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ICPC Inaugurates NCC ACTU Officials
New officials of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) were inaugurated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) at the Commission’s Headquarters, Abuja.
Officers of the Commission inaugurated during the ceremony included: Director, PRS, Mr. Collins Nweke (Unit Chairman); Asst. Director Accounts, Mr. Shuaibu Bagudu (Member); Asst. Chief Accountant, Mr. Francis Isah (Member); Asst. Chief Copyright Officer, Ms. Roseline Imologome (Member); Principal Accountant, Mr. Taiwo Suleiman (Member) and Senior Admin Officer, Miss Seun Aluko (Member).
In his inaugural address, the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, expressed his appreciation to the Management and Staff of the NCC for facilitating the inauguration and hailed the Commission’s commitment to a strong and solution-driven copyright system that is able to sustain the creative industries and the knowledge ecosystem.
He noted that the Commission has a duty of not only being alive to its responsibility but also ensuring that staff members are diligent, responsive and dedicated to their duties. The ACTU, he noted, will be a veritable tool in the achievement of this vision if allowed to effectively discharge its functions.
He particularly commended the NCC Director-General for his initiative and support for the inauguration.
The ICPC Chairman represented by the Acting Director, System Study and Review Department, Mr. Olusegun Adigun, fsi, stated that “it is hoped that with this inauguration, the Unit will be empowered to deliver on its mandate which includes periodic sensitisation of staff on and against corruption; examination of systems, processes and procedures that are prone to corruption and proffering solutions; developing and reviewing code of ethics for staff and ensuring compliance with same; monitoring budget implementation of the Commission; coordinating the deployment of the Ethics and Integrity Scorecard (EICS) and undertaking preliminary investigations into complaints/reports received, amongst others’’.
DG-NCC, Dr. John O. Asein, represented by Director, Operations, Mr. Emeka Ogbonna in his address, thanked the ICPC for inaugurating officials of the NCC ACTU while lauding them for the uphill task of carrying out its mandate to ensure a corrupt free society.
“We know you take a lot of risk fighting corruption considering the enormity of what goes on in this country, it is not an easy task as you continue working for the betterment of the country. We appreciate and encourage you to continue in that part believing that together we can get things better’’ the DG added’’.
He informed that the Commission painstakingly took time to select the staff members inaugurated with the belief that they are the best for the assignment and will work in collaboration with the ICPC in ensuring a corrupt free and transparent copyright system.
Taking the ‘Oath of Allegiance’ the NCC ACTU Members pledged their commitment to display high levels of personal integrity, transparency and accountability in their undertakings, to take all necessary steps to curb corrupt practices and mobilise others to join the crusade against corruption.
In his post-inaugural speech, the Unit Chairman, Mr. Collins Nweke on behalf of the Unit members expressed gratitude to the Management of the Commission for the trust and confidence reposed on the newly inaugurated members and pledged to work as a team to uphold the value of integrity, transparency, honesty and accountability.
While expressing the determination of the team to deliver on their assignment, he called for support to overcome some of the challenges that will emanate in the course of the assignment.
He equally thanked ICPC for entrusting the team with the mandate and promised to live up to the demands of the national assignment.
Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has warned local investors and foreign businesses about the activities of fraudsters falsely claiming to represent the company.
The state-owned company said the impostors are reportedly soliciting illegal fees under the guise of arranging meetings with the new NNPC board members, executives, and management.
The disclaimer comes following the change of the NNPCL board.
On April 2, 2025, President Bola Tinubu appointed a new 11-member board with Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) and Ahmadu Musa Kidano as executive chairman.
In a statement signed on Monday by Olufemi Soneye, chief corporate communications officer, NNPC, t said the practice of soliciting fees is completely unauthorised and unlawful.
NNPCL said, “The general public is advised to beware of individuals and companies falsely claiming to represent NNPC Limited.
” Their tactics include soliciting fees for meetings with the NNPC board of directors, executives, and management staff. These actions are unauthorised and illegal.
“Foreign investors and international business entities are especially urged to remain cautious. If approached, report the incident to the appropriate authorities immediately.”
The company clarified that engagements with its boards or executives must follow official channels in line with company policy.
The oil giant said, “All legitimate engagements with NNPC Limited occur strictly through official channels or business units only.
“For further enquiries, please contact us at contactus@nnpcgroup.com.
“NNPC Limited remains committed to transparency, integrity, and the protection of our stakeholders in all interactions.”
The company called for public cooperation to prevent scammers from defrauding investors.
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (FMCIDE) has announced that plans to support the country’s farmers with its AgriConnect initiative have kicked off with a pilot scheme launched in Ogun State in southwestern Nigeria.
Dr ‘Bosun Tijani, minister, communications, Innovation and Digital Economy,
Dr ‘Bosun Tijani, minister, communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, last week launched the initiative at the Ogum State Cultural Centre Complex. AgriConnect is described as a transformative programme designed to digitally empower Nigerian farmers through real-time access to agronomic services, weather insights, financial tools and market intelligence.
The pilot scheme is being implemented in partnership with technology vendor Huawei Technologies and operator MTN Nigeria.
AgriConnect will initially benefit over 1,000 farmers, selected from the Ogun State Farmers Information Management System (OGFIMS), with over 160,000 registered farmers.
Each beneficiary will receive mobile-data-enabled smart devices, embedded with Huawei’s AI-powered tools and MTN-supported connectivity to enable smarter planting, better risk mitigation and streamlined communication with government data centres.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Tijani noted that AgriConnect highlighted the importance of food security. Referring to a target of cultivating 500,000 hectares of land, he pointed out that innovation would be an important part of the effort.
As the government builds out the framework from this pilot in Ogun State (a leader in cassava production), he said, it aims to scale the AgriConnect model across other states – “ensuring that every farmer, regardless of geography, has the opportunity to benefit from the digital economy”, as he put it.
The AgriConnect initiative reflects an FMCIDE commitment under the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to promote rural inclusion and leverage Nigeria’s comparative advantage in agriculture.
By fusing AI, connectivity, and human-centred design, the ministry says that AgriConnect stands as a scalable model for advancing food security, driving innovation, and improving livelihoods for smallholder farmers across the country.
Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) has extended its heartfelt congratulations to Steve Babaeko and the entire X3M Ideas team following their remarkable achievement of being ranked 31st on the Financial Times’ prestigious 2025 list of Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies.
This recognition by the Financial Times, in collaboration with global research firm Statista, highlights X3M Ideas’ outstanding performance and resilience in a highly competitive and challenging business landscape.
The agency’s ranking was determined based on its compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2020 and 2023, verified through independently certified financial data, underscoring the credibility and transparency of the accolade.
Founded by renowned advertising executive Steve Babaeko, X3M Ideas has consistently demonstrated innovation, operational excellence, and creative leadership. The agency’s bold campaigns and commitment to impactful storytelling have not only elevated its profile in Nigeria but have also established its presence across several African markets.
This milestone marks a significant moment for Nigeria’s creative sector, traditionally overshadowed by industries such as fintech and energy in continental rankings.
AAAN President, Lanre Adisa, in a statement, congratulated Babaeko and X3M Ideas on the remarkable recognition. He said: “Steve’s tenure as AAAN President was quite revolutionary. He raised the bar for our association and industry at large. His leadership brought bold ideas to life, executed with brilliance and a deep sense of purpose for the creative community.
“This global acknowledgment is a testament to his enduring impact, not just as a creative force but as a trailblazer on the African continent.”
The Financial Times’ 2025 list features 130 top-performing companies from across Africa, with Nigeria and South Africa accounting for a significant share, reflecting the economic strength and entrepreneurial spirit of the continent’s largest economies.
X3M Ideas’ recognition not only celebrates its own growth but also signals the rising influence of the creative economy in shaping Africa’s future.
This latest accolade adds to a string of recent achievements for X3M Ideas, including being named Independent Network of the Year at the 2025 Pitcher Awards, further cementing the agency’s status as a leader in African creativity and innovation.
AAAN commends Steve Babaeko and the entire X3M Ideas team for their outstanding contribution to the industry and for flying the flag of Nigerian creativity high on the global stage.
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