Hon. Funmilayo Akande Muhammed, the Executive Chairman of Apapa Iganmu LCDA, has once again demonstrated exemplary leadership by presenting Sienna vehicles to individuals who have shown unwavering loyalty and dedication to her administration.

The beneficiaries of this generous gesture include Mr. Fanaga, Head of the Apapa Iganmu LCDA CAN Association; Mr. Gbenga Elias, a steadfast loyalist who stood firmly by her side during the most challenging moments of her political journey; and Alhaji Ganiu Aratumi, recognized for his unwavering loyalty and commitment.

Mr. Gbenga Elias’s resilience, even in the face of criticism and challenges, earned him special recognition as someone who upheld Hon. Funmilayo Akande Muhammed’s leadership with unwavering faith and adherence to her directives. Similarly, Alhaji Ganiu Aratumi’s dedication was acknowledged, underscoring the principle that loyalty to a visionary leader often yields meaningful rewards.

This noble act by Hon. Funmilayo Akande Muhammed once again highlights her commitment to valuing and rewarding loyalty, fostering unity among her supporters, and setting a remarkable standard for leadership in Apapa Iganmu LCDA.

Players in the real estate sector of the economy have offered prescriptions on how to drive financial growth in the business environment.

According to them, exploring options including fractional/ co-ownership of property, embracing new strategies, and collaborative investment could trigger growth in the business.

Real estate investor and entrepreneur, Matthew Ashimolowo, and business coach, Olumide Emmanuel, both disclosed this at the 2024 Wealth Summit organised by co- founders of Pertinence Group, Sunday Olorunsheyi and Wisdom Ezekiel, in Lagos.

Speaking at the conference with the theme, “The Real Money of Lagos”, Olumide Emmanuel made a great mark on the over 3,000 participants as he spoke on leveraging strategies as key to attaining wealth creation and financial growth.

Emmanuel encouraged the audience to make smarter choices than previous generations, urging them to learn from the past while finding new ways to create wealth.

Emmanuel highlighted several promising business opportunities that could help attendees improve their financial situations.
“The decisions we make today,” he said, “will shape the financial futures of our children. It’s time to move past old ways of thinking and embrace new strategies for building wealth.”

The real estate mogul also spoke on the benefits of co-ownership, where people can team up to invest in property or businesses.

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He stressed that in today’s world, working together can lead to greater success. “You don’t have to do it alone,” he explained. “By joining forces with others, you can share resources, reduce risks, and achieve better financial outcomes. Collaboration is the new competition.”

On his part, Ashimolowo outlined 40 ways to magnetise money, providing practical steps that attendees could implement immediately to enhance their financial standing.

In his words, “A lizard in Nigeria will not be a crocodile in London. Your abundance isn’t coming from a place or a government. Be genuinely interested in abundance. Change your mindset to align with it. Because until your mind is changed, your money can not change.

“If all your money is in a savings account, you are not a risk taker. Today, something has to change. Be committed to taking risks. When you prioritise your financial goals, there are things you won’t put money on. You must therefore find goals that boost investment. Solve one problem at a time, and your life will change.”

Ashimolowo emphasised the importance of investing in real estate, describing it as a reliable way to build long-term wealth.

He explained that owning property is more than just having land or buildings; saying it is about securing a future where your wealth can grow and be passed down to future generations.

Ashimolowo encouraged the audience to change their approach to wealth creation, by thinking bigger, act boldly, and pursue their financial goals with determination.

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“If you want extraordinary results, you need to take extraordinary actions,” he said.

He highlighted the importance of building connections. “Every bit of money you need in this life is in someone else’s pocket,” he noted, “so connect with people.”

The Wealth Summit, sponsored by Eazipay, Makarios Luxury, PettySave Microfinance and Edificio, also featured insights from Pertinence Group co-founders. They introduced SeedX, a new platform designed to help parents secure their children’s future by investing in property, and also officially unveiled their second book, titled The Real Money of Lagos.

The Isaac Balami Foundation (IBF) , has concluded plans to lift over 160 youth with training across professions in the aviation sector.

The foremost aviation expert, former President of National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Comrade Isaac Balami who disclosed this said the initiative to empower youths was occasioned by the prevailing economic challenges in the country requiring intervention to fix increasing hunger and suffering.

The All Progressive Congress (APC) Chieftain in a letter to Nigerian youths urged them to shelve the planned celebrations for his 4oth birthday anniversary.

Balami, a youth leader and former Obi/Datti Deputy Campaign Manager recently dumped the Labour Party, LP, for the APC.

Posting on his X handle as part of his message to the youths and other close allies said it was better to plan for the future of the country’s youth in his own small way than to plan for his birthday.

He went further to state that he had decided to reflect deeply and then team up with those who were planning to throw him a birthday bash and that they will use the moment to advance some 40 precious lives in 4 different aviation fields making them 160 altogether.

He said he will team up with his friends to empower 160 qualified Nigerians in different aviation training through the Isaac Balami Foundation(IBF) this year.

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How to focus on wealth creation and financial growth took the centre stage at the weekend in Lagos as renowned pastor and entrepreneur Matthew Ashimolowo, together with other speakers including: Niyi Adesanya and Olumide Emmanuel, made a great mark at the 2024 Wealth Summit.

The conference, themed “The Real Money of Lagos” and hosted by the co-founders of Pertinence Group, Sunday Olorunsheyi and Wisdom Ezekiel, gathered over 3,000 people, both in person and online, for a day of learning and inspiration.

Known for its focus on wealth creation and financial growth, the annual conference, which is in its fifth year, featured the top speakers who shared practical advice on how to build and secure wealth.

Olumide Emmanuel, the first keynote speaker, set the tone for the day with his powerful message. He encouraged the audience to make smarter choices than previous generations, urging them to learn from the past while finding new ways to create wealth.

Emmanuel highlighted several promising business opportunities that could help attendees improve their financial situations. “The decisions we make today,” he said, “will shape the financial futures of our children. It’s time to move past old ways of thinking and embrace new strategies for building wealth.”

The real estate mogul also spoke about the benefits of co-ownership, where people can team up to invest in property or businesses.

He stressed that in today’s world, working together can lead to greater success. “You don’t have to do it alone,” he explained. “By joining forces with others, you can share resources, reduce risks, and achieve better financial outcomes. Collaboration is the new competition.”

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The conference reached another peak with the address by Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, who packaged a masterclass of three interconnected topics that resonated deeply with the audience.

Known for his wisdom on wealth creation, Ashimolowo began by outlining 40 ways to magnetise money, providing practical steps that attendees could implement immediately to enhance their financial standing.

In his words, “A lizard in Nigeria will not be a crocodile in London. Your abundance isn’t coming from a place or a government. Be genuinely interested in abundance. Change your mindset to align with it. Because until your mind is changed, your money can not change.

“If all your money is in a savings account, you are not a risk taker. Today, something has to change. Be committed to taking risks. When you prioritise your financial goals, there are things you won’t put money on. You must therefore find goals that boost investment. Solve one problem at a time, and your life will change.”

Ashimolowo went on to emphasise the importance of investing in real estate, describing it as a reliable way to build long-term wealth. He explained that owning property is more than just having land or buildings; it’s about securing a future where your wealth can grow and be passed down to future generations.

Finally, Ashimolowo encouraged the audience to “10x” their approach to wealth creation, to think bigger, act boldly, and pursue their financial goals with determination. “If you want extraordinary results, you need to take extraordinary actions,” he said.

In his address, he highlighted the importance of building connections. “Every bit of money you need in this life is in someone else’s pocket,” he noted, “so connect with people.”

Advertisement

The Wealth Summit, sponsored by Eazipay, Makarios Luxury, PettySave Microfinance and Edificio, also featured insights from Pertinence Group co-founders Sunday Olorunsheyi and Wisdom Ezekiel.

They introduced SeedX, a new platform designed to help parents secure their children’s future by investing in property, and also officially unveiled their second book, titled The Real Money of Lagos.

The Platform for Cooperation on Mixed Migration (PCMM), has been launched in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

PCMM is an initiative aimed at addressing the complex challenges presented by mixed migration, which involves the movement of diverse groups of people, including refugees, asylum seekers, economic migrants, and other vulnerable individuals.

It was officially launched on July 2 and 3, 2024.

The ceremony was graced by the High Commissioner, the United Nations Human Rights, High Commissioner on Refugees, International Organization on Migration, GIZ, Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment, United Nations among others.

The event commenced with an opening remark by Chioma Awokoya, the Executive Secretary of Platform for Cooperation on Mixed Migration followed by goodwill messages from various organizations who attended the launch.

The Chief launcher of PCMM, the Honorable Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants & Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) represented by Dr. Nsikan Essien in his keynote address emphasized the importance of a unified approach to addressing migration challenges. He said “the platform should seek to foster collaboration among government agencies, international organizations, and civil society groups to ensure more effective and humane management of migration.”

The second day was dedicated to the launch of the Centre for Youths Integrated Development Pathways to Regular Migration, commonly known as the Japa Regular

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project. The initiative focused on providing young people with viable and legal pathways to migration, thereby reducing the risks associated with irregular migration.

The Director Migration Affairs, Mrs. Cathreen Udida of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants & IDPs (NCFRMI) represented by Dr. Nsikan Essien delivered an inspiring speech, outlining the objectives and expected impact of the Japa Regular Project. She applauded the initiative and promised the cooperation of her agency in the smooth running of the project. She further stated that the aim of the project is to equip young people with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to pursue regular migration opportunities, thus promoting safer and more regulated migration processes aligned with NCFRMI mandate.

PCMM Director, Aihawu Victor, in his welcome address said the organization is a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to addressing the complex and dynamic nature of mixed migration.

“As migration patterns continue to evolve, our platform will serve as a central hub for stakeholders to collaborate, share knowledge, and develop innovative solutions,” he assured.

The PCMM, according to him, is designed to bring together diverse actors from governments, international organizations, civil society, academia, and the private sector. By fostering a multi-stakeholder approach, we aim to enhance our collective capacity to respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by mixed migration.”

Through the PCMM, he said: “We will facilitate the exchange of best practices and lessons learned; promote coordinated and coherent responses to mixed migration flows; support the development of evidence-based policies and programs; Encourage the integration of human rights and protection principles in all aspects of migration management.

Continuing, he said, “We recognize that no single entity can address the multifaceted issues of mixed migration alone. Therefore, we call upon all partners and participants to actively engage with the PCMM. Your expertise, experience, and commitment are crucial to the success of this initiative.”

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Together, he said: “We can create a more effective and humane approach to managing mixed migration. We look forward to your active participation and collaboration as we embark on this important journey.”

Stakeholders in the telecommunications industry have said the Federal Government’s plan to deploy 90,000 kilometers of fibre optic cables across the country will face several obstacles, especially from state governments, that might truncate the project.

According to them, without addressing the current issue of Right of Way charges, multiple taxation, and levies, which are under the control of state governments, the project which is to be implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) would be an exercise in futility.

The stakeholders, who spoke during the Sixth Edition of the Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFO) in Lagos on Wednesday, which was a focus on Nigeria’s renewed strategic agenda for digital economy.

They stressed the need to ensure the successful implementation of the project which was announced recently by the Federal Government to complement existing connectivity for universal access to the internet across Nigeria and provide the Nigerian digital economy with the backbone infrastructure it needed.

Addressing the obstacles 

Presenting a paper on the topic, ‘Harmonizing Nigeria’s Fibre Deployment Strategies for Effective Implementation’, Executive Director of Broadbased Communications, Mr. Chidi Ibisi, said while the government’s SPV initiative is a good plan that could help the country bridge its current digital infrastructure gap, the government would need to address current challenges.

“The issues of high cost of Right of Way (RoW), destruction of fiber by road construction companies and vandals all need to be addressed for this new SPV initiative to be successful,” he said.

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Highlighting some of the challenges telecom operators face when deploying infrastructure, the Group Chief Operating Officer of WTES Projects Limited, Mr. Chidi Ajuzie, said the biggest challenge to fibre cable laying in Nigeria is the informal RoW by hoodlums in states.

“For states, a formal right of way is set and some states are adopting it but the informal side of the right of way is where the complexity has come today.

“If I’m trying to lay fibre in some communities here in Lagos, the first thing that happens is the so-called land owners (omo onile) come out and a different set of people will keep coming from one street to another and they charge you. How do we achieve adequate broadband infrastructure in this kind of situation?” he said.

Role of state governments 

According to the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, for the 90,000 kilometres fibre project to succeed, the state governments have to take ownership.

“For the project to succeed, I think the governments at sub-nationals should take ownership. This issue of state governments seeing right of way as IGR should be a thing of the past. We can’t talk about the digital economy on one side and the government is seeing those who provide the services as sources of revenue.

“The government has always come up with good policies, but the implantation, particularly when they are tested far afield, is the biggest problem. Governors will go to Abuja and say ‘in my state, I will give the right of way free of charge.’

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“When you go to such a state, they may give you the right of way for zero or one Naira, but they will give you developmental levy, education levy, state impact levy, ecosystem levy. When you add all of these together, it is more than the right of way charges. So, who is playing who?” he said.

Making vital contributions at the forum, Dr. Ayotunde Coker, the Chief Executive Officer of Open Access Data Centre (OADC) stressed the need for the fibre project to be executed by the private sector even as the World Bank is expected to fund it with up to $3 billion.

He said: “the World Bank can put money into the government but it needs private sector partnerships as the execution engine and that’s what we’ve been pushing in Africa.

“The key thing is that when the World Bank puts the money in, it should engage the private sector, figure out the policies that it needs to do and enable the private sector to execute them effectively and make it as open as possible. With that, they can achieve what they are trying to achieve.”

He further stressed that for the success of the project, Nigeria should learn lessons of what didn’t work in the past, to achieve the new broadband penetration targets with the fibre range that is required.

“Meaningful broadband is what we need, rather than just a huge set of megabits per second implementation. We need superhighway fibres. We need the distribution of these backbone that allows us then to fan out.”

He further urged state governors to be part of the project by providing an enabling environment for infrastructure roll-out, adding: “if you are a state governor and didn’t participate in it, the state won’t grow and it’s going to impact your state.”

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Earlier in his opening address, the convener of PIAFo, Mr. Omobayo Azeez, said the conference was to create a midpoint dialogue platform for digital economy stakeholders across both the public and private divides to brainstorm, exchange perspectives, clear grey areas, harmonize thoughts and create a sense of collective responsibility towards accelerating our collective prosperity through technical efficiency.

The event focused on Nigeria’s renewed strategic agenda for digital economy. According to him, the new digital economy blueprint of the federal government does not only sustain existing policy directions and targets, “it also challenges us on the possibilities of attaining new frontiers with a view to “Accelerating Our Collective Prosperity through Technical Efficiency” which is the theme of the summit.