The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has called for partnerships with American investors to enhance Nigeria’s free trade zones and boost job creation and to expand exports.

Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi, the Managing Director of NEPZA, in a statement, yesterday made the call while delivering a lecture at the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

The lecture titled “Free Zones and Industrial Competitiveness: Catalysing Investment Through Regulatory Innovation” was part of a side event themed “Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria: A New Era of Economic Opportunities.”

Ogunyemi said the forum provided a vital space to match policy action with private capital.

“Nigeria’s free zones are designed as practical business enclaves for industrial upgrading and credible, regionally scalable investments.

“We are therefore asking U.S. investors and institutions to undertake site visits to Lagos Free Zone, Lekki Free Zone, Abuja Industrial Park Free Zone and other zones to see existing infrastructure and anchor tenants,” he said.

According to him, NEPZA is seeking partnerships for anchor projects that would transform into small and medium enterprises’ factory shells, create jobs and promote local procurement content.

He said opportunities also existed for co-financing shared infrastructure that would enable hundreds of tenant investments and support scaling up of production for exports.

Ogunyemi reaffirmed NEPZA’s readiness to support due diligence, provide regulatory clarity, and facilitate the needed structure for investors willing to move from dialogue to signed commitments.

The NEPZA boss said the authority had applied world-class mechanisms to raise the industrial competitiveness of the free zones through infrastructure development, regulatory predictability, cluster effects and market access.

He said the Federal Government, through NEPZA, would continue to prioritise private capital in building infrastructure in both private and public-private partnership free zones, describing them as principal engines of rapid transformation.

Ogunyemi urged investors to consider the vast size of the Nigerian market as a springboard for regional expansion and international exports.

He also thanked the Presidency for including NEPZA in Nigeria’s UNGA delegation, and the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) for providing a platform to attract U.S. investors into the free zones.

The grand finale of the Nsibidi Institute Festival 2025 was electrified with emotion last night as the lens of Nigerian photography history focused squarely on one of its most revered figures. In a moving ceremony at the prestigious Quintessential Event Centre in Ikoyi, iconic photographer Don Barber was presented with the esteemed Lifetime Achievement Award, cementing his legacy as a national artistic treasure.

The award, presented by the Institute’s Director, Dr. Adaora Nwosu, was not merely for a career spanning decades, but for the indelible mark Barber has left on the very fabric of visual storytelling in Africa. It served as a powerful recognition of his dual role as both a master craftsman and a foundational mentor.

“We are not just honouring a photographer; we are honouring an institution,” Dr. Nwosu declared to a captivated audience of dignitaries, artists, and former protégés. “Don Barber’s camera has chronicled the soul of our nation—from its tumultuous moments to its triumphs. More importantly, his generosity of spirit has trained the eye of a generation. Many of the top photographers working in Nigeria and across the globe today can trace their artistic lineage back to his studio.”

The event, described by attendees as both poignant and celebratory, saw a who’s-who of the African art scene in attendance. A curated slideshow of Barber’s most powerful works—striking black-and-white portraits of cultural icons, vibrant scenes of everyday life, and historic documentary images—was projected, drawing gasps and nostalgic applause.

Upon accepting the award, an visibly moved Don Barber, known for his humility, shifted the praise back to his community. “This camera,” he said, holding up his classic film camera, which he had brought on stage, “is only a tool. The real magic has always been in the people, the stories, and the light of this beautiful country. My greatest pride is not in the pictures I took, but in the brilliant photographers I have had the privilege to teach. They are the future, and they ensure that our stories will continue to be told with truth and beauty.”

The evening culminated in a standing ovation that lasted several minutes, a heartfelt tribute to a man who has, through his lens and his lessons, forever shaped how Nigeria sees itself.

Over the years, Nigeria’s travel industry has experienced spontaneous growth and unity as a result of Partner Plus Connect (PPC), a platform created by Finchglow Travels, saddled with the responsibility of ensuring growth and knowledge among airlines and other traveling agencies.

In order to equip partners and agents with skills, tools, and knowledge that aid their businesses and ensure they grow from agents to distributors, Finchglow Travels hosted an event at the Golden Tulip Hotel on Friday, 26th September 2025, in Port Harcourt. The event had partners such as Amadeus, Afrijet, and Lufthansa present, as well as other travel agencies.

Themed “Boosting Travel Demands: Airlines and Consolidator Insights,” the conference provided a platform for stakeholders to share insights, showcase innovations, and explore strategies for sustaining growth in Nigeria’s travel industry.

Finchglow Travels, founded in 2006, is not just a travel agency but also a leading consolidator in Nigeria’s aviation sector. With about 19 years in business, it has grown into a trusted provider of travel management services, including flight bookings, visa support, and logistics for both corporate and individual clients. The company has earned multiple awards from global airlines such as British Airways, Air France, KLM, Delta, and Virgin Atlantic for excellence in sales and services. Today, Finchglow Travels continues to strengthen the travel industry through innovation, consolidation, and strategic partnerships.

The event comprised an interactive and engaging panel session, which provided answers on ways travel demands can receive boosts. The panel featured three of Finchglow’s senior staff.

Mr. Abiola Bakare, Sales Manager Finchglow Travels, described the current state of travel demand as an interesting one. He cited statistics from a major newspaper in 2023, showing an increase in passenger numbers from 15.6 million in 2023 to 15.8 million in 2024, leaving a difference of 400,000 passengers who travel out of Nigeria yearly. He projected that travel demand would likely return to pre-COVID levels by the end of the year.

He highlighted positive factors driving travel demand, one of which is pleasure. In today’s world, people now mix business with leisure. Other drivers include technological advancement, which has made flight booking seamless, domestic and regional tourism, which is being embraced as a cost-saving measure, and sustainability and eco-tourism.

On the negative side, he mentioned economic realities, pointing out that people tend to be limited financially. He also highlighted visa restrictions, the harsh realities of life abroad, which force some people to return home, and the shift from Africa to Asia, where people are granted access to quality education and residency. High ticket costs, both domestic and international, also limit demand, as tickets are usually priced in dollars.

Mr. Abiola also mentioned that global security issues such as wars or instability often limit travel demand.

“Finchglow Travels is not about selling tickets. It is about providing a holistic travel service from end to end,” he said.

“One should be able to think beyond tickets,” he added.

Ebiere Bekesuo, Head of Operations Finchglow Travels, spoke on the role of travel consolidators in boosting demand and supporting both airlines and agencies. With Finchglow’s 19 years in the industry as one of Nigeria’s leading consolidators, she explained the role using a mental triangle: airlines at the top, travel agencies and clients at the bottom, and consolidators positioned in the middle.

She defined a consolidator as one who buys in bulk from airlines and distributes to retailers, who are the travel agencies. She described these agencies as “Soft Agents or Power Trade Partners.””

Finchglow Travels, she explained, is geared toward being the intermediary between airlines and agencies, gathering volumes from agencies and giving them to airlines by filling up seats through discounted rates. It offers attractive fares for corporates, NGOs, and oil and gas firms.

“Finchglow Travels is not just a travelling agency but a consolidator with a unique service,” she added.

Ekemiebi Ololo, Branch Manager Port Harcourt, described Finchglow as “the agent’s agent” because the company both buys and sells in bulk at discounted rates.

She highlighted that one of the ways for agencies to leverage Finchglow is by accessing discounted fares. These include humanitarian, student, and corporate fares, all of which are competitive.

She also noted that registration on Finchglow’s website and signing up for the Partners Plus Platform provides additional benefits. This gives access to unique countries, a seamless process via OTA, training opportunities, and a 24/7 customer care line to deliver top-notch service.

Travel agencies, over the years, can also grow their businesses by creating domestic and regional packages.

Mr. Abiola stressed the importance of innovation.

“One should be able to think beyond tickets,” he said.

He encouraged agencies to provide related services beyond ticket sales, learn to create solutions, work with the right partners, diversify into different fare categories, and provide insights to airlines through strategic approaches.

“Finchglow is moving from volume to value — a travel agency that provides end-to-end solutions, not just selling tickets,” he added.

Partnering with major players and leveraging technology, he noted, brings about advanced growth for both airlines and agencies.

Mr. Bankole Bernard, CEO of Finchglow Travels, emphasized why airlines and agencies continue to trust the company.

“There are less than three agencies in this country that operate at the level we do as a consolidator,” he said. “What sets us apart is the structure we’ve built. We hold monthly virtual meetings and quarterly physical meetings nationwide, keeping constant touch with our partners. We have knowledgeable staff who understand the industry inside out, and we make sure our operations are clean — no debit memo issues, no system abuse, and no cutting corners. We work with professionalism.”

He further explained Finchglow’s approach to negotiations.

“Our focus is always on profitability, increasing revenue, and raising the load factor. At the end of the day, the airline’s responsibility is to lift passengers, while the consolidator’s responsibility is to ensure the aircraft is filled. That’s where we come in. We consistently fill the aircraft and maintain strong, professional relationships with airlines. That is why the industry trusts us.”

By Miracle Chidinma Amaechi

In spite the vast and potential human and material resources that abound in Nigeria, the country continues to be weighed down by deliberate institutional mechanisms, policies, and corrupt practices that erode accountability, promote elite capture, and entrench a culture of underdevelopment.

These have been identified as “public administrative weapons of mass destruction,” which manifest in infrastructural decay, brain drain, rising inequality, youth unemployment, and a growing disillusionment with the state. The situation can only be reversed through a moral reawakening and civic responsibility, driven by value-based education, ethical leadership, and robust institutional reform aimed at restoring integrity and trust for a better country.

These were some of the postulates put forward by Professor Jacob Sunday Akikibofori while presenting the 70th Inaugural Lecture of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) in Port Harcourt on Thursday, September 25, 2025 at the school’s auditorium.

Professor Akikibofori, whose lecture titled, “The Conscientious Individual And The Debased Social System: Unmasking Public Administration Weapons Of Mass Destruction In Nigeria”, noted that that public service in Nigeria has largely deviated from its core values of neutrality, efficiency, and responsiveness, to become an arena for personal aggrandizement and political patronage.

According to him, the weaponization of public administration in Nigeria is visible in the deliberate use of state institutions to stifle positive dissent, encourage examination malpractice, manipulate electoral outcomes, and protect political cronies, while regulatory bodies, anti-corruption agencies, and internal audit mechanisms are frequently captured by powerful interests and turned into instruments of vendetta or political control.

He noted that beyond leadership failure in Nigeria, “lies an ecosystem of impunity protected by law enforcement institutions, judicial compromise, and regulatory agencies that have lost their moral compass. These are hidden under the “weapons of mass destruction,” not in the traditional sense of nuclear or biological warfare, but as tools that destroy the human spirit, democratic accountability, and national aspirations.”

Akikibofori, who is a product of the University of Port Harcourt and a professor of Sociological Theory at IAUE further lamented that the public administrative sector which should serve as an engine of development and democratic consolidation has, “instead become a cesspool of maladministration, rent-seeking, and policy somersaults.

“From ghost workers in public payrolls to misappropriation of funds in constituency projects, from nepotism in civil service recruitment to politicised budgeting and procurement processes, the Nigerian administrative system presents a deeper rot that affects the very foundation of governance,” he stated.

Dissecting how corrupt practices, ranging from academic malpractices, symbolised by the the misuse of the “red pen”, ordinarily a neutral tool for marking scripts and assessing performance, becomes a tool for manipulation, rather than instruments of scholarly assessment, he said the consequences, “echo far beyond classrooms into the health sector, judiciary, infrastructure, and governance systems, producing leaders and administrators who perpetuate dysfunction rather than challenge it.”

To address the entrenched challenges of corruption, nepotism, and weak institutional frameworks, Professor Akikibofori recommended urgent holistic reform agenda anchored on integrity, transparency, and meritocracy that promotes the concept of the “Conscientious Individual.”

For him, the conscientious individual becomes the metaphor for ethical resistance, moral clarity, and a civic responsibility in the face of systemic decay. He becomes an individual whose actions are guided by a profound moral awareness and unwavering commitment to ethical principles, regardless of the social, political, and economic consequences.

He stated that rather than allow the conscientious Nigerian who insists on institutional integrity to be victimised by the instruments meant to uphold justice and threatened by a “debased elite,” that thrives on administrative dysfunction of survivalism, sycophants and systemic inertia, such individuals should be encouraged to become catalysts of national renewal.

“The conscientious individual, whether a student refusing to bribe, a lecturer grading fairly, a judge rejecting inducement, or a civil servant committed to transparency, represents the hope for a better Nigeria.

“Such individuals, empowered by knowledge and guided by conscience, can pierce through the fog of moral collapse and become catalysts of national renewal,” he noted.

Citing developed countries such as China, Germany, and South Korea where deliberate and strategic reforms to build resilient, transparent, and development-focused public systems worked, Prof. Akikibofori stated that those countries have proven that the ideal system is not a myth.

He described them as a product of intentional design, strong institutions, leadership commitment, and some cultural ethos that value transparency, merit, and accountability, noting that only a reformed public administration anchored on justice, equity, and conscience would be the foundation for a prosperous Nigeria.

For this to happen, Professor Akikibofori recommended that the education sector must undergo a comprehensive transformation to uproot academic malpractices and restore trust in the learning process, recruitment and promotion frameworks in public institutions should be built on standardised, verifiable and performance-based criteria, while strong legal enforcement and an independent judiciary, with robust mechanisms for prosecutingacts of impunity should be put in place.

Speaking at the end of the lecture which was well attended by academics from the institution and sister institutes in the state, community members of the lecturer, friends and associates, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, commended the lecturer for the insights and recommendations and urged relevant agencies of government to note the recommendations.

Represented by the Director Academic Planning Professor Joseph Kinanee, the Vice Chancellor commended Prof Akikibofori for contributing immensely towards the growth of knowledge and being a vanguard for moral reawakening.
Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Professor Joseph Kinani, the Vice Chancellor commended Prof Akikibofori for contributing immensely towards the growth of knowledge and being a vanguard for moral reawakening.

President Bola Tinubu has called for total elimination of nuclear weapons all over the world.

Tinubu made the call while delivering Nigeria’s statement at the high-level meeting to commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons at the UN headquarters in New York.

Represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Tinubu said the event reminds the world of shared responsibility and collective resolve to eradicate dangerous weapons.

“Nigeria will continue to do its part to ensure total elimination of nuclear weapons is achieved,” Tinubu said.

According to him, the total elimination of nuclear weapons remains the only absolute guarantee against their use or threat of use.

“The catastrophic humanitarian consequences that could result from either intentional use or unintentional explosion of these dangerous weapons are dire,” he said.

Tinubu urged Nuclear Weapons States to be mindful of the impact of weapons of mass destruction on human health, the environment, and vital economic resources among others.

“We need to see action toward the dismantling of these weapons,” he said.

According to him, the continued existence of nuclear weapons is a huge challenge to international peace and security.

The Nigerian leader reiterated his concern over the resistance and lack of political will by Nuclear-Weapon States to ensure total elimination of their nuclear arsenals.

“We, therefore, urge all the Nuclear Weapons States to implement all agreed measures toward achieving total elimination of nuclear weapons.

“Nigeria also wishes to renew its call on all States to work assiduously toward the actualisation of the goals and objectives of a nuclear weapons-free world.

“We are convinced that the universalisation of the NPT is dependent upon strict compliance with its three pillars,” he said.

The three pillars are disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy

He commended all states that had ratified the TPNW and urged those yet to do so to accede without delay.

“My delegation takes pride in having actively contributed to the negotiation process and in being among the first countries to sign the treaty,” he said.

He said the the treaty represented a significant step toward achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.

“In this regard, my delegation also calls on all Nuclear-Weapon States to cease the testing, development, and modernisation of nuclear weapons, including associated research activities, ” he said.

He said the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons to humanity prompted African countries to adopt the Pelindaba Treaty, declaring Africa as a nuclear-weapons-free zone.

The Pelindaba Treaty prohibits, among other things, stationing of nuclear explosive devices and their testing in the entire space that constitutes the African continent.

Tinubu enjoined all member states from other regions, especially those regions that are not yet free of nuclear weapons to emulate Africa in their respective regions.

“Nigeria underscores the importance of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and, like many other developing countries, has embraced nuclear technology to advance its development goals,” he said.

Tinubu further reminded all states of their obligation to comply fully with existing frameworks in order to uphold global nuclear safety, security, and non-proliferation norms.

According to him, the benefits of nuclear disarmament are enormous and cannot be underestimated.

“Member States must demonstrate sincerity of purpose and commitment to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

“While there are no easy solutions, we must remain resolutely focused on getting to a world free of nuclear weapons and be better assured of our survival as human race,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has implored the African Union (AU) to reinvigorate diplomacy as the primary and most effective means of conflict resolution in Africa.

Tinubu made the call during a meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council at the level of Heads of State and Government.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

The Nigerian leader, represented by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, acknowledged the role played by the AU’s Peace Support Operations (PSOs), a unit designed to maintain, monitor and build peace in Africa.

Tinubu said with the current UN administration and growing interest by traditional partners in conflicts outside Africa, it was becoming increasingly difficult for countries to shoulder the total cost of peace support operations on the continent.

He said: “Our continent must continue to maintain a diplomatic approach in its conflict prevention and resolution endeavours.

” We urge this council to ensure that the concept of future peace operations, particularly the UN mandated ones, make provision for diplomatic and political strategies that would ultimately address the root causes of conflict.

“We also urge the council to ensure that the existing strategies for future AU PSO’s include elements that would ensure that national and local institutions can effectively anticipate and manage shocks and relax multiplies.”

The president said this was the only way the continent’s peace support operations can leave behind resilient and self sustaining peace infrastructure wherever they find themselves.

“We further wish to underscore the current practice of proliferation of numerous peace initiatives on our continent with counter AU’s prevention and resolution processes,” he added.

Tinubu warned against external interference in crisis situation in Africa, including the presence of foreign military forces, mercenaries and defence contractors in some AU states.

He said that meddling in crises on the continent remained contrary to the African Conflict Prevention and Resolution Initiatives.

The president called on the council to consider adopting a communique to address the loopholes in conflict resolution.

The Nigerian leader urged the council to consider the call for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of foreign forces from member countries.

He also told the council to ” expeditiously address obstacles to the operationalisation of the African standby force.

Tinubu further called for the adoption of strategy for the deployment of the African standby force in conflict situations on the continent.

He noted that the council would be more successful if it regularly coordinates, consults and strategically engages similar structures or mechanism of regional economic communities.

“It’s our view that conflict prevention and resolution on the continent is a solidarity, and working in silence should be avoided completely.

” The AU has adequate mechanism for prevention of the ever changing conflict and crisis dynamics on our continent.

” What we lack, however, is trust in our processes and institutions as well as consistency in the application of our normative instruments,” he said.

According to him, the current practice where African leaders rely on mechanisms outside the continent for solutions to their security challenges without exhausting internal processes should be
addressed.

Tinubu also urged the council to encourage AU member states to recommit to subjecting themselves to its peace and conflict resolution processes.

He said Nigeria welcomed the prevailing practice of appointing Special Envoys to countries in conflict on the continent.

Tinubu, however, said that there is need to equip members of these AU Ad–Hoc peace initiatives, particularly the Special envoys and high-level representatives, with the required skills.

The skills, he said, would enable them to become effective instrument for the prevention or de-escalation of conflicts in Africa.

” This requires the adoption of criteria that ensures that only well–respected pan– Africanist leaders that are willing to use their influence and connections to compel parties to conflict to sheath their swords, ” he said.

He underscored the importance of adequate funding and provision of strategic logistics as success enablers of Peace Support Operations.

” This is why we support the call for the operationalisation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719 on Somalia.

” This is important given the primary responsibility of the UN Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with relevant provisions of the United Nations Charter,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Parfait Onanga-Anyanga,
Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union, decried the surge in arms conflict and dwindling funding for peace interventions in Africa.

Onanga-Anyanga, who is also the Head of the UN Office to the African Union, urged member countries to establish their own national peace building and conflict prevention mechanism.

“Prevention, indeed, must start at home and must be consistent with the United Nations Charter regional organisations such as the African Union.

” Of course, regional economic commissions and regional mechanisms have a key role to play in this regard,” he said.