General News
Many Headaches of GMB, President-Elect
For President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, winning Nigeria’s tight election race is the easy part. Keeping Africa’s biggest country afloat will be harder, according to Aryn Baker of Time.
When he defeated President Goodluck Jonathan at the polls on March 28, Buhari made history as the first opposition candidate in Nigeria to unseat a president through the ballot box.
But the president-elect faces far greater challenges when, on May 29, he takes office and must confront Nigeria’s multiple problems, from an economy that has been hit by the falling price of oil, a government paralysed by corruption, and a security sector beset by one insurgency and threatened by another.
Time reported that if Buhari, 72, is to leave a legacy equal to his history-making victory, he will have to take on these challenges:
Cutting out corruption
Buhari’s All Progressives Congress [APC] party emblem is a broom, symbolizing his commitment to sweeping out the corruption that has plagued Nigeria for decades. He has a proven track record, too.
Unlike most of his predecessors and successors, he did not use his time in power, as military president from 1983 to 1985, to enrich himself, and still lives in the modest home of a retired general.
But even if he manages to resist the temptations of office, he will have to work with the political elites in his party who brought him to power, largely through Nigeria’s deeply entrenched system of political patronage and its attendant promises of favors and kickbacks.
“The APC line is that there will be no corrupt individuals in Buhari’s cabinet, but there will have to be some wiggle room,” says Elizabeth Donnelley, assistant head of the Africa program at London’s Chatham House foreign policy institute. “Deals have been made, and things are owed.”
Buhari may not be able to sweep away graft in the short term, but if he immediately strengthens existing anti-corruption institutions that had been intentionally weakened under previous administrations, such as Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and oversees the prosecution of standout cases, he will set the right tone.
A good place to start would be an investigation into the country’s petroleum ministry, where an estimated $20 billion in oil revenue is thought to have gone missing, according to a 2014 report by Nigeria’s Central Bank.
Taming Boko Haram
In tackling the Islamist insurgency that has killed more than 13,000 over the past six years, Buhari faces a three-fold problem. With significant help from neighbors Chad and Niger, along with an estimated 100 foreign mercenaries, Nigeria’s army has managed to push Boko Haram out of all but three local districts, liberating territory roughly the size of Belgium.
But in order to keep Boko Haram from re-grouping, Buhari will have to oversee a complete restructuring of an army hollowed out by years of neglect and corruption. He will also need to ramp up security and intelligence services as the insurgents, denied territory, resort increasingly to terror attacks.
Two assaults in the country’s northeast over the weekend took several dozen lives, underscoring the urgency.
Buhari will also need to strengthen the relationship with those countries assisting in the fight, whose leadership feels that they are doing the bulk of the work with little recognition.
The insurgency has devastated parts of Nigeria. The United Nation’s Deputy emergency relief coordinator, Kyung-wha Kang, says that some 1.5 million people have been displaced by the fighting, creating one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world today.
More than 300 schools have been severely damaged or destroyed, and less than 40% of health facilities, in a historically underserved area, remain operational. Farmers have fled fighting in the country’s agricultural heartland, leading to rising food costs and the risk of widespread malnutrition.
It’s the economy, stupid
Nigeria may have surged past South Africa to become the continent’s biggest economy last year, but that growth has slowed.
The International Monetary Fund estimates that economic growth will slow to 4.8% this year, down from 6.1% in 2014, and the Naira is down 17% against the dollar. Inflation is on the rise, and foreign reserves are at a historic low, largely due to the decline in oil and gas prices, which provide nearly 70% of government income.
The oil and gas sector only accounts for about 16% of GDP, which means that if Buhari can help the government diversify its revenue base to better incorporate Nigeria’s booming entertainment and telecoms sector, he could oversee a return to better growth.
The problem is that when it comes to economics, he is largely inexperienced, and will have select cabinet members with strong economic and business backgrounds.
“I believe that Buhari is going to choose a very strong, good team in various departments, but most especially in economy,” Nigeria’s Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka told Bloomberg TV. “I think, like me, he’s an economic illiterate.”
Keeping the oil-rich delta area onside
To secure Nigeria’s economic growth, Buhari will have to prioritize his government’s relationship with the militants that upended the oil industry for much of the early 2000s. In 2009, then Vice President Jonathan negotiated a temporary amnesty deal with the militants that saw an end to the attacks on oil pipelines and kidnappings of foreign oil workers that made the region a no-go area and drove the price of oil to record highs.
In exchange the militants, who claimed that they had long been denied the oil riches from their native lands, received generous payouts. The deal, which includes education stipends for some 30,000 residents, is set to expire at the end of 2015.
If Buhari is not prepared to extend multi-million dollar contracts with local powerbrokers that make up a large portion of the amnesty agreement, the militants could respond with violence, igniting an uprising in the south even as he tackles the Boko Haram insurgency in the north.
Buhari could extend the agreement, but better still would be to address the underlying issues: that the Delta’s oil wealth funds the nation with little in return for locals but environmental degradation and a few low-wage, low-skill jobs.
Young girls aspiring to delve into ICT careers have been advised to take advantage of the current versatility in the industry to create a niche for themselves. This was the view of participants at the just-concluded International Girls in ICT Day celebration organised by eBusinessLife Communication Limited, in Lagos.
The event, an initiative of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), seeks to encourage young girls to take up tech careers that will see them balance the gender disparity in the industry.
In a panel session moderated by Tech Life Media CEO and organiser of Women Entrepreneurs & Executives in Technology Summit (WEETS), Ugochi Emmanuel, top female tech executives narrated their foray into technology careers and advised the young girls on requirements and need to start early in the quest to make global impact in ICT.
Narrating her experience into a tech career, Chief Administrative Officer, Digital Realty, Nigeria, Dr. Nkechi Newton Denila noted that the difficulties of the past have been lightened up and more women have opportunities to excel in the field.
“Today, the landscape is vastly different. Governments, international organizations and private institutions across the globe are intentionally creating opportunities for girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The reason we are gathered here is part of that global commitment to ensuring that more women participate in ICT and related fields.
This presents a unique advantage for young girls. Many organizations now deliberately promote gender inclusion and equal opportunities in technology. Therefore, if you discover an area within ICT that excites you, pursue it wholeheartedly. This window of opportunity may not remain open forever. Do not wait for others to decide your future for you. Identify your passion, chart your course, and remain committed to achieving your goals.”
Associate Consultant and Information Security Analyst, Digital Encode, Itunuola Aderemi, advised the young girls to begin researching various technology disciplines, including Cybersecurity, Data Analytics and Data Science for areas that align fully with their interests and strengths. And to explore and discover any field that perfectly matched my aspirations.
While admitting the existence of such challenges as persistent stereotype against the female gender, Team Lead, Retails, New Horizons Nigeria, Glory Omole, noted that fortunately, organisations such as New Horizons are actively working to change that narrative. “Our leadership recognizes the urgent need to increase female participation in ICT. Considering that women still constitute a relatively small percentage of the global technology workforce, there is a deliberate effort to encourage more girls and women to enter the field.”
She however cautioned the young girls not to see this campaign as a competition between men and women, rather, it should be seen as a partnership where everyone is given equal opportunities to contribute and excel. “We want to see more women leading innovations, conducting research, developing applications and creating solutions that address societal challenges,” she enthused.
Speaking on the need for mentorship, Asst. Manager, Product & Services, Zoracom, Mistura Salaudeen, noted that stereotypes and confidence-related challenges still exist, but one effective way to overcome them is by drawing inspiration from women who have succeeded. She observed that across government, technology, finance, healthcare and other sectors, women are increasingly occupying leadership positions, serving as Chief Technology Officers, board members and executives.
“While challenges persist, I believe our focus should shift towards opportunities rather than obstacles. Artificial Intelligence, for example, has significantly lowered barriers to entry. AI enables individuals to develop business proposals, prepare presentations and execute ideas much faster than before. Therefore, instead of being discouraged by challenges, girls should leverage available technologies and communities to accelerate their growth and maximize emerging opportunities,” she advised.
Glory Omole also noted that technology is broad and offers diverse opportunities.
“There are numerous digital skills available today, but the choice of skill should depend largely on individual interests and career aspirations.
Fields such as Data Analytics, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Web Development and User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX) Design are among the high-demand skills available today. Each serves a distinct purpose.”
Corroborating this claim, Dr. Newton-Denila said: “It is important to understand that ICT now permeates virtually every profession. Whether in medicine, law, engineering, agriculture or business, technology has become an indispensable component of professional practice.
In medicine, for example, Artificial Intelligence is increasingly being used in diagnostics, telemedicine and robotic surgery. Similarly, in law, digital applications now support legal research, documentation and case management.”
The event has its theme as “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future”.
General News
Franklyn Ginger-Eke CEO The Rainbow Strategy Honoured with PR Power List 2026 Rising Voices Award
Dr Franklyn Ginger-Eke, Founder and Chief Strategist of The Rainbow Strategy, has been honoured with the PR Power List 2026 Award in recognition of his contributions to strategic communications and public relations in Nigeria.
Franklyn Ginger-Eke, CEO The Rainbow Strategy
Ginger-Eke received the award in the Rising Voices category during the fifth edition of the PR Power List organised by GLG Communications as part of activities marking the 2026 World Public Relations Day.
The award ceremony, held at the Mike Adenuga Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos, attracted leading professionals and stakeholders in Nigeria’s public relations industry.
Among those in attendance were the President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku; the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), Dr Nkechi Ali-Balogun; former President of the African Public Relations Association (APRA) and Chief Executive Officer of CMC Connect LLP, Chief Yomi Badejo-Okusanya; and Executive Director of THOP and Adviser, Edelman Africa, Mr Kwame Senou.
According to the organisers, the PR Power List recognises public relations and communications professionals whose work has made significant contributions to organisations, influenced public discourse and advanced the communications profession over the past year.
Reacting to the recognition, Ginger-Eke described the award as both humbling and motivating.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition for the modest contribution we are making in shaping the public relations and communications ecosystem.
“I see it as a testament to the dedication, creativity and excellence of our team at The Rainbow Strategy.
“This is a call to do more in delivering strategic communication solutions that create impact, build trust and contribute to the continued growth of the public relations profession in Nigeria,” he said.
He dedicated the award to young and aspiring communication professionals, encouraging them to embrace innovation, professionalism and ethical practice in their careers.
Ginger-Eke also reaffirmed The Rainbow Strategy’s commitment to promoting excellence in strategic communications, reputation management, stakeholder engagement, data protection compliance and value-driven public relations campaigns across the public and private sectors.
A Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Ginger-Eke is recognised for his work in public affairs, strategic communication and data protection compliance through his Abuja-based consultancy, The Rainbow Strategy.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery is reportedly nearing completion of a $2.5 billion private placement that values the company at about $40 billion ahead of its planned public listing.
Private placement is the direct sale of company shares or bonds to pre-selected investors instead of the general public and it is used to raise money quickly while avoiding strict public reporting rules.
People familiar with the transaction said investors acquired as much as 6 per cent of the refinery, according to a BusinessDay report.
The reported terms would value the business at approximately $40 billion.
Neither Dangote Group nor the refinery has publicly announced the final amount raised, the identities of most subscribers or the precise percentage sold.
The figures should therefore be treated as transaction details supplied by unnamed sources rather than confirmed company disclosures.
The reported $2.5 billion total is nevertheless significant as it indicates strong demand for exposure to a privately controlled refinery that has rapidly become central to Nigeria’s fuel supply and an increasingly important exporter of petroleum products.
The placement was said to have attracted more demand than the available shares, allowing the company to secure substantially more than the amount initially associated with the fundraising exercise.
Femi Otedola, chairman, First HoldCo, is the only major participant publicly identified in the report.
He reportedly committed $100 million to the transaction and sold his investment in Geregu Power Plc to finance the acquisition.
Nigeria’s pension industry was also reportedly cleared to participate.
Access to more than $17 billion in retirement assets would broaden the refinery’s potential investor base beyond wealthy individuals and conventional institutional buyers.
Participation by Pension Fund Administrators would, however, require careful attention to valuation, liquidity and portfolio-concentration limits.
Retirement funds must balance the attraction of a large Nigerian industrial asset against their responsibility to protect contributors’ savings.
The implied $40 billion valuation represents investor expectations about the refinery’s future earnings rather than only the physical cost of constructing the facility.
Its ability to process 650,000 barrels of crude daily gives it a central role in supplying Nigeria and other markets, but its commercial performance remains connected to crude availability, product prices, exchange rates and regulation.
The refinery has struggled to obtain all the Nigerian crude it requires under the government’s naira-for-crude arrangement.
It has consequently purchased some feedstock internationally and recently moved local petroleum-product pricing into dollars to align sales revenue more closely with its foreign-currency expenses.
Those constraints will be important during any public offering.
Prospective shareholders will want greater clarity on crude-supply contracts, debt, operating margins, export revenue and the company’s relationship with Nigerian regulators.
It is also unclear whether the private placement involved newly issued shares, a sale by existing owners or a combination of both.
That distinction determines whether the reported $2.5 billion becomes fresh capital for the refinery or proceeds received by selling shareholders.
The transaction could provide a useful price reference for the planned initial public offering.
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