The Nation Newspaper

Category: Features

  • Using education as tool for liberation, empowerment

    Using education as tool for liberation, empowerment

    In a country where conversations about education are often dominated by failing infrastructure, underpaid teachers and alarming out-of-school statistics, stories of impact can feel increasingly rare. Yet, across Nigeria, there are educators quietly rewriting this narrative; teaching not just to complete syllabuses, but to change lives. In this report, CHINYERE OKOROAFOR highlights the resilience and innovation of an English language teacher in Tudun Wada, Lugbe in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja Sarah Yusuf, who continues to make a difference despite daunting challenges.

    Sarah Yusuf teaches English language at Wisdom International School of Excellence (WISE), Tudun Wada, Lugbe in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. As a teacher who walked into slum communities with books instead of excuses, she stayed back after school to prepare pupils for greater future.

    She is convinced that education must do more than prepare children for examinations. It must prepare them for life. This conviction earned her a place at the 11th edition of the Maltina Teacher-of-the-Year Competition during which she was announced the overall winner.

    On November 21, last year, that quiet conviction took her to Nigeria’s biggest teaching stage, where she clinched a N10 million cash prize, overseas capacity development training, and a N30 million school infrastructure project in her honour.

    Long before her name echoed recently through the ballroom of Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos, the 31-year-old Yusuf was already known. But, her real story did not begin that night. It began years earlier, in places many teachers would rather look away from.

    Wisdom International School of Excellence is located in a community that mirrors the reality of millions of Nigerians-low income, under-resourced and often overlooked by policymakers and planners.

    For Yusuf, teaching was never meant to be mechanical. It was deeply personal and purpose-driven.

    “My teaching philosophy is anchored on the belief that education must go beyond informing the mind to transforming lives.

    “I do not regard learning as the memorisation of facts alone but as a pathway to empowerment, purpose and self-reliance,” she said.

    In Tudun Wada, this philosophy translates into lessons that are practical, reflective and firmly rooted in everyday realities. She noticed that many children struggled not because they lacked intelligence, but because learning was disconnected from their lived experiences.

    Rather than teach in abstraction, she began drawing deliberate connections between the classroom and the world her students navigate daily. Education became practical, relatable and empowering; lessons turned into conversations about life, writing exercises became tools for self-expression and reading opened windows to possibility.

    “In my classroom, students are encouraged to think critically, apply knowledge practically and understand how education connects to their lives and communities,” she said.

    The approach has shaped not only how her students learn, but how they see themselves; as thinkers, contributors and problem-solvers in their own right. What sets Yusuf apart is not just how she teaches, but where and why she teaches.

    Through the Voice from the Slum Initiative (VOISIN), Yusuf also began extending learning opportunities to underprivileged children who had either dropped out of school or never enrolled. In makeshift learning spaces, she introduced literacy, mentorship and life skills; turning education into a lifeline.

    “My teaching extends beyond the school walls into the streets, slums, and various settlements, where I turn learning into liberation and education into empowerment.

    Her work also took another bold turn with Sarah’s Small Scale Fish Farming Initiative, a project that blends education with entrepreneurship. While teaching English language, Yusuf introduced students to fish farming, using it to teach vocabulary, record-keeping, financial literacy and business thinking.

    The initiative did more than feed families. It reframed learning as a pathway to self-reliance, aligning with the global goal of zero-hunger while grounding it firmly in local reality. The innovation earned her the phenomenal Edupreneur Challenge Award. More importantly, it equipped students with practical skills they could apply beyond the classroom, underscoring that in today’s world, education rooted in real-life use is far more empowering than theory alone.

    Read Also: Top 10 Africa’s most powerful passports in January 2026

    In many low-income Nigerian communities, girls are still subtly discouraged from exploring technology and leadership. Yusuf noticed this gap early and decided to confront it head-on.

    Through the WISE Girls in ICT initiative, she began mentoring female students in digital literacy, debate and leadership. Computers became tools of confidence, not intimidation. Girls were encouraged to speak, code, question and lead.

    The results were striking. Her students emerged winners of the PLAN International Nigeria Debate and Quiz Competition, proving that when opportunity meets encouragement, excellence follows. For Yusuf, it was never about trophies. It was about visibility.

    “When girls see themselves represented in spaces of innovation, their dreams expand,” she said.

    The night Nigeria noticed

    From the dusty paths of Lugbe to the polished floors of Eko Hotels, Yusuf stood visibly moved as her name was announced as Nigeria’s 2025 Maltina Teacher of the Year. She was shocked as she admitted later. She never imagined her quiet efforts would attract national recognition.

    As applause filled the hall, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem praised the initiative for elevating the teaching profession and highlighting its critical value to society.

    Sanwo-Olu also expressed his profound appreciation to the Nigeria Brewery-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund for its enduring commitment to celebrating teachers, supporting schools and investing in the future of Nigerian children.

    “Nigerian Breweries, what you’re doing here today goes beyond corporate social responsibility; it is simply nation-building. Tonight, we honour the remarkable men and women whose passion, resilience and creativity shape destinies and prepare our children not just for examinations, but for life,” he said.

    He congratulated the overall winner, urging her to carry the honour with pride and humility as an ambassador of excellence for young people nationwide.

     “To every teacher being recognised today, whether you leave with a trophy or not, Lagos State celebrates you and Nigeria celebrates you. You are the heroes whose work often goes unnoticed, yet whose impact is profound-resounding in every success, every breakthrough and every community that thrives,” he added.

    The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, hailed the initiative as a remarkable collaboration between the government and the private sector to honour those dedicating their lives to shaping the next generation.

    “Today is a powerful reminder that teachers are the true architects of national transformation. Behind every thriving society lies a corps of educators whose daily labour shapes minds, nurtures values and builds the foundation for future progress,” she said.

    The Corporate Affairs Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Uzodinma Odenigbo described this year’s turnout as unprecedented, with over 2,000 entries submitted, the highest in the 11-year-old history of the competition.

    He credited the milestone to the growing trust teachers across Nigeria place in the programme, and he praised the judges for their integrity and professionalism in evaluating the entries.

    Odenigbo also expressed gratitude to the competition’s partners, including Union Bank, Air Peace, FCMB and Eko Hotels and Suites, as well as key stakeholders such as the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) and Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), whose support in funding teacher registrations helped in making the record-breaking turnout possible.

    Miss Yusuf

    In her remarks, Yusuf expressed her gratitude to the Education Trust Fund for recognising the invaluable role of teachers.

    She described her win as a powerful motivation to deepen her work, particularly in slum communities.

    “I feel very excited after I was declared the winner. Initially, I was shocked because I never thought my effort would be worthy of this great award. With this news, I am motivated to do more and expand the activities I have carried out in slum communities.

    I am grateful to Nigerian Breweries Plc for creating this platform to honour and recognise teachers. I dedicate this award to children living within the slum communities,” she said.

    It was a rare moment when the spotlight shifted, from power to purpose, from ceremony to service.

    Beyond the prize money

    The N10 million prize is significant, but Yusuf is more focused on what matters most.

    The overseas capacity development training, she said, will expose her to global best practices in inclusive education, innovation and leadership.

    But she does not intend to keep that knowledge to herself. Plans are already underway to translate what she learns into teacher mentorship, training programmes, and collaborative learning within her community.

    The N30 million school infrastructure projects, to be built in her honour, represent something even deeper: a legacy. She envisions improved digital learning facilities, better classrooms, and spaces where skill-based education can thrive.

    In a system where infrastructure often lags behind ambition, the project offers a glimpse of what is possible when investment meets vision.

    Yusuf’s journey also exposes a painful truth: many Nigerian teachers work under conditions that test resilience daily. Poor remuneration, limited professional development, and inadequate recognition continue to erode morale.

    She said: “There is need for reforms that prioritise teacher welfare in the newly launched National Teacher Policy (NTP), continuous professional development and recognition of innovation. Teachers should be supported with fair remuneration, access to training, and platforms that reward creativity and impact in education.

    “Support systems such as professional learning communities, mentorship networks and partnerships with development organisations are essential. When teachers are empowered to innovate and are recognised for their contributions, teaching becomes not only respected but also fulfilling and sustainable.”

    Her story also challenges a single narrative of despair. It shows that even within broken systems, innovation can flourish when teachers are supported, recognised and trusted.

    For Yusuf, the award is more than recognition; it is a call to action for teachers across Nigeria.

    “As teachers, it is easy to feel unseen or discouraged, especially when the system is demanding and recognition seems distant. But your work matters, even when it feels invisible. Every learner you inspire, every value you instill, and every problem you help a child solve contribute to shaping the future of our society,” she said.

    She urged educators to look beyond textbooks and timetables. “Dare to do something different, both in the classroom and beyond it. Look around your community, identify real problems, and allow learning to become part of the solution. When education is connected to societal needs, it becomes powerful and impactful,” Yusuf said.

    Her advice is simple, yet profound: excellence and innovation speak for themselves.

    She said: “When teachers teach with purpose, creativity and courage, the world eventually takes notice. Stay committed, keep learning, and believe in the value of your contribution. If you remain faithful to impact and service, recognition will come, and when it does, it will not only celebrate you, it will celebrate the future you helped build.”

    With these words, Yusuf leaves a message for the country: that the true legacy of teaching is not measured in awards or applause, but in lives transformed and futures reshaped.

    The Maltina Teacher-of-the-Year Competition, now in its 11th year, has become one of the few national platforms that celebrate such impact, producing a growing league of education ambassadors across Nigeria.

    As the applause fades and the headlines move on, Yusuf will return to Tudun Wada. She will stand before students whose names may never trend online, but whose futures are being shaped, lesson by lesson.

    In a country where education often struggles for attention, her work reminds us that transformation rarely begins in conference halls. It begins in classrooms with limited resources, in slums where hope is fragile, and in the hearts of teachers who refuse to give up.

    Yusuf teaches where the system is weakest, and in doing so, she shows its greatest strength. And that may be the most powerful lesson of all.

  • Tinubu making life unbearable for terrorists

    Tinubu making life unbearable for terrorists

    President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated a steely resolve to rid the country of terrorists. This commitment to ending terrorism and making the country safe led to the appointment of Service chiefs, particularly, the decision to bring back from retirement Lt. General Christopher Musa. This has been hailed by observers as a masterstroke in the total war against insurgents. DAMOLA KOLA-DARE reports

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is determined to fight terrorism till the end. The country’s helmsman is poised to work his socks off to get results.

    His commitment to achieve unprecedented success over terrorism, banditry and all manner of societal ills has drawn praises from many. 

    In a bold move to match words with action, the President displayed a strong political will by appointing Service chiefs to strengthen the battle against terrorism.

    Leading the pack is the career military combatant, Lt. General Christopher Musa, who was recalled from retirement to be Minister of Defence, having previously served  as chief of Defence Staff.

    Mayor of Urhoboland and former agitator, Dr  Eshanekpe Israel, heaped plaudits on Tinubu for his unwavering determination to end heinous crimes and criminalities of varying degrees in the country.

    Lauding the President for displaying a strong political will, the former militant leader described him as echoing “good governance, peace building, national unity, solidarity to the nation, growth and development.

    This latest appointment by the President is a strong statement that he is determined to tackle terrorism. It sends the right signals to Nigerians, naysayers and development partners home and abroad that the Federal Government is committed to ridding the country of violence and high crimes.

    The mayor, who recently received an honorary PhD in Leadership and Conflict Management from American Management University, views Musa’s appointment as an ambitious move by the President to genuinely tackle terrorism and bring lasting peace to the country instead of pampering terrorists, who are undermining national peace and progress.

    Tackling insecurity

    The current administration has shown great interest in combating corruption-fuelled insecurity since its inception. It would seem the United States has further propelled and subtly made the government raise the stakes.

    The rejigging of the country’s security architecture by putting square pegs in square holes is yielding dividends.

    The mayor argued that the Ministry of Defence, led by Musa, is currently taking the war to the insurgents, aimed at crippling their infamous activities.

    Nigerians are beginning to see the effects of mathematical precision in the appointment of the right people into key positions.

    Musa has shown capacity, expertise and the wherewithal to deal deadly blows to terrorists and their sponsors.

    With President Donald Trump’s intervention and the deadly precision attack on the Sahel terrorists in Sokoto axis, seen as their harbinger, the military has taken the gauntlet of a seeming mop-up campaign across the strongholds of the insurgents through the most affected states in the North.

    Across Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Kwara states, among others, the military operations have whittled down the strength of the terrorists with clinical efficiency and accuracy.

    Read Also: Beyond the single narrative: The reality of Benue killings

    Notably, since the appointment of Musa, collaboration among the Armed Forces, jointly coordinated by the Nuhu Ribadu-led Office of National Security Adviser to the President and renewed military understanding with U.S., leading to the Christmas Day bombing of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorists in Northwest, Nigeria, under Tinubu, has recorded tremendous progress in the terror war.

    On December 31, the Air Force carried out coordinated strikes in Zamfara State, targeting entrenched terrorist logistics and command centres.  This operation was part of a broader effort to disrupt terrorist activities, following the U.S airstrikes in Sokoto on Christmas Day, which targeted ISIS-linked camps.

    Recent bombings

    This month, the Air Force also bombed a terrorist camp in Borno State, specifically in the Timbuktu Triangle, as part of Operation HADIN KAI. The operation was intelligence-led and aimed at degrading terrorists’ capability and denying them sanctuary.

    In addition, the military reported that it killed 50 Boko Haram terrorists in Northeast in October last year under the leadership of Musa as the chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The military also recovered arms and ammunition and rescued kidnapped victims.

    “These operations demonstrate the military’s efforts at combating terrorism with support from international partners, such as U.S, all thanks to operators who have chosen to be selfless and unsympathetic to those criminals, unlike what it was in our past.

    “Unlike the massive attacks on the hideouts of the ‘terrorist scums,’ a former minister was accused of telling the world that the terrain in the North is difficult to bomb due to the thickness of the area; a statement Nigerians deemed to be sympathetic to the insurgents, who killed and maimed Nigerians,” the mayor said.

    He said such a statement made by a minister, who hails from one of the worse-hit zones by ISIS elements, is against the national interest.

    The mayor equally condemned alleged community leaders aiding and abetting terrorists.

    “Some community leaders are allegedly involved in aiding and abetting the criminals for fear of being attacked. Most people, allegedly through communal efforts, pay ransoms and taxes to terrorists, while some engage terrorists to secure their villages. The current military effort is removing all constraints to hit the location of the criminals. The success of the operations is due largely to the coordination and cooperation of the Musa-led military. No more information leakages to the criminals from the high echelons of the military, fewer compromises and betrayals.

    “Musa has come to file the rough edges in planning and execution of the war, which is culminating in military success. Long before the change in security chiefs, we had reports of ambushes of the military by their targets, negotiation and payment of huge ransoms. All these are gradually fizzling out because the new sheriff in town takes no nonsense.

    “These operations demonstrate the military’s commitment to dismantling terrorists’ networks and restoring peace to affected communities. The effectiveness of these efforts is amplified by improved intelligence fusion and international cooperation,” he said.

    On the humanitarian crisis in the affected areas, he said the government is doing its best to ensure that survivors of the criminal onslaught are safe, adding that Tinubu’s administration is focused on addressing the needs of over three million internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by insurgency, banditry and communal clashes. International Organisation for Migration (IOM), United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and other partners are assisting with shelter, food, water, sanitation and psychosocial support.

    As former Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, stated last year, this administration should not contemplate negotiation in any guise with the terrorists but go all out to exterminate them and make Nigeria uninhabitable for criminal elements. There is a need to fight the war dispassionately without anyone being regarded as a sacred cow.

    “Be you a Christian, Muslim or traditional worshipper, the war must be total because bombs or bullets do not select who to hit. This is when the citizens should come all out, not only to commend but support our military in providing credible and workable intelligence for them to deliver. Necessary support in the form of availability of weapons of war should be given to our military to carry out the war,” Eshanekpe added.

    He said: “As we speak, after years of fear, bloodshed, propaganda videos, and hollow threats, Sambisa Forest — the symbol of terror in Nigeria — has finally collapsed under the weight of a coordinated firepower. The Army has confirmed full control of the forest following weeks of relentless ground operations and precision aerial strikes.

    ‘‘Sambisa Forest is no longer a sanctuary for terrorists. It is now under the authority of the Nigerian state.

    “For too long, Sambisa Forest was portrayed as impenetrable; a place where terrorists regrouped, trained, planned massacre and mocked the Nigerian state.

    “That myth has now been shattered. This victory sends a loud and unmistakable message: There is no forest, mountain, border or hideout beyond the reach of the Armed Forces.

    ‘Those blackmailing the military action will be uncomfortable with this progress recorded by our military under the able supervision of the Musa-led Ministry of Defence. Those who romanticise terrorists will suddenly go quiet,” the mayor said.

    Continuing, he said, Sambisa fell because force was applied; terrorists retreated because pressure was sustained, and Nigeria advanced because the military refused to blink.

    “Peace does not come from negotiating with men who kidnap children and bomb markets. Peace comes when the state reclaims every inch of its territory.”

    Eshanekpe noted that going by the confirmation of military authorities, troops remain actively deployed to hold the ground, secure communities, and prevent return of criminals. 

    He described it as crucial, adding the real danger is not the battlefield, but political hesitation, public distraction, and premature celebration.

    Consolidating victory

    The mayor noted that the victory, so far, must be consolidated. He said the pressure must be sustained, adding that terror must be denied oxygen —militarily, financially and digitally.

    He said: “This development should mark the beginning of the end of terrorism in Northeast and the military should understand that security victories must be followed by strong governance and zero tolerance for sabotage from within.

    “It is time for the country to move forward in the principle of a Renewed Hope Agenda.

    “In 2027 elections, we need peace because only the living can vote. All being equal, Tinubu will be victorious against the conspiracy, called coalition. We are aware the so-called coalition is the gathering of former office holders, who were part of the ruins Nigerians suffer today.

    “Fortunately, we have a nation-builder in the person of President Tinubu. The Renewed Hope Agenda is real; it’s gone beyond an agenda into a fullscale operational machinery for a new Nigeria. Across all sectors, well-meaning Nigerians are witnesses to the sweeping changes birthing a value and national reorientation.’’

  • Leveraging private sector investment to transform teaching, learning

    Leveraging private sector investment to transform teaching, learning

    A private sector-led push to bridge systemic gaps in teaching and learning in Nigeria is on course. Powered by an education-focused Corporate Social Investment (CSI), the innovation is a product of a Joint Venture between two energy companies. The corporate partnership, which leverages quiz competition to equip schools, teachers and students across the country with the necessary tools to navigate the future, is a showcase of how private sector investment can drive classroom transformation Assistant Editor CHINAKA OKORO reports

    A quiet but powerful revolution is gradually sweeping across Nigeria’s teaching and learning space—one that demonstrates that an education-focused Corporate Social Investment (CSI) could help bridge systemic gaps in the country’s education sector by equipping schools, teachers, and students with the tools of the future.

    At the centre of this private sector-led intervention to complement the Federal Government’s bold reforms in the education sector is a corporate partnership in the form of a Joint Venture (JV) between Seplat Energy and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL).

    The Seplat/NEPL JV, which gave rise to what is now known as the PEARLs Quiz Competition — a blend of brainpower, innovation, and technology — is now offering a flicker of hope for changing the narrative in the teaching and learning space. The contest, complete with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) instruction, doesn’t just reward brilliance — it builds it, one community at a time.

    It was October 23, 2025, when the city of Asaba, Delta State, came alive as students from Edo and Delta states gathered for the 2025 Seplat/NEPL JV PEARLs Quiz Competition. The competition awarded N10 million to the overall best school– Pioneer Education Centre (Benin, Edo State), N5 million to second-place winner Notre Dame College (Uzoro, Delta State) and N3 million to third-place school- Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Model College (Benin, Edo State).

    The fourth-place school, Ogini Model College (Ogharefe-Oghara, also in Delta State, received a consolation prize.

    The STEAM Innovation Challenge also awarded top honours, with Hollywood International School (Asaba, Delta) winning N1 million for a multi-functional academic laboratory project, while Pioneer Education Centre (Benin) smiled home with N500,000. Women Affairs Secondary School, also in Asaba, got N250, 000.

    Read Also: Elumelu Foundation partners Federal Fire Service to train 7,400 Nigerians on fire safety

    It was more than a knowledge contest; it was a living demonstration of how science and creativity intersect in young minds. For instance, from coding prototypes to model engineering projects, the students demonstrated a generation eager to bridge theory with innovation. Their enthusiasm underscored Seplat Energy’s broader push to make STEAM not just subjects to memorise, but tools to reimagine learning in Nigerian classrooms.

    The Nation learnt that beyond prestige and cash, the promise of technology and STEAM-enabled pedagogy were major motivations for schools to participate in the competition. Quiz finalists gain access to tablets, ICT-centre upgrades and curricula designed around inquiry-based learning.

    “The students have demonstrated that the initiative is already bearing fruit by nurturing young people,” the Director of External Affairs and Social Performance for Seplat Energy, Chioma Afe, said, noting that “A school might have gone home with the prize, but all of you are already winners.”

    The education-focused CSI is indeed, strategic considering that Nigeria’s digital-literacy gap remains wide. For instance, a 2024 Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) policy brief revealed that more than 60 per cent of teachers in public schools lacked basic digital pedagogical skills, and many schools had no reliable power or internet.

    By integrating digital devices, STEAM projects and performance-based rewards, Seplat is turning the quiz into a pipeline for higher-capacity learning. The thing is that while critics label such initiatives as “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) theatre,” supporters point to the follow-through: schools upgrading labs, teachers adopting new teaching and students shifting behaviour.

    Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, confirmed this much, saying: “These days, we celebrate not just a contest, but the brilliance, promise and potential of our young people—the true future of our states and our country.”

    The endorsement by the governor, who was represented by Ms Orode Udughan, highlights the fact that the competition, beyond image and politics, is about education, sustaining depth beyond spectacle.

    For Seplat Energy and its partners, the PEARLs Quiz is not just an annual spectacle of academic rivalry—it is a Launchpad for sustained learning outcomes. Each edition feeds into a broader framework of teacher training, STEAM innovation and digital literacy, designed to ensure that the excitement of competition transforms into everyday classroom change across Edo and Delta schools.

    From celebration to classroom change

    Beyond the razzmatazz of the prize ceremony are the more critical questions of how many schools convert the funds and devices into improved STEAM teaching, how many teachers use the training long-term, and how many students go on to tertiary or tech careers.

    However, Seplat’s educational ecosystem helps with these. For instance, its teacher-training arm (STEP—Seplat Teachers’ Empowerment Programme) complements the quiz by building educator capacity in STEAM and digital instruction. Many teachers who guided students into the finals had themselves been trained under STEP modules.

    However, systemic constraints remain—from weak infrastructure and teacher retention to persistent gaps in school resourcing and the rural-urban divide. The company’s approach of pairing competition with technology integration, teacher training and follow-up support offers a promising pathway toward deeper impact and inclusion across Nigeria’s education landscape.

    From a broader perspective, Nigeria’s ambition to transition from a resource-dependent to a knowledge-based economy makes programmes such as this a compelling proposition. If students leave secondary school equipped with digital skills, critical thinking and an innovation mindset, the prize money is a trigger for bigger change. In this wise, the quiz becomes a lever for human-capital formation.

    Also, beyond the thrill of victory and the prize money, the real value lies in what these incentives unlock. Every cheque, trophy and camera flash becomes a catalyst for something larger—a reimagining of what young minds in resource-constrained schools can achieve when given the right tools and visibility. In this sense, money is not merely a reward; it is a trigger for bigger change.

    Perhaps, more importantly, the Seplat JV’s quiz model indicates a trend: companies are transitioning from infrastructure-donation CSR to investment in human capital, digital skills and future-ready education. The brand gets visibility; communities get enhanced schooling; the state gets boosted human-capital metrics.

    Yet, the shift also underlines risk: if corporate-driven models dominate, what happens to state-led teacher-training, regional equity and public accountability? However, a balanced view acknowledges both contributions and trade-offs. While the Seplat/NEPL’s model won’t solve all education deficits, it offers a blueprint: competition, prizes, tech, training and follow-up.

    The consensus by stakeholders in the education sector is that if its alumni network expands, winning schools mentor others, and state systems absorb the model, then the shift may be more than corporate branding— it may be structural.

    According to the stakeholders, what seemed like a game of winners and prizes was, in truth, the shaping of Nigeria’s educational future. They noted that the Seplat Energy’s model holds a crucial truth: sustainable progress in STEAM will come not from replacing the government’s efforts, but from aligning with it—where corporate muscle meets classroom needs, and where learning becomes the new frontier of national transformation.

    Leveraging private sector investment for teaching and learning involves direct funding such as scholarships and internships and ancillary contributions through public-private partnerships, curriculum development and innovative financing. These partnerships can evolve capital, expertise and innovative approaches to education, while businesses can raise a future workforce aligned with industry needs and secure a talent pipeline.

    Development experts have maintained that “private sector investment is essential for economic growth, innovation and addressing climate challenges.”

    Advancing some vital reasons for private sector investment is so important in the realm of climate and sustainability, in driving innovations, private companies are often at the forefront of technological innovations.

    Private sector participation in education development can become an avenue through funding and investment towards enhancing academic standards, providing goods and services and enhancing quality and innovation. This involvement can increase financial resources, expand access to education and introduce competition that can lead to improved outcomes, although it must be balanced with adequate regulation to prevent sub-standard or unsafe practices.

    However, what benefits are private sector involvement in development?

    Private sector investment can complement and supplement limited public funds, increasing the overall resources available for education. It can also bring about innovation and efficiency. This is so because businesses may be more willing to finance and test new approaches that can lead to enhanced flexibility and innovation in service delivery. Again, partnerships can lead to improved quality of education through new resources, expertise and data management practices.

    Investment in education will inevitably enhance teaching and learning. This encompasses distributing resources to foster human capital development, improve economic growth and ensure societal progress. This form of investment is a broad concept that includes financial, human and material resources, and can be made by individuals, institutions and governments.

    “Every society,” experts note, “develops through genuine commitment towards education development. This is very significant as it makes an individual empowered. It also significantly assists self-help development for an educated individual than one who is not educated. Most of our premier institutions of education have been funded by the government and they are all run as not-for-profit enterprises. Participation of the private sector in the field of educational development helps both the government and individuals to evolve into a fully-fledged entity.”

    This becomes noteworthy because quality education is provided to the children, as there is disciplined and efficient functioning of the institutes.

    The private institutes are always involved and up to date for the advancement of technologies in their institutes. Again, the general public has a mental satisfaction that they are having value for the money they spend.

    “Education remains the bridge between potential and purpose, the most enduring legacy any generation can bequeath to the next,” experts have stated.

  • Building leaders who will shape tomorrow’s continent

    Building leaders who will shape tomorrow’s continent

    Africa’s destiny will not be defined by its resources, but by the strength of its institutions, the integrity of its leaders, and the courage of its public servants. With quiet resolve and bold vision, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation is reshaping governance across the continent — not through aid or infrastructure, but through people, proving that true transformation begins from within. JULIANA AGBO writes

    Africa’s future will not be written by oil-barrels, diamond mines or gas-reserves. It will be told through leadership by the nations that can govern wisely, build trust soundly and empower their people. The story of this century will not be defined by armies or abundance alone — it will be defined by innovation, governance and institutional strength. As artificial intelligence redraws the map of work, climate change alters economies, and new alliances emerge, one question looms large: who will lead the future — and who will be left behind?

    At the heart of that question stands Africa. Today, 1.4 billion people call the continent home. By 2050, that number is projected to swell to nearly 2.5 billion, with young Africans comprising almost 40 per cent of the world’s youth population. The figures are staggering. But demographics alone do not shape destiny. The future of Africa will turn not on its population, but on the quality of its governance – on the vision, integrity and courage of those who serve.

    It is precisely this conviction that drives the Aig Imoukhuede Foundation (AIF). Co-founded by Aigboje Aig Imoukhuede, CFR, and his wife, Ofovwe Aig Imoukhuede, the Foundation is quietly—but powerfully—transforming Africa’s public sector. Not through gleaming infrastructure or headline-aid, but through people: investing in public servants, strengthening institutions, building the unseen architecture of trust and competence.

    A Foundation betting on people, not projects

    Unlike many philanthropic ventures that act from the outside in, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation works from within: it invests directly in the people who make governments work and the institutions they lead. Its mission is seismic in its simplicity: to build an Africa that works by strengthening the people who make public services work. The continent is abundant in creativity, ideas and resources — yet too often progress is slowed by weak governance systems, policies that linger on paper, budgets that aren’t optimised and institutions struggling to adapt to a rapidly changing world. The Foundation believes the solution lies not in more projects, but in cultivating capable, ethical leaders who drive reform from inside the system. As Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede often reminds his team: “Africa’s future will not be built by aid, but by Africans equipped to lead.”

    One of the Foundation’s most distinguished initiatives is its partnership with Blavatnik School of Government at University of Oxford. Through this collaboration, exceptional African public servants are exposed to world-class learning in public policy and leadership — under one strict condition: they return home and apply their knowledge to strengthen their own institutions. The goal is not to create expatriates but reformers. Not administrators—but architects of change.

    Learning to lead, returning to serve

    Each year, outstanding African public servants are awarded the AIG Scholarship, fully funded by the Foundation, to pursue a Master of Public Policy (MPP) at Oxford. Unlike typical scholarships aimed at individual advancement, this one carries a public pledge: scholars must go back home and reform their institutions. To date, dozens have returned not as observers, but as active leaders in their countries.

    For example, in Ghana, Abdul-Fatawu Hakeem, Head of Debt Policy and Risk Management at the Ministry of Finance, used his Oxford training to shape the country’s debt-restructuring programme and strengthen national economic stability. In Nigeria, Oluwapelumi Olugbile, the 2025 AIG Scholar from NIGCOMSAT, arrived at Oxford with a singular mission: to ensure every naira spent by government delivers tangible value. For her, finance is not just a function — it’s a form of public service.

    At a senior level, the AIG Fellowship gives seasoned leaders the opportunity to deepen their reform strategies and implement transformational change. The 2025 AIG Visiting Fellow, Funke Adepoju, Director-General of Nigeria’s Administrative Staff College (ASCON), exemplifies this drive for change. Her research at Oxford revolves around one powerful question: how can public-sector training institutions become engines of reform rather than repositories of theory?

    Ms Adepoju is redesigning ASCON into a national reform hub — embedding digital transformation, performance metrics and innovation-driven learning into its programmes. Her ambition goes beyond teaching concepts: she is embedding practical learning, real governance challenges, measurable outcomes and collaborative problem-solving so that public servants return not as bureaucrats but as change agents.

    Transformation is never the work of one person. It flourishes in networks of people who share a vision for better governance. That’s the idea behind the AIG Public Leaders Programme (PLP), which brings together mid- to senior-level public servants to collaborate, innovate and tackle real challenges within their agencies.

    Read Also: CGMA challenge to empower future finance, business leaders

    The proof lies in real reforms, implemented by public servants embedded in the very systems they serve. In Lagos, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi built a secure digital platform to protect survivors of sexual violence and safeguard evidence — ensuring thousands of victims have a path to justice. At Nigeria’s National Assembly, Idowu Bakare created a digital dashboard that tracks bills and automates legislative processes, making the law-making journey visible to every Nigerian.

    Abraham Oludolapo designed a nationwide anti-sexual-harassment policy for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), protecting over 400 000 corps members and staff every year. At the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, a standardised on-the-job training manual for Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel now enhances aviation safety across Africa. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration & Control (NAFDAC) automated a dossier review process that had languished for 15 years — accelerating access to essential medicines. At Isheri Olofin Primary Healthcare Centre in Lagos, patient waiting times dropped dramatically from 82 minutes to 31 thanks to improved process-design. These are not pilot projects or academic exercises. They are real reforms by real public servants, working within the systems they serve.

    The power of investing in people

    The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation is proving a quiet but revolutionary truth: development doesn’t begin with more infrastructure — it begins with people. Its Scholars, Fellows and PLP graduates are forming a pipeline of capable reformers embedded within government. The results are clear: faster service delivery, more efficient systems and renewed public trust.

    The Foundation believes Africa’s biggest opportunity lies in strengthening its public institutions from the inside out. Because when you invest in capable people, you don’t just change offices — you change outcomes, communities and lives. For investors, philanthropists and policymakers, the call to action is unmistakable: if you want to build an Africa that works, invest in its public service.

    At a time when global systems are shifting — with artificial intelligence altering the nature of work, climate shocks accelerating, and geopolitics reconfiguring partnerships — Africa’s future hinges on the strength of its institutions, the character of its leaders and the integrity of its public servants. Without that foundation, demographic dividends can turn into liabilities; promise can turn into frustration. The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation steps into precisely this gap.

    It says: governance matters. Leadership matters. Systems matter. And that the key to Africa’s ascent is not just natural resource wealth but institutional capital. As the continent’s youth bulge becomes a demographic tsunami, the urgent question is not simply how many but how capable. The AIF’s vision is of an Africa where young public servants, supported by world-class training and institutional anchoring, lead from day one with competence, ethics and purpose.

    The private sector, public institutions, and civil society now stand at a defining crossroads where collaboration is not optional but essential. The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation exemplifies how smart philanthropy can catalyse transformation—through targeted leadership investment, strategic partnerships, and deep institutional reform. Its approach proves that sustainable change grows from within governance systems, not from external imposition.

    Africa’s ascent in the 21st-century global economy depends on its ability to govern effectively, compete with integrity, and harness the creative energy of its people. Perfection may be distant, yet progress demands immediacy—building capability, character, and trust one reformer at a time. The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation stands at the centre of this mission, turning conviction into measurable impact.

    Looking ahead, the Foundation’s ambition is to scale its reach—developing more public servants, strengthening more institutions, and accelerating reform across borders. Its strategy is both simple and bold: equip lead ers today so they can anchor the Africa of tomorrow. As the continent’s population expands, challenges intensify—but so do opportunities. Every trained leader, every strengthened institution, and every empowered community marks a step forward in Africa’s long march toward inclusive prosperity.

    The continent’s story will not ultimately be measured by the magnitude of its natural resources or the volume of its trade. It will be defined by the strength of its institutions, the courage of its public servants, and the integrity of its leadership. The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation embodies this belief, investing not in symbols of progress but in the substance of transformation—people.

    Each scholar, fellow and programme participant represents a building block in a new architecture of governance. Their collective impact tells a larger story: that leadership is Africa’s most valuable renewable resource. The Foundation’s vision extends beyond immediate reform to a legacy that ensures continuity, competence, and credibility in public service. “Africa’s future will not be built by aid, but by Africans equipped to lead,” Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede once said. That conviction now echoes across ministries, parliaments, and agencies. When leaders are built to serve, nations rise with purpose. And through the quiet, deliberate work of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, a generation is being prepared—not merely to inherit tomorrow, but to shape it.

  • Questions mount over idle Warri refinery, privatisation fears

    Questions mount over idle Warri refinery, privatisation fears

    Despite billions spent on rehabilitation, the Warri Refinery remains idle, deepening economic hardship in host communities. Stakeholders accuse the government of neglect, warn against privatisation, and question the proposed NLNG model. As frustrations grow, calls for transparency and immediate action are mounting to bring the facility back to life, reports ELO EDREMODA

    The moribund state of the Warri, Port Harcourt, and Kaduna refineries has remained a significant burden on both citizens and the government. Once thriving facilities, these refineries now leave thousands of workers without livelihoods, while consuming staggering sums of public funds for repairs that have yet to yield meaningful results.

    Established over three decades ago, these refineries were envisioned as cornerstones of Nigeria’s energy self-sufficiency — aimed at reducing fuel imports, serving local demand, and generating revenue for the country. However, over the years, they gradually deteriorated and eventually collapsed, triggering a ripple effect: persistent fuel scarcity, soaring pump prices, and the consequent rise in the cost of food and other essentials.

    The Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, for instance, has operated far below capacity over the past decade. In 2021, the federal government allocated approximately $897.6 million for its rehabilitation. The following year, an additional $497.3 million was approved for “quick fix” repairs. On December 30, 2022, operations briefly resumed — raising hopes for a turnaround — but the plant was abruptly shut down just weeks later, dashing those expectations. Commissioned in 1978, the Warri refinery is located in Ekpan and extends into parts of Ubeji in Uvwie and Warri South Local Government Areas of Delta State. In its heyday, it was a catalyst for economic growth and urban development across the twin cities of Effurun and Warri. Beyond its core staff, the refinery sustained countless locals, including the well-known “jerrican boys,” who depended on its daily operations for survival.

    By 2015, however, the facility had completely halted operations. Today, insiders familiar with the situation claim the plant is technically ready to operate. Yet, for reasons still unclear, final approval has not been granted. They also express concern that the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, has yet to visit the site — a move they believe could signal the much-needed political will to revive the refinery.

    “Our challenge right now is that the new GCEO hasn’t visited the plant, so we’re unsure of his plans — even though he seems to be a man of good intentions. From all he has said so far, he appears to have a genuine vision. As I speak to you, the Warri Refinery is ready to operate. Area One — the Topping Unit — is fully prepared to run. We don’t understand what’s causing the delay. As you know, instructions need to come from Abuja. That unit produced AGO and DPK the last time it ran. While there were some issues then, those components have since been replaced.

    “Area Three — the Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit — has also undergone substantial maintenance. However, there are growing doubts about whether there is a real intention to restart the plant. If the GCEO truly planned to bring it back online, he would have come to assess the situation firsthand. There are rumours that management may be considering handing the plant over to a third party, but we don’t have any confirmation on that.

    “The only section that hasn’t been touched yet is Area Two — the Reformate Unit. The truth is, politics is killing the refineries. Rather than get them running, some prefer the quick profits from crude swaps. They’ll claim Nigerians consume a million barrels, even though actual consumption is far less. Before this last round of maintenance, the refinery was operational — but we were told to shut it down. Right now, the plant is capable of running at up to 90 percent capacity,” the source said.

    On claims that workers are idle at the refinery, another source clarified: “There are other ancillary operations ongoing. For instance, we generate power and supply it to the Nigerian Gas Company and the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC). Previously, we also received products which we then transported to PPMC for loading. But now, those products are being diverted to private depots.”

    He added that repair work at the plant is nearing completion, but a preservation phase will follow: “They are rounding off repairs at the plant, but we’ll carry out a nine-month preservation process to prevent any risk of explosion whenever the plant is eventually restarted.” On staff welfare, the sources expressed optimism that long-standing concerns raised by backup staff — which had led to several rounds of industrial action — would soon be addressed. “There are strong signals that he (Ojulari) will do the needful regarding their demands,” one of them said.

    To sell or not to sell

    The question of whether Nigeria’s refineries should be sold continues to divide opinion. However, many stakeholders insist that privatization is not the solution, pointing to the poor outcomes of previous government divestments. They argue that the refineries — particularly the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) — could be fully operational within months if the government was genuinely committed to their revival.

    In August, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, reaffirmed the federal government’s st ance, stating that the refineries would not be sold — a statement meant to quell rising concerns over a potential sale. Reacting to this, the President-General of Uvwie Kingdom, Chief Hope Erute, questioned the contradiction between the government’s claims and the current state of the refinery. “If they are not selling, why is it not producing?” he asked. “If we examine the outcomes of similar sales, you would naturally say ‘no’ to privatisation. In all those cases, the impact on communities has been minimal at best.”

    Chief Erute highlighted the socio-economic toll the non-functional refinery has taken on host communities. “Those who depend on it for their livelihoods are perpetually down. The communities are not exactly happy with what is going on. But again, the community is helpless. We are always unable to pressure the government to do what it should. That is the dilemma we face.” He noted that when the refinery was active, young people were “unofficially” engaged through indirect jobs and contracts. Many, he warned, now risk turning to petty crime out of desperation.

    “When Warri refinery was working, small contracts were awarded within the host communities. I am a grassroots man — I can tell you that what we used to call ‘jerrican boys’ are gradually disappearing. And when they’re no longer busy, they turn to petty robberies, which disrupt communities, movement, and nightlife.” He also pointed out the safety risks posed by idle tanker trucks parked along highways waiting for assignments: “Trucks remain parked along the highways, causing hazards. And because fuel prices are high, prices of food and other commodities also shoot up. It’s a vicious cycle that hurts businesses.”

    Read Also: Securing Nigeria’s future with youth development

    Chairman of the Ubeji community, Mr. Mayomi Mone, echoed similar sentiments in a phone interview: “The Warri refinery needs to work — it just needs to work. Too many families, both directly and indirectly, depend on it. Now, they’re suffering from the economic hardship.” Mone lamented the current state of the depot, once a hub of activity, now overrun by weeds. “If you go there now, it’s all bushy. People are hungry. When the plant was operational, even visitors benefited. Now school has resumed, and more than five people have called me to ask for help enrolling their children. When I asked why they didn’t plan ahead, the response was: ‘NNPC no dey work, job no dey.’ And they’re not even asking for school fees — just the basic registration.”

    Chief Erute also questioned the inconsistent messaging around the refinery’s status. “It has become a pattern. One moment they say it’s working; the next, it’s not. It needs to work. They shouldn’t keep giving us lip service. They should be professional and transparent in their communications.” He criticised past administrations for a lack of honesty, which, he said, made it difficult for communities to offer meaningful support. “Successive governments have ruled us with deceit, not telling us the truth. This has made it hard for society to know how best to support government efforts.”

    Despite the challenges, Erute assured that the communities remain committed to supporting the refinery’s revival. However, he criticized the company’s poor handling of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), referencing a disagreement between Uvwie Kingdom and the refinery management. He further noted that disregarding employment protocols — especially the preferential engagement of lower cadre staff from host communities — often sparks avoidable tensions. “Still, we’ve learned to bear it, so that we are not accused of being the ones stalling operations. We’re now looking, together with them, to understand why production hasn’t resumed. Most of the refineries have abandoned their CSR obligations. We haven’t made a fuss about it — but they should be held accountable.”

    NLNG model adoption

    At a recent meeting with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Ojulari revealed that the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) model was being considered as a possible approach to keep the country’s refineries afloat. Reacting to the proposal, Chief Erute expressed concern but ultimately accepted the idea — albeit reluctantly. “If the NLNG model is their alternative, so be it,” he said.

    However, Mone outrightly rejected the model, warning that it could lead to skyrocketing fuel prices and further economic hardship for Nigerians. “It will not help. Anything that leads to privatising this refinery, expect that fuel will go for as high as N2,500 per litre,” he cautioned. “When the refinery was operational, it created a competitive environment — NNPCL sold at a lower rate than private depots. Now that no refinery is working, private depots fix prices however they want.” According to Mone, the presence of a functional refinery naturally controls prices. “If the refinery is running, it becomes harder for prices to spiral. But those who don’t fully understand the implications are the ones supporting privatisation.”

    Stakeholders believe that reviving the Warri Refinery is entirely achievable — if the federal government and NNPCL are truly committed. They argue that the refinery’s collapse was largely due to poor oversight, lack of accountability, and a failure to enforce existing laws. “The government needs to sit down and get the refinery working,” said Mone. “Meter everything — what comes in and what goes out — to prevent losses. But if you just place someone there to manage operations without oversight, it will never work.” He also decried the failure of regulatory enforcement: “The Nigerian law is not working. If it was, those managers would be afraid to cut corners. But because there are no consequences, people do whatever they like.” He maintained that with strong leadership and proper direction, the Warri Refinery could resume operations in as little as three months.

    For now, the fate of the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) hangs in the balance. While communities, workers, and industry stakeholders are united in their desire to see it return to full operations, the final decision lies with the federal government and the top management of NNPCL. The expectations are clear: the refinery must not only be brought back to life, but managed in a way that serves public interest — not just private profit.

  • New lease of life for widows, orphans in Ekiti

    New lease of life for widows, orphans in Ekiti

    In many Nigerian communities, housewives are wholly dependent on their husbands. Thus, it becomes a herculean task for such families to survive when they lose their breadwinner. However, a different narrative is being written in Ekiti State through a project that has brought succour to them, writes DAMOLA KOLA-DARE.

    When the mangled remains of Mrs. Folakemi Odu’s husband were entombed, her hopes and the future of their children were also interred with their breadwinner, so it seemed.

    In a cruel twist of fate, she suddenly assumed the role of breadwinner.

    She is not alone. From Emure to Ise Orun, Ikere, Iyin, to Ilejemeje in Ekiti State, young women in their forties who lost their husbands in tragic circumstances are battling to eke out a living by all means.

    Most times, becoming a widow in Nigeria pushes many women into grinding poverty – a situation usually aggravated by the widespread practice of property grabbing and sometimes, physical abuse.

    Luckily for Ikere-based Mrs. Odu, after enduring some tough times, the sewing machine she received from the Widows, Aged and Orphans Hope (WAOH) foundation became a “blessing”.

    While her productivity increased, she can do more jobs to help take care of the home and support her children in school.

    “The machine I received from WAOH doesn’t require electricity. It has been a blessing. My productivity has increased, and I can now take on more jobs, which helps me keep my children in school,” she said.

    Harbinger of solace

    The WAOH project, an initiative of the Ekiti State First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has given widows and the vulnerable another chance for decent living.

    Launched in 2023, the idea is to provide comprehensive support, opportunities for widows and orphans to achieve self-reliance and improved socio-economic status, with a vision to uplift the most vulnerable populations in our society.

    According to the Coordinator of the project, Mrs Kemi Dairo, there is a template/structure for sustainability and continuity despite not being a government-sponsored initiative.

    “It’s not sponsored by the government. This project is self-sponsored. We have partners from whom we solicit funds,” she said.

    Read Also: Stock market heading to N100tr, says Kurfi

    She added that there is a monitoring team to assess how beneficiaries are doing, including orphans given scholarships.

    “Even the widows that we empower, all the equipment given to them cannot be sold,” she said.

    The project has seen widows receive empowerment tools like deep freezers, sewing machines, grinding machines, hair dryers, garri processing machines, based on their request in forms they had earlier filled. And as such, more than 5,000 widows have been impacted.

    Tales of sorrow, joy and a lifeline

    Just like Mrs Odu, Mrs. James Janet, who had hitherto endured tough times, can smile again.

    Her husband died on his way from church when his motorcycle ran into a vehicle he had mistaken for another motorcycle because it had a single headlight.

    It was a very painful experience because her first daughter was still very young, she was pregnant with the second, while learning tailoring and fashion design.

    “After his death, my mother asked me to come and stay with her for a while so I wouldn’t be alone.

    “While I was away, my husband’s family went to our house, ransacked it, and took everything – his belongings and even some of mine.

    “They left me and the children with nothing. They never came back to check on us or support us.

    “Life became so hard. Feeding was difficult, I couldn’t send my children to school, and sometimes we barely had clothes to wear. Many nights I cried and couldn’t sleep. It was a very painful and hopeless time,” she stated.

    She then registered for the WAOH initiative after initial doubts because “many of such programmes had come before collecting our names and details, but nothing ever came out of it”.

    However, upon persuasion from her mother to try it, things clicked, and she was invited to Ado-Ekiti, where she was given a sewing machine.

    One sewing machine brings three more; six apprentices, a better life

    The sewing machine, within a short time, brought a turnaround to Mrs. James’ life.

    She said: “Honestly, that machine changed everything for me and my children. Before I received it, life was very hard.

    “I had no shop, so I was trying to manage inside my house. But the truth is, even working from home was difficult because I didn’t have the proper tools to work with.

    “The week I got the machine, something amazing happened. Jobs began to come in, one after the other. I realised at least N10,000 – N15,000 daily when I was working from home, but having a shop now has increased it, even though our kind of work is seasonal, I’m able to realise lots of money each day.

     “It was as if God Himself opened a door of mercy for me. I started sewing clothes back-to-back, and for the first time in a long while, I could see hope.

    “One of the biggest impacts was on my children. Before then, sending them to school was almost impossible. Many times, they stayed at home because I couldn’t afford school fees. Even feeding them three times a day was a serious challenge.

    “Sometimes, they would sleep on empty stomachs, and the pain of watching them suffer broke me as a mother. My own mother would step in occasionally to support us, but it was never enough.

    “My husband’s family completely abandoned us — they never came to ask if the children had eaten, or if they even had clothes to wear.

    “Another major change was that I began to save money. At first, I thought it was impossible to save because we were barely surviving. But when the jobs kept coming, I joined a weekly contribution group.

    “Each week, I dropped money, and little by little it accumulated. From those savings, I was able to raise enough to rent a proper shop.

    “That was one of the happiest moments of my life — moving out of my small house into a shop where people could easily locate me. It made me feel like a real businesswoman.

    “From the income I earned, I also bought materials in bulk — threads, fabrics, sewing accessories, even chairs for my customers.

    “Slowly, my little corner grew into a proper tailoring shop. Later, I even bought two more machines.

    “Today, I have three in total: one at home and two in the shop. That means I can work comfortably anywhere and also train others.

    “In fact, today I have six apprentices under me. Six young people are learning this craft because of that single machine given to me.

    “Imagine — one machine did not just feed my children; it created opportunities for others too.

    “When I look at them working in the shop, learning and gaining skills that will sustain their future, my heart is full of gratitude.

    “The impact also extended to our home. The money I realised from tailoring helped me pay for our house rent — N24,000 every year.

    “Before then, paying rent was a nightmare. I feared every time the landlord knocked. But now, I can boldly pay without shame, knowing it came from the work of my hands.

    “In short, this machine transformed me from a helpless widow who cried at night into a woman with dignity, strength, and hope.

    “I was like a ‘zero mother’ before — unable to provide, always worried. Truly, God used that sewing machine to rewrite my story. I no longer struggle the way I used to. I live a better life now, I am training six apprentices, and I give all the glory to God.”

    From pain to gain

    Since her husband’s death, Mrs. Bankole Omowunmi Rebecca, a resident of Ise-Ekiti, had battled hard to make ends meet for six children. Her husband had gone hunting, fell from a tree and died on the way to the hospital.

    To survive, she went through all sorts of hard labour — going to people’s farms for daily pay, washing clothes for neighbours, and sometimes pounding yams for families just to get a plate of food.

    “Life has been very tough. Feeding six children alone was extremely difficult. My husband’s family did not support me in any way. The children’s feeding and education were already overwhelming.

    “It was a tumultuous journey. Raising six children without any help, especially when resources were limited, was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” she said.

    She got valuable information about the WAOH project, applied and after the screening, got selected and was given a grinding machine, which proved a turning point for her.

    “When I got the grinding machine, it was as if heaven opened. With the machine, I started grinding pepper, maize, beans, and cassava.

    “On a typical day, I earn roughly N4,000 to N5,000. That may seem small to some, but for me, it made a huge difference.

    “With that daily earning, I could buy food for my family, pay rent, and slowly begin to repair parts of our house that were damaged.

    “Gradually, I joined a thrift contribution group where I saved weekly, and from my savings, I was able to buy small household items we could not afford before.

    “Most importantly, the grinding machine restored my dignity. It is more than just equipment — it is life, it is food, it is school fees, it is dignity, and it is hope,” she said.

    Wanted: more intervention

    The widows want more intervention/empowerment to generate more income.

    Mrs. Odu would be able to expand her services and earn more income if she got a “stoning machine”, sewing materials, and special fabrics for making ladies’ caps.

    If she could get an industrial machine, Mrs. Janet’s work would be faster, neater, and more professional. She will be able to take on bigger jobs and even train more apprentices.

    Mrs. Bankole wants other women in her local government to benefit from the WAOH project just as she has done. According to her, many widows are still suffering, and she desires the same opportunity for them.

    The many sides of an empowerment scheme

    The empowerment of the widows and orphans has translated to stability of income, financial independence and restoration of dignity.

    The tools obtained by the widows have been utilised properly, such that some of them are in the process of empowering other people as evident in the training of apprentices.

    Once the apprentices graduate, they can work on their own and be financially independent.

    The WAOH Project, though intended for widows and the vulnerable, has indirectly contributed to the empowerment of other persons.

    For most of the widows, they were able to stay afloat using the tools to generate income and a sustainable livelihood in their various communities where the standard of living is not high.

    In essence, what they made daily could sustain their feeding and they could still save a little of their earnings.

    Orphans not left out

    Bello Daniel, a 200-Level student at Bamidele Olumilua University of Technology, Ikere (BOUESTI), lost his dad at a very young age, while his mum died of epilepsy. He had lost hope for higher studies, but WAOH rescued him.

    However, upon graduation, he wants to own a fashion shop to earn a living, give back, support young people, and create opportunities for them to thrive—just as WAOH did for him.

    “That is my biggest aspiration,” he said.

    • This story, facilitated by The Nation Journalism Foundation, is made possible with support from Nigeria Health Watch as part of the Solutions Journalism Africa Initiative.

  • Globacom dismantling fetters to Nigeria’s digital future

    Globacom dismantling fetters to Nigeria’s digital future

    With a bouquet of innovative products and investment in infrastructure expansion and upgrade, 22 years on, Globacom continues to champion Nigeria’s digital future. LUCAS AJANAKU writes on the dynamic evolution of the telco and its new offer of Talk Masta and Welcome Bonus.

    National carrier Globacom is intensifying its efforts to deepen digital connectivity across Nigeria through an extensive network expansion and upgrade programme that promises to continue to transform the telecommunications landscape.

    Pursuant to this, Globacom yesterday unveiled two customer-friendly initiatives designed to deliver more value to subscribers and strengthen its position as Nigeria’s most rewarding network. The two products were unveiled at the company’s head office, Mike Adenuga Towers, Victoria Island.

    The first, ‘Talkmasta, is a tariff plan tailored to reward customers with unlimited free talk time and data. Under the plan, customers who make six minutes of local calls to any network will automatically receive six additional free minutes, which can be used to call any local network and free 50MB.

    The calls are charged at 30 kobo per second, while text messages are billed at 6 per SMS. The company noted that the package can be enjoyed by both new and existing customers. New customers enjoy the offer once they buy a Glo line, while existing customers are required to dial *606# to migrate to the plan and start enjoying 6 free minutes for every cumulative six minutes of calls charged. There is no limit to the number of times or the volume of free minutes and data that customers will enjoy on this plan.

    Equally, the company has also revised its Welcome Bonus offer for new customers, providing them with what it describes as the “biggest shout value in the market”.

    New subscribers who register a Glo SIM, recharge with a minimum of N100, and make their first call will instantly receive a one-time welcome package worth as much as N2,000.

    This includes free N1,000 airtime equivalent to 25 minutes of calls which they can use to call all networks and free N1,000 data, which translates to 1GB of browsing. It is valid for seven days. According to the company this is the best welcome back value in the market.

    The company explained that the dual offers were aimed at giving customers flexibility, rewarding loyalty, and enhancing the first-time experience of new Glo SIM users.

    “With these packages, we are reinforcing our commitment to affordable and reliable services that keep Nigerians connected to the people that matter most,” the company stated.

    Speaking on the occasion, Cluster Retail Head, Lagos, Ande Abdulrazaq, said the event marks the beginning of something truly special. It is not just another product launch; it’s a celebration of connections, a commitment to enhancing communication experiences, and a promise to deliver value that exceeds our customer’s expectations.

    “In our 22 years of business (you recall we marked our 22nd anniversary last month), we have always led in innovation and delivered additional value to our subscribers. So, we are here today to introduce two incredible offerings that are unmatched in the industry. We couldn’t be more excited to share them with you.

    READ ALSO: How to curb Corruption in Nigeria

    “For the first one, Talk Masta whether you’re catching up with friends, sharing moments with family, or even closing that important business deal, we’ve designed this package with you in mind. At Globacom, every Naira you spend is maximized to give you more than just a conversation; it gives you value.

    “The second product is a welcome offer – a tantalizing game-changer for every new subscriber joining the Globacom family. As you activate your Glo line, we’re rolling out an instant welcome gift for you, a massive instant bonus simply for choosing to be a part of the Globacom community. Whether you’re recharging with just a little amount or making your very first call, we want to show our gratitude with a welcome package that’s truly unmatched in the industry.

    “This is more than just a bonus. It’s our way of saying, “Thank you for choosing Globacom. Welcome home.” It’s a symbol of our commitment to you, not just as customers, but as valued members of the Globacom family,” he said.

    In a presentation, Viju Unnithan of the Retail Marketing Department, said the company was motivated to launch the products because it understood the importance of staying connected with business partners as well as loved ones any time, any day.

    “We understand how important it is to stay connected in today’s fast-paced world. Communication is the bridge that keeps us in touch with people and moments that matter most. And with these new products, we are making sure that connection is not just affordable, but accessible, seamless, and enriching.

    “This launch is not just about introducing new products. It’s about delivering on a promise. A promise we made at launch in 2003 that whenever you think of staying connected, either through a simple chat or text message or by engaging in a long conversation, you’ll think of Globacom.

    “All these years, we have always stayed committed to providing you with the best: the best service, the best value, and the best experience. And with these two offerings, we are taking that commitment to a whole new level.

    “As we continue to redefine what it means to stay connected, we’re doing it with YOU in mind. These new packages are designed to fit seamlessly into your life, ensuring that you stay connected to what matters most to you, without worrying about the cost.

    “I wish to restate that today marks a pivotal moment for us all. It’s the start of a new chapter in how you experience communication. As we march into the digital future, Globacom will not just be about technology or numbers, but also about people. Our mission is about connecting hearts, building relationships, and enabling dreams. With Globacom, you are never just a subscriber; you are part of a community. And with that, we invite you to be part of this journey with us,” he said.

    Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has since it began operations in Nigeria on August 29, 2003, pioneered numerous innovations which have helped propel the rapid growth and revolutionary changes witnessed in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry.

    Its crashing of the cost of acquiring SIM cards from about N25,000 to just about N200 and pioneering of the Per Second Billing system are primarily responsible for the massive telephone penetration in the country.

    Prominent among the innovations Glo pioneered in Nigeria are Blackberry Services, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), Magic Plus, Glo Direct, International MMS, Inflight Roaming, Prepaid Roaming, Glo Mobile Internet, GloFleetmanager, M-Banking, Glo Mobile Office, Glo TV,  Glo Cloud, Glo Always On, and Glo Berekete.

    The company is the only operator with a wholly owned submarine cable, Glo 1, which connects West Africa directly to the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. It also connects 14 nations in the West Africa sub-region, including some of them that are landlocked. This ensures the availability of bandwidth to Wholesale, Enterprise & SME customers in West Africa.

    The undersea cable delivers a much faster and robust connectivity for voice, data and video with some of the lowest latencies between Africa and its gateway in London. It unleashes limitless opportunities for global and other African carriers, global content and digital media providers, government and corporate bodies in Nigeria and West Africa.

    Glo 1 is credited with crashing the cost of internet services and is today the preferred cable system by global Over The Top (OTT) providers. It connects thousands of kilometres of national fibre to all parts of Nigeria and cross connects with landlocked West African countries providing them access to world class internet services and enable these countries to connect with Content Delivery Networks (CDN) & caching with OTT networks in Lagos.

    Globacom is currently embarking on laying Glo 2, the first submarine cable in Nigeria to terminate outside Lagos. This holds significant promise for taking bandwidth beyond Lagos to other parts of the country, especially the oil platforms to enable “Digital Oilfields” and empower under-served communities in the South South & South Eastern parts of Nigeria.

    In Nigeria, Glo fibre optic cable network, powered by a managed IP MPLS network, covers the farthest parts of the country. It gives businesses in over 130 cities low latency, faster connectivity and expanded bandwidth to carry voice, video, and data reliably.

     Just like it did with the 2.5G and 3G technologies, Globacom was the first telecom operator to accomplish a nationwide launch of 4G-LTE network in Nigeria in 2016. With the 4G LTE Network, Glo provides seamless voice and data connectivity; enabling superfast HD video streaming, video downloads, online gaming and much more.

    The 4G LTE Advanced technology which Globacom launched recently combines three spectrums  of 700 megahertz (MHz), 1,800MHz and 2,600 MHz to provide a better internet experience to subscribers. It is faster, stronger, and better. The video and voice quality in video calls on different applications like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Viber etc is a lot clearer while the picture quality is crispier, and the transmission is faster. It also enables optimum performance for use in a variety of other life-enhancing cases such as telemedicine, e-agriculture, 3D Games, etc.

    As a demonstration of its commitment to democratizing access to telecom services, Globacom has also concluded arrangements to roll out satellite-based internet services to rural communities and under-served areas in the country. Increased access to the internet boosts the gross domestic product (GDP) by improving labor market participation, productivity, and business reach through enhanced access to information, services, and new markets. Research indicates that a 10per cent increase in broadband penetration can raise GDP by 0.25per cent to 1.4per cent, with benefits including higher employment, faster economic growth, and improved overall living standards.

    The new satellite-based internet service is expected to complement the company’s 4G LTE Advanced network to offer unlimited benefits to communities which do not yet have access to internet connectivity, in addition to delivering high quality satellite-grade experience with voice, video, and data that can be accessed across the country.

    Connections: WAN and Leased Lines

    With WAN and Leased lines, businesses equipped with adequate technical support are able to create endless value for their customers. IP MPLS Leased circuits offer dedicated point-to-point connectivity for organizations with geographical spread through a fast, cost-effective, reliable and versatile system.

    International Private Leased Circuit (IPLC)

    Glo customers can have limitless control over their business no matter where they are with two-way transmission speeds ranging from 2 Mbps to 100 Gbps. Now, they can make quicker decisions for their businesses from anywhere. IPLC provides dedicated point-to-point secure private line solutions that facilitate connectivity for organisations with global offshoots through a fast, cost-effective, reliable and versatile system.

    On digital services, he said: “At Globacom, we offer a range of customised and community-driven voice and data connectivity solutions that help to manage complex networking systems.

    “We also provide secured as well as verticalized IT solutions such as e-Health, Smart Cognitive Learning, Smart Energy, Industrial IoT and Cloud Applications. “

    Under its mobility solutions are the prepaid and postpaid bundles.

    “Telecommunication subscribers who desire the best-in-class Prepaid and Postpaid Plans have a reliable ally in Glo. For us, the mantra is stay connected and stay ahead.

    “Our country-specific IDD packs and Combo IDD packs offer customers attractive rates to call specific countries as applicable.”

    According to sources, Globacom is the largest integrated communications service provider in Nigeria, servicing enterprises, SMEs, mid-size corporates, public sector organizations and millions of individuals all over Nigeria.

    As a demonstration of the company’s commitment to customer experience, this year alone, Glo has activated over 1,000 new 4G LTE sites across key cities and underserved locations, with plans to deploy an additional thousand sites within the next year. This ambitious rollout not only aims to extend network coverage to previously neglected areas but also densifies service in rapidly growing urban centres, ensuring superior voice and data experience for millions of Nigerians.

    A significant facet of Glo’s commitment involves relocating damaged fibre optic infrastructure affected by uncoordinated road constructions on major routes such as Auchi-Okene, Benin-Ekpoma, and Minna-Abuja. This costly but strategic move safeguards network reliability and supports high-speed data delivery. Additionally, Glo is upgrading its backhaul capacities via microwave and fibre enhancements and improving its core network performance to meet rising demand and future-proof the system.

    In alignment with sustainability goals, Glo is deploying hybrid energy solutions to power its sites, gradually reducing reliance on generators in favour of battery-powered systems to minimize carbon emissions.

    These investments and innovations highlight Glo’s dual focus on expanding affordable, reliable connectivity and supporting Nigeria’s broader digital economy growth. Through enhanced network quality and coverage, Glo is enabling greater access to digital services including healthcare, education, and e-commerce, bridging the digital divide between urban and rural communities.

    This thorough infrastructure enhancement and strategic network densification clearly signal Glo’s ambition to remain a major player in Nigeria’s competitive telecom sector while prioritizing customer experience and national development imperatives. The coming months will be critical in witnessing the tangible impact of these transformative projects on Nigeria’s connectivity landscape and inclusive digital future.

  • Edo IPP and the dilemma of electricity consumers

    Edo IPP and the dilemma of electricity consumers

    The shutdown of Edo State’s first Independent Power Project (IPP) on September 1 signaled the breakdown of the romance between the Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC) and its Nigeria’s partner, Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company (OPIC). They are at loggerheads over who owns the Ossiomo Power Plant that generates 95MW of electricity. OSAGIE OTABOR reports on the intrigues and power play.

    Mr Kokobi Igbinovia owns several hotels in Benin-City, the Edo State capital. In 2022, he disconnected from the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) due to poor power supply and switched over to the Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company (OPIC). Igbinovia described the power supply from Ossiomo as reliable.

    However, on September 1 2025, Ossiomo Power was shut down without any form of explanation to its numerous customers. Igbinovia said he has spent a huge amount of money on the purchase of diesel since the shutdown of Ossiomo Power.

    Igbinovia is among many electricity consumers waiting for Ossiomo Power to restore electricity to its customers. But they are caught in a web of power play.

    In 2018, Governor Godwin Obaseki, former governor of the state, made a move to break the monopoly of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in power distribution in Edo State due to public complaints concerning epileptic power supply. At that time, the BEDC had the sole licence to distribute electricity in the entire state.

    Obaseki entered a willing-buyer-willing seller agreement as encouragement for the Ossiomo Power Company to begin construction of a 55MW Independent Power Plant in Ologbo.

    Ossiomo Powers, owned by Uwagboe Igiehon, turned to the Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC) for funding and installation of the power plant. The two firms entered a joint venture agreement and the CCETC Ossiomo Power Company (COPC) was registered. The power plant was completed in 2019, and the first 5MW was delivered in June of that year.

    The Edo State Government was to purchase the first 5MW, but the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) refused Ossiomo to use its facility for electricity distribution.

    To overcome the BEDC hurdles, Governor Obaseki imported equipment for the construction of transmission lines and the building of a substation to deliver the power from Ologbo to Benin City.

    “The first 5MW would be delivered to light up government offices and street lights within the Sapele Road corridor of Benin-City.

    “The ordinary Edo people will benefit from this power arrangement because there is an arrangement to drop power in certain processing centres where artisans can move into and do their businesses with the assurance of a steady power supply,” Obaseki said.

    Read Also: Troops kill three terrorists, capture IPOB Commander Gentle de Yahoo

    It was gathered that the Edo State Government under Obaseki paid N500 million monthly for the power Ossiomio supplied to its 11kva substation. The power was extended to all government agencies, including some Federal Government institutions.

    Several private individuals, hotels and institutions connected to the Ossiomo Power through the 11kva. Besides the 11kVA, Ossiomo Power extended electricity through another 33kVA line.

    A silent, controversial issue was, however, the shares of Edo State in the Ossiomo Power Plant.

    Problems were said to begin for Ossiomo Power when, upon assumption of duty, Governor Monday Okpebholo discovered that Edo State had no supposed five per cent shares in Ossiomo Power but was committing monthly payment.

    He rejected the N500 million monthly bills and asked all federal agencies to be disconnected from the 11kva line, as well as the Edo State Government House. Other government buildings, the streetlights, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Edo Specialist Hospital, health centres and others were left on the line, and the government’s wage bill on electricity was reduced to less than N200 million monthly, even as it paid additional N48 million monthly to the BEDC.

    On September 1, the Chinese partners shut down the power supply and customers of Ossiomo Power were plunged into darkness. Sources said the CCETC’s action was backed by some powerful interests.

    Five days after the blackout from Ossiomo Power without any information or explanation, the Edo State Government denied being the cause of the blackout, saying it was an internal squabble between two business partners.

    It said it had no shares in the firm and reconnected its 11kva transformer to the BEDC. It held a stakeholders’ meeting with Ossiomo customers connected through the 11kva line and explained why they need to move to the BEDC. Over 115 Ossiomo customers indicated interest in reconnecting to the BEDC.

    Explaining why it shut down the firm, the CCETC said its Nigerian partner, Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company, owned by Dr Uwa Igiehon, violated its joint venture agreement, which metamorphosed into the CCETC Ossiomo Power Company Limited (COPC), which was registered in 2018.

    A Director of CCETC, who identified himself as Mr Wi, said the share equity was 25 per cent for Dr Uwa and 75 per cent for CCETC. The Director stated that the agreement was that monies paid by subscribers be paid into the COPC account as contained in the Joint Venture Agreement. He said monies were rather paid into the Ossiomo E-Technology account, another company registered by Dr Uwa.

    “We came to Edo State in 2018, and we signed the joint venture agreement with the local partner, Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure. The equity was 25 per cent and 75 per cent. The 25 per cent is from Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure, and its equity is for the land and licences. They did not bring any money.

    “All the $20 million investment, including the distribution lines, was carried out by us. The distribution lines were built by COPC, but the loan is from CCETC. From the start of operation, they have not paid the loan and the interest. COPC paid some interest but could not cover the loan.

    “Our partner, Dr Uwa, connected some customers along our 33kva lines and the customers paid to the account of Ossiomo E-Technology Company and not to the COPC account. The E-technology is from Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company. COPC paid the gas fee, and the power fee did not come to the COPC account.

    “The customers did not pay into the COPC account. The E-Tech Company will collect N100 million and pay N50 million into the COPC account. COPC is generating all the power but has no agreement with the customers using the power. The customers did not pay into the COPC account, which is wrong. We requested the local shareholder to transfer all the customers to the COPC and change the account for collecting payments to the COPC.

    “The instruction to shut down was because we were losing a lot of money and did not get any return on investment. We did not collect enough payment from the customers, and the power was already going to the customers. We do not know the customers using our power, because they were not cooperating with us,” he said.

    In the interest of the Edo State Government, Mr Wi said the state government brought nothing.

    “The Edo State Government did not pay anything. They are our customers because we supply power to them. It is no problem for our customers to go back to the BEDC. This issue did not emanate from the customers. It is an internal issue.  We didn’t want to shut down the power plant, but I do not know where the power we generate goes. I don’t know the customers. They only listen to Dr Uwa, and Dr Uwa tells everybody that it is his power plant.  I cannot verify the customers to know how many kilowatts they have used already.

    “Uwa did not invest cash. It is a 100 per cent investment by the CCETC. Under the Joint Venture agreement, Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company is a shareholder of COPC with 25 per cent. We have lost a lot of money. We generate over four million kilowatts per month, but we collect payment for less than two million kilowatts.

    “The Edo State Government has not made full payment. The Ologbo Community is using our power without paying for it. The outstanding debt owed to us by the state government is over N1.4 billion. The community was connected by Dr Uwa. We don’t have any agreement with the community and other customers who are connected to Dr Uwa. I don’t know the communities that use the power that we generate. How do we generate over four million without enough payment?” Wi said.

    However, the management of Ossiomo Powers said its Chinese partners were not co-owners of the power firm but its contractor.

    The Deputy General Manager of the company, Francis Ekwe, insisted that Ossiomo Power remained the sole owner of the power-generating plant, the transmission network and associated gas infrastructure tied to the project at Ologbo in Edo State.

    Ekwe said the contract executed by the CCETC in 2018 for the supply and installation of engines for the Independent Power Project (IPP1) does not transfer or confer ownership of any facilities to the Chinese.

    Ekwe said Ossiomo Power held exclusive rights to the gas infrastructure and power facilities since 2008 and backed by statutory licences as well as approvals for power generation and transmission within Edo State.

    He noted that recent moves by CCETC to assert ownership might be aimed at influencing state authorities and creating uncertainty around the operations of Ossiomo Power. He warned that any attempt to sideline an indigenous operator in favour of a foreign contractor could undermine Nigeria’s local content policy and pose risks to energy security in Edo State.

    In its bid to assert independence of the Chinese partner, Ossiomo Power bought four turbines and invited Pakistani Engineers. One of the turbines has started operation, and electricity has been restored to some customers on the 33kVA lines.

    At a meeting with its stakeholders recently, a representative of Ossiomo Power, Festus Evbuomwan, assured that other customers on the 33kva lines would get electricity within 10 days, but urged that customers on the 11kva lines of the state government would not get power.

    “I think it is the duty of every government to encourage the Nigerian citizens to invest and not to work against local investors.

    “What we’re trying to do is to clear the bias this government has towards us, with the belief that Obaseki has shares in Ossiomo. I want to make it clear that Obaseki has no dime in Ossiomo. So, they should do business with us.

    “We have purchased turbines, and one has started working; they are fixing the second one. So, by the time our five turbines start working, we will be at full capacity,” Evbuomwan said.

    Evbuomwan also dismissed claims of the CCETC, saying it has received over N2 billion in payments.

    He said the Nigerian partner was not aware of any $20 million loan from the Chinese government.

    Evbuomwan further explained that former Governor Obaseki showed goodwill to support the power firm by constructing the 11kva and the distribution lines through which it extended electricity to whomever it deemed fit.

    “The Chinese partner also claimed that they borrowed $20 million from their native land to invest. We are not aware of such investment and we do not know where the money was invested until now.

    “They have also been saying that they have not been receiving anything. First, the partners run a joint account where their investment is going.

    “The Chinese partners have received over N2 billion so far for the power they generate with their machines. When they generate the power, we sell and pay them.

    “A day after they brought a written request for N185 million to pay two Chinese who are not even in Edo State and N18 million to pay the Nigerian members of staff, they shut down the plant. But, this was opposed. So, we do not know at what point they sold power to us and we did not pay,” he said.

    Access to electricity by some subscribers of Ossiomo Power, such as the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), is now dependent on Governor Okpebholo’s approval of the use of the 11kVA lines.

    Moreover, Mr. Kokobi Igbinovia and other subscribers have said they do not trust the BEDC on adequate power supply. They have said they would remain with the Ossiomo Power.

  • Who really was Charlie Kirk?

    Who really was Charlie Kirk?

    Grief is a curious performance. It relives Charlie Kirk in the hearts of enamoured fans. Thus, stories about him are told from only one perspective: that he was a hero, whose murder by Tyler Robinson, 22, was unconscionable.

    Yet, that is only one way to grieve his death. Amid the elegies and swell of tributes, one voice cuts through the smog of sentimentality with the keenness of a blade. That voice belongs to Stacey Patton, a College Professor, author and award-winning journalist.

    “We cannot allow this tragic assassination to whitewash Kirk’s legacy…” she wrote, emphatically, to her 215,000 followers.

    And in that sentence, the haze of public mourning split open, revealing a dark ledger of 31-year-old Kirk’s life; one crammed with alleged persecution and weaponisation of digital mobs.

    Patton comes with receipts. In her account, America learns that grief is also a house, where the mirrors forget how to reflect the dead, and the grief-stricken, how to remember.

    Patton suggested, in order words, that grief may paint halos where once there were pitchforks; that it can smudge scars and blur the harsh contours of a life lived combatively.

    The historian and college professor disclosed: “I am on Charlie Kirk’s hit list.” The so-called “Professor Watchlist,” according to her, was an initiative under the aegis of Kirk’s Turning Point USA but which doubled a digital hit list of sorts.

    READ ALSO: Top 10 African countries with largest military air fleets in 2025

    Patton claimed that she made the list after penning commentaries that unsettled the Make America Great Again (MAGA) faithful in 2024. The consequences, she recounted, were terrifying.

    Threats from unknown persons flooded her inbox and voicemail. “For weeks my inbox and voicemail were deluged. Mostly white men spat venom through the phone: ‘bitch,’ ‘c*nt,’ ‘n****r.’ They threatened all manner of violence,” she said.

    “They overwhelmed the university’s PR lines and the president’s office with calls demanding that I be fired,” Patton wrote. “The flood was so relentless that the head of campus security reached out to offer me an escort, because they feared one of these keyboard soldiers might step out of his basement and come do me harm.

    “Basically, anyone who challenged white supremacy, gun culture, or Christian nationalism suddenly found themselves targets of coordinated abuse,” she said.

    “Some received death threats. Some had their jobs threatened. Some left academia entirely. Kirk sent the loud message to us: speak the truth and we will unleash the mob!” she continued. “That is the culture of violence Charlie Kirk built. He normalised violence.  He curated it, monetised it, and sicced it on anyone who dared to puncture his movement’s lies.”

    “And now the same violence he unleashed on others has come full circle…It is so revolting to watch a bipartisan wave of grief sweep over this hateful racist as if he was a neutral community servant,” she concluded.

     Patton’s statement has gone viral precisely because it disrupts the neat choreography of public mourning. Tributes have cast Kirk as a civil debater and patriot, a man of conviction who loved family, football, and freedom.

     The Ezra Institute published a tribute penned by Joe Boot which states that, “Charlie Kirk was assassinated as a faithful Christian man defending biblical truths and Christian virtues in the public space.”

     But for Patton, such elegies erase the years of torment inflicted upon educators by his platform. The irony, she noted, is bitter: the same violence Kirk’s rhetoric helped normalise returned to claim him.

     Gordon Lynch, Professor of Religion at the University of Edinburgh, studied the rise of Kirk’s movement with a forensic lens. His analysis places Patton’s experience in a wider context: Kirk’s Turning Point USA called upon students to “name and shame” professors suspected of socialist leanings or problematic views. It was, in essence, a witch-hunt codified into campus culture, a watchlist that turned education into surveillance.

    Kirk’s blueprint for influence rested on debating ideas in calm, democratic exchanges and stigmatising opposition in same breath, labelling it dangerous, and unleashing the wrath of his base upon it.

    Lynch’s research underscores how Christian nationalism, the ideological manure from which Kirk drew sustenance, sees schools and universities as hostile ground. Separation of church and state loomed as a threat to them, not a safeguard. Kirk’s digital crusade made professors into enemies and valid targets.

    Melissa Butcher, Professor Emeritus at Royal Holloway, studied his rhetoric at AmericaFest in 2021. What she heard, she argued, wasn’t simply policy debate but a culture suffused with fear. Ordinary Americans, she found, saw the future as collapsing: environmental crises, economic fragility, communities fragmenting. Fear hardened into rage and Kirk became a megaphone for that rage, offering the illusion of strength alongside the balm of belonging.

    Yet his record brims with positions that triggered outrage. On race, he belittled the Civil Rights Movement and denounced Black Lives Matter. On Fox News, just a day before his assassination, he accused Democrats of fabricating a narrative of Black victimhood, insisting instead that whites were the real targets.

    On Islam, he once sullied the Holy Prophet Muhammad and declared the religion incompatible with Western values. On Gaza, he supported Israel, dismissed Palestinian identity and justified devastation as the “firestorm” of consequence.

    In a 2024 debate, Kirk condemned abortion even in cases of child rape, insisting that a hypothetical 10-year-old daughter must carry the pregnancy.

    And on firearms, he fanatically declared that the Second Amendment was worth the price of lives lost annually to gun violence. The deaths were the necessary toll of liberty, he claimed.

    Kirk’s positions ignited criticism, yet painted a portrait of a man who gloried in provocation and transacted outrage as a currency.

    Then, who really was Charlie Kirk? Was he a glorified provocateur or a patriot? A trigger of harassment or martyr of free speech? Was he an orator who sought dialogue, or a schemer who weaponised mobs?

    Patton’s testimony tilts the scales toward the latter. For her, his watchlist was traumatising, symbolic and personal. Lynch’s scholarship affirms this broader pattern of intimidation even as the surge of academic distress that followed Kirk’s campaigns cemented his legacy less as a defender of debate than as a curator of suppression.

    Even in critique, the paradox persists. Kirk’s appeal subsists in his pluck and refusal to dither when he could roar. He mirrored America’s anxieties: its fear of decline, yearning for assurance and desire for leaders who cast the world in binaries of good and evil.

    As the elegies fade beneath more recent buzz, the question persists: what does it mean to remember a man whose life both reflected and intensified America’s warring parts?

    There is no gainsaying that Kirk embodied the fissures of an America at war with itself. He was charismatic, combative, and strategic, a young man with boundless energy to “save America” from its perceived decline. Through a national radio show, campus tours, and his sprawling network of organisations, he reached millions. His gift was his fire; his curse was the same.

  • FERMA: Sustaining road infrastructure maintenance

    FERMA: Sustaining road infrastructure maintenance

    With the mythical ‘ember’ months already here, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has strengthened its resolve to advance sustainable road infrastructure maintenance in the country through various innovative approaches. The agency is poised to adopt global standards to improve road safety, quality and road asset management. From strategic partnerships with foreign agencies to a transformative approach to road infrastructure maintenance, it continues to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises infrastructure development as a catalyst for national progress. DAMOLA KOLA-DARE reports

    In this part of the world, there is an inexplicable myth woven around the ‘ember’ months–September to December. People believe the period comes with ominous signs and is usually tragic, particularly with upsurge in road crashes.

    But in reality, there is always increase in the tempo of public, private and corporate activities during this period. The roads become busier; there is a mad rush to embark on travels, especially when the Yuletide approaches.

    Unsurprisingly, commercial drivers, who normally do three trips in a day, do eight or even more, leading to excessive speeding, which comes with varying degrees of fatalities.

    Statistics have revealed that 2,650 road traffic crashes killed 1,593 Nigerians in the first quarter of this year, though compared to last year, the number of crashes was lower.

    With this in mind, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) is not resting on its oars, not only to deliver on its mandate,  but also to ensure that the roads are no longer deemed death traps.

    The agency principally curbs road accidents by maintaining and repairing roads, which directly addresses the issue of poor road conditions as a major cause of accidents in the country.

    While the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) handles enforcement and public awareness, FERMA is focused on restoring infrastructure through sustained surveillance, accelerated repairs and preventive maintenance, ensuring safer roads and making them more reliable for movement.

    Its mandate is to properly maintain and repair federal highways, a critical role in reducing accidents caused by potholes, collapsed roads, and generally poor road conditions.

    The agency’s work complements the efforts of the FRSC, which focuses on driver behaviour, vehicle safety and public awareness campaigns. By making the roads motorable, FERMA provides a foundation for other measures to be more effective.

    While FERMA’s activities are part of the government’s blueprint to improve road infrastructure, boost the functionality of roads and economic development, the agency has a vital role to ensure that the road network itself is solid, which is a basic step to curbing road accidents.

    Nevertheless, in its drive to fulfill its mandate, the agency recently signed a two-year strategic agreement with the Global Cooperation Promotion Research Centre (GCPRC) to advance sustainable road infrastructure in Nigeria.

    The collaboration is aimed at leveraging international best practices, especially China’s expertise, in federal road repairs, maintenance, transportation security and road asset management. GCPRC, a think tank established in February this year under Nigeria’s Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, focuses on strengthening global cooperation and fostering Nigeria-China relations.

    The partnership emphasises technology transfer, innovation, and capacity building to enhance Nigeria’s ability to manage its road networks sustainably.

    FERMA’s Managing Director, Dr Emeka Agbasi, underscored the significance of adopting global standards to improve road safety and quality. GCPRC’s Director, Li Zhensheng noted the partnership’s broader goal of economic growth and bilateral cooperation beyond road infrastructure.

    Agbasi noted that the MoU signing is a major milestone for the agency and the country.

    He said: “Our mandate has always been to maintain and improve the federal road network, and through this agreement with GCPRC, we are positioning ourselves to adopt global best practices in road asset management, maintenance technology and capacity building. This collaboration will not only improve the condition and safety of our roads, but also strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to sustainably manage critical infrastructure well into the future.”

    The two-year partnership, renewable by mutual consent, sets a foundation for long-term collaboration to transform Nigeria’s federal road network and infrastructure management while deepening Nigeria-China ties.

    Interestingly, FERMA does not want to rest on its laurels. The agency had, some months back, received road construction and maintenance equipment funded by Japan’s Grant Aid FY2020-2 under the Economic and Social Development Programme.

    Agbasi described the equipment as a major investment and addition to the agency’s plant and sundry equipment and a significant step forward in its mission to efficiently and effectively monitor and administer road maintenance with the objective of keeping all federal roads in good and safe conditions.

    “In pursuit of excellence, exploratory meetings that began years ago between FERMA and Japanese authorities gave birth to the event. The meetings focused on deepening existing relationships and creating partnership opportunities.

    “The agency identified the need to significantly build and improve in-house capacity required to recover failed road sections, and undertake all routine and periodic maintenance.  Capacity strengthening through the acquisition of road equipment will greatly impact the Agency’s objectives to increase the utility of Nigeria’s road infrastructure by maximising asset utilisation.

    “The 3-in-1 road stabiliser equipment can be utilised for in-place base course construction and/or subgrade rehabilitation. The stabilisation construction method is expected to have a significant impact on the recovery of degraded sections of the road network, and the supply records have shown potential benefits associated with cost and time savings, and environmental friendliness (recycling of existing roads).

    “The road maintenance and construction equipment received from  Japan comprises Road Stabiliser/SAKAI, Asphalt Lorry/HANTA, Vibratory Single Drum Roller/SAKAI, Pneumatic Tired Roller/SAKAI, Vibratory Tandem Roller/SAKAI, Walk Behind Roller/SAKAI (24 units), Spare parts for 2,000 hours of operation.”

    The FERMA Chief added: “Aligned to the presidential priorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda on enhancing infrastructure and transportation as enablers of economic growth, the mix of road equipment seen here today will strengthen FERMA’s capacity on road and highway maintenance in Nigeria.

    “Nominated FERMA members of staff have undergone training on the mix design and operation of the machines. The deployment of the equipment further underpins our efforts in restoring failed sections of the network to improve connectivity and ensure a good journey experience on Nigerian roads.”

    The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on FERMA, Aderemi Oseni, lauded the leadership of FERMA for its outstanding performance and transformative approach to road infrastructure maintenance across Nigeria.

    Oseni expressed confidence in the capacity of the FERMA management team, stressing the importance of continued support and autonomy for the agency.

    “At the National Assembly, we do not doubt that with your expertise and the necessary autonomy to perform, our roads will become enablers of a better quality of life, increased business opportunities, and enhanced national development.

    “The newly inaugurated equipment is not just a set of tools—it is an opportunity; an opportunity to make our roads work again and demonstrate to our development partners that Nigeria is committed to infrastructure renewal,” he said.

    Read Also: Tinubu: reforms working, Nigeria now accorded respect globally

    Apart from strategic partnerships to improve the agency’s overall output, Agbasi’s dedication and expertise have positioned FERMA for excellence, aligning with President Tinubu’s vision for a revitalised world-class infrastructure.

    The “Operation Connect Your Destination” initiative, which he championed, has not only enhanced the serviceability of federal roads but also made travel easier and reduced congestion, especially during the targeted peak traffic yuletide period. It earned recognition and praise from the National Assembly, eliciting calls for initiatives such as “Connect to Your Farm” to support agriculture.

    Agbasi explained that the agency under his watch is transitioning from a reactive to a proactive approach to road maintenance, emphasising that keeping roads in good condition is more cost-effective than waiting for them to deteriorate. Agbasi stated further that the “Operation Safeguard our Roads” introduced in December last year is a year-round programme aimed at keeping federal roads in good condition.

     “Through operations to safeguard our roads, we are trying to move away from a position where the streets will get destroyed to a proactive regime when the roads are maintained in good condition.

    “It costs far less to keep a road in good condition than to allow it to fail,” he said.

    The agency continues to deliver on its mandate, just as it completed emergency repairs last week on failed sections of the Eric Moore-Iganmu Road in Lagos.

    It carried out desilting of drains, repairing and recovering failed parts of the road, and reconstructing a collapsed two-cell box culvert. The agency made sure to install directional signage and lane markings for safety and the smooth flow of traffic.

    Agbasi noted that maintaining Nigeria’s extensive road network remains integral to the agency’s mandate of ensuring secure and hitch-free movement as well as motorable roads nationwide.

    Despite paucity of funds,  Agbasi’s achievements in FERMA include, effective maintenance of 491.03 kilometers of federal roads, made 5,006.54 kilometers of federal roads motorable, created 23,927 skilled and unskilled jobs, contributing to economic growth,initiated the “Operation Connect Your Destination” programme to  improve federal roads and reduce congestion, received recognition and praise from the National Assembly for his achievements.