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All Posts in "Day: May 31, 2025"

Enugu Bags Hosting Right For NAFEST 2025 

LarryBravo Nwaiwu

 

Enugu State has bagged the hosting rights for the 2025 National Festival of Arts and Culture themed “Connected Culture.”

 

Handing over the hosting rights to Governor Peter Mbah at the Enugu State Government House, the Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Obi Asika, said that the choice of Enugu for the event, which takes place from November 22 to 29, 2025, was based on the city’s rich history, cultural heritage, potentials, and recent developments which he described as ‘great things happening’ in the state.

 

This was even as Governor Mbah, promised participants a most memorable NAFEST experience.

 

Asika said, “Enugu has been on the news nonstop for great things. We see what is happening and we are proud of what you are doing and we want to be part of it. My supervising minister – the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy – is happy about NAFEST coming to Enugu.

 

“Enugu is one of the best cities in Nigeria and you have one of the best governors in Nigeria. We have been observing everything you have been doing.

 

“It will interest you to note that NAFEST was established by the Federal Government as a platform to unite Nigeria after the civil war, and interestingly, the first edition was hosted in Lagos after the civil war and the East Central State won it. Since then, the only time the event was held in Enugu was 2008. That was 17 years ago.

 

“But it is coming back. We see what Enugu is doing and I want to commend it. We also see especially some of the investment that you are putting in the Awhum Water fall, the Nsude Pyramid Canopy Walkway and other great things.”

 

The Director-General, said the event, which would bring over 30 states of the federation and over 5,000 competitors and foreign participants to experience Enugu, would contribute to the economic growth of the state and empower the youth.

 

“Enugu has a lot of limitless possibilities. I watched the Enugu Tech Festival and I love it. Enugu has a lot of schools than many states in Nigeria and NAFEST has a capacity-building side that will empower and upscale the capacity of these young ones to give them opportunities into the future.

 

“There are opportunities in NAFEST for the creative people, digital people, the content creators, the poetry people. Enugu has a strong background in masquerade and wrestling. These are some of the elements that are part of NAFEST,” he concluded.

 

Reacting, an elated Governor Mbah, said NAFEST hosting rights furthered his administration’s agenda to bring 3 million visitors to the state, annually, adding that Enugu was purpose built for such events, given the aesthetic, landscape, and the topography, and infrastructural transformations going on.

 

“Enugu lends itself to arts and culture. So, this is a situation where opportunity meets preparation. I can assure you that you are going to have one of the most memorable NAFEST events because we are ready and we are hungry for it.

 

“One of the major transformational agenda of this government is to make here one of the top three economies and the premier destination for business, leisure, living and tourism. We have set a target to attract 3 million visitors every year. So, this is already like a marriage made in heaven. We are going to do everything to ensure that the objective of the NAFEST is achieved and we provide you with the environment,” Mbah said.

 

He equally highlighted the progress and huge investments in the security of lives and property, assuring all participants of their safety.

 

“Today, I can assure you that we are one of the safest states to live in because we have built infrastructure to ensure that we nip crime in the bud. But we are not resting on our laurels. We will continue to build on that,” he concluded.

Online Poster by — May 31, 2025 in News 0
Anambra Govt Tours Ọgbọ-Ọgwụ Market 

. Expresses Satisfaction Over Market’s Situation
Worried by the various reports circulating on various social media platforms claiming that Ọgbọ-Ọgwụ Market, Bridge Head, Onitsha, was still closed, the Anambra State Government, on Wednesday, May 27, 2025, embarked on a fact-finding media tour of the market to ascertain the true situation on the ground.
The government team, comprising the Information Commissioner, Dr Law Mefor, and his counterpart in the Health Ministry, Dr Afam Obidike, walked round the market and interacted with some traders, the NAFDAC representative and the market leadership.
According to the Information Commissioner, Dr Law Mefor, who spoke to journalists amid some traders after the market tour, the visit was a follow-up on the governor’s earlier visit in February to ascertain whether the market was still closed.
“We are here for three reasons. One is to follow up on the earlier visit by the governor in February, when the Ọgbọ-Ọgwụ Market was closed. The governor made a passionate appeal to NAFDAC, asking them to quickly reopen the market to alleviate the sufferings of the people. As a committed and compassionate governor, he will always do all he can to ensure that the people do not suffer unduly. I also wanted to ascertain whether or not the market is still closed as claimed on the social media and still under lock and key.
“I can see for myself that the market has been open since March. We have met with the leadership of the Ogbogwu Market, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement of NAFDAC for South South/South East, and we have been able to ascertain how far they have gone in making sure that the Ọgbọ-Ọgwụ Market is running the way it should. From the Director of Enforcement and the union in the market, we learned that up to 95% of the shops are now open, and there are still a few shops under lock and key for two reasons. Some because the owners say they don’t have the kind of money being requested as a fine. There are some shops whose owners are reluctant to show up to be profiled for reasons best known to them.
“Overall, I think we are satisfied. For shops that are yet to be reopened, we will continue to support our governor to continue to put pressure on NAFDAC so that the remaining shops are reopened. It’s very important,” he said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, assured that the drug market with full facilities for proper drug storage under construction in Oba will be completed as scheduled, even as he reminded the traders of the government’s commitment to their welfare.
Also in an interview, the Deputy Director, Investigation and Enforcement for the South South/South East Region of NAFDAC, Pharm. Omoyeni Babatunji said that the data they captured identified people with their shops, adding that 95% of the shops in the market have reopened.
In his remarks, the Ọgbọ-Ọgwụ C.T.C. Chairman, Hon. Ndubuisi Chukwuleta, explained that the market has been open since 7th March, 2025, when NAFDAC finished their work.
According to him, “The exercise did not take place only here in Anambra. It’s the same in Lagos, Aba. And everyone, both in Lagos and Aba, is paying the fines based on what was found in one’s shop. There’s a sketch of the Connected Wholesale Centre (CWC), the federal government brought out for the four centres – Lagos, Kano, Abịa and Anambra. Only Kano has complied and finished it. Mr Governor is building that of Anambra now in Obá. It has been more than 10 years since they asked us to build it. They didn’t go to Kano. It is only Lagos, Onitsha and Aba. And they penalised every shop for that poor storage.”
He thanked Governor Soludo for his intervention and support throughout the process, pointing out that it was the governor’s appeal that necessitated the shortening of the duration of the market closure, unlike the previous exercise that left the market closed for four months.
Chukwuleta further disclosed that it was through the intervention of government representatives that the fine of ₦2 million was reduced to ₦500,000, and the clearance that would have been done in Enugu is being done in the NAFDAC Office in Onitsha.
Online Poster by — May 31, 2025 in News 0
Foreign Investors See Opportunities Where Locals See Challenges – Coleman Wires MD

Photo: (L-R): MD Coleman Wires and Cables industries limited, Mr. George Onafowokan, DG MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, DG NACCIMA, Sola Obadimu and Mr. Adetunji Aderinto, founder Zetamind consulting limited at a conference organized by Business Day in Lagos on Thursday.
The Managing Director of Coleman Wires and Cables Industries Limited, Mr. George Onafowokan, has said that more foreign investors are entering Nigeria to establish businesses despite prevailing economic challenges, even as some local businesses continue to complain about the operating environment.
 He urged Nigerian manufacturers to look inward and explore the abundant opportunities within the country to boost their enterprises.
Onafowokan made this known on Thursday during the 2025 Manufacturing Conference organized by BusinessDay in Lagos, with the theme: “Unlocking Nigeria’s Manufacturing Potential: Strategies for Sustainable Growth Amid Economic Turbulence.”
Speaking as the Chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) during a panel session, Onafowokan disclosed that, in his capacity, he signs off on applications from companies joining the association. From this vantage point, he noted a growing trend of foreign businesses setting up in Nigeria, contrasting it with the hesitancy and pessimism of some local firms.
Commenting on the issue of multiple taxation, the Coleman MD described it as detrimental to the manufacturing sector. Nevertheless, he emphasized that, despite these hurdles, foreign investors continue to establish operations in Nigeria, and some local manufacturers are showing resilience.
“There are opportunities to tap into. We only need to take a long-term view and be deliberate,” Onafowokan said.
In the same vein, Adetunji Aderinto, founder of Zetamind Consulting Limited and a fellow panelist, remarked that foreign investors often recognize prospects in the Nigerian market that many local manufacturers overlook. He advised manufacturers to reduce costs through technology adoption and data utilization.
“Some manufacturers shut down operations because they don’t understand what their customers need. They need to increase market share and strengthen their supply chains,” Aderinto added.
Onafowokan concluded by asserting that Nigerian-made products, such as those from Coleman Cables, surpass many foreign alternatives in quality. He encouraged Nigerians not to compromise the country’s potential for short-term gains elsewhere.
Also speaking during the session, the Director General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. Olusola Obadimu, called on the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to take urgent steps to curb inflation. He also urged state governments to focus more on people-centric development rather than internally generated revenue alone.
The panelists collectively encouraged Nigerians to patronize locally made products and commended the Federal Government’s efforts in promoting the “Buy Nigeria” campaign.
In his remarks, the Director General of MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, made a strong case for policy interventions to unlock the sector’s full potential. He stated, “The Nigerian government holds the primary responsibility for creating an enabling environment to unlock the manufacturing sector’s potential. This requires strategic action across infrastructure, fiscal policy, and regional integration.”
Ajayi-Kadir acknowledged the passage of four tax reform bills aimed at streamlining the tax system and praised the government’s Nigeria First Initiative. However, he emphasized the need for swift and effective implementation.
He further recommended making the Nigeria First Policy a binding law, with penalties for violators, to ensure transparency, public awareness, and enforcement.
MAN DG called for establishing structured platforms for regular consultations with manufacturers to align policies with industry needs.
According to him, there is need for setting up systems for timely and relevant export data sharing through embassies, trade attachés, and relevant agencies to help manufacturers access global markets.
Also ensuring consistent and transparent policy-making to boost investor confidence and foster long-term growth. Investing significantly in critical transport infrastructure — roads, ports, and industrial corridors — to reduce logistics bottlenecks and improve market access.
Ajayi-Kadir noted that while recent improvements in infrastructure are commendable, only 37% of roads are in good condition, which continues to increase production and transportation costs, making Nigerian products less competitive.
Online Poster by — May 31, 2025 in News 0