and oppress their members so that they can defect, it is evident that the allegation is unfounded. This is because the suspects, irrespective of political leanings, are being investigated and prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    Opposition in Nigeria is becoming a sort of window dressing. Their tactics are becoming crude, with key figures making wild appeals to ethnicity and religion. This is injurious to the cause of nation-building and harmony. After months of planning for a coalition movement, the structure has not arrived. The PDP, LP, NNPP and ADC cannot jettison their differences, despite knowing that they cannot individually compete for presidential power with the APC and triumph.

    Can Atiku make a sacrifice, like Tinubu did when he sacrificed his vice presidential ambition in 2015? Can he step down? Also, can Peter Obi dump his presidential bid and pair with Atiku as the running mate? Can there be a compromise?

    There is no chance for a one-party system in Nigeria. But there could be a dominant party at a given time. PDP is a brand and to bounce back, its leaders should return to the drawing board to re-strategise.

     The opposition has a lot to learn from the ruling party in coordinating its vision, tactics, crisis resolution, reconciliation, and leadership.

    Planning and winning an election does not start and end with ranting. It is a long race. It requires focus. It needs resources – men, money, and materials. It is like trying to build a factory. All hands must be on deck. Any political party that intends to be a long-time player in the Nigerian political system must understand the vastness and dynamics of the system. It must then deploy the right resources through the right people to get the right results, even though the results may not come immediately.

    Today’s opposition parties need to return to the classroom and learn from the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The Leader of Opposition in the First and Second Republics made his parties the darlings of the people. Despite the failure of the Action Group (AG) to occupy the federal seat in the First Republic, and the near success of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) to win the 1983 election, Awo’s parties etched the opposition leader’s name in the hearts of modern history.

    The achievements of the AG in the defunct Western Region have remained unparalleled. Also, the success of the UPN in the Southwest, and later Bendel and Kwara states, during the short-lived Second Republic showed how a strong opposition party should operate.

    Between 1999 and 2003, AD was in power in the six Southwest states. The governors -Tinubu (Lagos), Lam Adesina (Oyo), Olusegun Osoba (Ogun), Bisi Akande (Osun), Adebayo Adefarati (Ondo), and Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti) – did their best. When EFCC was on the trail of their counterparts in other regions, they walked freely on the streets. Also, they never defected. They were consistent. Unfortunately, the current opposition parties are not focused on rendering services to the people. Their leaders are after what to pocket and live like emperors at the expense of the masses. This is why the federal seat is their main target.

    None of the current opposition parties can point at any programme that matches, much less surpasses, any Federal Government’s programmes. The UPN’s Four Cardinal Programmes remain unique till today. Why can’t the opposition parties adopt at least two of them in their states?   

    It is not too late for the opposition parties to redirect their steps.

    The general election is about a year away. A serious opposition party that is not out for the filthy lucre would utilise the months ahead to enunciate several programmes to uplift the people. Making noise about the ruling party will not stir the electorate to vote against a government that has done far better than all the other governments in the last 26 years. The cacophony about an imminent one-party state cannot sway the electorate. Only a performing opposition can make the voters change their minds.  

  • Life in the opposition wilderness

    Life in the opposition wilderness

    These are not the best of times for opposition parties in Nigeria. On paper there are scores of them registered with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In reality, only a handful of them exist with realistic chance of success at the polls.

    Today, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) controls 28 governorships and seems to be casually targeting the 32 once held by the once-upon-a-time mighty Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Incidentally, this force of nature that at some point boasted it would govern the country for 60 years is now a shell of itself.

    Aside battling fragmentation which further enfeebles it in its bid to return to power anytime soon, opposition parties and their most prominent leaders are fighting for scraps looking for what to hurl at the ruling party. Bad news and statistics are good news for them. Unfortunately, they’ve not had much to work with in this area.

    After United States President, Donald Trump, labelled Nigeria ‘a disgraced country’, threatening to storm our shores with ‘guns blazing’, there was jubilation in certain quarters. Visions of US marines dropping on the roof at Aso Rock to effect regime change had some people in ecstasy. Alas, it was just a fleeting dream!

    Read Also: APC not behind crises ravaging opposition parties, says IPAC deputy chair

    What followed was swift engagement with Washington by the government. After the recent fact-finding visit by the American congressional delegation, every dream about bombs dropping from the sky disappeared in the unappealing diplomatic talk.

    Even the rash of suspicious mass abductions which looked like a reprise of the final days of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s hapless regime, have petered out as the Nigeria Army fanned out ‘guns-a-blazing’ across the land.

    It’s Christmas time and the trademark fuel queues are nowhere to be found. Food prices are crashing. The president just decisively dealt with necessary personnel changes that were potentially distracting for his government, and raw material for a thousand opposition press releases. Tinubu looks increasingly presidential, his would-be usurpers increasingly frustrated with feeding on scraps.   

  • From farm to freight: Ekiti’s agro-allied cargo advance

    From farm to freight: Ekiti’s agro-allied cargo advance

    It was a privilege to witness the commissioning of the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport last week. It was a momentous, uplifting occasion – truly an experience of being part of history in the making, for reasons that go far beyond the tarmac. Key for me is that Ekiti is finally ready to become a logistical hub for the region.

    What was witnessed on December 10, 2025, in Ekiti State, when Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO) inaugurated the N49.77 billion airport, was a reconfirmation. It reconfirmed that a deliberate economic programme is essential to achieving economic prosperity in the near term.

    For historical accuracy, former Governor Kayode Fayemi’s foresight in initiating the project must be commended, but in a country riddled with childlike rivalries and repudiations, Oyebanji has shown great maturity and tactical élan by seeing this initiative to fruition. This should be a sobering lesson for all.

    The cargo airport is not just another vanity of the type condemned by the French Agronomist and later politician, René Dumont, in his 1962 groundbreaking seminal work, False Start in Africa. The present Ekiti State Government has clearly heeded the advice (largely ignored by others) that the essence of development must be to achieve consistent, self-sustaining growth with development as opposed to ‘growth without development’.

    Ekiti Cargo Airport is not a prestige project. It is the core of a plan to achieve sustainability in Ekiti. Its essence is to have a transformative impact as the state develops its agro-industrial potential. This will create a synergy that will shift its agriculture from large subsistence into commercial farming. The airport will then act as the fulcrum of its transformation into a much-needed, increasingly export-oriented ecosystem. The verdict of history, when economic historians will dispassionately write it in 50 or so years’ time, will give deserved plaudits to the foresighted governor’s efforts.

    Read Also: Ekiti government presents N1b cheques to farmers

    As an economic zone, the new airport will give the credit risk analyst used by potential investors the data needed to advise that Ekiti deserves an investment opportunity. It will also have a significant influence on inducing inward-bound investments into the state for a host of agricultural and agro-processing ventures.

    In today’s economic world, logistics and data interwoven drive an economy. The new airport will combine both attributes into a critical mass for an advanced thrust for the Ekiti economy. The result will be reinvigorating. In the next five years, the anticipated inflow of investments will be massive, with the airport acting as a logistics base that will have a ripple effect across, at least, four states in the South West and, perhaps, as far as Edo and Delta States.

    Ekiti State Government itself might be cautiously playing down the cargo airport’s effects. To maximize this impact, the administration should establish an Ekiti State Commodities Exchange, with the long-term goal of transitioning it into a publicly quoted entity. A public-private partnership (PPP), similar to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) framework, provides the ideal blueprint for this transition.

    A commodities exchange will act as the feeder, guaranteeing continuous and growing output into the cargo airport, thereby maximizing its potential. The commodities exchange will modernize agriculture by providing the much-needed guaranteed minimum farm gate prices, which will in turn lead to higher productivity output and a bourgeoning revenue base for the state. Guaranteed output levels will, as we have seen, in particular, India and Malaysia, induce investments in agro-processing and distribution, which will continuously feed activity in the cargo airport. Done properly, out of obscurity, the Ekiti cargo airport could – and should – become a foremost logistics base for much of the South West.

    The Ekiti State Government must therefore exploit the synergy involved in this project. Adeptly handled, it will transform Federal allocations to the state into a reserve for the protection of future generations and strictly to develop the social and physical infrastructure. Within years, the state’s ever-increasing internally generated revenue (IGR), with the cargo airport acting as the engine room, will cater for all expenditures. It will still have a surplus to invest in the social and physical infrastructure, in conjunction with Federal allocations.

    Oyebanji, in our considered opinion, is doing what development economists have been advocating for over seventy years, that economic development is not about ego-serving, vanity projects but about investing in a project such as the Ekiti State cargo airport which will act as the engine room for the overall, self-sustaining development. With presidential approval for the extension of the railway line from Osogbo to Ado‑Ekiti and the reconstruction of the Itawure‑Aramoko‑Iyin‑Ado‑Ekiti Road, it is evident that Ekiti, under BAO’s leadership, has only glimpsed the horizon.

  • Oládèjo Afoláyan: A national treasure at 71

    Oládèjo Afoláyan: A national treasure at 71

    On December 15, 2025, Professor Michael Oládèjo Afoláyan celebrated his seventy-first year on the Planet Earth.

    No doubt about it, Afoláyan has led a life of profound meaning, a life defined by discipline and a steadfast commitment to the “straight and narrow”. His sterling contributions to linguistics and education are not merely academic milestones, they are essential blueprints for Nigeria’s national development.

    Born in the cocoa-growing community of Oke-Awo, Aba Irosi – fifteen miles east of Ile-Ife – Afoláyan remains deeply defined by his roots. The eighth of eleven children born to James Ogunremi and Abigail Adenihun Afoláyan, he was raised in the rich tradition of his father, a farmer and the village Head Hunter. This dual heritage of terrestrial labour and intellectual curiosity remains his bedrock.

    Afoláyan was educated early in life through indigenous Yoruba worldview at the feet of village elders before attending the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Yale University. In a remarkable feat of academic continuity, he eventually taught at every institution where he once studied.

    Read Also: NCAA certifies Kano, Port Harcourt International Airports

    After a distinguished forty-year career teaching Yoruba, Linguistics, and Anthropology, he retired as a Professor of Education and Linguistics from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. His administrative expertise further led him to the Illinois Board of Higher Education, where he served as Assistant Director overseeing 613 degree-awarding institutions.

    Currently, as an independent scholar and President of M & P Educational Consulting International, the erudite professor shuttles between Osogbo, Nigeria, and Springfield, Illinois, with his wife, Dr. Precious Afoláyan. His recent 350-page translation of Joseph Odumosu’s Iwe Iwosan (Book of Healing) reflects his enduring commitment to cultural preservation.

    More importantly, in this era of global educational tide turning back toward the mother tongue, events have shown that students absorb complex concepts more deeply when taught in their native language. Indeed, this makes Afoláyan’s expertise more relevant now than when he first entered the profession. In the age of Artificial Intelligence and Coding, the ability to teach Mathematics and STEM subjects through initial deductions in the mother tongue is no longer a luxury, it is a competitive necessity.

    Whereas it’s a strategy that has propelled countries like India and China to the forefront of global innovation, one of Nigeria’s historical missteps was failing to introduce Science and Technology in indigenous languages. So, while Afoláyan may be retired, his intellect must not be allowed to ‘tire’. Instead, the government should bestow upon him one of the highest national honours and enlist him as a Special Adviser, Consultant, or Roving Ambassador.

    Language is the decisive battleground of the next century. Nigeria must deploy its finest ‘generals,’ like Afoláyan, to lead the charge. This involves embedding mother-tongue instruction into the foundational first six years of schooling across all levels of government. Anything less would be a national tragedy.

    May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!

  • Tinubu: Prophetic in vision, delivering with foresight

    Tinubu: Prophetic in vision, delivering with foresight

    • Bamidele Atoyebi

    Looking with hindsight at the rate of delivery on campaign promises, what rightfully agitated the mind would be, Is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a prophet? The question may sound rhetorical, even dramatic, but it is one that keeps imposing itself on public discourse as events continue to align with the projections he boldly made while presenting the 2025 budget in 2024 with empirical accuracy.

    At the time, many Nigerians dismissed his projections as mere political optimism but now know better. He called the 2025 budget “An Ambitious But Necessary Budget To Secure Our Future” and projected that inflation which appeared untamable, and stood at about 34.6 per cent, would drop significantly to around 15 per cent. Today, inflation has reportedly declined further to about 14.5 per cent and still racing towards single digit. That was not  coincidence; it was policy meeting purpose, the result of one who prepared for power and just linking the dots with pinpoint accuracy.

    He also spoke with confidence about the exchange rate. When the naira was hovering around ₦1,700 to the dollar, with many predicting it would hit the N2000 mark, President Tinubu projected a drop to about ₦1,500. As at today, the naira is trading around ₦1,452 to the dollar and with the reforms, there is no gain saying that the Naira will further firm up. Again, what many saw as wishful thinking has become measurable progress with adroit policy implementation.

    Read Also: Tinubu felicitates Dr Awosan at 70

    This is why the President’s oft-quoted assurance (Elofokanbale) “go and be rest assured, go and be at peace”  resonates differently today. Tinubu did not just say he would fix the battered economy; he is fixing it, step by step, policy by policy. Leadership is not about noise; it is about results.  The results are beginning to speak loudly in different sectors where hopes had been lost.

    Even the NNPCL has stepped up under this administration. For the first time in over 36 years, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has broken long-standing barriers, recording historic highs in its upstream crude oil production and posting unprecedented financial returns with a never seen transparency. This turnaround has been driven by stronger accountability, improved operational efficiency, and a clear reform direction championed by the Tinubu government.

    President Tinubu has always spoken with the confidence of a man who understands both power and process. He once said he does not join certain caucuses because he knows them to be sneaky and untrustworthy, but that he would defeat them in every election. History records that he did exactly that, defeating Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso  despite their combined efforts. “We will vote”, “we will win” was not just a slogan; it became a political reality that has become an immutable benchmark.

    Every major statement Tinubu has made in public either became a trending topic, a political reality, or an economic direction. His words shape conversations; his policies shape outcomes. That is why some Nigerians, half-joking but half-serious, now ask: Does Tinubu like Nostradamus, see the future?

    From the standpoint of the BAT Ideological Group, this is not prophecy; it is preparation. It is the product of experience, courage, clear vision and an ideological belief in reform-driven governance. Tinubu understands that tough decisions today are the price for stability tomorrow. This is why we say Tinubu is not a politician he’s an institution,  he doesn’t just make a statement like others do without having plan and methodology on how he would achieve his aims and objectives.

    As we look ahead to 2026, optimism is no longer blind faith; it is grounded in evidence and reality of what have so far been achieved. The foundations are being laid, the numbers are tallying, and confidence is gradually building. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserves his accolades, not because he speaks boldly, but because the country is beginning to move in the direction he promised.

    History will decide the final verdict, but for now, one thing is clear: when leadership is guided by ideology and competence, vision can begin to look like foresight.

    When I was asked at one event I attended in Kwara what to expect from President Tinubu after 2027: I told them to expect anti-terrorists battalions,  improved salaries and welfare for our security men, upgraded weapon systems, more loans for farmers, farmers cooperative, rural infrastructure development, access to finance, more Renewed Hope homes for low income earners among others. When the reporter asked how I  knew these; I told him Bamidele understands by Renewed Hope manifestos and political impartation same way “Daniel understood by books and time”

    •Bamidele Atoyebi is the Convener of BAT Ideological Group,  publisher at Mining and Unfiltered reporting and National Coordinator for Accountability and Policy Monitoring

  • KWAM-1 and the limit of ambition

    KWAM-1 and the limit of ambition

    Wasiu Ayinde Adewale Omogbolahan Anifowose otherwise addressed by his musical name, KWAM-1, is again in the news-This time for his misplaced priority of aspiring to succeed the late highly revered Oba Sikiru Adekayode Adetona as the next Awujale of Ijebuland.

    His outright rejection by the royal family he’s claiming to have hailed from is causing social media buzz.

    Many right thinking people are now asking: What does KWAM-1 want, and why will he subject his self-touted royal ancestry to public ridicule with telling repercussions on himself and progeny? Could it be a case of pursuit of inordinate ambition or misplaced priority by KWAM-1 despite all his beyond-expectations musical success, amongst others?

    To put the records straight, KWAM-1, through his Fuji music genre, has become a legend in the musical turf of Nigeria, and in parts of the world where Nigerians, particularly his Yoruba tribe members inhabit. Apart from his musical talent that is obviously blessed by God, he also has the rare privilege of musical longevity at close to seventy years when ordinarily, his peers, by historical trajectory, are expected to have been overtaken by the younger folks. He luckily at his age still bestrides the musical turfs alongside highly talented and globally blessed younger Nigerian musical talents.

    KWAM-1 also has a rare privilege of playing music with political influence-thanks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who seems to have adopted him as his party’s perpetual official musician despite the musical prowess/acceptability of other top Fuji musicians in the country’s public space.

    Even the founder of Fuji music genre, Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, MFR who is also fondly admired by incumbent President Tinubu and actually predicted Tinubu becoming president of the country almost twenty-five years ago in Chicago, United States, would by now be green with envy in his tomb, seeing the heights that Wasiu had taken Fuji music to. But he will be sad that Wasiu Ayinde is bereft of the spirits of gratitude and self satisfaction.

    During Barrister’s lifetime, KWAM-1 adopted his name and made recorded albums as musical alter ego to Barrister. In his benefactor’s lifetime, he even pronounced himself Fuji king: Heavens did not fall. Yet, no one that sings like Wasiu Ayinde or bears his name in contemporary times dared make a recorded album. Those singing like him or adopting his name must live in his shadow for as long as he lives. The same ‘Fuji King’ is now, albeit futilely, moving away from that uninspiring Fuji leadership personality to aspire for the Awujale of Ijebuland stool.

    To this aspiration, his claimed Fusengbuwa/Jadiara royal ruling house, whose turn it is to produce the next king has publicly rejected him; ostensibly with a telling effect on his future generations’ royal ancestral claims to the exalted title in Ijebuland. Consequently, he has become a man blessed with unimaginable success but devoid of self gratitude and contentment.

    Read Also: KWAM 1’s second chance

    KWAM 1’s journey to royal public opprobrium, despite his admirable music exploits, began with his letter of intent dated December 3, 2025, and reportedly accompanied by a lineage data form that saw him erroneously stating that he’s from the Jadiara royal family, a unit of the Fusengbuwa ruling house.

    The Jadiara royal family, against public expectations, openly disowned him by rejecting his purported connection to their royal ancestry. If the Fuji star was a reflective figure, no further signal is required of him to affirm his futilely unpopular decision. His inordinate stand has also been poured presidential cold water through the tweet of the Fusengbuwa rejection letter by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, a proud Ijebu man, renowned journalist of repute and President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, sometimes last week.

    Onanuga, in his significant tweet, wrote: “Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu Ode, my home town, rejects Wasiu Anifowose a.k.a KWAM 1’s claim to the Awujale throne.”

    The Fusengbuwa ruling house letter tweeted by Onanuga was dated December 11, 2025. It was signed by royal sons, including Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi as chairman and Otunba Adedokun Ajidagba and Professor Fassy Yusuf as deputy and vice-chairman respectively. KWAM-1 was in unequivocal terms told that their findings rebutted the musician’s claim of belonging to the Jadiara royal house cum the umbrella Fusengbuwa lineage. Needless to state that the signature of authority on Wasiu Ayinde’s form by “a purported family unit head” called Adetayo Oduneye, who was also denied by the Jadiara royal house, is null and void for having no “locus standi” to certify any lineage documents.

    Otunba Akinola Odedina, chairman of Jadiara ruling house, nailed Wasiu Ayinde’s aspiration’s coffin when he reportedly said: “I can say categorically that Wasiu has no genealogical lineage to Jadiara Royal House…..” Another head of the Bubiade royal family, another unit under the Fusengbuwa ruling house, Alhaji O. B. Yusuf, also declared: “I want the general public to know that we don’t have any Anifowose from our family….”

    Yet, KWAM-1 is recalcitrantly insisting that his lineage to one Adeberu branch of the Funsengbuwa ruling house and the Anifowose family of the Fidipote ruling house are unassailable. But where’s this shameful insistence taking him to? Has Wasiu Ayinde considered the fact that the Olori-Omoba Akile Ijebu title he holds is even in jeopardy with the ruling houses he laid claim to publicly insisting in writing and utterances that he has no genealogical lineage in those houses?

    Through a July 5, 2023 letter signed by late Oba Sikiru Adetona, KWAM-1 was conferred with the Olori-Omoba Akile Ijebu title thereby making him head of all princes in Ijebuland. In the public domain, the popular insinuation in the public space is that but for Tinubu’s presidential influence, Wasiu Ayinde would not have clinched the coveted title. Not many have easily forgotten that he is an unbefitting Olori Omo Oba of Ijebuland title holder, who in an hooligan gesture attempted a public disgraceful conduct of stopping a moving aircraft that no one is proud of. Most Ijebus preferred their acclaimed sons with rigorous pedigree as Awujale and probably in retrospect, their revered head of princes’ title.

    Wasiu Ayinde should not push his luck too far. Otherwise, he might be ancestrally demystified to the detriment of his future generations. He conquered the Fuji music scene; conquered fame, been intimate with women of admirable pulchritude; by all standards, he’s also wealthy. Today, he is also the Maiyegun of Yorubaland. But despite being a celebrity musician with strong political voice and connections, he should not allow his inordinate pursuit of the Awujale title becloud his reasoning in an Ijebuland where moguls with intimidating credentials in different spheres of human endeavours hail from.

    Without education from an humble beginning; and relying on brutish struggles and raw music talent; and a family life devoid of emulation, Wasiu Ayinde succeeded the late Subomi Balogun, a prodigious banker and businessman in his lifetime as the prestigious Olori omo Oba Akile Ijebuland. As earlier stated, he also garnered unbelievable traditional titles from traditional rulers, amongst others.

    As Olori Omo Oba, he’s the head of all princes in Ijebuland, and here he is every day of the week, playing successful music before fans at occasions to eke a living. In Yorubaland, musicians, no matter how successful, are perceived as ‘alagbee’—Beggars. If, as Olori Omo Oba, Wasiu still sings at occasions which is ordinarily considered denigrating enough, could it be assumed that if by default he becomes the Awujale, he’ll still continue to sing at occasions for money? No Ijebu son/daughter or any Yoruba free born will be proud to have a musician as an Awujale. If they can’t surpass the standard of late Awujale Sikiru Adetona, nothing says they should go below it.

    • •Sanusi, former MD/CEO of Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency is currently managing partner at AMS RELIABLE SOLICITORS.
    • NB: This column will be on Xmas and New Year break to return on January 10, 2026. To all my readers across the globe: Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year 2026 in advance. Thanks.
  • Climate Change: Energy transition towards net zero emissions

    Climate Change: Energy transition towards net zero emissions

    As the global efforts toward clean energy rises, Nigeria the giant of Africa though not left out, stands at a critical crossroads. One where economic ambition and environmental responsibility must find common ground. With a growing population, expanding industries, and deep reliance on fossil fuels, the nation faces the delicate challenge of powering its future without compromising the planet’s sustainability. The question is not whether Nigeria will transition to cleaner energy, but how and how fast.

    The Challenge of Dual Realities: Nigeria remains Africa’s largest oil producer, and petroleum exports continue to be a backbone of the national economy. Yet, while oil revenues drive government income, they also expose the nation to price shocks and global energy market volatility. Meanwhile, millions of Nigerians still lack access to stable electricity. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), over 85 million Nigerians about 40% of the population live without electricity. For many, kerosene lamps and petrol/diesel generators remain the norm. This paradox vast energy wealth but limited access underscores the urgency of an inclusive energy transition.

    Steps toward a Cleaner Future: The Nigerian government has begun taking steps toward a greener energy pathway. The Energy Transition Plan (ETP) launched in 2022 aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2060, while expanding access to affordable energy for all Nigerians. Key pillars of the plan include investing in solar power, natural gas as a transition fuel, electric mobility, and clean cooking solutions for households. The ETP also emphasizes the creation of green jobs, targeting over 300,000 new opportunities in the renewable sector by 2030. The private sector is already playing a vital role. Solar mini-grid projects are lighting up rural communities in some states in the country. Also Companies like Arnergy, Lumos Nigeria and Schon Peesol Energy are helping various businesses and organisations power operations through solar systems, while startups such as Rensource are pioneering decentralized renewable energy models. These efforts show that clean energy is not only about protecting the climate, it’s about unlocking economic empowerment and social progress.

    The Role of Natural Gas: Given Nigeria’s rich gas reserves, the largest in Africa, natural gas is positioned as the “bridge fuel” between dirty and clean energy sources. Experts argue that gas can support industrial growth and electricity generation while reducing reliance on more polluting fuels like diesel and coal. However, the success of this strategy depends on investment in infrastructure; pipelines, distribution networks, and storage facilities alongside strict environmental safeguards to prevent methane leakage, a potent greenhouse gas.

    Policy, Partnerships, and People: Nigeria’s transition cannot succeed on government policy alone. It requires strong partnerships between Federal and State authorities, private investors, international donors, and most importantly, local communities. The federal government’s recent partnership with the African Development Bank and the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa aims to mobilize billions in renewable energy investments. Meanwhile, community led solar cooperatives are emerging as a grassroots solution to Nigeria’s chronic power deficit. Public education also plays a role. As renewable energy expands, citizens must understand its benefits not just for the environment, but for household budgets and national resilience. A shift in mindset, from dependence on generators to adoption of sustainable technologies, will define the success of this journey.

    Read Also: Climate Change: The rising tide of climate migration

    Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables will not be easy. It demands large-scale funding, technological capacity, and political will. Yet, the cost of inaction is far greater worsening pollution, rising fuel costs, and missed economic opportunities in a rapidly decarbonizing world.

    Nigeria’s energy future must balance ambition with realism. The path forward is not about abandoning oil overnight, but about diversifying energy sources, investing in innovation, and ensuring that no citizen is left behind. As the sun sets on the age of oil, a new dawn of clean energy is rising across Nigeria. The nation’s challenge and opportunity lies in ensuring that this light shines on every home, business, and village. If managed wisely, Nigeria’s energy transition could become a global model proving that growth and sustainability are not opposing goals, but twin engines driving the nation toward a brighter, greener tomorrow.

    • Adeleye, Ph.D; Ibadan. is a Researcher on Environmental Pollution and Control @ Joseph Ayo Babalola University
    • amadeleye@jabu.edu.ng 
    • +234 803 525 6450
  • Inside money spinning cultural festivals in Nigeria

    Inside money spinning cultural festivals in Nigeria

    • How Ojude Oba, Ofala, Durbar, others boost foreign exchange inflow, economy, peaceful co-existence
    • Festivals positively shaping Nigeria’s image, attracting international attention

    Nigeria is blessed with rich cultures and traditions that distinguish the country and stand it out in the committee of nations. But apart from a few festivals like Ojude Oba, Ofala, Osun Osogbo, Durbar, that have become very prominent over the years and helping to boost foreign exchange inflow, numerous others across the land, rich as they are, are starved of the support they need to rise above the pedestrian levels they operate. If conscious efforts are made to awaken and market a good number of these festivals globally as many other countries of the world do, Nigeria’s dependence on crude oil as a major source of revenue may soon become a thing of the past. INNOCENT DURU reports.

    OJUDE Oba Festival a vibrant, annual cultural celebration in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, is a celebration that many people within and outside the country look forward to.

    The festival features spectacular parades, traditional music, dance, and elaborate costumes, where age-grade groups (Regbe Regbe) and aristocratic families (Balogun) pay homage to the Awujale  with horse riding, music, and cultural displays, showcasing unity, heritage, and religious tolerance (Muslims, Christians, Traditionalists) in a grand display of pageantry and identity.

    Throughout the period of the celebration and a little after, economic activities in Ijebu Ode and environs experience unusual buzz.

    The festival, according to the coordinator, Chief Fassy Yusuf is valued over $30 million.

    While stating that there is no official documentation of how much the festival is worth, Chief Fassy said a rough estimate shows the event is a multimillion dollar investment.

    Giving a rough estimate, he said: “People buy tickets from different parts of the world to come home to attend Ojude Oba festival.  We have at least 5 to 10,000 of our people that come in.  And if, on the average, we have 7,500 people, and they pay, on the average, 1,500 dollars, times 7,500, you can calculate that.

    “Then check the amount they bring into spend. People coming from the U.S, the U.K or Canada or Europe or Middle East will bring at least $1,000. Some will bring up to $10,000, some will bring $20,000.

    Some will bring more because they are building their houses. A good hous in Nigeria now will cost about N40 million. By these and many others, Ojude Oba contributes to foreign exchange inflow.”

    With the benefit of hindsight, he said the festival has been on for over two centuries. “It’s unquantifiable in many ways.  Number one, the influx of people into Ijebu Ode is phenomenal. It is a festival that Ijebu sons and daughters, friends of Ijebu nation in other countries are aware that it takes place two days after the Eid Kabir. So, the date for the next two years or three years or five years is already known. They book their ticket very well in advance,

    “Those in Nigeria will make will make their trip to Ijebu Ode.   Many dignitaries including diplomats, cultural attaches, friends and brothers from Cuba, Brazil, the Caribbeans, the West African coast and others will find their ways to Ijebu Ode during the festival.” 

    As of November when our correspondent spoke with him, he said that preparations for the next festival in 2026 had already started. “We are in November now and we have about six months to the festival. So far many hotels in Ijebu Ode are already booked against next year. Talking about about the costumes, this is another dimension because we have the age group system called Regberegbe.  We have more than 108 groups in Ijebu Ode and in Ijebu in general. The various age groups take up their costumes, they patronize fabric manufacturers, fabric sellers, fashion designers, both male and female. The ornaments they wear too cost money.”

    A week before the festival, Chief Fassy said  economic activities in Ijebuland are at the highest peak up to two or three days after the  festival. “And if you happen to come or to have come, you will not be able to find your way. Because you will discover that you are walking on your feet and not on the ground.  So, it shows you the magnitude of the festival. Now we have sent out letters calling for a memoranda on what you can do to add fillip to add color to the festival because where we are using now which we had taught would be adequate for the next 20 to 40 years is becoming inadequate.

    “Last year for example, we had to decentralize.  We are mounting giant TV screens at some strategic place for the crowd to be managed properly. In spite of all these efforts, the crowd remains unimaginable.”

    Aside from the huge foreign exchange inflow, Chief Fassy emphasized that the festival has been a win-win for everybody in the land.

    “The transporters make business, the petrol stations, because of the number of vehicles coming to town, make good business.  They supply them extra. The caterers, brewery companies, supply Ijebu Ode with extra.  And that’s why you will see our partners, including GLO, FCMB, Nigerian Breweries, Guinness Bigi, banks and so many others jumping at the various offers you have for them. Ojude Oba Festival is a gift from Ijebu nation to the world. It is passes lessons of tolerance not minding whether you are a Christian, Muslim, or traditional believer. We see ourselves as one and the same.”

    Continuing, he said “we have paid hosts to Presidents, Vice Presidents, Senate, Presidents, Speakers of the House of Reps among others.  The festival has brought tremendous development because in terms of facilities, we have to keep on improving on the facilities so that it will continue to live up to its billing. More hotels are springing up. In terms of infrastructure, government has no option than to assist the city to fulfill its role and its obligations to visitors.  So, by and large, it is having a monumental contribution to the growth and development of the city. The federal government is doing a lot and that is why you see successive ministers of culture and tourism attending on a yearly basis.”

    Corroborating Chief Fassy’s remarks, a hotelier, James Eriunu said “Ojude Oba, a prominent cultural festival held annually in Ijebu Ode, significantly boosts the hospitality industry in the region. The event attracts thousands of visitors—including tourists, dignitaries, and descendants of the Ijebu people—from across Nigeria and abroad. This influx of visitors increases demand for hotels, restaurants, transportation, and other hospitality services. Local hotels and guesthouses often experience full occupancy during the festival period, while eateries and vendors benefit from increased patronage.”

     Additionally, he said “the festival encourages investment in infrastructure and promotes Ijebu Ode as a cultural and tourist destination, further stimulating the hospitality sector’s growth.”

    Read Also: Top 10 rated festivals in Nigeria

    Apart from the Ojude Oba, the Southwest boasts of other numerous festivals attracting local and international visitors to the nation.

    Among the festivals is the prominent Osun Oshogbo Festival which attracts visitors across the world to Nigeria.

    Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, recently spoke about the place of cultural festivals in changing the fortunes of the states and the country at large.

    He said that culture, when properly harnessed, has the potential to become a major source of foreign exchange for Nigeria, noting that many countries across the world have diversified their economies through culture and tourism.

    According to him, Nigeria stands to benefit immensely if its numerous cultural festivals are fully developed and promoted.

    Speaking at the 39th Akesan Day Celebration held at Christ Apostolic Church Grammar School, Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of the state, the governor  said: “Festivals like this bring thousands of visitors who patronize local businesses, artisans, entertainers, food vendors, hotels and of course, our transport operators.

    “When properly harnessed, cultural celebrations become platforms for tourism; like Lisabi Day, Oronna Day, Ojude Oba and many more. They create jobs and attract investments.

    “Communities across the world, from Brazil to Kenya, have used culture as a driver of economic expansion. In many countries, tourism contributes significantly to national GDP. Dubai is a clear example.

    “Nigeria can achieve the same by consistently developing and promoting its cultural identities. Festivals like this serve as catalysts, turning attention and positive visibility to our communities.”

    Southeast

    In the Southeastern part of the country abound different cultural festivals which attract visitors from different parts of the world. Top among the festivals observed in the region is the Ofala Festival, which is a cherished celebration of the Onitsha people. Checks showed that the history of the festival can be traced back to the 16th century.

    For generations, it has stood as a proud symbol of heritage, unity, and reverence for the throne. The name Ofala derives from two Igbo words — Ofo (authority) and Ala (land) — signifying the monarch’s divine connection to, and power over, the land and his people.

    At the heart of Ofala is the Obi (King), who observes a period of spiritual retreat known as Inye Ukwu na Nlo — a time of purification and communion with the ancestors for the wellbeing of his people. When the Obi re-emerges, he blesses his subjects and offers prayers for peace, prosperity, and protection.

    Over time, Ofala has evolved into a grand cultural spectacle, bursting with color, music, regal processions, and the timeless rhythm of Igbo pride. While some communities celebrate it annually, others observe it every two or three years. For many, it marks the significant milestones of an Obi’s reign-from coronation to his final “Last Ofala.”

    Today, Ofala stands as more than a festival, it is a living legacy, reflecting the enduring spirit of the Onitsha people, their royal traditions, and their deep bond with the throne. Each year, it continues to attract admirers from near and far, all drawn to the same vibrant heartbeat of culture, history, and pride.

    It is reported that nearly ₦1 billion circulates through festival-related activities, boosting local commerce.

    My Take on the Tourism Potentials of the South East: Hospitality Growth, Transport Impact, Diaspora Appeal, and Economic Expansion*

    Speaking on the economic benefits to the nation and Anambra State, Wilson Uche Ugwu – Vice President, South East, FTAN, said: “The southeast of Nigeria remains one of the country’s most culturally expressive regions, and its festivals continue to shape identity, unity, and economic opportunity. Among these cultural showcases, the Ofala Festival stands out—not only as a celebration of royalty and tradition but as a powerful catalyst for tourism-driven development. When examined closely, the festival reveals how culture can stimulate multiple sectors simultaneously while positioning the region as a competitive tourism destination.”

    The first visible impact, according to him is on the hospitality industry. |

    “As visitors arrive for the festival—ranging from cultural enthusiasts to researchers, media professionals, and families returning home—the demand for hotel accommodation, short-let apartments, restaurants, lounges, and event facilities increases sharply. Local hospitality providers often record higher occupancy rates and improved revenue streams during this period. With consistent branding and investment, festivals like Ofala can anchor tourism seasons that strengthen hospitality businesses year after year.

    “The transport sector experiences similar momentum. Increased movement of people translates to higher road travel, airline bookings, airport activity, and local transportation services. Taxi operators, shuttle providers, logistics services, and ride-hailing drivers all benefit from the surge in mobility. The festival also encourages governments and private operators to improve transport infrastructure, creating long-term benefits beyond the event itself.”

    He pointed out that the major economic dimension comes from the involvement of the Igbo diaspora.

    “For many abroad, the Ofala Festival serves as a cultural homecoming—a moment to reconnect with identity, heritage, and family roots. Their return injects foreign exchange into the local economy through spending on lodging, food, transportation, souvenirs, entertainment, and community support. When properly promoted, diaspora-driven tourism has the potential to become one of the strongest revenue streams for the region.”

    Beyond direct earnings, he noted that festivals like Ofala strengthen the creative economy, adding: “The pageantry, music, dance, crafts, fashion, and indigenous culinary expressions on display provide platforms for creative entrepreneurs and cultural practitioners. These experiences deepen the cultural brand of the South East and expand opportunities for local creators to reach wider audiences.

    “In essence, the Ofala Festival offers a blueprint for how culture can drive tourism and economic diversification. Its impact on the hospitality industry, transport sector, diaspora engagement, and foreign exchange earnings underscores the region’s vast but underutilized potential. With stronger investments, targeted promotion, and sustained policy support, the South East can transform its cultural assets into long-term economic engines—ensuring that festivals like Ofala continue to inspire pride while unlocking meaningful growth.”

    In the northern part of the country also exists myriads of cultural events ranging from the age long Dubar Festival, Argungu Fishing Festival among others.

    The Durbar Festival, an annual ceremony that is performed during Eid celebrations is said to worth tens of thousands of dollars.

    According to a post by Hausa Nigeria: “This event has taken place for hundreds of years. It begins with prayers, followed by a colourful parade of the Emir and his entourage on horses, accompanied by musicians, and ending at the Emir’s palace. Their clothes are designed with rich embroidery unique to Royals. Each horse may wear fabrics and ornaments worth tens of thousands of dollars. Durbar festivals are organised in almost all cities of northern Nigeria and has become a major tourist attraction. The first Durbar was held in 1911.

    “This ceremony is similar to the Trooping of Colors Military Parade that takes place in central London, United Kingdom, where the British and the Commonwealth ceremonial regiments parade for Queen Elizabeth II.

    Horses have great importance in this ceremony. The Hausa name for horse is “Doki” and their traditional role is most apparent during royal ceremonial events.

    Other activities that take place during this event are drum beating, trumpet blowing, fireworks and dance.”

    Culture ministry yet to respond to inquiry

    Spokesperson of Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy/Tourism, Nneka Anibeze did not answer calls to her mobile line to know what the ministry is doing to awaken and promote the plethora of rich festivals across the country.  She was also yet to respond to our inquiry sent via text message.

    Where to access funds to promote cultural festivals

    Unknown to many Nigerians including state actors, a number international organisations support and fund cultural festivals.

    Funding for African cultural projects comes from pan-African bodies like the African Culture Fund (ACF), international organizations like UNESCO (IFCD), foundations such as the Prince Claus Fund, and various open calls listed on platforms like fundsforNGOs. These opportunities support diverse projects from visual arts and heritage to digital culture, offering grants for creation, professionalization, and cultural exchange, with some calls like ACF, focusing on specific sectors like visual arts, while others like AMA fund travel for artists.

    UNESCO does this through its International Fund for Cultural Diversity.

    Through an open and competitive process, it said “we fund innovative projects with up to US$ 100,000, implemented over a 12–24-month period. The projects are evaluated based on their relevance, feasibility, financial management capacity and expected results.”

    It listed public authorities and institutions from eligible countries (developing countries, Parties to the 2005 Convention) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from eligible countries (developing countries, Parties to the 2005 Convention) as those eligible to apply for the funds.

    Countries earning huge revenue from festivals

    Findings revealed that India is one of the countries earning huge revenue from hosting cultural events.  India’s festival season generates an incredible ₹4.25 trillion ($50.57 billion) each year.  India’s festivals are not just cultural events; they are economic engines that show how tradition and business can work together. From the bright lights of Diwali to the colourful bursts of Holi, each celebration sets off a complex network of economic activity. This influence extends well beyond religious observance, impacting every part of India’s varied economy.

    China: The Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, has a huge impact on the country’s economy, affecting tourism, retail, manufacturing and also transportation.

    The Spring Festival is one of the most celebrated annual festivals, as hundreds of millions of Chinese citizens travel to see family members. Tourism revenue during the holiday reached almost 633 billion yuan in 2024, up dramatically from about 376 billion yuan a year earlier and surpassing the level of 514 billion yuan in 2019 before Covid.

    Japan: The total annual economic impact across all Japanese festivals is estimated at 530 billion yen. Local governments (prefectural and municipal) spend over half a trillion yen in total on culture-related measures annually, which includes supporting these festivals. Major individual festivals attract massive crowds. For example, the Awa Odori festival historically drew over 1.3 million tourists annually, and the Sapporo Snow Festival sees millions of visitors each year.While many festivals traditionally avoided focusing on profit, some have successfully introduced new revenue streams. The Aomori Nebuta Festival, for instance, achieved profitability and a surplus in 2024 by introducing premium seating options, including high-priced VIP seats. The broader tourism industry, which is heavily influenced by these cultural events, accounts for a much larger portion of the GDP, with total tourism consumption within Japan reaching 34.3 trillion yen ($237 billion) in a recent year.

    Germany: The traditional Oktoberfest in Munich is an economic powerhouse, generating an estimated €1.25 billion (around $1.3 billion USD) in revenue for the city annually through visitor spending on hotels, food, shopping, and transport.

    Thailand: The extended Maha Songkran World Water Festival in 2024 generated approximately 140 billion baht (around $3.8 billion USD) in tourism income, attracting millions of both foreign and domestic tourists.