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Ekeh Charges S/East Govs to Work for Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

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Leo Stan Ekeh
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Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman, Zinox Group, has charged the five Governors of the South-East to take up the release of Nnamdi Kanu, detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a one-point agenda to President Bola Tinubu, noting that a positive outcome will quell the restiveness in the region and usher in sustainable prosperity.

Leo Stan Ekeh

Ekeh made the call on Thursday, September 28 at the 2023 South-East Summit on Economy and Security in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

In what was the highlight of the day’s session, Ekeh, a Forbes Best of Africa Leading Tech Icon and major investor in the South-East and other regions across Nigeria, disclosed that no concrete investment or development can take place in an atmosphere of tension and insecurity. Consequently, he urged the governors to put aside party affiliations and forge a common front to press for the release of the pro-Biafra agitator, Kanu. Ekeh, whose speech drew a standing ovation and a rapturous reaction from the audience, submitted that the South-East is a huge economy waiting to happen, added that the region is blessed with an abundance of human capital, a new breed of outstand leaders and willing investors ready to turn its fortunes around for good.

‘‘The average Igbo youth is smart, energetic and imbued with a dose of spirituality. Equipped with the necessary tools in an enabling environment, these qualities can transform our youths into world beaters and global champions. We also have quality leaders as Governors in the five South East states with the confidence to transform the region, an example of which I witnessed yesterday with the unprecedented gesture of the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma to youths in the state. Working together, I believe we can site a centralized digital hub in the region which will produce certified billionaires in the next few years.

‘‘However, we must first take steps to secure the release of Nnamdi Kanu as this will instantly bring about a measure of calm and sanity in the region. Kanu is a critical factor in the security issues of the South-East. President Bola Tinubu is not a stubborn or inconsiderate leader. I am sure he will listen. When he was Governor of Lagos State, he took the advice of some of us to include deserving Igbos in his cabinet and this was how Ben Akabueze emerged,’’ he counselled.

The well-attended summit had in attendance notable Igbo sons and daughters from various spheres of endeavour, including the five South East Governors, serving Ministers and Members of the House of Representatives, captains of industries, top ranking officers from the military and other security services, academic dons and corporate eggheads, representatives of women and youth leaders, among others.

In his welcome address, Imo State Governor Uzodimma, who doubles as Chairman, South-East Governor’s Forum, harped on the need for unity and oneness among people from the zone to rescue it from implosion. Uzodinma cited the spate of insecurity and the antics of non-state actors in the region. Nevertheless, he promised that the Governors of South-East are working together to ensure that Igboland returns to its previous glorious era.

‘‘Participants must rise from the summit with a clear road map that our people will follow to regain the lost freedom and businesses without molestations and harassments. We must stop the senseless sit-at-home,” he stated.

Uzodinma suggested the floating of South-East Development Fund to fund development research. He also hailed the planned dredging of Oguta Lake to Atlantic Ocean as a step in the right direction, while also commending the Nnewi, Aba and Onitsha businessmen and women for exhibiting and sustaining the business spirit of Ndigbo.

On his part, Anambra State Governor, Chukuma Soludo called for a 100-year development plan for the region. Soludo said the region must make all efforts to thrive despite the ongoing insecurity, adding that the South-East zone is not the most insecure place in the world.

‘‘It is very good to lament but I would rather like to see a glass as half full than half empty. The South-East is ready for business. We must all believe in our ability to turn things around and get the South-East going again. We need not just ourselves, we need Nigeria. Ndigbo needs Nigeria and Nigeria needs Ndigbo. Ndigbo needs Africa and the world and the world and Africa need Ndigbo. As an itinerant people, we cannot be an intolerant people. We need the partnership of everybody, partnership of the rest of the country, partnership of the diaspora and partnership with the international community.”

For Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, dialogue represents the way forward in addressing the insecurity in the zone. He called for an understanding of the anger in the land, adding that leaders in the region must pursue justice, stamp out all forms of violence and stop the extortion of the poor by the rich.

Also speaking at the summit, Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah talked up the need for a connecting road to all South-East states and a unified market to aid the region enjoy comparative advantage for specific products. He also encouraged the need for regular meetings between all stakeholders in the states.

The Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, who was represented by his Deputy, Princess Patricia Onyemechi also buttressed some of the points raised by the other speakers, while also recommending closer monitoring of children to nip nefarious associations in the bud and the need for the people of the South-East to believe in themselves.

Equally important, the keynote speaker and Director General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala lamented the regressing fortunes of the South-East and the negative impacts of the insecurity in the zone on potential investment.

Nevertheless, Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke via Zoom, referenced the rich human capital of the region. Among her recommendations to the Governors is the convening of an investment forum, the creation of an apprenticeship scheme from which talented youths can secure gainful employment, set-up of a digital infrastructural centre in the region, leveraging the connections and competencies of professionals of South-East technocrats in the Diaspora to come back home and help in developing the region, establishment of a financial bond by the governors and optimization of the opportunities in Agriculture, Oil and Gas and other sectors.

Earlier, Anyim Pius Anyim, a former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has also lent his voice to the call calling for a review of the Biafra agitation. He also emphasized the need for better strategies to rid the region of the prevailing insecurity which he described as brutal.

The summit also witnessed goodwill messages from the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, with its President Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu calling for more investment by the Federal Government in the South-East. There were also goodwill messages from other key stakeholders including traditional rulers and other establishments, while the Summit Planning Committee, led by its Chairman Sen. Chris Anyanwu also received praises from virtually all the speakers for the professional organization of the event.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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Senate Probes Federal Character Violations by NDIC, Others

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The Senate on Tuesday deplored what it described as violations of the principles of federal character in the appointments, recruitments and promotions in some key federal institutions and agencies.

Senate Probes Federal Character Violations by NDIC, Others

Specifically, the upper legislative chamber fingered the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Pension Commission (PENCOM), the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and several other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as culprits.

The matter was a subject of debate at plenary as Senator Osita Ngwu called the Senate’s attention to the alleged violations through a motion.

Ngwu’s motion, entitled “Urgent Need to Address Systemic Abuse and Ineffective Implementation of the Federal Character Principle in Nigeria’s Public Sector,” got the attention of the lawmakers.

Ngwu, who led the debate, cited Sections 14(3) and 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution, which explicitly prohibit the dominance of individuals from a few states or ethnic groups in federal institutions.

He observed that while recruitment opportunities are limited, promotions are often based solely on years of service rather than merit, leading to the continued marginalisation of certain regions.

According to him, the lack of accountability in enforcing federal character principles has compromised fairness in the public sector, with senior-level recruitments often influenced by cronyism instead of competence.

Ngwu further observed that while the federal capital principle aims to balance merit with equitable state representation, its poor implementation has negatively affected discipline, morale, and institutional efficiency.

According to him, “The federal character principle, entrenched in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, mandates fair representation in federal appointments to reflect the linguistic, ethnic, religious, and geographic diversity of the nation.”

He continued, “Section 14(3) and (4) of the Constitution unequivocally stipulate that ‘no predominance of persons from a few states or a few ethnic or sectional groups’ should exist within the federal government or its agencies.”

Ngwu listed the NNPCL and its subsidiaries, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), PENCOM, NDIC, the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), the National Library of Nigeria (NLN), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) as non comliant entities.

He accused them of consistently failing to adhere to federal character Mandates, and often bypassing regulations in their recruitment exercises.

Ngwu warned that unchecked violations of federal character laws would continue to erode the effectiveness of key legislative provisions.

He listed the affected legislative provions to include Section 14(d) & (e) of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017, Part I(1)-(2) of the Subsidiary Legislation 23 of 1997, and Section 11(2) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

He also raised concerns about the lack of independence of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

Ngwu observed that despite the Commission’s constitutional mandate, it remains weakened by underfunding, political interference, and a lack of enforcement power.

While approving the probe of the affected entities, the Senate directed its Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs to conduct investigative hearings into their activities.

The committee is expected to submit its findings within four weeks.

 


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Police Arrest 4 Bank Staff over Alleged ₦270m Fraud, Money Laundering

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The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four bank employees over their alleged involvement in a sophisticated fraud and money laundering scheme that diverted over £138,924 (more than ₦270 million) from international airline accounts.

Police Arrest 4 Bank Staff over Alleged ₦270m Fraud, Money Laundering

CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, command’s spokesperson, disclosed the arrests on Monday during a press briefing at the state police headquarters in Ikeja.

According to CSP Hundeyin, “The suspects conspired to siphon funds from domiciliary accounts into personal accounts before redistributing them to multiple destinations.

“The fraud was uncovered when the affected bank detected unauthorized transactions and alerted the police.”

Explaining further, the spokesperson said: “Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of the following suspects: Oluwatobiloba Olaleye, male, aged 27, was arrested on March 12, 2025, in Ogun State. A Toyota Camry 2012/2013, suspected to be a proceed of the crime, was recovered from him.

Oladunjoye Adegoke, male, aged 33, was arrested on March 13, 2025, in Victoria Island, Lagos. A Toyota Camry (Pencil Light), suspected to be another proceed of the stolen funds, was also recovered.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Austin Alfred, male, aged 38, the Supervisor of the Trade Services Department, and Jude Uzobuaku, male, aged 36, a processor in the same department. Both facilitated the illegal transfer of funds to foreign accounts.”

Police investigations revealed that the stolen funds were initially funneled into an account belonging to one of the suspects before being transferred to multiple other accounts, making it harder to trace. Authorities are now working to track down additional accomplices and recover the remaining funds.

“The suspects are in custody and will face prosecution as the investigation continues,” CSP Hundeyin stated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Tony Elumelu Foundation Grants $15m to 3,000 African Entrepreneurs

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Tony Elumelu
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Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has announced a $15 million grant to support 3,000 budding entrepreneurs from 52 African countries.

Tony Elumelu Foundation Grants $15m to 3,000 African Entrepreneurs

Tony Elumelu, founder, TEF, made this known on Sunday in Abuja during the unveiling of the 2025 cohort of the foundation’s Entrepreneurship Programme.

He stated that each beneficiary would receive a $5,000 seed grant to kick-start their businesses.

Elumelu, who is also chairman of Heirs Holdings, Transcorp, and United Bank for Africa (UBA), reaffirmed his commitment to empowering African entrepreneurs and transforming the continent’s economic landscape.

According to Elumelu, the foundation aims to democratise opportunity across the continent, fostering economic growth and providing young Africans with access to funding and mentorship.

“We had a vision that started in 2010; one that envisions a self-sustaining Africa, driven by the energy, vision, and resilience of young entrepreneurs.

“We understand the challenges they face in contributing to Africa’s economic transformation.

“If empowered and encouraged, these young Africans can drive meaningful change,” he said.

He noted that capital alone was not enough, highlighting the importance of business education, mentorship, and training in building successful entrepreneurs.

The entrepreneurship programme, which began in 2015, originally set out to economically empower 10,000 young Africans over 10 years, each receiving $5,000 in seed capital.

“This year marks the 15th anniversary of the foundation, and we have made a considerable impact across all 54 African countries.

“In the 21st century, Africa does not need aid; what it needs is investment in its youth,” Elumelu said.

Somachi Chris-Asoluka, chief executive officer (CEO), TEF, noted that since the programme’s launch in 2015, the foundation had.disbursed over $100 million to more than 21,000 young entrepreneurs across Africa.

According to Chris-Asoluka, these businesses have collectively created 1.5 million enterprises, and generated $4.5 billion in revenue.

“Our entrepreneurs have demonstrated that ideas are the lifeblood of the African continent.

“For the 2025 cohort, we received over 200,000 applications, and from this pool, 3,000 entrepreneurs from 52 African countries will receive $15 million in funding.

“Each entrepreneur will receive a $5,000 non-refundable seed grant; this is neither a loan nor equity,” she stated.

She further assured that the foundation had a monitoring and evaluation platform in place to track progress after disbursement, ensuring that beneficiaries adhered to their approved business plans.


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