General
Fayemi Calls for More Investments in Arts, Culture
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Kayode Fayemi, has called for more investments into the arts and culture sector of the country.
This charge was given by the state governor at the opening session of the 34th National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST).
Declaring open the cultural fiesta themed Celebrating National Unity in Diversity, the Ekiti State Governor, who is also the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), described the annual cultural celebration as a vital tool for integration, unity, economic prosperity and political stability of the country.
He maintained that the current economic and political state of the country requires concerted efforts and investment in arts and culture to give room for the expression of talents, promotion of the unity of the country in its diversity and harnessing human potentials for economic prosperity.
Stressing the import of culture for national development and economic growth, the Governor said culture impacts economic growth by strengthening social virtues, creating a trust which facilitates relationships and inspiring motivation that stimulates entrepreneurship.
“We know and understand that culture is one of the main pillars of development, for, without culture, it is certain that development would be greatly hindered. The critical state of our nation requires that efforts be intensified to revive our diverse culture and enhance the potential of our arts to ensure social and political stability, both of which hinge on the viability of the economy.
“The burden of our national commitments which has rested solely on the performance of our crude oil in the international market has continued to render the nation immobile. This calls for an innovative solution. Investing in culture is crucial to the general development of any society.
“As a country with diverse cultures, it is imperative for us to take advantage of the innate strength in our diversity, and our human and natural resources, to build a united, just and prosperous country for the present and future generations,” he said.
The Governor disclosed that his administration in Ekiti has taken arts and culture beyond mere performance to the realm of cultural re-orientation, attitudinal change, value orientation and its integration into the State’s educational curriculum to be taught at primary and post-primary levels.
Mr Fayemi added that the national event was in fulfilment of his administration’s efforts at exposing Ekiti to both national and international attractions to woe more stakeholders in the culture, tourism and creative world to the State.
On his part, the Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Mr Segun Runwese, commended Governor Fayemi for not only demonstrating strong political will in hosting this year NAFEST but for also mobilizing government apparatus to take an active role in ensuring the success of the event.
He disclosed that this year event would feature several completion including tales by moonlight, Drama, traditional board games, children’s drawing and painting, children’s essay writing, traditional cuisines, archery, indigenous fabric and fashion and the cultural market display where winners would be given prizes and award.
Mr Runwese added that participants would also have the opportunity to visit the rich cultural tourist centres in the State like the popular Ikogosi warm spring, Arinta waterfall, Fajuyi park and amusement, Ogun Onire groove and others in the course of the week-long event.
At the event, where representatives across the states of the federation observed a cultural parade that reflected their rich cultural heritage in colourful attires and peculiar cultural instruments witnessed the staging of a melodious drama titled “Children of the rolling hills” that was orchestrated by the Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr Datti Baba-Ahmed, has left the party to join the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the politician said he’s no longer interested in the way the Labour Party was being run.
He disclosed that there is no more peace in the political party he flew its flag in the last general elections because of greed.
He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of destabilising opposition political parties to ensure President Bola Tinubu does not have a credible opponent in the 2027 presidential poll.
“What the Labour Party stood for is not the same now. We have a government of today which is interested in destroying other political parties,” he said.
“I am leaving the Labour Party tomorrow (today) by 12 midnight,” Mr Baba-Ahmed said when asked about his plans for next year.
I am leaving the Labour Party [at] midnight, and I am joining PRP. PRP is the new destination. PRP is the one with a history. It’s about 75 years old,” he further stated.
He further said, “When there was real peace in the Labour Party, someone was redeployed to the Labour Party and because of the antecedents of the person, [I don’t see things getting better].
PRP, a progressive Nigerian political party, was established in 1978 by Mallam Aminu Kano. It is rooted in social democratic principles and populist ideology, often focusing on the empowerment of the talakawa (common people).
Its current National Chairman, according to data obtained from the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is Mr Falalu Bello, while the National Secretary is Mr Babatunde F. Alli.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ms Omolola Oloworaran, has highlighted strategies deployed by her organisation to ensure pension coverage is deepened in Nigeria.
Speaking at the ISSA Technical Seminar in Abuja recently, she said the steps taken were to build a more inclusive, transparent, and responsive pension system, where communication serves not just as information, but as a bridge to trust, accessibility, and sustained industry growth.
According to her, the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) has, over more than two decades, built a strong institutional foundation, but true inclusion goes beyond coverage to require trust and clear communication.
For this reason, PenCom has prioritised the Personal Pension Plan, strengthened stakeholder engagement, and invested in digital channels that reach contributors in accessible and relatable ways, she stated.
Ms Oloworaran further stressed that, “Effective communication is not a soft complement to regulation; it is a core instrument of coverage expansion, compliance, and public confidence.
“Every circular we issue, every benefit we pay, and every reform we introduce ultimately succeeds or fails on whether our members can understand it and act on it.”
The ISSA Technical Seminar, themed Improving Inclusivity and Accessibility of Social Security Services Through Effective Communication, was organised in collaboration with the International Social Security Association (ISSA).
It brought together key stakeholders across West Africa to advance dialogue on strengthening social security systems through clearer, more inclusive engagement.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Former Minister of Power, Mr Barth Nnaji, has run to the rooftop to declare that Nigeria has not secured financing for any major power plant in more than a decade, blaming policy reversals and weak government commitment for the prolonged investment drought.
Speaking at the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics conference in Lagos, Mr Nnaji said the country’s power sector lost momentum after a promising financing framework introduced under his watch was abandoned following a change in administration.
According to him, the partial risk guarantee instrument developed jointly with former Finance Minister, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had begun attracting international investors by reducing the risks associated with power projects in Nigeria.
“The world was galloping to us to finance power plants because we were getting a service guarantee,” he said, noting that the framework helped secure funding for the Azura-Edo Power Station, one of Nigeria’s most significant independent power projects.
However, he said the policy was scrapped after the administration changed, abruptly halting investor interest.
“Till today, we have not financed any new major power plant in Nigeria. That’s about 11 years ago,” he said.
Mr Nnaji argued that policy inconsistency remains one of the biggest obstacles to power sector growth, without clear, stable and bankable policies.
He said Nigeria will continue to struggle to attract the long-term capital required for large-scale electricity projects.
He also urged Nigeria to adopt a pragmatic approach to energy transition, stressing that natural gas should remain the backbone of the country’s power strategy. With more than 210 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, he said Nigeria is well-positioned to use gas as a bridge fuel for industrialisation and economic growth over the next two decades.
Yet, despite these vast reserves, inadequate infrastructure continues to constrain supply.
Mr Nnaji noted that the Nigeria LNG Limited is operating at only about 60 per cent of capacity due to insufficient gas availability, highlighting the urgent need for greater investment in gas production, processing and transportation.
He also cited the long-delayed Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station as a symbol of Nigeria’s execution failures. Although technically viable, the project has remained on the drawing board for more than 40 years because of weak political will and inconsistent implementation.
He noted that Nigeria’s power challenge is not a lack of resources but a failure of execution. With an installed generation capacity of about 13,000 megawatts, the country still produces only 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts on average. Until policy becomes consistent and infrastructure investment accelerates, reliable electricity will remain frustratingly out of reach for millions of Nigerians.
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