Nigeria and China said this week they will cooperate in efforts to crack down on the increasing number of Chinese nationals taking part in financial crimes in the African country.

The joint effort comes after Yu Dunhai, Chinese Ambassador visited Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, in Abuja.

In a statement posted to the EFCC website, Dunhai expressed regret over the rising trend of Chinese nationals engaged in financial crimes in Nigeria.

He assured Nigerian authorities that the Chinese government is ready to send delegates to work with local law enforcement agencies to address the issue.

At the same time, Dunhai urged authorities to protect the rights of Chinese citizens while investigations are conducted.

Since November, Nigerian authorities have arrested at least 400 Chinese nationals suspected of cybercrime, telecom fraud and illegal mining. Many of them are facing trial.

But Nigerian political analyst Chukwudi Odoeme warned that China’s influence over the process could undermine the rule of law.

“The collaboration looks good, but then the relationship between Nigeria and China is something that is suspicious in this particular arrangement,” Odoeme said. “The collaboration may be defeated in the sense that China will have undue influence, and it may even lead to political release of those persons instead of subjecting them through the criminal trial system in Nigeria.”

In the first quarter of last year, Chinese companies provided 23% of Nigeria’s total imports.

Critics argue that Chinese nationals are exploiting trade routes and immigration loopholes to enter Nigeria illegally and engage in criminal activities.

Authorities say many of the arrested Chinese nationals were found to be living in Nigeria without proper documentation.

Public affairs analyst Jaye Gaskia raised concerns about the transparency of the collaboration.

“On what basis are you going into this collaboration? For what purpose?” he asked. “The conversations around trying to develop such collaborative strategies also need to be transparent, so that citizens will be able to interrogate the process to see whether national interest is going to be somehow undermined.

“We have to be careful, and we have to ensure who does the prosecution,” Gaskia said.

“The best-case scenario is for the country not to cede its own sovereignty in terms of how this is going to happen.”

Nigeria’s debt to China exceeds $5 billion — more than the bilateral loans owed to all other countries combined.

Meanwhile, Nigeria is seeking China’s backing to join the grouping of the world’s 20 largest economies, the G20, and secure a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

But political analyst Rotimi Olawale believes the debt should not influence how Nigeria handles criminal cases.

“I don’t think that the debt we owe China, $5 billion, will affect anything,” Olawale said.

“That’s government-to-government relations. The most important thing is that the case should not be politicized. We must clearly define our rules and uphold our laws.”

Previously, Nigeria’s parliament called for the mass deportation of illegal Chinese migrants.

VOA

As gender disparities in financial access persist, QNET, a global wellness and lifestyle direct-selling firm, is intensifying efforts to bridge the gap through entrepreneurship. In line with International Women’s Day 2025, QNET is aligning with this year’s theme, “Accelerate Action,” advocating direct selling as a viable economic lever for women’s financial independence.

Recent findings from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) 2024 report highlight the severity of financial exclusion among women. Despite making up nearly half of the global population, 40% of women worldwide remain unbanked—with a 20% lower likelihood than men to hold bank accounts and 17% less access to formal credit lines. This exclusion, affecting 1.1 billion women, is not just a socio-economic challenge but a barrier to sustainable growth.

For companies like QNET, the case for intervention is compelling. Direct selling—often dismissed in traditional financial inclusion discourse—presents an alternative pathway for women to generate income, build financial resilience, and scale entrepreneurial ventures. Through its platform, QNET provides structured mentorship, training, and business resources designed to help women establish independent enterprises.

Biram Fall, Regional General Manager, QNET Sub-Saharan Africa, said, “As part of the United Nation’s Social Development Goals, achieving gender equality to empower all women and girls is a fundamental human right and a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.

“At QNET, we are committed to accelerating their success by equipping them with business skills, mentorship, and financial opportunities. By offering a flexible and low-barrier platform, we aim to enable women to become entrepreneurs and contribute meaningfully to their families and communities.”

QNET’s commitment to women’s empowerment is evident through various initiatives, such as its signature financial literacy program, FinGreen, which was launched in Nigeria in 2022 to develop healthy financial habits through education and training in the most vulnerable communities, particularly for youth, women and those stepping into entrepreneurship in emerging economies. The programme is important in achieving the UN SDGs and establishing a stable and healthy economy in developing nations.

Akeem Ajisafe, Managing Director of Transblue Nigeria Limited, QNET’s local partner in Nigeria, speaking on the special observance, said, “At QNET, we believe that true empowerment comes from providing women with the right opportunities to succeed. Through our various initiatives, we hope to highlight our commitment to equipping women with the skills and resources they need to achieve economic independence and long-term success – addressing gender disparity in Nigeria and across Africa.”

With a strong focus on financial inclusion and skills development, QNET continues to support women in building sustainable businesses, fostering independence, and driving economic growth. As the world pushes for gender equality, QNET remains steadfast in its commitment to accelerating action and creating a more inclusive future where women thrive as leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs.

Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government, recently empowered youths in the area with digital skills at its annual programme tagged: “The Mindset with Vice Chairman, Lucky Uduikhue”.

The event in its 8^th edition themed: “Powering the Next Generation of Digital Leadership.” was organized in partnership with Willis Capital, Wmarkets and Willis University. The event attended by over 3,000 youths of the local government witness training in skills such as; FX trading, digital currency investments among others.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, executive governor of Lagos, represented by Hon. Samuel Egube, his deputy chief of staff, said that it is always said that when we build the youths, we build the nation.

“The Governor’s second agenda has heightened the focus on inclusion for our youth’s population. We see this event as a partnership with the government of Lagos state to encourage self-development, entrepreneurship and mindset-development.

“And today, we excited that is why we are here as it aligns with what the governor is doing. We can as well see that our people are eager to learn and participate for growth. This is what we stand for in Lagos. Special thanks to the Vice Chairman and the partner. This is a good sign of what the local governments can do and the impact they can make in their environment.

Also speaking at the event, Hon. Fatai Adekunle Ayoola, executive chairman, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government, said his leadership has been instrumental in driving positive change in our community, and we are grateful for this vision and dedication. “Our commitment to youth empowerment is evident in various initiatives, including the just concluded Ajeromi-Ifelodun Youth Empowerment Summit and the Women Summit.

“We are committed to bridging the technology gap in Ajegunle and promoting digital inclusion. We believe that by empowering our youths with digital skills, we can unlock their potential and create a brighter future for our community.

Mr. Lucky Uduikhue, vice chairman of the local government, said that they have empowered over 3000 youths at this year’s event through their partnership with Willis Capital, WMarket and Datapoint Forex and Tech Academy.

“Today’s message is just about value and that we shouldn’t devalue ourselves. Every youth here will be leaving here with value.

This year’s edition was massive with huge turnout of youths which is an indication that people are ready to move from the direction they are to another direction. Because, the world has moved from analogue system to digital system and the message of today is about digital inclusion making sure that people get value from whatever they do for a living.

The massive turnout of youths and adult alike shows that digital is the way forward. We noticed that most of them have the knowledge but don’t know the direction to go.

The training for today showed them the way to go. Looking at blockchain, Artificial intelligence and generally web3 technology shows that the way forward is to embrace digital platform which they have chosen today. Those with little knowledge are ready to expand it; those without knowledge of it have signed on for an opportunity in that direction.

This journey is about relationship. We have built relationship as a local government with our people, that is the reason why we have a strong partner – Willis capital, WMarket and Willis University.

In as addition, we are partnering with Datapoint Forex and Tech Academy which is a base within the community which was officially launched today. We are going to take interested youths to that centre for physical training and mentorship as well as support they need to take off.

DataPoint Forex and Tech Academy also have online tutorials as well for those that cannot attend physically due to the nature of their work or business.

Obinna Aso, Chief Operating Officer, Willis Capital expressed delight at the turnout of youths to participate in the programme.

“We are here today to support this initiative and to change the mindset of the youths here positively. We are the official partner of this event this year and we heard good things about this local government before provide our support. We are going to be training them, provide funding for the talented youths.

“In this event, we are going to be giving a $3000 account to over 20 youths who can work because we are in the business of training talented youths. What we are doing today is a paradigm shift from the normal way youths live their life by encouraging them to embrace digital economy.

“Opening their minds to the new ways of life currently. We don’t want people to keep their minds locked in the old ways of looking for means of livelihood. We want youths to own their destiny and fight for themselves.

“The digital space is open to everyone, there is no barriers to entry, one can come in and changed his/her life. A lot of people have changed their lives. Our CEO in person of Dapo Willis changed his life by embracing the digital economy 13 years ago and today he has been impacting lives across the world. We are encouraging everyone in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local government to do the same”.