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Widows’ Day: Minister Calls for Empowerment of Nigeria’s 15m Widows

Widows’ Day: Minister Calls for Empowerment of Nigeria’s 15m Widows

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called for urgent national action to empower Nigeria’s 15 million widows, describing their struggle as a test of the country’s moral conscience.

Citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), she noted that over 15 million widows, many of whom are central to the informal economy, face property dispossession, harmful traditional rites and systemic neglect.

Speaking Monday at the 2025 International Widows Day in Abuja, the minister declared that: “Uplifting widows is not a favour, it is a duty,” and stressed that: “Restoring dignity is not optional; it is an obligation.”

Themed ‘Empowering Widows: Building Resilience and Restoring Dignity,’ this year’s commemoration focused on transforming the life realities of widows into a foundation for economic empowerment and social justice.

According to the minister, “A widow’s cry echoes through silent nights, yet her spirit does not break. She carries in her heart the pain of loss, the strength of motherhood, and the courage of survival. She is not weak. She is the soul of resilience.”

“Too many widows face harsh realities. This is unacceptable, and we must not remain silent,” she added, while commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for prioritizing inclusive development.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim announced a series of targeted interventions under the ministry’s Renewed Hope Social Impact Programmes, including: N20,000 grants for 250 widows to expand their businesses and free one-year health coverage under the NHIS.

Others are digital banking enrolment via Premium Trust Bank, National Identity registration for improved access to services and integration onto the Happy Woman App, a digital platform for empowerment and welfare updates.

She also highlighted the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, as a key tool to protect widows from abuse and harmful practices, saying: “No culture or custom should ever be used as a cover to strip women of their dignity.”

Sulaiman-Ibrahim urged state governments to fully implement protective laws like the VAPP Act, traditional and faith leaders to abolish degrading widowhood rites, private sector to develop inclusive financial and enterprise tools and all Nigerians to reject stigma and support widows in their communities

She further encouraged widows to embrace adult education opportunities, stressing that literacy is critical to empowerment.

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Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called for urgent national action to empower Nigeria’s 15 million widows, describing their struggle as a test of

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Iran Launches Missile Attacks on US Military Bases in Qatar, Iraq

Iran Launches Missile Attacks on US Military Bases in Qatar, Iraq

Iran launched missile attacks Monday on U.S. military bases in Qatar and Iraq, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites and escalating tensions in the volatile region, the Associated Press has reported.
The report said people in Doha, Qatar’s capital, stopped and looked up as missiles flew and interceptors fired and struck at least one missile in the night sky.
Iran also targeted the Ain al-Assad base housing U.S. troops in western Iraq, an Iraqi security official was quoted. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.
The attacks came shortly after Qatar closed its airspace as a precaution amid threats from Iran.
Just before the explosions, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on the social platform X: “We neither initiated the war nor seeking it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer.”
Iran said its missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on Iranian nuclear sites this weekend, signaling Iran’s likely desire to deescalate.
Iran made the announcement Monday night in a statement from its Supreme National Security Council after the attack, which Qatar said caused no injuries.
Iran also said it targeted the base because it was outside of populated areas.
In the past, Iran has threatened American forces at Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts the forward headquarters of the U.S. military’s Central Command. Qatar, across the Persian Gulf from Iran, maintains diplomatic relations with Iran and shares a massive offshore natural gas field with Tehran.
Earlier in the day, Israel expanded its war against Iran to include targets associated with the country’s struggling theocracy, striking the gate of a Tehran prison notorious for holding political activists and hitting the headquarters of the military force that suppressed recent protests.
As plumes of thick smoke rose over Tehran, Israel was attacked with yet another barrage of Iranian missiles and drones. The persistent fire has become a reality for civilians in both countries since Israel started the war to target Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program.
On the 11th day of the conflict, Israel said it attacked “regime targets and government repression bodies in the heart of Tehran,” but Israeli officials insisted they did not seek the overthrow of Iran’s government, their archenemy since the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The Israeli military warned Iranians that it would continue to attack military sites around Tehran over “the coming days” as its focuses has shifted to symbolic targets as well. The military issued the warning on the social platform X, though Iranians are struggling to access the outside world as an internet shutdown has crippled the country.
The latest strikes unfolded only hours after President Donald Trump openly raised the possibility himself after just a day earlier inserting America into the war with its unprecedented stealth-bomber strike on three Iranian nuclear sites.
“If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” he asked on his Truth Social website.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later described Trump as “simply raising a question.” However, suggestions of overthrowing the Iranian government drew new anger from Tehran, which insists it will not negotiate at this time and is threatening to retaliate directly against either American troops or interests in a Mideast already inflamed by the still-raging Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

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Iran launched missile attacks Monday on U.S. military bases in Qatar and Iraq, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites and escalating tensions in the volatile region, the

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Alleged Financial Scandal: Group Storms NMDPRA Hqtrs, Demands Ahmed’s Suspension

Alleged Financial Scandal: Group Storms NMDPRA Hqtrs, Demands Ahmed’s Suspension

A group, under the auspices of the Young Professionals Forum of Nigeria, has urged the Federal Government to immediately suspend the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, over alleged financial scandal.

The group, through its co-ordinator, Felicia E. Daniels, made the call on Monday at NMDPRA’s headquarters in Abuja, saying Ahmed’s tenure has been stained by grave and substantiated allegations of corruption, abuse of power, regulatory compromise and a total betrayal of the Nigerian people.

According to the group, Ahmed was entrusted with the leadership of a strategic agency created under the Petroleum Industry Act, stressing that NMDPRA was meant to be the reform flagship in Nigeria’s petroleum industry; an institution meant to foster transparency, enforce regulatory integrity, and protect the long-abused interests of Nigerian citizens in the midstream and downstream oil sectors. 

The protesting group emphatically alleged the diversion of over $5 million by Ahmed, with which four of his children are currently being sponsored in expensive foreign schools with other luxurious lifestyle. 

“Engr. Ahmed is at the centre of a massive financial scandal involving the alleged diversion of over $5 million in public funds to bankroll the luxurious foreign education of his children. While millions of Nigerians cannot afford to send their children to basic public schools; while university students in Nigeria face strikes, dilapidated hostels, and unpaid lecturers; one public servant is alleged to have spent our commonwealth to secure elite education for his family in Switzerland and India.

“His four children — Faisal, Farouk Jr., Ashraf, and Farhana — were enrolled in some of the most expensive schools in the world. Institutions with fees that range from $80,000 to $140,000 per year. Schools that only royalty and billionaires can afford. Schools that are as far removed from the average Nigerian reality as the moon is from the earth. Schools like Aiglon College, Institut Le Rosey, European University Montreux, and La Garenne International School. In all, over $5 million is alleged to have been spent over the years on tuition, accommodation, upkeep and flights. These payments were routed through undisclosed accounts, proxy relatives and unreported assets — none of which appeared in Mr. Ahmed’s mandatory asset declaration forms.

“This is not just unethical. It is potentially criminal. The law is clear. Public officials must declare all assets. Public officials must not benefit from any advantage that compromises their impartiality. Public officials must not divert public funds or use the privileges of office to enrich themselves or their families. And yet, here we are, faced with overwhelming evidence that points to exactly that.

“We are also aware that Mr. Ahmed’s son, Faisal, was recruited into Oando PLC — a company directly under the regulatory jurisdiction of the NMDPRA. This is a clear conflict of interest. Oando is a regulated entity. Engr. Ahmed is the regulator. His son has no business working in a company whose regulatory fate lies in his father’s hands. The circumstantial evidence strongly suggests that this employment was not accidental. It was likely facilitated by undue influence. This is not acceptable. This is not excusable. This is not defensible,” Daniel said.

Speaking further, the group alluded that under Ahmed’s leadership, NMDPRA issued permits for the importation of diesel with sulphur content as high as 2,000 parts per million; 40 times the standard recommended by the United Nations Environment Programme and enforced by most African nations. 

“This is poison. It is toxic to our lungs. It is toxic to our environment. It is a death sentence for urban dwellers inhaling polluted fumes every single day. And still, no sanctions were issued. No fuel importer was held accountable. No company was blacklisted.

“What this tells us is that the regulator has become an enabler. That the agency tasked with defending Nigerian lives is instead protecting vested interests. That the head of the NMDPRA is no longer working for Nigeria — he is working for himself, his family, and a small group of connected fuel traders.

“He has become a symbol of the very rot the Petroleum Industry Act was designed to cure. His continued presence in office is a threat to reform. A threat to transparency. A threat to every effort to clean up the Nigerian oil and gas sector. His name is now synonymous with allegations of embezzlement, regulatory compromise and abuse of office.

“We say this to Mr. Ahmed directly: you may still have the title, but you have lost the moral mandate. If you believe in integrity, you should resign today. If you believe in justice, you should subject yourself to investigation. If you believe in Nigeria, you should step aside and allow the truth to come out.

“But if you do not resign, then we, the Nigerian people, must make it clear: we will not accept your continued stay. We will not allow the NMDPRA to become a haven for elite impunity. We will not let this matter die in silence,” the group added.

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A group, under the auspices of the Young Professionals Forum of Nigeria, has urged the Federal Government to immediately suspend the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream

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A Nation at Crossroads: Tinubu Confronts Benue Crisis, Inaugurates Projects in Kaduna

A Nation at Crossroads: Tinubu Confronts Benue Crisis, Inaugurates Projects in Kaduna

By Keem Abdul

On Thursday, 21 June 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in Kaduna to inaugurate key development projects in the state by the Uba Sani-led administration, following his earlier meeting with stakeholders in Benue State, in respect to the spate of killings and wanton destruction of lives that has rocked Benue State in particular in recent months.

Held at the Government House Banquet Hall in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, the stakeholders’ meeting in Benue was graced by leading citizens of the state – including the state Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, and several of his counterparts from the North-Central geo-political zone (Kwara, Kogi, Plateau and Nasarawa) as well as from Imo and Ondo States, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume (himself a former Governor of Benue State), service chiefs, top government functionaries, political leaders and traditional rulers.

Prior to the stakeholders’ meeting, the President had visited victims of the Yelewata attack at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital earlier in the day, where he called for blood donations to support the injured.

Clearly worried by the escalating level of bloodshed threatening to engulf various flashpoints in the country, Tinubu, during the stakeholders’ meeting, dramatically called out the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ask the above question (as to why there has been no arrest in connection with the Yelewata massacre).

Turning to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, the President did not mince words, either, as he tasked the CDS and the security forces on the need for vigilance, and for closer collaboration between communities and security forces. He went on to urge heads of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to intensify surveillance and gather actionable intelligence to apprehend the perpetrators. “… We need to keep our ears to the ground,” he stressed. “Let’s get those criminals … let’s have tangible intelligence so that this will not occur again.”

Beyond military force, however (which the President made it clear was an inadequate response to the terror playing out in communities across the nation’s Middle Belt region), he announced plans to establish a Peace Committee which would include former Governors of the state, community elders, traditional rulers, federal government officials, prominent traditional rulers such as the Tor Tiv and the Och’Idoma, other key leaders, and even non-indigenes of good reputation residing in the state.

“I … want us to create this committee now,” Tinubu said at the meeting, “and then we meet in Abuja to really fashion out the nucleus for a lasting peace, and I’M READY TO INVEST IN THAT PEACE.” To this end, according to SGF Akume, the FG’s agricultural initiatives and youth employment schemes are being fast-tracked to reduce poverty and prevent crime. “Peace is a process,” he noted, “but with sustained effort, Benue will reclaim its prosperity.”
In that vein, the President advised Gov. Alia on the importance of stakeholder engagement for peaceful and progressive governance, urging him to make the most of the work of the aforementioned Peace Committee. In particular, he charged the Governor to work closely with the federal government in a bid to foster long-term peace and stability, adding that achieving sustainable peace required a united effort among all stakeholders – namely, local communities, civil society, security agencies, and traditional rulers – working to develop and implement comprehensive strategies that address root causes and promote reconciliation.

He also urged the Benue State Governor to allocate land for ranching (which involves confining cattle to specific areas with controlled grazing, with the provision of access to improved forages and reduction of the need for open grazing) and directed his Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, to follow up on the modalities of his directive.

In recommending the institutionalization of cattle ranching for Benue State (and by extension, other states – especially in the southern parts of the country, where deadly conflicts between farmers and cattle herdsmen have been ignited by incidents of cattle entering into farms, eating food and cash crops and bankrupting farm-based households and communities), President Tinubu has touched on an incredibly vexed issue. The issue of cattle ranching in Nigeria – as opposed to open grazing – has sparked debate and controversy over the years, due to concerns about land ownership, resource control, and the potential displacement of communities. Open grazing has not only led to clashes over land and resources, with devastating consequences including loss of life and property, but it has also created a tense dichotomy between the traditional nomadic lifestyle of herders and the growing need for land for agriculture and other development. Even among supporters of ranching, some communities fear that the establishment of ranches – particularly those associated with specific ethnic groups – could worsen existing security challenges and lead to further violence, especially in areas that are already suffering from the worst effects of insurgency and terrorism.
On the plus side, however, there is no gainsaying the fact that ranching offers enormous benefits in an already lucrative business. Among these benefits are improved livestock management (which allows for better management of cattle, access to veterinary services, improved breeding practices, and better feed management); the potential for increased productivity (which can boost meat and milk production); and the creation of new jobs, which can generate income and reduce the cost of meat and dairy products.

So, while proponents of ranching argue that it is a more sustainable and productive way to manage cattle, reduce conflict, and boost the economy, its opponents have repeatedly raised concerns about land rights, the potential for displacement, and the need for alternative solutions.

The issue, which came to a head during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari – and ultimately defied his government’s best efforts to resolve it – is something the Tinubu administration seems poised to tackle head-on given the administration’s understanding that a successful transition to ranching requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses social, economic, and environmental concerns. This understanding was corroborated during the stakeholders meeting by the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Orchivirigh Prof. James Ayatse, who is also the Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Rulers Council. Praising President Tinubu for being the very first sitting President of Nigeria to personally visit victims in hospital in the wake of such a tragedy, the monarch warned against the mischaracterization of the violence, saying that land grabbing was at the core of the decades-long conflict between farmers and herdsmen. “These are not … communal clashes …not reprisal attacks or skirmishes,” he emphasised. “What we are dealing with … is a calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign by herder-terrorists and bandits.”

This mischaracterizing, the Tor Tiv said, has led to inadequate responses and the exploitation of the situation (especially by politicians) for selfish gain.

President Tinubu’s pain at having to visit Benue State for such a tragic reason was palpable, as he lamented that the job of offering condolences and comforting the bereaved was not exactly his idea of governance. “I wanted to come here to commission projects, to reassure you of hope and prosperity,” he said, “not to see gloomy faces… We were elected to govern, not to bury people.”

In the days following the Benue visit, the Federal Government is rolling out a multi-layered security strategy aimed at ending the recurring violence – with the aid of personnel, technology, and community intelligence.

This proactive stance is not only in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, it is also in line with his upbeat and irrepressibly optimist nature, as he refuses to accept that violence and conflict would define the narrative about Benue and other affected states for much longer. “We will find peace,” he assured at the Makurdi stakeholders’ meeting. “We will convert this tragedy to prosperity.”

While the Tinubu-led administration has been beset with criticisms following the recent surge in insecurity in Benue State, the President’s efforts towards improving security in Benue, as well as his Kaduna visit to inaugurate key development projects, further underscore his commitment to foster economic development and ensure security of lives and property, and provide a safe environment for local and international investment.

• Keem Abdul, is a public relations guru, publisher and writer, hails from Lagos. He can be reached via +2348038795377 or Akeemabdul2023@gmail.com

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By Keem Abdul On Thursday, 21 June 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in Kaduna to inaugurate key development projects in the state by the Uba Sani-led administration, following his

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At 4th AU Forum, Shettima Canvasses Integration Of Informal Economy Into Formal Intra-African Trade Framework

At 4th AU Forum, Shettima Canvasses Integration Of Informal Economy Into Formal Intra-African Trade Framework

* Seeks strong MSME ecosystem for Africa’s prosperity

* Says Nigeria is deepening investments to expand capacity of small businesses

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has said Africa’s future economic success depends on its ability to integrate the informal sector into the formal intra-African trade framework, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

According to him, the promise of a better future for Africa does not depend on the skyscrapers being constructed in capitals of nations or the transactions in stock exchanges but lies in the reality that the “potential of the informal sector, which accounts for nearly 90 per cent” of the continent’s workforce, must be harnessed.

Shettima, who stated this on Monday while declaring open the 4th African Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Forum in Abuja, warned that if Africa fails to harness the potential in the informal sector for small businesses to grow, the continent would “keep going round the same cycle of despair”.

To achieve this, he demanded the integration of the informal economy into the fabric of formal intra-African trade, noting that this informed why small businesses have remained at the heart of policy formulation in Nigeria.

“Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, there can be no African prosperity without a strong MSME ecosystem. This forum is a continental call to action. We owe it to ourselves, to our children, and to generations unborn, to integrate our informal economy into the framework of formal intra-African trade.

“I am confident that through our collaborative efforts, this forum will mark a turning point. We hope to see our shared aspirations translated into concrete actions that empower our MSMEs and propel Africa towards a brighter, more sustainable future,” the vice-president told delegates and other participants at the forum.

Welcoming delegates and participants to the forum, Shettima conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s message of assurance, of Nigeria’s hospitality, and the nation’s readiness to join other countries on the continent in learning from one another, as well as the determination to agree on the direction taken to effectively compete with the rest of the world.

He underscored the crucial role MSMEs play in the development and growth of Africa, observing that beyond employing millions of Africans, “they are engines of inclusive growth and effective tools for poverty alleviation.

“In Nigeria alone, MSMEs contribute a staggering 48 per cent to our national GDP and employ over 84 per cent of our workforce. They are a mirror to our future, and they explain why we are deepening our investments to expand the capacity of this sector,” he said.

Beyond building local infrastructure for entrepreneurial expansion, the vice-president implored African countries to entrench cross-border cooperation since their destinies are bound together as a continent.

He identified some of the obstacles confronting MSMEs in Africa to include limited access to affordable finance, describing this particular challenge as a recurring nightmare, just as he noted that with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), there is still hope.

According to him, “It costs our continent not just money—it costs us momentum. But we must find hope in the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This is why I am particularly excited about the theme of this forum—Building Resilient MSMEs through Digital Innovation, Market Access & Affordable Financing for Africa. The timing is perfect. The vision is clear.”

Shettima acknowledged what he termed a remarkable surge in digital adoption across Africa, saying technology is achieving what politics has to actualise over the years.

He noted, however, that for the momentum to be sustained, policymakers must live up to their duties by “investing in robust digital infrastructure, bridging the digital literacy gap, and establishing regulatory frameworks that do not stifle innovation”.

Regretting the continued dependence of MSMEs on traditional financial institutions, the vice-president, however, expressed hope that change is unfolding, with fintech firms across Africa now using alternative data to assess creditworthiness and extend microloans to the previously excluded.

Earlier, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President/Chairman of the Host Country Committee, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to a future where MSMEs are empowered to thrive.

He said: “The forum signifies our shared commitment to a prosperous and inclusive future for Africa, a future where MSMEs have the opportunity not just to survive but to thrive. We gather here today under the theme of the Africa we want.

“It is our continental imperative and road map for unlocking the immense potential of our continent’s most vital engine—our MSMEs. An investment in our MSMEs is a direct investment in a prosperous, inclusive and self-reliant Africa.”

In setting the tone for discussions at the forum, the Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSME, Mr Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, highlighted the significance of the forum, particularly in addressing challenges faced by budding entrepreneurs across the continent.

He underscored the need for stakeholders across the continent to collaborate and capitalise on the potential of Africa’s youthful and energetic population to transform the region’s economic landscape.

In his remarks, the Director General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), Mr Charles Odii, applauded the support and commitment of Vice-President Shettima and Chairman of the National Council for MSME to the transformation and growth of the MSME sector in Nigeria, highlighting key initiatives supervised by his office since the inception of the current administration.

He emphasised the need for Nigerians to always patronise home-grown products as part of the concerted efforts to support local manufacturers and MSMEs.

On his part, the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry (BoI), Dr. Olasupo Olusi, said interventions and targeted engagements through the bank have, over the years, helped in knowledge growth and adoption of digital tools by MSMEs, noting that the initiatives have impacted growth in the sector.

Also speaking, the Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Massimo De Luca, stated that access to finance remains a pressing challenge for businesses in the region, especially MSMEs.

He disclosed that the EU has committed about €1.1 billion in support of the African Union’s implementation of AfCFTA.

“Our EU initiative in support of the African Union in the implementation of the AfCFTA hovers around €1.1 billion. The African Continental Free Trade Area represents an unprecedented achievement towards realising Africa’s full economic potential and integration. The EU remains firmly committed to our partnership with Africa and ECOWAS for inclusive and sustainable industrial development across the continent,” he said.

Also, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, emphasised the need for enabling ecosystems to help MSMEs move from resilience to scalable impact.

She said: “Across our continent, MSMEs are the builders of local prosperity. They employ, they innovate and they adapt, but they cannot thrive on resilience alone. They need ecosystems that work for them, platforms to commercialise innovation, access to working capital and markets both domestic and continental that recognise their value.”

On his part, the Permanent Representative of the African Union Sixth Region Global (AU6RG) to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Afolabi Oke, announced the appointment of Mr. Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, Special Adviser to the Nigerian President on Job Creation and MSMEs, as the Special Adviser to the AU 6th Region on Job Creation and MSME Development.

“The African Union Sixth Region Global is dedicated to representing and advocating for the African diaspora worldwide. As an extension of the African Union, we serve as the ‘Sixth Region,’ uniting people of African descent living outside the African continent and Friends of Africa,” Oke said.

On Nigeria’s export and industrialisation, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr. Abubakar Abba Bello, reiterated the bank’s commitment to MSME financing as a strategic pathway to value chain development and AfCFTA success.

“There’s a need for Africa to look inward to develop its value chain. We need to facilitate the success of the AfCFTA, and this is dependent on boosting production,” he said.

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* Seeks strong MSME ecosystem for Africa’s prosperity * Says Nigeria is deepening investments to expand capacity of small businesses Deji Elumoye in Abuja  Vice-President Kashim Shettima has said Africa’s

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2027 Guber: Imo People Brace up for Succession Battle as Charlie Orie, Chima Mattew Amadi, Others Warm up

2027 Guber: Imo People Brace up for Succession Battle as Charlie Orie, Chima Mattew Amadi, Others Warm up

By Temple Izu Dikeocha

As the 2027 general election gathers momentum, interested governorship contenders across political lines in Imo State have continued to initiate various reforms and engagements to woo more supporters, followers, admirers, party members and the general electorate. Although Governor Hope Uzodimma is expected to complete his second term and final governorship mandate on the 15th day of January 2028, political gladiators are already preparing and warming up to assume leadership of the state.

While the names of some political heavyweights continue to dominate discussion and political conversations within the State, the outgoing governor seems to keep his succession plans secret calling for restraints amongst his ranks and files.

With the recently amended electoral law, the Independent National Electoral Commission expect all political parties to produce their candidates no later than at least eight months before the general election. Therefore, all serious-minded governorship aspirants in the State have resumed realignment, alliance building, and mobilisation to secure the peoples nod.

In Imo State for example, Analysts and Political Pundits anticipate a very competitive, volatile and tensed race, with each zone, especially Owerri and Okigwe positioning itself and laying claim as the rightful owner of the 2027 governorship seat in the State.

Investigations shows that next governorship polls in the State may not necessarily follow the patterns of the previous governorship election as it is expected that local issues and personalities not necessarily political parties and geographical zone would determine who emerges victorious at the end of the Imo guber race in 2027.

However, underground politicking is intensifying in the State as serious political heavyweights are being linked to the 2027 governorship race, despite none of them making an official pronouncement yet.

According to a reliable source, among those being considered for the State top position in 2027 are the former Managing Director of Imo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (ISOPADEC), Hon Chief Charles Orie (Akuatuegwu), An International businessman, and well known humanitarian and philanthropist Dr Chima Mattew Amadi, former Governor of Imo State, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, National Secretary of the PDP and the Imo State 2023 PDP Governorship Candidate, Sen Samuel Anyanwu. Others are former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, the Senator Representing Owerri Zone, Sen Ezenwa Onyewuchi, and Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, etc.

Enyinnaya Onuegbu, the Commisioner for Lands Imo State and a cabinet member from Owerri zone, recently addressed the press about his rumored gubernatorial ambition, a move analysts believe is a clear signal that those who are nursing ambitions to succeed Gov Uzodimma within the APC fold and the governor’s camp are treading softly.

To show his seriousness that he does not want any distraction in the Imo 2027 guber bid, Gov Uzodimma recently sacked one of his prominent colleagues and longtime political ally, C.O.C. Akaolisa, as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the State. Akaolisa, a prominent member of Uzodimma’s administration, had made controversial statements regarding the 2027 succession plan of the Government. He openly declared and advocated in the pages of local Newspaper that only loyalists from Gov Uzodimma’s ‘Camp Hope’ would be allowed to succeed the governor.

Akaolisa had also argued that Martin Agbaso from Owerri zone deserved justice for the alleged injustice he suffered in 2007 when Maurice Iwu, then INEC Chairman, annulled the governorship election Agbaso was poised to win.

Akolisa’s removal no doubt depicts the fact that the Governor is anxious and determined to retain his grip, name and install his preferred successor in 2028 without the support and contributions of any of his political followers. All of this makes for a potentially tense and unpredictable contest ahead of the 2027 Imo guber election.

As the clock ticks and the days draw nearer, Imolites have since began to look inwards so that the State do not pick the wrong candidate after the end of Governor Uzodimma’s tenure as the State do not have a good succession history.

Recall that former Governors Achike Udenwa and Rochas Okorocha remained focus with governance until their time was up in office. They never knew how the ticket of their party was obtained from the Abuja Godfathers and denied them the privilege of producing a successor. Similar scenario is being expected in 2027 as the governor seem shy to name and groom his successor early enough while still in office but instead choose to ground his succession plans in silence and secrecy.

In Imo State, Hon Chief Charles Orie is the only Leader close to the Governor who has openly and boldly expressed interest in becoming the next governor in 2027. He is a ranking chieftain of the APC in Imo State. He was among the top political heavyweights who rally huge support for the Governor Uzodinma second term in office.

He also served and played a very vital role in the legal battle that ousted the political dominance of former Governor Emeka Ihedioha from the Imo State Government House on January 14, 2020. Since his quiet but strategic withdrawal and exit from the 3R Government six months after assumption of second term in office of Gov Uzodinma, he has secured overwhelming and massive endorsement and acceptance from the people of the State both in the Diaspora and at home with many pledging to help actualize his 2027 governorship ambition. Civil society and students group, together with religious bodies have also continued to present to him an award of recognition including the evening programme students of Federal Polytechnic Nekede who recently bestowed on him, the Illustrious Imo Personality of the year award in recognition of his outstanding service to the people of the State.

However, findings still reveal that there are several other aspirants for the Douglas House come 2027. Though these aspirants have not openly declared their intentions, their supporters have been campaigning for them through publications on social media platforms.

One of them is Mazi Chima Amadi, a likely governorship hopeful who seems focused on his governorship ambition.

Amadi’s approach to his guber bid does not pander to the zoning sentiments or Charter of Equity. He has anchored his aspiration on reaching out to the grassroots through the act of philanthropy. He pulled a stint when he shockingly wooed the APC Publicity Secretary Cajethan Duke and the APC State Assistant Legal Adviser Blyden Amajirionwu and several APC Ward Chairmen in Ngor Okpala to his fold, a move that gave bold impetus to his Mazi Campaign Organisation. He was also recently reported to to have allegedly wooed the SA to the Governor Collins Opuruozor with money and a vehicle but the governor’s aide rejected his offer. His impetus to challenge the status quo have no doubt endeared him to the people of the State who now see him as a serious contender for the 2027 Governorship.

Okigwe zone, too, has also intensified its advocacy for the governorship, citing alleged marginalization.

Chief Tony Chukwu, for instance an influential leader from Okigwe zone once controversially suggested that Owerri zone should relinquish the state capital in exchange for the governorship in 2027.

Historically, Imo governorship elections have always been highly competitive, often disregarding agreements on zoning.

Every election cycle, all zones field candidates regardless of any perceived agreements by some group of persons.

The Imo governorship race has always been a free-for-all contest. Can the Charter of Equity truly in 2027 deter determined aspirants from all the three zones from contesting? The answer is no.

As 2027 approaches, Imo State faces a critical test of whether the Charter of Equity will prevail or the state witnesses another open-ended contest remains to be seen.

What is clear, however, is that the stakes are higher than ever, with each zone prepared to stake its claim in what promises to be a fiercely contested poll.

While the state waits for the governor to make his preferred successor known, permutations and political analysis will continue to go on to ensure the State does not pick a wrong candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

*Temple Izu Dikeocha is a Public Affairs Analyst.

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By Temple Izu Dikeocha As the 2027 general election gathers momentum, interested governorship contenders across political lines in Imo State have continued to initiate various reforms and engagements to woo

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• June 23, 2025
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NGX Offers to Support Nigerian Firms to Set up Subsidiaries in W’African Countries 

NGX Offers to Support Nigerian Firms to Set up Subsidiaries in W’African Countries 

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja 

The Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) has expressed its readiness to encourage and assist Nigerian companies with plans to open subsidiaries in other West African countries, noting that any initiative that aims to unite the sub-region and deepen the economic and commercial ties across the region is welcome.

NGX Chairman, Dr. Umaru Kwairanga, gave the assurance in his remarks at the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja, weekend.

Citing some Nigerian quoted companies such as Dangote Cement, First Bank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank and Ecobank among others, which have established subsidiaries in several other West African countries, he assured the audience that the NGX was always available as an exchange to encourage and assist companies with similar plans.

Describing WAES as a great initiative, he explained that any initiative that aims to unite the sub region and deepen the economic and commercial ties across the region was a welcome idea. 

He said: “There is power in unity and there is strength and prestige in size. The great economic powerhouses of the 21st century such as the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China have risen to prominence partly because of the size of their population and land areas. 

“I am confident that a United States of Africa can attain the same status in the near future if we work on initiatives such as this. 

“That was the principle on which bodies such as the African Union and ECOWAS were established and this Summit will help to make the dreams of their founding fathers become reality.

“Apart from that, there are huge opportunities across our local markets that have remained unexplored because of negligence or obstacles that can be easily overcome. 

“Summits such as this will help to tackle the underutilisation of intra-African trade to fast-track economic growth in the sub region. 

“At the Nigerian Exchange Group, we have recognised the imperative for partnerships and closer ties with our brother states and exchanges and so we are part of the African Exchanges Linkage Project which is an initiative aimed at connecting stock exchanges across eighteen African countries to enable seamless cross border trading and exchange of market data across Africa. 

“We also have many of our quoted companies such as Dangote Cement, First Bank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, Ecobank and others which have established subsidiaries in several other West African countries and we are always available as an exchange to encourage and assist companies which have similar plans.”

Kwairanga said he was hopeful that the summit would come up with implementable ideas and frameworks for reducing trade barriers between West African countries, easing the procedures for African companies who wish to set up subsidiaries in neighbouring countries and easing inter country movements for citizens of the sub-region without compromising security.

“I am confident that if we can come up with policies and plans that lead to a meaningful increase in trade and commercial interactions between countries of the sub region, we will accelerate economic growth and development for our individual countries and the region as a whole,” he said.

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Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja  The Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) has expressed its readiness to encourage and assist Nigerian companies with plans to open subsidiaries in other West African countries, noting