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Senator Shehu Sani Drums Support for Generation Next Youth Summit 2016
Senator Shehu Sani, chairman, Senate Committee on foreign and Local Debts, has urged young Nigerians to attend the Generation Next 2016 Youth Summit ( #TGNYES2016).
Senator Sani who is also the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign affairs described the Summit as an opportunity for participants to learn and to also share fresh ideas, their views with others and to also take a package of knowledge back home.
“This is a platform where you can come and add value to your ambitions and your goals and your dreams. I expect you there. I wish you well,” he said.
While assessing youths’ readiness as potential leaders, the Senator representing Kaduna Central District, said, “You see, the keyword there is opportunity. If you don’t give young people the opportunity to display their talents and use it for the good of the society they will simply waste. I was going through a Facebook post and I saw a very beautiful painting by a young man. It was a lady taking her bath and there was rain. It was good painting. You could see it looked so natural. If such a young man is not encouraged, there is no where he is going to progress. Why countries develop is that they provide opportunities for those who will advance into the next generation. You are good in science? You have finished school? Instead of you to be taken over by ministry of science and technology and work in laboratotries and other places, you now become a banker. So you end up with whatever you rea just wasted. You have a guy who read physics and there is no place for him to work and then he is employed by a stand-u
p comedian and then you see him making money in stand-up comedy…that’s just the way we are.
“And then we have people who should be somewhere and they are not there. They are good in basketball with all the height and then after trials in some few teams they are payed twenty thousand Naira monthly, you can’t even pay your bills then you give up basketball you get a job in a superb security company. You see a very tall athletic young man that is supposed to be dunking ball I the net…
“You see a lady who has finished her school, good in music and has done a lot. And then she is done with school, this is a bundle of talent nobody to sponsor her recordings, give her the necessary promotion and then she is simply just called upon to serve as PA to the first Lady and that talent go. So developed societies made sure that talents are seriously never wasted.
“When you see a typical Almajiri-begger on the street, you see them as… you don’t know there are mathematical genius who are naturally good. There are good footballers. There are Doctors. There are People who if they are given opportunities could be the best lawyers in the world because their brains are naturally meant to be that but they have no opportunity to go to school so they waste.
He urged Government at different levels and the private sector to accord young people the deserved opportunity to showcase their talents in serving the society.
Senator Shenu said, “If you look at where they call the new world-America, it was founded on giving opportunity to people…. And moved way from Europe to the new continent in pursuit of freedom and happiness. Freedom where you can be what you want to be and achieve the highest goal. That’s why when you see people here when they travel out of the country they excel. We are a nation that is so blessed. 175 million people. We are so blessed you will see that northerners beat the Arabs in Koranic recitations and our evangelical pastors; Pentecostal pastors. They are the everywhere.
“People come in from where ever countries to come to this place. When I go to a country and they tell me that ‘See this is a pastor from Nigeria whether its Joshua or Oyakhilome or whatever, I feel very proud. Even am a Muslim I feel proud that this person is in my country. And then when you see…you go to these African countries and you see our banks; Nigerian banks. You feel proud that there are also here.
“You go to a country as remote in Africa and they ask you about Okocha, Kanu and they name also Nigerian Actress in the movie and then you feel proud. They don’t even know who is the Nigerian president; but they know our footballers and movie stars. They will start asking you about people who you have ever known in your life. In order to give an impression you have to say ah you know them, they are okay. Fine. They are doing well for your country…this and that”.
Speaking further on the Summit, Destiny Ruth Obiakoeze, head, Strategy; Elbativeni Impressions and Consult, described The Generation Next Summit as a youth empowerment summit borne with a vision to identify that latent power –passion, inborn in our youths spread across our beloved nation Nigeria (especially in the FCT), against adverse circumstances –igniting them towards crossing barriers.
“The Summit is also geared towards helping youths breaking new frontiers and daring to achieve outstanding feats in their various endeavors, in life and for our country.
“The summit is youth centered and youth focused, with a mission to Building The Next Generation Leaders in all the socio political and economic life of the country. Thus, named The Generation Next Youths Summit”, she added.
DataPro Rating Agency has upgraded the long-term credit rating of Dangote Cement Plc to AA+ from AA, citing the company’s strong financial performance, market leadership and ability to meet its financial obligations despite Nigeria’s challenging economic environment.
In its latest rating report, the technology-driven credit rating agency also affirmed Dangote Cement’s short-term rating at A1, with a Stable Outlook. The ratings are valid until June 16, 2027.
DataPro said the upgrade reflects the cement maker’s sustained financial strength, resilient operating performance and dominant position in Nigeria and across Africa.
According to the agency, the assessment followed a comprehensive review of the company’s capital base, earnings, liquidity, corporate governance, regulatory compliance and the sustainability of its financial performance over the medium to long term.
It noted that Dangote Cement’s strong brand, leading market share, solid earnings, robust asset base and experienced management continue to strengthen its ability to meet financial commitments on time.
The agency also highlighted the company’s outstanding financial performance in 2025.
According to the report, Dangote Cement posted N4.31 trillion in revenue during the year, representing a 20 per cent increase from the previous year. Profit before tax more than doubled, rising 109 per cent to N1.53 trillion, driven by higher sales, improved operating efficiency, lower finance costs and a stronger capital structure.
DataPro said the AA+ long-term rating indicates low credit risk and reflects excellent financial strength, business profile and operating performance relative to its rating benchmarks.
It added that the A1 short-term rating signifies good credit quality and shows that the company has a strong capacity to meet its short-term financial obligations as they fall due.
The rating agency, however, noted that the credit rating has a maximum shelf life of 12 calendar months in line with international best practice and should be used only as a reference, not as an offer to trade in securities or as a substitute for investors’ independent judgement.
Xora Finance has announced it will no longer consider job applicants from Nigeria.
Xora Finance is a digital bank founded by Joren Lundgren, in February 2026 and allows users to deposit and earn interest on their XRP cryptocurrency.
Lundgren, founder, in an announcement on X (formerly Twitter), cited an ongoing pattern of misconduct, such as dishonesty and theft, from previous Nigerian hires as the reason for the decision.
This sudden blanket ban came just days after the company’s official career page was aggressively recruiting remote workers for marketing and content roles.
The announcement generated heavy backlash online, with many people upset that a blanket rule punishes honest job seekers.
Some lawyers have said that victims of Ponzi schemes have legal remedies, although recovering lost funds and prosecuting perpetrators remain major challenges.
A Ponzi scheme is an investment fraud that pays existing investors with funds collected from new participants rather than from actual profits.
Operators lure victims by promising high returns with little to no risk.
The scheme inevitably collapses when the flow of new investors slows down.
Some lawyers who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) separate interviews with on Sunday, said that victims could pursue civil actions to recover their money.
Mr Chibuikem Opara, a lawyer at Justification Chambers, Ikeja,said many Nigerians continued to fall victim to Ponzi schemes in spite of repeated warnings.
Opara said it was wrong to attribute participation in Ponzi schemes to a lack of investment opportunities, noting that promoters often exploit investors’ greed through promises of unrealistic returns.
“What you cannot take away is the fact that many Nigerians have fallen and continue to fall victim to these schemes every time,” he said.
According to him, victims may individually or collectively institute civil actions against the beneficiary company for breach of contract or refund arising from failure of consideration.
Opara said victims could also unite to seek an order from the Federal High Court to wind up the beneficiary company.
He, however, noted that such efforts might yield little benefit if perpetrators had already siphoned the funds and left behind an empty shell.
The lawyer said available remedies largely depended on the actions of relevant authorities, adding that recipient accounts could be frozen to facilitate fund recovery and support winding-up proceedings.
Opara said regulators and law enforcement agencies often became aware of Ponzi schemes only after substantial losses had occurred.
According to him, victims frequently failed to report suspicious schemes early enough to enable timely intervention.
He added that funds are sometimes moved outside the country before authorities become aware of the fraud.
Opara also cited inadequate information and the deceptive nature of the schemes as major obstacles to investigation and prosecution.
“Most times, everything about the schemes is made to appear elusive, just like the profits promised to victims,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Vincent Aminu of A.F. Aminu and Co. advised that victims of investment scams should report such cases to appropriate law enforcement agencies on time.
Aminu said victims could petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or file reports with the police.
He said that after investigation, prosecutors could bring charges against suspects under relevant fraud-related laws, including provisions of the Criminal Code and the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.
Beyond criminal prosecution, Aminu said .victims could pursue civil actions to recover their money
According to him, such actions may be based on breach of contract, unjust enrichment, or fraudulent misrepresentation, depending on the circumstances.
He added that victims could petition the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which could investigate illegal operators, shut down unauthorised platforms, and freeze assets.
He identified the anonymity of online fraudsters as one of the biggest challenges confronting investigators.
According to him, many operators concealed their identities through fake digital profiles and technologies that made tracking them difficult.
Aminu also noted that victims who delayed taking legal action risked losing opportunities for redress.
He added that prolonged court proceedings often delayed justice for victims.
“Many fraud-related cases take years before the court reaches a verdict, thereby delaying justice for victims,” he said.
Also, Mr Chris Ayiyi of Ayiyi Chambers, Apapa, described Ponzi schemes as a gamble that benefited early participants at the expense of later investors.
Ayiyi said some early entrants received returns on their investments, thereby encouraging others to join the schemes.
He said the schemes eventually collapsed, leaving late investors to bear the losses
The lawyer called for a complete ban on Ponzi schemes or sustained public enlightenment campaigns against them.
He urged the National Assembly to enact laws that would strengthen regulation and provide greater protection for investors.
According to him, stronger legal safeguards are necessary in a country operating a capital-based economy.
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