The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has announced the public presentation of its book, Nigeria Media Renaissance: GOCOP Perspectives on Online Publishing, on Tuesday, June 17th at Abuja Continental Hotel, at 10.00am.

According to a press statement by GOCOP Publicity Secretary, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, this highly anticipated event promises to be a significant milestone in the literary and publishing landscape.

He quoted GOCOP President, Ms Maureen Chigbo, to have said that the event will feature a Fundraiser for the N2.3 billion GOCOP MEDIA CENTRE, a multi-purpose resource centre comprising a secretariat, a 21st Century library and event halls, among others.

Chigbo further said that “this landmark publication chronicled the transformative journey of Nigeria’s media landscape, highlighting the pivotal role of online publishing in shaping public discourse, enhancing transparency and fostering national development.

“It is a testament to the resilience and innovation of Nigerian media practitioners in the digital age,” she said.

The event, she said, will bring together distinguished personalities from government, media, private sector, academia and civil society to reflect on the challenges and opportunities in online publishing and its critical role in nation-building.

GOCOP which currently has 120 members was established to ensure that online publishers uphold the tenets of journalism in doing their jobs. Its membership is a constellation of editors and senior journalists, whom, having distinguished themselves in their various stations in the print and electronic media, ventured into online publishing which is both the present and future of journalism globally.

The book aside tracing the historical trajectory of online journalism in Nigeria is also a veritable contribution towards enriching the discourse on civil liberties, press freedom and the role of the media in the sustenance of democracy, the statement added.

   By   George Asamani, Managing Director, Project Management Institute, Sub-Saharan Africa

The announcement of deep cuts in US development assistance has cast a long shadow over Africa’s infrastructure ambitions. The African Development Fund, the continent’s principal vehicle for concessional financing, now faces a possible 37% drop in donor contributions, with Washington potentially withdrawing entirely, according to the Centre of Global Development. In March this year, the US withdrew from the Just Energy Transition Partnership, to which it had initially pledged more than $1.5-billion of grant and commercial funding.

Even if these cuts prove to be temporary, the damage may not be. Recovering lost momentum could mean sacrificing years of economic growth, delaying critical infrastructure projects, and widening the development gap. And if the decline signals a more permanent shift, then the implications are even more profound. Rather than wait for fortunes to swing again in their favour, African governments must take proactive steps to secure their development trajectories.

As development partner contributions shrink, governments across the continent will need to take on a greater share of project financing through their own national budgets. That reality is sobering, but it also presents a compelling opportunity to reimagine public investment through the lens of discipline, delivery, and results.

In recent years, many African economies have faced a challenging paradox: rising investment in infrastructure has not always translated into timely project delivery. Historically, PMI data has reported that roughly 10% of project investment is wasted due to poor project performance. Let’s take the global construction market, which is projected to reach approximately $17.05 trillion this year, and poor project performance, like going over time or over budget, could cost it more than $1 trillion.

In Africa, where public debt levels are already placing pressure on national budgets and fiscal space is increasingly limited, improving efficiency in infrastructure delivery is no longer optional; it is essential. If the funding tap is tightening, the only viable response is better stewardship of the remaining resources. That means placing execution, how projects are delivered, at the centre of fiscal policy

Professionalising project management in the public sector is the single most powerful lever African governments can pull to stretch limited budgets. That said, professionalising project delivery is not without its challenges. Many governments still contend with institutional constraints, limited technical capacity, and high turnover in public sector roles. These realities underscore the need for long-term investment in skills development.

Even a modest 10% improvement in project delivery efficiency could translate into billions in savings, resources that could be redirected toward critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and public safety. In essence, stronger project management leads directly to better development outcomes, without placing additional tax burdens on citizens or increasing national debt.

There is also a long-term political dividend. When governments consistently implement visible, high-impact infrastructure projects, they build public trust, foster investor confidence, and stimulate employment. In the context of a rapidly growing youth population and pressing job creation needs, infrastructure delivery should be positioned not merely as capex but as an instrument for inclusive growth and economic resilience.

In today’s constrained environment, Africa can no longer afford inefficiency. Every missed milestone, budget overrun, or failed audit is not just a governance issue—it’s a tax on future generations. That is why national treasuries must begin to view project management capability as a strategic economic asset. Government ministries should collaborate to embed delivery units staffed by qualified project professionals.

Of course, embedding this level of project management rigour will not happen overnight. Strengthening delivery capability across ministries is a medium-term reform, but one that must begin now if future infrastructure investments are to deliver their intended outcomes. Multilateral lenders such as the ADF should also consider making project management discipline a condition for financing to help ensure that funds are effectively used and that projects deliver their intended impact.

Africa’s infrastructure agenda is too important to fail. But success will not be driven by donor generosity alone. It will depend on national leadership that prioritises competence and refuses to compromise on execution.

In a heartfelt celebration of 2025 Children’s Day, Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has unveiled 12-year-old Chiderije Mbah as its One-Day Managing Director/CEO for May 27, 2025, as part of a special initiative aimed at nurturing the next generation of Nigerian leaders. The memorable experience, which took place today, at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos, Marina, spotlighted Wema Bank’s ongoing commitment to investing in the future even as it marks 80 remarkable years of legacy and impact.     Chiderije Mbah became the winner of the One-Day Wema Bank MD/CEO initiative launched in May 2025, to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration.

He was chosen after sharing a spirited video explaining his dream of leading a bank and his vision for making finance more fun and accessible for children. His entry, submitted through a social media challenge, stood out among dozens who applied to be in the position.     The One-Day Wema Bank MD/CEO was the high point of a broader Children’s Day initiative by Wema Bank, which invited children across the country to participate in an online challenge. To qualify, children were asked to post a short video dressed in Wema colours and share the banking role they aspired to, while either holding or opening a Royal Kiddies Account (for ages 0–12) or an ALAT Xplore Wallet (for teenagers 13–17). The campaign blended fun with purpose, introducing thousands of young Nigerians to early financial education and the power of dreaming big. On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Chiderije stepped into the spotlight at Wema Bank’s Lagos Headquarters, receiving a purple-carpet welcome and taking his seat at the helm of the bank for a day packed with leadership, learning, and excitement. Enjoying a full day of activities; from a guided tour of the head office to holding his own executive briefing session in the boardroom, he will also be addressing senior executives of the bank.   “This is the best day of my life,” said Chiderije Mbah. “Wema Bank made me feel important. I am learning so much about being a leader and how banking works. I’ll tell all my friends to open a Wema Bank Royal Kiddies Account so they can also start learning how to save and maybe one day, they can be MD too!” Speaking on the initiative, Wema Bank’s Managing Director/CEO, Moruf Oseni, said.

“Our 80th anniversary is a time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going, knowing fully well that the future belongs to the young stars like Chiderije. Today’s activity is one of our ways of showing that we believe in the children, that we’re listening, and that we’re committed to helping them succeed financially, personally, and professionally all the way.”     This unforgettable experience reinforces Wema Bank’s vision of a future-ready Nigeria; one where financial inclusion starts early, and every child has access to tools, inspiration, and opportunities to thrive. As Wema bank celebrates eight decades of resilience and innovation, its gaze remains firmly fixed on the horizon, championing the dreams of tomorrow’s leaders, one child at a time.”