General News
Peter Obi and the Arrows of 2023
By Justus Nwakanma
There is a salient rule in archery, in warfare or combat: Always choose the right arrows when shooting at your target, or he would walk away in swaggering triumphalism.
Peter Obi
Sadly, those who shot at Peter Obi recently with the arrow of Pandora Papers, using the spindling bows of Premium Times, an online news platform, failed to adhere to this obvious logic. They chose fragile, blunted arrows embellished with furbelows of lies, deceit and hoodwink. They simply aimed at the wrong target.
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), claims that its project, Pandora Papers is the largest investigation in journalism history, which exposes a shadow financial system that benefits the world’s most rich and powerful.
The latest report is said to involve
over 600 journalists in 117 countries who thaw through files from 14 sources for months, in what has translated to a leak of almost 12 million documents that reveal hidden wealth, tax evasions and money laundering.
Indeed, widespread corruption among public servants and leaders is an obstacle to social and economic development, particularly in developing countries such as Nigeria. It undermines democracy, destroys the credibility of government and erodes the essence of human living and existence.
Therefore, any intervention at increasing public service transparency, strengthening accountability or totally eliminating graft should be encouraged.
However, such interventions as the Pandora Papers, should not be a misrepresentation of facts. They should not be used as tools for witch hunting or damaging perceived political enemies.
Reading through the report by Premium Times, it is safe to conclude that it was a weaponized narrative shot from the political trenches of 2023; it was a debilitating whiff of conjecture and embellished anecdotes, without value or validity, devoid of substance or sustenance.
In a gale of presumptuous arrogance, it tried to draw legitimacy to its superficiality, even when the facts it presented were obviously hollow and contradictory.
The entire report reeks in suggestiveness and incitement; was judgemental, reproachfully deprecatory, and a well-greased projectile intended to perforate Obi’s personality, destroy his business empire and rubbish his growing political influence.
Its repeated use of the jaundiced phrase, ‘Obi could be charged,’ is a premium trial in which Obi had already been found guilty even before the article was written.
The report enviously quivered at Peter Obi as being widely regarded in Nigeria as an advocate of good governance, openness, and transparency. That’s right. Obi is not just an advocate, he is a template for good governance, openness, financial transparency and prudential management of public and private resources. And here, as the Yorubas say, is the koko. This is exactly what the premium trial by Premium Times set out to discredit.
One had expected to read an exclusive on how Peter Obi dipped his ‘sticky, sleazy’ fingers in the treasury of Anambra State and deprived the people of their Commonwealth and patrimony.
One had expected to read how Peter Obi did not leave 75 billion naira in the coffers of the Anambra State as he normally says, but converted the money to personal use. Readers would have loved to know how Obi illegally amassed so much wealth by duping Anambra and Nigerians; or the contracts he received from the government and converted the money to private use. We didn’t find that.
But the Pandora Papers with the mentality of an archeologist, dragged Obi to the crime field, hoping to excavate the relics and reasons of our failed nationhood strapped to his body.
Is it not ridiculous, that the report took a preposterous swipe at Obi’s speeches, feminine voice and self-effacing plebeian demeanour, then concluded that there is something he is hiding “beyond the facade of priggish speeches and appearances.”
On Obi’s investment in Monaco, the report said “the city does not charge wealth tax, property tax, investment income tax, and capital gains tax,” then it wondered whether it was this mouth-watering tax regime that attracted Obi to Monaco.
The answer is rhetorically affirmative. There is no investor that would not want to invest in countries where tax regimes are favourable and friendly. Did Obi break any law in this regard? No he didn’t.
Given the provisions of Section Six (6) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Obi said he dutifully resigned as a Director of Next. Common reasoning infers that the date a change is effected in the list of trustees or directors of a company is not necessarily the day a member resigned. What would have been in contention is that Obi did not resign. Again, he broke no law in this regard.
Many of the offshore businesses the Pandora Papers call hidden offshore treasures of the rich and the powerful are indeed some legitimate investments some of these people made before they became public servants.
In Peter Obi’s case, Next which the report said birthed his Nexus of hidden businesses was formed in 1991, 16 years before he became governor. The sponsors of the report and their hatchet men did not do a thorough job, but displayed outright ignorance when the report admitted it did not know what businesses Next engaged in. It also did not find anything in the records of the company suggestive of money laundering or fraud. So why the fuss about Next?
Rather, it questioned why a company should be registered with the names of family members, jointly owned or not. It celebrated its loathing for Obi and his accomplishments by questioning why there should even be a change of name or that of the directors. Again, Obi did not break any local or known international law by registering a business using family identities.
On failing to pay his taxes, Obi has also discredited the report. Recently while appearing as a guest at Arise TV, he said he has paid over N1bn tax to Nigeria In 20 Years.
He said: “The money I own here I pay tax. don’t forget I was a subject of a tax probe about two years ago and I showed evidence that in the last 20 years, I have consistently paid my tax and I have never paid less than N50m annually, so I pay my tax.”
Already, the Pandora Papers are bleeding profusely, as world leaders drag them to the slab, faulting every aspect of the reports and denying any wrongdoing.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis
said the allegations are an attempt to influence elections in his country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin through Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov who questioned the reliability of the “unsubstantiated” information said they didn’t see any hidden wealth of Putin’s inner circle in there.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who with six members of his family was linked to 13 offshore companies has denied the report as completely false.
Chile’s President Sebastián Piñera denied the information linked to him.
Interestingly, the Pandora Pandora Papers’ investigations and conclusions are based on three strands: “hidden wealth, tax evasions and money laundering”.
Did the report show any evidence that Peter Obi stole or hid state assets in his offshore companies or evaded tax in Nigeria or engaged in any form of money laundering? The answer is a capital NO.
Earlier, I stated that the Pandora Papers’ report on Obi was just a 2023 arrow disguised as an investigative report.
Who are these hooded marksmen? A convergence of disgruntled politicians obsessed with Obi’s growing stature as one of Nigeria’s finest politicians and entrepreneurial icons.
They were rattled with the success the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) recorded in the 2019 Presidential election with Peter Obi as the Vice Presidential Candidate. They are afraid that with the recent permutations, Peter Obi may likely get the ticket of the PDP as the presidential candidate or return as the vice presidential candidate. They are not comfortable with a man who has been transparent in his acquisitions, frugal in lavishness, theological in thoroughness, dogmatic in merit and
devoted to the Nigerian project.
They simply do not want a competent leader in Aso Rock, so that they can continue, like Eli’s two sons, Phinehas and Hophni, dipping their hands in the national wealth and take to themselves all the prime cuts of meat, leaving us, the flotsam and jetsam with nothing.
An African proverb says when all the water has gone, only the rocks and stones will still remain in the riverbed. Peter Obi bears Okwute (rock) as a traditional title. When all the water has gone, he will still remain one of Nigeria’s brightest pebbles.
*Nwakanma, a journalist, wrote in from Lagos.
Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, governor, Anambra State, has approved an indefinite ban on graduation ceremonies in kindergarten, primary and secondary schools across the state as part of efforts to reduce the financial burden on parents.
Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, governor, Anambra State,
The directive was confirmed by Dr. Law Mefor, commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, in a statement issued on Friday.
According to the commissioner, the government deemed it necessary to clarify the policy following public inquiries and concerns over the scope of the ban.
Mefor explained that the directive applies to all graduation-related ceremonies in both public and private schools across the state.
He said the ban covers events described as graduation, passing-out, crossover or any other ceremony organised to mark the completion of kindergarten, primary or secondary school levels.
The government said the decision was taken to discourage unnecessary financial obligations often imposed on parents through elaborate school celebrations.
The commissioner clarified that students completing Senior Secondary School (SS3) are exempt from the directive.
However, he stressed that graduation ceremonies for SS3 students are not compulsory and may only be held without imposing any financial burden on students or their parents.
According to him, schools choosing to organise such ceremonies must ensure that no levies, compulsory contributions or hidden charges are demanded from parents.
Mefor warned that the state government would not hesitate to sanction any school that violates the directive.
He said schools found organising prohibited graduation ceremonies or imposing illegal charges on parents risk severe penalties, including possible closure.
The commissioner urged school proprietors and administrators to comply fully with the directive in the interest of parents and the education sector.
The state government said the policy is part of broader efforts to make education more affordable and eliminate unnecessary expenses associated with school activities.
Many parents have previously complained about the increasing costs of graduation ceremonies, including compulsory levies for gowns, entertainment, souvenirs and other related expenses.
The government expressed optimism that the directive would ease the financial pressure on families while encouraging schools to focus more on academic excellence than ceremonial activities.
General News
Universities, Polytechnics Submit 169 Entries for NASENI Research Commercialisation Grants
About 169 proposals from Nigerian institutions including universities, polytechnics, and research institutes spread across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones have entered for the NASENI Research Commercialization Grant Programme (NRCGP).
NASENI
The programme, an initiative of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), aimed at bridging the gap between research and industry, is designed to identify innovative research with strong commercial potential and support its transition from laboratories to the marketplace.
Speaking on the latest episode of the NASENI Window Podcast, recorded on yesterday at NASENI Studio, NASENI headquarters, Abuja, the Team Lead of the NRCGP and Deputy Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ms. Joy Elugbe, said the team received 169 proposals from eligible institutions across the country, including Universities, polytechnics and other research institutions.
Following the close of applications, and to ensure transparency and a rigorous selection process, NASENI engaged 21 professors with expertise across the Agency’s approved thematic areas to evaluate the originality and technical quality of the shortlisted proposals.
According to her, a rigorous preliminary screening reduced the number to 49 proposals after removing duplicate entries and submissions that failed to meet eligibility requirements while the Agency’s Innovation Hub assessed their commercial viability to determine their potential for market adoption.
“12 proposals, two from each geopolitical zone, have progressed to the due diligence stage before the final selection of six grant beneficiaries will be done. The objective is not simply to fund research but to invest in innovations that can successfully reach the market and deliver real impact,” Elugbe explained.
The NRCGP was conceived to address one of Nigeria’s longstanding innovation challenges which is the research breakthroughs that remain on the shelves due to inadequate funding.
She said the initiative, championed by the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, targets promising research proposals with the capacity to generate economic value, create jobs and contribute to Nigeria’s industrial development.
“The idea behind the programme is to identify innovative and commercially viable research outputs that have remained on the shelves because of lack of funding, and provide the support needed to transform them into products that can impact the economy,” she said.
Explaining the concept of commercialization, Elugbe described it as the process of transforming an invention, research outcome or service into a profitable product that meets market needs. The NRCGP aligns with NASENI’s strategic focus on Collaboration, Creation and Commercialization (3Cs), stressing that innovation only achieves its full value when it reaches end-users.
She disclosed that following the launch of the application portal, the Proposal Evaluation Team went on nationwide sensitization campaigns across the six geopolitical zones to educate prospective applicants on the programme requirements and application process.
The sensitization exercise, complemented by radio awareness campaigns, significantly improved participation and the quality of submissions.
She further revealed that NASENI’s support would extend beyond grant disbursement, noting that successful innovators would be linked with the Agency’s Innovation Hub for continuous technical guidance, market advisory services and commercialization support to ensure their products achieve sustainable market success.
The NASENI Research Commercialization Grant Programme was inaugurated in March 2025 to promote innovation, technological advancement and the commercialization of research outcomes in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
General News
NITRA Conference: Stakeholders Seek Policy Reforms, Grassroots Innovation to Bridge Nigeria’s Digital
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector have called for comprehensive policy reforms, stronger infrastructure investment and grassroots innovation to bridge the country’s digital divide and improve global competitiveness.
NITRA Conference
The stakeholders made the call on Thursday during the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) Innovative and Scientific Conference held at Citi Height Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The conference, themed “Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide With Scientific Innovation,” brought together government agencies, technology experts, regulators, telecom operators, private sector players, academics and policymakers to examine strategies for accelerating digital inclusion through science and innovation.
A panel session titled “The Place of Policy and Infrastructure in Nigeria’s Quest for Global Competitiveness through Scientific Innovation: Roles of Different Stakeholders in Grassroots Mobilisation” examined the policy, infrastructure and human capital requirements for driving Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Panelists identified multiple taxation, high right-of-way (RoW) charges, inconsistent state government policies, poor electricity supply, inadequate digital infrastructure and limited grassroots innovation support as major impediments to expanding broadband access and improving Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
One of the speakers noted that transporting internet bandwidth from Lagos to Canada is cheaper than extending connectivity to some parts of Nigeria because of infrastructure bottlenecks and multiple charges imposed by sub-national governments.
According to the panelist, although some state governments claim to have abolished right-of-way charges, operators are still subjected to numerous levies under different names.
“When we talk about right-of-way limitation, it affects the cost of providing services in some states.
“Some states say right of way is free, but when they grant free right of way, they introduce development charges, education levies and infrastructure fees, making the so-called free right of way meaningless,” the panelist said.
The speaker called for harmonised national policies that would eliminate multiple taxation and reduce the cost of deploying telecommunications infrastructure across the country.
Another panelist representing telecommunications operators stressed that government policies should encourage fair competition rather than favour dominant market players.
According to the representative, improved collaboration between regulators and industry operators is necessary to ensure that policies support innovation, cybersecurity and sustainable sector growth.
Speaking on innovation development, a representative of a private sector innovation fund said Nigeria must begin identifying and nurturing innovators from an early age.
The representative said the organisation supports young innovators through essay competitions, grants and educational programmes aimed at exposing students to science, technology and entrepreneurship.
“We believe innovation begins from childhood.
“By helping children in primary and secondary schools think creatively, they become better positioned to seize opportunities as they grow.
“Innovators exist everywhere, including rural communities. What many of them need is exposure and opportunity,” the speaker said.
On cybersecurity, another panelist advocated greater investment in developing indigenous cybersecurity professionals through structured internship and mentorship programmes.
The panelist also suggested that young people involved in cybercrime should, where appropriate, be rehabilitated and equipped with legitimate digital skills rather than relying solely on imprisonment.
“Part of what we are known for is developing local talent.
“We recruit interns from schools and train them in cybersecurity.
“We should find ways to harness the abilities of young cyber offenders instead of simply sending them to prison,” the speaker said.
A representative from the computer society sector emphasised that Nigeria’s digital transformation should begin with reforms in basic education.
According to the representative, pupils should be introduced to coding, robotics, artificial intelligence and innovation at the primary school level.
“If Nigeria wants to become globally competitive, we must start from primary school.
“Our schools should not merely prepare students for examinations; they should become innovation clubs where children learn robotics, coding and problem-solving,” the panelist said.
The speaker also referenced the recent launch of an artificial intelligence university portal in Lagos designed to create a talent pipeline from primary education through tertiary institutions.
Addressing regulation, a media analyst cautioned against excessive government control that could discourage technological innovation.
According to the analyst, regulatory frameworks should emerge through stakeholder engagement and strike a balance between consumer protection and innovation.
“Regulation must come with dialogue.
“If regulation becomes excessive, it will stifle innovation.
“As Nigeria develops policies on artificial intelligence, there is a need to strike the right balance,” the analyst said.
On infrastructure protection, another panelist called for stronger public awareness campaigns to discourage vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure.
The speaker said community ownership and public education are essential to safeguarding digital infrastructure.
“When telecommunications infrastructure is vandalised, everyone suffers, including regulators, operators and consumers.
“People need to understand that protecting infrastructure benefits the entire society,” the panelist said.
Participants also highlighted the affordability of digital services as a major challenge to digital inclusion.
One speaker urged the Federal Government to consider subsidy mechanisms that could reduce the cost of internet-enabled devices.
“Telecommunications companies are businesses, not charity organisations.
“If government introduces subsidy policies similar to what has been done in other sectors, device prices can become more affordable,” the speaker said.
Another panelist stressed that reliable electricity remains fundamental to Nigeria’s digital competitiveness.
“The child who enjoys uninterrupted electricity and internet access cannot be compared with one who has gone months without power.
“For Nigeria to compete globally, every child should have reliable electricity, internet access and opportunities to acquire digital skills,” the speaker added.
Earlier, NITRA Chairman, Mr Chike Onwuegbuchi, said the conference was organised to provide a platform for stakeholders to examine policy options capable of strengthening scientific innovation and promoting grassroots technological development.
He noted that the Federal Government had demonstrated increasing commitment to building an innovation-driven economy through various strategic initiatives.
Founded in 2013, NITRA is the umbrella body of journalists covering Nigeria’s information and communications technology sector.
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