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Nigeria’s season of harvest: Tinubu’s second term and promise of economic transformation
As Nigeria approaches 2027, a profound sense of urgency and purpose is evident throughout the nation. The country is on the verge of significant transformation, driven by the bold reforms and innovative economic strategies implemented during President

Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first term. This period is not just one of political change; it represents a crucial moment in Nigeria’s history, where today’s decisions will have lasting impacts on future generations. The environment is charged with the promise of progress and hope, illuminating the path toward a brighter tomorrow.

The seeding season: Reforms that reshaped the landscape

President Tinubu’s first term was marked by a series of transformative reforms designed

to tackle long-standing inefficiencies within the Nigerian economy. One of the most

significant actions taken by his administration was the strategic removal of the fuel subsidy. This bold move not only resulted in savings amounting to trillions of naira but also allowed the government to reallocate those funds into critical infrastructure

projects and vital social programs aimed at improving the standard of living for many citizens.

In addition to the fuel subsidy removal, President Tinubu introduced an exchange rate unification policy. This measure aimed to enhance transparency in the currency market

and restore investor confidence in Nigeria’s economy. While the initial implementation of this policy led to a period of volatility for the naira, it ultimately laid a more stable foundation for foreign investments, creating a more predictable business environment

over time.

Tinubu’s administration focused on debt restructuring, successfully reducing the revenue allocated to debt servicing from 98% to 68%. This significant decrease alleviated fiscal pressures and created more financial space for education, healthcare, and infrastructure investment, supporting the country’s economic growth and development goals.

Sectoral revitalisation: Telecommunications, fintech, entertainment emerge as growth leaders

The revitalisation of different sectors is actively underway, with telecommunications, fintech, and entertainment emerging as the key growth leaders. These industries are flourishing and reshaping our economy and altering how we connect, conduct transactions, and enjoy leisure activities in unprecedented ways.

The reforms enacted during this period faced numerous challenges, primarily characterised by significant economic turmoil. Inflation rates soared above 20%, creating instability in the purchasing power of the naira, which experienced a staggering decline in value, decreasing by over 300%. This devaluation not only impacted everyday consumers but also led to increased costs of essential goods and services. Additionally, the national debt escalated to more than $100 billion, placing immense strain on the government’s financial resources and policy decisions.

Despite the severe economic difficulties and the resulting hardships faced by the populace, these struggles played a critical role in laying the groundwork for a new economic order. The necessity for these reforms became evident as they aimed to

address long-standing structural issues within the economy, paving the way for future

growth and stability. Ultimately, while the journey was fraught with obstacles, it was

viewed as a crucial phase in reorienting the nation’s economic landscape.

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Economic data: Signs of emerging growth

Nigeria’s economy is showcasing remarkable resilience amid numerous challenges. In the first quarter of 2025, the nation’s real GDP soared to an impressive 3.13%, a notable leap from 2.27% during the same period last year. Projections for the entire year hint at an even more astonishing growth target of 3.7%, poised to be the highest growth rate in a decade!

Multiple sectors are driving this positive momentum. The services sector has emerged as a powerhouse, boasting a robust growth rate of 4.33% and now accounting for over 57% of the country’s GDP. The industrial sector is also making waves, enjoying a growth rate of 3.42%, primarily propelled by advancements in oil refining and construction.

Even agriculture, which had seen better days, is showing signs of recovery with a slight growth of 0.07%.

In terms of oil production, the figures have climbed to 1.74 million barrels per day, although it still doesn’t meet the ambitious budgetary targets. Overall, these promising statistics reflect a nation that is not just bouncing back but recalibrating and repositioning itself for a brighter future. The ongoing reforms are pivotal steps towards securing Nigeria’s prosperity in the ever-evolving global landscape.

History affirms that bold reforms precede national transformation:

In the aftermath of World War II, several nations decisively charted remarkable journeys of economic recovery and growth. Germany, guided by the Marshall Plan and Ludwig Erhard’s social market economy, transformed itself from devastation into Europe’s unequivocal industrial leader. Meanwhile, Japan strategically implemented export policies and prioritised innovation, emerging as a dominant global technology power house.

Deng Xiaoping’s bold reforms catapulted China into the ranks of the world’s largest economies through the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and a robust commitment to global integration. Similarly, Ireland underwent a dramatic turnaround, moving from stagnation to prosperity by fully embracing European Union integration and implementing technology-driven reforms.

Singapore’s meteoric rise is a testament to its visionary leadership and substantial infrastructure investments, which have transformed the resource-poor island into an essential global financial hub. These nations share a powerful narrative of embracing reform, overcoming short-term challenges, and emerging stronger than before. Today, Nigeria is firmly on a parallel path, determined to achieve comparable growth and resilience.

The harvest ahead: What must be done

For Nigeria to unlock its full potential through reform, a concentrated focus on critical areas is imperative. Strengthening institutions stands as a non-negotiable priority, with a firm commitment to upholding the rule of law, implementing robust anti-corruption measures, and enhancing regulatory efficiency. By empowering citizens through increased access to quality education, digital skills training, and entrepreneurial resources, we can cultivate a thriving economic landscape.

Furthermore, revitalizing the agricultural sector is vital; securing farmlands and investing in modern farming techniques will effectively combat inflation and alleviate food insecurity. Attracting investment necessitates significant enhancements to our infrastructure, the simplification of the business environment and the establishment of strong protections for investors. Lastly, we must prioritize the welfare of our most vulnerable populations by ensuring that social safety nets are transparent, effective, and inclusive, guaranteeing that those in need receive the vital support they deserve.

A Call to National Resolve Nigeria stands at a crucial juncture as President Tinubu embarks on his journey toward a second term, guided by hope and determination. This moment is not simply about continuing previous policies; it represents an opportunity to realize a shared vision through dedicated effort and careful execution of strategic initiatives. With the foundation already established and the potential for transformative change in sight, it is essential for the nation to come together and benefit from the hard work invested in this endeavour.

We must decisively rise above the pervasive cynicism that clouds our outlook and wholeheartedly embrace the vast possibilities that lie ahead. Our objective is clear:to construct a Nigeria where meaningful reforms deliver tangible benefits—well-paved roads, abundant job opportunities, top-notch educational institutions, and the restoration of dignity for every citizen. We possess the power to transform our beloved nation into one that not only overcomes the challenges we face but boldly thrives in an inclusive and sustainable manner.

It’s time for us to take decisive action, as the results of our hard work are within reach.

We must unite to seize this opportunity and fully embrace the benefits of our commitment to a brighter future for Nigeria. Together, we have the power to forge a lasting legacy of progress and prosperity that will benefit generations to come.
- .Ademola is a Professor of Cyber Security and Information Technology Management.
August 30, 2025
The hidden health crisis: How climate change is affecting human well-being

By Adebayo Adeleye

Climate change is often associated with melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events. However, its impact on human health is a growing concern that cannot be ignored. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of natural disasters are all taking a toll on our well-being. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity.

The Direct and Indirect Health Impacts: Climate change affects human health in many direct and indirect ways. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can lead to heat-related illnesses, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory problems. Extreme weather events like floods, droughts, and storms can cause injuries, displacement, and loss of life. Climate change also exacerbates existing health conditions, such as diabetes, mental health issues, and waterborne diseases.

Heat-Related Illnesses on the Rise: Heat-related illnesses are becoming increasingly common due to rising temperatures. Heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and other heat-related illnesses can be life-threatening, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly, young children, and people with pre-existing medical conditions. A study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found that heat-related illnesses are responsible for thousands of deaths worldwide each year.

Vector-Borne Diseases Spreading: Climate change is also facilitating the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus. Warmer temperatures and changing precipitation patterns are creating ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects. According to the WHO, the global incidence of dengue fever has increased significantly in recent years, with millions of cases reported worldwide.

Waterborne Diseases a Growing Concern: Flooding and contaminated water sources are leading to outbreaks of waterborne diseases like cholera and diarrhea. Climate change is exacerbating existing water scarcity issues, making it difficult for communities to access clean water and sanitation. In many parts of the world, people are forced to rely on untreated water sources, increasing their risk of contracting waterborne diseases.

Mental Health Impacts: Climate-related stress, anxiety, and trauma can have long-term effects on mental health and well-being. The uncertainty and unpredictability of climate-related events can cause significant distress, especially for those who have experienced displacement, loss, or trauma. According to the American Psychological Association, climate change is a significant stressor that can exacerbate existing mental health conditions.

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Vulnerable Populations Disproportionately Affected: The most vulnerable populations, including children, older adults, and those with pre-existing medical conditions, are disproportionately affected by climate-related health impacts. In low-income countries, climate change is pushing already vulnerable communities further into poverty and compromising their access to healthcare. According to the WHO, the health impacts of climate change are felt most severely in countries with weak health systems and inadequate infrastructure.

Mitigation approach: To mitigate the health impacts of climate change, we need to take a multi-faceted approach. Some strategies include:

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Transitioning to renewable energy sources and increasing energy efficiency can help reduce the severity of climate change.

Improving healthcare infrastructure: Strengthening healthcare systems and providing access to quality healthcare can help communities adapt to climate-related health impacts.

Promoting climate-resilient agriculture: Supporting climate-resilient agriculture practices can help ensure food security and reduce the risk of waterborne diseases.

Raising awareness and building resilience: Educating communities about climate-related health risks and promoting resilience-building activities can help reduce vulnerability.

Individual Actions:

While governments and international organizations have a critical role to play in addressing climate change, individual actions can also make a difference. Some ways to contribute include:

Reducing carbon footprint: Using public transport, carpooling, or driving electric or hybrid vehicles can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Conserving water: Using water efficiently and reducing waste can help conserve this precious resource.

Supporting climate-resilient agriculture: Buying locally sourced produce and supporting sustainable agriculture practices can help promote climate resilience.

Staying informed: Staying up-to-date with climate-related health risks and taking steps to protect oneself and one’s community can help reduce vulnerability.

Conclusion: Climate change is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive response. By understanding the health impacts of climate change and taking action to mitigate them, we can protect human health and promote sustainable development for all. It is essential that governments, international organizations, and individuals work together to address this growing health crisis and ensure a healthier, more resilient future for generations to come.

•.Dr. Adebayo Matthew, Adeleye (Ph.D., Ibadan) Researcher on Environmental Pollution and Control

August 30, 2025
Trump and Nobel Peace prize
- By Olabode Lucas
Nobel prizes awarded annually are without doubt the most prestigious prizes in the world, and they are named after Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), a chemist, engineer and inventor. Nobel invented ballistics, and amassed a great fortune from almost 355 inventions. In his last will when he died, he specified that his fortune, which was estimated then at around $166 million, be used to create a series of prizes for those who “confer the greatest benefit to humankind.” Originally, the prizes were awarded in five fields, Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Peace. The sixth prize in the field of Economics was added in 1968. The prizes in the fields were awarded in 1901 to mark the fifth anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.

Every year, the attention of the whole world is focused on who would be the recipients of these prestigious prizes, especially the recipients of the Nobel Peace prize, the award of which every year usually generates controversy. Africans have featured prominently in the award of the Nobel Peace prize unlike in the other fields. Notable Africans who had got Nobel Peace Prize included Albert Luthuli of South Africa (1960), Anwar Sadat of Egypt (1978), Desmond Tutu of South Africa (1984), Nelson Mandela of South Africa (1993), De Klerk of South Africa (1993) and Kofi Annan of Ghana (2001). Our own Professor Wole Soyinka is the first African to get the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, and at present two other Africans have got the literature prize.

President Donald Trump of the USA in his characteristic ebullient way has now raised the stake for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize award and he is presently leaving no stone unturned to be the recipient of this year’s award. In his quest for this award, he wants to follow the footsteps of previous presidents of the USA like Theodore Roosevelt (1906), Woodrow Wilson (1915), Jimmy Carter (2002) and Barack Obama (2009) who had won the prize. Donald Trump has contacted some pliable world leaders to nominate him and some of these leaders include presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Pakistan and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan before he died. Trump’s action in this respect is certainly against the guidelines for the award which forbid lobbying for the award. Donald Trump based his claim for the award of the Nobel Peace Prize on his so-called successes in brokering peace in the wars, between Israel and Iran, Pakistan and India, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, Thailand and Cambodia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Ethiopia and Egypt, and Serbia and Kosovo.

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An assessment of Trump’s claim to be a worthy peace maker in the wars mentioned above, would show that his claim is hollow and overblown just to satisfy his ego. It baffles any rational imagination, how Donald Trump could claim to be a peacemaker in the recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran, when it was Trump who joined Israel to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities, and gave Israel intelligence support. In addition, most of the arms used by Israel in the conflict were supplied by the USA. Trump only called for a ceasefire after Israel under his friend, Benjamin Netanyahu had thoroughly humiliated Iran in the conflict. HIs claim on the Rwanda and Democratic Republic Congo conflict is hollow as the M23 rebels supported by Rwanda are still wreaking havoc in Eastern Congo. Trump’s interest in this area is not about peace but for the opportunity to exploit the rare minerals of Democratic Republic of Congo. Opinion is still divided on his role in the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, following the terrorist attack in the India controlled Kashmir in May 2025. While Pakistan eulogised Trump as the peacemaker in the conflict, and nominated him for Nobel Peace Prize probably at the behest of Trump, India has denied that the USA under Trump had any role to play in the ceasefire. In the Azerbaijan, Armenia conflict, Trump’s intervention has not affected the deplorable situation of the ethnic Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh controlled by Azerbaijan, despite the orchestrated peace meeting presided over by Trump in the White House. In Southeast Asia, Trump got his way in the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand by threatening the two countries with higher trade tariffs if they did not sign a ceasefire agreement. Trump no doubt threatened the countries so that he could bolster his claim as a peace maker in the world. Finally, the conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia, which did not degenerate to war, was settled by the African Union not through Trump’s intervention. It is clear from the above analysis that the interventions of Trump in the above enumerated conflicts, were done solely not for altruistic reasons, but for his ego so that he would get the coveted Nobel Peace Prize.

Donald Trump’s latest efforts to bring peace in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia have floundered, thus putting another dent on his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Before he got to power, he boasted that he would end the conflict within 24 hours of becoming the president. To many people, this is the longest 24 hours in the history of mankind. Since becoming the president, Trump’s interventions in the conflict have been inconsistent and all his actions point to subtle support for Russia, which fair minded people around the world consider as the aggressor. Trump is not on the same page with European leaders like Emmanuel Macron of France, Keir Stammer of UK, Giorgia Meloni of Italy and Friedrich Merz of Germany in this conflict between Russia and Ukraine. If not because of these European leaders, Trump could have put Ukraine and its leader, Volodymyr Zelensky under the bus. His recent meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, in which he was thoroughly outmanoeuvred by Vladimir Putin, has now emboldened Putin to intensify drone attacks on Ukraine. There is a stalemate in this conflict now and the prospect of peace is bleak. A man like Trump who kowtows with an aggressor like Vladimir is certainly not a man of peace.

The domestic policies initiated by Trump during his first coming as the President of the USA and now have polarized the people in the USA and without doubt, Donald Trump has become the most divisive president in the history of that country. Under Trump, immigrants are harassed and traumatized, student visas are withdrawn, and Trump is at loggerhead with renowned universities in the USA. Welfare and other safety nets are removed for the poor while rich people are pampered with low taxes. In addition, aid and humanitarian support in education and health given in the past by the USA to poor countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America have been drastically cut down or cancelled under Trump, while he imposed stiff trade tariffs on goods coming from other countries to the USA. Since charity begins at home, Trump’s divisive and draconian domestic policies in the USA certainly disqualify him from being considered for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Based on rational considerations of both the domestic and international policies of President Trump, especially his relentless support of Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel in his genocidal war in Gaza, Donald Trump, is not a good and proper candidate for the award of the most coveted Nobel Peace Prize. He has certainly turned the world upside down since he appeared on the world stage. Trump is gradually turning to Hitler of our time who covets other people’s territories in Canada and Greenland.

•Professor Lucas writes from Old Bodija Ibadan.
August 29, 2025
Securing Africa through cooperation and people-first strategy
- By Kennedy Elaigwu Awodi
President Bola Tinubu recently called for a new era of collective action among African nations to tackle the continent’s complex security challenges, from terrorism and cybercrime to transnational threats. Speaking at the maiden edition of the African Chiefs of Defense Staff Summit 2025 in Abuja, the president, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, emphasized that these issues do not respect borders and neither should the response. He challenged the continent’s military leaders to create a new “doctrine of continental defense” built on trust, shared intelligence, and a coordinated strategy.

This call for a unified African front aligns with the transformative, people-centric military strategy being championed by Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa. His leadership marks a significant shift from a purely force-based approach to one that prioritizes troop welfare, community engagement, and a modernized, self-reliant defense industry. This forward-thinking blueprint is not merely a policy directive but a living strategy being implemented across the nation, as evidenced by recent operations in places like Benue and Nasarawa.

General Musa’s strategic outlook is built on the belief that enduring peace requires addressing the root causes of conflict while modernizing the military’s operational capabilities. A clear example of this is his push for ranching as a sustainable solution to the long-standing farmer-herder crises. He frames ranching not as a forceful imposition but as a win-win business venture that benefits both livestock owners and farmers, demonstrating a non-kinetic and economically sound approach to resolving a core security threat.

Furthermore, his commitment to national defense manufacturing is a testament to his vision of a self-sufficient and capable military. By rebranding the Defense Industries Corporation and promoting the procurement of military hardware like armoured vehicles and drones from local firms, CDS Musa is not only enhancing the military’s operational readiness but also stimulating Nigeria’s economy and fostering indigenous innovation. This strategic pivot reduces dependence on foreign suppliers and ensures the military is equipped with resources tailored to the specific challenges of the Nigerian terrain.

The recent joint land and maritime security tour conducted by Major General Moses Gara, the Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), in Benue and Nasarawa states is a perfect on-the-ground manifestation of CDS Musa’s grand vision.

The tour, which involved a river patrol and an assessment of troop performance, shows a commitment to multi-environment operations and a comprehensive understanding of the operational area. More importantly, the tour highlights the crucial link between leadership, troop welfare, and mission success.

Maj. Gen. Gara’s commitment to fast-tracking housing projects and deploying essential field gear like all-terrain bikes directly mirrors General Musa’s public pledges to safeguard the well-being of military personnel. This is a powerful demonstration that the CDS’s vision is not just a pronouncement from Abuja but is being actively implemented in the challenging frontlines of the nation.

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Perhaps the most impactful aspect of this new military strategy is the emphasis on civil-military relations. CDS Musa has repeatedly ordered commanders to shift from an “occupying force” mentality to one that prioritizes community partnership. He believes that the military’s first layer of defense is intelligence, which can only be secured through the trust and cooperation of the local populace.

This approach was powerfully validated during the OPWS tour, where community leader Mike Ejiwo’s positive feedback on the soldiers’ conduct and his statement that the community has enjoyed over five years of peace are a direct result of this strategy. This success story demonstrates that a disciplined, well-cared-for, and community-oriented military is the most effective tool for long-term regional stability. The peace in Gidan Pepa is not just a result of military presence but of a military that is seen as a partner and a protector, reflecting a fundamental principle of CDS Musa’s leadership.

In his address, President Tinubu echoed this sentiment, calling the summit a “convergence of uniforms and titles” and a convocation “of Africa’s guardians to the village square of ideas.” He urged the defense chiefs to ensure the summit results in lasting change, proposing the establishment of a permanent African Chiefs of Defense Staff Forum for continuous dialogue, strategic foresight, and operational coordination.

General Christopher Musa’s tenure is defined by a bold, integrated strategy that acknowledges the multi-dimensional nature of security. By focusing on troop welfare, local defense manufacturing, and, most critically, a people-centric approach, General Musa is not just commanding an army—he is cultivating an institution capable of both winning the war and securing the peace. The success of operations like OPWS in Benue and Nasarawa serves as a beacon, proving that this new blueprint for military engagement is not just theoretical but is already delivering tangible, life-saving results for the Nigerian people.

•Elaigwu Awodi wrote from North Carolina, USA. Email: awodikenoutlook.com
August 29, 2025
China’s imperishable role in anti-fascist war
- By Charles Onunaiju
Eighty years after the Second World War, the preamble of the United Nations charter adopted in its immediate aftermath noted the determination of the peoples of the world “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind”. And given the scope of the devastations, human sufferings and deaths, it is proper to examine how humanity was pulled back from the brink of total destruction.

The path to securing the “succeeding generations from the scourge of war” lay in understanding historical facts relating to the war that brought “untold sorrow to mankind”, and taking the necessary steps to avoid the occurrence of the scourge.

In most of the stories especially in Western accounts, a principal victim to the aggression and the main bulwark in the defeat of the axis forces of Japan, Germany and Italy, the People’s Republic of China was rarely mentioned and if mentioned at all, is mostly treated as a footnote. Yet, China was the first country to face the onslaught of the axis powers in 1937, two years before Britain in 1939, four years before the U.S (December 7, the Pearl Harbour) and four years before the Soviet Union, (Operation Barbarossa, June 22, 1941).

China fought the longest of all Allied powers for eight years till the end of the war in August 1945.

On July 7, 1937, using the pretence of the so-called Marco Polo Bridge incident, Japanese occupation forces stationed at the Lugou Bridge outside Beijing requested for permission from the nearby garrison to enter in to a walled town of Wamping to search for one of their missing soldiers. The Chinese garrison who sensed that the demand was a mere smokescreen to further humiliate the sensibilities of the Chinese people, whose parts of the country have been occupied by Japan since 1931, refused and the cross fire that ensued effectively triggered Japanese fascist aggression and the Chinese people’s war of resistance against the Axis power.

Earlier in 1931, Japan wantonly violated the treaty of the League of Nations by the invasion and occupation of Manchuria in North East China, where it established a puppet state of Manchukuo, stirring and fuelling passionate anti-Japanese sentiments among the Chinese and this culminated in the Chinese people’s war of resistance and imperishable contributions to the world anti-fascist war and the victory over Nazis, fascism and especially the vicious Japanese militarism.

Without holding down the more than 800,000 Japanese troops on the Chinese mainland in the far East, the better known European fronts in the anti-fascist war may have still struggled to contain the ferocity of the brutal Nazi onslaught without the resistance of the far Eastern front for which China was the incontrovertible bulwark.

The inestimable cost of the Chinese people’s war of resistance against militarist Japanese aggression and contributions to the victory of the world anti-fascist war consisted in the untold human sufferings and loss of lives estimated at more than 20 million, following closely the loss of 27 million lives by the former Soviet Union, now comprised of nearly 20 sovereign states.

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The China’s then incipient modernization efforts were summarily destroyed, including most of the rail network, highways and industrial plants. According to some records, 30% of the infrastructure in the rich Pearl River Delta near Canton, 52% in Shanghai and a staggering 80% in the then capital, Nanjing were ruined. And then, the unforgettable Nanjing massacre also referred as the “rape of Nanjing”. The massacre was one of the bloodiest atrocities of Japan’s invasion and occupation of China from 1931 to 1945.

More than 300,000 civilians and disarmed soldiers were killed in the most gruesome manner with countless women raped during the six weeks from December 1937 to January 1938 by Japanese forces, following their capture of the then Chinese capital, Nanjing. The Nanjing massacre and the suffering of the Chinese people are definitely part of humanity’s experience of the second world war, and without the appreciation of this historical fact, the determination of humanity “to save succeeding generation from the scourge of war”, would not proceed from the historically established expression of “seeking truth form facts”.

Despite immense sufferings of the Chinese people, the world-wide anti-fascist victory indicated a vital step in China’s progression from a semi-colonized of vicious imperialism to her rise, however, tentative then, on the global stage as a sovereign power with wider regional and global responsibilities. The Chinese people’s war of resistance also forged the second United Front during which the Communist Party of China established itself as the leading force in the anti-Japanese military campaign and through immense sacrifice secured her imperishable vanguard role in the anti-fascist war of resistance and the construction of modern China.

In the early stage of the founding of modern China, it dug through its bitter war experience for formulate the immutable principles pf peaceful co-existence. The five principles (-mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. – mutual non-aggression, -mutual non-interference in other’s internal affairs, -equality and cooperation for mutual benefit, and -peaceful co-existence) have been adopted and mainstreamed in major resolutions and statements.

Having been first mentioned in the 1954 China-Indian agreement, and also included in the historic Ten principles of the Bundung conference in 1955, its core message reflected in the founding charter of the United Nations (UN).

Despite the challenge of the contemporary times, China continues to exert herself to generate important initiatives that have implications to foster international understanding, peace and development. The Belt and Road Initiative framework of international cooperation spanning infrastructure connectivity within countries and across countries, policy coordination, financial integration and vigorous people-people contact has become widely accepted a s core fabric of contemporary international relations.

According to World Bank study, trade flows among 155 participating countries will surge by 4.1 % and would have cut cost of global trade by 2.2 %. A London based consultancy, Centre for Economics and Business Research estimated the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) would likely increase world GDP by US$7.1 trillion per annum by 2040 and that the benefits would be “widespread” as improved infrastructures reduces “frictions that hold back world trade”, with an obvious consequence of universal peace dividends.

The Belt and Road whose cumulative Chinese engagement has reached US$1,308 trillion since 2013 with US$775 billion going into construction and US$533 billion into investments, is considered the foremost international public good of the 21st century. As vital international mechanism for cooperation, the BRI has continue to evolve, bringing into its purview, emerging global challenges and offering tailored insights to ameliorate them. Since international cooperation is critical, China has made enormous efforts to contribute her wisdom. The Global Development Initiative outlined by President Xi Jinping in 2021 offered to share Chinese experience which at the same year brought to an end extreme poverty and enabled China to achieve the Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 10 years ahead of its conclusion in 2030.

In 2022 and 2023, President Xi Jinping announced the Global Security and Civilization Initiatives respectively to boost and encourage inclusive global security framework and deepen dialogues among various civilizations of the world.

The pivotal initiatives have been mainstreamed into several international discourses, offering scopes for vigorous exchange of ideas, viewpoints and perspectives, thus enriching global intercourse.

Africa, whose many of her contemporary states were under colonial domination, have many of her citizens drafted to various war fronts in the second war where they fought under banners of the European empires to which they were subjects, and therefore contributed in the victory of the world anti-fascist struggle. And many of the African war veterans inspired by among others, the victory of the Chinese people’s war of resistance against the Japanese, added their experience to then, emerging anti-colonial struggle for independence.

The confluence of the Chinese people’s anti–imperialist struggle and Africa’s push for the end of colonial domination provided the historical starting point, culminating in the vigour, and dynamism of their contemporary cooperation that is widely known for generating practical inputs in their respective efforts at modernization, rejuvenation and renaissance. In the forefront for the struggle for universal peace and inclusive development for broadly shared prosperity, China-Africa relations forged in the heat of anti-imperialist struggles hold out the manifesto of peace, international justice, fairness and development by the example of their cooperation reaffirming the immutable principles of peaceful co-existence with the added practical value of win-win outcomes.

Despite the pockets of hotspots in some regions of the world, the compelling and evolving trajectories towards a community of shared future for humanity means that mankind would never come again to the horrors of the global mass slaughter that claimed the estimated 75 million to 80 million lives in the Second World War.

•Onunaiju is Director, Centre for China Studies, Abuja.
August 29, 2025
For a nuclear-weapon-free world

By Abdulrasheed Sado

Since the dawn of the nuclear age with the discovery of nuclear fission and the subsequent development of the atomic bomb under J. Robert Oppenheimer, humanity has grappled with a weapon capable of unprecedented devastation. While nuclear weapons have only been used twice in war, at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, their proliferation during the Cold War and persistence today continue to pose an existential threat to civilization.

The fundamental question arises: what is to be gained from a world that could be destroyed by the power of the atom? The arguments for a world free of nuclear weapons are compelling and multifaceted.

The primary and most terrifying argument against nuclear weapons is their unparalleled destructive capacity. A single modern nuclear warhead can instantly obliterate an entire city, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths. A large-scale nuclear exchange could immediately kill tens of millions, with many more succumbing to fallout. Scientists warn that even a limited regional nuclear war involving a few dozen warheads could trigger firestorms that loft soot into the atmosphere, leading to a phenomenon known as “nuclear winter”. This scenario would cause global cooling and darkening, potentially collapsing global agriculture and leading to mass famine and the death of billions through starvation and societal collapse. Humanity’s survival currently hinges precariously on perpetual restraint and sheer good fortune.

The 21st-century security landscape has fundamentally altered the reassuring premises of Cold War nuclear deterrence. The doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), which posited that no side would launch a nuclear attack knowing it would invite its own annihilation, relied on the assumption of rational actors. However, this assumption fails when confronted with the threat of nuclear terrorism. As former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger observed, this calculation “doesn’t operate in any comparable way” in a world of suicide bombers. Terrorist groups willing to sacrifice themselves cannot be deterred by the threat of retaliation, as George Shultz noted, they are “almost by definition not deterrable”. The continued existence of national nuclear arsenals significantly increases the risk that nuclear materials or warheads could be stolen, sold, or otherwise acquired by non-state actors.

The current global environment fosters nuclear proliferation; as long as some countries possess nuclear arsenals, others will feel compelled to obtain them. The 1970 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) envisioned a grand bargain where non-nuclear states would not acquire weapons, and the five recognized nuclear-weapon states (U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France) would pursue disarmament. However, decades later, disarmament by major powers has stalled, and many are modernizing their arsenals. Meanwhile, additional countries outside the NPT have developed nuclear weapons (India, Pakistan, North Korea, and presumably Israel). This risks a “nuclear tipping point” where many more nations might rapidly go nuclear, sparking regional arms races and significantly increasing the likelihood of conflict.

The longer nuclear weapons exist, the higher the cumulative probability of their use not by intent, but by accident or error. History is “replete with close calls” where nuclear war was nearly triggered by mistakes, including technical glitches, false alarms, misunderstood signals, or rogue personnel. Incidents like the 1983 Soviet false alarm or the 1979 NORAD computer glitch illustrate how easily errors could lead to unintended launches. The danger is compounded by the “hair-trigger alert postures” nations maintain for deterrence, leaving little margin to distinguish a false alarm from a real attack.

Beyond practical security, there is a strong moral argument that nuclear weapons are “intrinsically unacceptable instruments of war”. These devices inflict mass, indiscriminate killing, often targeting civilians, and cause horrific long-term effects like radiation, genetic damage, and environmental ruin. Many ethicists and humanitarian organizations argue that weapons capable of annihilating cities violate fundamental principles of the laws of war: distinction and proportionality. The international community’s growing awareness of the humanitarian impact led to the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which entered into force in 2021. Signed by nearly 100 non-nuclear countries, it reflects a broad sentiment that “nuclear weapons have no place in the modern world”. As International Rescue Committee (IRC), asserted, “there is no such thing as responsible possession of nuclear weapons”.

Global equity and trust

The current system of nuclear possession is seen by non-nuclear states as a “double standard,” where some countries claim the right to possess these weapons indefinitely while denying them to others. This breeds resentment and erodes cooperation. The situation in the Middle East, where Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons outside the NPT while international efforts focus on preventing Iran (an NPT-signatory) from acquiring a weapons capability, highlights the need for global equity and trust. According to the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, “the hypocrisy of the situation regarding nuclear weapons is completely unacceptable. Israel is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has probably had its own nuclear weapons since the 1960s, even though it does not directly admit this. How can most politicians around the world, including in Finland, accept Israel’s nuclear weapons, yet encourage it and the United States to destroy Iran’s nuclear weapons program?”

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Addressing common counterarguments

Some argue that nuclear arsenals have prevented great-power conflicts, pointing objection to the absence of direct war between the U.S. and Soviet Union during the Cold War. The fear is that removing deterrence would lead to conventional world wars.

While nuclear deterrence may have played a role, it came at a tremendous cost and risk. Near-apocalyptic events like the Cuban Missile Crisis show the world avoided nuclear war “despite them,” not because of them. Relying indefinitely on luck and rational restraint is extremely dangerous. Moreover, deterrence fails against irrational actors or with increasing proliferation. Conventional conflicts and proxy wars continued during the nuclear age, demonstrating that nukes did not “end war,” only made it infinitely more dangerous.

Skeptics argue that a ban could never be fully verified, allowing a determined actor to hide warheads or a secret program, achieving “nuclear blackmail power”.

While a “formidable verification challenge,” global nuclear disarmament is “not insurmountable”. The current non-proliferation regime, via the IAEA, already conducts rigorous inspections. An abolition treaty would expand these measures, including total surveillance of former weapons sites, continuous monitoring of fissile material, and intrusive inspections. Technical tools and verification protocols from past arms reduction treaties like START are advancing and could form a basis.

On the argument that we cannot uninvent nuclear weapons or erase the knowledge. Surely, the scientific know-how to build a nuclear weapon will always exist, and fissile materials will remain from civilian programs, leading some to argue that complete elimination is a mirage.

However, while the knowledge cannot be destroyed, stockpiles of weapons and production facilities can be eliminated. Securing and converting fissile materials to peaceful uses or placing them under international control would significantly raise the barriers to rearming. The goal is to make any rearmament effort difficult, time-consuming, and immediately apparent to the international community, allowing for intervention.

Finally, that nuclear disarmament could undermine national security or alliances.That nuclear-armed states and their allies worry about vulnerability if they give up their deterrent. Allies under a “nuclear umbrella” might fear emboldened adversaries.

Disarmament must be a cooperative, gradual, and reciprocal process with confidence-building at every step. No responsible leader would agree to unilateral disarmament. The process would be carefully phased, with robust verification providing assurance against cheating. For allies concerned about the loss of a nuclear umbrella, alternative security arrangements—such as bolstered conventional defense capabilities, missile defenses, and binding alliance commitments—would be strengthened.

The path forward

The arguments for eliminating all nuclear weapons “decisively outweigh the objections”. A nuclear-weapon-free world would remove the single greatest existential threat to humanity—the possibility of a civilization-ending nuclear war—and foster greater global trust and cooperation. While the challenges are significant, they are manageable through careful, collective action. As Cold War veterans in the documentary Nuclear Tipping Point emphasized, the choice is stark: eliminate these weapons or face eventual disaster. The current status quo of indefinite deterrence is not stable or wise; it is a temporary truce based on fear, susceptible to breakdown by miscalculation, technical failure, or malicious intent. If thousands of nuclear warheads persist, “it is less a question of if they will be used again, but when”.

•Sado is a PhD candidate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA.

August 28, 2025
Nigeria: Why Brazil. Yes, Brazil

By Sunday Dare

Three visits in less than a year. That is not mere coincidence, it is deliberate strategy. And as usual, disingenuous reportage from a section of the press is insinuating some obsession of President Tinubu with Brazil. Well, Yes. But it is an obsession in pursuit of economic partnerships and opportunities for Nigeria. And that’s what visionary leaders do.

The deeper truth, however, lies in a deliberate arc of diplomacy — one that connects Nigeria’s voice in global governance to concrete opportunities for investment, trade, and cooperation.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third visit to Brazil is at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, one of our biggest supporters and partners.

A strategic arc -From G20 to BRICS to a state visit

The first visit of President Tinubu to Brazil was in November 2024: for the G20 Leaders’ Summit, Rio de Janeiro from November 18-19, 2024. The president was at the summit which focused on ‘Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet,’ a gathering that was convened to tackle major global challenges like poverty, hunger, energy transition, and sustainable development.

At that forum, Tinubu gracefully advocated for reforming global governance structures, continuing Nigeria’s long-standing call for fairer representation of developing nations in decision-making institutions.

The sophomore visit was barely a month ago from 6th-7th of July for the BRICS Summit, in Brasília. At this 17th BRICS Summit, President Tinubu participated as the leader of a Partner Country- a membership category short of full status but significant, nonetheless.

This BRICS summit focused on ‘Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance’ with discussions centring on social, economic, and environmental development. President Tinubu’s message rang out clearly: Nigeria cannot remain a passive observer in the evolving global order — it must be an active shaper of a fairer and more inclusive system.

“Nigeria strongly believes in South-South cooperation. We can, therefore, not be passive participants in global decision-making on financial restructuring, debt forgiveness, climate change, environmental issues, and healthcare”.

And now, this august visit marks the transition from diplomacy to deals. Beyond dialogue, the focus has been activating multi-billion-dollar agricultural investments, advancing joint initiatives like the $1.1 billion Green Imperative mechanization project and securing new flows of FDI into Nigeria’s agriculture and energy sectors. It is also about deepening political trust, expanding cultural exchange, and harnessing shared opportunities in renewable energy, climate resilience, and digital transformation.

Why Nigeria and Brazil must work together

Brazil is Latin America’s largest economy and a global agricultural powerhouse. Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest economies with vast arable land and a young, dynamic population. Both are leaders of the Global South with converging aspirations in South–South cooperation.

Together, we face common challenges — and opportunities:

• Food Security: Brazil’s advanced mechanization and Nigeria’s fertile land create a powerful synergy.

• Climate Change & Energy Transition: Both countries share vulnerabilities, requiring joint innovation in renewables and green finance.

• Global Trade Realignment: With uncertainties around U.S. AGOA renewal, BRICS-linked trade and currency channels are becoming vital.

• Technology & Youth Employment: Harnessing the digital economy is central to empowering their youthful populations.

Trade and Investment Potential:

Trade between Nigeria and Brazil has experienced sharp swings in recent years. From a high of about US $9 billion a decade ago, bilateral trade fell to just US $1.6 billion in 2023, reflecting underutilized opportunities and shifting global dynamics.

In 2024, the figure remained under US $2 billion, with Brazil exporting roughly US $970 million worth of goods such as machinery and poultry to Nigeria, while Nigeria’s exports to Brazil stood at about US $920 million, driven by oil, cocoa, urea, and sesame. Brazil’s total imports from Nigeria in 2024 were valued at US $1.17 billion, largely mineral fuels and fertilizers.

Despite this contraction, the trade balance between the two economies remains relatively even, a sign of mutual complementarity rather than one-sided dependence. Nigeria’s non-oil exports are increasingly finding space in the Brazilian market — in October 2024 alone, Nigeria’s non-oil exports reached US $0.62 billion, with Brazil as the single largest destination, accounting for over 20 per cent of the total.

This demonstrates that beyond hydrocarbons, sectors like agriculture and agro-processing are already serving as bridges between the two economies, with clear potential for scaling up.

Looking ahead, both countries have set ambitious targets to revive and expand their trade partnership. At several fora, leaders pledged to push trade back above US $2 billion, with a longer-term goal of reaching US $3.5 billion by 2030.

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Nigeria and Brazil have since signed onto an economic cooperation with the launch of the Green Imperative Partnership (GIP), a USD $1.1 billion initiative aimed at supplying 10,000 tractors and 50,000 pieces of equipment, to be assembled in Nigeria. This project is estimated to provide about 100,000 direct jobs and over five million indirect jobs. The program is anticipated to advance agricultural mechanisation and food security in Nigeria. It is imperative to note that the Green Imperative Agreement was signed during the visit of the Brazilian Foreign Minister, H.E. Mauro Viera, in Abuja this year.

In Oil & Gas, Brazilian giants such as Petrobras and Embraer are exploring investments in energy and aviation. The BASA Agreement for a direct flight route between our two countries is already on the table to be consummated, a move that would dramatically improve connectivity, lower costs, and unlock new flows of trade, tourism, and investment.

Cultural linkages

Asides trade and economy, Nigeria and Brazil are linked by deep historical bonds dating back to the transatlantic slave trade, when millions of Africans — especially Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo — were taken to Brazil. Their languages, faiths, music, and cuisine left lasting imprints, visible today in Salvador da Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, and Afro-Brazilian traditions like Candomblé and Capoeira. Consular relations between the two countries are marked by the presence of an estimated 9,000 Nigerians residing in Brazil, the majority of whom live in Sao Paulo, the biggest city and commercial nerve centre of the country.

These roots now fuel modern exchanges in art, film, music, and academia, with Yoruba studies thriving in Brazil and Afro-Brazilian festivals attracting Nigerians. Such cultural diplomacy strengthens goodwill and opens pathways in the creative economy, heritage tourism, and education — proving the Nigeria–Brazil relationship is as much about shared identity as it is about shared strategy.

Beyond trade and diplomacy — towards shared prosperity

The growing relevance of BRICS and the G20 signals a shift toward a multipolar world order. This is not about opposing any single power bloc; it is about ensuring space for voices like Nigeria’s and Brazil’s in reshaping trade, finance, technology, and food systems.

As President Tinubu argued in Brasília, BRICS and South–South frameworks allow nations like Nigeria and Brazil to ‘look inward to decide what is important for our people and how we can leverage partnerships to accelerate development.’

Nigeria and Brazil share several commonalities, including vast territories, large populations, tropical climates, and similar colonial histories. Both countries hold considerable influence within their respective regions and are active members of key international organisations. They have been strong advocate for South-South Cooperation, with Brazil viewing Nigeria as a strategic gateway to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) market.

This state visit is yet one of President Tinubu’s Power Forward Diplomacy (PFD), one that obliterates obstacles but propels Nigeria into a new era of bold economic and political diplomacy. A handshake across the Atlantic between two global players in their own rights. Let the world take note: BRAZIL IS THEREFORE NOT A DETOUR BUT A DESTINATION.

•Dare is Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Public Communication.

August 28, 2025
The fall of Ansaru
- By Senator Iroegbu
Nigeria’s security landscape has begun to shift. Terrorists are surrendering, warlords are falling, oil production is recovering, and communities once silenced by fear are slowly reclaiming public space.

The latest and perhaps most consequential breakthrough is the capture of two of the most notorious terrorist kingpins in northern Nigeria. The resilience and determination of the Nigerian people in the face of such challenges are genuinely inspiring. After months of painstaking intelligence work, Nigerian security forces apprehended Mahmud Muhammad Usman, the self-styled “Emir of Ansaru,” and his deputy Mahmud al-Nigeri (Malam Mahmuda)—the mastermind of the Mahmuda terrorist group that had long tormented Borgu, a geo-cultural region stretching across Niger, Kebbi, northern Kwara, and spilling into the Benin Republic. Their arrest has effectively dismantled the command structure of the al-Qaeda-linked Ansaru group, notorious for kidnappings, assassinations, and extremist propaganda.

For years, Ansaru posed a unique threat—blending local grievances with global jihadist networks, staging ambushes on highways, and attacking security convoys with deadly precision. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu deserves enormous credit for steering this operation with quiet resolve. Working in concert with the armed forces and intelligence agencies, Ribadu helped deliver what is already being described as one of Nigeria’s most consequential counter-terrorism successes.

In a climate where victories against terror too often feel fleeting, the neutralisation of Ansaru’s leadership stands as a rare and decisive breakthrough. Public affairs analyst Farooq Kperogi aptly described it as “a visible, heartening crack in the wall of impunity that these blood-sucking monsters of depravity had built for themselves.”

Of course, terror will not vanish overnight. Ansaru’s lieutenants remain scattered, and other criminal syndicates continue to plague highways, villages, and farmlands. But the symbolism of this victory is profound: Nigeria has shown that with patience, intelligence, and coordination, even the most entrenched terror networks can be cut down. This progress builds on broader gains since mid-2023. According to official data, between May 2023 and early 2025, security forces neutralised more than 13,500 terrorists and armed criminals, while over 124,000 insurgents and their families surrendered. More than 11,000 hostages were freed and 3,843 illegal refineries dismantled, choking off vital lifelines of both terror and economic sabotage.

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In the Northwest, the phenomenon of mass abductions has declined sharply, aided by the elimination of notorious bandit warlords like Ali Kachalla, Halilu Sububu, and Boderi. The Northeast theatre, once dominated by Boko Haram and ISWAP, has seen insurgent capacity steadily degrade, with fighters surrendering in their thousands—a scenario unimaginable just a few years ago. In the Niger Delta, oil production has rebounded to 1.8 million barrels per day, the highest in years, after a concerted clampdown on oil theft and pipeline vandalism. Meanwhile, in the Southeast, the once-feared “sit-at-home” orders imposed by armed separatists are losing their grip, with commercial and social life gradually returning.

Nigeria has also moved to secure its virtual borders. Cybercrime crackdowns and the rollout of the Critical National Information Infrastructure Protection Plan reflect a recognition that the wars of today are waged as much in cyberspace as in forests and villages.

And yet, challenges remain. Kidnappings, though reduced in some areas, still plague highways. Displaced farmers remain reluctant to return to their fields, worsening food insecurity. Cross-border arms trafficking, climate change pressures, and adaptive criminal networks all complicate the security equation. The capture of Ansaru’s kingpins is a breakthrough—but unless sustained, it risks becoming another high point in a cycle of boom and relapse. The road ahead requires more than battlefield victories. Nigeria needs a whole-of-society strategy that pairs military gains with governance reforms, political dialogue, and economic inclusion.

Intelligence-driven policing, regional cooperation to secure porous borders, and genuine community engagement are essential. Equally important is building public trust through transparency, accountability, and consistent leadership—without which victories risk evaporating into disillusionment. The need for these sustained, holistic strategies is urgent and cannot be overstated. The dismantling of Ansaru’s leadership shows what is possible when political will aligns with operational discipline. It is a moment worth celebrating, not because the war is over, but because it proves progress is achievable.

Nigeria has long been accustomed to headlines dominated by violence and loss; this capture offers a different kind of story—a reminder that the tide, however slowly, can turn. The actual test is whether this victory will be treated as an isolated success or as a launch-pad for more profound, systemic change. If Nigeria sustains this momentum—combining security with justice, economic opportunity, and social cohesion—the shadow of insecurity need not define the nation’s future.

The potential for more profound, systemic change is within reach, offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise challenging situation. For now, the fall of Ansaru’s terror lords is a decisive crack in the edifice of impunity. It must not be the last. Again, it is worth noting that the federal government has revitalised programmes such as the National Park Service’s Forest Guard initiative, to reclaim forests used as criminal hideouts, which is promising. However, these measures will yield little if they are not anchored in transparency, consistency, and shared responsibility across federal, state, and local levels.

Security, as the old saying goes, is everybody’s business. Communities must actively participate in their protection, and civic leaders must work to bridge the gap between citizens and the security apparatus. Nigeria’s security journey is far from over, and the path is still treacherous. Yet the evidence of the past 18 months suggests that progress is possible when political will, strategic clarity, and operational discipline align.

For a country long accustomed to headlines dominated by pervasive insecurity, these gains, however fragile, are a reminder that the tide can be turned. But it will require vigilance to guard against complacency, foresight to address root causes, and courage to confront those who profit from instability. Only then can Nigeria hope, not just to contain insecurity, but to end the cycle and build the foundation for lasting peace.

•Iroegbu, a journalist and security and public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja.
August 27, 2025
What does Remi Tinubu want?
- By Tajudeen Kareem and Wale Ojo-Lanre
What does Remi Tinubu want? It is a simple question, yet profound. A question that in ordinary times might be dismissed as impertinent, but in today’s Nigeria it is not only valid — it is necessary.

In a country where First Ladies have to often been judged by the splendour of their wardrobe, the aura of their retinue, or the drama of their utterances, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has chosen to tread a different path. She has turned her tenure not into a showcase of power, but into a gallery of compassion, a mosaic of interventions, a chronicle of service.

In asking what she wants, we begin to see more clearly what she gives.

When in 2023 she launched the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI, many thought it would be another ornamental project, an appendage designed for photo opportunities. Instead, what unfolded was a full-scale social intervention platform, anchored on five thematic pillars — agriculture, education, health, economic empowerment, and social investment.

Registered as a non-governmental organisation, RHI was conceived not as a government programme, but as a bridge, a complement, and a catalyst. Its stated target was to touch lives, especially of women, children, youth, and the vulnerable. And touch lives it has.

The momentum began in March 2024, when Mrs. Tinubu formally launched the Food Outreach Programme in Abuja. It was not a one-off charity. It was a structured, state-by-state, month-by-month distribution of food items to vulnerable households, persons with disabilities, widows, and the forgotten poor.

The funding came not from the federal treasury but from private sources, notably the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative and anonymous benefactors. By October, the outreach had arrived Ekiti State, and by December it had warmed the hearts of elderly citizens in Edo State, with 250 elders each receiving N250,000, food items, and free health checks.

The programme is still rolling, moving from state to state, as predictable as the sunrise, delivering hope in bags of rice, beans, and oil.

But food was only the first chapter. In April 2024, the First Lady turned her eyes to the soil. She launched an agricultural empowerment scheme for Southwest women, handing N500,000 grants to 20 women farmers in each state — Ogun, Lagos, Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, and Ondo. One hundred and twenty women walked home with funds and farm inputs, and with them the possibility of scaling up from subsistence to commercial farming. The model soon spread to the Southeast and North-central, where similar groups of women were empowered.

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In Cross River, 320 women and youths were supported and 30 Young Farmers Clubs established. In Delta, 400 farmers were given inputs and grants. In Enugu, 400 women and youths were trained and equipped. In Ondo, through partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, 500 women petty traders received N50,000 each. Agriculture, once a forgotten sector for women, suddenly found itself in the embrace of Remi Tinubu’s vision.

She understood that identity is as critical as food. So on August 29, 2024, she launched a partnership with UNICEF and the National Population Commission to accelerate birth registration. For children born between August and December 2024, commemorative certificates were issued, symbolising a new era where no Nigerian child should grow up without legal identity. “Our children must have their rights and privileges guaranteed from the very beginning,” she said, and with those words, the faceless millions of unregistered births began to find their names written into the book of the nation.

In education, her passion has been relentless. In 2024, RHI distributed 50,000 exercise books in each state, totalling over two million across the country. In January 2025, she awarded 5,100 bursaries to female students in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, gave out millions more exercise books, and launched the creation of 40 Alternative High Schools for Girls — second-chance schools for teenagers derailed by early pregnancy or child marriage.

She launched the “Flow with Confidence” programme to supply menstrual pads to rural girls, aiming to reduce school absenteeism caused by monthly cycle.

The healthcare front has been equally transformed. In January, she unveiled the distribution of 60,000 professional kits for midwives and nurses, equipping them with scrubs, shoes, and dignity. This was not just about uniforms; it was about morale, recognition, and the silent but powerful message that those who save lives deserve to be valued.

In April, she repeated the gesture in the Southwest, giving 10,000 kits, while simultaneously launching the “Free to Shine” campaign — a continental initiative aimed at eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis. By June, she carried this crusade to the Southeast, standing shoulder to shoulder with other African First Ladies to fight diseases that steal futures before they begin. In Bayelsa State, RHI organised free medical outreach in Otuasega, bringing doctors and medicine to a community that had long been neglected.

Creativity was not left out. In February, Mrs. Tinubu pledged N100 million to the Five Cowries Art Education Initiative, designed to support 5,000 art exhibitions and expand cultural clubs across Nigeria. By this, she reminded us of Pablo Picasso’s timeless truth: “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Where many see art as luxury, she saw it as essential, as education for the heart.

Economic empowerment continued to be a steady rhythm. In April, 200 women in textile production received 400 bales of African fabric, while 1,000 petty traders in Ondo State shared N50 million, helping them to stabilise their businesses and feed their families.

And then, in July came the thunderclap. Through the Renewed Hope Initiative, the First Lady announced a N1 billion donation to victims of violence in Plateau State. She was quick to clarify: not a kobo from government funds, but resources mobilised privately. It was a gesture of scale and substance, signalling that compassion can be organised at the level of billions, not just thousands.

In less than two years, the Renewed Hope Initiative has reportedly reached over 40 million households. It has fed the hungry, clothed the healthcare worker, lifted the farmer, equipped the trader, empowered the girl, dignified the elder, registered the nameless child, and inspired the artist. It has stretched its hands into every geopolitical zone, leaving behind testimonies of lives touched and burdens eased.

So, what does Remi Tinubu want?

Certainly, our First Lady wants a Nigeria where no child grows up without identity, where no girl is denied education because of pregnancy, where no mother dies in childbirth, where no family goes hungry, where art and culture flourish, and where women have the resources to farm, trade, create, and thrive.

She wants to redefine the office of the First Lady — from ceremonial glamour to practical grace, from passive presence to active impact, from mere symbolism to enduring substance.

History will remember her not for the gowns she wore, nor the banquets she attended, but for the footprints of grace she left across Nigeria’s soil.

Her journey is not separate from the vision of her husband, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; it is in harmony with it. The president speaks of a Renewed Hope Agenda, of reviving the nation’s economy, of empowering its people, of uniting its diversity under a banner of progress.

The First Lady, in her own lane, has translated that vision into the intimate language of households — bags of food in the kitchens of widows, bursaries in the hands of schoolgirls, scrubs on the backs of nurses, and identity certificates in the names of new-born children.

To borrow the words of Mother Teresa: “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Remi Tinubu, through her Renewed Hope Initiative, has done both great things and small things, but always with great love. And that, perhaps, is all she really wants — a Nigeria where love, service, and hope are renewed every day.

•Kareem and Ojo-Lanre are veteran journalists.
August 27, 2025
Nigeria and the rump of the aviation industry
- By Mike Kebonkwu
Two seemingly ugly incidents occurred recently in our aviation industry that drew negative press and publicity, both avoidable. One involved a celebrity, an fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (aka KWAM 1) who was involved in a bitter altercation while trying to board ValueJet flight at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. He had refused to submit for examination, the content of a vacuum flask he was holding like a totem in a primitive display of power and influence as a celebrity of sort. He was going to block the flight like King Kong to stop it from taking off which could have led to fatality. The bad tempered pilot of the aircraft also taxied off without caring a hoot about the consequences.   The pilot had her operating licence suspended.

The minister of aviation also in swift reaction slammed the musician with six months flying ban. No investigation, no official inquiry, nothing! Is that what the law or rule says? One wonders where the minister got the power which was quite impulsive and arbitrary deployment of official power. Everything appears to be wrong with the aviation industry in Nigeria!

What about the arbitrary and prohibitive fare Nigerian passengers are sentenced to? Nigeria should command the hub of aviation traffic in the industry as people have been driven out of the roads by insecurity. However, it is beyond the reach of the poor masses that have to face bandits and kidnappers daily on the road and pay heavy price for that also.

Lo and behold, we hear that Kwam 1 has been rewarded as brand ambassador of the aviation industry. Can you beat that, for someone whose action is synonymous with lawlessness to wear the face of the aviation industry security protocol that he defied and denigrated! Typical elite reward system; a despicable denigration of public decency and rule of etiquette.

We are not to wait for long before the sister case was re-enacted at the Ibom Air, this time in the cabin while landing at the Lagos airport.

It involved a relatively unknown passenger, a certain Comfort Emmanson who had disagreement with a hostess over turning off phone. It was a most uncultured display of incivility and lack of professionalism of the cabin crew in handling the whole business. There was questionable behaviour of the passenger which did not show much of proper upbringing. She was almost stripped to her panties. Such treatment was inexcusable and should be deprecated with odium. She was wheeled straight to Kirikiri correctional facility in Lagos with a procured order from a magistrate. Again, she has since landed brand endorsement to many companies earning immediate celebrity status and mega bucks.

To be sure, these are not just two isolated incidents of such ugly character.   Not too long ago, a senator and two time governor of Edo State and former labour leader was embroiled in a similar incident over an alleged late arrival, after boarding had closed.

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The problem is not exactly about law and order or respect for operational rules of airlines for safety of passengers; it is a little bit of all and especially about the moral bankruptcy of the society. A responsible person and a gentleman ought to have respect for time and schedule. You are not to keep people waiting because you have political power or that you are rich. You need not patronize public utility as you can as well use your private jet where no one will be inconvenienced by your sense of entitlement with no respect for time.

The incidents in the aviation industry are part of the larger societal problem. The airlines are guilty, the regulators are guilty, the passengers are equally guilty and our country is carrying the moral burden like the mark of the beast.

What is the standard and operating procedure for airline passengers on sitting arrangement, safety and use of cell phones in-flight? The airlines themselves often time display acute lack of order when they will issue you boarding pass with seat number and only to be told in the cabin that it is free sitting. Then why issue boarding pass with seat number? On regulation of using cell phone, what is the permissible rule; put it on flight mode or switch it off for the duration of the flight? It is certainly not too much for one to put off his or her phone for a flight that is just about one hour. People just want to attract unnecessary attention to the phone they are using to show off, but who really cares, pressing phone!

The airlineswill do well to give the cabin crew adequate training to relate nicely with passengers. It has become the case of take the monkey from the bush but you cannot take the bush away from the monkey! The street rule and the rule of airline passengers certainly cannot be the same and do not meet.

The treatment meted on Ms Comfort in the cabin on the aircraft was everything but professional. This however did not make up for the obvious character deficit and lack of good manners clearly displayed by her. The situation could have been better managed than what was beamed to the world on social media. However, there was a good lesson also in the whole ugly drama; if only to serve as bad example on how not to behave in public and how not to manage social misfits in public space.

All the lawyers in Nigeria may choose to file actions in court on behalf of Ms Emmanson; all the gender rights activists may choose to wear orange vests in protest but the moral compass of public decency cannot absolve Emmanson as a victim. Her endorsements as brand ambassador are nothing but celebration of mediocrity, elites’ perversion, and moral bankruptcy of the society.

The reaction of people was almost with unanimity in condemnation at the exposed boobs of the damsel whose apparel was torn in a fit of rage in public altercation and being dragged from an aircraft. That is the society we are living in; everything is in topsy-turvy. These incidents show the face of Nigeria to the public; no standard, no rules, brash and rascality pays and we celebrate moral bankruptcy. The government rewarded KWAM1 while the public celebrate Ms Comfort with endorsement and as brand ambassador. The airline has to sulk in badly trained staff and public scrutiny while the industry is worse off! Bad manners pay?

•Kebonkwu Esq is an Abuja-based attorney. He writes via mikekebonkwu@yahoo.com
August 27, 2025