Feature/OPED
African PR Practitioners Must Prevent Western Propaganda on Climate Change
By Anthony Elikene
Wikipedia says “Climate Change occurs when changes in earth’s climate system result in new weather patterns that remain in place for an extended period. This length of time can be as short as a few decades to as long as millions of years.”
In a simpler explanation, Climate Change is the rise in average surface temperatures on earth. Also called Global Warming, Climate Change is the biggest threat to the world and mankind – this is beyond the environment.
What causes Climate Change? The western Public Relations firms and media have developed several explanatory narratives that seek to exonerate the West (Europe and America) of complicity in the deterioration of our collective planet.
Some of the causes of Climate Change these Western PR outfits and media postulate are:
Greenhouse Effect, which is warming when the atmosphere traps heat radiating from earth towards space.
Using the word ‘Humans’ to replace Europe or the West, by this, they make it an all involving culprit (we all did it together). You find narratives such as “in the mid-20th century, human expansion of the Greenhouse Effect.
Another narrative is “Human activities are changing the natural greenhouse. Over the last century, the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil has increased the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). To a lesser extent, the clearing of land for agriculture, industry, and other human activities has increased concentrations of Greenhouse gases.” – NASA Global Climate Change
Other minor narratives are: “The warming is caused by a more active sun… since 1750, the average amount of energy coming from the sun either remained constant or increased slightly.” – NASA.
The United Nations, in its “Fifth Assessment Report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group of 1,300 independent scientific experts from countries all over the world under the auspices of the United Nations, concluded there’s a more than 95 percent probability that human activities over the past 50 years have warmed our planet.” – UN.
These Western narratives are spins of logical truth but not the ultimate truth.
The ultimate truth will be used to disarm these tactical lies and they are as follow:
Logically, it is correct to say humans contributed greatly to the Climate Change issues but the ultimate truth is that the West (Europe and America) unilaterally caused these problems through several activities in the guise of science and warfare. NASA space activities; nuclear activities; unnecessary global warfare to colonize the rest of the world; inventions of destructive weaponry; invention and use of biological weapons; over mining and destroying of the earth’s core for minerals; production of carbon-emitting cars and generators; commercial production of chemicals, and industrial pollution of the environment among others.
In a recent CNN report on Climate Change, experts said Africa’s contributions to the Climate Change problem is less than one percent (1%) but failed to say Europe and America’s contributions are ninety-nine plus percent (99+%).
The less than one percent (1%) the experts identified are largely not from Africans but from European corporations and industries that would stop at nothing from exploiting the natural reserves in Africa. These activities and the dumping of Western originated toxic wastes in Africa will cause environmental problems.
The West, through NASA, also blamed the sun’s increased warming effect claiming it started since 1750. According to Eric Hobsbawm, “the European industrial revolution began in Britain in the 1780 and was not fully felt until the 1830s or 1840s” while T.S. Ashton held that it occurred roughly between 1760 and 1830.
According to Britannica, from December 5 to 9, 1952, there was the Great Smog of London, this was the name used to describe the combination of industrial pollution and high-pressure weather conditions. People could not see themselves on the streets due to the thickness of the smoke pollution which destroyed the environment and all these activities damaged the Oxone Layer as it cut across Europe. The UN science experts’ findings are correct in the sense that 95 percent Climate Change issues are caused by humans but failed to identify the humans were Europeans and Americans.
The destruction of the Oxone Layer started a long time ago in Europe and America when Africa was all jungle with the cleanest ecosystem on earth. The African system of subsistent agriculture did not allow them to over hunt, over fish, overuse the soil, until Europe colonized Africa and changed everything.
Colonialism was an attempt to forcefully create a new market for the Western products and exploit the rich resources of Africa especially as Europe was in economic turmoil. But the narrative played was that they brought Western education and Christianity to save Africa when Africa was already very rich without mentioning the millions of Africans killed and enslaved for the commercial benefits of Europe and America.
The effects of Western-caused Climate Change issues are being felt in Southern parts of Africa as reported by CNN. Even though Africa is an agrarian society, it is paying the price of commercialization and capitalism tendencies of the West.
Today, Europe is experimenting on the commercial production of solar energy cars, leaving Africa to suffer the damage they created while they seek solutions for themselves. A Tesla car goes for about $135,000 but it won’t get to Africa for decades, maybe not this century, as the West only shares what it doesn’t need at a price.
The Public Relations practitioners in Africa should brace up and be proactive to tell the true stories of Climate Change before the Western propaganda portrays Africa as the cause of Climate Change issues.
Sympathizers of everything Western might come to the defence of the West, but they should remember that a people that blame the sun and everything else for what they did will not think twice to blame a continent they have exploited and branded negatively for centuries.
Anthony Elikene ANIPR is the Strategist at Brandfit PR & Events
By Luke Kyohere
The global payments landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation. New technologies coupled with the rising demand for seamless, secure, and efficient transactions has spurred on an exciting new era of innovation and growth. With 2025 fast approaching, here are important trends that will shape the future of payments:
1. The rise of real-time payments
Until recently, real-time payments have been used in Africa for cross-border mobile money payments, but less so for traditional payments. We are seeing companies like Mastercard investing in this area, as well as central banks in Africa putting focus on this.
2. Cashless payments will increase
In 2025, we will see the continued acceleration of cashless payments across Africa. B2B payments in particular will also increase. Digital payments began between individuals but are now becoming commonplace for larger corporate transactions.
3. Digital currency will hit mainstream
In the cryptocurrency space, we will see an increase in the use of stablecoins like United States Digital Currency (USDC) and Tether (USDT) which are linked to US dollars. These will come to replace traditional cryptocurrencies as their price point is more stable. This year, many countries will begin preparing for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), government-backed digital currencies which use blockchain.
The increased uptake of digital currencies reflects the maturity of distributed ledger technology and improved API availability.
4. Increased government oversight
As adoption of digital currencies will increase, governments will also put more focus into monitoring these flows. In particular, this will centre on companies and banks rather than individuals. The goal of this will be to control and occasionally curb runaway foreign exchange (FX) rates.
5. Business leaders buy into AI technology
In 2025, we will see many business leaders buying into AI through respected providers relying on well-researched platforms and huge data sets. Most companies don’t have the budget to invest in their own research and development in AI, so many are now opting to ‘buy’ into the technology rather than ‘build’ it themselves. Moreover, many businesses are concerned about the risks associated with data ownership and accuracy so buying software is another way to avoid this risk.
6. Continued AI Adoption in Payments
In payments, the proliferation of AI will continue to improve user experience and increase security. To detect fraud, AI is used to track patterns and payment flows in real-time. If unusual activity is detected, the technology can be used to flag or even block payments which may be fraudulent.
When it comes to user experience, we will also see AI being used to improve the interface design of payment platforms. The technology will also increasingly be used for translation for international payment platforms.
7. Rise of Super Apps
To get more from their platforms, mobile network operators are building comprehensive service platforms, integrating multiple payment experiences into a single app. This reflects the shift of many users moving from text-based services to mobile apps. Rather than offering a single service, super apps are packing many other services into a single app. For example, apps which may have previously been used primarily for lending, now have options for saving and paying bills.
8. Business strategy shift
Recent major technological changes will force business leaders to focus on much shorter prediction and reaction cycles. Because the rate of change has been unprecedented in the past year, this will force decision-makers to adapt quickly, be decisive and nimble.
As the payments space evolves, businesses, banks, and governments must continually embrace innovation, collaboration, and prioritise customer needs. These efforts build a more inclusive, secure, and efficient payment system that supports local to global economic growth – enabling true financial inclusion across borders.
Luke Kyohere is the Group Chief Product and Innovation Officer at Onafriq
In a heartfelt statement released today, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has extended its warmest congratulations to Ghana’s President-Elect, emphasizing the importance of learning from Ghana’s recent electoral success as Nigeria gears up for its 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, the CNPP highlighted the need for Nigeria to reclaim its status as a leader in democratic governance in Africa.
“The recent victory of Ghana’s President-Elect is a testament to the maturity and resilience of Ghana’s democracy,” the CNPP stated. “As we celebrate this achievement, we must reflect on the lessons that Nigeria can learn from our West African neighbour.”
The CNPP’s message underscored the significance of free, fair, and credible elections, a standard that Ghana has set and one that Nigeria has previously achieved under former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. “It is high time for Nigeria to reclaim its position as a beacon of democracy in Africa,” the CNPP asserted, calling for a renewed commitment to the electoral process.
Central to CNPP’s message is the insistence that “the will of the people must be supreme in Nigeria’s electoral processes.” The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria CNPP emphasized the necessity of an electoral system that genuinely reflects the wishes of the Nigerian populace. “We must strive to create an environment where elections are free from manipulation, violence, and intimidation,” the CNPP urged, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take decisive action to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
The CNPP also expressed concern over premature declarations regarding the 2027 elections, stating, “It is disheartening to note that some individuals are already announcing that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2027. This kind of statement not only undermines the democratic principles that our nation holds dear but also distracts from the pressing need for the current administration to earn the trust of the electorate.”
The CNPP viewed the upcoming elections as a pivotal moment for Nigeria. “The 2027 general elections present a unique opportunity for Nigeria to reclaim its position as a leader in democratic governance in Africa,” it remarked. The body called on all stakeholders — including the executive, legislature, judiciary, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and civil society organisations — to collaborate in ensuring that elections are transparent, credible, and reflective of the will of the Nigerian people.
As the most populous African country prepares for the 2027 elections, the CNPP urged all Nigerians to remain vigilant and committed to democratic principles. “We must work together to ensure that our elections are free from violence, intimidation, and manipulation,” the statement stated, reaffirming the CNPP’s commitment to promoting a peaceful and credible electoral process.
In conclusion, the CNPP congratulated the President-Elect of Ghana and the Ghanaian people on their remarkable achievements.
“We look forward to learning from their experience and working together to strengthen democracy in our region,” the CNPP concluded.
By Kenechukwu Aguolu
The proposed tax reform, involving four tax bills introduced by the Federal Government, has received significant criticism. Notably, it was rejected by the Governors’ Forum but was still forwarded to the National Assembly. Unlike the various bold economic decisions made by this government, concessions will likely need to be made on these tax reforms, which involve legislative amendments and therefore cannot be imposed by the executive. This article highlights the purposes of taxation, the qualities of a good tax system, and some of the implications of the proposed tax reforms.
One of the major purposes of taxation is to generate revenue for the government to finance its activities. A good tax system should raise sufficient revenue for the government to fund its operations, and support economic and infrastructural development. For any country to achieve meaningful progress, its tax-to-GDP ratio should be at least 15%. Currently, Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio is less than 11%. The proposed tax reforms aim to increase this ratio to 18% within the next three years.
A good tax system should also promote income redistribution and equality by implementing progressive tax policies. In line with this, the proposed tax reforms favour low-income earners. For example, individuals earning less than one million naira annually are exempted from personal income tax. Additionally, essential goods and services such as food, accommodation, and transportation, which constitute a significant portion of household consumption for low- and middle-income groups, are to be exempted from VAT.
In addition to equality, a good tax system should ensure equity and fairness, a key area of contention surrounding the proposed reforms. If implemented, the amendments to the Value Added Tax could lead to a significant reduction in the federal allocation for some states; impairing their ability to finance government operations and development projects. The VAT amendments should be holistically revisited to promote fairness and national unity.
The establishment of a single agency to collect government taxes, the Nigeria Revenue Service, could reduce loopholes that have previously resulted in revenue losses, provided proper controls are put in place. It is logically easier to monitor revenue collection by one agency than by multiple agencies. However, this is not a magical solution. With automation, revenue collection can be seamless whether it is managed by one agency or several, as long as monitoring and accountability measures are implemented effectively.
The proposed tax reforms by the Federal Government are well-intentioned. However, all concerns raised by Nigerians should be looked into, and concessions should be made where necessary. Policies are more effective when they are adapted to suit the unique characteristics of a nation, rather than adopted wholesale. A good tax system should aim to raise sufficient revenue, ensure equitable income distribution, and promote equality, equity, and fairness.
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