NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
NSF: 9,040 athletes, officials accredited for Gateway Games —- Olopade
Sports

NSF: 9,040 athletes, officials accredited for Gateway Games —- Olopade

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By Peter Amine

The Director-General (DG), National Sports Commission ( NSC), Bukola Olopade, says that a total of 9,040 athletes and officials have been accredited for the ongoing National Sports Festival (NSF) in Ogun.

Olopade made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abeokuta while addressing  newsmen on the commission’s efforts to ensure a successful festival.

The DG said that the accredited athletes and officials were accommodated at Babcock University.

He described the participation of the states in the games as impressive.

Olopade said that the quality of games had improved compared to  previous editions.

“In the last 20 years, this is the festival that athletes will get to their hostel and get their food.

“With joy and pride, things are going on well with the hostel and feeding.

“I just returned from Sagamu and Babcock; the standard of play is very high. Kaduna vs Niger basketball was top-notch.

“Visit the centres to enjoy this festival; Niger vs Kano in handball was superb too.

“I saw three London-based boxers representing Kaduna, and this has demonstrated impressive improvement from other editions,” he said.

Olopade, who is the Chairman of Local Organising Committee( LOC),  commended the Ogun Government for its efforts towards hosting the best biennial sports  festival.

According to him, the opening ceremony was applauded globally. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

Creative hubs collaborate to nurture young talents
Culture & Tourism

Creative hubs collaborate to nurture young talents

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By Joshua Olomu

A cross section of Nigerian Tech creative hubs have formed a collaboration towards creating platforms for nurturing and job creation for teeming youths.

The coalition tagged MSwitch Group was inaugurated on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mr Kadir Salami, the group’s chairman, said the collaboration became imperative to help harness the potential inherent in the country’s creative and tech sectors.

He said the coalition would equip young Nigerians with the necessary tools and an enabling environment to thrive and contribute their quota national economic growth.

According to him, the group consists of MSwitch Media, Techspecialist, Tiidelab, and MSwitch Creative Hub.

He said the group was focused on helping talented Nigerians and businesses tell their stories better and gain visibility through strategic media, storytelling, and content production.

He added that the group would address challenges facing the sector such as low business visibility, limited access to media platforms, IT Support services and expert guidance.

“MSwitch Grroup is a multidisciplinary group designed to build safe spaces, drive innovation, and enhance sustainable impact across Africa’s digital and creative landscapes.

“As tech creative hubs, we are creating a unified ecosystem to support the country’s creative and tech business sectors in fueling innovation, and bridge the gap between inspiration and execution across Africa.

“To e ensure it realises its objectives, the group has inaugurated a board, comprising a diverse team of leaders across media, technology, and entrepreneurship.

“This is aimed at driving strategic growth and ensure it continues to meet the evolving needs of Africa’s digital and creative economy”, he said.

Salami underscored the importance of providing young Nigerians with access to meaningful opportunities, adding that the country has abundance of young talent, but the challenge has always been access to opportunities.

He said MSwitch Group was committed to nurturing creative talents and ideas and empowering them with relevant skills and knowledge.(NAN)(nannews.ng)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

Rethinking cocoa
Features

Rethinking cocoa

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By Chijioke Okoronkwo

In the pre-independence Nigeria, agriculture, especially cocoa farming, was one of the mainstays of the nation’s economy.

The top five cocoa producing states in Nigeria are Ondo, Osun, Cross River, Oyo, and Ogun, while Edo, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Delta, Abia, Enugu and Akwa Ibom produce in a smaller scale.

Regrettably, as oil production and exportation gained momentum, there was a significant shift from agriculture, including cocoa farming, as investment in it waned.

In recent years, there have been a resurgence of cocoa farming and increased trading in the commodity as well as rise in the price – bringing hope and excitement to stakeholders.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed a significant surge in Nigeria’s cocoa exports, with the country exporting N1.2 trillion in 2024 and up from N171 billion in 2023, representing an impressive 606 per cent increase in the fourth quarter of 2024 alone.

This surge is attributed to a combination of favourable market conditions and the impact of seasonality, as well as unfavourable weather patterns affecting major global cocoa producers, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.

“Nigeria’s cocoa exports recorded a 92 per cent rise from N624.71 billion in the third quarter of 2024, fueled by cocoa price rally.

“As prices soared, Nigerian cocoa farmers and exporters took advantage of the opportunity, reviving old cocoa plantations and planting new cocoa trees to tap into the lucrative cash crop value chain,’’ AgroNigeria has reported.

From cocoa butter, chocolate liquor, chocolate cake and cocoa powder to animal feed and pectin, among others, cocoa had been very useful to the medical, confectionary and food industry.

Economic experts say the global resurgence of the cocoa trade must be optimally harnessed by Nigeria, the fourth largest producer of cocoa in the world.

Recently, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the draft bill for the establishment of the National Cocoa Management Board (NCMB) in order to revamp Nigeria’s cocoa industry.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, who conveyed the decision, said the initiative was aimed at establishing Nigeria as a key player in the global cocoa market while enhancing the welfare of cocoa farmers nationwide.

According to him, the decision is in tandem with broader goals to ensure sustainable practices and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers who are crucial to the industry.

Kyari said that NCMB would be empowered to regulate the cocoa sub-sector, rehabilitate plantations, provide soft credit facilities to farmers, and enforce market standards.

“The board is expected to drive a sustainable cocoa economy that will contribute significantly to Nigeria’s gross domestic product by boosting domestic consumption, attracting youths into agriculture, and increasing foreign exchange earnings through export of premium-quality cocoa products.

“In 2023, Nigeria generated N356.16 billion from cocoa beans and allied products. With this new framework, we will be competing directly with top global producers such as Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire,” he said.

At the subnational, cocoa stakeholders and farmers are making the resurgence count.

A cocoa farmer at Erunmu in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mr Taofeek Adesola, said he returned to his village in 2020 to take care of his late father’s cocoa farm after he lost his job in Lagos State.

Adesola said that the decision had changed his economic status.

“I have renovated my late father’s house at Lalupon and equally started building my own house from cocoa beans proceeds,” he said.

He spoke on his plan to start cultivating more high-yielding seedlings to replace old cocoa trees in his late father’s farm in the coming season.

A cocoa produce buyer in the state, Chief Ezekiel Olagunju, also confirmed the development, attributing it to poor Naira exchange rate with the dollar.

According to him, the exchange rate favours cocoa exporters as they get more Naira from export of cocoa beans.

Olagunju further attributed the boom to the shortfall in cocoa production in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana as a result of unfavourable weather in the two countries.

According to him, the two countries are the top cocoa growers in West Africa, and a shortfall in the countries’ supplies resulted in high demand from Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Enugu State Government, in collaboration with a private investor, WhiteRabbit Agro Ltd., has embarked on establishing cocoa plantations in the state for massive production and processing.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Mr Patrick Ubru, said that the pilot plantation of 20 hectares was located in Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state.

“In line with Gov. Peter Mbah’s vision, the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation is in partnership with a private investor, WhiteRabbit Agro Ltd., to develop the state government’s Cocoa Initiative and make the state a mass cocoa producer and processor.

“The ministry will also push to spread the initiative to five other local government areas surrounding Nkanu East LGA due to their similarities in topography and soil type.

“We are reaching out to local government areas within that topography and soil type such as Nkanu West, Isi-Uzo, Oji-River, Aninri and Awgu to, at least, do a pilot of 100 hectares of cocoa plantation in each.

“We are pursuing it with the vigour it deserves and we want to ensure that we encourage our people to take to cocoa farming and have large cocoa plantations of their own,” he said.

The commissioner said that the partners in the project were already developing 100,000 high-yielding and early-producing cocoa varieties obtained from Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan.

Ubru said that the cocoa nursery was located at Amaechi Idodo community in Nkanu East Local Government Area.

“One tonne of cocoa today in the international market goes for 10,500 dollars; in naira, the value is about N16.3 million.

“The governor gave a mandate to the ministry, when we came on board, to develop cocoa farming, and we are head-on doing it and collaborating with all stakeholders,’’ he said.

In Cross River, the cocoa renaissance tune is also reverberating.

Recently, the A A Universal Agro Company, said that Nigeria could earn N900 billion annually from the Ikom Cocoa Export Processing Plant in Cross River when fully operational.

The Managing Director of the agro company, Mr Chris Agara, whose firm is the concessionaire of the cocoa processing plant, said he was in partnership with an Israeli compan, B and Co., a member of the LR Group, to turn around Nigeria’s cocoa industry.

“My firm has a contract grant agreement between the U.S. Government through the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

“The contract is to carry out feasibility study and bankable business plan to farm and develop cocoa and cassava farms and value chains from farm to table, to international standards and best practice.

“It will be for local uses and export purposes,” he said.

The industrialist said that adopting the firm’s protocols and methodology would increase cocoa yield from its present 400kg per hectare to 3.5 tonnes per hectare.

He urged the Federal Government to give support the firm to enable it to access funds from the International Finance Institute.

“The Federal Government should support us because this funding we are trying to raise is from the International Finance Institute.

“We need guarantee from the Federal Government for this funding.

“We also need guarantee from the state government through a policy, to ensure that Cross River cocoa is processed in Cross River, because most of our cocoa is taken out of the state by merchants.

“Our foreign partner is one of the largest agro companies in Israel; their technology can improve our cocoa farm yields from less than half a tonne to 3.5 or four tonnes, which we want to introduce to farmers.”

Agara said that the organisation would also help farmers to regenerate their farms ttoa higher and better production level.

It is noteworthy that cocoa prices can fluctuate.

Data from AFEX indicates that cocoa prices plunged by 25.73 per cent in early May having hit a historic high of N15, 900 per kilogramme.

Reports also show that the commodity currently sells dor about ₦10,000 per kilogramme after an 18-week low of ₦9,500.

Analysts are optimistic that Nigeria will do more to revamp its cocoa industry to boost foreign exchange, create jobs and improve the economy. (NANFeartures)

***if used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria

Insecurity responsible for food inflation in Benue- Expert
Agriculture

Insecurity responsible for food inflation in Benue- Expert

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By Okeoghene Akubuike

An Economist, Ephraim Audu, has attributed insecurity as the primary cause of food inflation in Benue, calling on the Federal Government to urgently tackle the menace across the country.

Audu, the National President, Agricultural Agenda Nigeria Initiative (AANI), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

He was reacting to the latest Inflation figures by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for April.

The NBS had said the food inflation rate in April 2025 was 21.26 per cent on a year-on-year basis, with Benue recording the highest food inflation rate at 51.76 per cent on a year-on-year basis and 25.59 per cent on a month-on-month basis.

The report said on a month-on-month basis, the food inflation rate in April was 2.06 per cent, which decreased by 0.12 per cent compared to the 2.18 per cent recorded in March 2025.

The NBS said the decrease in food inflation was attributed to the reduction in average prices of items such as Maize (Corn) Flour, Wheat Grain, Okro Dried, Yam Flour, Soya Beans, Rice, Bambara beans, Brown Beans, etc

He, however, said he was not convinced that food inflation had dropped because the prices of food items were still on the increase.

Audu said it was sad to note that, even though Benue was the food basket of the nation, it recorded the highest level of food inflation.

He explained that less than three per cent of the population in Benue had access to civil service jobs, which meant over 80 per cent of the population were predominantly farmers.

“So now, their farms have been under attack. The insecurity will not allow these farmers a larger percentage of the populace, to have access to their farms, nor to produce.

“That has affected the dependency on their livelihoods, so why won’t there be high inflation of food items in Benue?”

The expert also gave another reason for food inflation to be the value chain, stating that there was a hyper increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as fuel, and diesel due to the removal of subsidy.

Audu said that PMS and diesel were major determinants of the prices of goods and services.

“ Those guys are irrigation farmers, producing primarily products, and they use irrigation machines that use either petrol or diesel to pump their machines to work.

“So if Mr A buys petrol every day at the rate of N920 per litre, which he needs at least 10 litres a day to cultivate his farm, approximately N9,000. He uses N9,000 daily in a month. How much is that?

“So, now, if he is cultivating one or two hectares, how many tons is he expected to generate from those two hectares, certainly less than 16 tons.

“How much is the prevailing market price? So, that farmer has to factor in all the costs he has already incurred in the process of cultivating that product.

“So, that is why no professional analyst will tell you that there is a decline in the price of food.”

He also stated that the current headline inflation rate, which dropped to 23.71 per cent, as reported by the NBS, does not reflect the current realities on ground.

The economist said food, house rents, and transportation costs were still on the increase, saying that many Nigerians could barely afford to eat a proper meal daily.

He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to revitalise the refineries in the country and give licences for modular refineries across the comparative states.

According to him, if this is achieved, then the Dangote, government, and modular refineries will go into competition, and the price of PMS and diesel will drastically reduce.

Audu saidd that the Federal Government must prioritise both human and food security, so farmers could have access to their farms without fear.

He also recommended that the Federal Government invest, if possible, 60 per cent of the total budget for now on agriculture, which would help achieve food sufficiency and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs) .

“This will lead to an increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Product. Consequently, foreign investors will open their portfolios, enhancing export opportunities, thereby, building and strengthening our exchange rates and foreign reserves.”

Audu added that the Federal Government should implement price regulations to prevent hoarding and price inflation.

He said, as a matter of urgency, the Federal Government must address the issues in the power sector, saying that without power, “all that we have mentioned would be inconsequential.”

Audu said the Federal Government should give single-digit intervention funds with a favourable moratorium for entrepreneurs, businesses, and farmers, while interfacing and supporting the value chain manufacturers and processors.

He said that the government and private sector should increase workers’ salaries to match the increasing costs of goods, services, and transportation, noting that the purchasing power of Nigerians is weak. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Stakeholders urge mothers on family values to curb vices
General News

Stakeholders urge mothers on family values to curb vices

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By Joshua Olomu

Stakeholders, including Clerics, Leaders of Civil Society Groups, have urged mothers to uphold and instill family values in their children in order to curb the spate of youthful vices in society.

They made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of a Women’s Roundtable on Saturday in Abuja.

The event was organised by Family Rebuilders Outreach, an NGO that supports and empowers women to effectively play their roles in families for a better society.

The roundtable brought together thought leaders and women from different backgrounds to learn and chart a common front for them to adequately navigate modern challenges confronting woman, especially motherhood.

According to the stakeholders, the spate of vices like drug abuse, illicit Sex, indolence, disobedience to authorities and other harmful behaviours among young people is worrisome.

They lamented that if the ugly trend was not seriously addressed at the family level, the larger society would pay dearly for it, and legacies of many families would be eroded.

The stakeholders said that mothers have significant roles in addressing vices among youth, particularly in instilling age-long moral values and providing support and direction.

They noted that although mothers were uniquely positioned by nature to influence their children’s development and help them navigate challenges, economic exigencies of modern times have made many to slack in their duties.

Pastor Enifome Kings-Jack, President, Know God More International Ministry, said women have a crucial role in guiding their children in the fear of God.

According to her, the woman plays many roles, and she is expected to be attentive and observant, setting clear expectations, and as well be a positive role model.

She urged mothers to be close to God and leverage religious teachings to help their children resist negative influences and peer pressure.

“What we do as women before our children matters too, because it is what people see you doing that really shape them, especially children.

“If you are a good person, you attract good, so the first thing for a woman is knowing her God, and showcasing His character in every space that she finds herself,” she said.

Mrs Chioma Onyenucheya -Uko ,Chairperson of the Abuja chapter of International Federation of Women Lawyers(FIDA) Nigeria, said women should first develop themselves in order to effectively lead others.

“I want the women, even from this roundtable to be more intentional in how they plan their lives and family and be conscious of the need to leave a legacythat truly outlive them.

“When a woman is building herself, it means that she has the right prospects, has the right potential to be a qualitative wife, and that is been able to build the right kind of home.

“She must have the right knowledge to bequeath to her children and she is able to lend the right kind of support to her husband

“If you are a woman who embodies the right thing and actually interacts with people, whether it is in the immediate family or the extended family, you will see the outcome,” she said.

Mrs Frances Ndu, Founder, Today’s Happy Woman Safe Place, said women needed to do more in monitoring their children at the family unit.

“Many mothers have become complacent and lazy to care about what is going on with their children.

“Providing education and other things for children is not enough, you also need to teach and exemplify values and morals that you want your children to emulate,” she said.

Earlier,Mrs Beatrice Anachuna, Founder, Family Rebuilders Outreach ,said there was need to revive age-long core values that shape a family’s behaviour, interactions, and decision-making to have a better society for all.

According to her, values of honesty, kindess, respect, hardwork, love and contentment, amongst others were the basis on how good a families function as they interact with society.

Anachuna said the Family Rebuilders’ main goal was to work towards reducing the statistics of divorce and family degradation in Nigeria.

“We realise that families are going through great challenges, so we formed a forum, which is this organisation, to support women through marriage, through parenting, through motherhood.

“We strive to give them the tools they need to survive the stress and the hardships that come with marriage and motherhood.

“The roundtable is to raise awareness and address issues that disturb women in their family life, as we talk about them.

“So the purpose of this roundtable is to reawaken their inner self, to be their best self, to come out again, to begin to try, to pursue those childhood dreams they once had.

“We can do better when we are better informed, when we know ourselves, when we discover our strengths and we can then raise children that can do better.

“We are passing the baton to the next generation through equipping ourselves with knowledge and the right application of knowledge that we gain today,” she said.

NAN reports that the roundtable features paper presentations on key thematic areas addressing both the family and career life of women.(NAN)(nannews.ng)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

FG moves to address drug access in neglected regions- ICRC D-G
General News

FG moves to address drug access in neglected regions- ICRC D-G

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By Okeoghene Akubuike

Dr Jobson Ewalefoh, the Director-General (D-G) , Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), has applauded the approval of the MEDIPOOL project as a major breakthrough towards addressing drug access in Nigeria’s most underserved regions.

This is contained in a statement issued by Ifeanyi Nwoko, Acting Head, Media and Publicity, ICRC in Abuja on Sunday,.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Ewalefoh said approval of the project, which also includes the six Megawatts Ikere Gorge Hydropower Project and the Federal Coastal Fishery Terminal, Borokiri Fishing Terminal, would improve the lives of Nigerians.

“Imagine a Nigeria where no child dies due to the unavailability of vaccines, where every health facility, no matter how remote,, has access to life-saving drugs.

“That future begins now, with the MEDIPOOL Project.

“MEDIPOOL is just the beginning under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are driving infrastructure delivery across all sectors, ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind.”

He added that with MediPool, Tinubu was restoring hope to neglected regions by ensuring access to essential medicines, which “is a right, not a privilege, for all Nigerians.”

Ewalefoh said the MEDIPOOL initiative, part of the Presidential Initiative for unlocking the healthcare value chain, aimed to centralise the procurement and distribution of essential medicines, vaccines, and consumables.

He said this would be achieved through a high-efficiency Group Purchasing Organisation (GPO).

Ewalefoh emphasised that the project would not only promote transparency and affordability but also ensure that no region was left behind, particularly rural and hard-to-reach areas that had historically suffered from poor access to medicines.

He said in addition to MediPool, FEC approved the Ikere Gorge Hydropower project (Oyo State), which was originally initiated under the Obasanjo military regime.

Ewalefoh said the dam would be redeveloped under a Finance-Build-Operate-Transfer (FBOT) structure to generate over six megawatts of electricity.

He said the dam would also provide potable water to towns like Iseyin and Saki and irrigate thousands of hectares of farmlands.

Ewalefoh listed other projects as the Coastal Fisheries Terminal (Borokiri, Rivers State).

“This project aims to boost Nigeria’s fishery value chain through modern cold-chain logistics, job creation, and enhanced export capability.

He said these PPP initiatives aligned with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to transform Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape, enhance service delivery, and stimulate inclusive economic growth.

Ewalefoh said the ICRC would continue to provide regulatory oversight to ensure project transparency, value for money, and full alignment with global PPP standards. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Golf: Dilli emerges overall winner of Umelo’s kitty
Sports

Golf: Dilli emerges overall winner of Umelo’s kitty

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By Victor Okoye

Dennis Dilli has emerged as the overall winner of Maj. Gen. Godwin Umelo (Rtd.) 60th birthday golf kitty in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tournament in honour of Umelo’s 60th birthday teed-off on Wednesday and ended on Saturday night at the TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club, Abuja.

Dilli who played off handicap 24, returned a gross score of 88 and 64 net over 18 holes to emerge the overall winner of the tourney.

He expressed delight at his victory, saying that “it felt special because as it is the first ever win in a tournament.

Dilli said that consistency and integrity were key to his victory.

“I have been playing in alot of tournaments here at the club for a long while, but have never won anything.

“Many of my friends even discouraged me not to bother playing in any tournament again, but I refused to give up until I finally achieved my goal.

“So, my message to everyone here today is to keep on playing and playing fairly. It is all about being nice to yourself as well as the people you play with.

“You must also have that sense of integrity and sincerity in all you do,” he said.

He thanked the celebrant as well as the organisers of the tournament, adding that Umelo’s goodwill had endeared so many people; both the high and mighty as well as the less privileged to him, hence the massive turnout at the event.

John Odoh, who played off handicap 5, with 72 gross and 67 net finished as best net in the men’s division 1 (handicap 0 – 14) category.

Melody Adekunle playing off handicap 12 with 81 gross and 69 net, finished as runner-up net, while Joel Bizinta settled for the second runner-up position in the category.

The best gross prize in the category went to Saturday Otubo who returned an impressive 74 gross.

In the ladies division 1 (handicap 0 – 18) category, Lizzy Samuel playing off handicap 16 returned a gross score of 90 and 74 net to emerge as best net.

Grace Luka, playing off handicap 16, with 92 gross and 76 net took home the runner-up prize in the category.

Dibu Ojerinde finished as best net in the Super Veteran category after he played off 27 and returned 107 gross and 81 net.

The best net prize in the Veteran category went to A. Mandara after playing off handicap 18, with 89 gross and 71 net, while Martins Adaboh won the best gross prize after he returned 84 gross.

Moses Idoko emerged winner of the professional category with a mouth-watering N 3 million purse.

This was after Idoko played 66 gross to pocket N580,000, while Oche Odoh finished as runner-up with 68 gross to smile home with N510,000, and Musa Usman settled for the second runner-up prize of N380,000 after he returned 69 gross.

In the Auxiliary award category, Prince David won the award for the longest drive in the men’s category, while Mariam Abdulsalam won the longest drive women’s prize.

The nearest to the pin award in the men’s category went to Gabriel Godwin, while Veronica Muda won the nearest to the pin prize in the women’s category.(NAN) (www.nawww.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh

Industrialisation: Don advocates sustained investment in tech, education
Economy/Business

Industrialisation: Don advocates sustained investment in tech, education

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By Tiamiyu Arobani

Prof. Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, Senior Special Advisor to the President of African Development Bank on Industrialisation has advocated for sustained investment in education and technology for Nigeria’s industrialisation.

Oyelaran-Oyeyinka stated this at a lecture titled: “Divergent Outcomes: Asia and Africa Development Strategy” at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) as part of the unveiling of his latest book.

The book co-authored with Dr Oyebanke Abejirin was titled: “From Reversal of Fortune to Economic Resurgence: Industrialisation and Leadership in Asian Prosperity and Nigeria’s Regress”.

In his presentation, Oyelaran-Oyeyinka identified deliberate actions and visionary leadership as key requirements for the industralisation of Nigeria.

The book investigated the stark divergence in development outcomes between Nigeria and a group of Asian economies that began from similar starting points in the post-colonial period.

He explored the factors behind the rapid industrial growth of Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh, countries that began their post-colonial journey at similar levels of development as Nigeria.

Sharing his insights from the book, the author examined how four countries were able to transform key sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing and textiles, into competitive, export-oriented industries.

He noted that in contrast, in spite of possessing similar resources and initial conditions, Nigeria’s economy had faced slow development due to its over-reliance on oil exports and lack of diversification.

Oyelaran-Oyeyinka articulated what he termed Nigeria’s ‘reversal of fortune’, a situation in which a country once held an economic advantage over several Asian nations in income per capita and industrial potential now lagged behind.

He outlined three major causes for Nigeria’s underperformance, including the failure to transition from resource dependence to diversified industrial production.

Others, according to him, were resource-dependence resulting in shocks from volatility of oil-based revenues and persistent gaps in political leadership and institutional capacity.

“Industrialisation does not occur by accident. It requires deliberate action, visionary leadership and sustained investment in education, technology, and long-term policy planning.

“Countries that made early investments in these areas were able to build competitive economies that navigated external shocks and maintained steady growth.

“Nigeria, however, has struggled due to its continued dependence on commodity exports and the importation of finished goods, which has hindered the development of a robust industrial base.’’

The author expressed his unwavering faith in Nigeria’s manifest destiny of greatness, saying most nations that suffered “reversals” eventually overcame through persistence and leadership.

“I still believe in Nigeria’s manifest destiny of greatness,” he expressed optimism.

The event which generated frank discussions among academics, students and policymakers, sparked important dialogue about the challenges facing resource-rich countries and the need for visionary leadership to ensure sustainable development.

The LSE launch marked the second major stop on the book’s launch tour, following a lecture at Harvard University in Boston earlier this year while the next stop on the book tour would be at the University of Cambridge.

During the event, Oyelaran-Oyeyinka would continue his conversation on leadership in development, and the lessons African nations can learn from successful economies in Asia. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Halima Sheji

Scaling-up Nigeria/Pakistan bilateral relations
Features , Foreign

Scaling-up Nigeria/Pakistan bilateral relations

476 total views today

By Maureen Okon

Nigeria and Pakistan, both members of the Commonwealth of Nations and Developing-8, have enjoyed blossoming diplomatic and bilateral relations over the years.

The relations established on March 22, 1961, spans from trade to defence and cultural exchanges; it is growing deeper, with both countries building strong ties.

In 2023, Pakistani exports to Nigeria was approximated at 39.8 million dollars, consisting mainly of packaged medicaments, synthetic fabrics, and vinyl chloride polymers.

Pakistani imports from Nigeria are worth 565.09 million dollars in 2024, according to the UN COMTRADE database on international trade.

Some Pakistani imports from Nigeria are mineral fuels, oils, distillation products, oil seed, oleagic fruits, grain, seed, fruits, wastes of food industry, animal fodder, cotton, raw hides and skins, among others.

Both countries have benefited through the trade relationship and are working to strengthen their ties through trade delegations and business liaison.

In 2021, Pakistan energised its relations with Nigeria and Africa through the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), using the ‘’Engage Africa Policy’’ platform.

The policy, which was implemented to strengthen trade and economic ties with Nigeria, then went further to extend the relationship to other Africa countries by opening five new diplomatic missions in; Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Djibouti, and Ghana.

Weighing in on the relations, Retired Maj.-Gen. Sohail Khan, the High Commissioner of Pakistan to Nigeria, said that his country’s historical relationship with Nigeria continued to deepen with engagement in trade, cultural and military exchanges.

Khan said that both countries would continue to strive harder to further improve their bilateral ties.

In 2024, Pakistan collaborated with Beauty West Africa (BWA) exhibition held in Lagos, where the Pakistani ambassador said that the collaboration between his country and Nigeria on raw material for beauty products should be strengthened to enhance investments both countries.

The BWA seventh edition was termed as the biggest beauty exhibition of its kind in recent times which had in attendance more than 300 exhibitors from 52 countries.

Khan said the collaboration between his country and Nigeria on raw material for beauty products should be strengthened to enhance investments in the country.

The 7th edition of the beauty show was termed as the biggest of its kind in recent times, and it had more than 300 exhibitors from 52 countries in attendance.

The countries included Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Korea, Egypt, China, India, Europe, the Middle East, and South America, among others.

According to Khan, the collaboration is a win-win situation where the exchange of goods and services is the bedrock of the relationship of Nigeria and Pakistan.

“Nigeria has got a lot of stuff available in terms of raw materials for the beauty products, hence the need for collaboration; Pakistani investors can come and make investments over here.

“They can establish some small manufacturing units, which in turn both countries can benefit from this kind of joint ventures and joint collaboration, so it has to be a win-win situation for both sides,” Khan said.

The envoy said that the existing cultural similarities between both countries for ages had created the platform for the exchange at the BWA show.

Some Pakistani exhibitors lauded the organisers of the exhibition for creating a platform for more than 52 countries to showcase their beauty products in Nigeria.

They said that the platform provided opportunities to connect and network with one another.

Worthy of mention, Nigeria and Pakistan have forged strategic bonds in counter-terrorism, and border security to reinforce bilateral military relations.

Recently, Gen. Shahir Mirza, the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Pakistan, paid a strategic visit to Gen. Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff.

The strategic meeting marked a significant step toward reinforcing military cooperation, specifically in the areas of training, intelligence sharing and counterterrorism.

The collaboration saw both countries training over 2,000 Nigerian military officers who received training from various Pakistani military institutions, as part of the collaboration to boost defence capabilities of both countries.

The training initiative aims to enhance Nigeria’s military operations against insurgency and terrorism.

Mirza said that Nigeria was a continental powerhouse with geo-strategic importance to Pakistan.

He expressed his country’s readiness to further collaborate with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).

On his part, Musa said that the Nigerian Military would continue to build its capacity in collaboration with the Pakistani Armed Forces.

The chief of defence staff empahsised the importance of having a strategic collaboration between both countries in the area of training, particularly, Special Forces training; management of veteran affairs, border security and intelligence.

He added that these collaborative efforts had birthed the training of over two thousand officers in various Pakistani military institutions.

The Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that Mirza met with Nigeria’s defense minister as well as the chiefs of the army, navy and air force.

“The meetings focused on challenges faced by both countries, especially in the domain of counterterrorism, as well as broader defense cooperation and regional security.

“During the separately-held meetings, both sides engaged in discussions on challenges faced by both countries especially in the domain of Counter Terrorism (CT) and areas of mutual interest, including security, defense cooperation, and the evolving international / regional landscape.

“Both sides reaffirmed the resolve to further enhance defense and military collaboration between both militaries,” ISPR said.

The two countries enjoy excellent relations in defence and military domains. Nigerian Air Force has inducted 3 JF-17 thunder jets and 10 Super Mushak aircrafts in their fleet procured from Pakistan.

Under Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme, Pakistan offers scholarships to Nigerian students; there are approximately 2500 Pakistanis living in Nigeria.

In the light of similar security and economic challenges faced by Nigeria and Pakistan, analysts say deepening bilateral relations between the two countries will be mutually beneficial.

They say enhancing counter-terrorism and defence cooperation has become imperative as both nations battle onslaughts from insurgents.(NANFeatures)

***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.

UTME glitch: Faith-based organisations demand investigation, laud Oloyede
Education

UTME glitch: Faith-based organisations demand investigation, laud Oloyede

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By Muhyideen Jimoh

The leadership of some faith-based organisations have called for a transparent investigation into the technical glitch that marred the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The call, led by the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society (AIS) and Dominion Chapel International Church (DCIC), followed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) admission that a technical error had affected some candidates’ results.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that JAMB confirmed that a technical fault had impacted the results of over 370,000 candidates across 157 centres in Lagos and the South-East.

This admission came after a review of the results by stakeholders invited by the Board, following widespread concerns about unusually low scores.

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, apologised for the unfortunate incident and announced that affected candidates would be given the opportunity to retake the examination starting from Friday.

NAN reports that over 1.9 million candidates sat the 2025 UTME, of which 1.5 million, representing 78 per cent scored below 200 out of a possible 400 marks.

Sheikh Fuad Adeyemi, National Chief Imam, Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society with Archbishop John Praise Daniel of Dominion Chapel Intl Church at a news conference

Speaking at an interfaith press conference on Friday in Abuja, Sheikh Fuad Adeyemi, National Chief Imam of AIS, and Archbishop John Praise Daniel, Presiding Bishop of DCIC, commended Oloyede for his transparency and leadership.

Adeyemi emphasised the need for an urgent and open investigation into the system failure.

“While we unequivocally stand with the JAMB Registrar at this moment, we respectfully urge that the entire process leading to the system glitch be subjected to a thorough and transparent investigation.

“Any individual or group found culpable should be appropriately sanctioned.

“We believe this crucial step will not only restore public confidence in JAMB’s processes but also serve as a deterrent against future negligence or sabotage,” he said.

In his remarks, Archbishop Daniel appealed for calm among affected candidates and their parents, urging them to approach the resit with renewed determination.

He also noted the need to take candidates’ mental health more seriously, calling on parents to be more closely involved in supporting their wards.

“Our hearts go out to all the parents and candidates affected by the recent JAMB system glitch.

“We understand how distressing this must have been after months of preparation and anticipation.

“Please know that you are not alone in this moment. Your resilience is deeply admired. Thankfully, JAMB has provided a second opportunity to retake the exam,” he said.

Both leaders praised Oloyede for his visionary leadership and the transformative reforms implemented since his appointment in 2016.

They noted that his decision to acknowledge the error, apologise, and offer remedial measures demonstrated commendable accountability.

“We call on the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to publicise the actions of the JAMB Registrar as a model for other public officials to emulate,” they stated. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

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