Category: News

Enugu State’s farm estate initiative, designed to establish 200-hectare agricultural clusters in each of the state’s 260 political wards, is projected to create more than 104,000 direct jobs while using food production as a tool to tackle insecurity, former Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Engr. Mike Ogbuekwe, has said.

Ogbuekwe disclosed this on Wednesday during an interactive session on the Smart Farm Initiative organised by the Enugu State Government for participants of the Senior Executive Course 48, 2026, of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), who were on a study tour of the state.

According to him, the farm estate model, which will cover a total of 52,000 hectares when fully implemented, is designed to formalise agriculture, address land-use challenges, facilitate access to finance and technology, promote mechanisation and establish market linkages for farmers.

He said the initiative was also intended to organise farmers into clusters where their produce could be aggregated and supplied directly to agro-processing industries that require agricultural raw materials.

“So, to develop the farm estates model is to use food security to drive away insecurity,” Ogbuekwe said.

He explained that the clustering model would enable farmers to benefit from government-provided infrastructure, training, mechanisation and access to markets, while creating opportunities for young people to participate in agriculture beyond primary production.

“You see, that’s where the creativity component comes in; so that the industries that require our raw materials already know where they can go to get their raw materials,” he said.

Ogbuekwe who is the All Progressives Congress chairmanship candidate of Nkanu East Local Government Area, said the government’s investment in mechanisation, including the acquisition of tractors and establishment of a tractor assembly plant in the state, would further support farmers operating within the organised clusters.

“The idea is, as we’re churning out tractors, the tractors should be going to organized spaces, clusters; where our farmers can use these tryactors to their own benefit and for the benefit of our people,” he said.

Ogbuekwe also said the farm estate initiative was expected to help address the challenge of developing agricultural land in the forested South-East while supporting Nigeria’s broader food security objectives.

He said the initiative was not limited to farming but encompassed the entire agricultural value chain, including processing, packaging and marketing, with technology providing opportunities for urban youths to participate in the sector.

According to him, the state developed the Enugu Market App as a platform for marketing farm produce, while its website is being used to receive orders and engage students as agents to market agricultural products.

He said the model was designed to create an economic link between rural producers and urban consumers, with the rural economy supplying the urban economy and urban youths participating in the marketing and packaging components of agriculture.

“We discovered that the youths, especially the urban youths would like to participate in agriculture, have jobs but they would not know how to do that; so we looked at the value chain of agriculture, from the production to the processing to the packaging to the marketing and we see that the youths of our state would drive the orange economy concept at the marketing arm, the marketing end of agriculture.”

Ogbuekwe added that the state had trademarked several agricultural products, including Enugu Rice, Enugu Garri, Enugu Palm Oil, Enugu Cashew and Enugu Nsukka Pepper, as part of efforts to build stronger agricultural brands.

“What the farm estate is doing for ndi Enugu is that it is creating an organized, formalized system that allows our people go to farm now,” he said.

“The same farm that our people thought they were bigger than are now beginning to farm. Why? Because they have access to tractors now, they have access to farm mechanization tools, training and more is coming; access to markets, market linkages.”

On the implementation of the initiative, Chairman of Nkanu East Local Government Area, Sydney Okechukwu Edeh, said the farm estates were between 60 and 70 per cent ready across the state.

“We’ve gone far, we’re at a 60% level because we’re doing it across the 17 local governments which is 260 political wards,” Edeh said.

He said Nkanu East alone was developing farm estates across nine wards, while several other local governments were undertaking similar projects.

The interactive session which also featured questions from the NIPSS participants and answers, had some local government chairmen in Enugu state in attendance.

The farm estate initiative is part of the Enugu State Government’s broader agricultural strategy aimed at improving food production, creating employment, promoting agro-industrialisation and strengthening the link between agriculture and the state’s emerging technology-driven economy.

The Enugu State Police Command has arrested and paraded 14 kidnap suspects involved in various kidnap operations in and outside the state.

Briefing pressmen at the Command’s headquarters in Enugu on Friday, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, said among them were two remaining suspects linked to the August 2 kidnapping raid on St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Affa, Udi LGA of the state, who fled to Port Harcourt following the operational pressure mounted by joint security operatives.

“Further intelligence-led operations by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Violent Crime Response Unit (AK-VCRU) led to the arrest of two additional male suspects linked to the Affa Church kidnapping. Preliminary investigation reveals that, after fleeing Enugu, the suspects regrouped with their cohorts in Port Harcourt and abducted another victim, who was released after a ransom of ₦5m was paid,” he said.

CP Giwa noted that all the 14 suspects were arrested on various dates in June, July and August 2026 in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kwara and Taraba States.

The suspects had also confessed to involvement in several recent and past kidnapping incidents along the Enugu–Ugwuogo–Opi–Nsukka Road, Obioma–9th Mile–Umulumgbe–Okpatu Road, Eke–Affa–Egede–Ezinze axis, and various locations in Ezeagu LGA.

“Specifically, preliminary investigation has linked the suspects to the following armed kidnapping incidents: the abduction of a male victim at Mgbabuowa/Aguobuowa, Ezeagu LGA, on 25th May, 2026, during which ₦5m was obtained as ransom; the abduction of two male victims and the shooting and murder of a female victim at Obioma, Udi LGA, on 9th May, 2026, during which the gang obtained $28,700 as ransom; the abduction of two male victims along the Eke–Ezinze Road, Udi LGA, on 10th April, 2026, for which $70,000 was obtained as ransom; and the kidnapping of seven victims at Obinaofia, Ezeagu LGA, on 12th April, 2026, during which ₦25m was obtained as ransom,” he explained.

The CP revealed that the suspects, who were members of an organised criminal network operating from different parts of the country, usually came into the state to plan and execute kidnapping operations before disappearing to their respective locations.

“The network is aided by an Enugu-based member who operates a tricycle and provides transportation for the gang members, their firearms and other criminal implements to and from operational locations. Another Enugu-based member provides intelligence that enables the gang to evade security surveillance and identify suitable targets and locations,” he added.

According to Giwa, investigation revealed that the suspects laundered and concealed proceeds of their criminal activities through investments in livestock and different properties, and engaged in lavish spending as well as leisure and trips to foreign nations such as Cameroon.

He said the Command was still conducting more investigations to establish the suspects’ involvement in other kidnapping and violent-crime incidents within and outside Enugu State, identify and arrest other members of the syndicate, and recover additional firearms, ammunition and other criminal proceeds.

“Upon conclusion of investigation, the suspects will be charged to court in accordance with extant laws’” he added.

The police command also displayed five AK-47 rifles, two pump-action guns, one locally fabricated firearm, 310 rounds of live 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, eight live cartridges, and seven empty AK-47 magazines recovered from the suspects.

CP Giwa credited the successes recorded by the Enugu Police Command to the availability of state-of-the-art security infrastructure, effectiveness of sustained intelligence gathering, ICT-enabled investigation, inter-agency collaboration, inter-state cooperation and coordinated operational policing adopted by the Command.

He commended Governor Peter Mbah and the Inspector General of Police for their leadership and support in ensuring security and order in Enugu State.

“I would also like to express my profound gratitude to Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for his for-looking leadership and for making the state safe.

“I equally commend other security agencies for their collaborative support, while also thanking members of the public for their continued cooperation,” he concluded.

The CP reiterated police’s readiness to make Enugu State increasingly unconducive to unrepentant local criminals, criminal elements seeking to infiltrate the State, commending Governor Peter Mbah and IGP Disu for their strategic leadership and support.

Meanwhile, one of the suspects, confessed his crime to newsmen, saying his gang operated along the stretch of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and earned multimillion naira in ransoms before they were bursted by security forces.

…Ransoms, 4 AK-47 rifles and ammunition recovered

…Gov Mbah: You can’t get away with your crimes in Enugu

Security forces in Enugu State have successfully apprehended three perpetrators of the August 2, 2026 kidnap attack on St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Inoyi-Affa, Udi LGA, Enugu State, and also recovered ransoms during the operations.

This was even as one of the kidnap suspects was neutralised in a gun duel during the joint operation of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Army, Police, Enugu State Forest Guard, and others, which also saw to the recovery of four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and 133 rounds of ammunition from the hideouts of the kidnapping syndicate.

Fielding questions from newsmen during the parade of the criminals at the state headquarters of the DSS in Enugu Monday evening, Governor Peter Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, added that the remaining two of the three victims of the August 2 attack, Seminarian Lawrence Igbo and Mr. Emmanuel Onwudi, had also regained their freedom.

Mbah also revealed that ransom deployed as a strategy was fully recovered, noting that security agents tracked down the criminals by deploying the state’s hi-tech security assets.

He hailed the DSS, Army, Police, Forest Guards and other security agencies in the state, adding that the victims had equally identified the apprehended criminals as their abductors.

The governor assured the people that his administration would continue to prioritise and invest in the security of their lives and properties.

“There was one fatality in this process. It was one of the criminals that died in the process of apprehending them. Usually, criminal elements will not want to be apprehended easily without a fight, but our people were ready, and we have one fatality, while the others are here now as you could see; and they will face the full wrath of the law.

“We made it very clear that if criminality becomes your venture, Enugu State is not the location to do that business; that we will pursue you, we will make sure we bring you to justice, and that was why we put the robust security architecture across the state, working in collaboration with the security forces to ensure that Enugu is uncomfortable for anybody that plans criminality, and you’re seeing that very clearly.

“We are intentional in investing in and organising our security architecture to prevent crime. But if there is a breach, you can run, but cannot hide for long. We must get you. You can’t commit these crimes in Enugu State and get away with it. No way,” he said.

He also warned locals who collude with the criminal elements or serve as their informants, vowing to come after them also.

“We will find you also, just as we have found these people, and we will prosecute you as part of this evil operation and this evil syndicate.

“Wherever you are, know that investigation is ongoing and that this government will track you down, and you will pay for your crimes in planning havoc on our citizens. So wherever you are, we are still coming for you,” he stressed.

He paid special tributes to the security forces for their cooperation and gallantry.

“We also want to very highly commend all the security agencies: the DSS, Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police, the Enugu State Forest Guard, the military services, others for being very instrumental in some of the work that was done, and continue to do in Enugu State,” he concluded.

The Enugu State Government has commenced the construction of three new 33KV electricity feeders designed to end prolonged power outages and provide improved, stable and reliable electricity supply to communities in four Local Government Areas of the state.

The project, which is being developed from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Station, Ugwuaji, will improve electricity supply to Nkanu East, Nkanu West, Awgu, and Aninri Local Government Areas.

The flag-off of the project was preceded by a stakeholders meeting on electricity held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, during the weekend.

The intervention is targeted at addressing the longstanding challenges associated with the Amechi 33KV feeder, which currently serves as the major source of electricity supply to Nkanu East and Nkanu West, as well as Enugu South, Awgu and Aninri Local Government Areas in Enugu State.

The feeder, which stretches for more than 600 kilometres into three Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State, is reportedly the longest 33KV feeder in the South-East, making it difficult to detect and rectify faults and resulting in prolonged electricity outages across the communities it serves.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Enugu State Electrification Agency (ESEA), Engr. Christopher Ezeoha, said the state government had decided to fundamentally restructure the network rather than simply restore the existing feeder.

Ezeoha explained that the government was constructing two new 33KV feeders from the TCN Station at Ugwuaji and extending an existing short 33KV feeder from the same station, bringing the number of new and extended feeders to three.

He said the new feeders would be dedicated to improving electricity supply to Nkanu East and Nkanu West, while the existing Amechi feeder would be reconfigured to serve Awgu and Aninri.

Ezeoha said the government would further construct four new injection substations in Nkanu East and Nkanu West to transform electricity from 33KV to 11KV, thereby strengthening the distribution network and improving the reliability of power supply in the areas.

“Some communities, including Nkerifi, Nara and Mburubu, have not had electricity for more than 20 years,” he said, noting that the state government had directed the agency to restore electricity to such communities.

He, however, said restoring the existing feeder alone would not provide a lasting solution because of its excessive length and the number of communities and Local Government Areas dependent on it.

Ezeoha said the new arrangement would substantially reduce the length of individual feeders, making fault detection and repairs faster and improving the quality and duration of electricity supplied to the affected communities.

“By the time we finish doing this work, we hope to give them more than 20 hours average daily power supply. That is what the government says we should do,” he said.

He said the electricity intervention was part of a larger plan by the administration of Governor Peter Mbah to establish a modern and commercially viable electricity market in the state.

Ezeoha disclosed that the power improvement investments would initially be managed by a special-purpose vehicle, Enugu Electrification Agency Ltd., which would distribute and market electricity in Nkanu East and Nkanu West, with the long-term objective of taking over electricity distribution services across Enugu State.

He said the agency had commenced pre-feasibility studies and the preparation of a 10-year business plan as part of the process of securing the necessary regulatory approvals and licences for bulk electricity trading and participation in the state electricity market.

The ESEA boss further disclosed that the state government was preparing its electricity distribution infrastructure to evacuate power from a proposed 630-megawatt generation facility being developed in the state.

He said the long-term objective of the administration was to provide reliable electricity supply 24 hours a day, seven days a week, stressing that achieving the target would require not only increased generation but also a robust distribution network capable of evacuating and delivering available power efficiently.

Ezeoha said the government also planned to deploy smart pre-paid meters and automation technology to improve accountability, enhance revenue collection and enable the quick detection and resolution of faults.

He explained that a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system would allow the agency to identify the location of faults almost immediately, enabling technical personnel to respond directly to affected points instead of searching along hundreds of kilometres of transmission lines.

He appealed to communities to protect electricity infrastructure against vandalism, stressing that the sustainability of the government’s investment depended on collective ownership and protection of the facilities.

He said the intervention would not be limited to Nkanu East and Nkanu West, as similar electricity infrastructure investments would be extended to other parts of the state, including Nsukka and Uzo-Uwani, as part of the administration’s broader plan to transform electricity supply across Enugu.

The State Commissioner for Energy, Mr Enyinna Ogbonna, said electricity was one of the major priorities of the administration of Governor Mbah, describing reliable power supply as critical to driving industrialisation, job creation and economic growth.

Ogbonna said the government’s electricity investments were integral to its broader economic development agenda, including the target of growing Enugu’s Gross Domestic Product from about $4.4 billion to $30 billion.

Also speaking, the General Manager of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Enugu Region, Dr Tom Inugonum, commended the state government for its efforts to improve electricity supply.

Inugonum said the TCN Enugu Region controlled transmission infrastructure covering between six and eight states, adding that improved cooperation with the Enugu State Government would help address the state’s power challenges.

He said Enugu received electricity from three major sources and had several transmission lines serving different parts of the state, but noted that some transmission and substation projects in the region remained incomplete, limiting the capacity of the power system.

He also expressed concern over the vandalism of transmission infrastructure, stressing the need for communities to protect substations, transmission lines and other critical facilities.

In his remarks, the President-General of Isi-Amagunze, Mr Okey Nwatu, called for greater community involvement in protecting electricity infrastructure.

Nwatu said transformers, cables, switches and other electrical facilities were critical infrastructure that communities must protect if they wanted to enjoy sustained electricity supply.

The Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to institutionalising results-based governance across the nation’s innovation ecosystem.

Udeh made this known following the presentation of the Ministerial Deliverables Report by the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE).

The Minister described the report as a strategic roadmap that will strengthen accountability, improve service delivery and accelerate the Ministry’s mandate of driving innovation-led national development.

Receiving the report at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, Dr. Udeh commended PACE for its technical support and commitment to strengthening governance within the Ministry. He noted that the report aligns with the Federal Government’s emphasis on performance-driven public service and will reinforce the implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through effective planning, monitoring and measurable outcomes.

The Minister explained that the Ministerial Deliverables Framework was developed to establish clear strategic priorities and performance targets for the Ministry and its Agencies.

He announced that Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology would immediately commence the implementation of the report’s recommendations through a robust performance tracking and monitoring mechanism, which will be cascaded across all agencies under the Ministry with defined responsibilities, performance indicators, periodic reviews and reporting structures to ensure effective implementation and accountability.

Dr. Udeh further stressed that the Ministry remains committed to entrenching evidence-based decision-making, transparency and continuous institutional improvement as critical drivers of innovation, scientific advancement, technology development and sustainable socio-economic growth.

He expressed confidence that the framework would significantly enhance the Ministry’s capacity to deliver impactful programmes and achieve measurable national development outcomes.

Earlier, the National Team Lead of PACE, Mr. Ifeanyi Peters Ugwuoke, formally presented the outcome document of the three-day Ministerial Deliverables Workshop titled “New Approaches to Deliver More: Improving Performance of the Innovation, Science and Technology Ecosystem.”

He explained that the workshop, organised in collaboration with the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU), developed a practical framework to strengthen coordination, accountability and performance across the Ministry and its seventeen agencies.

Mr. Ugwuoke expressed confidence that the report would support the Honourable Minister’s ongoing reform agenda by aligning the Ministry’s programmes with national priorities while ensuring measurable impact. He reaffirmed PACE’s commitment to deepening collaboration with FMIST in advancing agile governance, strengthening institutional effectiveness and delivering transformative outcomes that will contribute to Nigeria’s sustainable development and the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

A lawyer, Tokunbo Afikuyomi, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to return to court to seek the discharge of the order freezing the Osun State Government’s accounts, describing the move as a demonstration of commitment to electoral fairness and constitutional governance ahead of the state’s governorship election.

In a statement personally signed Afikuyomi, he said the President’s decision reflects an appreciation of the constitutional principle that elections must not only be free and fair but must also be seen to be free and fair.

The statement, however, stressed that while the President’s intervention is commendable, constitutional governance requires that such objectives be pursued strictly within the framework of the law.

According to Afikuyomi, the EFCC remains a statutory body whose investigative and prosecutorial powers are exercised under the law.

He noted that by directing the anti-graft agency to return to court instead of pursuing an extrajudicial resolution, President Tinubu ensured that the matter would be resolved through the constitutional process and in accordance with the doctrine of separation of powers.

The statement further urged the President to continue demonstrating respect for the operational independence of investigative agencies and the constitutional authority of the judiciary as part of efforts to safeguard the credibility of the forthcoming governorship election.

Afikuyomi also called on institutions expected to play key roles during the election, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), election observers, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving as ad hoc officials, transport and logistics providers, universities whose senior academics may serve as Returning Officers, political parties, the media, and the judiciary, to draw inspiration from the President’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the electoral process.

He also added that President Tinubu’s intervention is consistent with the democratic credentials that have defined much of his public life and serves as a reminder that safeguarding credible elections is a shared constitutional responsibility.

The full statement is reproduced below:

President Tinubu’s Intervention on the Osun Accounts: A Welcome Commitment to Electoral Fairness Within Constitutional Limits

The directive issued today by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu instructing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to return to court and seek the discharge of the order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government deserves commendation. At a time when public confidence in the impartiality of state institutions is often tested, the President’s determination that no action of the Federal Government should create the impression of influencing the forthcoming Osun State governorship election reflects an important appreciation of the constitutional imperative that elections must not only be free and fair but must also be seen to be so.

While this intervention deserves commendation, constitutional governance requires that even the most laudable objectives be pursued through constitutionally appropriate means. The EFCC is a statutory body whose investigative and prosecutorial functions are exercised pursuant to law, while the order freezing the Osun State Government’s accounts remains a judicial order made by a court of competent jurisdiction. The law equally provides the mechanism for such an order to be reviewed, varied or discharged upon a proper application. By directing the Commission to return to court rather than seek any extra-judicial resolution, the President has ensured that the matter remains where the Constitution requires it to be resolved: before the judiciary.

Our constitutional order rests upon the separation of powers and the independence of institutions. These principles are strengthened when every arm of government performs its constitutional responsibilities while respecting the authority of the others. The President’s concern for protecting the credibility of the Osun governorship election should therefore continue to be reflected in unwavering respect for the operational independence of investigative agencies and the constitutional authority of the courts.

The President’s decision should also serve as clear guidance to every institution and stakeholder that will play a role in the forthcoming governorship election. The Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission, election observers, members of the National Youth Service Corps who will serve as ad hoc electoral officials, transport and logistics providers, universities whose senior academics may serve as Returning Officers, political parties and their candidates, the media, and indeed the judiciary, should all draw inspiration from this unequivocal commitment to protecting the democratic process. President Tinubu’s intervention is consistent with the democratic credentials that have defined much of his public life and should be regarded as a reminder that the integrity of elections is a shared constitutional responsibility. Let every institution be guided accordingly.

Our elections must reflect the freely expressed will of the Nigerian people. Free and fair elections are not negotiable. Every public institution, every political actor and every citizen bears a duty to protect that principle. History will ultimately judge not merely the outcome of elections but whether those entrusted with public authority discharged their responsibilities with fidelity to democracy and the rule of law.

Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Esq.
Principal Partner
Liberty Semper Fidelis LP
Abuja.
06.08.26

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding strategic collaboration with the Republic of India in Science, Technology, Innovation (STI), and digital transformation as the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, SAN, received the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, His Excellency Abishek Singh, on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.

Welcoming the High Commissioner and his delegation, Thursday, August 6, 2026, Dr. Udeh described India as one of Nigeria’s most valued strategic partners, noting that the country’s remarkable progress in digital technology, innovation, pharmaceuticals, space science, entrepreneurship, and research presents significant opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration.

He stated that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Science, Technology, and Innovation remain critical drivers of economic diversification, industrialisation, and sustainable national development.

The Minister emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to deepening international partnerships that promote technology transfer, research and development, innovation-driven enterprise, digital inclusion, human capital development, and the commercialisation of indigenous technologies.

He identified Artificial Intelligence (AI), biotechnology, clean energy, startup development, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing as key areas where both countries can leverage their comparative strengths for shared prosperity.

Dr. Udeh commended the Government of India for its longstanding support to Nigeria through technical cooperation, scholarships, professional training, and capacity-building initiatives.

He called for stronger institutional linkages between research institutes, universities, innovation hubs, and the private sector in both countries to accelerate knowledge exchange, investment, and the development of globally competitive innovations.

Speaking earlier, the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, His Excellency Abishek Singh, said the visit underscored India’s commitment to strengthening its longstanding bilateral relationship with Nigeria, particularly in the areas of capacity building, digital payments, education, healthcare, banking, and emerging technologies.

He reaffirmed India’s readiness to support Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem through technical collaboration, knowledge sharing, investment, and expanded partnerships between research institutions, academia, and industry.

The meeting concluded with both sides expressing confidence that the renewed engagement would further consolidate Nigeria–India relations and translate into impactful programmes that will stimulate innovation, create employment opportunities, strengthen technological capacity, and contribute to sustainable economic growth in both countries.

…NCC’s CEO lauds Mbah’s Smart Schools, infrastructural, digital capacity initiatives

In a major boost to President Bola Tinubu’s digital economy agenda, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Enugu State Government, on Tuesday, sealed a strategic 15-year lease of the agency’s Digital Industrial Park and Learning Centre to the Enugu State Government.

The move would see the Enugu State Government take over and optimise the facilities located in the state capital as the Enugu Talent City and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute in line with the digital economy drive of the Governor Peter Mbah Administration.

Speaking during the lease agreement signing ceremony at Government House, Enugu, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the arrangement fully aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu Administration, and its ambition to grow Nigeria into a $1 trillion economy driven by productivity, innovation and private sector growth.

Maida stressed that Mbah had shown a clear agenda to build Enugu State into a digital economic powerhouse through deliberate investment in education, infrastructure, innovation and digital capacity, maintaining that the Mbah Administration was well positioned to advance the objectives for which these facilities were established.

“Our expectation is that this partnership will support Enugu’s ambition to become a leading destination for digital services, artificial intelligence, startup incubation, outsourcing, research and technology-enabled enterprise.

“We also expect these facilities to become spaces where young people acquire relevant skills, entrepreneurs transform ideas into viable businesses and local enterprises connect to opportunities beyond Enugu and Nigeria.

“These facilities were conceived as platforms for innovation, entrepreneurship and human capital development. They were designed to deepen digital skills, support startups, attract investment, create jobs and position Nigeria as a competitive destination for business process outsourcing, knowledge process outsourcing and other technology-enabled services.

“In essence, they were built not merely as physical assets, but as platforms for developing the people and enterprises that will power Nigeria’s digital economy.

“So, for us at the NCC, completing physical infrastructure is only the beginning. Buildings alone do not create innovation. People do. Ideas do. Entrepreneurs do. And partnerships bring all these elements together,” he said.

The NCC boss also commended Governor Mbah’s investment in Smart Green Schools, saying he was building an economy prepared for the future.

“Physical infrastructure is essential to development, but infrastructure alone cannot deliver lasting prosperity. This is what makes the Smart Green Schools initiative significant. It recognises that preparing our children for tomorrow must begin today. Technology-enabled schools, digital learning facilities, robotics and artificial intelligence laboratories demonstrate an understanding that education must evolve alongside technology. That is leadership with the future in mind.

“Investment in education and skills raises productivity, expands economic opportunity and strengthens the ability of individuals and businesses to create value.

“This is even more important today. Artificial Intelligence is reshaping industries. Automation is changing the nature of work. Digital technologies are transforming how governments serve citizens and how businesses operate,” he concluded.

Speaking, Governor Peter Mbah commended President Tinubu for recognising the centrality of the digital economy to the $1 trillion economy he seeks to build, as well as for understanding that much of that growth would come from the states.

He noted that AI would contribute about $20 trillion to the global economy by 2030, saying, “It is not a space you want your young ones to be missing.”

“We also believe that our talents, our brightest talents, should not be exported in person. We believe that they should export their talents outside the country from here, and that is why we see huge benefits in these assets in terms of job creation and opportunities for our young people.

“We are also looking at transforming the Digital Bridge Institute into a world-class AI institute. We will also transform the Digital Industrial Park. If you have followed the news, we have already taken steps, working with some teams from Qatar, to make sure that it becomes a certification centre for AI on the continent.

He said the NCC would not regret its decision to temporarily hand over the facilities to Enugu State.

“I am sure that a few years down the line, we can come back here and be very proud of the decision we made today to activate these assets and to make sure that they are productive,” he concluded.

Earlier in his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Enugu State Governor on Digital Economy and Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs), Arinze Chilo-Ofia, thanked the FG and NCC for the confidence reposed in Enugu State to activate and optimise the two strategic assets and ensure the realisation of the objectives for which they were conceived and built.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the results of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates.

…Barefoot Renewable Energy College Will Power Nigeria’s Energy Future – Minister Udeh

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commissioned Africa’s first Barefoot Renewable Energy College (BARECKS) and the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant in Osara, Kogi State, describing the projects as strategic investments in human capital development, renewable energy and Nigeria’s transition to a knowledge-driven economy.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the inauguration held at the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, the President said the projects would help bridge Africa’s shortage of skilled technical manpower in the renewable energy sector while positioning Nigeria as the continent’s leader in renewable energy capacity development.

“This is the first institution of its kind on the African continent, modelled on the celebrated vocational colleges of India that turned unlettered grandmothers into solar engineers.

“If that method could light the villages of Rajasthan, it can light the settlements of Kogi, Ondo and Cross River. Nigeria assumes, from today, the position of pacesetter in renewable energy capacity development across Africa,” the President said.

Tinubu noted that although Nigeria is richly endowed with renewable energy resources, the challenge has been converting those resources into electricity and economic opportunities.

He said the new college was established to address the country’s shortage of skilled technicians by producing renewable energy installers, operators, maintenance professionals and other technical personnel equipped with globally recognised certifications.

Reflecting on the project’s completion, the President said, “Two years ago, we stood on this ground for the groundbreaking of this institution… Today, we stand before a world-class edifice, completed to international standards.”

He urged development partners, research institutions and the private sector to collaborate with the college to expand research, innovation and technical training, assuring that Nigeria was ready to lead such partnerships.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, described the commissioning as a major demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to innovation-led industrialisation, job creation and sustainable national development.

According to the minister, the projects reaffirm the government’s resolve to build a knowledge-driven economy where innovation, science and technology serve as catalysts for economic prosperity.

He said the Barefoot Renewable Energy College represents a strategic investment in technical skills development, designed to produce globally competitive solar technicians, mini-grid operators, renewable energy installers, maintenance specialists, energy auditors and clean-energy entrepreneurs.

Dr. Udeh added that the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant would position Nigeria at the forefront of emerging clean-energy technologies by providing a platform for advanced research, technology demonstration, capacity building and future industrial applications.

He expressed confidence that BARECKS would evolve into Nigeria’s premier centre of excellence for renewable energy technical education and a regional hub for Africa, promoting youth empowerment, technology transfer, local content development, enterprise creation and innovation.

The minister said the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology would continue to provide the policy support, strategic partnerships and enabling environment required to sustain the institution and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in renewable energy technologies.

He commended President Tinubu for his commitment to innovation-driven national transformation, appreciated Vice President Shettima for representing the President, and praised Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, for their roles in delivering the projects.

Governor Ododo described the inauguration as evidence that Nigeria was advancing towards sustainable development through investments in human capital, noting that the college would strengthen the country’s renewable energy sector, attract investments and create employment opportunities.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the ECN, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, said the institution is equipped with smart classrooms, battery energy laboratories, a mini-grid simulation centre, energy efficiency laboratories and other modern facilities to train highly skilled renewable energy professionals.

The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr. Ahmed Tijjani Anaje, welcomed the project, saying it would equip young Nigerians with valuable technical skills and contribute significantly to national development.

President Bola Tinubu has approved salary increases of between 30 and 80 per cent for Nigeria’s armed forces personnel.

According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, and dated August 4, 2026, about 250,000 personnel are to benefit from the new deal.

Under the new arrangement, which becomes effective from September 1, officers above the rank of colonel will enjoy a 30 per cent salary increase. This applies to Brigadier-Generals, Major-Generals, Lieutenant Generals and Generals.

Personnel from colonel down to warrant officer will have a 50 per cent increase, while Private to Staff Sergeant will have an 80 per cent increase.

The pay package will increase the yearly salary bill for the country’s armed forces personnel from N660 billion to N924 billion.

President Tinubu has always praised the courage and sacrifices of members of the armed forces as they confront the scourge of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism in some parts of the country.

“The men and women who help to keep us safe in our homes must be supported and appreciated in the course of their duties to our nation.

“Our administration will continue to prioritise troop welfare and modernise the armed forces by providing the weapons and technological tools needed to discharge their duties.

“Our administration believes that no nation can achieve greatness without security. We therefore remain resolute in mobilising all military and law enforcement assets to eliminate security threats and protect the lives and property of all Nigerians

“I urge our servicemen to take our gesture as a sign of our deep appreciation of the services they render to our fatherland. Together we shall prevail over the enemies intent on destroying the fabric of our nation”.