Television Nigerian

According to Dr. Chibuzor Onyeama, founder and CEO of Black Ancestral Native Communities (BANC) and an expert in labor migration, irregular migration and unemployment issues may be resolved if the Nigerian government implements a robust industrial system to engage its people.

During the Professional Public Speaking & Leadership Academy’s (PPSLA AFRICA) 2025 Nelson Mandela Leadership Lecture and Impact Makers Award in Abuja, Onyeama gave the advice. He emphasized the importance of keeping young Nigerians, whom he described as having a lot of talent, involved in local activities that would allow them to support themselves rather than looking to migrate abroad to work.

Buttressing his point, he claimed that when communities are industrialized, young people can work where they need to and that there won’t be any haphazard issues related to their desire to leave Nigeria.

“I have outlined a solution that I refer to as the Cirxuitious Industrialization Scheme, which is a program that can build small community industries within where people live,” he said. Due to its indirectness and internality within our societies, it is circuitous. It is small-scale but manufacturing-based, allowing young people to find work in their communities.

Young people have been kept at home if the employment issue has been resolved. However, if you don’t have the chance to interact with everyone who is qualified, including those who aren’t, and if you haven’t helped them develop the skills they need to solve problems, you’re giving them tickets or even making them want to leave, which is what the Japanese are all about.

Peer pressure, according to the BANC founder, is a major cause of irregular migration and criminal activity, particularly cybercrime.

He believes that the Nigerian government could improve his job by establishing opportunities for young Nigerians to contribute to the country’s socioeconomic structure.

“Everyone starts evaluating your accomplishments and comparing you to your friends when you get older, which is how you discover a group of them committing crimes and figuring out strategies to stay alive, which is how you have today’s Yahoo Yahoo boys.”

They are dangerous despite their insignificance, and they are also making other young Nigerians feel very ashamed. You would almost question whether you have committed any crimes as a Nigerian when you leave the country and observe how people treat your passport.

“Therefore, we are stating that it is feasible to retain young people by consciously constructing infrastructure and solution-based industrial systems that can keep the young people involved so that they can unleash their talent and be prepared to work for themselves.”

In his eloquent homage to Nelson Mandela, Onyeama called on Nigerian leaders to fight and work toward improving the nation by electing leaders who would be dedicated to developing young people with ability and competence.

Read Also: Echono Vows to Tackle Mismanagement of Funds in TETFund

In the run-up to the general elections in 2027, he called on Nigerians to “look to find the best of the best.” And place them where they belong. You have the best measurement ever when you follow the instructions to place square pegs in square holes and round pegs in round holes.

He lamented that the multiple leadership and policy crises that the young Nigerian population was currently facing in the nation were caused by “political distancing,” in which the leaders are elderly and have few years to live.

Sometimes you wonder how long some of our leaders will have to live to witness the chaos and destruction they have wrought in our country. Subsequently, you discover that these individuals are in their later years and are taking the lead.

The migration specialist said that ending the growing trend of “money politics,” which was impeding active youth participation in politics, was a necessary first step in electing young people to leadership roles as a means of resolving the numerous issues Nigeria was now facing.

“How will you consciously contribute to the improvement of a future in which you both know and clearly refuse to participate? It can occasionally impact leadership quality, thus we know that young leadership will address this issue.

It is important to minimize money politics. because young people in Nigeria lack the financial resources necessary to participate in politics.

“You are an ambitious young guy with a proven track record who has tried his hand at successful endeavors. It’s money politics, so when you want to move into a certain role, someone asks you how much money you have in the bank.

In order to solve this nation’s problems, we should stop engaging in money politics and start taking practical measures. Given that we have all the necessary resources to address Nigeria’s current issue, it is not difficult for us to fix.

African leaders were encouraged by Dr. Lotanna Okoye, Director General of the Professional Public Speaking & Leadership Academy (PPSLA AFRICA), to take inspiration from Nelson Mandela’s selfless life and leadership style.

“Today is Nelson Mandela’s international day.” We hope to teach the present leaders about Mande­la’s way of life, the leadership style and system he employed when he was alive, and all of the sacrifices he made for Africa.

“In addition, we wish to improve the Teens Resource International Center, which is a piece of infrastructure here in Abuja. where we shall raise and educate young people who will follow Mandela’s example as global leaders.

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund’s (TETFUND) executive secretary, Sonny Togo Echono, would most likely have been known as the “action administrator” if Nigeria had been under military rule. Nigeria’s governance vocabulary was enriched with various modifications and infusions by successive military governments over the course of several years and decades. “Action Governor” was one such remedy that rose to and remained popular in public discourse in the past. It was a reference to proactive military superintendents who may have been overbearing in their attitude to public service. The Army Colonels Mobolaji Johnson, David Bamigboye, Robert Adebayo, and Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, who oversaw Lagos, Kwara, Western, and Midwestern states, were selected as Action Governors in recognition of their contributions to the advancement of infrastructure development in their respective areas. Similarly decorated was Mohammed Buba Marwa, the current chairperson of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), a Brigadier-General who oversaw Lagos State from 1996 to 1999.

Marwa was in the forefront of crime prevention, health institution reform, and road rehabilitation. He established a police-military task force called Operation Sweep as a crime-containment measure, and many other states followed suit. He completed all of these under his honorific title of “action administrator.” A few other states followed Marwa’s example, most notably Oyo under Colonel Ahmed Usman and his Kogi State counterpart, Bzigu Lassa Afakirya, who initiated Operation Gbale (gbale is the Yoruba word for sweeping) and Operation Hot Chase, respectively. Because of his Yoruba accent on the word “action,” Raji Rasaki, a former military administrator of Lagos State, was also known as the “akson” governor. His extensive demolition of illegal buildings is what people remember him for, as it greatly reduced the number of slums and shanties in Lagos. The state’s real estate market would then be impacted by this.

Ever since he was appointed to his current position a little more than three years ago, Echono has proven that he can speak tough and follow through with equal tenacity. Echono has made it a point to emphasize over and over again that a new sheriff is working at TETFUND. He started his reformation program by addressing long-standing cabals in the organization that had taken over the authority to decide contract awards. In order to change our memories, Echono was among the first civil servants to be put through the paces of a new due process and public procurement system in the early years of the current democratic age. Prior to his current schedule, he served in a number of ministries and has “preached the gospel” at his many “bus stops” in public service. He has never been discouraged, regardless of how the establishment responds.

Read Also: Ohanaeze Lagos Tensions Rise: Ogbonna Justifies Actions, Ubochi Announces Suspension

He made enemies on his own initiative because he insisted on reforms and reorientation. In an effort to manipulate the story, “victims” of Echono’s new teaching launched a fierce media campaign against him. The national assembly was notified of the war’s escalation and was presented with multiple petitions accusing Echono of massive fiscal violations and corruption. As was to be expected, anti-corruption organizations, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), were interested in the undesirable information that was coming from TETFUND. Echono’s traducers were upset to learn that every time TETFUND’s systems and his personal profile underwent the rigorous testing of serial integrity, he consistently returned positive test results and clean bills of health. As he took action to halt the pre-existing market in TET­FUND under his supervision, Echono encountered this situation.
The huge stick has subsequently been wielded by Echono for scholars who have chosen to “defraud” the government after taking advantage of the government’s kindness by receiving grants and scholarships to study abroad. Across all universities, certain instructors and lecturers have benefited greatly from government financing for additional study overseas. By continuing to serve their primary employers, they are typically expected to return to Nigeria and give back to the system that provided them with such benevolence. On the other hand, many times, some students use bad currency to pay back the government, who helps them. In a sense, they “defect” or flee. In light of the nation’s current economic circumstances, which are influenced by inflation and currency devaluation, Echono has now announced that the government will no longer operate as Santa Claus.

Instead, the government would now encourage its researchers and intellectuals to develop their capacity domestically. Nigerian military institutions, for example, provide basic and advanced training to military officers from many foreign nations. The Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA) and Nigerian Defence College (NDC) have a small number of international students in almost every graduating class. Why wouldn’t advanced instruction be provided to indigenous scholars in home-based institutions that have been retooled and recalibrated? Indeed, faculty members from Nigeria make up a large number of universities and training centers worldwide. These include popular locations such as South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Within reasonable financial constraints, Nigeria can look inward and influence colleagues who want advanced exposure and retraining from experienced Nigerian technocrats and academicians back home.

Echono has also investigated forensically how big tertiary institutions are in relation to the amount of money they can get. In an area where some citadels have populations in the upper five figures, Echono thinks it odd that other institutions have far fewer pupils than the pitiful 100! The example of a polytechnic with only 30 students that had been in operation for four years and was still receiving public financing was once brought up by an anxious Echono. According to him, the government’s goals as expressed through the TETFUND are incompatible with such an example. He added that accountability is crucial when it comes to allocating funds. In the event that unused funds are found in the accounts of benefiting organizations, they will be retrieved and transferred to educational institutions with higher performance ratings. Echono’s frequent criticism of abandoned projects at the country’s public tertiary institutions is equally aggressive. His supervision will no longer let such unattractive stumps in institutional landscapes or monuments to waste.

Recent warnings from Echono cautioned TETFUND-administered organizations against misusing and abusing intervention funding. Echono issued a warning during a two-day strategic workshop for directors of academic planning, physical planning, and ICT that started in Abuja on Monday, July 7, 2025, that failing to use resources to their full potential could result in defaulting institutions being removed from the list. He reiterated the government’s resolve to support the country’s postsecondary education system by filling in procedural loopholes and making sure that institutions are fully aware of the agency’s intervention guidelines. Underperformance and poor management would not be tolerated, the head of the TETFUND stated. “Institutions that fail to access, use, or retire funds in accordance with TETFUND guidelines, or those that underperform in key academic or operational benchmarks, may be delisted,” Echono reaffirmed.

With his thoughtful interventions, Echono has elevated a public service that is typically perceived as dreary, uninspired, and tepid. His administration style has been defined by frequent interactions and interfaces with important tertiary education mill owners. The Echono milieu has broadened the range of engagements, since previously the only frequent attendees at meetings with the leadership of TETFUND were vice chancellors, rec­tors, and provosts at the top of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Under Echono’s direction, other important players in the tertiary institutions’ top crust—particularly the heads of the administrative, finance, and developmental departments—have also gained the support of TETFUND. The organization’s meeting room in the Abuja headquarters building is constantly bustling with activity. The goal of all of them is to improve the performance of the nation’s tertiary education system so that it can produce the skilled labor required to propel growth and development.

Future research will focus on Echono’s metamorphosis because he was a dedicated public servant who gained his start in the back of the bureaucracy, where he excelled for three and a half decades prior to his current job. He retired in early 2022 after entering the federal civil service in 1987. Throughout his years of service, he held a variety of positions in a number of ministries. “Civil servants can be seen but their voices are not to be heard,” according to the civil service’s rulebook. It was from that same system that Echono developed. But as he continues to serve the country, his current job description has brought out the more outspoken, outgoing side of him.

*A Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors (FANA), Olusunle, PhD, FANA, teaches creative writing as an adjunct professor at the University of Abuja.

Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the federal government has charged that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sounded a false political alarm about President Bola Tinubu’s delays in selecting ambassadors for the nation.
Alkasim Abdulkadir, Yusuf Tuggar’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, stated in a statement that the government will not be forced to make rash decisions about ambassadorial appointments by politically astute individuals.
The remark reportedly follows the ADC’s prior criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration for failing to nominate ambassadors to Nigeria’s overseas missions.

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, stated in a statement released on Sunday that the development is “embarrassing.”

Nigeria’s diplomatic missions are still fully operational and successfully represented by seasoned foreign service officers, including seasoned chargés d’affaires, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, despite the ADC’s assertions to the contrary.

It further stated that the ADC lacks knowledge of Nigeria’s foreign policy and that ambassadors will not be appointed hastily for political reasons.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs vehemently disputes the ADC’s recent assertion about Nigeria’s international representation and the speed at which ambassadors are appointed under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.

The statement stated, “The Ministry believes that the ADC’s statements are alarmist, politically driven, and essentially inaccurate regarding the practicalities of international diplomacy.”

In keeping with his Renewed Hope Agenda, President Tinubu is striving to make sure that future postings are motivated by merit, competence, national interest, and strategic alignment, the Ministry further stated. Ambassadorial appointments are a sovereign prerogative.

It stated that recent diplomatic initiatives spearheaded by Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and involvement in organizations like ECOWAS, the African Union, and BRICS demonstrate Nigeria’s strong international presence.

“The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs’ recent high-level engagements show how strong Nigeria’s external connections are.

A sovereign function, the appointment of ambassadors should not be hurried for political expediency or partisan appeasement. President Tinubu is dedicated to changing the foreign service structure in accordance with his Renewed Hope Agenda so that future postings are motivated by competence, national interest, merit, and strategic alignment rather than expediency or favoritism.

Read Also: Youth Body in Anambra Denounces Attack on Ezenwafor

According to the statement, Nigeria is neither silent nor uninvolved in global events.

The Deportees of Venezuela
Additionally, the Ministry denied criticism of Nigeria’s reaction to the reported U.S. proposal to deport Venezuelan prisoners to Nigeria and other African nations.

Recall that Tuggar’s response in a television interview was described as diplomatically risky by the ADC. However, the Foreign Affairs Ministry insisted that such communication must be transparent and is a characteristic of contemporary diplomacy.

The ADC was warned not to exaggerate diplomatic matters in order to gain political influence.

Nigeria’s answer was unambiguous, morally sound, and in line with its sovereign rights. It ignores the reality of contemporary diplomacy, when openness and responsible communication are becoming more and more important, to argue that the Foreign Minister’s public expression of Nigeria’s stance was a diplomatic gaffe.

“The ADC’s remarks reveal a lack of knowledge about foreign policy procedures as well as political opportunism. The use of diplomacy as a means of partisan assault is unacceptable. The Ministry said, “Sensationalism and domestic political point-scoring are too valuable to damage Nigeria’s international reputation.”

A youth organization called the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has denounced the assault on Chief Jude Ezenwafor, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate for governor in Anambra State in the November 8 election, and demanded that those responsible be apprehended and prosecuted.

On Friday night, gunmen in Abuja shot Ezenwafor.

The shooting, which took place in the Wuse II neighborhood when Ezenwafor was on his way home from an appointment, was characterized as a horrific act by the group, which is the leading politico youth organization in the South East.

The group said in a statement issued in Awka and signed by Comrade Goodluck Ibem, its president general, that “this is not just an assault on an individual but an attack on our democratic values and the very fabric of our society.”

We are extremely troubled by the increasing wave of lawlessness, intimidation, and violence that jeopardizes our great country’s peaceful political environment.

As Chief Ezenwafor is presently undergoing treatment in a hospital, we offer our sincere condolences and wishes for a speedy recovery. He should be honored and safeguarded for his dedication to serving the people of Anambra State, particularly the young people.

It stated: “We call for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators behind this dastardly act,” and that law enforcement agencies must act immediately to investigate the tragedy. As the Anambra 2025 gubernatorial elections draw near, this must be a forceful reminder to our security services to increase their efforts to protect all candidates, members of political parties, and citizens.

Read Also: Firm Challenges N19.4bn Award, Seeks Lagos CJ’s Intervention

Additionally, the group called on residents, political leaders, and stakeholders to join forces against intimidation and violence in our democratic process, stating that “We must foster an environment where dialogue and peace prevail over fear and violence.”

It also called on the relevant authorities to make sure all candidates have enough security and to put policies in place to stop the increasing trend of political violence. Those who attempt to subvert our democratic values by using violent methods must be subject to the full force of the law, and the rule of law must triumph.

As a coalition representing the South East’s youth, it declared its opposition to all acts of violence.

It urged the public, supporters, and members to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity and to report it to the proper authorities.

The enforcement dispute over a ₦19.4 billion arbitral award in favor of Hanson Dredging & Marine Services Ltd. has taken a new turn after the respondent, SANEF Creatives Ltd., filed an appeal against the enforcement action and asked the Chief Judge of Lagos State to hear the case.

‶

In the high-stakes legal battle resulting from a terminated dredging and reclamation contract at the National Theatre, Lagos, there have been allegations of forum shopping and abuse of judicial procedure. Hanson characterizes the maneuver as a deliberate ploy to thwart justice.

The ongoing legal battle is a result of Hanson Dredging’s disagreement with SANEF, a company owned by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Bankers’ Committee, regarding the dredging and reclamation contract’s illegal termination.

The contract was signed in November 2021, but in May 2022, SANEF insisted that the 36-week period had passed, ignoring delays brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and administrative obstacles.

After that, Hanson Dredging, who was represented by Dr. Charles Mekwunye, SAN, filed for arbitration in 2023 and claimed that the CBN, then-Governor Godwin Emefiele, had illegally taken ₦4.2 billion in advance payments out of their account.

Ayo Fanimokun, the sole arbitrator, ruled in a decision dated December 30, 2024, that SANEF had broken the terms of the contract by ending it before Hanson had finished more than 60% of the work.

In Suit No. LD/6707GCM/2023, which was recently transferred to Justice O. A. Sunmonu of the Lagos State High Court by the Chief Judge of Lagos State from Justice Olukolu, Hanson Dredging attempted to enforce the judgment of ₦19.4 billion following the final arbitration proceedings.

However, two more claims on the same subject matter were filed by SANEF through its attorney Paul Usoro & Co. Suit No. LD/8056GCM/2024 and Suit No. LD/9221GCM/2025, the latter of which is presently before Justice Olukolu.

The legal firm then petitioned Justice Kazeem Alogba, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, to move the enforcement suit from Justice Sunmonu and combine the three lawsuits before Justice Olukolu. J

The company has also filed several petitions with the Chief Judge on the subject, including one dated May 26, 2025, in which it charges Justice Sunmonu with procedural overreach and judicial bias.

It asserted that in spite of an ongoing application for consolidation, the judge displayed “unrestrained ambition” to hear all relevant facts.

SANEF’s attorney and former NBA President Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN, contended in the petition that Justice Sunmonu’s actions were beyond the parameters of Order 41 Rule 7(2) of the Lagos High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, which gives the Chief Judge consolidation authority.

Additionally, according to his petition, Justice Sunmonu demanded that the case that was previously before Justice Olukolu be moved to his court.

Due to the possibility of a miscarriage of justice, it requested that the Chief Judge redistribute all of the cases involved to either Justice Olukolu or another judge, except Justice Sunmonu.

However, Hanson Dredging rejected the claims as abusive, deceptive, and a risky attempt to browbeat the judiciary in response to the petition, as stated by its lead counsel, Dr. Charles Mekwunye, SAN.

“Unprofessional and scandalous,” Dr. Mekwunye said of the petition dated May 26, 2025, adding that no judge should have to endure such public humiliation for carrying out their judicial duties.

Paul Usoro SAN personally argued the petition in public on May 27, 2025, Mekwunye said, a move he said was intended to influence the judiciary.

In the petition, he also mentioned disparaging terms like “judicial tyranny” and “naked ambition,” which he said were blatant insults to Justice Sunmonu and the Lagos judiciary as a whole.

Additionally, Dr. Mekwunye expressed worry about what he called “abuse of court process” by filing three different lawsuits over the same transaction and attempting to utilize the chief judge’s elevated position to get around the enforcement processes.

Although SANEF aims for consolidation, he claimed that its goal seems to be more forum shopping—looking for a court that is more lenient—than judicial efficiency.

Citing appellate decisions like Emperion v. Aflon and Ngere v. Okuruket, which maintain that consent from both parties is necessary for consolidation and that it should never be granted where it could cause procedural confusion or injustice, Dr. Mekwunye emphasized that consolidation cannot be imposed unilaterally.

Additionally, he complained about Mr. Usoro’s portrayal of the court’s procedures on April 17, 2025, claiming that the decision only allowed SANEF to reply to Hanson’s request to enforce the arbitral award.

According to Mekwunye, Hanson Dredging’s application to execute its Arbitral Award and SANEF’s preliminary objection were the two motions slated for the hearing before Justice Sunmonu on April 17, 2025.

According to his allegations, Usoro asked the court to adjourn until the Chief Judge responded to his petitions and told them that a fresh suit had been brought to overturn the award.

Read Also: Tensions Rise as Clash Over Lagos Park Leaves One Dead

A letter to the Chief Judge does not function as a stay of proceedings or provide an excuse for postponing a legitimate enforcement petition, according to Mekwunye, who said he was against the move and described the new litigation as a flagrant abuse of the legal system.

Usoro then filed a flurry of petitions and applications, he said, including one alleging tampering with court records, a serious charge that should be handled separately and not used to halt ongoing proceedings.

By attempting to mandate that Justice Olukolu hear all suits, Mekwunye further charged the SANEF’s attorney with a deliberate attempt to influence the court assignment system.

“No litigant has the right to choose which judge hears their case,” Mekwunye wrote in his response letter. Judicial assignment is solely the Chief Judge’s prerogative, and any attempt to interfere with that process is an assault on the judiciary itself.

“We thus appeal to his Lordship not to lend the weight of your exalted office to a law firm which is behaving as a law unto itself, grossly abusing the process of the court by filing several suits in respect of the said matter, nominating the particular judge to hear these various suits along the way insulting and humiliating judges and denigrating the judiciary under your watch,” Mekwunye said, pushing the Chief Judge to disregard SANEF’s petition.