General News
Osita Chidoka … The Midas Touch
“Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered. As the elders say, if a child washes his hands he could eat with kings” – Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart Emeka Anyaoko, former Sec Gen of the Commonwealth was on the front row of reserved seats for title holders of Obosi, clad in full colourful regalia.
On the same platform with the octogenarian, attired in similar royal regalia, was Osita Chidoka , Ike Obosi.
This scenario at the New Yam festival (3rd Iwa-ji & Obiora Festival of Eze Iweka III) at Obosi, gave life to Chinua Achebe’s classic, quoted above.
He had been invested with the traditional title of Ike Obosi (Strength of Obosi) and a member of Ndi-Ichie, the highest decision making body of Obosi Traditional Council of Anambra State, following recognition of his contributions to national and community development five years ago.
Even though there was no Amalenze the cat to defeat, to earn him a place of honour, Osita wrestled and overcame societal limitations and inhibitions by dint of hardwork, determination and an unquenchable vision to succeed.
His outstanding rendition at the FRSC where he held sway as a corp marshal for seven years was outstanding.
He earned the respect and admiration of fellow Nigerians through his out-of-the-box strategy for achieving set objectives.
Many a time, he came to the highways himself to enforce traffic rules, sometimes at great risk to his life.
Nigerians were bewildered as they watched on national television, a uniformed officer threatening him when stopped from driving on the opposite lane.
He led bicycle rides and jogging exercises to reinforce his advocacy for alternative transport and physical fitness, respectively.
He transformed the FRSC to a functional Lead Agency in Road Traffic Administration and Safety Management driven by information and communication technology.
It, therefore, did not come as a suprise when, shortly on assumption of office as Minister of Aviation, he received the National Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOM) for his accomplishments at FRSC, by President Goodluck Jonathan. Chidoka is no stranger to awards.
During his NYSC, he served at the FCT where he became an Award Winner and subsequently secured automatic employment into the FCDA Abuja.
He received Papal commendation in 1998 when after a stint as Secretary, National Committee for the visit of Pope John Paul II to Nigeria.
He was a Senior Adviser on Government and Business Relations, Mobil Producing Nigeria.
He had earlier served as Personal Assistant to the Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Personal Assistant to the Minister of Transport as well as Special Assistant to the Senior Adviser to the President on Legal matters.
On assumption of office, there were fears that he had little or no time to make any meaningful impact with barely few months to the end of the tenure.
He allayed these fears with the analogy that General Murtala Mohummed, Nigeria’s late Head of State, in just six months created twelve states, made Abuja Federal Capital and recorded several milestones that have endeared him to many Nigerians. Same cannot be said of some leaders who spent more time with little impact.
Chidoka’s interaction with aviation agencies, airline operators, workers union, the media and other key stakeholders secured their buy-in.
His interaction with Airport Managers and consultants birthed his operational template anchored on the Aviation Master-plan.
His shared vision for the sector was unambiguous. The aviation sector must fulfil its potential.
He shared a vision, his vision of the future, a vivid image of the compelling future that can only be realised through dedicated commitment.
Within the short period of his resumption as Minister of Aviation, the aviation industry received the confirmation of the substantive DG of NCAA, Capt Muktar Usman.
Fate also bestowed on him the fortune to receive the golden fleece of the aviation industry …the Category 1 status of the FAA for the second time, a feat most armchair critics in the industry had thought was far-fetched.
Like someone noted “Chidoka has Goodluck!”
Yakubu dati is the general manager, Corporate Communications of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria.
Nigeria’s startup ecosystem received a fresh injection of momentum as top emerging ventures secured funding and investor attention at the iHatch National Demo Day, where Interface Africa clinched the highest prize of $15,000.
The 4th cohort of the NITDA–JICA-backed accelerator brought together founders, policymakers, and venture stakeholders in Abuja, showcasing innovations ranging from clean-energy financing and digital food marketplaces to next-gen fintech tools.
The startups went rounds of running through state-level selections and regional competition. iHatch was established in 2021 as a strategic partnership to create an enabling environment for young Nigerians to develop and scale their innovative solutions.
The iHatch National Demo Day (4th Cohort), is an initiative by NITDA and JICA which provides a clear pathway for homegrown talent to contribute significantly to economic diversification and digital transformation.
After rigorous selection processes, the top founders converged to pitch their innovations, recognised the standout performers, which are:
Interface Africa with $15,000, the firm is driving Nigeria’s clean energy transition by enabling structured and affordable solar financing.
Ahioma with $12,000, the firm enhances food accessibility with a digital marketplace connecting consumers directly to trusted vendors.
Linia Finance with $10,000, the firm is helping Nigerians take control of their finances with tools for budgeting, tracking, and smart money planning.
Chapta got a laptop reward. They delivering an offline-capable school application ensuring consistent, accessible learning for students everywhere.
Softdrop also got a laptop reward, they solve logistics challenges through a modern delivery platform designed for speed, convenience, and efficiency.
Fidelity Bank Plc, a leading financial institution, will host a free virtual training on the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 (NTA) as part of its commitment to helping small businesses prepare for the upcoming legislation.
Fidelity Bank
The masterclass is scheduled for 10:00 AM (Nigerian time) on Friday, 12 December 2025. It will provide participants with clear insights into changes in the tax framework, the impact on income and business operations, and practical steps to avoid penalties in 2026.
Attendees will also learn strategies to stay ahead in an evolving regulatory environment.
The Nigerian government enacted major tax reforms on 26 June 2025 when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed four tax bills into law.
These Acts will take effect on 1 January 2026 and represent a significant overhaul of the country’s tax system.
The reforms aim to modernize and harmonize Nigeria’s tax framework, improve revenue generation, broaden the tax base, and create clearer rules for individuals, businesses, and government agencies.
“Our decision to host this masterclass reflects our commitment to empowering businesses with the right information ahead of the commencement of the new tax regime.
“Information is money and a well-informed business owner is already steps ahead in the race to success.
“This is why we are bringing experts to provide accurate details and demystify the tax act,” said Osita Ede, Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc.
Interested participants can register via https://bit.ly/2026TaxLawMasterclass .
PalmPay, Nigeria’s leading digital banking platform, has renewed its commitment to deepening financial inclusion across the country. At the CeBIH Annual Conference 2025, themed “Reimagining Financial Inclusion through Cultural Shifts in Consumer Credit,” PalmPay’s Managing Director, Chika Nwosu, urged industry players to deepen financial inclusion by embracing community-aligned solutions and customer-centric innovations that can better serve Nigeria’s underserved and unbanked populations.
Speaking during a panel session titled “Social Inclusion, A Veritable Tool for Financial Inclusion,” Chika Nwosu joined other industry leaders to share insights on strengthening participation among women, rural dwellers, low-income earners, and other financially excluded groups.
Chika Nwosu highlighted PalmPay’s commitment to inclusive finance through its 500,000-strong agent network, which enables seamless cash-in/cash-out services for unbanked users across Nigeria. He also emphasised the importance of PalmPay’s USSD platform, 861#, which allows users with basic phones or limited internet access to perform essential financial transactions.
“Financial inclusion goes beyond access; it must be equitable and tailored to real-life needs,” Chika Nwosu said. He shared how PalmPay leverages behavioural insights to design impactful services, including affordable health insurance, reliable bill payments, merchant solutions, and automated savings features that support financial discipline among users.
The session further examined the role of grassroots agents and community touchpoints in driving last-mile adoption. Chika Nwosu noted that PalmPay’s widespread community presence continues to build trust and encourage excluded populations to embrace digital financial tools.
The session was moderated by Ronke Kuye of the CeBIH Advisory Council and featured representatives from E-Doc Online, SmartCash Payment Service Bank, SANEF, and EFINA.
PalmPay reaffirmed its commitment to driving accessible, secure, and inclusive financial services for all Nigerians. PalmPay is a leading digital banking platform driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment in underserved emerging markets. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay empowers individuals and businesses with tools to manage and grow their money.
PalmPay offers a comprehensive range of products, including mobile payments, savings, and micro-insurance via its app and mobile money agent network.
Since launching in Nigeria in 2019 under a Mobile Money Operator license, the platform has grown to over 35 million app users. PalmPay has operations in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Bangladesh.
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