The Nation Newspaper

Category: Discourse

  • Nigeria’s BRICS partner status and initial gains

    Nigeria’s BRICS partner status and initial gains

    • By Tunde Rahman

    President Donald Trump never ceases to amaze with his haughty and self-aggrandising governance style, endless huffing and puffing, brinkmanship, and tendency to weaponise America’s often-stated exceptionalism and unilateralism.

    Last weekend, as member states of the fledgling association of the Global South and a growing economic bloc, otherwise called BRICS, were holding their 17th Summit in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, Trump threatened to impose a fresh tariff hike on them, labeling the group a gang-up against America.

    He warned that any country aligned with the policies of the BRICS alliance that diverge with US interests, would be hit with an extra 10% tariff. “Any country aligning itself with the anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an additional 10% tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,” Trump wrote on his Truth social media.

    Trump’s threat emerged after BRICS members criticised US tariff policies, proposed some reforms to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and discussed how major currencies are valued. After the two-day meeting in Rio de Janeiro, BRICS Finance Ministers issued a statement criticising tariffs as a threat to the global economy. They noted that they have brought “uncertainty into international economic and trade activities.”

    Trump has always been disdainful of the BRICS since its formation. In 2024, he threatened 100% tariffs on BRICS countries if they moved ahead with their currency to rival the US dollar. After the association’s recent meeting, he uttered the same threat, saying members of the group were out to de-legitimise the US dollar.

    The BRICS nations must demonstrate unity of purpose in responding to President Trump. More than ever before, they need to be focused, act in unison, and continue to harp on their collective interest. It’s just as expedient that BRICS members demonstrate they are driven by the need to get a fair deal for their countries within the international system, and that the association is by no means a gang-up against America.

    BRICS was designed to enhance the member nations’ economic interests and promote their international standing. This may be interpreted as a push against the US and Western Europe, but BRICS nations also have a responsibility to pursue and defend their interests.

    In this context, one key advantage of BRICS nations is their large population, which translates to a bigger market. BRICS member states account for more than half of the world’s population.

    Read Also: Buhari exemplified integrity, rule of law – Emami

    Last year, the list of BRICS member countries expanded beyond the original group of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. In January this year, Nigeria became BRICS’ ninth partner country, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.

    Because of this partner-country status, President Bola Tinubu attended the 17th Summit of BRICS last week at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva. The Nigerian leader arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, July 4. The next day, July 5, he went into a bilateral meeting accompanied by some of his ministers and governors with the Brazilian leader and some of his cabinet members.

    Along with the President, cabinet members, including Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture; Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Minister of Environment; and Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development; and Mohammed Mohammed, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), participated in the summit.

    State governors such as Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger) were also present at the bilateral talks.

    During the meeting, President Tinubu informed his Brazilian counterpart, Lula Da Silva, that all bottlenecks hindering the agricultural sector’s potential, including livestock production, would be removed to enhance food security and exports.

    Noting that bureaucracy and administrative hiccups contribute to delays in realising the agricultural sector’s well-acknowledged potential, the President disclosed that Nigeria was already undergoing reform to reposition the economy for global competitiveness, particularly in agriculture, where it already has a comparative advantage.

    Discussions at the meeting centred mainly on agriculture, including livestock development, environment, aviation, trade and investment, and the Green Initiative, which designs climate-positive migration solutions for addressing climate change risks, market challenges, and innovation opportunities.

    All the technicalities in actualising the agreements between Nigeria and Brazil, according to President Tinubu, will be streamlined and fast-tracked in areas of trade, aviation, energy transition, food and agricultural development, as well as mining and natural resources exploration.

    President Lula, on his part, promised that all agreements with Nigeria would be regularised, and MOUs would be updated and signed without delay during President Tinubu’s next visit to the country. He also pointed out that the lingering bureaucratic delays between the two countries would be removed for quick results.

    Brazil has recorded tremendous achievements in research and development. The country is easily regarded as one of the top global producers of food and other agricultural products. President Tinubu’s visit demonstrates Nigeria’s readiness to establish a strong partnership with Brazil to tap into this feat to stimulate growth in food production and animal husbandry.

    However, on Sunday, July 6, while addressing the BRICS summit, President Tinubu restated his position on global trade, international financing, climate change, and healthcare, as well as his belief in and support for BRICS. The President advocated a re-evaluation of the current global financial system and healthcare distribution, calling for more consideration, equity, and inclusion for the poor and emerging economies, particularly in Africa.

    According to President Tinubu, environmental degradation, climate crisis, and inequalities in the healthcare system deserve more attention, as they contribute to hindering growth and development in Third World countries.

    At the Summit, President Tinubu affirmed Nigeria’s support for the position of BRICS on the need to focus on collective, fair and equitable global development. “Nigeria, therefore, associates with what I have heard here today, and all that has been taking place in BRICS. The next issues are financial restructuring and re-evaluation of the global structure,” he told the BRICS member–states, pointing out that environmental deprivation, climate crisis, and global healthcare inequalities were shared concerns pertinent to Africa.

    “Africa has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most,” the President said, adding: “The African continent is creating the path through the African carbon market initiative and the Great Green Wall. We believe that eventually, COP-30 will strengthen our resolve to embrace a healthy global environment strategically.”

    Nigeria, the world’s sixth-most populous country and one of Africa’s major economies, undoubtedly shares convergent interests with other BRICS members.

    President Tinubu affirmed this much: “Nigeria strongly believes in South-South cooperation. We can, therefore, not be passive participants in global decision-making. So, issues such as financial restructuring, debt forgiveness, climate change, environmental ruin, and global healthcare must be resolved. We must be the architects of a future that addresses the specific needs and concerns of youths, who represent 70 per cent of our population in Nigeria. Therefore, Nigeria remains guided by our long-term vision, 2050, and nationally determined contribution.

    “We are taking bold steps to accelerate renewable energy adoption, mainstream climate action, promote nature-based solutions, strengthen urban resilience, champion South-South cooperation, align with global renewal framework and achieving universal health coverage for all.”

    It is instructive that President Tinubu has used every opportunity on the international scene to demand an equitable global trade, accessible financing, sustainable technology transfer, and climate justice. He canvassed the same issues while addressing the 78th United Nations’ General Assembly in New York in September 2023, at UN Climate Change Conference, otherwise called COP28 in Dubai, United Arabs Emirates, in January 2024 and at the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Kampala, Uganda, also in January 2024, where he was represented by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, among other international forums.

    Indeed, the gains of attending the recent BRICS Summit and President Tinubu’s friendship with President Da Silva are already manifesting in many respects. Firstly, on the heels of President Tinubu’s visit to Brazil last year, Brazil’s Vice President, Geraldo Alckmin, visited Nigeria this year to build on the agreements reached between Presidents Tinubu and Da Silva, particularly on the Green Initiative.

    Secondly, on the sidelines of the 17th BRICS summit, the Managing Director of Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, met with his counterpart from Brazil, where he was informed that President Lula had given a firm directive to Brazilian agricultural institutions and companies to invest heavily in Nigeria.

    Even back at home, the impact has been no less.

    On June 25, 2025, the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer represented by Dr. Dahiru Mohammed officially signed a strategic partnership agreement with Brazil’s renowned Campos Group to provide technical expertise for the Irrigate Nigeria programme.

    For some years now, agriculture has been among the highest contributors to Nigeria’s GDP. This collaboration is thus a big boost for Nigeria’s quest to strengthen the agricultural value chain and reduce import dependency through large-scale technology-enabled farming. Campos Group, known for its central role in Brazil’s agricultural revolution under the PRODECER Programme, brings over four decades of expertise in developing irrigated agricultural zones and transforming previously under-utilised lands into thriving agro-industrial hubs.

    There is much more. But to further reinforce these agreements and consolidate the initial gains, signing a Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Brazil has become imperative. This is an ample pathway to bilateral cooperation in various aviation areas, including maintenance, mutual flight operations, and environmental certification. We can glean from the foregoing what a full membership of BRICS would yield for Nigeria. Notwithstanding President Trump’s misguided threat, it will help the country reap the full benefits of associating with the group.

    • Rahman is Senior Assistant to President Tinubu on Media & Special Duties.
  • Akpabio: The foretold prophesy of Akwa Ibom and the centre

    Akpabio: The foretold prophesy of Akwa Ibom and the centre

    • By Jackson Udom

    Just like the late Martin Luther King Jr. in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, it could also be rightly said that the incumbent President of the Nigerian Senate and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, had a dream. In 2018, he declared that he dreamt of seeing Akwa Ibom State return to Nigeria’s centre of power in his lifetime. 

    At the time, not many people in the state shared his vision when he took steps to fulfill this dream. Akpabio, regarded as one of the few politicians who understand the signs of the times, first met with then-President Muhammadu Buhari in London to formally inform him of his decision to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). 

    Before the London visit, his planned defection to the APC remained mere speculation. Even some of his loyalists dismissed it as the handiwork of his political opponents. 

    However, on August 8, 2018, Akpabio publicly announced his move to the APC at a grand rally which attracted prominent APC figures. 

    In his speech at Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium, Akpabio told supporters that his decision was not a defection, rather a movement aimed at reconnecting the state to Nigeria’s political centre. He emphasized that since 1999, Akwa Ibom had played a role in national politics and should therefore not remain in opposition. 

    His departure from the PDP was met with fierce resistance from the state government at the time. He was vilified, demonized, and betrayed by some of the very people he had helped elevate politically. The height of this betrayal came with his controversial loss in the 2019 senatorial re-election bid, where state machinery was deployed against him and his supporters. 

    Despite this setback, Akpabio later emerged as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and a member of the Federal Executive Council under President Buhari. After serving for over two years and still driven by his vision to integrate Akwa Ibom into national politics, he resigned from the FEC to declare his presidential ambition. 

    Read Also: Akpabio hands over APC leadership in A’Ibom to Eno

    His campaign took him across all 36 states, garnering endorsements from critical stakeholders nationwide. True to his reputation as a politician who reads the signs of the times, Akpabio delivered a powerful speech at the APC presidential primary on June 7, 2022, where he withdrew from the race and endorsed Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. 

    His unexpected move influenced other aspirants to step down, earning him the title of “Game Changer.” Tinubu went on to win the presidency, while Akpabio was re-elected as the Senator for Akwa Ibom North-West. With Tinubu’s support and the backing of his colleagues, Akpabio emerged the President of the 10th Senate, on June 13th 2023.

    As Nigeria’s number three citizen, Akpabio sought to solidify his political base by ensuring Akwa Ibom was no longer in opposition. He found an ally in Governor Umo Eno, who embraced his vision and worked towards making it a reality. 

    Akpabio’s dream of linking Akwa Ibom to the centre was finally fulfilled on June 6, 2025, seven years after he first envisioned it, when Governor Eno officially joined the APC. This marked a historic shift in the state’s political dynamics. 

    Akpabio’s leadership, marked by inclusiveness and statesmanship, has helped reconcile past conflicts and set the stage for progress. His efforts have not only unified the state but also positioned it for greater development. 

    While formally handing over the APC structure in Akwa Ibom to Governor Eno, Akpabio remarked, “Akwa Ibom is one. This governor is a unifier, and we should shun divisive tendencies and support him to bring development to our dear state.”

    With Akpabio’s guidance and Governor Eno’s leadership, Akwa Ibom is now poised for a brighter future, united and aligned with the national government. 

    • Udom is the Special Assistant on Media to the President of the Senate.
  • Oborevwori: Leveraging education for sustainable development

    Oborevwori: Leveraging education for sustainable development

    By George Etakibuebu

    On July 4, 2025, Delta State Governor, Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, approved the extension of the retirement age for associate professors in state-owned universities from 65 to 70 years, a decision articulated by the State Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Nyerhovwo Tonukari, as a strategic and compassionate move to strengthen the academic workforce and align with federal policy. The policy which extends a 2012 federal law previously domesticated for Delta State University (DELSU) to all state universities, reflects the Oborevwori administration’s commitment to leveraging education for sustainable development.

    By retaining experienced academics, the state aims to enhance its academic quality, foster mentorship, and drive institutional growth, thus aligning seamlessly with the administration’s M.O.R.E Agenda—Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security.

    The Honourable Commissioner described the extension as a timely and strategic decision rooted in the need to bolster Delta State’s higher education system. That the policy aligns with a 2012 federal amendment that set the retirement age for academic staff in the professorial cadre at 70, while non-academic staff retire at 65 is highly commendable. For clarity, the policy which had been initially domesticated for only DELSU, Abraka, has now received the approval of Governor Oborevwori to extend to all other state-owned universities, including Southern Delta University (Ozoro), Dennis Osadebay University (Asaba), and University of Delta (Agbor). Prof. Tonukari further explained that retaining the senior academics leverages their experience to mentor younger lecturers, strengthen postgraduate programs, and enhance academic excellence.

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    This move, certainly, will address the evolving needs of Delta’s university system, which has seen significant expansion. The rationale is multifaceted. First, it addresses the shortage of experienced faculty in Delta’s rapidly growing tertiary institutions. With the establishment of new universities and campuses, such as the Southern Delta University campus in Orerokpe, the demand for qualified academics has surged. Therefore, retaining professors ensures a robust academic workforce capable of meeting accreditation requirements and sustaining quality education. 

    Second, it fosters mentorship, allowing seasoned academics to guide younger lecturers in research, teaching, and administrative roles, thereby building a sustainable academic ecosystem. Third, it aligns with an existing federal policy, thus ensuring consistency and positioning Delta as a leader in educational reform.

    An important thing to note is the fact that this decision was not just merely administrative but an essentially compassionate act which recognizes the value of senior academics’ contributions to the state’s development. What is more, this policy also responds to global trends in higher education, where experienced faculty are retained to maintain institutional stability and competitiveness. By keeping professors in service longer, Delta can tap into their expertise to drive research and innovation – a critical components of a knowledge-based economy. As correctly argued by the Honourable Commissioner, the extension must not be viewed from the myopic prism of limiting opportunities for younger academics, no. On the contrary, the state’s expansion of tertiary institutions has created over 600 academic and non-academic jobs since 2023, ensuring ample opportunities for new entrants.

    The question that engages the mind is what are the possible immediate advantages of this policy? The immediate benefits of this policy are significant and directly support the M.O.R.E Agenda’s pillars. Under Meaningful Development, through this policy, the state will experience enhanced academic quality and mentorship. No doubt, retaining professors ensures continuity in high-quality teaching and research. Senior academics bring decades of expertise, which is crucial for developing robust postgraduate programs. As Prof. Tonukari rightly noted, Delta’s universities are witnessing a rise in strong postgraduate programs, largely due to the contributions of experienced faculty. This strengthens institutions like DELSU, which aim to become globally competitive in research and teaching. By mentoring younger lecturers, professors help build a pipeline of skilled academics, ensuring long-term academic excellence. This aligns with the M.O.R.E agenda’s focus on Meaningful Development through education as a catalyst for socio-economic growth.

    In terms of Opportunities for All, the policy will directly ensure institutional growth and accreditation. The expansion of Delta’s tertiary institutions, including new campuses and programs, requires experienced faculty to meet National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation standards. Retaining professors ensures that institutions like Southern Delta University and Dennis Osadebay University can sustain their growth trajectories. And as revealed by the Honourable Commissioner that since 2023 over 600 staff have been employed across Delta’s universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, this is a reflection of the administration’s commitment to creating opportunities for all. The presence of senior academics, therefore, supports curriculum development and program accreditation, enhancing the state’s reputation as an educational hub.

    Under the Realistic Reforms pillar, the fact that it aligns with a Federal Government Policy makes it a policy that is well thought out and realistic. By extending the retirement age, Delta aligns with federal standards, streamlining its higher education policies. This reform ensures that state universities remain competitive with federal institutions, attracting top talents and fostering collaboration. Tonukari emphasized that this move is a realistic reform, building on the 2012 federal law and adapting it to Delta’s unique needs. It also demonstrates Oborevwori’s commitment to governance that is responsive to both state and national priorities.

    Stability in academic leadership is sure to engender Enhanced Peace and Security which is the last crucial pillar of the M.O.R.E Agenda of the Governor Oborevwori administration.  Experienced professors provide stability in university governance, reducing disruptions caused by faculty shortages. This stability supports a conducive learning environment, which indirectly contributes to peace and security by ensuring that educational institutions function smoothly. The M.O.R.E Agenda prioritizes enhanced peace and security, and a stable academic system supports this by fostering an educated and productively engaged populace.

    There is no gain saying the fact that the policy has long-term benefits as it positions Delta State as a leader in educational and economic development, aligning with the M.O.R.E Agenda’s vision for sustainable growth. By retaining professors, Delta is investing in a sustainable academic ecosystem. Mentorship programs will produce a new generation of academics equipped with advanced research and teaching skills. This is particularly crucial for fields like science, technology, and medicine, where Delta’s universities, such as the Delta State University of Science and Technology, are expanding. The policy ensures that knowledge transfer continues, positioning Delta as a hub for innovation and research.

    Retaining experienced faculty supports the development of skilled graduates who can contribute to Delta’s economy in sectors like agriculture, technology, and healthcare. For instance, the new Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences at the University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, will benefit from senior academics who can mentor students and drive research. This aligns with Oborevwori’s vision of leveraging education to create jobs and boost the state’s GDP.

    One thing that we not not lose focus of is tha fact that Delta’s universities aim to achieve global repute in research, teaching, and entrepreneurship. Retaining professors ensures that institutions can compete internationally by producing high-impact research and fostering innovation. Tonukari stated this much when he said during his interaction with newsmen that senior academics are key to building postgraduate programs that meet global standards, positioning Delta’s graduates to excel in a competitive global economy. This supports the M.O.R.E Agenda’s focus on realistic reforms that produce long-lasting results. The policy complements Oborevwori’s youth empowerment initiatives, such as the recruitment of 3,000 teaching and non-teaching staff and bursary payments to over 60,000 students. By ensuring that experienced professors mentor younger academics, the policy creates a ripple effect, empowering youth through quality education and job opportunities. A robust education system contributes to social cohesion by providing equitable access to opportunities. The policy supports Delta’s multi-ethnic society by ensuring that universities serve all communities, aligning with Oborevwori’s commitment to unity and fairness. This will foster peace and security, a key component of the M.O.R.E Agenda, by reducing disparities and promoting inclusive growth.

    • Etakibuebu, a public affairs analyst, writes from Lagos.

  • Afe Babalola University: A flourishing empire of note

    Afe Babalola University: A flourishing empire of note

    By Tunde Olofintila

    The Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management, Ojo Cantonment, Lagos, Brigadier-General Jerry IB Manjang, has described the increasingly famous Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, as a successful and flourishing empire.

    Manjang who led a 51-man team of Officers and Students of the College to ABUAD yesterday in continuation of the College’s “environmental research visit to some selected states of the federation” predicated his position on what the university’s Founder & Chancellor, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has made of the university in quality and functional education, healthcare delivery, human capacity development, employment and food security  within the university’s 15 years of its existence.

    The One-Star General said that with what he saw during the tour of the university,  Babalola has impacted many people in different callings in Nigeria and humanity in general.

    His words: “After touring the serene campus, the ABUAD Enterprise Farms, the  Independent Power Plant, the Industrial Park and the ultra-modern 400-bed Multi- System Hospital which has been endorsed by leading Healthcare Stakeholders as “the most well-equipped Hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa”, we saw the excellent work you have been doing to ensure human capital development and food security”.

    He added: “With the way the students we met on our way related with us, I have seen the good works the university has been doing in the lives of our youths.

    “For me, I have watched you from afar. But today, I am sitting next to you. Your life has imparted many in Nigeria and humanity in general. You are here to receive us personally. I Never expected that. I am highly delighted by your uncommon humility”.

    Commenting on Babalola’s contributions to Human Capital Development, he said: “In the area of Human Capital Development, I saw what you are doing to empower and liberate Nigerian youths. You do not only train them, but you also provide them with accommodation. You also feed them free.

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    “And at the end of their training, you give them starter packs and seed money to start their own Agri-businesses. It is my opinion that whoever benefits from your youth empowerment programme and is not liberated, has a problem”.

    Manjang’s position was corroborated by two of his junior colleagues: Major M. Hamji and Major WE Abanji.

    According to Hamji: “Aare Afe Babalola has taught all of us a big lesson on what we can do to ensure job creation, how to eradicate poverty and optimize security not only in Ekiti State, but also in the country at large.

    According to him, if there is one Afe Babalola in each of the country’s other five geo-political zones, there would be no unemployment or poverty in Nigeria as everyone would be gainfully employed with no time for frivolities or criminalities.

    Abanji, in a voice suggestive that she has already become a student of Afe Babalola’s Youth Empowerment Programme and Agri-business said she is enthusiastically looking forward to starting her own Green Farm in the nearest future.

    Responding, Babalola, who thanked Manjang and his team for visiting his university, wondered why people should be queuing for rice, beans and other palliatives in a country blessed with good arable land and supportive climate for anybody to grow food and feed himself, sell leftovers or give to others.

    He pleaded with those giving out food items and particularly those queuing up to receive them not to turn the country into a country of beggars amid plenty.

    Waxing biblical, the former Pro Chancellor & Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, counselled that Nigerians owe it a duty to God to work so that they could eat, adding that “a person who does not work does not deserve to eat”.

    On the place of quality and functional education in the life of a people, he said: “Education is critically important to all of us. Once one has quality education, he/she is made, and it is bye-bye to tribalism, hunger, unemployment, bigotry and extremism”.

    He commended the Nigerian Army for its well-known discipline which he confirmed he saw first-hand when he was conferred with the Honourary Degree of the elite Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, in 2016

    He words: “When I arrived Kaduna, I was surprised to see a “battalion” of fully dressed Military Officers waiting to receive me at the Kaduna Airport.  They ushered us to the Reception Hall of the Airport and they insisted that I and my team must eat before we proceeded to the Academy.  I told them I had had breakfast before leaving home.  But the leader of the team insisted that we must eat because that was the order from his Superior Officer. 

    “As we were going to the NDA, the entire road was lined with fully dressed military men.  When we got to the Main Building of the NDA, we were ushered into the office of the Commandant who, together with other leaders of the Academy, received us very warmly. 

    “During the Convocation and Award ceremony, I was pleasantly surprised that the hall was not only very quiet, but also nobody left his seat throughout the duration of the Convocation ceremony.  To me, that was the peak of orderliness and discipline. 

    “Before the 2016 NDA Convocation, I believed that my university, ABUAD, was the epitome of order, orderliness and discipline.  As a matter of fact, some people used to taunt us that our university is more of a military institution. But with what I saw in Kaduna that day, I gave, and I still give kudos to the military for its discipline. And we are taking after that here in our university”.

    According to him, people are not doing well because they lack discipline, but the Nigerian Army is the master of discipline.

    He hoped that one day, the level of discipline in the Nigerian Army will be embraced by the populace, adding that “the day the level of discipline in the Nigerian Army and ABUAD goes round Nigeria, there will be no problems anymore”.

    In her welcome remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, recalled how the university navigated its way from a modest beginning when Academic works commenced on Monday, January 4, 2010, to a university of global acclaim which was recently ranked on June 18, 2025 by Times Higher Education Impact Rankings as No.84 in the world, No. 3 in Africa and No. 1 in Nigeria for four consecutive years: 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

    • Olofintila is ABUAD’s Director of Corporate Affairs

  • Clicks, code and control: How journalism is being strangled

    Clicks, code and control: How journalism is being strangled

    By Tarik Toros

    Across the world, fundamental moral values, the principles that have provided social cohesion for centuries, are being systematically undermined.

    Yet historical patterns suggest that societies eventually return to tested values and shared principles. Periods of instability have, at times, strengthened the long-term commitment to coexistence, justice and democratic order.

    Social norms and ideological landscapes evolve. But certain principles remain constant.

    When individuals give their word, they are expected to keep it. Consistency between actions and statements reflects personal integrity. Dignity and respect remain essential for building trust, both at the individual and institutional levels.

    In contrast, betrayal, manipulation, cruelty, racism and hatred erode not only personal relationships but also the foundations of public life. These values, or the lack thereof, shape states and their governance.

    This raises a critical question: What response is appropriate when these principles are deliberately distorted, weaponized or sacrificed to entrench power structures?

    READ ALSO: Why I abandoned law to pursue acting – Femi Adebayo

    In many societies, dissent is misdirected toward convenient targets, while systemic abuses by those in authority are met with silence. This dynamic reflects neither genuine opposition nor democratic engagement, but rather complicity.

    Throughout history, regardless of a nation’s governing system, one constant remains: Power holders inevitably fear public mobilization. They deploy police, intelligence services and legal mechanisms to suppress opposition. They manipulate public narratives through state-aligned media.

    Yet, despite these efforts, complete control remains elusive.

    When public concern reaches critical mass, even authoritarian leaders are forced to react. They simulate dialogue, promise reforms, adjust legislation when necessary, all designed to contain dissent without relinquishing control.

    At times, internal tensions compel governments to sacrifice scapegoats, symbolic gestures to deflect pressure while maintaining strategic direction. The broader objective remains unchanged.

    This dynamic was captured by Turkish author Ahmet Altan in a 2009 speech delivered in Leipzig: “Like all living beings, humans are violent.”

    But we have two qualities that set us apart. First, we add our minds and our awareness to this violence, turning nature’s innocent cruelty into something darker, something sinful. Second, we carry a force that stands in direct opposition to this. We have a drive to protect the weak and stand against injustice.

    We call this force conscience. Our whole life, our whole identity, our entire being, they are shaped by one simple question: “Which part of us do we choose to nurture?”

    The integrity of both individuals and societies depends less on rhetoric and more on the consistent choice to develop this protective, ethical dimension. That choice is not singular, it recurs daily, shaping governance, institutions and public life.

    The erosion of democratic principles today coincides with the rapid transformation of digital spaces, particularly the internet.

    For many journalists, the internet remains the last viable space for free expression, a platform to circulate information and hold power to account.

    In an environment where traditional public squares are surveilled or suppressed, a single social media post can surpass physical demonstrations in reach and influence.

    Digital platforms offer immediacy, expansive dissemination and measurable public response. This explains why authoritarian regimes increasingly seek to control online spaces. The internet that defined global connectivity over the last three decades is rapidly disappearing.

    Traditional search engines are being replaced by AI-powered tools. Algorithms now regulate visibility, determining what content is amplified and what effectively vanishes from public discourse. Numerous journalists and independent publishers report a similar pattern: “My posts once reached hundreds of thousands. Now I’m lucky to reach a thousand.”

    This is not merely anecdotal. It signals a structural threat to press freedom and democracy. The decline in organic traffic undermines independent media revenues, limiting the production of investigative reporting. As resources dwindle, critical stories go untold, weakening the pillars of democratic accountability.

    AI technologies exacerbate this crisis by extracting and reproducing content from news outlets without attribution. Traffic, visibility and financial benefits flow disproportionately to large technology firms such as Google rather than to the journalists generating original work.

    The impact is visible even among major news organizations. The UK’s Mail Online recently reported a 50 percent drop in site traffic. For smaller, independent news platforms, particularly those exposing corruption or abuse, the consequences are existential.

    While Google and Meta have established licensing agreements with some major media entities, smaller outlets, often those reporting at the grassroots or uncovering local injustices, are excluded from these arrangements. Their digital reach diminishes, and their financial sustainability deteriorates.

    This situation demands coordinated response strategies.

    Journalists, media organizations and advocates must collaborate to develop protective frameworks that ensure the survival of independent journalism.

    Collective action, shared resources and sustained support mechanisms are essential to prevent small, critical voices from disappearing entirely from the media landscape. At present, such efforts remain fragmented and insufficient.

    Without intervention, the internet risks becoming an ecosystem dominated by homogenized, algorithm-driven content, a reality incompatible with press freedom and democratic resilience.

    But despite these trends, I still believe this:

    Humanity has always found a way back to core values, though the path is rarely linear and often painful. Conscience remains the noblest rebellion we have ever formed against cruelty, against injustice, against the darker parts of human nature. And what separates us from the animals isn’t just reason, it’s how we choose to use it.

    That choice, to protect, to speak, to resist, is still ours to make.

    ·             This article was first published in www.turkishminute.com

  • Ahmad Aliyu: Leading Sokoto with focus, empathy

    Ahmad Aliyu: Leading Sokoto with focus, empathy

    By Louis Achi

    In setting sail as the seventh democratically elected governor of Sokoto State, youthful Dr. Ahmad Aliyu apparently identified across-board infrastructure revamp, education renaissance, strict budgeting and circumspect development planning as ‘weapon-grade’ tools with which to change Sokoto’s development story.

    With a laser-sharp focus, he simply ‘weaponized’ these critical governance imperatives and this enabled him, within just two years on the saddle, to transform his state and send a very clear signal to both friends and foes that Sokoto State indeed means business.

    These dimensions of course closely synergise with his 9-point smart agenda which captured his compact with expectant folks of the Seat of the Caliphate. The elements of his 9-point smart agenda include – education, health, water, agriculture, security, youth empowerment, local government autonomy, religious affairs, and economy.

    And it must be noted at the outset that Governor Aliyu achieved these significant development milestones in Sokoto State – the focus of this essay – without borrowing a kobo.

    First, some clarifications. Whereas a development plan delivers a vision, a matching budget provides the operational framework for its realization. The transition from a plan to a budget involves the deployment of often complex control machinery. Interestingly, this is Governor Ahmad’s forte.

    In governance, budgeting guarantees orderly development. It’s no secret that governance without sound targeted budgeting will definitely translate into jumbled development – if there is any development at all.

    Like budgeting, planning is crucial to state, national and even organisational governance. Without good planning, development, assumed to be the ultimate goal of quality governance, becomes a mirage. The primary reason for planning is to take care of the future. In effect, planning is deciding in advance what to do, how to do it, when to do it, who is to do it, why do it, and how much resources are to be used.

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    In circumspectly executing these intricate governance gameplan, Governor Ahmad Aliyu stands head and shoulders above most of his peers – that is the governors’ class of 2023.

    Governor Aliyu correctly realized quite early that infrastructure is the backbone of economic growth. It improves access to basic services such as roads, bridges, clean water and electricity, creates jobs, boosts business and more. As he is wont, he embarked on very aggressive infrastructural development across board in the state.

    According to Hon. Isah Sadeeq Achida, the State APC Chairman, one of the most notable accomplishments of Governor Ahmad’s administration – what he described as “a remarkable and people-centered performance” that has positively impacted all sectors of the state – is the construction of an extensive network of roads across all the 23 local government areas of the state. He stated that both urban and rural communities have benefitted from new roads and the rehabilitation of existing ones, enhancing connectivity and promoting economic growth.

    Further according to a clearly elated Hon. Achida, “In just two years, Governor Ahmed Aliyu has ensured that no local government area is left behind. Our communities are now better connected, and the ease of movement has significantly improved for farmers, traders, and other residents.”

    In the health sector, the APC chairman noted that the administration has undertaken the construction and rehabilitation of numerous health facilities. These efforts, he said, have improved access to quality healthcare services, particularly in rural communities.

    Water supply also featured prominently in the governor’s development agenda. Hon. Achida revealed the government constructed modern water works in the headquarters of all 23 local government areas, explaining this has eased the burden of water scarcity and improved sanitation across the state.

    He also highlighted education and religious infrastructure were also highlighted in the scorecard, disclosing that several schools have been built or rehabilitated to provide a more conducive learning environment for students. In addition, congregational mosques in various parts of the state have received attention, which is in line with the administration’s commitment to promoting religious and moral values.

    It’s not disputable that Sokoto is a conservative society. Thinking out of the box in a highly conservative milieu surely presents its challenges but doing otherwise will surely diminish the best of Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s efforts. The youthful governor has taken up this challenge because he recognizes that the 21st Century can only align with progressive thinkers and not slackers.

    But while a happy Achida spoke in generalities, more specific data would serve to underlie the scope, sweep and depth of Governor Aliyu’s remarkable achievements just within two years of assuming executive office as the boss.

    It’s noteworthy that beyond Sokoto metropolis, Governor Aliyu’s administration has prioritized rural road connectivity quite aware that the majority of Sokoto State’s populace reside in rural areas. Strategic rural roads, such as the Huchi-Gidan Kamba-Lugu junction, Wurno-Kwargaba-Sabongari, and Goronyo-Kirare roads, have been rehabilitated to facilitate the movement of goods and services.

    In total, the Department of Rural Feeder Roads has constructed and rehabilitated approximately 101.65 kilometers of rural feeder roads across the state, including the 3.6-kilometer Tangaza-Zabarmawar Yahaya Town road and the 4-kilometer Dingyadi-Rumbuki road in Bodinga Local Government Area. These projects have improved access to markets, boosted agricultural productivity, and enhanced social interactions in rural communities.

    The perennial water scarcity in Sokoto was also a key focus area. Residents of the state were subjected to acute shortages and reliance on expensive, often unsafe, water sources. But Governor Aliyu would have none of that. His administration has so far made significant strides in addressing the challenge through a ₦14.1 billion water project aimed at reviving and completing six township water schemes.

    These were water schemes initiated by the administration of Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko but ignored between 2015 and 2023. The water schemes are located in Tamaje, Old Airport, Gagi, Mana, Runjin Sambo, and Ruga Liman and have a combined capacity of 40 million gallons of water per day.

    To the joy of the people, on June 23, Aliyu commissioned the Old Airport Water Scheme, which would guarantee some three million gallons of water daily. This marks a significant milestone in the governor’s determined efforts to end water scarcity in the state. Speaking at the commissioning, Governor Aliyu described the project as “promise fulfilled.”

    He clarified his administration inherited a collapsed water supply system in the state powered by obsolete equipment and absence of treatment chemicals. To address these issues, Aliyu said that his government replaced outdated equipment, secured alternative power sources for the state water board, and ensured a steady supply of clean water to Sokoto and its environs. There is more.

    Sokoto State’s 2025 budget of “Transformation and Infrastructural Sustainability,” notching N526,882,142,484.39 is already consolidating achievements of the 2024 budget. The Sokoto State 2025 budget has a recurrent expenditure of N176,295,602,130.14 billion and a whopping N349,386,540,354.25 billion for capital expenditure, a 34:66 percent recurrent to capital ratio. As in the 2024 budget which gave education over 30 per cent, next year’s budget also unapologetically prioritises education.

    According to the Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the State, Hon. Sambo Bello Danchadi, “Some key areas of focus for the 2025 budget include: Education: with 25% allocation; devoting substantial portion of the state’s budget to education is a significant commitment to improving the sector. This move will help address infrastructural deficits, fund educational programs, and ensure the effective delivery of teaching and learning.

    “By surpassing UNESCO’s recommended benchmark of 15-20%, the administration is demonstrating its priority for education, which is critical to achieving sustainable development.”

    From the basic to tertiary levels in the state, the governor’s premium on education is obvious from the re-accreditation of several courses in its tertiary institutions and the massive construction of schools, renovation of dilapidated buildings, provision of furniture, and instructional materials, the prompt payment of examination fees for students writing the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, and the payment of outstanding scholarships for students undergoing various degree programmes.

    Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s vision for educational transformation is mirrored in various specific interventions. His APC-led administration has prioritized education as a cornerstone of societal progress.

    A significant highlight of his tenure is the intervention for 88 Sokoto State medical students affected by the crisis in Sudan. Rather than allowing these future healthcare professionals to languish in uncertainty, his administration facilitated their transfer to Usmanu Danfodiyo University Medical College, ensuring their education remained uninterrupted. This bold initiative underscores his administration’s commitment to nurturing human capital and fostering resilience in the face of challenges.

    Moreover, the government has invested heavily in educational infrastructure and teacher training programmes. By creating enabling environment for both students and educators, the administration is building foundation for a more enlightened and competitive youth population in Sokoto State.

    It is no secret that over 800,000 children in the state have been enrolled into basic education schools, marking a drastic increase in the number of enrolments into public primary schools and attributes the increased enrolment to the efforts of the state governor to improve education infrastructure across the state.

    A deserving recipient of ‘The SUN Governor of the Year,” the newspaper’s Board of Editors succinctly summarized Governor Aliyu’s development trajectory: “You came to office as governor in 2023 with a 9-Point Smart Agenda designed to lift Sokoto to higher grounds. Your target was to install the right infrastructure that can spur visible and measurable improvements in the key social and economic areas, like education, healthcare, agriculture, water supply, security, youth empowerment, local government autonomy and religious affairs. In less than two years of your assumption of office, you have changed the narrative in Sokoto, having done much towards the transformation of the state.

    Indeed, Sokoto State means business guided by a leader who governs with focus and empathy.

  • Mbah: The reincarnation of Michael Okpara’s vision in Enugu

    Mbah: The reincarnation of Michael Okpara’s vision in Enugu

    By Nnamani Arinze Darlington

    In Nigeria’s South East, a quiet revolution pulsates through the entire space of Enugu State, led by a man whose audacious governance is breathing new life into the legacy of the late Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, the iconic Premier of Eastern Nigeria. Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, a maritime lawyer and a towering entrepreneur turned transformative leader, is not just governing, he is rekindling a golden era, breathing Okpara’s spirit into the entire Enugu to catapult the state into a future defined by innovation, prosperity, and pride. This is not just leadership; it is a renaissance, deliberate and electrifying, that dares to dream as big, if not bigger, than its storied predecessor.

    At 39, Michael Okpara took the reins of Eastern Nigeria in 1959, deploying his philosophy of “Pragmatic Socialism” to transform the region into an economic titan. His agricultural revolution, anchored by institutions like Adapalm, turned Eastern Nigeria into a global palm oil powerhouse, fueling monumental projects like Okpara’s industrial ventures—Golden Guinea Breweries, the Ceramics Industry in Umuahia—sparked self-reliance, while his investments in education and infrastructure laid a foundation for enduring prosperity.

    Known for his integrity and unassuming resolve, Okpara’s leadership, studied at places like Stanford, remains a gold standard. But the January 1966 military coup, the counter-coup six about six months after, and the consequent Nigerian Civil War, cut short his era of regional autonomy, leaving behind a legacy unfinished. Yes, a legacy much hailed by successive regimes, yet discarded and urinated on by most of his successors that have presided over the many states of today that formed the defunct Eastern region.

    But for the Second Republic that produced glimmers of hope and vision like of Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo and Dee Sam Mbakwe, what followed in the states that constitute the defunct Eastern Region since his ouster have been both unimaginative and rapacious military and civilian leaders that not only arrested progress, but equally and most unfortunately took the entire geographical space back by centuries.

    However, the coming of Dr. Peter Mbah, has been both a breath of fresh air and hope. Mbah stormed into office on May 29, 2023 with a vision as bold as Okpara’s but tailored for a 21st-century world and needs. A serial entrepreneur, who built Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited from a two-room apartment in Lagos to a market leader and unicorn in less than ten years, Mbah fuses private-sector savvy with public-sector ambition, aiming to skyrocket Enugu’s GDP from $4.4 billion as of 2023 to an audacious $30 billion. His first year alone saw over 71 roads built or rehabilitated in Enugu metropolis alone, with a jaw-dropping goal of 10,000 kilometers in eight years. Sleek projects like the Enugu State International Conference Centre and cutting-edge bus terminals scream global standards, signaling that Mbah is not here to tinker—he is here to transform.

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    Mbah’s Smart Green Schools initiative is a masterstroke, targeting 260 digitally equipped schools across Enugu’s 260 wards to build Enugu children and youths for a tech-driven world. It’s a direct echo of Okpara’s educational zeal, but with a futuristic twist. On security, Mbah’s courage, iron political will, high-tech surveillance systems, and digitalized Command and Control Center have not only tamed the disruptive sit-at-home orders by IPOB, but have also dealt such a heavy blow on agents of insecurity, restoring calm and luring investors back to Enugu’s promise.

    Economically, he is rewriting the playbook: Enugu’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) skyrocketed by 286.2%, as he built it from a little over N20 billion in June 2023 to N37.4 billion by the end of 2023, then to N144.7 billion by September 2024. This is in line with his manifesto wherein he expressed the vision to ultimately wean Enugu off Federal Allocation and have FAAC as a saving into a Sovereign Wealth Fund for future generations. Laws like the Enugu State Geographic Information Services (EN-GIS) and the Citizens’ Charter, cement transparency, while agricultural partnerships and SME support revive Okpara’s focus on grassroots empowerment.

    The parallels between Mbah and Okpara are impossible to ignore. Both are architects of self-reliance. Okpara, through agriculture, Mbah through a diversified economic engine. Okpara’s educational revolution to Mbah’s Smart Schools, both see education as the spark for progress. Both lead by action, not noise, earning praise for their quiet, yet seismic impact. Former Commonwealth Secretary General Emeka Anyaoku calls Mbah a “truly performing Governor,” transforming Enugu with the same understated grit that defined Okpara.

    The chorus of approval is deafening. From Nsukka’s traditional rulers to retired security chiefs. Mbah’s “great strides” have won hearts and headlines. Crowned LEADERSHIP Newspapers’ Governor of the Year 2024, Mbah’s governance is a “dramatic departure” from the status quo, pulsating with the revolutionary fervor of Okpara’s era.

    Speaking at the 14th Chief Emeka Anyaoku Lecture Series on Good Governance, the renowned diplomat said, “Allow me the privilege of describing him (Mbah) as a truly performing governor. Yesterday, I was given glimpses of projects that have either been completed or in active progress towards completion. I saw, for example, this magnificent International Conference Centre. I saw an array of CNG buses at the Okpara Square. I saw the Smart Green Schools. I learnt that there are as many as 260 of them ongoing at the same time. I was also able to visit a state-of-the-art bus station, the Holy Ghost Terminal.

    “So, I would say that Governor Peter Mbah is genuinely transforming Enugu State, which used to be described as a civil service state. He is transforming it into an industrial, educational hub and agricultural innovation. But the surprising thing is that all these developments are going on with little publicity. So, Governor Peter Mbah is not just a performing governor, but he is also a quite and noiseless performing governor.”

    Peter Mbah is not just walking in Okpara’s footsteps; he is sprinting, adapting a historic vision to a modern canvas. Through relentless infrastructure, education, security, and economic innovation, he is forging Enugu into a beacon of what Nigeria can be. Okpara’s legacy is a towering milestone, but Mbah’s Enugu is a living testament to its enduring fire. The road ahead is fraught with Nigeria’s tangled challenges. Economic volatility, political noise, systemic hurdles and bureaucracy. Yet, Mbah’s momentum has consciously shown that he is not just reviving Okpara’s dream but redefining it, proving that visionary leadership can turn the past’s promise into a future’s triumph. Enugu is rising, and the world is watching the rebirth of Michael Iheonukara Okpara’s spirit in Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah through his visionary leadership and actions that are intentional and connecting the dots for economic and social prosperity for ndi Enugu.

    Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s leadership embodies the spirit of Michael Okpara, vision to a modern context. Through infrastructure, education, security, and economic innovation, Mbah is transforming Enugu into a beacon of progress, much as Okpara did for Eastern Nigeria. While Okpara’s legacy is a historical milestone, Mbah’s ongoing efforts shows he is on a path to leave a similar mark. He will fully realize Okpara’s “rebirth” from the already sustained momentum and focus to overcome Nigeria’s complex challenges. For now, Mbah’s Enugu is a testament to the enduring power of visionary leadership, proving that the past can inspire a brighter future.

    •Nnamani, writes from Enugu

  • Why Senator Natasha should have her day in court

    Why Senator Natasha should have her day in court

    By Ken Harries

    In every democracy, the rule of law remains the fulcrum on which justice, accountability, and civil order revolve. When individuals, regardless of status or influence, level grievous accusations against others, it is only just and proper that such allegations be subjected to judicial scrutiny. The ongoing controversy involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is no exception.

    After failing to substantiate her grave allegation of sexual harassment against the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan did not pause to retract or clarify. Instead, she escalated matters by making an even more incendiary claim – that both Senator Akpabio and a former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, were plotting to assassinate her.

    These are not mere verbal exchanges. These are serious, reputation-damaging, and socially destabilizing accusations. If untrue, they are not just defamatory, they are incendiary. And if true, they warrant full legal redress.

    Both Senator Akpabio and Yahaya Bello vehemently denied these allegations. But rather than engage in mudslinging or mob justice, they acted in the most democratic and civilised manner possible.

    They petitioned the appropriate law enforcement agency – the Nigerian Police Force – which commenced an investigation, in the course of which it invited Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to present her side, an invitation she failed to honour.

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    Subsequently, and on the strength of the investigation by the police, the Federal Government preferred a six-count criminal charge against her before the Federal High Court, Abuja. Allegations in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025 are rooted in cybercrime provisions, revolve around her alleged transmission of false and injurious information via electronic means, calculated to malign, incite, and endanger lives and breach public order.

    Among the particulars of the charge are claims that the Senator, while addressing a gathering on April 01, 2025 in Ihima, alleged that Senator Akpabio instructed Bello to have her eliminated in Kogi State.

    Similarly, in a television interview, she allegedly repeated this narrative, suggesting a murderous conspiracy against her life.

    Is this suppression or due process?

    Some voices, especially in activism and social media communities, have chosen to mischaracterise this development as a clampdown on dissent or an attempt to silence an outspoken lawmaker.Nothing could be further from the truth. This is not about free speech. This is about the integrity of the law and the limits of expression in a democratic society.

    To falsely accuse individuals, especially public officeholders, of conspiracy to commit murder, without proof, and then refuse to defend those claims in court, is not activism. It is a subversion of justice and a manipulation of public sentiment.

    One cannot hide behind the veil of freedom of speech to malign, defame, and incite without consequence. The right to speak does not include the right to lie, especially with consequences so potentially grave.

    The defendant will have her day in court, with full constitutional protections, legal representation, and a fair trial. Is that not the essence of justice? The principle of justice espouses that ‘’to every man, his due”.

    Why the courtroom matters

    What the Nigerian state has done is simply to insist on legal accountability. The courtroom, not Twitter threads or televised interviews, is the proper arena to test the truth of any claim, especially those with such serious ramifications.

    Let it be clearly stated: no one is presuming Senator Natasha’s guilt. But no one should also presume her innocence without her submitting to due legal process.

    Let the court weigh the preponderance of evidence. If the charges are frivolous, the court will dismiss them.

    If proven beyond a reasonable doubt, appropriate consequences will follow and serve as a deterrent. No matter whose ox is gored, justice must be served.

    That is how the rule of law promotes justice for all in an orderly society.

    To suggest, as Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan reportedly has, that she is being targeted or silenced by the legal process is to mock the judiciary and trivialise the core principles of constitutional democracy.

    Nigeria must not become a nation where unproven allegations, theatrically rendered on television and social media, are allowed to go unchallenged in law.

    The legal doctrine is clear: he who asserts must prove. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan should gladly embrace this opportunity to substantiate her claims. That is the responsible, lawful, and honourable path forward.

    Let the courts decide.

    •Harries, a lawyer, is an Abuja-based communication strategist.

  • The paradox of angelic void: A review of Sam Omatseye’s Juju Eyes

    The paradox of angelic void: A review of Sam Omatseye’s Juju Eyes

    By Michael Olatunbosun

    The novel, Juju Eyes (published in 2025 by SunshotAssociate) is a 51-chapter work set in cities across Nigeria, United Kingdom and United States of America. The book is written by Sam Omatseye. Sam is one of Nigeria’s finest journalists with lots of awards and honours to his name. He has authored many works, including In Touch, Mandela’s Bones and Other Poems, Dear Baby Ramatu; My Name is Okoro, Scented Offal, among others. He is currently Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation, a popular newspaper.

     Our protagonist is Oluseyi Ekanem (mostly known as Shay in the work). She escapes from being the companion of a goddess to become the goddess herself. 

    In this work, we are introduced to Uncle Idongesit. Shay’s Uncle ID as he is fondly called elects to take care of Shay and her mother after her husband, his brother’s death. But he cannot keep his eyes off Shay until he has his way with her. She has now lost her innocence and chastity. But she yet does not know the implications of this act for her own life. 

    After winning a beauty pageant, Shay begins to get all the attention a beauty queen attracts, and much more. Her beauty is irresistible and her frame is equated to that of a goddess. An invitation to a banquet with the Governor puts her on the global map, and a generous cash gift from the governor turns on her light, scattering her brightness everywhere.

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    But popularity and celebrity status comes with a huge price. Shay soon gets into the highway of life. She moves quickly through the ranks of men, both the high and mighty, amassing some handsome amounts of cash in foreign currency in the process. And it is now difficult to stop. She hops into bed with assorted men of means and might. She also becomes a dealer, helping to pimp ladies for friends of her own male friends. 

    The work, Juju Eyes is replete with sumptuous tales of Shay’s escapades with all the choice men of society, but she has refused to settle down with any. 

    Osa, Shay’s boyfriend also casts the image of your regular political hanger-on, always showing up around politicians and hoping that he will be handed the party’s ticket someday somehow. With the story of Osa, the author exposes the intriguing whiles of the political class and some of the dirty things that they do in order to remain in reckoning.

    In the book the author discusses the tragedy of a dead father or mother and its consequent toll on the lives of children left behind. The consequence is that of abuse and rape or incest or loss of bearing. Shay and Osa happen to carry with them, shreds of some of the consequences.

    The work, Juju Eyes also seems to question some socio-cultural practices that appear out of sync with modern reality. One of such is the experience of Osa and his Luka adventure. Luka is a community where if a man puts a lady in a family way outside wedlock and she dies, he will have to perform marriage rites with her corpse before a burial ceremony can be carried out for her. This rite includes a mock-marriage with a placeholder for the deceased, who is in turn stripped of her own feminine essence with a violated body in tow.

    In the novel, Juju Eyes, Sam Omatseye chronicles the atrocities of merchants who pose as altruistic orphanage owners, but underneath are dirty merchandise of children for rituals, including other illegal activities. 

    The work also digs into the hypocrisy of the people in the practice of religion. We read in the book about the chameleon lifestyle of religious people and their false attribution of miracles to God when in fact the miracles are fraudulently procured. We are apprised of the pervasive pharisaic veils with which people like Shay, Madam Lola, and others garb themselves in their affairs. Their lifestyles present a paradox of angelic void.

    Shay decides to end her relationship with Osa. But soon after, Nigel Phillips appears on the scene, and topples Shay’s world.Nigel is a British wealthy oil magnate with business ties and a family historical trauma with Nigeria. He is swept off his feet by Shay’s mysterious allure. And he stalks her until she agrees to marry him. But somewhere in the heart of the Niger-Delta, Nigel is kidnapped. The story takes on another twist. And theauthor then takes the reader on a floating adventure into the Niger-Delta creeks where the militants hold the ace. 

    The author has plenty of characters whom he throws into the plot here and there. Chief Lambe the political godfather to who many politicians or people looking for favours defer. Akin, the chameleon is torn between keeping a wife because of her father’s largesse, and stalking Shay. You also have Nigel, popularly called Mista Naija, and the perception that he is a double-faced person only after Nigeria’s black gold and black beauty. And Ese, Shay’s boyfriend at the university is the good guy who loses out eventually despite his love for Shay. And many others spread across the work’s 350 pages and 51 chapters of sweet swift storytelling. Essentially, all these characters, especially Shay, are metaphors of Nigeria in different shades and contexts.

    As a lover of great narration and good storytelling, I would have given the work a perfect 100 per cent score, but for a few instances of grammar and syntax breaches and typographical errors. But these do not in any way water down the suspense laden, punchy narration and poetic essence of the work. Aesthetically, the work is finely set with pages well laid out and font large enough to make reading smooth. The cover page is colourfully designed and attractively set too.    

    In the novel Juju Eyes, the author’s mastery of the English nuances comes to play. His deployment of short, punchy sentences help to elevate the racy narration for maximum effect. This increases the ease of readability too, as the reader is not burdened by long winding compound-complex sentences. I have read Sam Omatseye’s My Name is Okoro(prose about the Nigerian Civil War) and Scented Offal(collection of poems), and I thought they were great. But Juju Eyes is a master-piece in which Sam shows that he is both a master of prose and poetry. In fact, Juju Eyes can be fittingly described as poetry in longhand or prosaic poetry. It is a book for all lovers of art!

    • Olatunbosun is a broadcast journalist, fact-checker and book reviewer at Splash FM 105.5, Ibadan. He can be reached via 08023517565 (SMS and WhatsApp only) and email molatunbosun@splashfm1055.com

  • With Adedeji’s FIRS, revenue keeps looking up

    With Adedeji’s FIRS, revenue keeps looking up

    By Rabiu Usman

    ‘The Gross Statutory Revenue of N2.094 trillion received for the month was higher than the sum of N2.084 trillion received in the previous month by N10.023 billion.”

    Above was from the Communique issued by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) at the end of its June 2025 meeting chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.

    In the last few months, that has been a consistent statement coming from FAAC meetings. Thanks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s foresightedness in putting a square peg in the square hole of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

    Since that square peg, Dr. Zaccheus Adedeji, took charge of the FIRS square hole as the Executive Chairman, revenue generation has been an up, up story.

    In May, a total sum of N1. 681 trillion was shared to the three tiers of government as Federation Allocation for the month of April 2025 from a gross total revenue of N2.084 trillion.

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    The Gross Statutory Revenue of N2.084 trillion received for the month of April was higher than the sum of N1.718 trillion received in March by N365.595 billion.

    Significantly,  revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT) for the month of April 2025, was N642.265 billion as against N637.618 Billion in March. In other words,  VAT revenue increased by N4.6 billion in April.

    The gross statutory revenue of N2.094 trillion received for the month of May, was higher than the sum of N2.084 trillion received in the month of April by N10.023 billion.

    Also in May, N742.820 billion was realised from VAT alone,  N100.555 billion higher than April’s N642.265 billion.

    In 2024, Dr Zacch Adedeji, and his team set N19.4 trillion as revenue target, a significant increase of 56.9 per cent from the 2023 revenue.

    This target was not only met by the FIRS under Dr Zacch Adedeji, it was surpassed. N21.6 trillion was generated, exceeding the 2024 target by N2.2 trillion.

    For 2025, an ambitious N25.2 trillion target was set, N3.6 trillion higher than the revenue generated in 2024, and from all indications, that target will not only be met, it will most probably be surpassed.

    For the Nigeria’s “Zaccheus The Tax Collector,” realization of the 2025 revenue target of N25.2 trillion is being anchored on the strategic pillars of capacity building and training, infrastructure and facility enhancement, as well as technological advancement.

    And the initiatives of Dr Zacch Adedeji, including the integration of new modules into the TaxProMax system, which has automated over 80 percent of previously manual processes and streamlined revenue collection and simplified obtaining tax clearances for contractors, are not being unnoticed.

    Few weeks ago in London, United Kingdom, his outstanding performance and exemplary leadership, was recognized by the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA) during its 96th management committee meeting.

    CATA, with its headquarters in London, has members drawn from 47 countries. It promotes efficient tax administration among member countries with special focus on developing economies.

    It is on record that Dr. Zacch Adedeji, who recently completed his tenure as President of CATA,  helped to steer critical tax reforms across member countries.

    For this and many more,  CATA’s executive director, Dr Esther Koisin and the chair, Mr Mahmad Noor, were full of praise for the FIRS boss, for his invaluable contributions and strategic insight in the administration of the body.

    And at home, it has been accolades upon accolades for the country’s version of the Biblical Zaccheus, the Tax Collector.

    • Usman, a public affairs commentator lives in Abuja