The Nation Newspaper

Category: Issues

  • Bridging electricity gap through public, private partnership

    Bridging electricity gap through public, private partnership

    As Nigeria celebrates 65th independence anniversary, access to adequate and regular electricity supply remains a key challenge. With major reforms in regulations, sources, administration and sustainability, the government has taken major measures to address electricity constraints. A budding private, public partnership (PPP) across the electricity chain represents substantial potential to bridge diverse access to electricity. In this report, Deputy Group Business Editor, Taofik Salako, reports on how PPP-based off-grid power projects are transforming communities.

    The facts around Nigeria’s electricity industry are staggering. The federal government subsidised electricity supply to customers by N536.4 billion in first quarter 2025. On the average, monthly electricity subsidy stands at about N200 billion. The gap between annual subsidy estimate and actual budget is more than 80 per cent. For instance, in 2024, annual subsidy was N2.9 trillion while the Appropriation Act was N450 billion, building up residual debts currently estimated at more than N4 trillion. Besides, Nigerians spend some N30 trillion annually on personal, off-grid power generation.

    With nearly half of Nigeria’s population not connected to the national grid, the country is faced with dual challenge of resolving inefficiencies in national grid supply and enabling alternative power systems to provide electricity as the basic catalyst of its economic development programme.

    The Federal Government is aggressively pursuing multi-faceted strategies to bridge the electricity gap, energising both global and domestic partnerships to simultaneously drive enabling reforms that improve the efficiencies and competitiveness of the electricity market while expanding supports for the vulnerable and underserved segment.  

    At the recent Mission 300 summit, President Bola Tinubu underscored the importance of private, public partnerships in achieving mass electrification of Nigeria and other African countries. Tinubu estimated that Nigeria would require an investment of $23.2 billion for last-mile electrification, including contributions from the public and private sectors. These targeted investments are not entirely for national grid electrification projects; a substantial portion involves off-grid solutions such as standalone solar projects that deliver affordable and renewable energy to many isolated rural communities in the north as well as mini-grids to serve some urban centres.

    A United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) report, published in July 2025, highlighted transformative initiatives by the government over the past two years, starting from the landmark June 8, 2023 signing into law of the Electricity Act 2023 by Tinubu to the institutionalisation of the National Integrated Electricity Policy (NIEP) in May 2025. NIEP, which was mandated by the Electricity Act 2023, provides comprehensive blueprint for universal electricity access, a higher renewable energy mix by 2060, and establishes new electricity market designs among others.

    “For the reforms in the sector to succeed, financing is key. Public finance alone will not solve the sector’s challenges, hence leveraging private sector capital is crucial,” the UNDP report stated, noting that NIEP rightly recognised that “significant capital injection from the private sector and development partners is essential for network expansion and achieving universal access”. 

    The Energy Commission of Nigeria stated that transformative investments and initiatives by the Tinubu-led government have increased the country’s electricity supply by 50 per cent, from historic 4,000 megawatts to 6,000 megawatts. But this still falls short of a quarter of what the country needed to achieve full electrification. “For every household to have affordable access to electricity, Nigeria must generate 40,000 MW,” Director-General, Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, said.

    Partnerships for light

    With the undeniable need for private initiatives, the launch of a scalable off-grid electrification project by Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation and the Australian High Commission in Nigeria has generated much excitement among stakeholders. ANI Foundation is rooted in sustainability and diversity. It provides hands-on protected area management including community engagement, ranger-led law enforcement, and enterprise planning support delivered through long-term management and partnership agreements with government. The not-for-profit organisation, which collaborates with the National Park Service (NPS), currently works in Gashaka Gumti National Park in Taraba and Adamawa States and Okomu National Park in Edo State. ANI Foundation’s objective is to protect Nigeria’s incredible biodiversity while demonstrating that conservation can drive local economic development through the long-term co-management of protected areas.

    Read Also: Christian genocide and the conspiracy against Nigeria

    The ANI Foundation-Australian High Commission partnership, built on a PPP with the NPS and host communities, has delivered boundless to people of Mayo Selbe, a community tucked deep behind the rolling hills and mountain peaks of Gashaka Gumti National Park and the Mambilla Plateau. Mayo Selbe was one several Nigerian villages for which electricity was something they could only dream of, but now savouring illumination through alternative, off-grid projects. A total of 63 households in Mayo Selbe, chosen by a GPS-driven scientific method of mapping, have been connected to the off-grid electricity project, with the scientific method ensuring spread and fairness within the community.

    The Mayo Selbe project, undertaken under Direct Aid Programme of the Australian High Commission, also involved an Australian company, Okra Solar and Creeds Energy, a Nigerian clean-tech company focused on sustainable, affordable and reliable solar solutions.

    The choice of Mayo Selbe for the pilot phase of the expansive off-grid project was symbolic. The people of Mayo Selbe represented the vast majority of underserved communities, which hopes of electrification had been delayed or dashed by the retinue of Nigeria’s failed or abandoned projects. For the people of     Mayo Selbe and many other communities living in the southern part of Taraba State, close to the border of Gashaka Gumti National Park, they had hoped and prayed for more than five decades for the realisation of the 3,050 megawatt hydroelectric Mambilla Power Project. The project, conceived as far back as 1972, was meant to have been built on the Mambilla Plateau near the border with Cameroon, just over an hour’s drive from Mayo Selbe. Regarded then as one of the biggest power projects in Africa, the Mambilla Power Project remains till date a dream, characterised by allegations of corruption. So, the joy of the people of Mayo Selbe was palpable when flickers of light beamed through the community for the first time ever.

    What electricity means for the people  

    During the commissioning of the project at the palace of the community chief, His Royal Highness, Yerima Thomas Maiyanga, the people of Mayo Selbe danced, cheered and rejoiced as intermittent speeches by stakeholders. Known as Kum Mayo Selbe, Maiyanga himself was effusive in his praise of ANI Foundation and the NPS.

    He said: “ANI Foundation has carried out many initiatives to empower and equip community members since they started working at the Gashaka Gumti National Park, in partnership with the National Park Service. We have seen the empowerment scheme for women for example, whose impact has been felt in different households and across the community. Today, 63 households have been connected to the electricity project, this is even more than we ever dreamt about”.

    The Lamido of Gashaka, Zubairu Hammangabdo Sambo, who also spoke at the commissioning, commended the partnership between ANI Foundation and the Australian High Commission. He noted that the project marked a new height in community development initiatives in Gashaka and beyond. According to him, the Mayo Selbe electrification project built on other projects by ANI Foundation, including the training of hundreds of women in the area in modern agricultural practices.

    Richard Okorie, a man from the eastern part of the country who has lived in Mayo Selbe for the past 35 years, was overwhelmed with joy in his appreciation of ANI.

    According to him, the scheme would save him a lot of the money he would have spent on petrol to power his business and residence.

    “Knowing that the Gashaka Gumti National Park, being operated by the National Park Service (NPS), is here, this is the type of benefits one can look forward to. The partnership between NPS and ANI has yielded this wonderful project. It is a huge relief to finally have electricity, which as you can see, is why I can now watch TV, put on the fan and power my business,” Okorie said.

    Hafsatu Ladan, a female beneficiary who also spoke on the development, described the electrification project as God-sent to the community.

    She said: “It is a new beginning for the community and the people of Mayo Selbe are more than happy with the development, which will not only empower those who own shops in the community but will also help our children study anytime of the day”.

    With electricity remaining a luxury in many communities in the area, Hassan Musa, another resident, said Mayo Selbe is now one of those to be envied across the Gashaka landscape, all thanks to ANI Foundation and the Australian High Commission.

    Everyone agreed on one thing: the project would transform lives as it was known in the community, especially at night and particularly in the selected households.

    Community relations

    Country Manager, ANI Foundation, Nacha Geoffrey, said the Mayo Selbe project was conceived and delivered in continuation of the not-for-profit organisation’s objective to transform and empower communities living around the national park.

    Geoffrey said the GPS-based method was adopted to ensure that the selection process for the beneficiaries was even, fair and transparent.

    Conservator-General, National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Goni, described the project as a new milestone by ANI Foundation in its unrelenting efforts regarding community empowerment.

    Goni, who was represented by Assistant Conservator-General Cornelius Oladipo, called on the community to take ownership and protect the project.

    He said: “I congratulate you on this transformative development and urge you to safeguard this solar infrastructure and continue to work closely with the National Park Service and ANI Foundation”.

    Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Her Excellency, Ms Leilani Bin-Juda, said the project was a meaningful milestone in community impact.

    “It is truly inspiring to see the fruits of the collaboration between such an innovative Australian company, Okra Solar, and our esteemed partner through the High Commission’s Direct Aid Programme, Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation, who have been carrying out remarkable projects helping local communities, particularly around the Gashaka Gumti National Park.

    “This initiative, which will bring clean, green, solar energy to 63 households in Mayo Selbe for the first time, represents a meaningful milestone in delivering tangible benefits to the local community around Gashaka Gumti National Park,” Bin-Juda said, in her message to the community at the commissioning ceremony.

    Taraba State Commissioner for Heritage and Ecotourism, Hon. Joseph Nagombe, said the project aligned with the developmental goals of the Agbu Kefas administration.

    He reiterated the support of the Taraba State Government for ANI Foundation and other development partners, especially on projects around the Gashaka Gumti National, which contains highest mountain peak in Nigeria and West Africa.

    “It is indeed heartwarming to see the ANI Foundation partnership with the National Park Service delivering tangible community development linked to tourism initiatives, in Taraba State,” Nagombe, a son of the soil, said.

    Also, Member of the Code of Conduct Bureau and retired judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Buba, captured the essence of the project succinctly. He said the project demonstrated a partnership founded on vision and commitment.

    He said: “The commissioning of this solar electrification project in Mayo Selbe is a testament to what can be achieved when vision meets commitment. This initiative, spearheaded by the Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation in partnership with the Australian High Commission and the Gashaka community, exemplifies a truly transformative collaboration. As many of you know, our community in Gashaka has long been a dedicated partner with the ANI Foundation, working tirelessly to preserve our natural heritage while fostering sustainable development. It is not easy to give people electricity, ANI is doing it, which is essentially about carrying out a revolution without making noise”.

    With the success of the pilot phase, ANI Foundation said it would replicate the off-grid project in many other communities. Deputy Project Manager, ANI Foundation, David Peter, said while the Mayo Selbe was one-of-a-kind, more of such would be replicated in more communities. He said the project framework was built for expansion and greater reach to unserved and underserved communities.

    Experts agreed that solar energy is probably the most practicable solutions to Nigeria’s energy problem. This much was also captured by the NIEP. As the country continues the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, with acceleration of the deployment of the NIEP, analysts expressed optimism that increased participation by all tiers of government and foreign and domestic private stakeholders, the country should witness significant improvement in the scale, adequacy and reach of its electrification supply. At the intersection of all these efforts lie meaningful PPP models, a commitment recently reinforced by the Tinubu-led government.

  • REAN appoints new Executive Secretary

    REAN appoints new Executive Secretary

    Dr. ‘Tosin Akande has been appointed as the Executive Secretary of the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN).

    A global development, project management and renewable energy specialist with more than 15 years experience across the United States, United Kingdom and Nigeria, Akande has played active roles in sustainable energy, housing construction, water-utilities, agro-business enterprise, and economic development sectors.

    She started her international career with City of Baltimore Department of Housing and Community Development in Maryland, USA as a Mayoral Fellow and Real Estate Planner managing the disposition of city-owned property. 

    She also worked as a Network Analyst in the water engineering department of Thames Water in London, UK managing utilities pipes, mains, reservoir-assets, and impact on water quality for City of London end-users. 

    After her exposure overseas in infrastructure asset-management, Akande decided to pursue her purpose, fervour, and zeal for national transformation and economic development on the home-front.  In her first professional stint in Nigeria, she was the Monitoring and Evaluation Lead for the World Bank-DFID Growth and Employments in States, Construction and Real Estate Programme—GEMS 2. 

    Thereafter, she worked as a Market Analyst and Intervention Lead for UKAID-DFID Business Innovation Facility, Agro-Business Enterprise Programme—BIF 2. 

    Read Also: Continuous price increase of cooking gas affecting our purchasing power, say Nigerians

    As a resident and development practitioner concerned about the problems plaguing Nigeria’s power sector – a fundamental determinant of the nation’s economic growth and industrialisation, in 2015, she pivoted into the energy sector by executing advanced research at the doctoral level for six years. 

    Her research investigated prospects of solar clean tech solutions to be quick-wins in circumventing the capital-intensiveness of Nigeria’s grid-network expansion and rectifying energy vacuums with the purpose of intensifying output-productivity, gross revenues, profits, and firm enterprise competitiveness. 

    As Lead Consultant and Founder, insights from her study prompted her to establish RED Energy & Sustainability Unit (RES:UNiT) an arm of RED Universal Consulting, a global development and energy advisory practice, where she has supported as an independent consultant various Nigerian power sector stakeholders. 

    These include Private Solar Enterprises / Energy Entrepreneurs, REA, and Nigeria Energy Transition Office (ETO) at SEforALL.  Most recently, she was the pioneer Team Lead, Renewable Energy Off-Grid Solutions at PowerCap Ltd, an energy utility providing network-upgrades, asset-marking-mapping, metering, enumeration, and revenue cycle management to Ikeja Electric, Eko, and Enugu DISCO’s.  At PowerCap, she built the company’s RE portfolio five-year outlook culminating in $34.9 million Pico and SHS; $8.8 million captive power; and $9.6 million mini-grid, potential market-revenue project pipeline.

    Akande is keen on engaging energy practitioners and industry stakeholders with an unrelenting resolve to produce quantum level, breakthrough outcomes in power supply for Nigeria, continental Africa, and other emerging nations across the globe, leveraging on market-disruptive Solar RE Ideations, Initiatives, and Deployment.

    Akande holds B.A. dual honors degrees in Governance & Public Policy from Syracuse University, New York, USA, and M.Sc. honours degree in Development Studies from the London School of Economics (LSE).  She earned her Doctor of Philosophy Degree from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA in Socio-Economic Development.  She is a member of African Women in Energy Development Initiative (AWEDI) and a Non-Independent Executive Director at Renewable Energy Bank of Africa (REBA).

  • ‘Summit holds on FATF compliance’

    ‘Summit holds on FATF compliance’

    The Nigerian Capital Market Institute (NCMI), the subsidiary of the Securities and Exchange Commission, is holding a compliance summit for chief executive officers and compliance officers on Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and other related issues.

    The two-day summit with the theme: Navigating regulatory challenges: Aligning with changes in FATF in the era of VASPS is scheduled to start today at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos.

    Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC),  Dr. Emomotimi Agama said the summit will provide capital market operators with the tools and knowledge necessary to thrive in a complex regulatory environment, ultimately fostering a culture of compliance and integrity in their operations.

    “The aim is to equip capital market operators with essential insights and strategies to effectively navigate the evolving regulatory landscape.

    “Attendees are to gain knowledge of Understand Regulatory Changes, clarity on the latest updates to FATF (Financial Action Task Force) standards and how these impact virtual asset service providers (VASPs).And learn best practices for aligning their compliance programs with new regulations, ensuring they meet international standards enhancing compliance frameworks in their organisations,” Agama said.

    Read Also: NDLEA arrests two businessmen, Canada-based nurse at Lagos airport for attempted drug smuggling

    The welcome address is expected to be presented by Ms. Frana Chukwuogor, Executive Commissioner, Legal & Enforcement, SEC, opening remarks and overview of the summit by Dr. Agama while Ms. Hafsat Bakari, Director, Nigeria Fraud Intelligence Unit, NFIU will present a goodwill message.

    According to the commission, key objectives include regulatory compliance: understand and implement Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) regulations, risk management: identify, assess and mitigate risks associated with virtual assets and operational efficiency which will lead to enhanced internal controls, governance and compliance frameworks.

    The benefits of the summit include regulatory clarity: clarifies regulatory expectations and obligations, risk reduction: minimizes risk of non-compliance, fines and reputational damage and enhanced governance: strengthens internal controls and compliance culture.

    Other benefits are competitive advantage: demonstrates commitment to compliance, enhancing reputation and trust and networking opportunities: facilitates collaboration and knowledge sharing among industry stakeholders.

    Speakers expected at the event are Mr. Obinna Iwuno, Chairman, Stakeholders in BlockChain Association of Nigeria (SiBAN) and Certified Cryptocurrency Compliance Specialist & Investigator, Mr Ade Bajomo, the President, Fintech Association in Nigeria, Mr. Peter Shodipo, the President, Committee of Chief Compliance Officers of Capital Market Operators in Nigeria (CCCOCIN), Mr. Ayodele Othihiwa, President, Association of Reporting Accountants and Auditors in the Capital Market (ARAACAM) and Mr. Zacch Adedeji, PhD, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria

    Various panels have been lined up to discuss issues like GIABA’s Efforts in Curbing ML/TF in the ECOWAS Region, Understanding the New FATF Standards for VASPs,  Understanding the Evolving Regulatory Environment for Digital Assets and Tax Implications,  and Nigeria’s Status and FATF ICRG Gray Listing Issues.

  • Reps seek review of BPP’s budget

    Reps seek review of BPP’s budget

    The House of Representatives has urged the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to review the budgetary allocation of the Bureau of Public Procurement in line with current realities in subsequent budget estimates to enable successful discharge of the Bureau’s core mandate.

    The House also urged the Bureau of Public Procurement to collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Civil Society Organizations and the National Assembly to enhance the provision of a legal and institutional framework and professional capacity for public procurement in Nigeria for the holistic development of the country.

     It mandated the Committees on Public Procurement and Appropriations, to follow-up and ensure upward review of the Bureau’s budgetary allocation in subsequent budget estimates.

    It also mandated the Committee on Public Procurement to conduct a thorough oversight and recommend appropriate measures that will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the Bureau and report within four weeks for further legislative action.

    These resolutions follow the adoption of a motion titled, “Need to Review Budgetary Allocation of the Bureau of Public Procurement” sponsored by Hon. Unyime Idem during plenary on Wednesday.

    The House said it was aware that the budgetary allocation for the Bureau in the Appropriation Act, 2024 is N2.2 billion.

    Read Also: IG orders manhunt for killers of three policemen in Lagos, Edo

    It was concerned that the existing funds provided for the Bureau is grossly inadequate to meet the extensive responsibilities of the procurement audits, monitoring and surveillance in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the six geopolitical zones of the nation.

    The House noted the need for the attainment of transparency, competitiveness, cost effectiveness, value-for-money and professionalism in the public sector procurement system.

    It also noted that the Public Procurement Act 2007 established the Bureau of Public Procurement as the regulatory authority responsible for the monitoring and oversight of public procurement, harmonising the existing government policies and practices by regulating, setting standards and developing the legal framework and professional capacity for public procurement in Nigeria.

     The House further noted that the Bureau is empowered to, among other things, oversight over 800 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to ensure the implementation of established procurement policies, and due process compliance.

    The House recognized the need to ensure monitoring and surveillance of Federal Government Procurement Procedures and ongoing projects across the six geopolitical zones.

    It was also concerned that given the prevailing trend of procurement corruption in Nigeria, constituting over 70 per cent of corruption in the public sector, there is an increasing need to ensure the implementation of procurement policies, and due process compliance, in line with global best practices.

    The House said it was cognizant that the increasing rate of procurement corruption in the public sector necessitate urgent measures for effective oversight to ensure value-for-money, transparency, competitiveness and professionalism.

  • How businesses are leveraging digital edge to drive growth

    How businesses are leveraging digital edge to drive growth

    With a number of online marketing platforms emerging key players in this digital revolution, business owners in Nigeria, particularly those in the real estate and automotive sectors, are leveraging them as powerful tools to streamline their operations, achieve significant growth, overcome challenges, and stay competitive in the digital world. Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA reports.

    For the Managing Director of Befitting Properties, a premium real estate firm in Lagos, Tope Samuel, it’s been nothing short of transformative. On the strength of the advent of online marketing platforms in Nigeria, real estate transactions, which, traditionally, have been heavily dependent on local networks and word-of-mouth referrals, are now able to tap into a much broader audience, including international buyers and investors.

    Accordingly, Samuel and other operators in that space are now leveraging the rise of platforms such as Jiji, Jumia, Cars45, and Konga to boost their visibility and reach potential clients both locally and internationally. Samuel revealed, for instance, that Befitting Properties has been able to close some of its biggest transactions to-date on e-commerce giant Jiji platform, including a premium property worth close to a billion naira in Banana Island, Lagos.

    “Jiji’s wide reach, user-friendly interface, and the ability to directly connect with serious clients made it our preferred platform, he told The Nation, noting that the success of Befitting Properties showcases the power of online marketplaces in helping sellers in real estate overcome traditional barriers. “Being active on Jiji has enhanced our reputation as a trusted and reliable real estate company,” he emphasised.

    According to him, a strong reputation on Jiji with over 1000 positive feedback from customers through the platform in five years has been key to its success. “Being active on Jiji has enhanced our reputation as a trusted and reliable real estate company. We can say on the average, over 90 per cent of our customers are satisfied and this has solidified our relationships with them, increased word of mouth awareness and referrals for our business,” Samuel affirmed.

    He added that the platform’s credibility, as well as the business’ consistent and professional interactions with clients has significantly boosted the company’s business. He explained that when operators in real estate business advertise their properties online, such businesses can showcase high-value listings to a diverse audience. This, in turn, increases the likelihood of finding the right buyer.

    De-Supreme Property, another real estate business, is also counting itself lucky for embracing online marketplaces for growth. The business, which faced the challenge of limited marketing budgets when it is starting out, gradually scaled its marketing efforts when it began exploring the affordable ad packages that Jiji offers.

    “When I started my business in 2020, I had nothing. Jiji helped me begin with small ads on their platform and over time, I was able to increase my investment as my business expanded,” De-Supreme Property CEO Abati Idowu Waheed told The Nation, noting that this flexible approach allowed the business to grow steadily, even during economic downturns.

    The ability to scale marketing efforts according to business needs is said to be one of the many ways online marketplaces support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Whether it’s a small business with a limited budget or a more established company looking to expand its reach, these platforms offer a range of options that cater to different needs and growth stages.

    Read Also: Businessmen, Canada-based nurse arrested at Lagos airport for cocaine, loud trafficking

    Automotive sector also

    The automotive sector has also seen substantial growth through online marketplaces. Auto dealers are leaning toward digital channels like Jiji, Car Mart and Cars45, which offer a unique opportunity to reach customers who’re actively searching for vehicles online for buying and selling.

    The shift toward digital channels has proven to be a game-changer, particularly in a market where consumer behaviour is largely influenced by online research and comparisons.

    For instance, the CEO of Autoproject, Raymond Iyoha, a dealer partner with Cars45, a technology-enabled automotive trading platform, shared one of his biggest challenges before partnering with the platform. He said: “Our biggest challenge was getting the right car to buy. Sometimes, we end up buying vehicles with security issues. But since partnering with Cars45, when it comes to verification, I’m rest assured.”

    Iyoha told The Nation that he has since been able to source verified cars and increase their inventory without having to travel both far and near, all facilitated through the online platform.

    Levi Bereiweriso, a business owner, who specialises in selling cars on Jiji, also narrated how he experienced firsthand the benefits of selling online: “Jiji has really helped me to stay connected, to stay competitive in the car-selling business. I’ve sold numerous cars to customers all over Nigeria and made profits.”

    Bereiweriso said that’s because over 95 per cent of people who reach out from the platform are genuine and interested buyers. He also said he has been able to reach a wider audience, engage with genuine buyers, and ultimately increased his sales by listing his vehicles online.

    Indeed, one of the key advantages of selling cars through online marketplaces is the ability to provide detailed information and visuals that help buyers make informed decisions. Unlike traditional methods, where potential buyers might have to visit multiple dealerships to compare vehicles, online marketplaces allow them to do so from the comfort of their homes.

    Also, dealers now source verified vehicles from the comfort of their offices hassle-free. These translate to cutting down on costs, reducing documentation issues and security concerns.

    The experiences of business owners like Samuel, Waheed, Iyoha, and Bereiweriso and highlight the potential of online marketplaces to transform traditional business models, and also help businesses both big and small succeed in this dynamic economic environment.

    Brighter future for selling online

    It took a recent forecast by Statista to bring to the fore the promising future of digital commerce in Nigeria. The global data and business intelligence firm projected that 13 per cent of all sales done in Nigeria by 2026 would be conducted online.

    This shows that the digital space in Nigeria is flourishing, with internet penetration currently at 55 per cent and poised to grow steadily. Also, with the increasing smartphone adoption estimated to reach 140 million by 2025, consumers are more connected than ever before.

    This connectivity has paved the way for digital marketing channels such as Jiji, Jumia, Cars45, and Konga to emerge as key players in this digital revolution, where they are transforming businesses by offering them a powerful tool to reach customers beyond their immediate geographic location.

    Regional Head of PR and Marketing, Jiji Africa, Majolie Obaje, expressed optimism that the role of these online marketplaces in reshaping industries and driving business growth will become more prominent as more businesses recognise the benefits of selling online.

    Obaje told The Nation that for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the opportunity to reach a global audience, leverage advanced marketing tools, and build credibility in a competitive market is invaluable.

    She, however, said the success of these efforts depends on how well businesses can adapt to the digital environment and make the most of the features these platforms offer. In other words, the key is for SMEs to stay informed, be adaptable, and continuously explore new ways to engage with customers online.

    This is so because as digital commerce continues to evolve, those who are willing to embrace it and leverage its full potential will be poised to succeed in the years to come.

    Obaje said for businesses that have yet to explore this avenue, the time to start is now. As she stated, “The digital future is here, and it offers unlimited opportunities for growth and success, especially now that businesses in Nigeria need to navigate market challenges.”

    One of the most significant challenges for online sellers is building trust with potential customers. Credibility becomes crucial in a digital space where buyers cannot physically inspect products or meet sellers in person.

    However, one online marketplace that addresses this key challenge is Jiji through its meet-inspect-pay model. They also provide features such as customer reviews, verified ID badges for sellers, and secure communication channels like WhatsApp and in-app chats.

  • Ramping up global rating for Nigerian carriers’ aircraft leasing

    Ramping up global rating for Nigerian carriers’ aircraft leasing

    Recent moves  by the Federal Government  to drive the enforcement of the appropriate international protocols, legal instruments and other interventions has triggered a paradigm shift in securing operating equipment for airlines, writes KELVIN OSA – OKUNBOR.

    Nigeria is gradually regaining its pride of place in the global air transport arena as aeronautical regulatory  authorities and other concerned organisations put finishing touches to efforts aimed at implementing the relevant  legal instruments and international protocols  governing the leasing of aircraft.

    The move is part of efforts by the Federal Government to change the negative perception of Nigeria in the international air transport as a country, whose operators are  notorious for either defaulting or non complying with the terms and conditions attached to aircraft leasing by players in the mobile  equipment procurement space.

    Reports indicate that major aircraft leasing companies years ago were considering a blacklisting of Nigerian operators, of the default rate by a few erring operators did not take a good turn.

    This development, had triggered a backlash for the country as major aircraft leasing companies labeled Nigeria a high risk country.

    Caught in the intricate web, Nigerian airlines have been navigating difficult tracks to secure aircraft for their operations, as the options of direct purchase of aircraft has become increasingly expensive.

    But, airlines in other countries continue to leverage the benefits of aircraft leasing as the confidence level assumes a spike following their fidelity to agreements.

    To pull Nigeria and her operators out of this dangerous woods, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development , Mr Festus Keyamo upon assumption of duties embarked on an aggressive sensitization diplomatic tour to Europe and America to fouse the negative perception of Africa’s most populous country and its airlines.

    Keyamo began work by collaborating with the necessary organs of the government to change the wrong perception of the country , so that its struggling carriers could secure equipment to become viable, sustainable and efficient.

    With a series of meetings with major aircraft manufacturers : Airbus, Boeing , Bombardier and Embraer , Keyamo secured some commitment that a new era has beckoned.

    To drive this, the Federal Government recently took some steps to attain global compliance by adopting the

     Cape Town Convention (CTC) Practice Direction on the dry leasing of aircraft.

    Convinced over the new move, the Aviation Working Group (AWG), co-chaired by Boeing and Airbus, promptly elevated Nigeria’s compliance score from 49 to 70.5, marking a historic high for the nation.

    Speaking on the development, Keyamo said : “ This is the largest score Nigeria has attained to date, providing comfort to financiers and the global leasing industry,”

    He also noted that further improvements are expected in the coming weeks as he  directed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to amend its administrative rules, known as IDERA, to fully align with the Convention, thereby enhancing confidence among financiers and lessors worldwide.

    The Aviation Working Group, headquartered in London and New York, lauded the efforts of the Aviation Minister and his team for their dedication over the past few months in making this achievement possible.

    In an email received by the Nigerian aviation authorities, the AWG expressed its readiness to increase Nigeria’s score further once the country adjusts its administrative rules and the courts begin to apply the Practice Direction.

    Read Also: Young Nigerian leader honoured at UK education summit

    The rapid adjustment in Nigeria’s global rating, experts say, is a positive step in the country’s aviation sector, indicating a commitment to international standards and practices that foster trust and investment in the industry.

    The latest step by Nigeria, experts say, makes  it one of the few countries in the world to pioneer the issuance of practice directions by the Federal High Court, which is vested with the constitutional jurisdiction on aviation matters.

    Before now, Nigeria had majorly failed to comply with the Cape Town Convention (CTC) – a convention that regulates the dry-leasing of aircrafts by major manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus and major lessors across the world, who had perceived Nigeria as a non-compliant country.

    According to  Keyamo, the CTC compliance index shows Nigeria’s substantial non-compliance, which is largely as a result of legal impediments in the country’ judicial process. These impediments have adverse impact on the implementation of and compliance with terms of the convention.

    Keyamo stated that speedy reliefs sought by the creditors are not granted within the 10-day declaration made by Nigeria under the convention.

    The minister, with the support of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation, then reached out to key institutions and offices in the judicial sector, resulting in the signing of the practice directions.

    The new practice directions issued by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court is expected to eliminate judicial impediments in the implementation and compliance with the Cape Town Convention.

    This move, according to Keyamo, is also expected to boost investor confidence and open the floodgates to Nigeria’s air operators to have easy access to aircraft acquisition at much lower rates.

    Stakeholders say the Cape Town Convention is expected to significantly enhance the growth of the aviation industry by creating more jobs and promoting the rapid economic development of the aviation industry. By doing so, the Nigeria aviation industry, which has a huge global market, can favourably compete.

    Amid these benefits, however, stakeholders have fingered grey areas that may erode the benefits of the convention if they are not addressed.

    Speaking on the development, Chief Executive Officer of West Link Airlines, Captain  Ibrahim Mshelia, said the purpose of the Cape Town Convention protocol is to address issues of opposable rights over aviation movable assets such as engines, aircraft spares and aircraft leases.

    “After we have domesticated and fully signed the agreement and there are disputes over the assets, the owners should be able to take their properties away without issues. It is then expected that people would freely lease airplanes to Nigeria without fear of their equipment being held over litigation.

    “The signed convention is expected to boost confidence of people in other territories to do business with Nigeria in terms of aviation assets,” he explained.

    Mshelia , however,  hinted that the convention would not do anything for airline operations in Nigeria because of the current volatile operating environment, insincerity of operators and the current naira to dollar exchange rates.

    “Leases and issues in Nigeria have nothing to do with the law. They just have to do with our nature as a people and our aviation system. We were under the high-risk nation category because some airlines went to court in the past and seized people’s airplanes.

    “Also, getting dollars to pay for these assets makes things difficult. If we don’t fix our exchange rate problems, we can sign 10 of these conventions but they won’t change anything,” the CEO of West Link Airlines said.

    Jonathan Ibrahim, a retired airline captain, said that the behaviour exhibited by some airlines in the past, where they failed to pay for leased aircraft and took lessors who tried to retrieve their equipment to court, may still pose problems for the current airlines.

    “Insurance premiums are very high in Nigeria because of the environment. After signing the Cape Town convention, the Western world may not immediately get involved.

    “If the major issues are not addressed, the Cape Town Convention would just be like an ordinary signed paper and nothing will happen,” he further said.

    The Cape Town Convention is currently in force with 87 contracting parties, while the Aircraft Protocol for equipment has 84 contracting parties.

    These countries have long enjoyed access to modern aircraft on a dry lease basis.

    The signed convention has also made domestic airlines in these countries more competitive.

    “Difficult operating environment, ease of doing business, corruption, security challenges, naira exchange rate, high interest rate and lesser confidence are major issues,” an aviation stakeholder, who didn’t want his name mentioned, said.

    Affirming that further steps are being taken to improve the confidence of the international air transport community about the development, Keyamo said : “ We  have gone around the world trying to restore confidence again in our aviation ecosystem and our leasing industry. I’m sure you have followed the last two weeks, I have not spoken too much about it, but very soon I will give clarifications on our modest efforts.

    “ We  identified early in this administration the need  to open up the aviation industry in Nigeria. We have seen that our score, our compliance score has gone up tremendously and is still rising because in the next few weeks we are also going to roll out a lot of developments concerning the protocols  that will substantially further  increase our scores and  compliance ratings. So all of that will combine to then empower our local operators to be able to service their  route and also compete favorably with some of these big airlines that we are inviting into the country.

    Also speaking, the  Managing Director Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku stressed the importance of better aircraft lease arrangements, which will lead to an increase in fleet size and a reduction in flight delays caused by lack of capacity.

    “We see an increase in the fleet size in our market to reciprocate BASA and have an impact on flight delays which were before now, due to lack of capacity. To achieve that, we need to finance all the necessary infrastructure “.

    Stakeholders say the Cape Town Convention is expected to significantly enhance the growth of the aviation industry by creating more jobs and promoting the rapid economic development of the aviation industry. By doing so, the Nigeria aviation industry, which has a huge global market, can favourably compete.

    Amid these benefits, however, stakeholders have fingered grey areas that may erode the benefits of the convention if they are not addressed.

    Last month , the Federal Government signed the Cape Town Convention Practice Directions, which, among other benefits, enables domestic airline operators to dry lease aircraft.

    The CTC Practice Direction was signed by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The move , the government said : “ Is to reduce the cost of airline operations in the Nigerian aviation sector.

     “The Cape Town Convention becomes actively and fully operational in Nigeria, thereby reducing the cost of insurance for airlines, restoring investors’ confidence in the nation’s aviation sector, and enabling domestic airline operators to dry lease aircraft, among other things.

    ”Some local operators had, in the past, breached the Cape Town Convention, which regulates aircraft leasing across the world, leading to the Aviation Working Group, co-chaired by Airbus and Boeing, saying Nigeria would be blacklisted until it implements a law that would guide against future breaches.

    Speaking after the signing of the CTC Practice Direction, Shettima said President Bola Tinubu’s administration is a pro-business government ready “to take all the necessary measures—as painful as some might be—to protect, promote, protect and preserve the interest of the Nigerian nation “and preserve and promote the nation’s airlines industry.”

    He added, “It is a great day for the Nigerian nation. We had fruitful engagements and we were able to cross-pollinate ideas across all sectors and have come up with robust solutions to the challenges facing the Aviation industry.“I want to seize this opportunity to commend my Lord, Justice John Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. Judges are, by nature, very conservative people. For him to frontally address the issue and sign the Cape Town Convention Practice Directions, I think, is worthy of commendation.”The VP also commended the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, saying “All the issues agitating the minds of the airline’s operators have been frontally addressed by the Minister and  they are meeting him to further consolidate all our gains.

    ”VP Shettima assured airline operators in the country that President Tinubu will do everything to promote and preserve the Nigerian airline industry.

    He said, “And, of course, my brother, Allen Onyema, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, and Dr Abdulmunaf Sarina, the Chairman of Azman Airlines, I want to assure you that the present administration headed by, President Bola Tinubu, is a pro-business government, is a pro-Nigeria government, and will take all necessary measures to protect, promote, protect and preserve the interest of the Nigerian nation.

     “ Be rest assured that President Bola Tinubu is keenly interested in the promotion and preservation of the Nigerian airline industry.“I spoke with him about three days ago, and he was very interested in the outcome of our deliberations and I will report back to him.”

    ”On his part, the Finance Minister, Mr Wale . Edun promised to meet with airline operators and other stakeholders to perfect issues pertaining to agreements reached at the meeting with the Vice President.

    He said, “My Lord, the CJ of the Federal High Court called it action to revolutionize the airline industry. PEBEC is all about improving the business environment and reducing cost and what has been signed here is action that will substantially reduce cost in the airline industry, facilitate growth and development of that industry, and include further action that, I’m sure, would be taken in that direction once I meet with the airline industry and also have Customs present to discuss some charges which they want to be lowered, and which they believe by law should have been implemented at lower levels.”

     Speaking on behalf of Airline Operators in Nigeria, the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace Limited, Onyema, thanked President Tinubu for enhancing a positive change in the aviation sector.

    He added that since assuming office, the President has introduced policies that will help improve the lives of Nigerians.“Today is a historic day for Nigeria. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again demonstrated that he is not only a listening President but has gone a long way to engender the ease of doing business in the aviation industry more than any other since the creation of this country called Nigeria.

    “We the Airline Operators are so happy and we commend him for what he has done today. Today is a revolution. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has caused a positive revolution in the aviation industry by ensuring this practice direction concerning the Cape Town Convention and its application in Nigeria,” Onyema stated.

    Also, Special Adviser to the President on Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, noted that the signing of the document would help reduce the cost of insurance and doing business in the aviation sector.She said, “Nigerians have been seeing a high cost of flight tickets lately; there are several factors, including foreign exchange and others, but there are some regulatory and bureaucratic challenges. Because the President is committed to addressing challenges one by one, this is one of the fruits of what he has done.“I just want to thank the President for his attention to ease of doing business and making sure that Nigeria is a progressively easier place to start and grow a business.”

    Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, who was represented by the ministry’s Director of Human Resources, Dr Anastasia Gbem, said the signing of the document on actualizing the Cape Town Convention was in line with the Ministry’s goal of enhancing the capacity of local airlines’ business.She reasoned that the signing of the document would reassure the international community that it is safe to invest in Nigeria.

    .“Investors can bring their aircraft into Nigeria and if there is any problem, such aircraft would be recovered within the 10-day period that Nigeria and the Cape Town Convention have provided. So it is an unprecedented history made today and it is a venture that will boost the Nigerian airlines and the entire aviation industry.”

    On his part, the Chief Executive Office of the National Insurance Commission of Nigeria, Mr Olusegun Omoseye, said the signing of the document was significant progress for Nigeria’s aviation sector and the economy in general.

  • Equipping the youth for future employment

    Equipping the youth for future employment

    There is a notable gap between the skills imparted in educational institutions and the competencies sought by employers in an ever-evolving labor market. The rapid advancement of technology and changing industry demands compel both graduates and existing employees to consistently enhance their skill sets. Nevertheless, educational institutions face challenges, including limited funding, which hinder their ability to equip graduates with practical and relevant skills. DANIEL ESSIET reports that employers are increasingly adopting internship programmes as a viable solution, providing students and young professionals with valuable hands-on experience.

    The Future of Jobs Report published by the World Economic Forum  made forecast that by the year 2025, half of the workforce will need to undergo re-skilling as technology continues to advance. The report provides insights into the evolving job market and the skills required for the future, estimating that around 85 million jobs could be eliminated due to a reallocation of tasks between humans and machines.

    Additionally, it highlighted that for those who retain their jobs, 40 percent of fundamental skills are expected to change by 2025.

    The forum emphasised that the alignment of skills is vital for fostering business transformation. Implementing skills-based hiring can enable organisations to lead in innovation, allowing their business strategies to evolve in response to the intricacies of the future job market. This forward-thinking approach tackles labour shortages and skills gaps that restrict productivity and equity.

    Over the last 10 years, automation technologies have significantly transformed Africa’s labour market. This transformation has resulted in a substantial increase in the demand for new skills, prompting changes in recruitment processes, job titles, and job specifications.

    As traditional roles adapt and new industries arise, the urgency to reskill the workforce has intensified across various countries on the continent. The emergence of automation and artificial intelligence stands as a primary catalyst for this reskilling necessity. While these technologies offer remarkable opportunities for efficiency and innovation, they simultaneously disrupt established job roles, rendering certain skills obsolete and generating a need for new competencies.

    Consequently, addressing labour and skills shortages has become a critical priority for both governments and businesses across the continent, as these shortages may hinder the adoption of new technologies and diminish competitiveness.

    In projecting the demographic landscape of 2050, it is expected that a remarkable 25 per cent of the global population will be African. This statistic implies that one out of every four individuals on Earth will hail from Africa, with approximately two-thirds of this group being younger than 30 years old. This demographic expansion demands attention and presents both challenges and opportunities of an extraordinary nature.

    In Nigeria, the inconsistency present in the educational system is significantly contributing to the skills mismatch challenge, with many courses lacking essential components. This deficiency further aggravates youth unemployment and emphasised the urgent need for a strategic realignment to nurture a competitive workforce.

    Presently, employers are placing greater importance on soft skills, including effective communication, adaptability, customer focus, professionalism, and innovation, among others. These vital attributes, collectively referred to as ‘employability skills,’ play a crucial role in determining a candidate’s appeal within the competitive job market.

    However, analysts have counseled the government on the need to embrace a long-term approach to assess capacity and capability demands, devising strategies to bridge gaps.

    In response to this, states are beginning to consider the implementation of a digital-first culture that encourages innovation and sustains worker productivity and engagement.

    Given the current economic growth rate, Lagos represents a largely untapped talent pool that can be developed with future-ready skills and assimilated into the mainstream economy. This situation requires urgent attention through a unified effort between the public and private sectors.

    The government of Lagos is leveraging the knowledge and resources of international collaborators, which encompass major technology firms, emerging tech startups, and academic institutions. To tackle the existing skills gap, the government has formed alliances with local startups and large tech companies to provide training programmes focused on digital talent development.

    Read Also: We acted to salvage local govt system in Rivers, says Fubara

    In recent years, Lagos has witnessed remarkable advancements in technology, notably the integration of solar energy solutions and electric vehicles, creating new career pathways. These innovations necessitate a reformation in educational methodologies to ensure that the workforce demand is met and that university graduates are adequately equipped for future employment opportunities.

    For Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the state needs to continue to find ways to move up the value-added chain to stay competitive, not just with other emerging market economies, but with advanced economies that may be increasingly equipped with technology.

    To this end, he   said the state is preparing its youth to take advantage of new opportunities through education and skills.

    Addressing the On Boarding Ceremony of participants of the year 2024 Lagos State Graduate Internship Placement Programme (GIPP), the governor reiterated that empowering more youths helps the economy develop more.

    The governor, who spoke through the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat said, the scope of skill development was continuously increasing across the state.

    Alongside the support for skills, he said a raft of measures will be put in place across government to enable youths unleash their potential to improve how we work.

    He said Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, has equipped 2,500 graduates with employability and work-ready skills under GIPP.

    Participants  apart from earning N60,000 monthly as stipend have  an opportunity to learn cutting-edge skills, including entrepreneurial, digital, and technology competencies, earn professional certificates from the world’s leading companies, access hands-on learning with guided projects to master skills and stand out with employers, and ultimately explore the right career path.

    Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe believes Lagos is in a strong position to harness the power of technology to transform business in many aspects for the better. Crucial to this, according to him, is nurturing young talented people to respond to a broad spectrum of challenges in the workplace.

    Specifically on the graduates of the GIPP training, Ajigbotafe said they were selected through the CBT assessment, after which there was three-week intensive employability training with globally accepted certifications.

    Ajigbotafe noted that the programme was designed to provide selected individuals with an opportunity to expand their knowledge, create benefits from invaluable job experience and build valuable networks, while gaining practical, technical and administrative industry experience.

    He said: “The selected candidates will be placed on three-month internships in organisations based on the course of study, with a monthly stipend of N60,000 by the Lagos State Government.’’

    In his remarks, the Commissioner for the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, stated that the government has established a foundation for youth development by prioritising the creation of growth opportunities and improving their involvement in empowerment initiatives.

    The agenda, according to him, is groom more youths to drive economic progress, and ensure that they excel in skills, and enhance quality of life.

    He noted, however, that collaboration between sectors is key to preparing young Nigerians for the skills demanded by the future world of work.

    During the event, business leaders collectively affirmed the need for a strengthened initiative in employability training to better the chances for prospective job seekers. They also emphasised the importance of partnership between the government and private enterprises to drive growth, establish new job opportunities, and facilitate entry for new participants in the labour market.

    For the Managing Partner, HCP, Mr Innocent Oseghe, GIPP offers immersive, foundational, and practical skills that are essential to securing a job after graduation.

    He pointed out that the internship programme offers participants valuable opportunities to transition into permanent employment at their respective placements.

    Oseghe highlighted that alongside technological advancements, there is an increasing necessity for skills such as creative thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration.

    He emphasised that such programmes are crucial for bridging the skills gap, improving workforce proficiency, encouraging lifelong learning, and ensuring relevance within the industry.

    The   Managing Director, Intermac, Mr Adesina Adeyemi, stressed the importance of developing skills that are aligned with success and relevance in today’s job market.

    He said 187 companies signed up to become uptakers of GIPP graduates for internship.  He said successful candidates will be placed with selected companies. After completing the internship, Adeyemi said there was a possibility of interns being retained, urging them to invest in future learning and be ready to deliver transformational change where they serve?

    The Director-General/Chief Executive at Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale-Smart Oyerinde called for increased collaboration to bring public and private sectors together to future-proof labour markets, create good-quality employment opportunities and help people transition into the jobs of tomorrow.

    The global challenge of addressing youth unemployment has become increasingly daunting in the face of a growing economic recession. A significant factor contributing to this issue is the lack of adequate preparation among many recent graduates, who often lack the necessary skills and experience to successfully enter the job market. Additionally, young individuals frequently do not possess the competencies that employers are actively seeking. In this regard, Dr. Chinyere Almona, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), emphasised that the GIPP initiative has been instrumental in providing young people with vital opportunities to embark on their professional journeys.

    Represented by the Director of Training, Taiwo Alausa, the Director-General, further highlighted that skill development and the cultivation of employable youth are key areas where LCCI is eager to collaborate with the Lagos State government.

    A key element in their messages was the need for significant investment in skills to prepare youths for the jobs of the future.

    Students and organisations view internships as a major first step in the careers of young professionals, capable of contributing to the growth of the economy. The GIPP participants are already positioning themselves to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

    One of them is Hassan Surajudeen. He   explained that he was in the programme to find a good job at the end of his internship. His words: “I am a graduate of University of Lagos. I studied Early Childhood Education and am a beneficiary of GIPP. So far, I have learnt a lot during the training. It was loaded with a lot of skills information to enable us to become a first century set of graduates that will match the needs of the workplace. My expectation for today is that the programme will continue to help youth develop better employability skills and position them for job opportunities. I see more well-rounded youths emerging that can take up future national responsibilities.”

    From a career perspective, he feels his future depends on when he is able to secure a better job.

    Another participant, Precious Elizabeth Tiamiyu found the training sessions very enlightening. She believes she has developed the skill sets to take advantage of emerging job opportunities.

    “I studied Economics Education from Ekiti State University. I am a participant and beneficiary of this programme. I am expecting a transformational employability experience. I am hoping to utilise the skills that I have learnt from the internship to land a fulltime job. I expect a better job at the end of this training.”

  • Concerns as Sahel states dig deeper into military rule

    Concerns as Sahel states dig deeper into military rule

    Despite the laudable achievements it has recorded, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) continues to navigate the complexities of regional integration. The regional political and economic union of 15 countries of West Africa established on May 28, 1975, has brought peace to some of its members with states occasionally sending joint military forces to intervene in the group’s member states at times of political instability and unrest.

    The bloc has also received recognition for its trailblazing role in regional conflict intervention, the free movement of goods and people and financial self-reliance based on its community levy as well as funding from development partners such as the United Nations (UN), African Unions, United States, European Union (EU) and the Scandinavian countries.

    But, on the flip side, ECOWAS, considered one of the pillar regional blocs of the Continent-wide African Economic Community (AEC), with a goal to achieve “collective self-sufficiency” for its member states, has fallen short in addressing challenges to democracy and governance. This was after three of its member states–Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their immediate withdrawal from the bloc this year. The decision by the trio, termed as the alliance of military coup plotters, on January 28, this year, has raised concerns among stakeholders.

    The current crisis began on July 26, 2023, when the Niger Republic military, in a coup led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, announced that they had overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum. After it failed to elicit a favourable response from the military leaders despite sending delegations, including interventions by elder statesmen and traditional rulers, the ECOWAS announced on August 10, 2023, its intention to deploy a regional force to “restore constitutional order”, while continuing to favour diplomatic negotiations.

    The Niger military leaders, however, proposed a transition period of “three years” maximum before returning power to civilians. The country’s military leaders were supported by the coup plotters in Burkina Faso and Mali. They announced a plan to defend Niger if attacked by ECOWAS. They alleged that ECOWAS leaders were doing the bidding of France and other Western countries.

    Read Also: Nigeria to host first  African Military Games in November 

    Recall that on August 18, 2020, Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was overthrown by the military, and a transitional government was formed in October. But on May 24, 2021, the military arrested the president and the Prime Minister. Colonel Assimi Goïta was inaugurated in June as transitional president.

    The junta committed to return to civilian rule in the elections earlier scheduled for February 2024. But, the election didn’t hold.

    Likewise in Burkina Faso, on January 24, 2022, President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was overthrown by the military, and Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was inaugurated as President in February.

    On September 30, Damiba was, in turn, dismissed from his position by the military, and Captain Ibrahim Traoré was inaugurated as Transitional President until a presidential election scheduled for July 2024, which did not hold.

    To consolidate their power grabs, the military leaders of the three countries signed a mutual defence pact in September last year. Called the Liptako-Gourma Charter, it established the Alliance of Sahel States. The pact is named after the region where the three country’s borders meet.

    In a statement, Col. Goita, Mali’s junta leader said: “I signed today with the heads of state of Burkina Faso and Niger the Liptako-Gourma Charter, establishing the Alliance of Sahel States to establish architecture of collective defence and assistance mutual for the benefit of our populations.” The new pact called for the three neighbouring countries to come to the defence of each other.

    Despite the agreement, all three are facing threats from jihadists, with their troops being killed by militants. They are also losing large territories to militants. This is after they had ordered the ECOWAS, French and American forces out of their territories. Their deals with Russia’s Wagner have not helped their security architectures.

    One other country under the military, Guinea, has remained less combative with ECOWAS.

    Consolidating new grouping with new biometric passports

    As part of their withdrawal from the bloc in favour of their alliance, the military leaders have announced new passports and removed the ECOWAS logo. Burkina Faso first announced earlier this month that it was rolling out new passports without the ECOWAS logo. A Chinese company is producing the passports for them.

    “In the coming days, a new biometric passport of the AES (Alliance of Sahel States) will be put into circulation with the aim of harmonising travel documents in our common area and facilitating the mobility of our citizens throughout the world,” Goita announced.

    Leaders raise concerns

    President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, at the 92nd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, said there were no signs that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger wish to return to the sub-regional bloc. Touray said the three countries have remained incommunicado despite the commission’s appeals.

    He said that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger represent 60 per cent of the ECOWAS region in terms of landmass and contribute at least 10 per cent to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The commission chief added that their withdrawal could undermine collective security efforts and further destabilise the region, which should worry stakeholders, including civil society organisations (CSOs).

    In an interview with The Nation, Prof. Kayode Soremekun, a Nigerian academic, author, and the third Vice Chancellor of Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, said the conduct of the coup plotters is “indeed the anarchic character of the international system that states have the right to aggregate as they deem fit”.

    The university don added: “But the suspicion is that such is being done by the Sahelian States in the context of hostility between them and the much larger ECOWAS body.

    “On the face of it, however, there is nothing wrong with this move. After all, there is a body like the Mano River Union (MRU) in the West African sub-region. Members of the MRU are also members of ECOWAS.

    “But in this particular instance of the Sahelian states, there is a parallel exclusionary dynamic, which speaks to a fracture within ECOWAS.

    “My main worry here is: Are the Sahelian states acting alone? Or are they responding to the promptings of an intrusive cum extra-regional power?

    “If the latter situation occurs, then the regime of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should take note. Specifically, it should ensure that the Sahelian states are not prized away from ECOWAS permanently.”

    Similarly, the Network Coordinator of WADEMOS, Paul Kuffour, said the implications of the exit of the three countries would likely cause further instability and disintegrate the sub-region. Kuffour said that a sharp rise in insecurity and terrorism has been witnessed since the coups in each of the three countries.

    “The exit of G5 Sahel, the withdrawal of Operation Barkhane, Canada forces and U.S. military bases in Niger, and the termination of the UN mission in Mali (MINUSMA), and the EU missions in the Sahel have led to an increase in attacks by violent extremist groups.

    “The withdrawal from ECOWAS will affect security cooperation in terms of sharing intelligence and participation in regional counter-terrorism initiatives, such as the Accra Initiative and Multinational Joint Task Force,” he said.

    Kuffour said the withdrawal would also have socio-economic implications because it could result to the suspension of major programmes such as the Regional Food Security Reserve, and the Regional Support Programme for Pastoralism in the Sahel.

    Commenting on the issues, a former ECOWAS official and now a public affairs analyst, Paul Ejime, in an interview with The Nation, said the three countries’ withdrawal cannot become effective until the end of this year, that is December 12, 2024.

    Ejime explained: “But they say they’re leaving immediately; that is still questionable. But, I think let’s see if it will get to that level.

    “We have a president in Mauritania who gave notice in 1999 and left in 2000. The same Mauritania is making moves to return to the ECOWAS fold. The alliance countries are three landlocked countries and you will notice that they said that ECOWAS was not giving them support to fight terrorism and that ECOWAS is controlled by external forces, particularly France.

    “Also remember that these are three countries belonging to the eight members of UEMOA, which is the West African Economic and Monetary Union. The French acronym is UEMOA. It was set up by France, apparently to compete with ECOWAS. These three countries are still members of that union. They have a central bank governors’ organisation based in Dakar, Senegal. So, the question will be, if they are accusing ECOWAS of being guided by or teleguided by foreign powers, why have they not left UEMOA? Why are they still using the French-controlled currency, the CFA franc? The CFA francs are being used by former French colonies, about 14, and these countries are part of them. That is another question.

    “And the other issue is security. They gave the impression that when they pull out of ECOWAS, it will be easy for them to control terrorism. But you will notice that to the contrary, terrorism has escalated to the point that they are suffering from very deadly attacks from separatist and jihadist organisations. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are not spared. To the point that some Russian forces, Wagner, were killed during a July ambush in Mali. So, terrorist attacks continue. So, they have not made good the fact that by leaving ECOWAS, they’ll be able to control their own security. But, that is not to say that ECOWAS did not make a mistake in the way it handled the crisis, particularly after the Niger coup.

    “But ECOWAS has since lifted the sanctions and Nigeria has restored the power supply. So, what is now their grudge? Some are saying that they are pursuing their power grabs, and so they are opportunistic military adventurers. Will they be able to sustain what they’re going into?

    “There are reports of some coup attempts happening in particularly Burkina Faso and Mali. These will continue because France and America have been expelled and will not sit back and face the humiliation of being expelled. Also, will these people be able to command the support of the military and their citizens? Because if the economic situation starts biting, you can see resentment, and you can see protests, which will not be good for them.

    “The problem of having different passports will also be there for their citizens. They have millions of their citizens in other ECOWAS countries and ECOWAS countries have citizens in their own countries. What happens to the free movement? It means that they will not enjoy the free movement of goods and services right to settle in member states, which ECOWAS countries now enjoy. It’s going to create problems. What will be their relationship with ECOWAS and how will their citizens fare. It’s going to be chaotic; it’s a recipe for chaos and it’s a recipe for crisis of movement of people, goods and services and of trade. Trade will suffer and then the citizens of these countries will be denied some of the many benefits of ECOWAS membership. So, this bravado or this populist kind of posturing has its expiry date, because they will soon come to the realisation that they cannot continue as military personnel to govern. The military dictatorship has no space in the modern world.”

    Also, a senior research fellow with Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Dr. Tola Ilesanmi, noted that issuing new biometric passports was aimed at showing that these countries have become resolute on their decision to cut off from ECOWAS.

    “This is symbolic to a large extent for me. It’s to show that there is no going back for us. We know that the ECOWAS has also been resolute in diplomatically calling for them to come back into the community and that there’s going to be several challenges ahead, both for the community and for the Sahel states.

    “So, the question is: Will they be successful? If you ask me, I would say, however, temporarily. In the short term, they probably will be successful because a country can decide to change its passport if it doesn’t have any impact on the international community. For example, if a Niger citizen comes out with a new passport and wants to travel to South Africa, I don’t believe they’ll be stopped by immigration, because the passport represents the country.”

    Concluding, Dr. Ilesanmi noted that the citizens of the Sahel nations will soon begin to ask questions. According to her, the citizens will begin to say “No, we have had enough of these jihadist groups and coup plotters, and we want democracy ourselves”.

    To the experts, this is a matter of time.

  • Deepening standards, quality reforms to boost export

    Deepening standards, quality reforms to boost export

    The Federal Government is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to position the economy to benefit bountifully from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which implementation has since begun. Through the National Quality Council (NQC), it has prioritised the realisation of an effective National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) capable of raising the quality and competitiveness of made-in-Nigeria products and services and, ultimately, boosting the nation’s export-led growth and creating jobs, Assistant Editor OKWY IROEGBU- CHIKEZIE reports

    If recent developments in Nigeria’s quality infrastructure space are anything to go by, then the country looks good to enhance the competitiveness of locally made products and services and, ultimately, claiming a dominant position in global trade and commerce. Apparently aware that an effective National Quality Infrastructure (NQI), capable of raising the quality of made-in-Nigeria products and services, is key to attaining this position, the President Bola Tinuibu-led administration has moved to deepen quality reforms aimed at increasing Nigeria’s export-led growth and creating jobs.

    At the heart of the administration’s latest quality reforms, The Nation learnt, is the implementation of the Nigerian National Quality Policy (NNQP), which goal, essentially, is to strengthen and develop the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) in order to achieve accelerated economic growth, increase exports, ensure supply of safe and quality products at competitive prices. The policy also aims at enhancing the competitiveness of made-in-Nigeria products and services locally, regionally, continentally and internationally, in order to contribute to poverty reduction and economic prosperity.

    Chairman and Chief Executive, National Quality Council (NQC), Mr. Osita Aboloma, put the administration’s renewed focus on quality infrastructure in perspective when he said the ultimate objective of the NNQP, which supersedes other provisions in any other national sectorial quality related policies, is to ensure that Nigeria is truly positioned to gain from the AfCFTA and to achieve increased inter-regional and intra-Africa trade that would yield economic development for the betterment of Nigerians and the continent at large.

    The NQC, which Abaloma heads, is charged with coordinating the NQI, ensuring continual improvement for greater efficiency and effectiveness, advising and supporting all regulatory authorities to consistently meet the requirements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), SPS and TBT Agreements and the African trade instruments to raise the level of awareness in the business sector and among the population on the benefits of adherence to quality at different levels of businesses such as purchasing, manufacturing and supply.

    Read Also: 4.4 million children malnourished in Northern Nigeria – FG

    The Council’s mandate also includes working with the public and private sector institutions and organisations to harmonize and rationalise existing quality infrastructure, bringing them to acceptable levels of acceptance globally, identifying gaps and advising the government on the best ways to close them in national interest.

    Encouraged by the Council’s mandate, Aboloma expressed confidence that Nigeria’s economy will grow over a longer period of time, at a higher level and with better quality and make new contributions to robust, sustainable and balanced growth of the global economy.

    “We have a lot of short-term plans, one of which is to ensure that the NQC is set up properly and has a structure to take-off effectively and efficiently,” he said.

    According to him, the structure requires that the NQC has a legal framework hence, the Federal Executive Council (FEC’s) approval of the NNQP leading to the set-up of the NQC has been gazette. He also revealed that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has provided functional accommodation for the Council at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja.

    Drawing strength from such executive backing, Abaloma said NQC has commenced collaborative activities with stakeholders including SON, the African Union Commission/Pan African Quality Infrastructure in the successful hosting of the maiden African Cassava Conference (ACC) in Nigeria. It is also collaborating with the United Kingdom High Commission, Abuja/British Standards Institute under the Standards Partnership Programme.

    There is also the ongoing Business Round Table on the implementation framework for the NNQP in conjunction with the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), among others. “There are a lot of things to be done. But basically, we have some things that we refer to as low-hanging fruits within the short-term plans. One of them is to convene a national discussion on the implementation of the NNQP and how it affects every facet of the economy within the shortest possible time in the six geo-political regions and across various sectors of the economy,” Abaloma said.

    As he explained, “The primary objective of the NNQP is to ensure that goods and services emanating from, imported into and traded in Nigeria are designed, manufactured, packaged, labelled and supplied in accordance with the needs, expectations and requirements of the purchaser and the consumer as prescribed in the applicable standards as well as the regulatory requirements in the local and export markets. The NNQP also aims to develop an environment in which both public and private sectors can achieve excellence for products and services.”

    The NQC boss, who was a former Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), sure spoke from the position of strength and understanding of the dynamics of international trade and commerce where quality plays a determinant role.

    According to him, “Globally, countries are putting policies in place to guide the development and growth of the national quality infrastructure, which consist of development, harmonisation and implementation of market-driven standards to facilitate local, regional, continental and international trade.

    Others, he told The Nation, are  Conformity Assessment Services  that include inspection, testing and products/systems certification to guarantee that products tested in Nigeria will be acceptable across its borders, beyond the West Africa Region, the entire African Continent as well as globally; Conformity Assessment Services  that include inspection, testing and products/systems certification to guarantee that products tested in Nigeria will be acceptable across its borders, beyond the West Africa Region, the entire African Continent as well as globally.

    That’s not all. There is also the Accreditation of Conformity Assessment processes to attain external recognition of adherence to a set of international standards to perform activity or hold a certain status thus, conferring global acceptance. The other leg of the National Quality Infrastructure, according to Abaloma, is Metrology, which is the science of measurement and accuracy (scientific, industrial and legal) for certainty and traceability in trade, locally and across regional, continental as well as international boundaries.

    In other words, the NQI consists of Standards, Conformity Assessment, Accreditation and Metrology. In view of globalisation, each of these legs of the NQI in a country must be efficient and effective to support the competitiveness and acceptance of products and services from that country both locally and across borders. For example, the applicable standards for products must meet minimum requirements of destination markets for export.

    Also, the Conformity Assessment services must have the necessary accreditation and international recognition to be acceptable beyond the nation’s borders, while the Metrology services must also have the necessary international affiliations and traceability for the measurements to be acceptable globally. The thing is that the NQI clearly defines how those things should be done in the best interest of the economy and the welfare of Nigerians.

    Interestingly, the Nigerian National Quality Policy took after what has been done in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Africa and other continents of the world on how all issues relating to quality will be carried out to ensure the Nigerian clime is protected while achieving the objectives of the Federal Government, which is largely to ensure competitiveness of goods and services locally and internationally, thus enhancing the growth of the economy, protection of the environment and wellbeing of the populace.

    Giving more insights into why the current administration’s re-energized campaign to deepen its quality reforms has become a compelling proposition, Abaloma said, for instance, that when NQI services meet international best practices, the nation saves a lot in foreign exchange that is hitherto spent on procuring such services abroad or from foreign service providers.

    According to him, product and management systems certification services, accreditation, equipment calibration and harmonisation of national standards across regional and continental jurisdictions are huge money savers and foreign exchange earners that will facilitate seamless trading with the world at large.

    “Harmonisation and rationalisation of the NQI eliminates duplication of efforts, optimise outputs, improves competencies and drastically reduces turnaround times in service delivery, all of which will lead to greater efficiency,” he stated.

    Projecting into the future, Abaloma said NQC, in the long term, will guide the government on the need to align the laws that set up all the standard-related bodies, so that SON, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) can develop and enhance their competencies to global acceptance and focus on different approaches in achieving the same national goal.

    According to him, the enhanced efficiency and effectiveness of the NQI constituted by the public and private sector players have the capacity to promote continual improvement in the competitiveness of Made-in-Nigeria products and services and also mitigate the rejection of her export products. He noted that this will substantially increase patronage of made-in-Nigeria products and services and thus reduce poverty and create greater wealth for the wellbeing of citizens.

  • Quest for a pragmatic economic growth and jobs creation agenda

    Quest for a pragmatic economic growth and jobs creation agenda

    On a global scale, a talented workforce and robust innovation ecosystems have been essential to economic development and have positioned countries for future success. In Nigeria, however, the primary challenge is the disconnect between the growth of the innovation sector and the widespread difficulties encountered by the workforce. The ongoing challenges of job creation and the high unemployment rate remain significant concerns. For analysts, it is imperative to address these gaps to fully realise Nigeria’s economic potential and ensure that all groups within the population benefit from the nation’s advancements. This is attracting the attention of the public and private sector players, DANIEL ESSIET reports

    There are many reasons to feel good about the Nigerian economy continuing to attract huge investments in the tech sector.  For foreign investors, a favourable destination for business growth is an environment that offers a combination of stability, innovation, a skilled workforce and connectivity to a fast-growing regional market. This is in addition to supporting the generation of new job and business opportunities, ensuring the success of a reskilling agenda. 

    However, Nigeria is witnessing a glut of educated graduates, many in fields with few job opportunities,  who are proving difficult for the labour market to employ.

    The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has linked unemployment in Nigeria to the phenomenon of jobless growth, increased number of school graduates with no matching job opportunities, a moratorium on employment in many public and private sector institutions, and continued job losses in the manufacturing and oil sectors.

    The prevalence of unemployment among graduates has become a pressing concern, with university world news records indicating a staggering 600,000 graduates churned out annually. Unemployment rate in Nigeria has been a persistent challenge, particularly for recent graduates entering the workforce.

    Early this year, Nigeria’s Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported  that the  country’s  unemployment rate stood at 5.0 per cent in the third  quarter of last year.According to its   Labour Force Survey, the unemployment rate rose to 5.0 percent from 4.2 percent in the previous quarter. It stood at 4.1 percent in the first three months of 2023, down from 5.3 percent in Q4 of 2022. The percentage of self-employed Nigerians declined to 87.3 percent in the third quarter of 2023 from 88.0 percent in the previous quarter. Wage employment rose to 12.7 percent from 12.0 percent. “Informal employment in Nigeria and other developing countries seems to be very high when compared to developed countries. The share of employed persons in informal employment was 92.3 per cent in Q3, a reduction of 0.4 percent when compared to 92.7 percent in the previous quarter,” the report said.

    According to Statista, a global business intelligence firm, Nigeria has one of the youngest populations in the world. In Nigeria, half of the population is aged under 19 years. On the other hand, people aged 60 years and older represented a small part of the population.

    During its annual awards ceremony, the Association of Small Business Owners In Nigeria (ASBON) warned that there was a decline in self-employment  as  businesses were  shutting down, thereby threatening the country’s entrepreneurship growth and development.

    The National President, ASBON, Dr. Femi Egbesola noted that the reduction in self-employment is an indication that more businesses are going down, particularly the micro and nano ones, which are run as self-employment because of harsh economic realities. Despite this, he  has always acknowledged that the  labour market is very promising, given its young population and the size of its working force and  renewed support for small businesses to expand their frontiers.

    Read Also: Tinubu urges African unity for economic growth

    Following what Egbesola described as impressive measures to support small and medium-sized businesses so they can grow, innovate, and stay competitive, while creating good jobs, Egbesola hailed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s groundbreaking initiatives, which have catalysed a significant upsurge in entrepreneurial activities within the SME ecosystem. He highlighted the governor’s advocacy for low-interest rates for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly for women, underscoring the pivotal role such financial support plays in fostering business growth.

    Expressing gratitude for the governor’s unwavering commitment to SME development, Egbesola emphasised the importance of empowering organisations like ASBON to further support the entrepreneurial landscape.

    As a remedy to the challenges ahead, President, Association of Micro Entrepreneurs of Nigeria (AMEN), Prince Saviour Iche, recommended that the government should accelerate the annual growth rate of small businesses to enable them to create enough jobs to maintain unemployment rates at reasonable levels.

    He noted that small business owners prioritise the creation of better employment opportunities but that the operating environment was making it difficult for them to achieve their goals.

    Indeed, the pace of innovation is  affecting the global economy, employability and the labour market. Recently, the  World Economic Forum estimated that half of all workers in the world will need some sort of retraining or “upskilling” to keep up with a quickly changing economy.

    While the astounding growth in the innovation sector is certainly something to celebrate, Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor of Lagos State,  Mr. Sam Egube,  who  addressed the audience during the launch of the Empower Lagos Programme recently, stated that the government was concerned that a large segments of the population could be left behind, including recent graduates and artisans. He spoke about how his personal career story has shown how Lagos has grown to secure a place in global value chains, offering residents opportunities to secure good jobs and continue or embark on new careers, even as the economy evolves, restructures and grows.

    His concern is that as employers confront these challenges, it beckons on them to determine what skills are in-demand, and how and where employees can access reskilling opportunities.

    Beyond the workplace, he  reiterated that the Lagos State  Government’s role has been pivotal in the partnership to expose residents to awareness programmes for information about which skills will be valuable in the future.

    In recent years, according to him, the  government has embarked on training programmes towards bridging the gap between industry demands and skill requirements. The skills range from apprenticeship training, internship to online skilling.

    With the inflow of people from other states coming into the place, he noted that Lagos operating environment was becoming more challenging. The situation, as he indicated, necessitated a renewed focus on successful strategies previously employed by the state, bolstering industry capabilities to improve overall competitiveness, and fostering the development of new growth sectors.

    With the rise of startups and an expanding array of businesses, Egube emphasised the government’s ambition to cultivate a business ecosystem and a talent pool of highly skilled, technically adept local professionals, which is essential for creating higher-value offerings for customers.

    This, according to him, means doubling down on what has worked well for the state, strengthening industry capabilities to enhance overall competitiveness, and developing new growth sectors.

    In pursuit of this vision, he indicated that the state has been focusing on attracting innovative projects aimed at further developing the ecosystem, while simultaneously nurturing emerging sectors such as the digital economy, healthcare, and the green economy.

    Egube emphasised that budgetary measures were being implemented to stimulate productivity and improve operational efficiency in critical economic activities, particularly in the expansion of manufacturing.

    Amid the fast-paced technological advancements, he indicated that the government expects a heightened demand for ongoing upskilling and reskilling across all sectors.

    He highlighted the importance of workers taking the initiative to enhance their skills to remain relevant in the shifting work environment, thus, fully capitalising on new roles and opportunities.

    As more states intensify their strategies to attract investment, Egube reiterated the Lagos government’s unified commitment to harnessing the opportunities and ensuring the presence of a skilled workforce with up-to-date competencies.

    The sustained economic advancement of Lagos, as well as the wealth it has generated, according to Egube, is the outcome of many years of steadfast economic policy, a welcoming stance towards international capital and technology, favourable investment policies, and the promotion of a competitive market environment.

    At the stakeholders forum 2024 tagged: Enhancing Service Delivery To Empower Lagos, also, the Commissioner, Wealth Creation and  Employment, Hon Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe reiterated that the government was actively investing in building a thriving innovation ecosystem, with a vision of transforming the economy through enterprise and innovation, to support the next generation of businesses, and to continue to foster a knowledge-based economy.

    He  stated  that all efforts were being mobilised to foster entrepreneurship through the provision of mentorship and grants to aspiring entrepreneurs.

    He emphasised that the government was eager to assist individuals who are prepared to launch businesses but may lack the necessary entrepreneurial skills or viable business concepts. He further elaborated that a primary objective of promoting entrepreneurship was to generate additional job opportunities for Nigerians. 

    With the current reduction in traditional employment options, Ajigbotafe pointed out that the government has launched a range of initiatives to encourage residents to explore alternative paths and pursue their entrepreneurial interests. He also noted that there was a partnership with financial institutions aimed at fostering the growth of local businesses by ensuring they have improved access to financial services.

    He indicated that Lagos was increasingly becoming a focal point for entrepreneurship, aiding small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in driving job creation and supporting sustainable economic growth. He indicated that the government has created jobs and skills centres, encouraging jobseekers to utilise the available resources effectively to identify appropriate employment, traineeships, attachments, or training programmes. He emphasised that this initiative would better equip them for the job market.

    Ajigbotafe  pointed: ”Our mission at the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment is to enhance economic growth and create sustainable employment opportunities for all residents of Lagos State. We are dedicated to implementing innovative policies and programmes that address unemployment, underemployment, and economic disparities. The ‘Empower Lagos’ Initiative aims to create sustainable wealth for a minimum of 10,000 beneficiaries across all industries, with measures to ensure each beneficiary trains at least 10 individuals, resulting in a multiplier effect of more than 100,000 Lagos State residents over 36 months, thereby addressing skill gaps and ensuring economic growth.

    “We are providing  employability training to a minimum of 2,000 first-degree holders, covering essential areas such as career choices, business startup, professionalism, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and decision-making. Additional 200 graduates will be trained in Information Communication Technology with Microsoft certification, equipping them with the tools they need to succeed in job placement.”

    The forum brought together leading experts across government, business, civil society, and the academia to offer leadership and actionable strategies for creating large-scale employment opportunities.

    Enhancements to Empower Lagos Programme, they emphasised, should offer  more Nigerians additional pathways to level up and acquire skills to take on jobs of the future.

    They appealed to the government to continue its engagement with corporations, training partners, and industry associations to identify a range of upskilling options, thereby ensuring that all workers interested in advancing their skills—no matter their background—can access the appropriate support.