The Nigerian Army has inaugurated 60 housing units comprising two- and three-bedroom flats, at Akobo in Ibadan, Oyo State, and allocated five percent of the houses free of charge to soldiers who sustained disabilities in the line of duty.
Seventy percent of the housing units were also reserved for soldiers at highly subsidized rates, as part of the Nigerian Army’s ongoing efforts to enhance the welfare of its personnel.
According to a statement by Army’s spokesperson, Colonel Apollonia Anele, on Friday, the housing units are part of the Nigerian Army’s ongoing Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS) Housing Scheme.
A shopping complex was also inaugurated under the Post Service Housing Development Limited (PHDL).
According to the statement, the projects were inaugurated by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, alongside senior military officers, officials of the Oyo State Government, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
The COAS emphasized that affordable housing remains a critical pillar of the Nigerian Army’s transformation agenda, in line with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He noted that the project is a practical demonstration of the Nigerian Army’s “Soldier First” philosophy, noting that access to decent and affordable housing is central to troop morale, operational effectiveness, and post-service stability.
“The AHOOAS scheme is designed to ensure that soldiers retire in dignity, with secure home ownership in locations of their choice,” he said.
The Army Chief said the expansion of the scheme to Ibadan, Benin, Jos, Akwa Ibom, and other locations was informed by the successes of the pilot phase in Idu, Abuja, which, he said, delivered over 400 housing units.
He said plans are also underway to fast-track home ownership for Army Warrant Officers.
While commending the Oyo State Government for its sustained support to military formations, and traditional institutions for promoting peace and cooperation, General Shaibu urged other state governments to support the scheme by allocating land for future phases.
He praised Post Service Housing Development Limited (PHDL) for its professionalism and acknowledged Family Homes Funds Limited for partnering with the Nigerian Army to build 50 housing units for widows of fallen heroes.
As climate change, urban expansion and population growth stretch Nigeria’s food systems, a quiet agricultural revolution is underway. Across Lagos, Abuja, and other rapidly growing cities, innovators are embracing hydroponics—growing crops without soil using nutrient-rich water—to tackle shrinking farmland, water scarcity, and soaring demand for fresh produce. Led by forward-thinking entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers, soilless farming is turning underutilised urban spaces into high-efficiency food hubs, reshaping how Nigeria grows food and builds wealth, reports DANIËL ESSIET.
Every morning, on the outskirts of Lagos, Aisha Musa moves along rows of plastic pipes, watching nutrient-rich water flow to her plants. There is no soil underfoot, no hoe in hand, no muddy boots tracking through the garden— just the steady flow of water from a small pump keeping her vegetables alive. Aisha once depended on a small plot inherited from her parents, but years of flooding, degraded soil, and unpredictable rains had turned her harvests—and her income—to dust. Determined for a new path, she joined a short hydroponic farming programme.
Next door, 28-year-old Jide Imole has found a similar refuge. A former civil servant, he traded spreadsheets and office walls for stacked trays of lettuce, spinach and basil thriving under carefully controlled nutrient solutions, using barely half the water traditional farming demands. He saw in soilless farming not just a crop, but a chance to reclaim agency in a city where land is scarce. Today, Aisha and Jide supply restaurants and households across Lagos, turning overlooked urban corners into lush, productive gardens. “I used to lose everything when the rains failed or the land flooded,” Aisha reflects. “Now I can meet my plants’ needs every single day.” Jide adds, “Hydroponics isn’t just about growing vegetables—it’s about security, independence, and opportunity.”
For them, hydroponics is more than a method—it’s a lifeline. It offers steady income, shields against climate shocks, and transforms urban agriculture in Nigeria. In a country grappling with shrinking farmland and rising food demand, their small urban farms are quietly reshaping how cities eat—and how a new generation of Nigerians thrives.
Why hydroponics works where traditional farming fails
As Nigeria faces shrinking farmland, rising food prices and climate uncertainty, systems like hers are quietly reshaping agriculture. In backyards, rooftops and small urban spaces, hydroponics is offering farmers a resilient, profitable way to grow food—without depending on soil or the seasons. Hydroponics is rapidly gaining traction as a transformative farming method in Nigeria, offering an innovative pathway to food production in an era defined by land pressure, climate uncertainty, and population growth. Unlike conventional agriculture, hydroponics does not depend on soil. Instead, crops are cultivated with their roots immersed in carefully balanced, nutrient-rich water or supported by inert growing media such as coconut fibre. This direct and uninterrupted access to nutrients accelerates plant growth, improves crop quality, and significantly increases yields when compared with traditional farming methods.
Beyond efficiency, hydroponics addresses some of Nigeria’s most pressing agricultural challenges, including food insecurity, water scarcity, and soil degradation. By removing dependence on rainfall patterns and degraded farmlands, the system reduces exposure to drought and erosion while allowing precise control over water and nutrient use. Analysts argue that these advantages position hydroponics as a viable pathway toward a more resilient and profitable agricultural future for Nigerian farmers, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas where land is scarce.
Young entrepreneurs are turning innovation into industry
As Nigeria’s population continues to surge, the urgency of securing reliable food and water supplies has become paramount. In response, a new generation of young agro-entrepreneurs is stepping forward to redefine the country’s food security landscape through technology-driven solutions. One of the most prominent among them is Samson Ogbole, Lead Farmer at Soilless Farm Lab in Awowo, Ogun State. An agricultural entrepreneur with a strong commitment to innovation, Ogbole has replaced soil with a water-based nutrient solution and coco peat—an environmentally friendly growing medium produced from crushed coconut husks—to cultivate vegetables.
According to Ogbole, coco peat is particularly valuable in hydroponic systems because it is sustainable, lightweight, and capable of retaining moisture while allowing adequate aeration for plant roots. He explains that water used in hydroponic farming can be conserved and reused multiple times, making the system far more efficient than conventional irrigation. The most striking difference between hydroponics and traditional farming, he notes, lies in yield and fruit quality. Plants grow faster, mature uniformly, and produce cleaner, healthier harvests.
Ogbole’s success has earned him both local and international recognition, reinforcing the growing belief that hydroponics can play a critical role in Nigeria’s agricultural transformation. It is largely for this reason that soilless farming is gaining momentum across the country, driven initially by private-sector innovators and increasingly embraced by public institutions. In hydroponic systems, plants receive essential nutrients without exposure to toxic heavy metals such as arsenic and cadmium, which are sometimes present in contaminated soils. As a result, the produce is often healthier than crops grown in open fields.
He emphasises that Soilless Farm Lab is deeply committed to strengthening local food production as a means of empowering communities and reducing agriculture’s climate footprint. In theory and practice, he argues, hydroponics offers higher yields and better profit margins than conventional farming, which remains vulnerable to erratic weather, water shortages, and pollution from unregulated pesticide use. There is also a growing consumer base for vegetables produced without chemical pesticides, further expanding market opportunities. The farm’s impact has attracted high-level attention. Several top government officials, including Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, have visited the Soilless Farm Lab in Awowo, Ewekoro Local Government Area. During one such visit, Ogbole advocated the replication of hydroponics initiatives nationwide to ensure food sufficiency. The governor reportedly expressed admiration for the innovative application of technology at the farm, noting that it demonstrates the government’s potential to support advanced agricultural practices capable of revolutionising food production.
In 2023, Soilless Farm Lab partnered with the Mastercard Foundation to launch a youth-focused initiative aimed at scaling technology-enabled agriculture. The Enterprise for Youth in Agriculture (EYIA) project was designed to train 12,000 young people eager to acquire skills, improve livelihoods, and access income-generating opportunities within the agricultural value chain. The programme has since recorded remarkable success. It has directly trained 12,000 participants drawn from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as several other African countries. According to the project’s manager, Ms. Peace Bassey, the initiative’s ripple effect has been equally significant. More than 18,000 secondary beneficiaries have received training from EYIA graduates. The project has facilitated the construction of 960 greenhouses, provided critical infrastructure for sustainable farming, and supported the establishment of 240 new agribusinesses.
Expanding markets and economic impact
Another leading figure in Nigeria’s hydroponics space is Adebowale Onafowora, an Ashoka Fellow and Chief Executive of BIC Farms Concepts. A trailblazer in the field, Onafowora operates large-scale hydroponics farms across Nigeria and Canada, using only a fraction of the water and land required by conventional agriculture. His operations produce an impressive range of crops, including celery, ugu, tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, strawberries, melons, and various aromatic and medicinal plants, underscoring the vast potential of hydroponics to redefine modern farming in Nigeria.
According to Onafowora, hydroponics offers one of the most practical ways to maximise agricultural production in limited spaces while meeting rising demand for nutritious food and creating jobs. Long before the current surge of interest, he was already leading large-scale hydroponics training programmes in Lagos and Abuja by 2016, equipping participants with hands-on experience in soilless farming. Having successfully built and scaled his own operations, he now provides consultancy services on greenhouse technology for individuals and organisations seeking to establish similar ventures.
Onafowora consistently stresses that long-term food security and national self-sufficiency are inseparable from economic growth. For Nigeria, he argues, this reality is becoming more urgent as arable land continues to shrink globally and climate change intensifies pressure on traditional farming systems. Against this backdrop, innovative methods such as hydroponics are emerging not as experiments, but as practical responses to deepening food security challenges.
Market data support this shift. Analysts note that demand for leafy greens, strawberries, herbs and other fresh produce continues to outpace supply, a trend that has been evident since late last year. According to Global Market Insights Inc’s Fresh Vegetables Market Global Forecast (2025–2034), the global fresh vegetables market was valued at $949.8 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $1.6 trillion by 2034, growing at a compound annual rate of 4.7 per cent. This expansion is being driven by rising health consciousness, sustainability concerns and advances in agricultural technology. The report highlights a surge in consumer interest in freshly harvested vegetables, vegetarian diets, whole foods, local sourcing and sustainable production. It notes that innovations such as vertical farming, hydroponics and precision agriculture are enabling producers to meet growing demand without compromising quality or environmental integrity. These technologies are reshaping how vegetables are produced and distributed globally.
Within this context, Ogbole points out that Nigerian crops such as scent leaf, bitter leaf, ugu, okra, ginger, turmeric and dried pepper enjoy strong international demand, particularly among African diaspora communities in Europe, North America and Asia. He believes that positioning these products for premium export markets could significantly increase farmers’ incomes while strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural value chain. Yet, experts warn that weak urban food systems governance across Africa continues to fuel dependence on food imports and expose cities to supply shocks. At a recent AfriFOODlinks webinar on urban food systems transformation, researchers and policymakers observed that fragmented institutions, limited funding and inconsistent political commitment have hindered effective implementation of food system policies. These weaknesses, they argued, leave cities highly vulnerable to global market volatility.
Nigeria’s experience illustrates the scale of the challenge. The Federal Government estimates that the country spends over $10 billion annually importing food items such as wheat, rice, sugar, fish and tomato paste, despite its vast agricultural potential. Speaking at the First Bank of Nigeria 2025 Agric and Export Expo, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, described the situation as unsustainable. He noted that while agriculture contributes about 35 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP and employs a similar share of the workforce, the sector generates less than $400 million in export earnings.
Recent figures from the National Bureau of Statistics further underline the urgency. Nigeria’s food import bill rose by 33 per cent in the second quarter of 2025 to N1.18 trillion, highlighting continued pressure on foreign exchange and domestic food systems. Against this backdrop, investors are increasingly turning to hydroponics as climate risks, urbanisation and import dependence expose the limitations of conventional farming. Soilless agriculture allows crops to be grown year-round in controlled environments, reducing exposure to erratic weather and degraded soils. For investors, the appeal lies in scalability, faster growth cycles and more predictable returns.
Onafowora argues that once operational, hydroponic farms can command premium prices due to consistent quality and year-round supply. He challenges the prevailing instinct to channel surplus capital into real estate, describing it as “capital imprisonment” when compared to the faster payback and compounding returns of controlled-environment agriculture. Using greenhouse-based hydroponics near urban markets, he maintains, investors can generate steady income while directly contributing to urban food security. Ultimately, he cautions that technology alone is not enough. Success depends on sound management, quality inputs, appropriate crop selection and reliable market access. Hydroponics, he insists, is not a shortcut to wealth, but a disciplined agribusiness model capable of transforming Nigeria’s food economy when executed with the right expertise and support.
Ogbole explains that his decision to prioritise high-value, fast-growing crops such as leafy greens, herbs and select fruits over staples like yam is driven largely by economics and technical feasibility. In a soil-free, controlled environment, cultivating a large, starchy tuber presents significant challenges, from space requirements to longer growth cycles and uncertain returns. By contrast, crops such as lettuce, basil and strawberries are well suited to hydroponic systems and align more closely with market realities. According to Ogbole, these crops command premium prices in niche and urban markets, where consumers are increasingly willing to pay more for fresh, locally grown and pesticide-free produce. Yams, while culturally important and widely consumed, are typically low-margin, high-volume commodities. In the specific context of hydroponics, he argues, they do not offer the kind of profitability required to justify the high upfront investment associated with controlled environment agriculture.
“High-value crops such as vegetables have significantly shorter growth cycles, allowing for more harvests per year,” Ogbole said. “This quicker turnaround helps us recover the high initial investment associated with hydroponic systems much faster than a crop like yam, which has a longer growth period.” He added that leafy greens and herbs enjoy consistent, year-round demand, a market dynamic that hydroponics can reliably service regardless of seasonal weather fluctuations.
Challenges and strategic considerations
Despite its promise of year-round production and efficient use of water and space, the adoption and scalability of advanced Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) systems such as hydroponics face substantial hurdles in Nigeria. Stakeholders point to steep operational costs, particularly electricity, alongside a shortage of specialised technical skills and limited access to long-term financing. These constraints, they warn, are slowing uptake and restricting the technology to a relatively small group of well-capitalised operators.
Onafowora notes that the capital-intensive nature of hydroponics makes it difficult for many individuals and small and medium-sized agribusinesses to transition from traditional farming systems. Without broader access to affordable financing and technical support, he argues, hydroponics will struggle to achieve the scale required to make a meaningful dent in national food security challenges. Industry leaders are therefore calling for more targeted investment in enabling infrastructure, alongside sustained research and development aimed at designing locally adapted, lower-cost CEA systems. They also emphasise the need for robust capacity-building programmes to close the knowledge gap, ensuring that operators possess the managerial and technical competence required to run these systems efficiently.
Onafowora is careful to stress that hydroponics is not a one-size-fits-all solution. He argues that the technology makes economic sense primarily for low-light, rapid-cycle crops or those with very high market value. “There are cases where hydroponics farms don’t make a tonne of sense,” he said, cautioning against the assumption that any crop can be profitably grown using the system. According to him, attempting to cultivate crops that cannot command prices high enough to offset setup and operating costs often leads to disappointing outcomes. He advises prospective investors and farmers to focus on vegetables and plants that are well aligned with specific market demands. If a crop does not generate sufficient revenue to justify the costs of a hydroponic setup, he argues, it is better suited to conventional open-field farming. The success of hydroponics, he maintains, lies not in technological novelty but in disciplined crop selection and sound market analysis.
Policy support and the path forward
On the policy front, government and development partners are beginning to integrate hydroponics into broader agricultural empowerment strategies. About three million young women farmers are expected to benefit from a Federal Government-led hydroponics and agro-kenaf farming initiative designed to boost productivity, livelihoods and food security. Speaking at a recent media conference in Abuja, President of the Police Officers Wives Association, Elizabeth Egbetokun, said the programme forms part of a larger plan to train 12 million people over five years, targeting vulnerable women, grassroots entrepreneurs and civil servants nearing retirement.
Implemented in partnership with UNESCO and the Read and Earn Federation Strategic Intervention Programme, the initiative will deploy hydroponics and agro-kenaf models across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas. Beneficiaries are expected to receive start-up grants, access to low-interest loans and structured market linkages. Organisers say the goal is to build resilient value chains capable of injecting billions of naira into local economies while expanding women and youth participation in agriculture.
International development agencies are also engaging. Last year, the Food and Agriculture Organisation strengthened livestock production in parts of the North-East through a Training of Trainers programme on alternative fodder production, funded by the Norwegian government. Held in Maiduguri, the workshop trained participants in pasture development, hydroponic fodder production, hay and silage making, and value addition to crop residues. FAO’s National Livestock Specialist, Abdulrahman Mohammed, said improved feed availability remains central to addressing persistent livestock challenges.
At the sub-national level, Lagos State has reiterated its commitment to creating an enabling environment for hydroponics operators. Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, said the state is prioritising self-sufficiency by promoting new technologies capable of transforming food production. As Nigeria’s cities continue to expand, experts argue that the future of urban food systems will depend increasingly on innovative, space-efficient solutions such as hydroponics, supported by sound policy, skilled operators and viable markets.
A recent report by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has called for a more holistic approach to transforming Africa’s food systems in order to achieve sustainable and resilient growth. The 150-page report, titled Drivers of Change and Innovation in Africa’s Food Systems, offers a roadmap for reimagining the continent’s agricultural landscape in the decades ahead. While Africa has recorded notable gains over the past 30 years—including an average annual agricultural growth rate of 4.3 per cent since 2000 and expanded intra-African trade—the report notes that the continent’s food systems remain vulnerable to shocks linked to climate change, market instability and weak infrastructure.
Within this context, Ogbole argues that the time has come to inspire school students to view agriculture and allied sectors as viable, forward-looking career paths. He believes early exposure to modern, technology-driven farming can help reposition agriculture as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s development rather than a sector of last resort. Echoing this perspective, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, described hydroponics as a significant step toward modernising the agricultural sector, strengthening food security and boosting national income through sustainable, high-efficiency production systems. She said the state’s smart agriculture initiative reflects the ministry’s commitment to deploying advanced technologies that support year-round production, improve output quality and reduce pressure on natural resources.
According to Olusanya, wider adoption of hydroponics is expected to increase overall production, raise crop quality standards and expand sustainable agricultural models capable of supporting long-term food security. These efforts, she noted, align with national objectives to consolidate agriculture as a key driver of economic diversification and inclusive growth.
Across the gold belts stretching from Niger through Kaduna to Zamfara, artisanal mining—once a humble livelihood—has morphed into a perilous enterprise fuelling banditry and extremism. Forests and abandoned villages now conceal armed camps, while gold extracted from remote pits finances weapons, logistics and recruitment. Communities live under siege, farmlands lie fallow, and governance gaps allow criminal networks to thrive, turning mineral wealth into a deadly engine of insecurity across the Northwest, reports ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE.
Across the gold belts stretching from Niger State through Kaduna to Zamfara, a quiet but dramatic infiltration has tightened its grip. What began as small, community-run artisanal mining—marked by crude tools, modest yields and the hope of survival—has transformed into a criminally engineered enterprise. The pits that once sustained rural families have become the economic engine rooms of bandit groups and extremist factions, reshaping local livelihoods and fuelling a dangerous underground economy.
In Birnin-Gwari, one of the most volatile mining zones in Kaduna State, this shift is stark. As traditional miners withdrew due to rising insecurity, new actors—better connected, better armed and deeply intertwined with bandit networks—moved in. Their arrival opened the door for bandits, and later Ansaru militants, to embed themselves fully into the mining chain. What followed was the conversion of mining pits into controlled criminal enclaves governed by taxation, extortion and violence.
Community sources and security observers say the belts have now matured into one of the most reliable revenue streams for armed groups operating across the Northwest. Gold extracted from pits in Birnin Gwari and the vast Kaduna–Niger forest corridor finances weapons, logistics, recruitment and the day-to-day maintenance of criminal camps. The pits also serve as camouflage, blending criminals among civilian miners and shielding their movements from routine surveillance.
Geography as an ally
Beyond the cash flow, geography itself strengthens these networks. Forests linking Birnin Gwari to Kuyambana, Kamuku and the Kaduna–Niger boundary form an interconnected web of natural citadels. These forests—dense, unmapped and largely inaccessible—provide the perfect cover for armoury storage, hostage holding and operational planning. Investigations show that within these forests lie kilometres of unmapped routes, enabling armed groups to strike with speed and melt away long before reinforcements arrive. This mobility advantage is one of the key reasons the groups remain resilient despite multiple military offensives over the years.
The crisis is deeply tied to Zamfara, which remains the epicentre of illegal mining driven by armed groups. Their movement from Zamfara into Kaduna and Niger has created a seamless criminal corridor stretching into Chikun, Shiroro and even parts of the North-Central region.
Communities living in fear
The human cost of this evolving criminal economy is devastating. In Birnin Gwari alone, more than 120 communities were displaced at the height of attacks, their homes abandoned and farmlands overrun by fear.
Although the Kaduna Peace Model has helped reclaim several communities and reopen key markets, vast areas remain unsafe. Some women who attempted to resume farming have been abducted after criminals tracked them back to their homes. Residents of Maganda and Doka describe life under a quiet siege—bandits moving calmly along forest paths, surveilling villages, choosing when to strike. Security forces have achieved important gains. Airstrikes have destroyed camps; ground troops have disrupted supply routes. Yet even security officials privately acknowledge that these victories remain fragile. The interconnected forests allow criminals to escape, regroup and return. Investigations have also uncovered troubling lapses in coordination among security agencies—delayed intelligence sharing, poorly synchronised operations and inter-state silos that allow bandits to exploit gaps.
The recent push by Northern Governors for a six-month suspension of mining—possibly extending to 12 months—is intended to allow for a thorough licence audit and revalidation. But can such a measure meaningfully disrupt criminal networks already entrenched in remote forests, far beyond the reach of routine regulation? For safety and security consultant for the Northwest, Ishaq Usman Kasai, the answer depends on what happens next. “Stopping mining alone will not solve the problem,” he said. Kasai argues that while illegal mining is only one of several revenue channels for armed groups, it remains significant enough to demand government urgency. Without disrupting their camps, financial pathways and supply routes, he warns, the groups may simply pause and resume once the suspension expires.
He emphasised the seamless mobility of armed groups across Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger. Kasai called for stronger interstate cooperation, improved intelligence management and a sustained offensive targeting not only fighters but also their logistics networks, arms suppliers and forest fortresses. Reinforcing borders, he added, is essential to block the flow of weapons and foreign fighters.
For communities to return safely, Kasai advocates rebuilding governance structures—health posts, schools, security outposts—and establishing clear policies on repentant fighters to avoid encouraging impunity.
A Kaduna-based journalist, who requested anonymity, shares similar convictions. He believes the suspension could significantly slow banditry—if government has the will to enforce it with decisive force. He describes the mining corridor across Niger, Kaduna and Zamfara as “largely ungoverned spaces,” where artisanal miners live at the mercy of roaming armed groups, while illegal large-scale mining operators enjoy protection bought through criminal alliances.
Drawing from field experience, the journalist recalls a 2016 incident when he joined then Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on a visit to Kaduna. After initial meetings with licensed granite miners, the minister insisted on visiting Birnin Gwari Forest to observe reported artisanal mining activities. “I was on that trip as a reporter,” he said. “We saw artisanal miners digging in their zig-zag fashion, exposed to all kinds of risks, including collapses.” But the real shock lay deeper in the forest: a fully operational illegal foreign mining site.
Before the minister could arrive, the operators fled. Plans were immediately made to seize their equipment, hoping to force them into formal registration. Then danger erupted. “Bandits on motorcycles started advancing from deep inside the forest to attack the minister’s convoy. The security team ordered an immediate evacuation,” he recounted. The incident made one fact unmistakeably clear: criminal gangs were guarding illegal mining operations—and in some cases, likely armed or financed by them. “This clearly shows that bandits were protecting illegal miners. That is why any mining suspension must be followed by a decisive clearance operation to flush out bandits from forests across affected states.” For him, peace around the mining belt is impossible as long as illegal miners—local and foreign—keep enriching armed groups.
The gold belt feeding banditry and starving communities
In Niger State, the Local Government Areas of Shiroro, Munya, Rafi, and Mashegu have become epicentres of insecurity fuelled by illegal and artisanal gold mining. These mineral-rich zones, once promising economic lifelines, have morphed into battlegrounds where banditry, terrorism, and communal violence thrive. The vast gold deposits buried beneath these communities now attract criminal structures that use mining sites as revenue bases, recruitment grounds, and hideouts—creating a vicious cycle that endangers lives and deepens fragility across the region.
Shiroro is the clearest example of how unregulated mining has spiralled into crisis. Mining pits frequently collapse due to reckless digging, trapping miners in deadly shafts. Rescue efforts are often delayed or halted entirely because bandits patrol the area. One such incident occurred in June 2024 in Galkogo, where insecurity stalled help for more than 50 trapped miners. Attacks on mining sites are common: in July 2022, bandits stormed Ajata Aboki community, killing dozens and abducting Chinese workers. Such sites have become lucrative revenue streams, with criminals demanding “protection fees” before miners are permitted to work.
The pattern repeats in Munya and Rafi, where mining fuels banditry by providing steady cash through extortion and direct control of pits. Communities and travellers endure frequent ambushes as armed groups tighten their grip on mining clusters. Mashegu, though relatively less attacked, is no safer. Illegal mining thrives there because operators pay tributes to bandits, creating a symbiotic arrangement that protects mining activities while strengthening criminal enterprises. Across these LGAs, more than 50 illegal mining sites operate in Shiroro alone, drawing in underage workers, impoverished families, and desperate migrants. The influx fuels communal clashes, displaces entire settlements, and creates ungoverned spaces where the state’s authority is virtually absent. This mirrors concerns raised across the North, where mining has turned into a major driver of conflict, empowering violent groups and worsening insecurity.
Criminal networks in Niger State have built sophisticated financing and operational systems around mining activities. They extract funds, materials, and manpower from mining sites through extortion, coercion, and collaboration with artisanal and industrial miners. One of the dominant forces is the faction led by notorious bandit leader Dogo Gide, operational across Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Kebbi. His group controls gold fields around Kurebe village in Shiroro. Chinese-associated mining firms operating under licenses such as Eso Terra Investment Limited and Majelo Global Resources Limited are reportedly compelled to pay weekly bribes of up to N3 million, alongside motorcycles and other supplies. These payments buy “safe passage” but fund the purchase of arms, ammunition, and logistics. Fuel, food, and equipment meant for mining are frequently diverted to Gide’s fighters, while impoverished youths at the sites are recruited to swell his ranks.
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a Boko Haram offshoot, is also deeply entrenched in mining zones across Shiroro. They impose taxes on artisanal miners, run their own extraction operations, and derive millions annually through gold sales channeled via regional smuggling networks. ISWAP often recruits young miners by offering paid mining work as the first step into their extremist networks, blending economic need with ideological indoctrination.
Broader Sahelian jihadist networks—including Al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM (Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin)—also exploit Niger State’s mining economy through cross-border tax regimes. Regionally, JNIM extracts revenue from artisanal gold mines estimated at up to 725 kg of gold annually, valued at about $34 million. In Niger State, they coordinate with bandit groups to maintain smuggling routes, using mining proceeds to buy weapons, expand propaganda, and recruit from communities alienated by state neglect. These groups rarely attack mining sites unless payment agreements are breached. Instead, they treat them as protected economic zones—miniature economies that subsidize the violence devastating the North.
Mining corridors turning into ungoverned spaces
Niger State’s mining corridors—routes linking mining pits to processing hubs and smuggling networks—have steadily devolved into ungoverned spaces due to weak state presence, bandit dominance, and porous borders. The Shiroro–Munya–Rafi Gold Belt is the state’s largest cluster, hosting more than 369 licensed gold titles, about 81 percent of Niger’s mining licences. Gold-rich villages such as Ajata Aboki, Gurmata, Farindoki, and Kurebe are linked to processing centres in Minna and smuggling routes toward Kaduna and Zamfara. Bandits enforce their own taxation regimes and use the surrounding forests as hideouts and staging grounds for attacks.
The Mashegu–Kontagora–Mariga Corridor stretches westward, connecting gold, limestone, and talc deposits to Agadez in Niger Republic through desert tracks. Illegal miners here avoid attacks by paying tributes to bandits, effectively creating semi-autonomous fiefdoms. Child labour is rampant across linked communities like Paikoro and Chanchaga. Beyond Nigeria’s borders, Sahelian smuggling routes channel gold from Shiroro and Mashegu toward Diffa, Tripoli, and Benin Republic through informal networks that bypass security checkpoints. ISWAP and JNIM exploit these arteries to move gold, weapons, and fighters, generating illicit flows worth more than $30 million annually across the region. These corridors thrive as ungoverned spaces because state presence is thin, elite collusion allows illegal operations to flourish, and widespread poverty pushes locals into mining. When violence erupts, communities flee, leaving criminals in full control—taxing workers, recruiting youths, buying weapons, and turning the region’s natural wealth into fuel for terror.
Illegal mining has devastated Niger State’s agrarian economy, where nearly 90 percent of people in affected LGAs rely on farming for survival. Once-thriving farmlands in Shiroro, Munya, Rafi, Mashegu, and parts of Gurara have been turned into cratered landscapes by uncontrolled excavation, poisoning water sources, and driving people away from their ancestral livelihoods.
Mining encroaches directly on farmlands, destroying staple crops such as maize, yams, millet, and rice through open pits, heavy machinery, and the toxic chemicals used in gold processing. Mercury contamination, in particular, has polluted rivers and streams that irrigate farmlands and supply drinking water. In Gurara LGA, expanding mining activity has rendered fields infertile, shrinking yields and heightening food insecurity. In Shiroro’s mining corridors, deforestation and soil erosion have worsened flooding, washing away farmlands already weakened by years of environmental degradation. Bandit-imposed “protection fees” further prevent farmers from accessing grazing paths and farmlands, intensifying herder–farmer conflicts.
Artisanal mining promises quick money—sometimes N45,000 to N50,000 per day for a lucky family—but it comes at the cost of long-term livelihood collapse. Mining diverts labour from agriculture, eroding traditional skills and emptying farms of workers. Today, an estimated 70 percent of residents in the worst-hit communities now mine for survival, abandoning farming even as food prices soar.
Mining pits in Farindoki and other villages rely heavily on children, some as young as 12, who have dropped out of school to work in hazardous shafts.
The health risks are enormous: dust inhalation, constant exposure to toxic chemicals, and frequent cave-ins. Injuries and deaths deepen economic hardship, and families receive no compensation when breadwinners are harmed or killed.
Mining-driven violence and environmental degradation have displaced thousands across Niger State. In Shiroro and Munya, families fleeing bandit-mining conflicts have poured into IDP camps in Kuta and neighbouring areas, leaving behind homes, farmlands, and generations of heritage. Gurara communities have experienced repeated uprooting as mining expands and land becomes unusable. With limited resettlement support, many migrate to urban centres, where they face heightened vulnerability to trafficking, exploitation, and cultural disintegration.
Across the northern region, more than 420 communities—including those in Niger—have recorded over 12,000 deaths linked to mining-related insecurity since 2001.
In Zamfara State, the convergence of artisanal gold mining and armed banditry has created a potent and deadly ecosystem. Professor Murtala A. Rufa’i, in his book I’m A Bandit: A Decade Research in Zamfara State Bandits’ Den, provides empirical evidence of this nexus, documenting how arms are routinely exchanged for gold in mining areas such as Anka. His decade-long fieldwork combines interviews with active and former bandits, their families, community victims, local officials, and traditional leaders, revealing that banditry is less a spontaneous crime wave than a systemic, economically fueled enterprise.
Local civil society voices corroborate these findings. Between 2011 and 2019, Dr. Anas Sani Anka of Federal University Gusau and Comrade Mannir Haidara, now chairman of Kaura Namoda Local Government, held repeated press conferences highlighting the alarming influx of arms into mining sites, frequent helicopter landings, and the government’s inability to respond effectively.
Field accounts from artisanal miners confirm this dynamic. Late bandit warlord Halilu Sububu reportedly controlled large portions of mining areas in Bagega, Bawan Daji, and Gubirawar Chali, exchanging gold for weapons. His son has since taken over, along with other commanders such as Ada Aleru, Dan Hassan, and Sa’idu Na’eka, who oversee operations across multiple districts including Maru, Maradun, Gummi, Birnin Magaji, and Bukuyum. Several villages, once inhabited and productive, have been deserted, creating near-permanent bandit strongholds.
Former state Secretary to the Government, the late Prof Abdullahi Muhammad Shinkafi, corroborated this structural vacuum, noting in 2019 that over 500 communities in Zamfara lacked security presence, leaving residents vulnerable to bandit attacks. The absence of state authority, combined with lucrative mining opportunities, has allowed bandits to establish parallel governance structures: collecting taxes, enforcing rules, and maintaining internal hierarchies. These systems mimic state functions, granting some local acceptance where official governance is absent.
Rufa’i’s research emphasises that banditry is rooted in layered social, economic, and political failures. Environmental degradation, youth unemployment, and shrinking pastoral lands have fragmented communities, creating openings for criminal networks. Elite complicity and political patronage further sustain the phenomenon, while the illicit mining economy generates steady revenue streams that fund arms, facilitate expansion, and entrench bandit dominance. As both a warning and a guide, the evidence is clear: in Zamfara, the growth of artisanal mining without oversight has not only fuelled economic opportunity but also created a powerful engine for banditry, threatening security, livelihoods, and the stability of entire communities.
State and security responses
Government responses involve a mix of bans, raids, prosecutions, and collaborative security operations, but enforcement remains uneven. Former Governor Abubakar Sani Bello suspended mining in Shiroro, Munya, and Rafi in July 2022 following the Ajata Aboki massacre, initiating profiling of mining sites for security risks. His successor, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, lifted the suspension in September 2024 but introduced conditions for legal operations. He created a special task force on illegal mining and vowed to prosecute those involved in child exploitation—leading to June 2025 raids in Chanchaga and Paikoro. In July 2025, 41 illegal miners were arrested and tools confiscated, while NSCDC Mining Marshals detained six more operators in November 2025.
Security agencies have conducted joint operations across bandit strongholds, while intelligence sharing—boosted by investigative reports such as the 2023–2024 WikkiTimes expose—has improved profiling of miners and operators. Still, the sector faces major obstacles: elite protection of mining sponsors, corruption, weak resources for enforcement, and the sheer size of ungoverned forest zones. Without broader reforms, security analysts warn that criminals may simply shift to other forms of violent crime.
Security consultant Mathew Oladele, based in Minna, argues that stopping mining for six months is essential for flushing out criminals from forests.
But media and security expert Mr Onifade Abayomi sees risks in such a pause. “If they don’t see what they get from miners, they may turn to more robbery and killing. Still, it’s not bad giving it a trial.”
•Victims go solo to keep fit after being ostracized by mates, teachers, others •Blame disease burden among members on lack of physical activities
In Tanzania, Kenya, Mali and some other African countries, People With Albinism (PWAs) are encouraged to participate in competitive sports and even represent their countries in international competitions. The reverse is the case in Nigeria. Here, PWAs are treated as sub-humans and ostracized from sports, leaving indelible scars in the hearts of many. Sports authorities are equally culpable as they haven’t deemed it necessary to provide an enabling environment for PWAs to engage and excel in sports. INNOCENT DURU reports.
Chika Umeh, a PWA picked interest in football at a tender age. He played the round leather game all through his secondary school days but the danger of exposing his skin to sunlight brought his interest in soccer to an abrupt end.
“I dropped out of that and got interested in basketball when I got to a tertiary institution,” he said.
“The advantage I had playing basketball was because it was played in the evenings.”
While Chika and numerous other PWAs in Nigeria quit sporting activities because of the effects of the sun on their skin, PWAs in some other countries are being provided an enabling environment and assisted to circumvent the challenge that the sun poses to their health.
In Tanzania, Kenya, and Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, PWAs have football clubs engaging in competitive games. In Mali, Zambia, and other African nations, PWAs have produced great athletes who have represented their nations at international competitions and won laurels.
While PWAs in those smaller African nations are making successes, Chika, a multi- skilled sportsman battled emotional trauma fitting into his teams.
Recounting his ordeal, Chika said: “there is this kind of look that they usually give. It’s kind of a discrimination, isn’t it?,” he asked rhetorically and continued: “when they look at you, they suggest you are not fit for the game; you don’t belong here kind of look. Though sometimes they let me play, but when it comes to competitions, they just feel I won’t match up.
“Maybe they feel it might be too stressful for me or that I might not be able to withstand the pressure of the opposing team.
“They will tell you, oh no, you can’t do this because of your complexion. You don’t need this stress. It’s sometimes hurtful, but you just have to let go of it.”
While his mates trivialize his ability, Chika said “right in my own mind, I do believe I would live above their limitations. I always have this feeling that I can do it. But they always say, okay, ‘no, you will get in later’ but it never came.”
Going by his experience, Chika said he often felt sidelined, and being left out by society.
“Sometimes when I see that a game is in the afternoon when it is hot, I feel it is understandable to be left out. But sometimes when it’s in the evening or early in the morning when I won’t be affected by the rays of the sun and they come up with such attitudes, I feel sidelined, and get to wonder if there was something else to it.
“I would always feel bad, but wouldn’t betray emotions. I just let it be.”
“I would just come out, you know, do my own practices when it’s time to practice. At times I practiced with others when it’s convenient, but for the main games, I just wouldn’t put in too much hope, especially when I know that they may not give me a chance.”
After being emotionally brutalized and ostracized from competitive outdoor games, “I resorted to engaging in indoor games.
“At a point, I played chess, and I did taekwondo for a start. I didn’t proceed to the advanced level. It’s just a personal love for it that got me into it.”
Chika still does taekwondo. “I do personal training. My coaches really encouraged me but I didn’t have much time to take it to the next level. Something else engaged me, so I didn’t continue that anymore.”
Had he been given the necessary support and encouragement, Chika said he would have thought of doing it on a much larger scale.
“I just do it personally now,” he said.
Like Chika, Akinsola Oluwayemisi, a 29-year-old PWA also picked interest in sports at a very tender age.
“I was participating in sporting activities when I was in primary school. I was taking part in relay races back then and good at what I was doing. I also liked volleyball but all the skills have vanished.”
Oluwayemisi said she stopped involvement in sporting activities after seeing a doctor who “advised me against exposing my body to sun.
“I didn’t feel good quitting because I really love sports. I felt really bad but there was nothing I could do.”
In spite of the setback the doctor’s advice caused her, Oluwayemisi has refused to give up on sports. “I no longer do exercises with other people but I do that alone in the house,”she said.
PWA feels separated, neglected not engaging in competitive sports
One may not appreciate how unhappy PWAs feel not engaging in competitive sports until there is an encounter with them. Our meeting with the coordinator, Albinism Association of Nigeria, Somolu/Bariga LCDA, Abegunde Elijah, reveals this much.
“I feel separated, I feel neglected and not really good about it,” he said.
Before now, I took part in sports in the morning.In school, I was involved in swimming. I stopped taking part in regular sporting activities because of the sun.”
Elijah has not allowed the verdict of nature to extinguish his love for sports. To keep fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle, he said: | “I jog every morning now.”
In spite of the existence of disability laws that frown at any form of discrimination against people living with disabilities, Elijah expressed worries that the society has continued to discourage even the younger PWAs from engaging in sports.
His words: “The children face stigmatization just the same way we did when we were growing up.
“They are discriminated against in sports. They laugh at them saying that they can’t see.
“During sporting activities, they will just be mocking them saying they won’t see the ball. They can even hide the ball and tell a child with albinism to start looking for it. That demoralizes and discourages such a child from engaging in sports.”
PWA quits sports after changing school
A female PWA, Omobola Kalejaiye said her interest in sports was dashed after she moved to a new school where no consideration was given about her nature when fixing sporting events.
She said: “I was into running when I was younger. When I was in primary school, I was jumping too. I stopped after I changed my school. In the new school that I went to, there was nothing like jumping. All they had was volleyball, basketball and football.
“I couldn’t join them because they were doing all that under the sun. I can’t stay under the sun and be running or participating in football and basketball.
“I will need a very cool place. Secondly, the person that will anchor a game will be far from me and I may not see when he is giving me any instruction. If not for the danger of exposing my skin to the sun, I would have been participating in all those games.”
PWAs must be on top of their game – Lagos PWA Chair Tolani Ojuri
Lagos PWA Chairman, Tolani Ojuri, engages in sports and enjoins members to follow suit with warning that they should avoid exposure to the sun.
“We encourage our members to take part in indoor games for their physical health. We also encourage them to be on top of their game and as much as possible to aid their metabolism.”
Ojuri said he picked up cycling from childhood. “It was just for me a hobby. I do it almost every other day, but I make sure it’s regular on weekends.”
Aside from cycling, the PWA chair said he probably would have taken to jogging. “I have not really been into competitive sports all my life but if I were to choose one, I will say probably athletics.
I can’t do that under the sun even if I am one.”
Ojuri dismissed fears by some parents that their children with albinism are too fragile to engage in sports.
“Yeah, some parents express some level of fear or concern for their children. But when they come into the cluster, we make them realize that their child is just like any other child and they can do virtually everything that the other children do as long as they are kept away from the sun. And really, as the child keeps growing, they truly realize that there’s nothing fragile about the child.”
Calls for, enabling environment, sporting competitions among PWAs
Respondents called on the sports ministry to provide an enabling environment and organize sporting competitions for PWAs to boost their physical fitness and reduce disease burdens among them.
Omobola urged the authorities to create places where people with albinism could engage in sporting activities. “If I have a covered place I will participate in sports. The only issue is that the place must not be too bright. It must be moderately lit.”
When people with albinism get involved in sporting activities, she said, “our spirit will be lifted. When that begins, people will laugh and ask why they are engaging in sporting activities but it doesn’t matter in as much as you know what you are doing. Once you are willing to do that, you will not listen to any side talk.
“If there is an avenue for people like us to participate in sports, I believe that we will have many people who will be interested in it. Even the younger ones that are coming now will have been trained on how to participate in those games.”
Speaking in the same vein, Elijah said: “If I have a place that is covered, I will gladly engage in sporting activities. I love table tennis, swimming, and jogging. I can play football with a few people. But the fact that we don’t have any place we can take part without being exposed to the sun, many of us don’t participate in games.
As the coordinator or people with albinism in Somolu, Bariga, I can tell you that most of our people don’t engage in sporting activities. This is why most of us have infections. Many of our members are battling with cancer. If we are engaging in sporting activities, the health challenges will drastically reduce.”
He appealed to government to make provisions “for us to have our own sports centre in places like Shomolu LGA and Bariga LCDA as well. We will be very grateful to have that. We are trying everything possible to see how they can engage in sporting activities. It has not been easy but we are making efforts to get this done. We need support from the government to get this done.”
Twenty nine year old Oluwayemisi said she is still burning with the passion of engaging in sporting activities.
She said: “If I get a place that is covered, I mean a place that shields me from the sun, I will gladly go back to taking part in sports.”
Chika said: “If there are competitions among people with albinism, it will encourage many of our people to participate in sports. There are so many of us who are interested sports. Many of us are passionate about sports. Most times when we try to engage, some of us just look away from the stigmatization.
“If we are given a chance, even if they are just indoor games, many will participate.
“We have so many of us going into the entertainment industry. Some are doing well, so if given a chance in sports, why not? We will do well. What they could only do is maybe set some standard, like it’s done in the other person. If they set standards, it will motivate many PWAs to want to engage in sports.”
Lending his voice to pleas of his members, the PWA chairman, Ojuri said authorities should actively engage persons with albinism with necessary support when it comes to sports.
“If you are going to have indoor cycling, the space must be covered, if you are having indoor tracks, the space must covered. They must be shielded from the rays of the sun, especially at the peak of the day.”
African countries where PWAs are excelling in sports
In many African countries, PWAs have long put the challenges of sunlight and failure of sports administrators behind them.
They are making successes and grabbing global media attention.
In Tanzania exists a football team known as Albino United FC. It was founded in 2008.
The team was formed by young men with albinism to challenge dangerous superstitions and discrimination in Tanzania, where they are often targeted for body parts used in witchcraft. They gained international attention through documentaries and support from organizations like Everton FC, using football to promote acceptance and show they are normal members of society, despite facing threats and hostility in some areas.
PWAs in Kenyan are also making strides through initiatives like the Black Albinism Football Club (BAFC). Like in Tanzania, they are using football for inclusion and awareness against stigma, with players facing challenges like sun sensitivity and vision impairment but finding empowerment.
Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) also has the Bright Stars Football Club, a team for persons with albinism. The team plays matches to promote inclusion through sports and educate the public on albinism.
Apart from football, PWAs in Kenya are also making strong statements in the area of athletics.
The prominent Kenyan albino sprinter breaking barriers is Jairus Ong’eta.
Ong’eta made history as the first person with albinism to represent Kenya at the World Para Athletics level, winning gold and inspiring others despite stigma and vision challenges. Another inspiring figure is Samson Ojuka, a long jump para-athlete also with albinism, aiming for the Paralympics and advocating for better support for Kenyan para-athletes.
Both athletes are crucial in challenging stereotypes and advocating for inclusion, proving that individuals with albinism can excel in sports.
Mali: PWAs in sports from Mali are known through the inspiring story of Adiaratou Iglesias, a Paralympic champion who fled persecution in Mali for Spain due to albinism-related attacks, becoming a world-class sprinter who uses sport to challenge stigma, while Mali itself has athletes with albinism in sports like athletics, despite facing significant discrimination and threats in their home country, highlighting both talent and the urgent need for protection
Zambia: PWAs in Zambian sports are making strides despite significant stigma, with individuals like Paralympian runner Monica Munga using sports to challenge myths, while organizations like the Albinism Foundation of Zambia (AFZ) advocate for inclusion, organizing events in sports like swimming and indoor games to raise awareness, though challenges like sun sensitivity, fear from attacks (witchcraft myths), and lack of resources persist, with focus shifting towards sports like swimming, gymnastics, and chess, and increased community sensitization.
Efforts to speak with NSC unsuccessful
Efforts to speak with the DG of National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade to speak on what the commission has done or is doing to create enabling environment for people with albinism to participate in both indoor and outdoor games like their counterparts in other African countries were unsuccessful as the mobile line was reachable.
Online search shows that while the National Sports Commission (NSC) of Nigeria aims to provide equal opportunities to all sports and athletes, specific, dedicated programs explicitly for people with albinism are not directly mentioned in recent information.
“Existing reports suggest that individuals with albinism have historically been left on the sidelines in Nigerian sports, and no person with albinism has ever represented the country in any sports tournament. The primary focus of the NSC, as per recent updates, includes general talent identification, grassroots development, and supporting various sports federations, including those for para-athletes,” the search result revealed.
Long before, a Commissioner for Youth and Sport, in Ogun State, Afolabi Afuape advocated for the engagement of people with albinism participation in sporting activities in the country.
He said being persons with albinism does not stop them from participating in any sporting activities of their choice, calling on the Federal Government and major stakeholders in the sporting industry to encourage their involvement in sporting activities.
” There are so many in-door sporting activities that special people like albino can engage in. I will like to assure you that the Ministry of sport will immediately enroll as many of you that have interest in sporting activities as the Governor has more interest in the success of the people with special needs in the society” Commissioner said.
Laudable as the remark was, it has not been implemented. Persons with albinism in the state and the country at large are still sidelined from sporting activities. Instead of encouraging them to participate in sports, the society thrives on using them for ridiculous content creation that further distresses many of them.
Even at 80 years of age, only a few can boast of knowing his real name. That is because for decades, many have known and called him only by his nickname, Musese. However, Chief Samuel Olayiwola Ohunleye, one-time band manager of late Orlando Owoh of the African Kenneries band, who recently joined the league of Octogenarians, is a man of many mysteries and histories. Taiwo Abiodun, who recently caught up with him, reports.
Early days
In this rare interview, Chief Samuel Olayiwola Ohunleye aka Musese went down memory lane to talk about his years managing late Nigerian musician Orlando Owoh‘s band, the scary moment his Italian girlfriend pulled a pistol on him, Orlando Owoh ‘s brawl with the late Barrister Sikiru Ayinde and many more.
“I was a sprinter back in my days at Imade College in Owo”, he began. “I represented my school in the 100 meters sprint when Queen Elizabeth of England came to Nigeria in 1956. I was very hardworking and honest, which made many to love me. Also, I am a principle person; I dislike people telling lies. It is not in my blood as a person from royal family to habour dishonesty. My parents were disciplinarians, so I inevitably imbibed that spirit and humility from them.”
How my Italian girlfriend pulled a Pistol on me
Musese recalls an incident once, when he traveled out of the country looking for greener pastures. “This Japa syndrome started from me. I laugh when I hear some people saying they Japa, they Japa; I started it. And it was not easy. I had a lady I wanted to marry back home called Dupe who is now late. We were so much in love. I told her of my plan to travel abroad and my plan to meet my Italian Pen pal girlfriend who had sent me an invitation. Back in the days, we had Pen pals and sent post cards, love and greeting cards to each other. It was the vogue then. I told Dupe that after settling down I would send for her. Meanwhile, I had introduced my future fiancee, Dupe, to her as my sister. So when I got to Italy, Dupe started writing to me. One day, one of Dupe’s letters was intercepted by this Italian lady. In fact, I didn’t know how she got the letter. She showed me the letter and read the contents to me which was full of promises and love messages, reminding me not to forget my promise to bring her to Italy once I got my papers.
“The Italian lady read it out line by line to my hearing. I was glued to where I was standing and sweating profusely. She then drew out a pistol in with a clear intent to shoot me. I became confused; I knelt down, I prostrated, I rubbed my hands and I was perspiring and panting like a dog. I was begging her not to shoot. You see all these foreign ladies? They don’t joke with love. If you are caught cheating on them, you are doomed. For some reason, she did not pull the trigger, but she immediately reported me to the Police. And because over there they have sympathy for women; I was immediately deported back to Nigeria. That was in 1970. The rest, like they say, is history.”
How I met Orlando Owoh
“I was Orlando Owoh’s manager for about 38 years. I was not his first manager though. The first manager was Sunday Adetoro; later the late Chief Osennepen became his manager. In fact I brought Osennepen to Orlando. I met Orlando Owoh in Mushin in company of my late police officer friend, Olu Amonbonye (aka Kanna Kanna Olympio) in Panti, Lagos. We were friends with Ohuru Dandy. We used to meet at a Palm wine bar owned by one Ohimaro, an Ibo man who once lived and sold palm wine in Owo before he relocated to Lagos. Even in Lagos, he continued with the same business, so anytime the three of us went to the palm wine bar, we invited Orlando to join us. One day, Orlando said he needed some assistance; I said if it was money or instrument I didn’t have. Then I was planning to go back to Italy, or America. Orlando later told me he was looking for someone to manage him, especially someone from his hometown. That was how I temporarily shelved traveling out again. Again, the rest became history.”
Managing Orlando
“The late Musician was easy and simple. I discovered I could manage him as long as I could talk to him in a good manner and above all be kind and honest with him. These are the qualities Orlando wanted. He wasn’t arrogant; in fact he was one of the best musicians to manage. When we started, we were collecting two shillings and six pence as gate fee at shows. We used to play at Baba Sala’s hotel in Ibadan. In fact Orlando had played in many states in Nigeria.”
Memories
“His memory cannot be easily wiped out. He is a legend. He can be likened to Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Bob Marley or Jimmy Cliff who recently died. He was among the freedom fighters because his music was folkloric, poetic, and full of proverbs. He sang for freedom. You could say he was radical but that was his own style.”
On how many today now copy and sing Orlando’s songs, even mimic his voice, Musese said: “That is what I am saying! That is what makes him a legend! Look, Bob Marley died over 40years ago but his music lives on and many books have been published about him. A writer in Ogbomoso, Folaranmi Adewuyi Adegbite published a book on Orlando Owoh. If you go on the Internet, you will see different artistic ways his pictures are being used with his songs. Go and see what Artificial Intelligence is doing with Bob Marley. Look, they have been playing Jimmy Cliff music the more since the announcement of his death a few days ago. The Internet has exploded with his videos. That is exactly how Orlando is now. I know about six or seven musicians singing like him, and some are not even from his native town.
“My prayer is to have the Ondo State and Lagos State Arts and Culture give him more recognition and have his statue erected at his house and in Lagos and Ifon, Owoh’s home-town, just like they did for Bob Marley in Jamaica. They will soon erect Jimmy Cliff’s statue in Jamaica and all over the world because his music is healing to troubled souls. Recently, at Channel 8 (LTV), Agidingbi, Ikeja, we were given an award related to Orlando. I mean myself, Orimipe Orlando (Orlando’s son) and his group along with some Orlando Band Boys who are still alive, in recognition of our works.
My fear at 80
“My regret is I can no longer do most of what I used to do, especially early morning jogging. I was a sprinter back in my youth days. Now I am afraid of all these rampaging bandits, so I have stopped jogging, because they could kidnap me and be asking for a ransom from my family. The fear of bandits is the beginning of wisdom. I understand they have surrounded everywhere in our Southwest. So now I do everything at home. I would walk round the compound and do some exercises.
“Yes, I recently clocked 80 and I thank God for my life. I still have some of my friends like Chief Akin Aruwajoye Snr who is the Ogbeni Oja of Owo Kingdom; Dr. Tokunbo Ajasin and some others. However, some of my friends have died. I thank God that I am still alive. There is this history of longevity in my family. My mother died last year at the age of 95. The final burial ceremony is coming up this December. My father also died at a very old age. My younger ones are in their 70s. My father once told me that they live long in our family, same with my maternal side. When you are getting old, you cut down on so many things. There are foods you should not eat and so on.”
“My best Orlando albums are: Ero ki Mama mi o bo ba dele and Itan Orogun Meji. The two tracks are powerfully loaded with words of encouragement, love, mother’s love and emotional. When you are far away from home, you play ‘Ero ki Mama mi’ …. And if you practise polygamy, be good to your step children and anybody. Imagine a second wife poisoning the food of her step-son, only for her only child to eat it! There are lessons to learn from Orlando’s songs. As I said, his songs are like that of Bob Marley.
The cold war between Orlando Owoh and Sikiru Ayinde Barrister
Musese went down memory lane to recall the cold war between two late Musicians: Orlando Owoh and Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. He said: “Many years back, both musicians were invited by an elderly man to perform during December period. The two musicians were asked to play for 30 minutes each. Orlando followed the instruction and played for 30minutes but when it was the turn of Barrister, he played non-stop. Orlando was not impressed. The celebrant’s son came to tell Barrister to stop, but he didn’t yield. Before you could say Jack Robinson, Barrister’s instruments stopped working. He then came to beg Orlando, thinking it was his handiwork. Yes! Barrister accepted Orlando as his Boss. Orlando removed all his clothes remaining his underwear to prove that he didn’t have anything (juju) on him to have used to stop Barrister’s instruments. Barrister later used Orlando’s instruments to play that night.”
I keep my beard for security reason
Asked why he keeps his beard, Musese laughed and said, “It is my logo. It is my signature. It is my identity,” he said, bursting into laughter. “Once when I shaved it many years ago, it was my friend, Olu Amonbonye (Kanna Kanna), the police officer who frowned at it and advised me not to shave it again. I had gone to visit him at his office and he asked me to come in. Surprisingly, when I sat before him, he could not recognise me and was still asking one of his officers to bring me in. When I now told him that ‘this is me, Musese,’ he looked at me again and said he found it difficult to recognise me. He then advised me never to shave, that it is only criminals who change their identity. He said people could mistake me for a criminal if I start changing from what they knew me for. That was how I stopped shaving and it’s now over 50 years ago.”
Now retired
“I have retired from managing anybody,” Musese said. “But I have a small place where I sell beer. We call the place ‘Ijoko Agba (Base of Elders). Here brains like Honorable Fadeyi, Bayo Afolabi, some professors, people in the academic community and others brainstorm. We discuss very important things and how to make sure Owo develops. It is not a political forum, but a place for elders in Owo community to brainstorm.”
How he got the name, Musese
Now he bursts out laughing. “I don’t even know the meaning. It was my Italian lady whose name I have even forgotten that was calling me Muzeze; but our people could not pronounce it. Instead they changed the Z to S and started calling me Musese. It has stuck with me till date.
For years, Imo State lived beneath the weight of unrealised promise — a place rich in talent and ambition but starved of the stability required for real growth. That narrative began to shift last week. As global leaders, investors, and policy heavyweights converged on Owerri for the 2025 Imo Economic Summit, the state stepped onto a bigger stage, projecting a new confidence and signalling its readiness to compete, transform and thrive, reports Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF.
The dusty stretch of road leading into Owerri’s Concorde Boulevard bore witness to a rare sight: a convoy of sleek SUVs gliding past villages and farmland that had long been isolated by poor infrastructure. In one of the vehicles sat Mr. Chibuzo Okoro, a Lagos-based agribusiness investor, taking in the changes with a mix of curiosity and cautious optimism. For years, he had watched fertile farmland in Orlu and Oguta lie idle, restrained by bad roads, unreliable electricity, and cumbersome land administration. Today, he believed, might mark a turning point—not just for him, but for a state long on potential but short on delivery.
Inside the expansive conference hall at the Imo Economic Summit 2025, a buzz of expectation filled the air. Delegates from across Africa and beyond gathered for what was billed as the largest summit in the state’s history. Global figures, former heads of state, and business magnates mingled with local leaders and entrepreneurs, all drawn by a single theme: “Unlocking Imo’s Economic Potential: Partnership, Investment and Innovation.” The message was clear. Imo State, under the stewardship of Governor Hope Uzodimma, was sending a signal to the world: it was ready to reimagine its economic future.
For Okoro, and countless other investors, the summit was more than ceremonial optics. It represented a promise of roads that reach markets, reliable power that can run factories, and land policies that remove the uncertainty which has long plagued commerce in the state. “If Imo can deliver on what it promises, it could transform agriculture and light manufacturing across the region,” he said, surveying the packed hall. Governor Uzodimma’s keynote address set the tone for the summit. With measured candour, he outlined the structural challenges that have historically hindered Imo’s growth: a largely agrarian economy constrained by weak infrastructure, unreliable electricity, outdated land administration, and the perception of insecurity that has long discouraged large-scale investment.
Yet, his message was resolutely optimistic. “We will no longer run businesses for investors,” Uzodimma said. “Our task is to create an enabling environment. The private sector will lead; government will provide the foundation.” He emphasised that the summit was not simply a ceremonial gathering but a strategic blueprint to move the state from stagnation to growth, from uncertainty to stability. The governor spoke of “Core Certainty”—a term designed to encapsulate the three pillars that underpin the state’s economic reform: infrastructure, power, and land reform. “Without these fundamentals, no investment, no matter how generous, can thrive,” he said, noting that previous administrations had struggled to align policy with delivery.
Building the foundations
The most tangible evidence of change lay in the state’s infrastructural achievements. Over 120 strategic roads and bridges now connect Imo’s 27 local government areas, linking previously isolated communities to commercial hubs and regional markets. These roads, Uzodimma emphasised, were more than asphalt and concrete; they were arteries through which commerce, industry, and opportunity could flow. Energy, the governor noted, had been a perennial barrier. Industrial growth across Nigeria has often been constrained by power shortages, forcing businesses to rely on costly generators. Imo’s “Light Up Imo Project” seeks to change this narrative, promising reliable electricity statewide. “For businesses, for our youth, for our industries, uninterrupted power is no longer a dream—it will soon be a reality,” Uzodimma said.
Land administration, historically another source of frustration, was also receiving attention. The newly established Imo Land Information Centre (ILIC) leverages digital platforms to streamline the issuance of land titles and Certificates of Occupancy. Investors and citizens alike now have a clearer path to secure property rights. “When investors know that the land they acquire is theirs, with transparent processes and legal certainty, they can plan and execute with confidence,” Uzodimma said.
Industry, agriculture and innovation
With the foundational pillars in place, the summit turned to opportunities for growth. Light manufacturing, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, building materials, and other sectors were highlighted as areas poised for expansion. Imo’s strategic location, improved infrastructure, and access to regional markets give it a competitive advantage, the speakers argued. Energy, particularly natural gas utilization, was identified as a key driver for industrialisation. Special agro-industrial zones and free trade areas were presented as avenues for investment. Alongside these, human capital development remains central to the state’s strategy. The “Skill-Up Imo” initiative seeks to equip young people with digital and technical skills, ensuring that a local workforce is ready to meet the demands of a modern, diversified economy.
For farmers like Mrs. Ngozi Eze in Orlu, the implications were profound. “If the state can bring roads, electricity, and factories closer to our communities, we won’t just sell raw cassava or palm oil for a pittance. We can add value and sell to wider markets,” she said. The vision, she added, was not only about economic growth but also about dignity and self-sufficiency.
Global and local endorsements
The Imo State Economic Summit 2025, held in Owerri under the theme “Unlocking Imo’s Economic Potential: Partnership, Investment and Innovation,” drew an extraordinary blend of federal leaders, global statesmen, and top-tier investors. Their presence—and the substance of their remarks—signalled that Imo’s repositioning is gaining real traction beyond state and national borders. Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, delivered one of the summit’s defining messages. He described Imo as “a new growth frontier in Nigeria’s economic diversification journey” and emphasised that the Federal Government is firmly aligned with the state’s aspirations. “Imo is not just ready for investment,” Shettima declared. “Imo is primed for transformation.” He went on to affirm that the Federal Government would “work with Imo to improve its investment climate, support SMEs, expand access to financing, and strengthen the structures that make businesses thrive.” His remarks provided an authoritative signal that the state’s reform direction has national endorsement.
The summit also resonated on the global stage. Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered a keynote address that broadened the significance of the gathering. He framed Imo’s efforts as part of a larger global movement toward sustainable, locally driven development. “Africa will shape the future of sustainable development,” he said, “and sub-national governments like Imo State are at the forefront of translating global goals into practical, community-level progress.” Ban stressed the importance of climate-smart infrastructure, innovation, and global partnerships, urging international institutions to recognise emerging state-level models of progress.
Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson added a powerful endorsement from the geopolitical and investor-relations perspective. In a remark that captured widespread attention, he said: “I was told not to come to Imo, that it wasn’t safe. But I can tell you this: I feel perfectly safe here.” His statement directly countered long-standing negative security narratives that often shadow investment conversations about Nigeria. Johnson commended Governor Uzodimma’s administration for “thinking boldly about energy, infrastructure, and the economic opportunities of the future,” and highlighted the need for African sub-nationals to prepare for the transformational impact of technology and artificial intelligence.
From the private sector, the strongest signal came from Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group. In a session that underscored genuine corporate interest, Dangote pledged: “We are ready to become one of your biggest investors in Imo. Just show us where to invest.” His comment reflected tangible private-sector confidence in the state’s policy reforms—an important departure from the long-standing scepticism that has often characterised investment attitudes toward Imo. Regional endorsement was equally emphatic. Business leaders and cultural institutions across the Southeast described the summit as a turning point for the Igbo economic renaissance. They argued that Imo’s progress could serve as a catalyst for broader regional revitalisation across trade, manufacturing, agriculture, and innovation. Taken together, the breadth of voices and the strength of their statements transformed the Imo Economic Summit 2025 into far more than an aspirational gathering. It became a credible declaration that Imo is entering a new era—one marked by confidence, investment readiness, and a renewed sense of regional and global relevance.
Challenges ahead
Despite the optimism, the path ahead is fraught with challenges. Implementation remains the ultimate test. Promises must translate into completed projects, operational factories, reliable energy, and transparent land administration. Without delivery, investor confidence and public trust risk eroding. Macro-economic uncertainties, such as currency fluctuations, inflation, and regulatory unpredictability, pose additional hurdles. Security concerns, too, remain pivotal. Investors need assurance that their capital and operations will be safeguarded. Even citizens, while hopeful, are cautious. Young graduates, entrepreneurs, and farmers all share an acute awareness that change is measured not in speeches but in tangible improvements to their daily lives. “We will believe when the roads are busy, the lights stay on, and our produce reaches buyers without hurdles,” said Chinedu Ibe, a small-scale manufacturer in Owerri.
If implemented effectively, the summit’s initiatives could redefine Imo’s economic landscape. Reliable electricity and infrastructure can unlock industrial growth and agro-processing, while transparent land policies could attract local and diaspora investors. Energy-intensive industries could establish operations, and a skilled, technology-enabled workforce could drive the knowledge economy. For Okoro, the agribusiness investor, these prospects are concrete. “We are talking about turning potential into production, and production into profit that sustains communities,” he said. “That is what will make Imo a model for sub-national economic transformation in Nigeria.”
As the summit wrapped up, the air buzzed with cautious optimism and anticipation for what lies ahead. Delegates departed with commitments made and global endorsements noted, yet the true challenge awaits in tangible results: operational factories, consistent electricity, efficient land administration, and meaningful job creation. The event laid the groundwork, but success will be judged by outcomes, not rhetoric. Governor Uzodimma’s administration now stands at a critical juncture. The real measure of the summit will be in transformed lives, empowered businesses, and a recalibrated economic path for Imo State. Speeches and attendance are fleeting; lasting impact will come only through action, delivery, and sustained progress that reshapes the state’s economic landscape for years to come.
For investors, farmers, and young professionals in Imo, the message is clear: the window for change has opened, but it will require sustained action, vigilance, and commitment to turn ambition into reality. For those like Okoro, Mrs. Eze and Chinedu Ibe, hope has taken tangible shape. The roads, the proposed energy projects, the land reforms, and the skills initiatives signal that Imo is serious about economic growth. The summit may be over, but the journey toward transforming Imo’s economic destiny is only beginning. And if delivery matches the summit’s ambition, stakeholders believe this moment could well mark the point at which Imo State redefined its place on Nigeria’s economic map—reimagining growth, stability, and prosperity for generations to come.
Across the globe, farmers—the hands that feed billions—are under unprecedented strain. With insecurity, failed harvests, and mounting debt pushing many farmers to breaking point, crushing economic pressures, unpredictable weather extremes, and the emotional toll of long, isolating hours are now fuelling a surge in mental-health distress — from escalating anxiety and depression to rising cases of suicide. From Nigeria to the UK and India, research reveals that this hidden epidemic is not only devastating rural communities but also threatening the very sustainability of global food systems, putting global food security at serious risk, reports DANIEL ESSIET
A global food system under strain
Across the world, the future of food hangs in a delicate balance. Even as farms produce more than ever before and agrifood systems continue to power economies, the people who make this possible—the farmers—are under unprecedented strain. This is one of the striking realities revealed in the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s Statistical Yearbook 2024, a publication that not only tracks global agricultural performance but also exposes the quiet emergencies threatening its sustainability.
According to the Yearbook, the value of global agricultural production has surged by 89 per cent in real terms over the past two decades, reaching $3.8 trillion in 2022. Yet this impressive growth masks troubling undercurrents. Agriculture’s contribution to global economic output has remained almost unchanged, and the sector’s workforce is shrinking rapidly—from 40 per cent of the global labour force in 2000 to just 26 per cent in 2022. This dwindling workforce, experts warn, could imperil food supplies unless agriculture becomes a more attractive, healthier and safer occupation.
The silent mental health crisis in farming communities
But the greatest threat may not be economic. Farmers worldwide are confronting a silent yet devastating mental health crisis—one that researchers say is too pressing to ignore. From crushing workloads and unpredictable weather to tightening regulations and isolation, the pressures facing farmers have created conditions ripe for anxiety, depression and burnout. The United Kingdom offers a revealing case study. A report submitted to Parliament by the University of Oxford, Mental Health Risks to Farmers in the UK, paints a stark picture of the sector’s wellbeing. It found farmers to be at significantly higher risk of mental ill-health and suicide than the general population, citing 102 suicides among agricultural workers in England and Wales in 2019 alone. Similar concerns have been recorded in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Notably, women—whose roles on farms often go unrecognised—face their own set of challenges. To address this gap, the University of Exeter has launched a national wellbeing survey specifically targeting women living and working in farming communities. Project lead Dr Rebecca Wheeler, working with the Farming Community Network, said the initiative seeks to understand not only the difficulties farmers face but also what supports their health and happiness.
Another major study by Exeter’s Centre for Rural Policy Research, involving more than 15,000 agricultural workers, reveals the scale of the crisis. Over half reported moderate or severe pain or discomfort, 31 per cent experienced anxiety or depression, and 16 per cent had suffered a non-fatal injury in the past five years. Many also struggled with exhaustion, paperwork, financial instability, erratic weather and disease outbreaks. Wheeler described the findings as profoundly worrying, noting that today’s farming environment combines physical, emotional and financial pressures in ways that make the sector increasingly vulnerable. Without urgent reforms, she warned, the world risks losing the very people who keep its food systems alive.
According to the study, long hours, volatile markets and the isolating nature of rural life all play a role in the declining wellbeing of farmers. Many now work more than 60 hours a week, often in solitude, while battling rising production costs, uncertain subsidies and the emotional strain of caring for animals through disease outbreaks and extreme weather. Prof. Matt Lobley, co-author of the University of Exeter study, said the findings should serve as a wake-up call to policymakers. “This research provides compelling evidence of the need to understand and address both physical and mental health issues among people living and working in agriculture. A sustainable and resilient food system requires a healthy agricultural workforce able to maintain and improve production without detriment to themselves and their families,” he said.
As farmers navigate the pressures of a rapidly changing industry—from climate shocks to shifting environmental policies—experts argue that proactive support cannot be delayed. Recommendations include improved data collection, better rural healthcare services, mental-health first-aid training and closer government collaboration with trusted community networks. Without such interventions, they warn, farmer wellbeing will continue to worsen, posing long-term risks to the sustainability of the UK’s entire food production system.
A deepening crisis across the global south
Similar concerns are emerging across developing countries, where falling productivity is becoming increasingly apparent. Researchers at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University found that farmers are struggling to keep pace with global demand. Their analysis shows that growth in farm productivity—measured through total factor productivity—is far below the levels required to maintain adequate global food supplies. In many developed nations, farm yields have even plateaued.
In the UK, the Farm Safety Foundation found that 91 per cent of British farmers consider poor mental health the “biggest hidden problem” in the industry. A survey of 754 farmers in September 2024 revealed declining mental wellbeing across the sector. The study also showed that farmers worked even longer hours in 2024 than in 2023—far above the averages in other industries. The charity highlighted agriculture’s grim safety record, citing Office for National Statistics data showing 44 suicides among agricultural workers in England and Wales in 2022. Dr. Stephanie Berkeley of the Foundation noted: “Farming has always been one of the most demanding industries, but the added strain of long hours, rural isolation and financial insecurity is putting farmers at risk.”
The situation is equally dire in India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), at least one person working in the farm sector died by suicide every hour in 2023—a stark indicator of the economic stress gripping rural communities. Maharashtra accounted for the highest proportion of victims (38.5 per cent), followed by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu—regions once known for agricultural abundance but now marked by despair. Although the total number of suicides fell slightly compared with 2022, the scale of the crisis remained severe. In 2023, 10,786 people in the farm sector died by suicide, representing 6.3 per cent of all suicide cases nationwide. Of these, 43 per cent were farmers, while the rest were farm labourers. Nigeria’s farmers face many of the same pressures. Rising stress is linked to unpredictable weather, fluctuating crop yields, loan repayment burdens and volatile market conditions. The Nation learnt that many farmers are experiencing declining quality of life and growing difficulty meeting family obligations.
According to the Chief Executive of Cato Foods, Pelumi Aribisala, the mental health crisis among farmers is a complex and worsening problem. He explained that crop failures, inflation, rising input costs, the effects of climate change and outbreaks such as avian flu have trapped many farmers in cycles of debt and uncertainty. These pressures, he said, are driving growing rates of depression and anxiety among farmers. Aribisala stressed that this silent crisis demands urgent attention and called for systemic support—especially access to affordable land, capital, climate adaptation resources and health insurance—to protect farmers and secure the future of food production.
At the core of the mental health crisis gripping farmers is a deep and growing sense of economic uncertainty—one that leaves many feeling trapped, isolated and overwhelmed. Agricultural expert Pelumi Aribisala captured this reality through recent events in the cassava sector. “Take this year, for instance,” he said. “Many people invested heavily in cassava last year, only to lose everything this year—really lose everything.” The contrast is staggering: what delivered a 125 per cent profit margin the previous year has now swung to losses of more than 300 percent. “It means all the investment, including last year’s profits, has just disappeared,” he added. As a result, farmers are unable to manage their workforce or pay labour costs, plunging many into distress.
Aribisala stressed that such economic shocks carry serious mental health implications. “When we talk about mental health, we’re talking about emotions, psychology and a whole range of interconnected factors. These pressures can lead to depression and other significant issues,” he noted. He recounted troubling cases from the livestock sector, especially in poultry and piggery. “A few years back at Oke-Aro Farm Settlement, many farmers lost their pig farms. Some ended up in the hospital, and tragically, some did not survive. More recently, a farmer developed a partial stroke after losing everything to infections,” he said.
Compounding these stresses is a crippling lack of affordable financing. Aribisala revealed that many farmers secure loans at interest rates as high as 30 to 50 per cent. For those unable to access formal credit, the situation is even worse: “Some are borrowing from loan sharks at monthly interest rates of 4.5, 6 or even 12 per cent. When you do the math, that can amount to nearly 60 per cent annually.” Such financial traps push farmers into cycles of debt and despair.
He emphasised that farmers, too often romanticised as resilient by default, are ordinary people facing extraordinary pressures. “Farmers are people too; they aren’t superheroes,” he said. While suicide statistics from India are stark and well documented, Aribisala noted that similar incidents occur in Nigeria—cases that seldom make it into official reports. Beyond economic pressures, farmers grapple with taxes, physical risks and the sheer unpredictability of their work.
Since 2019, concerns have grown over how COVID-19 lockdowns worsened farmers’ mental health. A joint study by researchers from Ilorin and Federal University Oye-Ekiti found that farmers reported elevated stress, headaches, anxiety and depression during the pandemic. With insecurity, climate shocks, failed harvests and mounting debt, many Nigerian farmers are now operating at breaking point.
Protecting farmers, securing the future
For Kolawole Adeniji, Chief Executive of Niji Farms—one of Nigeria’s largest cassava operations spanning 7,000 acres—the pressures are relentless. He must constantly make high-stakes decisions while facing insecurity, erratic weather, rising costs and volatile markets. Kidnapping fears for farm workers add another layer of distress. “Many farmers are grappling with serious mental health issues, teetering on the brink of losing both their businesses and their hope,” he warned. Adeniji said the signs of psychological strain are visible: changes in routine, reduced care for crops and livestock, rising accidents and deteriorating farm conditions. Severe depression and anxiety often stem from factors outside farmers’ control—crop failures caused by weather extremes, sudden policy shifts and the influx of cheaper imports. These financial blows, he noted, are directly tied to worsening mental health.
For Babatunde Olarewaju, Lead Strategist at FutuX Agri-consult, the crisis is especially pronounced in rural communities, where mental illness frequently goes undiagnosed. “The mental pain often shows up as physical illness. People say, ‘He has malaria,’ but it’s actually depression,” he explained. The consequences can be fatal. “Some even suffer strokes from the shock. I’ve also come across cases of suicide—people hanging themselves when they feel utterly hopeless.”
While farming can be deeply fulfilling, the pressures and risks are immense. Stakeholders agree that this escalating mental health crisis is not merely individual—it is systemic, rooted in economic instability and policy failures. They are calling for comprehensive reforms: stronger economic safety nets, improved rural infrastructure, support for climate resilience, and firm action against insecurity. Without these interventions, the wellbeing of farmers—and the sustainability of the food system they support—remains in peril.
Farmer Samson Ogbole, who runs the innovative Soilless Farm in Ogun State, is one of Nigeria’s leading voices in hydroponics—a farming technique that allows crops to thrive in nutrient-rich water rather than soil. Despite being a pioneer in high-tech agriculture, Ogbole has not been immune to burnout. Years of working in emotionally demanding situations—combined with the pressure of proving that technology can transform food production—have taken a toll. He continues to advocate for the adoption of science and technology in agriculture, urging Nigerians to replicate natural conditions in controlled environments to boost yields, accelerate production, and reduce labour. Yet he has watched promising agri-tech startups collapse under crushing debt, unable to manage the steep financial and operational demands of modern farming.
Every day, Ogbole confronts challenges ranging from unstable market prices and production deadlines to erratic weather, disease outbreaks, physical stress, and the relentless ticking of the agricultural calendar. To support both seasoned farmers and newcomers, he has expanded his mentorship programmes. More recently, he has trained staff to recognise signs of stress, anxiety, and depression in farmers and link them to qualified mental health professionals. His organisation also hosted a forum dedicated to helping farmers recognise early signs of poor mental health, maintain emotional well-being, and seek help when needed. The Soilless Farm Lab designed the event to create a safe space where trainees, farmers, and their families could openly discuss their struggles. “A healthy mind is just as crucial as a healthy body, especially for those who nourish our nation,” Ogbole said. “For too long, farming challenges have been viewed only through the lens of yield and profit. Mental health is the hidden crop that requires our attention.”
He noted that the lab is committed to long-term change. “We’ve woven mental health awareness into our regular training sessions. It’s now part of agricultural education, not a one-off event.” Citing an alarming Nigerian Bureau of Statistics study showing that over 50 per cent of youths experience mental health challenges while less than 10 per cent seek help—largely due to stigma and inadequate resources—he urged farmers to break the silence. “We encourage everyone in our community to prioritise mental health and seek help without hesitation. By fostering these conversations, we hope to build a culture of resilience.”
Recently, the Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, called on policymakers and religious leaders to strengthen the implementation of Nigeria’s livestock policy to promote peace, security, and national unity. Speaking in Abuja at the Second Quarter Policy Review Dialogue, themed From Policy to Practice, he highlighted the central role the livestock sector plays in the country’s conflict dynamics. He described the farmer-herder clashes as a “complex risk system” shaped by climate pressures, demographic changes, weak regulations, governance gaps, and cross-border movements—factors that demand a coordinated and data-driven response. Ochogwu urged improved coordination at all levels of governance, conflict-sensitive implementation strategies, inclusive stakeholder participation, and real-time mon itoring using data on conflict hotspots and pastoralist movement.
As global temperatures rise, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) warns that more workers will face heat stress, urging proactive measures such as planning with forecasts and early warning systems. Its report, Heat at Work, estimates that stronger safety measures could save up to $361 billion worldwide and reveals that heat stress causes nearly 19,000 deaths annually while exposing over 70 per cent of the global workforce to dangerous conditions.
Climate-related pressures are also fuelling mental health crises abroad. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently reported rising anxiety and stress among British farmers due to more intense flooding and droughts. Senior scientist Dan Blake noted that declining farmer confidence is tied to worsening extreme weather, compounded by financial strain, policy uncertainty, and social isolation. A separate report by the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) found that climate anxiety is now “almost universal” among British farmers, with nearly all linking their distress to erratic weather and poor harvests—symptoms of a farming sector struggling under the weight of climate change.
With Nigeria’s oil revenue underperforming, the surge in forex inflows is providing vital buffers for the economy. Central Bank of Nigeria-led reforms have attracted US$20.98 billion in foreign capital in the first ten months of the year. Experts say the development will strengthen FX liquidity, improve businesses’ access to foreign exchange, and signal a clear resurgence in investor confidence, with expectations of even greater inflows in the months ahead, reports Assistant Editor COLLINS NWEZE
The sustained growth in forex inflows into Nigeria’s economy reflects both financial sector stability and rising investor confidence in the domestic market. In the first ten months of 2025, foreign capital inflows reached US$20.98 billion, representing a 70% increase over total inflows for 2024 and a remarkable 428% surge compared to the US$3.9 billion recorded in 2023. This trend highlights growing interest in Nigerian assets from both domestic and global investors.
The uptick in capital inflows is closely linked to reforms introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under Governor Olayemi Cardoso, who assumed office in October 2023. Prioritizing economic resilience and investment appeal, the CBN implemented policies aimed at rebuilding Nigeria’s financial buffers. Key measures included currency reforms, unification of exchange rates, and the clearance of over US$7 billion in FX backlogs. These initiatives improved transparency in the forex market, enhanced investor confidence, and positioned Nigeria as an attractive destination for capital.
The reforms have also drawn commendation from multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, which described the interventions as bold steps toward sustainable economic growth. Concurrently, Nigeria’s sovereign risk spread has fallen to its lowest level since January 2020, reversing premiums accrued during the pandemic and previous economic strains. CBN Governor Cardoso emphasised that the bank’s consistent unification of multiple exchange rate windows and the elimination of the multi-billion-dollar FX backlog have restored credibility to the market, enabling businesses to plan with confidence. The resulting surge in foreign capital inflows underscores a clear resurgence in investor trust, reflecting the effectiveness of deliberate policy measures aimed at sustaining economic growth and strengthening Nigeria’s financial stability.
Views from stakeholders
While US President Donald Trump’s widening trade war has taken emerging markets on a wild ride, Nigeria has quietly held its own, attracting foreign capital reassured by currency reforms and other measures designed to revive the economy of Africa’s most-populous nation. “Nigeria appears to be back in business as long-awaited economic reforms take shape,” said Emre Akcakmak, portfolio manager at East Capital. Key measures include improved currency liquidity, leeway for investors to repatriate their profit, and the stable naira. “We feel the Central Bank of Nigeria will continue to stem any sharp appreciation of the naira to limit profit taking from the fast money community,” Akcakmak said.
“Portfolio inflows have likely been supported by improved confidence amid key structural reforms, better FX market functioning and moderating dollar-naira volatility, as well as the still-robust nominal yield buffer,” said Samir Gadio, head of Africa strategy at Standard Chartered Plc told Bloomberg. “Besides, Nigeria’s local market is seen as less correlated with global risk conditions than more liquid EM peers,” he added.
The Nigeria’s economy and businesses will have so many things to cheer in 2025 and the impact of the economic reforms in FX market, exchange and huge budge outlays begin to pay off for them. Cardoso said story of Nigeria’s economic recovery cannot be appreciated without first recalling where “we started, because the reforms of today are borne out of a determination to change the conditions we met.” “When this leadership team assumed office, our economy faced severe macroeconomic distortions. Inflation was surging. FX liquidity had evaporated. External reserves were non-existent. Trust in economic management had weakened. Unorthodox monetary practices had eroded confidence. Businesses could not plan or price. Investors could not commit.”
Continuing, he said: “The foreign exchange market was in paralysis. A backlog of over US$7 billion in unmet FX obligations undermined market integrity. The spread between official and parallel market rates had blown out to more than 60%, creating distortions and rent‑seeking opportunities.
“High inflation had become normalised, stuck in double digits for most of the last 35 years and risen to 34.6 per cent as of November 2024. Food prices were crippling households. Liquidity conditions were unstable. Many businesses faced an existential threat.”
Also, the banking sector, though fundamentally sound, was at risk of being dragged into distress by a deteriorating macro environment and inconsistent policy signals. “This was the Nigeria we inherited, not one standing at the edge of a macroeconomic precipice, but one that had already gone over the cliff. It is important to recall this not for drama, but for context: the progress we cautiously acknowledge today is meaningful only when measured against the depth of the challenges that came before it,” he said.
Achieving economic turnaround
According to Cardoso, over the past 12 months, Nigeria’s economy has transitioned from crisis management to laying the groundwork for a sustainable recovery. “After nearly a decade in which real GDP growth averaged about two per cent, reforms have restored momentum and confidence in our broad macroeconomic environment. Our economy grew by 4.23 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, the strongest pace in four years, driven by improvements in telecommunications, financial services, and oil production.
“More importantly in terms of long-term stability, inflation, while still high, has moderated consistently. From a peak of 34.6% in November 2024, it has more than halved to 16.05 per cent in October 2025. This marks seven consecutive months of disinflation. Food inflation, the largest single component of the basket, fell to 13.12 per cent in October, down from 16.87 per cent in September and 21.87 per cent in August,” he said.
This significant, steady decline in inflation is restoring real purchasing power for households and businesses. It also demonstrates disciplined execution and Nigeria’s return to orthodox monetary policy. “We continue with determination to bring inflation down further. The current double-digit rate cannot be acceptable. Price stability is the foundation of sustainable growth. Our transition to an inflation‑targeting framework is gaining traction. We have improved data analytics, strengthened communication, and ended monetary financing of fiscal deficits. These actions have strengthened monetary policy transmission and anchored expectations.
“Our models project continued disinflation in 2026, helped by stronger domestic production, improved FX liquidity, and more disciplined liquidity management. As inflation moderates and becomes firmly anchored, we will calibrate the policy rate in line with evolving data,” he added.
“Domestic and international observers alike have noted Nigeria’s “huge turnaround” in macroeconomic management. Our commitment remains clear: monetary policy will stay evidence-based, data-driven, and unwavering in its pursuit of price stability”.
Bigger, stronger rebased GDP
Nigeria’s hope of achieving $1 trillion economy by 2030 will gain significant support from the banking sector. Nigeria’s Statistician-General, Adeyemi Adeniran, had explained how the economy fared in the rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report. He said: “In nominal terms, the rebased GDP for 2019 stood at N205.09 trillion N213.63 trillion in 2020, N243.30 trillion in 2021, N274.23 trillion in 2022, N314.02 trillion in 2023, and N372.82 trillion in 2024.”
The NBS noted that in 2019, the rebased nominal GDP at basic prices represented an increase of 41.7 per cent over the nominal GDP of 2019 of the old base year (2010), 39 per cent in 2020, 38.7 per cent in 2021, 36.1 per cent in 2022, 34.6 per cent in 2023 and 35.4 per cent in 2024. “The results show that the structure of the Nigerian economy has changed significantly with a rise in the share of agriculture and services sectors and a fall in the share of the industries sector in nominal terms, indicating a shift in the structure of the Nigerian economy than earlier reported,” the NBS boss said. Adeniran further explained that the rebasing allows the country to better reflect the realities of the economy. “It’s not just about a bigger number but about accurate, timely data that supports smarter policy and economic planning,” he said.
Banking sector contributions
A well-recapitalised banking sector is undeniably crucial for the growth of the domestic economy. Hence, Cardoso advised banks to prepare for a new round of recapitalisation to ensure they have the necessary capital to support the Federal Government’s plan to achieve $1 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) target by 2030. He said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic plan aims to reach a $1 trillion GDP by 2030, emphasising that the current bank capitalisation is insufficient to support such a large economic scale.
Cardoso asked: “Will Nigerian banks have sufficient capital relative to the financial system’s needs in servicing a $1 trillion economy in the near future? In my opinion, the answer is “No!” unless we take action. That action was the ongoing recapitalisation of banks, meant to prepare them for expansion and attract big ticket transactions to support economic growth.”
The Policy Advisory Council report on the national economy had set an ambitious goal of achieving a GDP of $1 trillion, with clearly defined priority areas and strategies. Adeniran revealed that incorporating new and emerging sectors, updating consumption baskets and refining data collection methods helped in producing a more complete picture of national output.
Aliyu Ilias, developmental economist, noted that several sectors have previously remained un-captured in official data, particularly entertainment. “By rebasing our GDP now, included those areas properly. This new visibility will make Nigeria appear much stronger to foreign investors, which will naturally help us attract more capital,” he said.
He explained that the exercise will also reveal untapped economic potential and guide government resource allocation. “It will show where we are strongest structurally, such as in mining or other emerging sectors. That insight will help the government focus its efforts more strategically.” “Finally,” he added, “it will support economic policy formulation, helping us align our strategy with the reality on the ground. We will know exactly where to put more effort.”
Ilias explained that while this statistical adjustment does not instantly generate new revenue, it creates a more reliable framework for fiscal planning, investment strategies, and development interventions. For him, by aligning economic data with current realities, the government and private sector can more effectively target policies that stimulate job creation, improve productivity, and sustain long-term growth.
Seun Onigbinde, director of Civic Technology Group BudgIT, said the previous rebasing underscored the substantial impact of policy changes in the services and ICT sectors, such as telecommunications deregulation and banking sector recapitalisation. “Rebasing of the GDP must reflect changes in the economy, which are a product of public policies over time,” he added.
Rebasing is also critical for domestic policy. It allows the government to better assess tax collection efficiency, measure sectoral contributions, and design social programmes that are data-driven and results-oriented. Gabriel Okeowo, country director for BudgIT, said, “Rebasing allows planners to be more intentional about solving Nigeria’s biggest problems: poverty, infrastructure gaps, and job creation.”
Lagos-based economist, Nelson Adedeji, explained that despite the bump in GDP size, the rebasing is never a silver bullet. “We must acknowledge that genuine economic growth extends beyond statistical adjustments. For ordinary Nigerians to experience meaningful improvement in living standards, the President Tinubu administration must complement GDP rebasing with substantive policies addressing infrastructure deficits, security challenges, agricultural productivity, manufacturing capacity, and the overall ease of doing business,” he stated.
The demand for fairer skin or skin-whitening driven primarily by women — and to a lesser extent, men has assumed another dimension. Among the various methods explored for skin whitening is the use of glutathione infusion, a method health practitioners warn could have dangerous implications. ALAO ABIODUN, in this piece, sheds light on the associated health risks, unsafe dermatological Inside unregulated world of non-medical personnel who run skin-whitening drips, spas practices, impacts, and how spas are exploiting client’s desperation for profit.
The quest to look radiant and beautiful prompted 27-year-old Precious to visit a luxurious spa situated in the Lekki area of Lagos State. For Precious, she was motivated by the perceived social advantages and elevated status associated with a fairer skin. Her routine included intravenous glutathione infusions, a popular but controversial skin and anti-ageing treatment.
Her self-esteem took a nosedive whenever she compared herself to other light-skinned women. Her insecurity was so overwhelming that, despite her fears of non-medical personnel injecting people, she decided to go for the intravenous glutathione infusions.
Like Precious, many other women now want more. More bosoms, more buttocks, more Coca-cola-shaped bodies, beautiful and popping skin. But this has come at a cost for some people.
The increasing quest for beauty through skin-lightening products has left most of its users with more dangerous health concerns such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, tumours, etc. The process of skin lightening is a thriving procedure that comes in the form of soaps, creams, lasers, pills, and injectables.
The trend of skin-lightening has eaten into the very crust of Nigeria’s high-class society. A number of spas and wellness centers in Nigeria pride themselves as the go-to place for skin-lightening.
Why the craze?
So why are some women willing to go to the extreme to alter their natural complexions? The reasons might be as complicated as the risks. Different skin-lightening beauty methods focus on faster and relatively thorough results, while covering up or downplaying the dangers, which leave the body open to grave health repercussions.
Notably, the skin-lightening industry has always been a robust one, and for decades, bleaching creams were its core. However, the resurgence of intravenous glutathione infusions in Spas and Wellness centers has raised concerns among the medical community, especially regarding safety, dosage, and the lack of regulation around the practice in Nigeria. They are worried by the ethical implications of the non-regulated treatment, mostly administered at Spas.
Enter Glutathione injection treatment
Glutathione is an antioxidant that is naturally produced in our bodies. It is generated by our liver and has multiple responsibilities like repairing and building skin tissues, boosting immunity, slowing down the aging process, neutralising free radicals, and acting as an anti-cancer agent.
It is also known as the “mother of all antioxidants”. As one gets older, the production of glutathione decreases, which, in turn, accelerates the process of aging. Glutathione injection treatment is very simple. It is quite similar to getting a vaccine shot. The dermatologist will prepare the glutathione injection by mixing multiple chemicals based on the skin type, colour, and other factors.
When used intravenously for cosmetic purposes, it is said to lighten skin by interfering with melanin production. However, checks by The Nation revealed that there is no scientific consensus supporting its efficacy or safety when used in this way.
The injection is administered to one’s body through his or her vein. A dermatologist will determine the frequency of the injection. It is usually three times a week in the initial days and then reduced to one day a week. It is believed that one can start seeing the results six to eight weeks after the treatment.
Just like any other cosmetic treatment, there are a few risks and side effects associated with the glutathione injection treatment. Experts say the severity of the side effects is dependent on the administered dosage.
In case of very high dosage, there are chances of blood poisoning and kidney failure.
A Lagos-based dermatologist, Kemisola Ahmed said: “It is largely known that IV glutathione has benefits as an antioxidant, but it hasn’t been proven in any randomised clinical trials that it is safe or effective for skin lightening.
“After an infusion, your skin may look temporarily lighter, and you probably feel better.”
Beyond the lack of substantial evidence, she’s of the opinion that there’s an inherent danger in letting someone inject an unregulated fluid into your veins
She said: “I can’t even wrap my head around how people have normalised letting non-health practitioners inject fluids into their body system. What if there’s an immediate allergic reaction to it? How did we get this careless with our own lives?”
In the Philippines, glutathione IVs were ubiquitous in neighbourhood spas until 2011 when reports of serious skin rashes, thyroid issues, and kidney failure led to a ban by the country’s government, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that injectable skin lighteners were unsafe.
Data from World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that Nigeria has a skin bleaching prevalence rate of 77%. This is the highest in the world. Many persons are unaware of the dangers posed to their lives by the intravenous glutathione infusions they allow into their body system.
Dermatologists have consistently advised that little enhanced self-esteem for the sake of aesthetics is not worth the risk of bleaching the skin.
“I’ve never seen a society that encourages quackery this much. People with zero training have multi-million naira wellness brands in Nigeria, and after chronic exposure to these shambolic health excursions, they will come to the hospital, expecting real doctors to perform miracles.” Samson Adeife, a medical doctor, said.
A case of body dysmorphia?
Body dysmorphia could also be another issue fuelling the uptake of aesthetically-pleasing outlook. This is when someone has an obsessive focus on the way they look and this is common among women.
With varied reasons for the skin and body enhancement, many people go through the intravenous glutathione infusion process and other medications like pills to have their desired light skin.
Disturbingly, some expectant mothers have caught on the vogue as they take in medications or engage in the glutathione infusion process in an attempt to bleach the skin of their unborn babies.
Body modification is an age-old practice which has taken on new dimensions in recent years due to factors like body shaming, peer pressure, media influences, global beauty trends, and the desire for the “perfect” body.
This has led to a rise in botched surgeries and even fatalities, especially when performed by non-professionals or quacks. The government’s response to these issues has been relatively passive, allowing the problem to grow and enabling entry of more unqualified practitioners.
Our correspondent, who visited popular spas and wellness outlets in Ikeja and Lekki area of Lagos state, noticed a new wave of ‘special’ lightning products and the glutathione infusion patronage by women.
For these spas, their glutathione IV process begins from N35,000. Some others charge from N70,000.
The market for skin-lightening products is vast, with an economy of billions of dollars per annum globally. Among the various methods explored for skin health, oral and topical supplementation with glutathione has gained attention due to their proven efficacy and favorable safety profile compared to other approaches.
The increasing patronage for glutathione infusion is not peculiar to Nigeria alone. Findings by Channel 4 News recently laid bare the alarming scale of unregulated intravenous glutathione drips being used in the United Kingdom (UK) for skin whitening, lightening and brightening.
The investigation found over 300 beauty salons across the country have been found offering these cosmetic procedures – many without any medical supervision – and promoting them on social media to vulnerable consumers.
These invasive treatments are being marketed with misleading claims and in some cases, administered in beauty settings lacking hygiene or safety standards. Consumers have reported suffering serious side effects including anaphylaxis requiring hospitalisation, kidney strain and infections.
Despite the dangers, these procedures remain entirely unregulated in the UK, and injectable products like glutathione are still being sold with ease online and in-person.
Ian Andrews, Head of Environmental Health at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), said: “The use of these procedures, many without medical supervision, is extremely concerning and we would really welcome clarity from the Government on when further legislation will be consulted on because existing legislation is outdated.”
Ashton Collins, Director at Save Face, said: “We are extremely concerned about the increase in the availability of glutathione IV drips in the UK. These treatments are not licensed for cosmetic use here and pose significant health risks.
“Unfortunately, they are being offered in unregulated, unsterilised environments without proper clinical oversight. Prescribers and providers must understand that prescribing unlicensed medicines like glutathione outside of a genuine clinical diagnosis and therapeutic need is both dangerous and illegal.”
Spa attendants to clinicians: Desperation from spa owners?
Adeola Adeniyi, a nurse, expressed dismay over how non-healthcare professionals administer drips to their clients.
She said: “These spas are beginning to do too much. They seem to be looking for one thing or the other as a competitive edge against their competitors. Desperation to have a unique selling proposition.
“These glutathione IV drips given are absolutely unnecessary. A healthy diet and drinking water is enough to give you all the necessary nutrients your body needs.
“When is a spa spot now a medical licensed place for drip? Many ladies keep endangering their lives for a few minutes acknowledgement.
“Imagine allowing a spa to administer glutathione IV drips, likely by a non-healthcare professional. What if there was a reaction considering the fact that it was straight into your blood? This is unethical,” she stated.
Experts weigh in
Medical professionals have opined that exposing the liver and kidneys to large quantities of vitamins can place them under significant stress.
There is always a risk of infection with IV vitamin therapy, as any time an IV line is inserted; it creates a direct path into the bloodstream.
Despite this, the drips are on sale and promoted by celebrities, influencers online.
Global Health Executive, Dr. Ajidahun Olusina believes that the marketing of glutathione IV drips is actually a cash cow strategy used by a lot of spas.
Olusina said: “The food you eat has enough supply of glutathione which is an anti-oxidant to mop up dangerous ROS, and collagen is a protein produced in your body. Why are they giving what you already have?
“It’s actually a cash cow strategy used by a lot of spas. If you use the money of that drip to buy tomatoes, veggies, a lot of fruits and eat plus water, you will get more benefits than that drip they are telling you will give you collagen and glutathione. Don’t let these spas dupe you like they regularly dupe Lagos and Abuja elites, “Big girls”, celebs, e.t.c.
“Your liver stores so much. (Except there’s a problem, which will be addressed at a hospital not a spa). Don’t let all these quacks in the name of beauticians, aesthetician, wannabe masseurs and masseuses siphon your hard earned money.
“You don’t need to be infused with collagen. You have it in your body already. It makes a huge bulk of supporting protein structures. What they are doing won’t reverse aging.
“Almost everywhere in your body has collagen, your skin, your hair, your nails, your bones, your muscles, your ligaments, on and on. They will use big words that you need collagen because they know most people don’t know, then get you to pay for what is sitting pretty in you.”
Another medical doctor, Obinna Ossai warned women to be wary of the antics of spas and wellness centres.
Ossai said: “Run from any spa that offers to set lines on you and start fluids in the name of giving you a ‘youthful look’ or whatever they are using these days. Such spas are dangerous scammers and should be reported to the authorities. You don’t need vitamin drips. You can get them from fruits and food. Why are you getting vitamin C drip when two oranges gives you all the vitamin C you need in a day, at way cheaper rate than the drip you are getting? They can damage your liver and kidney. Except you are critically deficient, you don’t need it.
A UK-based doctor, Olufunmilayo Ogunsanya said all the vitamins, collagen, glutathione needed by one is deposited in one’s food, vegetables and fruits.
He said: “If you go to a spa or massage parlour, and they give you a drip telling you it is “glutathione” or “vitamins”, you have just wasted your money; you have sadly risked your life and they have just scammed you by exploiting your ignorance. You do not need vitamin/glutathione drips in spa parlours.
“You do not need “vitamin drips” and “glutathione drips” in a spa. You are wasting your money, you are risking your life and you are being scammed.
“They can use unsterilised needles for you – they can give you HIV, Hepatitis and many other diseases. They can push air bubbles into your veins which can go into your heart and you will drop dead.
“Please avoid drip infusions in spas. I know Nigerians think it’s a “healthy thing to do”, but I promise you, it is not. You are wasting your money. You are putting your life at risk. And you could die getting these drips. Eat well, drink water, take fruits, exercise regularly and you are totally perfect.”
He is a man of immense talents, a financial colossus whose sterling quality and expertise in the financial sector has continued to earn him accolades across the globe. If the name Bade Adeshina doesn’t sound familiar to you, it seems you haven’t paid much attention to his remarkable exploits in the Nigeria’s financial landscape where he has shone brilliantly for the past three decades.
Bade Adeshina is an exceptionally accomplished Nigerian who has done well for himself. Adeshina, a native of Osun State parades an intimidating curriculum vitae.
Apart from his degrees in Nigeria, Adeshina has gone ahead to acquire more knowledge. He has attended several globally recognized universities including Harvard. With his many accomplishments in the private and public sectors, it was a delight when the management of Edwin Clark University founded by the late elder stateman, Edwin Clark bestowed the highest honour on Adeshina.
In a letter sent to the financial titan, it stated “This distinguished award recognizes your remarkable accomplishments and leadership in the fields of finance, investment management, and governance. Your extensive career, spanning commercial and investment banking, discount house operations, pension management, and public service, reflects excellence, innovation, and commitment to national and international economic development.”
The University Senate noted, with particular admiration, your educational background with B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Finance from the University of Lagos, your Treasury Dealership Certificate with CIBN/Financial Market Dealers Association, and your Fellowships with several professional bodies including The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria, Association of Investment Advisers and Portfolio Managers, Institute of Directors Nigeria, and Nigerian Institute of Management, among others.
“Your sterling leadership as Chairman and Director of several reputable organizations, and your service as Special Adviser on Economic Planning, Budget and Development to the Government of Osun State, were further considered as evidence of your entrepreneurial distinction and dedication to national development.
On Saturday November 29th, 2025, Delta State stood still when chairman of Goldfield Group, a diversified financial services firm, Dr. Abimbade Abdulyekeen Adeshina popularly known as ‘Bade Adeshina’ was conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Management Science (Honorary Causa) in Entrepreneural Finance and Management in recognition of his contribution to the country’s financial sector.
The Osun State born technocrat, was decorated with the honorary degree on November 29th during the combined 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Convocation Ceremonies held at the University Auditorium in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
The event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and academia.
Vice Chancellor of ECU, Prof. Samuel Tita Wara, in his address during the occasion, said the university proudly conferred its honorary doctorate degree on Dr. Adeshina, whom he described as an astute finance entrepreneur, manager, and administrator, for his exceptional leadership, innovation in financial management and dedication to human empowerment, which mirror the ideals of the University.
Acknowledging that great leaders inspire others not by power but example, Prof. Wara noted that Dr. Adeshina story is one of diligence, faith and national contribution.
“We celebrate your impact and support to the development and growth of Edwin Clark University in accordance with the aim of our Founder and Father, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark. We also appreciate you and your family for the support and donation to the University based on belief and commitment to education, thus extending opportunities for the less privileged in our communities”, the Vice-Chancellor added.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Adeshina said he was humbled for the recognition bestowed on him and accepted the award of Doctor of Management Science (D.MSc) (Honoris Causa) in Entrepreneurial Finance and Management with immense gratitude and respect for Edwin Clark University.
“I thank the Senate and leadership of Edwin Clark University for the confidence reposed in me and my work. Your recognition strengthens my belief that steady service, ethical leadership and commitment to learning remain essential for building strong institutions and a stronger nation”, he added.
Dr. Adeshina noted that his journey in finance, governance and institutional development had been shaped by the lessons gained through education, the guidance of the Almighty and the invaluable encouragement from his colleagues and his family.
He said further “I owe much to the people who stood by me, challenged me and supported my efforts and vision over the years. This award is not only a personal honour; it is a reminder for me to continue to contribute where my skills and experience can make a meaningful difference.
“I hope my story encourages young Nigerians to pursue excellence with discipline, and lead with integrity wherever they find themselves”, he added.
Dr. Adeshina reflected that on occasions such as this, “we must appreciate the role that citadels of learning in our country must continue to play in rebuilding Nigeria.
“This is so that our country may translate its enormous potentials into tangible assets; those priceless assets needed in a digital era where the best performing nations prioritize knowledge as key drivers of socio-economic transformation, as I reckon to be part of treasured mandate of Edwin Clark University. This university deserves all the support we as alumni can provide, to sustain and grow the dream of its founder – Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark”, he added.
Dr. Adeshina is a highly accomplished and versatile senior executive and board leader with over three decades of distinguished experience across commercial and investment banking, asset management, stockbroking, public service and financial consulting.
His career is marked by a consistent record of leadership in highly competitive and structured institutions, both in Nigeria and internationally.
Dr. Adeshina academic foundation includes a B.Sc. and M.Sc in Finance from the University of Lagos and a Diploma in Information Science/Systems from the University of Ibadan. He further enhanced his executive education through prestigious programs at world-renowned institutions including Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Kellogg School of Management and Wharton Business School.
He has held several C-suite and Board-level positions, demonstrating a capacity for strategic direction and governance. Dr. Adeshina served as the Managing Director/CEO of CDL Asset Management Limited, where he provided overall leadership and oversaw leadership a diverse portfolio including funds management, corporate finance and treasury services.
Previously, as General Manager at Marina International Limited, he honed his expertise in treasury, risk management and investment banking over a 15-year tenure. His public service commitment was demonstrated in a cabinet-level role as Special Adviser and Head of the Ministry of Economic Planning, Budget and Development for the State of Osun, where he spearheaded budget preparation, economic planning and public procurement reforms.
Dr. Adeshina currently serves as Chairman for several entities including the Goldfield Group, a diversified financial services firm and Health Assur Ltd. He is also the Founder/Director of Ultra Goldfield Logistics Limited, UK, a venture leveraging AI and machine learning in the logistics sector. His extensive directorship include past roles on the boards of Premium Pension Limited and CDL Capital Market Limited.
Under his watch, Goldfield Group, which comprises organisations offering financial and management consulting to high net worth individuals; corporate and project finance advisory services, securities brokerage and real estate investment/management as well as pension funds management, has become the toast of clients from diverse sectors.
The financial guru is a distinguished fellow of multiple professional bodies including the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIB), the Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria (FCIP) and the Institute of Directors, Nigeria.
His deep industry engagement is further evidenced by his membership on numerous high-level committees, particularly in audit, risk, investment and governance across the banking, pension and public sectors.
A prolific contributor to his field, Dr. Adeshina has authored over 40 publications and presented numerous papers on topics ranging from financial risk management and pension governance to economic development. Combining strong analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills with a reputation for high integrity.
Reacting to the award bestowed on Dr. Adeshina, an elated Alhaja Asisat Olanike Adeshina described her husband of 40 years as a very meticulous person who has been able to gather grace to where he is today.
She said the family was happy for the recognition bestowed on her husband in far away South-South region adding “Its not easy but we, as a family, we are happy for this recognition.
“Now adding this feather to his cap, I am so grateful to Almighty God to witness this. I am happy its coming from Edwin Clark University, South-South as we call the area even though we are from South-West but I am happy its coming from somewhere we dont have a root”, she added.
A long standing friend of the awardee, Mr. Ade Odunewu also described Dr. Adeshina as a thorough bread professional, a very thorough and humble person.
He said he had witnessed some other awards bestowed on him in the past and now this from Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo adding “He is a very respected person, a banker of repute for many years.
Odunewu said Dr. Adeshina deserved the award by ECU having been part of a management and running of some universities in the past recalling his role as a council member of Ladoke Akintola University.
Barrister S. K. Babalola, who happens to be Dr. Adeshina’s Best Man during his wedding 40 years ago, described the honorary doctorate degree award on his friend as a manifestation of the awardee’s tenacity of purpose.
“Adeshina is somebody that is highly methodical, highly resourceful and very tenacious in whatever he believes in. He is one person that gives his whole to whatever he believes in”, he added.
Extolling the virtue of the honoraree, Managing Director and Chief Executive Office, CRC Credit Bureau, Dr. Ahmed Popoola described Dr. Adeshina as a role model who constantly encourages people around him to excel.
“My path crosses with Dr. Adeshina in 1979 at at the University of Lagos Library.
“Our relationship is a mentee mentor type. He is a big brother. He shows andolute interest in people. He sacrifices a lot to support his family members and friends, even at a high level of inconvenience to him. The people I know him with have been together with him for decades.
What stands him out according to popoola is Adeshina’s unparalleled and high level of integrity. “He is a first-class professional who knows his onions, especially in corporate finance and banking. He is always on top of whatever he chooses to do. He is forthright and focused. He is so reliable and trustworthy. He doesn’t cut corners. He is arguably the most meticulous professional I have ever met.”
Prince Labi Emokpare expressed appreciation to Edwin Clark University for recognizing the man he said to have paid his dues to humanity.
“I think he deserves more than this. He is a great person, very straight forward and I can tell you he has paid his dues to this country. He has done very well for humanity, for the communities of this country. I wish him more winnings”, he added.
For Bade Adeshina, indeed, it is an honour well deserved.
