• Transformative Economic Growth, Youth Employment, Energy Transition Critical for the Continent

African philanthropist and business leader, Tony Elumelu, will make Africa’s transformative economic growth, youth employment, and energy transition central to the discussions at this year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), taking place late September in New York.

Elumelu will call for urgent action in a series of engagements, including a roundtable discussion at the Clinton Global Initiative with former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, and at an event co-hosted by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), led by WFP Executive Director, Cindy McCain.

Elumelu will bring his perspective both from extensive experience in building industry-leading businesses across the continent, and the success of the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s catalytic programmes empowering young Africans. Elumelu is a realist, challenging Africa and Africans to solve their problems, bringing African solutions, but also recognizing Africa’s responsibility to act.

As Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group and pan-African investment company, Heirs Holdings, as well as Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Elumelu is a leading driver of Africa’s transformation agenda, helping shape the continent’s narrative on the global stage. His thought leadership and advocacy challenge conventional views, offering innovative strategies for collaboration and growth. The success of his Foundation in promoting youth entrepreneurship as a pathway out of poverty, has featured in case studies from Harvard, Chicago Business School, Stanford and Cambridge.

With over 60% of Africans lacking access to electricity and young people making up more than 60% of the continent’s 1.3 billion population, Africa faces challenges that impact the world. Africa, most recently with tragic floods in West Africa, is suffering climate driven environmental crises, caused by global emissions, whilst Africa’s development is held back by huge infrastructure deficits.

In a recent statement, Elumelu emphasised, “I have often said that there is nowhere else in the world you can reap the kind of investments as in Africa. However, I am acutely aware of the fundamental challenges our continent faces. Addressing the issues of sustainable economic growth, youth unemployment, genda inequality, and Africa’s energy transition is critical not only for meeting the continent’s basic developmental needs, but also for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and unlocking the immense economic potential that Africa offers.”

An economist and visionary entrepreneur, Elumelu’s economic philosophy of Africapitalism, serves as a blueprint for accelerating Africa’s economic transformation, advocating for the private sector to take the lead in delivering social and economic wealth, and shared prosperity for all.

Alongside Elumelu’s advocacy, the United Bank for Africa, which he chairs, will host a networking gala on the sidelines of UNGA – a platform to spotlight investment opportunities on the continent. The Gala will convene prominent leaders across four continents, in commemoration of UBA Group’s 75th anniversary and the Group’s 40 years of operations in the United States.

Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Edo, says Peter Obi’s endorsement of his candidacy is “worth its weight in gold”.

Akpata spoke in an interview on Arise Television on Thursday.

The Edo governorship election is billed for September 21.

On Wednesday, Obi implored the Edo electorate to vote Akpata as their next governor.

He added that if elected, the former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) would deliver the needed change.

The LP governorship candidate said Obi has made a difference in his campaign.

“Peter Obi is making a whole lot of difference because he is one individual that people trust. People trust him because his word is his bond,” he said.

“People trust Peter Obi because he’s a performer and so his endorsement of my candidacy is worth its weight in gold and so I make no bones about it.

“I will not hesitate to take advantage of the fact that he supports me and those of you who know Obi, he will only associate with a candidate he has confidence in, every confidence in his or her abilities.

“So I’m fortunate, I’m privileged that he’s willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with me on the podium, on various podiums across the state.

“We have been to all three senatorial zones together. He has been very, very magnanimous with his time and with his energy and he has brought that to bear on the campaign process.

“The people are definitely, definitely encouraged by his presence. It gives them reason to believe again. It gives them hope again.”

Akpata asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a credible poll.

“Now with regard to the umpire, the regulator INEC, I am hopeful because there are certain peculiar factors that lend themselves to this process that will hopefully bring about a positive outcome,” he said.

“Firstly, it’s an off-cycle election. So in that regard, we are fortunate and privileged to have the undivided attention of INEC in this state so they can bring together their entire machinery on the process.

“But having said that, I am so concerned because I bother about capacity issues. Right now we’ve heard rumors of that some of the actors are already fighting it out at the INEC centre somewhere in Benin City.

“I’m yet to confirm that. I just read a newsflash that some hoodlums have carted away sensitive materials. Again, yet to confirm that.

“But I am concerned about capacity. I am concerned about the fact that the terrain… I have been around Edo state about five times in this process.

“The roads are in a very deplorable stage, I just wonder to myself, how can INEC manage to get around in these conditions? I just returned from the riverine areas of Edo state.

“I wonder to myself, is the regulator able to access this? Will people not be disenfranchised? You just need to see the conditions of our roads.

“I just returned to Benin from Irrua. It is so difficult to get around. So I am very worried about the logistics of this process.

“So, as you can imagine, we will continue to engage with the operators. We will continue to interrogate the system.”

Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has officially launched the consumer protection portal of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in Lagos.

This innovative portal is designed to provide travelers with a hassle-free way to lodge complaints online and track the resolution process.

Speaking at the launch, Keyamo emphasized the importance of swift action, directing the NCAA to address airline ticket refunds owed to passengers by airlines within 24 hours.

This move aims to alleviate the struggles many passengers have faced in reclaiming funds for flights booked from airlines that are no longer operating.

With this platform, travelers can electronically file complaints, track the resolution process, and monitor the on-time performance of all airlines operating in Nigeria.

“I am not unaware of the complaints of people whose money has not been refunded by certain airlines that have stopped operations due to safety concerns,” Keyamo said.

“I receive a huge number of such complaints in my emails, text messages, and direct messages. I have been a lawyer of the federal republic for over 30 years before I was called to serve my fatherland. People find a way to send these complaints to me and that is why I receive some of these complaints directly.

“For the airlines that have not refunded passengers’ money, there must be a public statement by the NCAA by the end of Friday latest.

“Let the public know what is happening to that money. I know you have resolved that. Let’s not pretend as if we are not hearing anything about this. People bought tickets before the airlines ran into troubled waters. What happened to their money? What plans do you have to refund them? This is part of consumer protection.

“The NCAA should come out with a public statement to show what they are doing about resolving the issue.”

On protecting travellers, Keyamo said the portal is expected to streamline the complaints process and ensure efficiency in the aviation sector.

He commended the NCAA’s leadership, particularly its consumer protection directorate, for the initiative, noting that passenger satisfaction is crucial for the industry’s viability.

“The final thing that we must achieve in the sector is that the person boarding the aircraft must have good experience, must feel the change either in terms of prices, environment or experience. Everybody is working for that final consumer, including myself,” he said.

“Let it be clear that we are all consumer protection officers and it’s not only for those gentlemen and ladies in uniform.

“As a frequent flyer myself, I have seen firsthand, the rage of passengers who are either disappointed by delayed flights, cancellations or some ugly experiences on those flights. I have seen the rage and this is a means by which they can ventilate that rage.”

On his part, Chris Najomo, acting director-general of the NCAA, praised the initiative as a vital step in protecting the rights of aviation consumers in Nigeria.

“In today’s rapidly evolving marketplace, consumers face myriads of challenges. From being unaware of their rights to navigating complex regulations to addressing poor services or unfair practices,” Najomo said.

“Hence, the need for a robust system to protect and empower consumers has never been more critical.”

On July 20, the NCAA announced its plans to launch a consumer protection portal in August to address complaints within the aviation sector.

However, the authority postponed the launch of the portal to September 19.