Posts in category: by The Telescope Magazine

In his Independence Day broadcast on October 1, 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced a transformative 30-day youth conference, signaling a renewed focus on empowering Nigeria’s youth as an engine of national progress. This presidential initiative could be a potential game-changer at a time when Nigeria’s young population needs to be made ready to take center stage in reshaping the country’s future

The upcoming 30-day conference represents not only a policy gesture but also a clarion call to harness the energy, creativity, and resilience of Nigerian youth in nation-building. For this conference to truly make an impact, however, it must move beyond mere talk and toward sustainable, actionable outcomes that directly address the most pressing concerns facing Nigerian youth.

The 30-day duration of the conference is particularly admirable, but it should be participatory. Equally, it should be totally devoid of politics. The time duration will allow for time to go beyond superficial discussions, enabling deep dives into practical solutions. We propose that the conference be structured around workshops, dialogues with industry leaders, government collaborations, and skill training, this initiative could provide a blueprint for youth development in the coming years. However, the key lies in ensuring that these sessions are participatory and genuinely focused on equipping young Nigerians with actionable skills and opportunities.

Moreover, this format gives young Nigerians the space to interact directly with policymakers, industry experts, and global thought leaders, ensuring that their perspectives are not only heard but valued. Over the years, Nigerian youth have been vocal about systemic issues, from the #EndSARS movement to advocacy for job creation and security. By dedicating a full month to these discussions, we believe the Tinubu administration seeks to honor these voices, creating a roadmap that positions young Nigerians as pivotal partners in governance and societal transformation.

For this conference to be representative, it must include voices from every corner of Nigeria and every socioeconomic background. Young people from rural areas, often sidelined in national dialogues, should have equal access to participate and benefit. This inclusion is particularly vital as the youth population is incredibly diverse, with varying educational backgrounds, skills, and exposure levels. A deliberate effort must be made to ensure that women, differently-abled individuals, and marginalized groups have an equal platform during this 30-day event.

To ensure broad participation, the government could leverage digital platforms and partnerships with youth organizations to facilitate regional and online participation for those unable to attend in person. By incorporating digital channels, the conference could reach a wider audience, extending the benefits to youths in remote areas and providing a virtual space for ongoing engagement after the physical event concludes.

We counsel that the outcome of conference should be harvested to deliver the change that Nigerian youths have been crying out for—the renewed hope promised Nigerians by President Tinubu receive attention: job creation, economic relief, and an accountable government, to mention but a few.

So, sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure development—areas that are critical to long-term national growth-should be focused upon. We advise that government also focus on creating a more transparent and participatory political environment. This could involve reforms to the electoral system to make it easier for young people to run for office and participate in decision-making processes. It is disappointing that despite the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Act, exorbitant nomination form fees remain a significant barrier for young Nigerians.

The Presidential 30-day youth conference is a bold and visionary step towards a more inclusive Nigeria. It signals a shift towards recognizing young Nigerians not just as beneficiaries of policies but as active architects of the nation’s future. This conference holds the potential to unlock the creativity, resilience, and leadership embedded in Nigeria’s youth—a resource that, if fully tapped, could transform Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape.

The success of this initiative rests on genuine engagement, actionable outcomes, and sustained commitment from all sectors of society. If Nigeria seizes this opportunity to empower its youth meaningfully, it will be laying the foundation for a brighter, more prosperous future—one where the dreams and aspirations of its young people become the pillars of a stronger nation.

On Thursday, May 18, 2023, the Nigerian Army Resource Center, Asokoro , Abuja , was agog with activities. That day marked the launch of a book written by the Chief of Account and Budget in Nigeria Navy Rear Admiral (Dr). Kashimu Bushi. (Ph.D), a man the public can rely on where trust, honesty, and accountability are required.
Titled: “Fundamentals of Nigerian Public Finance and Accounting”, it was presented to the reading public as a jewel that will advance the public account sector and help enhance innovation and accountability in Nigeria’s public finance. It is the third book from the stable of Rear Admiral Bushi.
The book launch was well attended by many distinguished Nigerians from all walks of life. Prominent among those who graced occasion included royal fathers, top military officers, politicians, captain of industries. These included but not limited to the , Emir of Lafia, Hon. Justice Sidi Bage Mohammed 1, and Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero , the Chief of Naval Staff,, Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Sen. George Sekibo, Prof. Ibrahim Saleh, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State and other prominent Nigerians.
In his remarks, Rear Admiral Bush explained that the book was written in response to the u to adequately prepare young graduates and newly employed accountants in public sector for the job. He said he also realized that throughout his 29 years of service in the public sector and indeed in the Nigerian Navy, most work experiences in different sphere of endeavours were not documented.
According to him, accounting graduates are not exposed to the practical issues in public sector accounting and those that are newly employed in the public sector are not well equipped with the knowledge of public sector financial management and accounting.
“Even public sector accountants are barely exposed to the regulatory aspect of public sector accounting, which often serves as a guide to accounting functions. Suffice to state that most accountants in government sectors improve their knowledge and skills of public financial management and accounting through safe efforts. Therefore, there is need to involve professional training of the public accountants.
“This informs the publication of this book to add value to the existing body of knowledge in the field of public finance and accounting in Nigeria.
“The accountants, as we know, are the key driver of government financial management system, which is key to economic development and prosperity because all policies are hinged on finance, budget and the accountants are the key implementers of our budgets,” he said.
Bushi said that getting it right at the training stage would help the finance managers and accountants to have the knowledge of implementing policies effectively and would impact the achievements or success of the budget.
He added that developing the knowledge and skills of accountants would help in improving the performance of the national budget. The book also provides the requisite knowledge on public sector financial management and accounting.
The Chief of Transformation (Navy), Rear Admiral Okon Eyo, who represented the Chief of Naval Staff, described the author as forthright officer with high sense of dedication and passion to service.
Rear Admiral Eyo said the senior officer had continued to make the Nigerian Navy proud both in service to navy and contribution to national development, adding that Rear Admiral. Bushi was a disciplined officer and a go-getter. According to him, it is a clear reflection of the attitude he brings to bear in his primary responsibility as the Chief of Accounts and Budget and the books that are churned out.
“He is quite becoming a prolific writer because this is the third book in quick succession and they are all on financial subjects.
“So I think he is trying to share his experience and the knowledge he has gathered both in classroom as students and practically on the on the job so people can learn from it,” he said.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Sen. George Sekibo, commended the author for giving back to the public his wealth of knowledge through the book. And he charged the author to continue to write more books so that Nigerians could learn and benefit from his knowledge as the country would be better for it.
The book, presented to the reading public by the Institute of Governance and Leadership Studies in Africa (IGLSA), was reviewed by Prof. Ibrahim Saleh, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State.
A lecture with the theme: Public Financial Management and Accounting: Impact on the Nigerian Economy’ was delivered by Prof. ABC Akujuobi, a former Head of the Financial Department, Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
Who really is Rear Admiral Bushi? Kasimu Bushi was born on 5 April 1968 in Kumbo, Donga Local Government Area of Taraba State. As someone who is mindful of what he wanted to become in life, he wasted no time to advance his academic pursued. He started his primary and secondary education early and gain admission in one of the prestigious Universities in the country, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree (B.Sc.) in accounting in 1991.
Rear Admiral Bushi did his National Youth Service with Dayo Oloje & Co (Chartered Accountant) in Akure, Ondo State and completed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1992.
After his service years, he enlisted into the Nigerian Navy on 23 August, 1993 and was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant on 23 August, 1994. He rose through the ranks. He became Rear Admiral in 2022, a course of direction which remains his career pursued till date.
It is this undeniable zeal to serve the nation that made him join the prestigious Nigerian military force. Bushi has become a true iconic example of a citizen who places national interest above personal one, whose passion is to serve the nation with his life inborn.
The personality of Bushi is very amassing; humble, patriotic, loyalty, perseverance, hardworking and dedicated to service. In Nigeria today, the desire for self-attainment and self-aggrandizement has taken a center stage rather than patriotic service to fatherland. Leadership challenges have contributed immensely to the current problems faced in the country such as corruption, banditry, militancy, kidnappings, rubbery among others.
Thus, the need to spot charismatic and dynamic young and up-coming leaders that can be trusted with leadership positions is important. It is in this light that, individual personality in the public sector (including the military) who through their selfless service, dedication to duty, exemplary and good leadership qualities as well as contribution to the development of their organizations, communities and the nation in general are often identified and honored for good performance as motivation for enhance service delivery.
In many circles, Bushi has made his mark in this regard; contributed immensely to the Nigerian Navy and the nation at large both professionally and otherwise.
In an attempt to improve his academic prowess, Bushi attended several schools. Some of the things that stands out clear and highly paramount is that he has an uncompromising interest in the field of Accounting and Finance as well as Public Administration.
In his quest to achieve the best, he has attended many courses. These included his stint at Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration where he obtained PGC in Public Administration 2002. He also attended Federal University of Technology (FUTO) and obtained PGD in Financial Management and MBA Finance in 2001 and 2008 respectively.

He further enrolled for MSc Programme in National Mathematical Centre affiliated to University of Abuja in 2015 and obtained MSc Financial Mathematics and a PhD in Finance. As a result of his sterling qualities and service to the nation, Admiral Bushi has received several honours and awards. These include Productivity Centre Merit Award, Humanitarian Service Award, Financial Prudency Award, Ethical Ambassador Award, Integrity Award, Good Ambassador of Taraba State Award, ICON of Hope Award and the prestigious National Public Service Award (NPSA) amongst others.

A highly trained and very discipline officer, Admiral Bushi has attended several conferences and seminars both local and abroad, prominent are: International Conference on Pre-retirement Planning at Ghana in 2015, International Conference on Public Finance and Administrative Strategies in the Post Covid era held at Kigali, Rwanda in 2021, Chartered System Accountant International Conference at Louisiana, USA in 2022, ANAN. Chartered Institute of Finance and Control (FIFC) yearly conference amongst others.
He has several decorations which includes Forces Service Star (FSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS) and Distinguished Service Star (DSS). Others are Chieftaincy titles; Santali of Gudape, Bebeji of Lafiya Kingdom and Katuka of Gire Adamawa.
Equally, Admiral Bushi has been honoured with two honorary Doctortate degrees. He has honorary Doctorate Degree in Leadership and Good Governance from South American University as well as honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Affairs from University of Benin Republic.
Bushi also had his military training in the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College as well as Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Nigeria where he obtained Pass Staff Course (psc).
Bushi is highly decorated and also, an astute professional and certified accountant whose knowledge and competence has gained him several Fellows both national and international institute which include: Fellow Chartered National Accountant (FCNA), Fellow Chartered Institute of Taxation (FCTI), Fellow Chartered Institute of Finance and Control of Nigeria (FCIFCN), Fellow African Institute of Strategic Managers (FAISM), Fellow Institute Corporate Administration (FICA), Fellow Chartered System Accountant (FCSA-USA), Fellow Occupational Safety and Health Association – UK (FOSHA), and a Certified Fraud Detector (CFD) UK.
In terms of service delivery, Dr. Bushi has proved himself as an effective financial manager and administrator, an inspiring motivator and intelligent leader. He gets job done on unobtrusively and efficiently and communicate well with creative ideas which he can see it to completion. He certainly has led a very good example of reliability, dependability, loyalty, and commitment.
He has also made a remarkable impact on the cultural ethics of public service life and led by example in all he has done. This has been attested by his trust to hold several sensitive and crucial appointments on financial management and public administration; a job which requires trust, honesty, and accountability.
His first appointment was Staff Officer (Cash) in Western Naval Command Headquarters, Lagos in 1995 – 1999. He was then transferred to Defence Headquarters in Abuja to work as Staff officer finance in 2000 – 2006. He later became the Base Account and Budget Officer (BABO) in Nigerian Naval Base, PATHFINDER, Port Harcourt from 2007 – 2009. For his outstanding performance void of malpractices and with his enthusiasm and discipline, he was later made Assistant Director (AD) Computer, Military Pension Board (MPB) between 2007 and 2010. A period which witnessed unprecedented transformation of the Military Pension Board. He brought dynamism in the management affairs of the Military Pension Board.
Dr. Bushi was instrumental to the introduction of biometric data system in the management and Administration of military pension which drastically curtailed corruption, manipulations and other forms of financial malpractices that were militating smooth administration of the Pension Board. He screened and vetted all the pensioners’ data in the retirees’ payroll and ensured that only eligible pensioners were enrolled into the biometric data system. He also ensured the integrity of the personnel payroll data.
In addition, he intensified measures to eliminate fraud and financial malpractices in an organization. Dr. Bushi deployed some strategies to deepen transparency in the financial management system. All these were achieved through constant training and sensitization of the personnel on the need to be ethical and professional in the discharge of duty.
Another area of competence of the officer is developing financial ideas that tends to solve problems in the society: he developed annuity funding model for the implementation in FMBN for loan disbursement to the benefit of public servant who are contributors to Federal Housing Scheme of Nigeria. In 2019, Dr. Bushi was a member of the committee for the Manual of Accounting and Financial Administration approved by Mr. President C-in-C for the Armed Forces of Nigeria which brought enhanced salary and allowances to the Armed Forces personnel.
Furthermore, Dr. Bushi focus is to ensure that the grass root, cleric accountant and all the people involve in keeping financial records in the navy are kept abreast of the accounting standards and practices. This informed his decision to publish a working book titled ‘Understanding the Basics of Nigerian Navy Financial Management and Accounting System’ in 2020.
Ever since Admiral Bushi’s commissioned into the Nigerian Navy, he has not disappointed that institution, one day, with his conduct and activities. He has not only been sustaining the rich tradition and ethics and principles of the accounting profession, he has been galvanizing the people for development and productivity.
He has sponsored countless entrepreneurship and empowerment programmes to build capacity for youth and make them useful to themselves.
What is unique about this admiral? Well, almost everything. First apart from being a distinguished scholar, he is a man who radiates much goodwill. His physical presence is a delight and inspiring. A man with graceful gait, Rear Admiral Bushi is a man with a chord of empathy. And he speaks with wisdom and the most kindness upon many things of common interests.
Some people are inspiring like chancing upon a fine poem; people whose handshake is like a brimful of unspoken fondness. Meeting Admiral Rear Bushi is one such experience. Second, he is a strong message of hope for young public sector accountants. He offers a unique vision for global well-being and competitiveness.
The essence of Admiral Bushi’s philosophy is that a conscious attention to productivity, discipline, moral responsibility be seen as parts of the public sector account. Then the practitioners should key-in to unlock the full potentials and deliver great services to the country. To him, walking on the path of these values is the only way to solve some the problems that face public sector accounts in Nigeria.
Over the years, Admiral Bushi has worked commendably towards these and developing those values and strengthening the public awareness of truth and integrity, hardwork and creativity in public sector finances.
All these explain why the people hold him dearly for his simple, yet life-impacting activities and scholarship. No wonder, his works are gaining wider acceptance. Thus, his influence and popularity continue to grow.

Tony Elumelu, chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) and founder of Heirs Holdings leaps with energy, innovation and ideas. He gets his energy and creativity in a quiet place. And usually, when he geos somewhere alone, he finds that new ideas just begin to flow and gets so much connected with himself.

Personal connections generate new thoughts and ideas for him, as he travels the world and works hard to make great things happen. He gets so tired of being in specific places, so moving around gives him fresher energy. It displaces old ideas.

So he keeps dreaming about great things, about a great nation, about a greater , prosperous Africa, about a peaceful world, about how the African youth can survive and flourish in a new world order of Industry 4.0, about how do we design international institutions for a world in which the liberal dream of growing harmony is in flood.

“My successes – and yes failures – have always driven me to create opportunities for young people. I believe that our young have the talent and the zeal to transform our world.” Said Elumelu.

This enigmatic global business leader clocks 60 this month. And what does Tony mean to business people, the youth in Nigeria and Africa generally? Role model, enabler, a man of great vision who helps so turn their lives around.

Elumelu went through banking career at Standard Trust Bank where after growing in leadership he found himself to be the youngest managing director of a bank, nationally , at that time And a very creative one, for that matter. Tony became a bank chief executive at the age of 34, one of the youngest in the industry at that time, by a dint of hardwork and luck. He was the CEO of the defunct Standard Trust Bank (STB) at the time before a business combination with UBA saw him become the chief executive of the new larger entity.

“I owed my accelerated career and successes to two things: hard work and luck, and I know firsthand how these factors are inextricable in success,” Elumelu said in a Facebook post recently.

Mr Elumelu currently chairs Heirs Holdings, a family-owned investment holding company, and also Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, where he holds a 2.1 per cent stake. He has a 7 per cent interest in UBA also.

His philanthropic initiative Tony Elumelu Foundation empowers young entrepreneurs in Africa and has active presence in 54 African countries.

Elumelu noted that the time he took the helm at Standard Bank coincided with a period of fast-paced transformation in banking when “reform-minded policymakers had opened up paths for consolidation and strengthening our sector”.

He added that even though competition was stiff within the industry, being young posed no barrier. Hence his commitments to putting the youth on sound footing in terms of leadership and entrepreneurship. The idea came to him when he was still in the banking sector.

While working in bank, in UBA as managing director, Tony was stunned by the problem of poverty in Africa. Even though he grew up to know there was poverty in Africa, it was really his banking career and travelling round Africa that helped him to uncover the real magnitude of poverty in Africa, and its impact on the continent. He was intrigued and in the end, felt like this is the path he needed to take. Something that would change lives in Africa.

He felt what concerned him at the moment was really trying to figure out how he could create the biggest impact  in the continent. And he saw many avenues to do that. One is working alongside young people and being an encouragement to them in any way he could through making them creatively productive. But also to engage differently in society just to see areas that he could help to make improvements in people’s lives.

More important to him , of course, is working with youth on entrepreneurship through his philosophy of Afrocapitalism. And as they learn leadership and entrepreneurship, he also ensures they are so versatile with technology, so comfortable with it. He painted different scenarios about these and the future of Africa.

He thought and thought, and eventually decided to launch a war on poverty. To do this he must create  a sort of liberal new order among African youth to smash apart the triple rocks of poverty, unemployment and productivity turmoil. Tony’s priority then became how to make as many people as possible productive, prosperous, truly independent and not rely on others.

Some years later, he floated the Tony Elumelu Foundation to solve the problems of poverty and unemployment through leadership training and entrepreneurship for African youth.

To him, the wealth that our parents accumulated or built is not ours to brag about.
We have no idea how long it took or what situations they went through to build themselves up.
We must build our own from sweat and guts, only then we will know the formulae.

This formulae he knows so much. And he is initiating many African youth into its secret through his philanthropic initiative the Tony Elumelu Foundation. In 2010, he created The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the pan-African philanthropy empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, catalysing economic growth, driving poverty eradication and ensuring job creation across all 54 African countries.

With this Foundation, encouraging the youth into innovation and productivity became easier, so they can be the change they want to be for their generation. To him, there is no need to fear for the youth, now that we are in the advent of the fourth industrial revolution, because they are born at a time like this to handle the challenges of the day like this. Not to fear but to guide them to make a difference. That is his task now across Africa, more than anybody in the continent.

Since inception, the Foundation has funded over 20,000 entrepreneurs and created a digital ecosystem of over one million Africans as part of its ten year, US$100m commitment through its flagship Entrepreneurship Programme. Self-funded, the Foundation is increasingly sharing its unique ability to identify, train, mentor and fund young entrepreneurs across Africa, with institutions such as the United Nations Development Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other global development agencies. His businesses and Foundation are inspired by Tony’s economic philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the private sector, and most importantly entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the African continent. Tony sits on a number of public and social sector boards including the World Economic Forum Community of Chairmen and the Global Board of UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited. He was named in the 2020 Time100 Most Influential People in the World, recognised for his business leadership and economic e

The Foundation empowers young entrepreneurs in Africa and has active presence in 54 African countries. It is the leading champion of entrepreneurship in Africa, with purpose being to empower women and men across the continent, catalysing economic growth, driving poverty eradication and ensuring job creation. We believe the private sector’s role is critical for Africa’s development and that the private sector must create both social and economic wealth.

The great thing about the foundation is that people are always at the heart of all the strategy of its activities. When it comes to young people, the strategy is clear: TEF is focused on ensuring that tomorrow is always better than today  for young people, through their own empowerment and the betterment of the communities where they live and develop.

For Tony, he believes that youths are fundamental to build a better shared future. For that reason, he developed programs to aid young people in entering the labor market. For example, BoothCamp training which seeks to promote the entrepreneurship of the youth, it has already reached more than 500 young people throughout the African continent to date, and Tony hopes to continue increasing the offer of training and participant quotas in the coming years. All programs are free and 100% online, aimed at young people who reside anywhere in Arica.

This has already impacted more than 39,000 young people in African communities spread throughout the 54 countries in the continent.  Of the total number of beneficiaries, more than 80,000 entered the labor market.

In addition, he seeks to boost their talents through quality opportunities and inclusive education. I’m proud to say that we employ 240,000 youths of the region. We know we cannot do it alone, so we work on these efforts with many allies across Africa. We will keep working on providing better and more opportunities to boost their talent and help them achieve their dreams.

At a recent forum, Elumelu urged successful leaders to champion young people who are focused, hardworking and committed to making a difference in their communities, because their drive and determination make things happen.

“More than ever, all of us who have attained success must become role models for the younger generation, so that the next generation can learn from our mistakes and achieve even more than we have,” he said.

“I believe that prioritising our youth – supporting their dreams and aspirations – is how we can create a sustainable future for the world.The greatest success in leadership is leaving a legacy and pathway for the next generation.”

Part from this, Elumelu believes that leaders must focus on long-term goals and succession planning to build a lasting legacy and ensure long-term success.

Elumelu is one of Africa’s leading investors and philanthropists. The Chairman of Heirs Holdings, his family owned investment company committed to improving lives and transforming Africa, through long-term investments in strategic sectors of the African economy including financial services, hospitality, power, energy, technology and healthcare. Tony is the Chairman of pan-African financial services group, the United Bank for Africa (UBA), which operates in 20 countries in Africa, the United Kingdom France, and is the only African bank with a commercial deposit taking presence in the United States. UBA provides corporate, commercial, SME and consumer banking services to more than 21 million customers globally. He also chairs Nigeria’s largest quoted conglomerate, Transcorp Plc whose subsidiaries include Transcorp Power, one of the largest generators of electricity in Nigeria and Transcorp Hotels Plc, Nigeria’s foremost hospitality brand. He is the Founder and Chairman of Trans-Niger Oil & Gas Limited (TNOG), an upstream oil and gas company which owns and operates Nigeria’s OML17, (with 2P reserves of 1.3 billion barrels of oil equivalent) and committed to creating resource based added value on the African continent. Tony is the most prominent champion of entrepreneurship in Africa.  And he is one of the most impactful role models for the African youth right now, more than any African at present.

At 60, Tony is helping to put Africa on a sound footing beyond being just exporter of crude resources. He is a most visible protagonist of productivity and philanthrophy in Africa. his desire is to bail out the continent from the clutches of underdevelopment in a world of “global discord” that desperately needs a John Maynard Keynes or a Milton Friedman who can range over a variety of disciplines like a master, but also translate them into gripping English.

Tony is helping to put Africa on a sound footing beyond being just exporter of crude resources in a world of “global discord” desperately needs a John Maynard Keynes or a Milton Friedman who can range over a variety of disciplines like a master, but also translate them into gripping English.

Now at 60, Elumelu wrestles with the chaos and confusion assailing Africa, amidst a raging global disorder, trying to help put some order.

And as Adrian Wooldridge has written in Bloomberg early January, 2023 “the overall impression is one of extraordinary flux and confusion: Europeans are trying to come to terms with the US’ growing nationalism; companies are flexing their supply chains for an unstable world; emerging powers are shifting their alliances; economic globalization, and national and regional politics are pulling in different directions at once; global organizations are losing their legitimacy; and the academics who are supposed to make sense of these things are so immersed in their subdisciplines that they either cannot see the bigger picture or, if they can see it, they cannot explain it to lesser mortals. The world of disorder remains a world of confusion as well.”

In some decades from now, historians would at least be able to bring the benefit of African children the significant contributions of Tony Elumelu to the socio-political and economic liberation of Africa.

This is the world of the Lion king,  “ the African child” who has been able to help Africa maintain some order and stability when global chaos rages.

As individuals, we too need to make great things happen. As individuals, we need to set goals and work towards our dreams. Let us not be spectators in life. We need to be working hard.
We need to be putting our heads down. We need to be able to dream again. If anyone has put his own dream in the coffin, it’s time to remove it from there. You have to see your dreams become a reality. This is the lesson in Elumelu’s activities across Africa as his ideas and mentorship become pivotal to African youth prosperity.

Sijibomi Ogundele, founder, Sujimoto Group of Companies and Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Construction, is a great man with a big vision and strong “can-do” spirit.. He portrays a man of high moral standing and has been weaving his path to success through honesty, hard work, dedication and commitment.

Naturally, people with a vision make best leaders because of their ability to foresee problem, calculate risks, offer contingencies, seizing opportunities with precision and timing, unique analytical abilities and can turn management into science with emphasis on high moral standards and integrity.

There’s no question that Sujibomi inherits this kind of world. And now he is making his skills and influence felt in the Nigerian real estate landscape, where he has been distilling much solution.  Of course, in doing so, he faced a housing industry, laced with problem quite large, but with opportunity as well. With the ingenuity and astuteness of a financial engineer, he entered the real estate industry and began to turn the situation around with some ease.

He is one of those who have kept the Nigerian economic and social landscape ablaze, thanks to the exceptional practice of their art and profession together with their many years of dedicated service. These are the shakers and movers on the economic scene who have become, eventually, icons of  the Nigerian business landscape.

Ogundele is one of the shakers of the real estate industry in Nigeria today. He is one of the business men people have the joy of watching as a role model to young people and entrepreneurs. His illustrious career is blessed with integrity and acclaim. For about decade now, he has been true to dignity and character with elegant truth and amazing emotional range.

His company handles the construction of Povidus Bank Abeokuta Branch Project, which is elegance on display. Hear Mr Ogundele’s comment on this: “The project, a 21st century banking hall that will change the skyline of Abeokuta and influence the narrative for Architectural design in the banking industry forever. Thanks to Providus Bank for believing in Sujimoto and giving us an opportunity to do what we love to do best.”
Regarded as a visionary like no other, Sujimoto created experimental, brave, insightful business paths which young people need to emulate today. His personality gems helped spur the development of his business lines.

Ogundele started his career in risk assessment in 2004, where he moved up to lending in SMEs and set up Moto Finance in Paris, which later branched out in Accra, Dubai, Madrid and New York City; achieving significant industry milestones, later moving into the Nigerian Real Estate industry; additionally into Risk Assessment and Project Management.

He describes his vision as ‘simple’, which is to revolutionise the African luxury Real Estate industry with Nigeria as a starting point. With the success of his company’s pioneer project in Nigeria called Medici, high demand for Sujimoto’s project in Ikoyi “LorenzoBySujimoto” is highly welcomed by investors and high net-worth individuals.

Inspired by the Ritz Styled Hotel & Apartment, LorenzoBySujimoto is an unveiling of world-class hospitality bringing a redefinition in high-value residential structures, comprising of 2, 3 & 4 bedrooms, a fascinating addition of penthouses with private swimming pools.

Sijibomi is very unapologetic about his opinions that the Nigerian Luxury Real Estate industry has not achieved five percent of its true potential. This inspired his vision to set up his company called Sujimoto Construction Ltd, which has achieved impressive strides within a few years of operations and gained recognition for being one of the most dynamic luxury real estates and construction companies in Nigeria.

We rarely come across a Nigerian business man who masterfully portrays a wide range of roles in different walks of life , and is an accomplished real estate business leader at that. With a stellar career that spanned some years in Finance, siji, popularly known as Sujimoto, is quite amazing.

He is hailed as among Nigeria’s best for being a man of dignity, a business leader whose business success and life are simply exemplary.

Sijibomi has touched our hearts and changed lives with his performances in business as well as with the messages ingrained in their personal conduct. He believes in the principle of giving back to society and empowering the people as exhibited in various social responsibility efforts setting him apart from his peers. The undisputed integrity champion, who brought countless laughter to numerous people and is held in awe by different generations of Nigerians.

Youth as Icons

Apart from being empowering to many, Ogundele believes that one of the greatest assets of Nigeria,as a nation,  is in its young people. Having been to different universities, to different schools and spoken with these young people, he knows them much. According to him, there’s a hunger for innovation in them.

“What we lack as a nation is not in creativity. What we lack as a nation is more in leadership, not only political, but community and family based leadership, or someone to push the youths and provide opportunities in different sectors.

“Nations like America, China, and other places have identified that their true asset is in their young people. They have created systems that will support people in education, health care, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure.”

To make young people realize their potential, he charges them to have as their driving force, the knowledge that there is no nobility in poverty. According to him, some critical and internal decisions must be taken to achieve success in Nigeria and not to live with a sense of entitlement but to go all out to grab the ever available opportunities.

“I want our young people to know that ‘Success is not served a la carte. It’s a buffet! You have to go for it!’ Youths should bury any sense of entitlement. The likes of Linda Ikeji, Davido have worked hard and are ripping the reward for their dedication.

“Our youths must know that there is no nobility in poverty; to achieve success today in Nigeria, you must be ready to lose friends, be misunderstood, and be unreasonable in your visions. Nigerians have stopped following leaders who are ‘complaining and murmuring’ leaders.

“Young people must learn to reject the ordinary and risk the unusual. We need to know that Nigeria is a land of opportunities; find these opportunities. The likes of MKO, Ojukwu, Mai Deribe, and others started from their youth days. So, as young people, we have to prepare a  ‘don’t do list,’ as much as you prepare a to-do list.”

With these lessons from the   Sujimoto boss and his story, Mr Ogundele has shown us wondrous world of possibilities through personal conduct, industry and discipline, and we are fortunate to have been witnesses to his illustrious careers.

Youth will need to reflect on people like Sijibomi Ogundele and the eventful paths that brought him to this state, how he has blazed the trail that many are gainfully treading on. Today, he has shown us that industry has strength, dignity, and promise because of people who have risen above and beyond their artistry to make success from it.

Life insurance policy is essential for any working adult above 40 years. Of course, a lot of people tend to ignore it, its importance cannot be overstretched. But generally, Nigerians have a passive attitude towards life insurance, especially among the masses. Also within the lower middle class, many are not even interested in insurance and its stories beyond motor insurance.

However, there are some essential things a working adult must do in life. Life insurance is one of those things— and many people don’t learn how important it is until it’s too late.

This is because anything can happen as we go about, running around to put food on the table for our families. Accidents can happen. Death also does not write letters to people that it is coming. So getting a life insurance policy is a great protection for our dependents if anything unexpected happens.
Of course, for most people, death is a passing thought. This is especially true when people are young and in top form and feel great… Everyone thinks they are going to live long and prosperous lives. And hopefully, that will indeed be the case.
However, you know that it doesn’t take much for your life to take a sharp turn for the worse. If you are unprepared, you risk dragging your entire family into a difficult financial situation.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. That’s why life insurance can play a crucial part in helping to secure your family’s financial future.
With enough coverage, you are securing a comfortable financial future for your loved ones, even without you being around. They will be able to get back on their feet much sooner and continue getting on with living their lives.
The death of a loved one can strike when you least expect it. And it only sounds cliché until it happens to someone. Daily events in different parts of Nigeria highlight the seriousness of the issue of life insurance policy. And a general awareness of it is needed to turn the Unpredictable into the Predictable
As you know, nature works in mysterious ways. Yes, the chances are low that any of the above would happen to you, but it should still make you wonder how long you have left here on earth.
In Nigeria, just as in some other parts of the West African sub-region, people travel a lot, often for business. Barring accident, the odds are that you will be living a long life. But if you want to be sure that your loved ones will have a degree of financial security if the worst were to happen to you, you shouldn’t think twice about seriously considering your life insurance needs.
With a good life insurance policy and the right amount of cover, you can relax and enjoy every day as it comes in terms of knowing that your loved one’s financial future is provided for. And no accident, no lightning bolt, heart attack, or falling cow could take that away.
A reflection on issues that bother on daily security and safety may help you understand more about the importance of getting the right policy. Remember, it is for your loved ones that you’re taking out a life insurance policy.
But that doesn’t mean we know all the right things to do when it comes to getting a policy. According to a nationwide study conducted by a Lagos-based insurance company early this year in bothe Lagos and Abuja.
Over two-third of respondents who had life insurance policy didn’t know what kind of policy they had. And though 70% felt confident that their insurance companies would pay out if the need arose, only 34% felt sure that they would know how to collect a payout.
Do you fall into this confused category? If so, it’s crucial to educate yourself about life insurance, especially if you have people who depend on you (like kids), or have a mortgage or significant amount of debt to pay.
Life insurance, and how it could have—or does—make all the difference is essential to our having some confidence about securing the future for our dependants.

Zeetin Engineering, an engineering company, is setting up a multi-billion naira factory in Idu Industrial area of the federal capital territory (FCT) to produce electric cars.

Speaking with journalists on Thursday, Robert Azibaola, promoter of the company, said he has invested about N3.5 billion in setting up the place.

Azibaola said, so far, he has not borrowed money from the bank, adding that he is desirous to receive bank facilities that would assist him to accelerate the completion of the factory.

He said the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Nigeria Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank have expressed their readiness to furnish Zeetin Engineering with a loan facility of N2.5 billion each.
“As a visioner, this is my vision and it is to make Nigeria great,” he said.

“Except we get our act together, the black race globally will not have a proper footing in spite of their inventions in the western countries. This is my personal contribution towards making Nigeria a great country.

“Zeetin focuses on all types of metal works of high-end engineering. It has acquired and installed the most sophisticated production machines (CNCs, Plasmas, 5Axis Milling, Lathes, etc) in the metal works industry in Nigeria.
“With its capacity, Zeetin will be functioning as an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) for Nigeria and will be churning out full-scale industrial product for the Automotive, Aeronautic, Aviation, Railways, Marine, Agricultural sectors, etc.

“The lack of OEMs in the country has been a great hindrance to the growth and development of manufacturing and assembling companies. Manufacturers in Nigeria usually resort to importation of all their spares amidst scarce foreign exchange and lead time.

“When fully operational, most Nigerian businesses in need of specialised spare-parts will get from Zeetin direct and would not be waiting for importation from abroad. Thus, Zeetin Engineering shall be bridging a vital gap.

“Zeetin has array of machines that are for the manufacture of other machines, spares and equipment.

“This is why Zeetin is leading the way to become Nigeria’s proudly OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) at full-scale industrial levels for Nigeria.”

The Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris FCNA has called on managers of the country’s economy, economic experts and critical stakeholders in the country’s economy to come up with strategies and practices that could be deployed in the effective management of inevitable financial challenges such as that caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Idris made the call at a two-day National Treasury Workshop, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State with the theme, “COVID-19 and the global economy, implications on the Nigerian national treasury”.

The workshop was meant to provide a forum for economic experts, officials of the Federal and State Governments, academia, and the private sector to brainstorm and come up with effective strategies for managing national economies in the face of pandemics and other global disasters.

The Accountant General of the Federation maintained that the reality of the pains inflicted on the Nigerian economy and the national treasury by the COVID-19 pandemic has made it overtly imperative to fashion out ways to effectively manage the economy during pandemics and handle any pandemic-induced financial challenges.

He tasked the economic experts and government officials to come up with viable ideas that will, among other things, help the country withstand financial shock caused by any pandemic and also help control aggregate cash flows within fiscal, monetary and legal limits to improve the management of critical government borrowings.

Furthermore, he said ideas should be evolved that will help establish and sustain the consciousness of and accountability for public expenditure, efficient budget execution and resource allocation as well as effective public service delivery that accords value for money at all times.

In his address at the Workshop, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba noted that the dwindling revenue profile of the country and the attendant challenges on the cash flow occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic called for prudent management of available resources and evolution of better, more effective and robust administrative mechanisms to resolve the revenue challenges.

He made known that in an effort to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, prevent potentially deep recession and accelerate quick recovery of the economy, the Federal Government had developed three broad strategies namely, provision of economic stimulus packages, mobilization of external support/funding and increased the Non-Oil revenue generation.

He said as a result of these measures adopted by the government, health and economic data have continued to be on a positive trajectory despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also speaking, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel commended the initiative of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation in organising a workshop to look into ways and means of repositioning the Nigerian economy in a post-COVID-19 era.

He expressed optimism that the workshop will come up with ideas and approaches to stimulate and grow the Nigerian economy in a new world put forth by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris FCNA, was one of the personalities that were recently presented with Awards of Honour by the Abuja FCT 1 Branch of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN).

The Award presentation was part of the 2021 International Accountants’ Day Celebration by the Abuja FCT 1Branch of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN).

Idris was presented with an Award of Honour for accountable leadership. Other Awardees were honoured for excellence in leadership and humanitarian service, diligence in the line of duty, consistency of purpose in service, entrepreneurship and leadership.

In conferring the Award, the Abuja FCT 1Branch of ANAN noted that the Accountant General of the Federation has promoted transparency, accountability, and probity in the management of public funds through the dogged implementation of the financial management reforms anchored by the Treasury.

In a goodwill message at the occasion, the Accountant General of the Federation, who is also a member of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), congratulated the Abuja FCT 1 Branch of ANAN for the successful hosting of the 2021 International Accountants’ Day Celebration and other achievements the Chapter has recorded. The AGF was represented by the OAGF Director of Finance and Accounts Mr Lucky Nwagwu.

He noted that the theme of the celebration, “Accountable Leadership in the 21st Century”, was apt as the country needs leaders with high level of integrity, foresight and professionalism to drive positive change.

Environmental – As part of its commitment to environmental protection, Rite Foods Limited, a world-class proudly Nigerian Foods and Beverages Company, has sponsored the cleanup of the Alpha beach, in Lekki, Lagos, where 1,640kg and 127.2kg of solid and recyclable waste respectively, were cleared, as part of efforts at preserving the environment and in support of the Lagos State Government cleaner-Lagos initiative.

The clean-up exercise which was in collaboration with the Sterling One Foundation and Giving Beach Clean-up took place on March 27, 2021.

Staff members of Rites Foods Limited were joined by 116 volunteers and locals in the community to pick up and remove plastics, solid waste and other unwanted materials from the beach.

The solid waste recovered totalled 1,640kg, while polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recyclables weighed 119 kg, carton 3.0kg, nylon1.0kg and returnable glass bottle 4.2kg.

The cleanup was part of the company’s contribution to a cleaner environment and the preservation of one of Lagos beaches known as Alpha beach, which serves as a tourist location in Lagos State, where fun seekers go to for relaxation, picnics, parties and other forms of social engagements.

He stated that the project is to ensure that the solid and packaging wastes do not end up in the ocean from the beach, thereby constituting hazards to aquatic lives   and for people that make use of the ocean for other activities.

According to him, the recyclable waste can be turned into other useful products and helps create more jobs and also keep the environment clean.

“Food and beverage packaging waste like the PET bottles end up in the wrong places, in our beaches, oceans and waterways or litter the communities where we work and live. We have a responsibility to protect the environment hence we have gathered today to clear all sorts of waste from the beach,” he stated.

“Keeping the environment clean should be the concern of all its citizens, and this will rid the society of certain diseases associated with dirty environment,” Adegunwa added.

The company’s effort was commended by Sterling One Foundation, the Giving Beach Cleanup team and Alpha beach community patrons.

Established in 2007, Rite Foods Limited set the pace with the commencement of the production of the high quality family preferred Bigi soft drinks, Fearless Energy Drink and today’s market-leading brand of Rite Sausages.

The Rite Foods products line currently includes theBigi Cola, Bigi Cherry Cola, Bigi Ginger Ale, Bigi Orange, Bigi Apple, Bigi Bitter Lemon, Bigi Soda Water, Bigi Lemon & Lime, Bigi Tropical, Bigi Chapman, Bigi Ginger Lemon, Bigi Tamarind, Fearless Redberry Energy Drink, Fearless Classic Energy Drink, Rite Spicy, Bigi Beef Sausage roll and Rite Sausage roll.

Rite Foods’ disruptive innovation introduced into the energy drinks segment, the first polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaged energy drinks, comprising the Fearless Red Berry and the Fearless Classic.

Rite Foods is perhaps the fastest-growing Foods and Beverages Company in West Africa, with the ambition of becoming Africa’s number one foods and beverages conglomerate by the year 2030.

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Education Mr. Tokunbo Wahab has felicitated with Christians across the globe on this year celebration of Easter.

He said Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb on the third day after crucification. Easter is the fulfilled prophecy of the Messiah who would be persecuted, die for our sins, and rise on the third day. (Isaiah 53) stated remembering the resurrection of Jesus is a way to renew daily hope that we have victory over sin.

In a Facebook post by Mr. Tokunbo Wahab to all the Christian faithfuls, “He Has Risen! May Jesus remove all obstacles from your life. May his resurrection bring all the goodness for and your family.”

Tokunbo is a strong advocate of equity and justice and a passionate believer in the dictum that everyone deserves equal opportunities regardless of class or strata and he as contributed to the growth of Lagos State government on education by providing adequate facilities for school across the Lagos.