Accomplish Magazine May 2025

M A G A Z I N E

MAY 2025

African World

Heritage Day

2025:

Do African Youth

Care About

Preserving

African Heritage?

AFRICA:

Dance to

Our Future!

CEO INTERVIEW

Dr. Kenneth

Gbandi:

From “Showboy

Wonder Kid”

to Diaspora

Champion

Nigeria:

Is Progressive

Change Elusive?

Shehu Sani:

EMBOLDENED BY

POLITICAL PERSECUTION

Contents

Team

EDITOR

DIIYI WILLIAM-WEST

DEPUTY EDITOR

HARRY CHOMS

SENIOR CORRESPONDENTS

IKENNA NGERE

SEGUN ADEYANJU

CORRESPONDENT

TOLULOPE AKINRULI

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLER

MONICA EFEOTOR

WEB ADMINISTRATOR

ABDULLAHI MURTALA

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

VICTOR OLEWUNNE

MARKETING DIRECTOR

DAVE BARO-THOMAS

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

CHARLES KAMMA

PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF

REMI DIAGBARE

CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OSITA ANIEMEKA

EDITORIAL BOARD:

DR. OSITA ANIEMEKA

CHIEF VICTOR OLENWUNNE

OTUNBA MOBOLAJI FALASE

DAVID BARO-THOMAS

REMI DIAGBARE

DIIYI WILLIAM-WEST

DR. HARRY CHOMS

For advert enquiries, please contact

Marketing Director, Dave Baro-Thomas,

Remmy +44 7424 594773

or email, accomplishentrepreneurng.com

To reach the Editor,

send your email to:

editor@theaccomplishmagazine.com

OUR VISION:

To be the go-to publication for information and

inspiration in pursuing life’s attainments.

OUR MISSION:

To profile and celebrate the accomplishments

and lifestyle choices of outstanding leaders

and influencers in business, manufacturing,

agriculture, academia, administration,

entertainment and innovation in Nigeria,

Africa and, indeed, globally.

8

COVER

10 Shehu Sani: - Emboldened by

Political Persecution

NIGERIA: BITS & BOBS

4 U.S. Seeks to Deepen

Investment Ties with Nigeria

Amid Tariff Dispute & Other

Stories

INTERNATIONAL DAY

6 African World Heritage Day

2025 - Do African Youth Care

About Preserving African

Heritage? Inspite of Gloomy

Economy

8 Maternal and Child Care:

Africa and Matching Global

Standards

START UP ANGEL

16 When Start-ups Fail! As Most Do…

May 2025

43

21

DIASPORA AFRICAN

18 TOPE FOLARIN: A Literary Voice

Bridging Continents

CELEBRATING

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

20 Prof. Felix Oragwu: Scientific

Ingenuity In Scarcity

FEATURE/ANALYSIS

22 NIGERIA: Is Progressive Change

Elusive?

24 DEMOCRATIC ACTIONISM:

Nigerian Women Are Standing Tall

26 AFRICA: Dance to Our Future!

28 Political Truth and Ethical

Abberations

CEO INTERVIEW

32 Dr. Kenneth Gbandi: From

“Showboy Wonder Kid” to

Diaspora Champion

GRAND DESIGN

42 Rooted in the Earth: Casa

Q’anil by Juan Pablo Barrios

REALTORS’ AVENUE

44 Real Estate Business As A

Reliable Stream Of Extra

Income

INCUBATOR SERIES

46 When Patriotism Is Waning

AI TODAY & TOMORROW

48 Grok 3: Elon Musk’s AI

Challenger Redefining the

Landscape

AFRICA RISING NEWS...

50 South Africa Claims Trump

Tariffs Undermine AGOA

In Nigeria, the month of May reminds us

of the return to civil rule which is now in its

26th year! ACCOMPLISH Magazine takes

a look beyond surface issues affecting

democracy in the country.

That’s why the irrepressible Senator

Shehu Sani, a man who has endured

political persecution, first-hand, but still

speaks truth to power is our Cover Page

Personality with Ikenna Ngere, Ify Davies

and Segun Adeyanju working on different

aspects of the cover story.

For CEO Interview, Harry Choms spoke

with Hamburg-based Dr. Kenneth Gbandi,

a senatorial candidate of the African

Democratic Congress (ADC) during the

2023 elections, a publisher, diaspora

project initiator, diplomatic relations

consultant, real estate developer, and

an advocate for recognising Nigeria’s

diaspora as the country’s “37th state”,

among other things.

All our features, in this edition, focus on

various democracy themes: “Nigeria

- From 1999 Till Present: Is Progressive

Change Elusive?” by Dr. Osita Aniemeka;

“Democratic Actionism: Nigerian

Women Are Standing Tall!” written by

me; and, “Political Truth and

Ethical Aberrations” by Victor

Olewunne.

Harry Choms wrote on “Do

African Youth Care About

Preserving African Heritage?”

From The Editor

Trade Benefits & other

stories...

GLOBAL NEWS...

52 Meta Unveils Next-Gen AI:

Llama 4 Model Released &

other stories...

LIFESTYLE

54 ARTS & THE MASTERS -

Blurred Lines: When

Artificial Intelligence Mimics

Human Art Too Closely

56 ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE -

Wonders of Cassava

Leaves and Stem

CORPORATE SUITE

58 Nigeria: The Need for a

Production Mentality

to commemorate African World Heritage

Day 2025.

To deepen focus on Nigeria, particularly

Nigerians doing well within and outside

the country, our Diaspora African is Tope

Folarin, a Nigerian-American Writer and

Rhodes Scholar.

Celebrating Accomplishments brings you

an outstanding Nigerian nuclear physicist,

Prof. Felix Oragwu, who hasn’t been given

deserved recognition for leading a small

unit of researchers and developers whose

inventions shocked the world during the

Nigerian Civil War. If those inventions

had been acquired and improved upon,

Nigeria would have soared far away from

Third World status decades ago! Please to

find out details.

For entrepreneurs dealing with take-off

challenges, Tomi Davies’ “When Start-ups

Fail! As Most Do...” would be of help.

A pleasant surprise is the onboarding of

David Hollands, a White man who wants

Africa to Dance to the Future! You’ll also

need to read his CEO Interview in the June

edition.

Reading is believing so, please, turn the

pages.

DIIYI WILLIAM-WEST

Editor

editor@theaccomplishmagazine.com

Disclaimer

56

54

44

• Please note that all photos used in this

special digital edition of the ACCOMPLISH

Magazine were sourced freely online.

We maintains no rights over the images/

photos, while we have tried to give

appropriate credit where due, we are

aware some artistes were not credited.

We remain committed to supporting

intellectual property and creativity.

© 2023 Tegali Communications

• The opinions of contributors (people

whose opinion we publish) are not the

opinion of Accomplish Magazine or the

opinion of the management or staff of

Accomplish Magazine.

FOLLOW US @ ENTREPRENEUR NG

NIGERIA:

BITS & BOBS

BUSINESS AND FINANCE

U.S. Seeks to Deepen

Investment Ties

with Nigeria Amid

Tariff Dispute

The Presidency has revealed

plans by the United States to

deepen economic ties with

Nigeria, expressing interest in

expanding American investments

in the country and across Africa.

This comes shortly after United

States’ President Donald Trump

imposed a 14% tariff on Nigerian

exports as part of his wider

global trade policy. According

to presidential spokesperson,

Bayo Onanuga, the development

follows a meeting between

President Bola Tinubu and U.S.

Senior Advisor for Africa, Mr.

Massad Boulos, held in Paris.

Their discussion focused

on building a strategic

partnership grounded in

economic cooperation, energy

development, security, and job

creation. The U.S. also expressed

support for Nigeria’s leadership

role in stabilising troubled African

regions like the Sahel and eastern

Democratic Republic of Congo.

Despite the new tariffs - initially

expected to be as high as 28% -

Trump’s administration granted

Nigeria a “concessionary”

14% rate. Still, the move raises

By Ikenna Ngere

L-R : President Bola Tinubu held a meeting with Mr Massad Boulos, U.S. Senior

Advisor for Africa

concerns about its potential

impact on Nigeria’s crude oil

exports and foreign exchange

earnings.

In response, the Federal

Government has established

a subcommittee to assess

the long-term economic

implications. President Tinubu

assured the United States

of Nigeria’s commitment to

transparent and mutually

beneficial alliances, affirming that

partnerships with the U.S. would

be central to driving regional

growth and repositioning Africa in

the global economy.

AfDB Approves $100 Million for Nigerian Youth Entrepreneurship Bank

The African Development

Bank (AfDB) has approved

a $100 million investment to

establish the Nigerian Youth

Entrepreneurship Investment

Bank. This development was

announced by AfDB President,

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, during

National Open University’s

14th convocation in Abuja. The

bank aims to provide funding,

technical support, and business

development services to young

entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

Dr. Adesina emphasised

entrepreneurship as key to

solving unemployment, noting

Africa’s high entrepreneurial

POLITICS

Senator Ali Ndume

Ndume Challenges Tinubu’s

Political Appointments, Cites

Constitutional Breach

Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) has accused

President Bola Tinubu of breaching the Nigerian

constitution’s federal character principle in

his political appointments. Ndume claims

the president’s appointments lack equitable

representation of Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups,

violating Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution.

Ndume provided statistical evidence to back

his claims, warning that this imbalance could

have negative consequences for national unity.

He clarified that his comments were not a

Akinwumi-Adesina

personal attack but part of his role in holding the

government accountable. Despite anticipating

backlash, he stood firm on his criticism, asserting

his constitutional right to speak out.

The Presidency, however, dismissed Ndume’s

accusations as hypocritical and

misleading, pointing out that two of

Ndume’s own constituents were

appointed to key positions in

NNPC Limited. It emphasised

that Tinubu’s appointments

are based on merit, integrity,

and national spread, rather

than ethnic or regional biases.

The Presidency urged Ndume to

raise the level of national discourse,

cautioning against divisive rhetoric

and misinformation.

President Tinubu

activity. He also highlighted

AfDB’s support for the $614

million iDICE programme,

expected to create 6 million

jobs and boost Nigeria’s

economy by $6.4 billion.

However, he warned of Africa’s

education gap, especially in

STEM fields, and revealed a

$300 million AfDB-AU fund

to strengthen education in

science and technology. He

urged African governments

to invest in infrastructure,

innovation, and self-reliance for

long-term growth.

DAMIAN

IKENNA NGERE

AUTHOR’S BIO

Ikenna is a graduate of Physics and Education,

who works as a freelance writer. He has interest

in technology, humanity and sports.

4 |

www.theaccomplishmagazine.com


| 5

INTERNATIONAL DAY

INTERNATIONAL DAY

AFRICAN WORLD HERITAGE DAY 2025

DO AFRICAN

YOUTH CARE

ABOUT PRESERVING

AFRICAN HERITAGE?

By Harry Choms

The 38th session of UNESCO’s General

Conference, in November 2015,

declared May 5 as African World

Heritage Day. It’s a day to think

about the future of Africa’s

heritage. The day gives room for

people, mainly Africans, to celebrate the

continent’s special cultural and natural

treasures.

Keeping African heritage alive is key

to keeping the continent’s identity and

cultural variety. As we commemorate

African World Heritage Day 2025, a big

question is: Do African youth care about saving

their heritage? Indeed, young Africans’ involvement is

critical for protecting cultural heritage as they are its future

guardians.

It’s important to understand why sustaining cultural heritage

matters to African youth. It shows the need for developing projects

that would get young people involved in saving and sustaining

their cultural heritage.

The Significance of African World Heritage Day

African World Heritage Day is a time to celebrate African culture.

It’s also a reminder of the challenges facing African heritage.

These include preserving, promoting, and improving it. This day

is important because it shows

us why we must save African

heritage. Heritage conservation

is not just about preserving the

past; it’s about safeguarding

the cultural identity of future

generations. It reminds us of

Africa’s rich cultural history and

diverse practices.

For instance, Nigeria’s cultural

heritage is rich and diverse. It

has many cultural landscapes

and historical sites, each with

its own story. These treasures

reflect Nigeria’s past and

shape its identity. There is the

Sukur Cultural Landscape, a

UNESCO World Heritage Site in

the Mandara Mountains. The

Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove is

another UNESCO World Heritage

Site in Nigeria. Located in

Osogbo, Osun State, the grove

is a dense forest with shrines,

sculptures, and artworks,

making it a cultural and

spiritual hub. These sites and

other cultural landmarks need

preservation and promotion to

ensure that Nigeria’s cultural

identity is maintained for future

generations.

On African World Heritage Day,

UNESCO talks about the need

to tackle challenges on the

continent. These include:

• Climate change

• Human conflict

• Urbanisation.

These threats are serious and

make saving African heritage

even more urgent.

Urban versus Rural

Youth Attitudes

Urban and rural youth in Africa

have different views on heritage.

Urban youth are exposed to

global cultures, which shapes

their understanding while rural

youth are deeply connected to

traditional practices and sites.

Generational

Differences in Heritage

Valuation

Generational views on heritage

also differ. Older generations

see heritage as static, tied

to history and traditions.

Younger generations see it as

dynamic, including digital and

intangible cultural practices.

Recently, a webinar with nearly

a hundred participants from

Africa’s five regions showed

optimism about the future

of the continent’s heritage.

This optimism is partly due to

young people’s engagement.

• Urban youth use digital

platforms to promote

cultural heritage.

• Rural youth are involved

in preserving traditional

practices.

• Intangible cultural heritage

is gaining recognition.

Need for School

Curriculum Assessment

The school curriculum in Africa

doesn’t focus enough on

cultural heritage. It’s important

to do a school curriculum

assessment to find out what’s

missing. By adding heritage

studies to the curriculum,

African schools can help

young people understand their

cultural roots. They can learn

about historical sites, cultural

festivals, and traditional

practices.

Community-Based

Learning Opportunities

Community-based learning

is key to preserving heritage.

Young people can learn about

cultural heritage by getting

involved in their communities.

• Participation in cultural

festivals.

• Visits to historical sites.

• Interaction with

community elders.

These activities would not only

increase knowledge but also

support heritage conservation

efforts. By teaming up,

communities and schools

can protect Africa’s cultural

heritage for the future.

Bridging the

Generation Gap

Preserving African heritage

needs teamwork across

different ages. Young

people’s creativity and drive

are key to its future. We must

keep helping young people

to get involved in saving

heritage. This can be done

through special programmes

and training.

By joining hands across

ages, we can protect African

heritage for the future. This

way, we keep a rich cultural

legacy alive for all to learn

from.

HARRY

CHOMS

AUTHOR’S BIO

Harry Choms is a freelance writer

with a passion for words and a

keen eye for details, an editor, and

an avid tech believer. His works

can be seen on EntrepreneurNG.

com, Imautomator, Secureblitz,

Withinnigeria, Feelgospel,

Kemifilani, and Glamsquad

Magazine. He is the Webmaster

and sole owner of Matrismart.com

and biowiki.com.ng.

6 |



| 7

COVER

COVER

Emboldened by

Political Persecution

SHEHU SANI

8 | www.theaccomplishmagazine.com


| 9

COVER

COVER

By Ikenna Damian Ngere

was his bid in 2011. But 2015

marked a turning point when

he won the Kaduna Central

Senatorial seat under the

banner of the All Progressives

Congress (APC). His victory was

not just a political win but a

testament to his resilience.

Known for his transparency,

Sani made headlines when

he became the first Nigerian

senator to publicly declare

his assets. His integrity and

outspoken nature made him

a prominent figure in Nigerian

politics.

Shehu Sani is a name that

resonates deeply in Nigerian

political and activist circles. A

man whose journey from student

leader to senator, from political

prisoner to author, is a story of unyielding

determination and fierce advocacy for

human rights and democracy.

Born on October 29, 1967, in Tudun Wada,

Kaduna State, Sani’s story is not just about

his rise to power, but about his unflinching

advocacy in the fight for justice in Nigeria.

Champion

A Grounding in

Radical Thought

Shehu Sani’s education

reflects his early exposure to

radical ideas. He attended

Local Government Education

Authority (LGEA) School,

Badarawa, Kaduna, between

1975 and 1980. He enrolled at

Government Day Secondary

School, Kagara, Niger State,

from 1980 to 1984, and

proceeded to Government

Science College School,

Kagara, Niger State. He went

on to Kaduna Polytechnic

from 1984 to 1993 where he

earned an associate degree in

Agricultural Engineering.

But it wasn’t just the classroom

that shaped him; his father’s

extensive library, filled with

political literature from

Eastern Europe, ignited his

passion for social change.

Books on socialism and leftist

politics became his tools for

understanding the world,

especially the oppression

brought about by military

dictatorship.

Influenced by figures like the

legendary Aminu Kano and

other community leaders,

particularly his mother, Sani’s

education was not only

formal but is deeply rooted

in activism. This intellectual

foundation paved the way

for his later contributions to

Nigeria’s pro-democracy

movements.

A Voice for

Democracy

Shehu Sani’s political activism

began long before he

became a senator. Before the

election that took him to the

Red Chamber, he had been

a fiery student leader and

advocate for democracy, rising

to prominence in the 1980s

and 1990s as a critical voice

against military rule. He was

also an active member of the

Campaign for Democracy

(CD) and played a pivotal role

in organising pro-democracy

movements. His work with the

CD saw him serve as Northern

Coordinator and National Vice-

Chairman, while also working

alongside prominent activists

like Femi Falana (SAN) and the

late Beko Ransome-Kuti.

Sani’s activism came with

great personal cost. His

outspoken resistance to

military regimes led to several

arrests and imprisonment. His

release, from prison, in 1999

coincided with the beginning

of a new chapter for Nigeria

as the country transitioned to

civilian rule. This also marked a

new beginning for his political

ascent.

A Rollercoaster Ride

to the Senate

Sani’s political career was not

without its struggles. His first

attempt at going to the Senate,

in 2003, was unsuccessful, as

A Legacy of

Advocacy and

Change

Beyond his political roles,

Shehu Sani’s contributions as

an advocate for social and

economic transformation

are profound. He has been

a consistent voice for the

voiceless, speaking out

against violence, corruption,

and injustice in society. He

was particularly vocal during

the religious riots of 2000,

being one of the few voices in

Kaduna that denounced the

violence.

Sani’s activism extended to

global issues as well, leading

protests against foreign

invasions, Israeli military

actions, and international

conflicts. His advocacy

for peace led him to write

extensively, penning books like

“Killing Fields” and “Poverty in

Northern Nigeria”, books that

detail the struggles of the

country.

In 2013, Sani went beyond

words by establishing the



| 11

COVER

COVER

Shehu Sani Annual Prize for

Community Peace Advocates;

a platform to recognise

individuals working towards

peace and social justice in

Nigeria.

A Cultural Icon

and Political

Revolutionary

Shehu Sani’s impact extends

far beyond his role as a

politician. He is a man of

principles, a storyteller,

a senator, an author, a

playwright and a human rights

activist. He is the President of

the Civil Rights Congress of

Nigeria (CRCN) and a symbol

of resistance. His advocacy for

democracy, his unwavering

stand on human rights, and

his ability to push boundaries

in the face of adversity have

made him a true Nigerian

maverick.

In an article published by

BusinessDay, in September

2017, titled “The ‘Gospel’

According to Senator Shehu

Sani”, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa

said: “... one man who seems

not to care about political

correctness in recent time is

the social and human rights

crusader turned senator -

Shehu Sani.” One of the things

Ohuabunwa pointed out in that

article was Sani’s home truth

that leaders of Northern Nigeria

should focus on ways to end

poverty in the region, arguing

that “there are a number of

steps we need to take for us

to be economically equal

with that part of the country

that provide the resources on

which this country is being

run”. It is this objective manner

of speaking truth to power

that has kept Shehu Sani’s

voice relevant through the the

decades. For him, it hasn’t been

about placing political interests

above truth. He often criticises

his own political party or his

fellow northerners when they

veered away from national or

public interest, a virtue that has

become increasingly scarce in

Nigeria’s politicking!

A Heart for

Humanity

Beyond his years in public

office and his advocacy for

democratic values, Senator

Shehu Sani has consistently

championed the cause

of the vulnerable, making

philanthropy a cornerstone of

his life.

In August 2023, he launched

the ‘Go to School Support

Project’, a nationwide initiative

aimed at addressing the plight

of out-of-school children and

children with disabilities. The

project was inaugurated at

the School for the Hearing

Impaired in Kuje, Abuja, where

he donated essential items

such as office equipment,

mattresses, beddings, and

kitchenware. His gesture wasn’t

a one-off visit - it followed

an earlier familiarisation

tour, reflecting a deeper

commitment to the welfare

of children often neglected in

most parts of the country.

According to Senator Sani,

the project specifically

targets children affected by

insurgency, banditry, and

those in remote rural areas

where access to education

remains a dream. “Education

is the solution to economic

problems, security challenges

and other problems we

face as a people,” he said

at the event, stressing that

neglecting the education of

the poor has far-reaching

negative consequences for

national stability.

Beyond education, Senator

Sani’s empathy has also

found expression through

humanitarian outreach. He

has consistently reached

out to orphans, widows, and

other vulnerable groups.

His efforts include generous

donations of food items,

cash, and materials to

orphanages and widows’

training centres, affirming his

resolve to make a difference

in their lives. At centres like

the Rafiki Orphanage Home

and ECWA Widows’ Training

School, Senator Sani’s acts

of compassion have not only

provided physical relief but

have also inspired hope and

dignity among recipients.

Personal Life

Away from the public eye,

Shehu Sani is a family man,

married with children. While

he maintains a level of

privacy regarding his family,

his public engagements

reflect a life dedicated to

the service of others. Sani’s

life is a study in the power of

integrity, advocacy, and the

resilience of the human spirit.

Conclusion

Shehu Sani’s journey

continues to inspire, proving

that one voice, driven by

conviction and a desire for

justice, can indeed impact

the course of history. As he

remains a fixture in Nigerian

politics and activism, Sani’s

legacy as a fierce defender

of democracy and human

rights will undoubtedly

continue to shape the future

of the country.

DAMIAN

IKENNA NGERE

AUTHOR’S BIO

Ikenna is a graduate of

Physics and Education, who

works as a freelance writer.

He has interest in technology,

humanity and sports.



| 13

Picture

Shehu Sani at the Yucateco Boxing League seminar, National

Stadium, Lagos

Shehu Sani With former Plateau State Governor,

Simon Lalong at the NBA annual general

conference in Port Harcourt.

2022 when Senator Shehu Sani joined Kaduna governorship race

Senator Shehu Sani and his family

City People honours Shehu Sani

Senator Shehu Sani Adopts Baby Boy at the Restored

Destiny child orphanage Abuja

Senator Shehu Sani at the ‘Restored Destiny Child’ Orphanage Home Abuja

Shehu Sani during a visit to Ken Saro Wiwa Int’l Writers’ Residence

Senator Shehu Sani and family during daughter’s birthday

Shehu Sani awaiting trial, in 1995,

for treason and managing an

unlawful organisation

Shehu Sani serving prison term

14 | www.theaccomplishmagazine.com www.theaccomplishmagazine.com | 15

AFRICAN STARTUP ANGEL by

AFRICAN STARTUP ANGEL by

When Startups

Fail! As

Most Do…

“If

you’re

going to invest

in start-ups, be

sure to have the

right systems

and expect

failure...”

The two cases we explored made

it through this process. Both

secured funding from us and

others and gained initial traction.

Yet, both failed to reach

sustainable scale and have

subsequently shut down.

Case Study 1: Cold Chain

Logistics in Nigeria

One start-up set out to solve a

real and painful problem — food

and vaccine spoilage due to

inadequate cold chain logistics.

Their ambition was clear: build a

tech-enabled logistics

infrastructure to bridge gaps in

Nigeria’s perishable supply chain.

With our support and that of

others, they got off to a good

start:

• Operations extended across

multiple states.

• Dozens of paying enterprise

clients onboarded.

• Initial revenues crossed five

figures (USD).

What Went Wrong?

• Mistook MVP pilot for scalable

solution.

• Founding team lacked deep

logistics and supply chain

background.

• Burn rate accelerated due to

heavy capital expenditure.

Investor Lesson: Cold chain

logistics is more than just tech; it

demands operational depth,

domain knowledge, and lean

capital discipline.

Why It Struggled:

• High churn due to poor

customer education and

retention strategy.

• Weak go-to-market execution

despite solid tech.

• Intense competition in a

saturated fintech space.

• Revenue model was not sticky

enough for sustainability.

Investor Insight: Great technology

(read AI) isn’t enough. In hypercompetitive

sectors like fintech,

success hinges on differentiation,

distribution, and regulatory

foresight.

5 Things African Angel

Investors Should Do

1. Diversify by Sector — Hedge

against sector-specific

shocks.

2. Do the Work — Due diligence

should cover people, process,

product, and policy.

3. Be Hands-On — Early-stage

founders need active,

empathetic investors.

4. Back the Founder, Not Just the

Product — Founders adapt.

Products don’t.

5. Focus on Portfolio Success

— Not every bet will work out.

Look for the 3 that will.

My Perspective: Failure ≠

Final

One of the best lessons we’ve

seen is that failure can be fertile

ground. We’ve backed founders

who failed in one venture but

came back stronger and built

standout companies on the

second try.

So What’s Changed?

Based on these and expectations

of similar outcomes in the future,

we’ve refined our approach:

• Now screen for sector-specific

experience in founding teams.

• Clarified what counts as a

scalable MVP.

• Avoid FX-exposed start-ups

without corresponding FX

revenue.

• Offer monthly founder checkins

and alumni mentorship.

Start-up failure is not a bug. It’s a

feature of the innovation

ecosystem. The key is to fail

smart, fail early, and fail forward.

Resilience isn’t optional — it’s

essential.

Join the Conversation:

What has failure taught you as a

founder or angel investor? Share

your reflections with us at editor@

theaccomplishmagazine.com and

get a copy of our 3 practical angel

tools. Let’s grow from experience

together.

Why This Conversation

Matters

Failure is an uncomfortabl!e truth

in the innovation space, not least

here in Africa. Everyone wants to

talk about unicorns, but very few

are willing to dissect the 7 out of

10 start-ups that don’t survive. At

TVCLabs, I recently hosted an

angel masterclass to explore this

head-on, using two real start-up

journeys from our Nigerian

experience as case studies. The

businesses were different, the

sectors distinct, but the lessons

were unmissable.

Setting the Scene: What We

Do at TVCLabs

TVCLabs is a Lagos-based

innovation hub supporting

early-stage African start-ups

through programmes like our

MentorPitch, a 6-week mentorled

investment readiness

programme designed for “first outside

cheque” founders. Our start-up

evaluation process is based on my POEM

Framework®; the essentials of which are:

• Proposition — What is the start-up

offering, and why does it matter?

• Organisation — Can the team

execute?

• Economics — Is the business model

sustainable?

• Milestones — Is the venture showing

tangible progress?

Case Study 2: SaaS for SME

Financial Management

The second venture was in

fintech, targeting Nigerian SMEs

with AI-enabled bookkeeping

tools. The platform gained

traction quickly, recording

significant transaction volumes

and thousands of user sign-ups.

Again with our support they

managed to raise their first

outside funding from our

syndicate and other angel

networks.

Tomi Davies (TD) BIO:

Tomi Davies (TD) is a

co-founder of ABAN and

stepped down after 10 years

as founding President on

31 December 2024. He's is

Collaborator-in-Chief (CiC)

at TVC Labs, a technologyenabled

innovation hub

in Lagos, Nigeria. He is a

co-founder of Zeitec, an

investment firm that focuses

on venture capital assets in

Africa.



| 17

DIASPORA AFRICAN

DIASPORA AFRICAN

Tope Folarin

A Literary Voice

Bridging Continents

By Segun Adeyanju

Tope Folarin. Photograph by Justin T. Gellerson/The New York Times/Redux

In the ever-evolving

landscape of contemporary

literature, few voices carry

the depth, resonance, and

authenticity of Tope Folarin. A

Nigerian-American writer and

Rhodes scholar, Folarin’s work

is a masterclass in storytelling

that navigates the

complexities of identity,

migration, race, and

belonging. Through his deeply

personal yet universally

relevant narratives, he has

carved a unique space for

himself among the literary

elite, capturing the hearts of

readers across the globe.

A Life Between Two

Worlds

Born in Ogden, Utah, United States,

to Nigerian immigrant parents,

Oluwabusayo Temitope Folarin -

known simply as Tope Folarin -

grew up in a household steeped in

African traditions while trying to

find his footing in America. His

childhood was a balancing act,

caught between the expectations

of his Nigerian heritage and the

realities of growing up Black in the

United States. This dual identity

became the cornerstone of his

literary voice, allowing him to

explore themes of displacement,

assimilation, and the psychological

struggles of immigrants and their

children.

Folarin’s academic journey was

nothing short of exceptional. He

attended Morehouse College, one

of the most prestigious historically

Black colleges in the United States,

where he sharpened his intellectual

acumen and developed a deep

appreciation for African-American

literary traditions.

His brilliance earned him the

prestigious Rhodes scholarship,

making him one of the few

Nigerian-Americans to receive the

honour. At the University of Oxford,

he applied for African Studies, thus,

gaining a broader perspective on

the African diaspora and the global

implications of migration, identity,

and history.

Literary Breakthrough

Folarin first gained widespread

recognition in 2013 when he won

the Caine Prize for African Writing

for his short story “Miracle”. The

story, set in a Nigerian church in

Texas, paints a vivid portrait of faith,

deception, and the longing for

hope among immigrants seeking

miracles to validate their existence.

The win was groundbreaking -

Folarin became the first writer

based outside Africa to claim the

prestigious prize, sparking debates

about what it means to be an

African writer in the diaspora.

Rather than shying away from the

controversy, Folarin embraced it,

using his platform to challenge

rigid definitions of African literature.

He argued that the African

experience is not confined to the

continent but extends to the

millions of people scattered across

the globe.

A Particular Kind of Black

Man

In 2019, Folarin released his debut

novel, “A Particular Kind of Black

Man”, a semi-autobiographical

work that cemented his place as

one of the most compelling literary

voices of his generation. The novel

follows “Tunde Akinola”, a Nigerian-

American boy growing up in a

predominantly white town in Utah,

mirroring Folarin’s own experiences.

Folarin’s prose is both delicate and

powerful, weaving a coming-ofage

story that delves into memory,

trauma, and self-reinvention. His

decision to blur the lines between

fiction and autobiography creates

a deeply intimate reading

experience, making “A Particular

Kind of Black Man” not just a novel,

but an exploration of personal truth.

Advocacy and Influence

Folarin is not just a writer; he is also

a policy expert, an advocate for

African literature, and a leader in

the arts. He has worked in

Washington, D.C., at organisations

focused on social policy and

international development, using

his expertise to shape

conversations around immigration

and racial equity. As the Executive

Director of the Institute for Policy

Studies, a progressive think-tank,

he engages in critical discussions

on global inequality, governance,

and social justice.

The Future of Tope

Folarin

As Folarin continues to evolve as a

writer, thinker, and public

intellectual, his work remains as

relevant as ever. He has hinted at

future projects that will further

explore the complexities of

migration, race, and identity,

promising readers more

groundbreaking narratives in the

years to come.

In an era when questions of

belonging and displacement

dominate global discourse, Tope

Folarin’s voice is one that demands

to be heard. His work challenges,

inspires, and resonates deeply with

anyone who has ever felt like an

outsider looking in.

SEGUN

ADEYANJU

AUTHOR’S BIO

Segun Adeyanju is a seasoned

journalist and editor with

extensive experience in news

writing, editing, and professional

storytelling. A member of the

Nigeria Union of Journalists

(NUJ), he's adept at stakeholder

engagement and information

management..

18 | www.theaccomplishmagazine.com www.theaccomplishmagazine.com | 19

CELEBRATING

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

By Ify Davies

Prof. Felix Oragwu:

Scientific Ingenuity In Scarcity

While many remember

the Nigerian Civil War

for its human tragedy,

few realise it was also

remarkable for the

amazing ingenuity it produced. Prof. Felix

Nwankwo Oragwu, a brilliant nuclear

physicist and his war-time colleagues

rewrote the rules of scientific inventions.

Tasked with leading the Weapons

Research and Production Unit of defunct

Biafra’s Research and Production (RAP)

Agency, Prof. Felix Oragwu led the unit

to develop inventions so advanced that,

decades later, still stir awe. From the

devastating Ogbunigwe bomb (also

called ‘Ojukwu Bucket’) - a handcrafted

weapon that turned the tide of countless

battles to other war machines - the unit’s

work was revolutionary!

Prof. Felix Nwankwo Oragwu

Responding to War-time Needs

One has to appreciate the desperate

state of Biafra in April 1967, in terms

of financial resources and military

hardware, to fully appreciate the

ingenuity of Prof. Oragwu and his

colleagues, drawn from different ethic

groups of defunct Biafra. Avoidable

political and military dysfunction had

thrown the country into civil war. As

federal forces advanced, aided by

foreign powers, Biafra found itself

isolated locally and internationally.

What Biafra lacked materially, it

made up for in human capital.

Under impossible conditions - no

access to foreign equipment,

laboratories, and even electricity,

some times - Oragwu and

his team engineered battlechanging

technologies; thus,

proving that necessity is the

mother of invention.

RAP: A Think-tank for

Inventions

Biafra’s overall Research and

Production (RAP) Agency was

led by Colonel Ejike Aghanya, but

Prof. Oragwu was the scientific

powerhouse that pushed the

Weapons Research and Production

Unit to boundless possibilities. The

group comprised of engineers,

chemists, physicists, and tinkerers,

some of whom were Seth Nwanagu,

Willy Achukwu, Garrick B. Leton,

Sylvester Akalonu, Nath Okpala,

Gordian Ezekwe and Benjamin Nwosu

among others.

With makeshift laboratories and

scrap materials, they reverseengineered

weapons and created

machines - all powered by a deep,

unwavering commitment to selfreliance

that buttressed Oragwu’s

description of their work: “creativity in

its finest form of engineering under

siege”!

The Ogbunigwe: A Bomb Built

from Sheer Brilliance

The name Ogbunigwe (Igbo for

“mass killer”) sent shivers down

the spines of federal troops during

the war. With fertiliser, scrap

metal, and other rudimentary

materials, Oragwu’s team created

a line of multi-purpose explosives

- landmines, shells, and surface

Ogbunigwe

Ogbunigwe being transported

bombs - that didn’t just explode,

they demoralised the enemy! The

devices were engineered to unleash

not only physical destruction but

psychological fear, often tipping the

scales in battles where Biafra was

otherwise outgunned.

Africa’s First Green Energy

Breakthrough

Here’s something wild: while the

rest of the world was figuring out

how to get weaned off fossil fuels,

the RAP agency was eons ahead.

CELEBRATING

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

With aviation fuel blockaded and

unavailable, Oragwu made inputs to

RAP’s convertion of palm oil into jet

fuel! Yes, the same palm oil used for

cooking powered Biafra’s aircraft over

enemy lines! Through a meticulous

process involving esterification,

distillation, and engine modification,

the agency created a biofuel that

kept planes in the sky with no grants

and no global partnerships; just

raw intelligence, grit, and palm oil! It

wasn’t until 2024 - over five decades

later - that Indonesia would be hailed

for launching the world’s first palm

oil-powered commercial flight.

After the Guns Fell Silent

The war ended in January

1970 and Biafra was no

more. Nigeria’s map

returned to pre-war

status but the wounds

of the war didn’t. Nigeria

declared “no victor, no

vanquished” but the

treatment of Biafran war

heroes, including the likes

of Prof. Felix Oragwu, told

another story.

Despite leading some of the most

advanced wartime research

initiatives in modern African history,

Oragwu and others were left out

of national conversations. Their

inventions have since been treated

as taboo! It wasn’t just a strategic

loss. It was an economic and

scientific one, too. The palm oil

aviation fuel alone could’ve propelled

Nigeria into the renewable energy

space decades before climate

change became mainstream

discourse.

Prof. Felix Oragwu didn’t fade

away. He continued to teach, write,

and mentor but the limelight, the

grants, the recognition? They went

elsewhere. For long, his work became

a whisper in academic circles

rather than a pillar of national pride!

Thankfully, there is now a resurgence

of admiration for Prof Oragwu’s

intellect and war-time ingenuity.

Hopefully, he would get the national

recognition he deserves in his

lifetime!



| 21

FEATURE / ANALYSIS

FEATURE / ANALYSIS

NIGERIA: IS

PROGRESSIVE

CHANGE ELUSIVE?

By Osita Aniemeka

Since Nigeria’s return

to democratic

governance in 1999,

the expectation was

that democracy

would usher in

progressive change – economic

prosperity, social equity, and

institutional stability. Over two

decades later, these aspirations

remain largely unfulfilled.

There’s a plethora of factors

hindering progressive change,

including entrenched corruption

and weak institutions, ethnic

and religious divisions, overreliance

on oil and economic

mismanagement, flawed

electoral processes, weak civic

engagement and accountability.

Corruption has been a

persistent barrier to Nigeria’s

progress. Since 1999, successive

administrations have faced

allegations of mismanaging

public funds, with high-profile

cases like the fuel subsidy

scams and misappropriated

defence budgets undermining

trust. Weak institutions, including

a compromised judiciary and

inefficient bureaucracy, fail to

enforce accountability. Nigeria’s

diversity, while a potential

strength, has been exploited to

deepen divisions!

Nigeria’s economy remains

heavily dependent on oil, which

accounts for over 80% of export

revenue. This mono-economy

is vulnerable to global price

fluctuations, as seen during the

2014 oil price crash. Coupled with

poor fiscal discipline - such as

unsustainable borrowing and

failure to diversify - economic

growth has not translated into

widespread prosperity.

Democratic progress hinges on

credible elections, yet Nigeria’s

electoral system is marred

by irregularities. Vote-buying,

rigging, and violence have

undermined the legitimacy

of elected leaders. The

Independent National Electoral

Commission (INEC) struggles

with logistical challenges and

allegations of bias, eroding

public confidence. Without a

mandate rooted in fairness,

leaders lack the moral authority

to drive transformative change.

While democracy thrives on

active citizen participation, many

Nigerians feel disconnected

from governance. Apathy, driven

by disillusionment with unfulfilled

promises, limits pressure on

leaders to perform. Civil society

and the media face harassment,

constraining their ability to hold

people in power accountable.

This disconnect perpetuates

a cycle of unresponsive

governance.

Progressive change can start

from strengthening institutions

and fighting corruption with

anti-corruption agencies like the

Economic and Financial Crimes

Commission (EFCC) gaining

genuine independence, backed

by legal reforms to ensure

swift prosecution. Digitalising

public financial systems

can enhance transparency,

reducing opportunities for

graft. Consolidation of the

judiciary through merit-based

appointments and better

funding will ensure impartiality.

A serious government will

promote national unity

and inclusive governance.

Our leaders must prioritise

policies that bridge ethnic and

religious divides. Allocations

for marginalised groups in

political appointments and

equitable resource allocation

must be upheld, improved

upon to extirpate perceptions of

exclusion.

Nigeria’s economy needs to

diversify and investment in

human capital should take

the front seat, including the

curriculum of schools at all

levels; and, if we are to reduce

oil dependency, we must

invest seriously in agriculture,

technology, and renewable

energy. Expanding vocational

training and STEM education

will equip youth for emerging

industries, addressing

unemployment. Tax incentives

for start-ups and SMEs can spur

innovation.

For Nigerians to trust the

country’s electoral system again,

INEC should adopt full electronic

voting and result transmission to

minimise fraud, drawing lessons

from Estonia’s e-governance

model. Strengthening voter

education and deploying

real-time monitoring by

independent observers will

enhance credibility. Legal

penalties for electoral offences

must be strictly enforced to

deter malpractice. Following

this closely, if we must install

progressive change, we must

empower civic participation in

all sectors and at all levels. We

must protect press freedom and

civil society is critical. Creating

platforms for public input on

budgets and policies will bridge

the gap between citizens and

government.

Finally, Nigeria’s elusive quest

for progressive change since

1999 stems from systemic

corruption, divisive politics,

economic mismanagement,

flawed elections, and weak

civic engagement. While these

challenges are daunting, they

are not insurmountable. By

strengthening institutions,

fostering unity, diversifying the

economy, reforming elections,

and empowering citizens,

Nigeria can unlock its immense

potential. The journey to

progress requires collective will

– leaders and citizens alike must

commit to a shared vision of a

just and prosperous nation. The

time to act is NOW.

OSITA ANIEMEKA

AUTHOR’S BIO

Aniemeka is a teacher of teachers,

broadcaster, publisher and

Chairman of Sub-Saharan

Open University. He is also

the Dean of the Academy of

Management Sciences, a Central

Bank of Nigeria consultant

and top director or proprietor

of several companies and nonprofit

organisations. He is the

Chairman of the Editorial Board

of Accomplish Magazine.

22 |



| 23

FEATURE / ANALYSIS

FEATURE / ANALYSIS

By Diiyi William-West

• Naja’atu Bala

Muhammad

In recent years, Nigerian

women have increasingly

showcased resilience in

the pursuit of democratic

ideals. Their engagement

in political, social, and

economic spheres highlights

the crucial role they now play

in shaping the country’s future.

Women have continually

demonstrated determination

to participate actively

in shaping the country’s

democracy. This is rooted

in various movements that

date back to the colonial

period when women, such as

Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and

Margaret Ekpo, fought against

colonial exploitation and

advocated for women’s rights.

In recent history, movements

like the Bring Back Our Girls

campaign highlighted the

• Prof. Nnenna Oti

DEMOCRATIC

ACTIONISM:

NIGERIAN WOMEN

ARE STANDING TALL

power and influence of

Nigerian women in society.

This movement, originating

in 2014, after the abduction

of schoolgirls by the militant

group Boko Haram, saw

women take a front seat in

advocating for the safe return

of the girls.

Countless women have

stood out, in recent decades,

as beacons of democratic

actionism in Nigeria. They

include Hajiya Naja’atu Bala

Muhammad, Prof. Nnenna Oti,

Josephine Okei-Odumakin, Hajia

Gambo Sawaba, Oby Ezekwesili,

Aisha Yesufu,

and Obianuju Catherine Udeh

(DJ Switch).

While many celebrate the

increased visibility and

participation of women, some

critics argue that issues of

intersectionality and inclusivity

remain unaddressed. In the

context of the foregoing, let’s

look at two of the women

mentioned earlier.

Naja’atu Bala Muhammad

According to Document Women,


“is one of the Arewa women

who has broken the ‘glass

ceiling’ regarding political

participation in Nigeria.


was the Action Congress of

Nigeria (ACN) nominee for

Kano Central Senatorial District

in 2007. She is also one of

the first women to serve as

the president of the National

Union of Nigerian Students

(now National Association of

Nigerian Students), in Ahmadu

Bello University, Zaria (ABU).

She is also the first female

vice president of the National

Association of Nigerian Students

(NANS).”

She stands firm against

corruption and is a staunch critic

of bad governance. She was

a member of the committee

saddled with dialoguing

between members of the Boko

Haram sect and the Nigerian

Government and didn’t join

nominees who turned down

the nomination due to safety

concerns. Her father, Alhaji Ali

Abdullahi, was a close associate

of Mallam Aminu Kano.

Prof. Nnenna Oti

On her part, Prof. Nnennaya

Oti is a professor of Soil

Science and Environmental

Conservation. A three-time

head of department of Soil

Science and Technology in

the School of Agricultural

and Agriculture Technology

at Federal University of

Technology, Owerri, she

is a past chairman of

Gender Policy Unit and the

immediate past dean of

post-graduate school in

her second tenure. She has

served as a consultant to

various government agencies

including TETFund and

Anambra-Imo River Basin

Development Authority.

In April 2021, Oti was elected as

the vice-chancellor of Federal

University of Technology,

Owerri and became the first

female vice-chancellor of the

university and an immediate

past deputy vice-chancellor

(academic).

She came into local and

international limelight during

the governorship election of

2023. Oti was the returning

officer in the Abia State

governorship election and

ensured that the election

result was not compromised,

despite attempts and threats

from political actors of the

then ruling PDP in the state.

The impressive records of

these two women is evidence

that women can rise to

the occasion and cause

change or influence it if they

determine to. Therefore,

there is need for more

enlightenment of women

through continuous education

and community engagement

to engender more female

democratic actionism.

Future developments

may also hinge on the

establishment of supportive

networks and coalitions

that unite women from

different backgrounds to

work towards common goals;

including those who employ

social media. As collective

action often bears more

fruit, creating platforms for

collaborative efforts can

amplify their advocacy.

This could involve alliances

among women’s groups,

NGOs, and other civil society

organisations to foster shared

strategies and resources.

In conclusion, as women

continue to break barriers

and redefine gender roles, the

future of Nigeria’s democracy

may very well hinge on their

unwavering commitment

to their rights and societal

progress.

DIIYI

WILLIAM-WEST

AUTHOR’S BIO

More fondly known as DDWEST,

he has several years of media

practice experience spanning

magazines, newspapers, television

and radio; laying emphasis

on maintaining standards in

media practice. He practised

and lectured Public Relations for

nearly a decade before going into

leadership consulting and real

estate consultancy.

24 |



| 25

FEATURE / ANALYSIS

FEATURE / ANALYSIS

Prepare to Dance

Times for everyone are

challenging, hard,

lonely and for many

without purpose or

vision. Few are able to both

see and act in coordination

with others because of the

way the commercaial world

around is constructed. Filled

with many people who

have no longer an intention

or ability to do anything

about themselves, let alone

their families, neighbours or

community.

AFRICA:

DANCE TO OUR

FUTURE!

By William D. Hollands, United Kingdom

Timing will bring us our

responses and timing, in turn

will bring us the strength we

need. Collectively as ‘Young

Minded’ people of any age

in our communities can now

choose to adopt a New choice

of Traits and Properties’.

The five Traits required by

a Young Minded People of

any age with sets of shared

visions are:

Talk - Truths - Tasks - Traits

- Torque.

The five Properties that will

need investment in are:

Self Respect - Trust - Belief -

Plans - Maps.

Planning our Dance

moves…

L22C, OSI and CGL bring the

plans, V5, A54, G196 bring the

maps. The rest: Self Respect,

Trust and Belief must belong

in abundance to each of us

individually…

It’s only our shared visions

that will mix refreshingly the

ingredients that, with the

addition of timing patience

and dance choreography, will

form the futures that we can

all dance to together.

A reality and truths will

appear, in a way we have

always dreamed because we

worked so hard for in the past.

A reality of opportunity will

arise before and around us

because of our own actions.

A reality of purpose will once

again emerge because we

choose to dance together

towards our future.

Knowing Why we want

to Dance Together…

When each of us has our

realisation of the true

meaning of uTNuBu together

with the factual reality of A54,

only then will an abundance

of response and a willingness

to fully engage from the

rest of the world, will Africa

emerge.

What are the Steps we

need to Dance…

The five traits will then have

rooted themselves deep into

each of us as mechanisms,

models and methods used

to share and Sherpa others

to the community we all wish

for.

communities that are selfsustaining,

grown out of

forgotten values maturing

into generations inclusive of

security, health , togetherness

and joy that children expect

but parents have forgotten.

Dancing to our Future

Enjoying a healthy, safe,

prosperious, purposeful life

amongst and alongside

Family Neighbours,

community and society is

pivoted around ‘Timing’… Our

time is arriving… A decision

by those of us who wish

to lead, to make a subtle

change of our own mindset,

to adopt a simple set of our

own actions will allow others

to follow… Step up, Step on,

Step forward, Step together,

Step endlessly… Become and

‘Environprovoir’.

L22c /OSI/CGL/V5/A54/G196

is the new African ‘Dance to

our Future’.

Feel the beat, capture the

rhythm, hear the music, sing

the words, play the game,

flow the plan and ‘Just Join

In!’

1880

The five properties that we

will all need to invest in are

rooted in the heart of uTNuBu.

This personal investment will

provide the ‘Follow-ship’ that

all others will need to feel

to support us all in times of

doubt.

How we Dance Together

Creating regenerative

neighbourhoods and

*Map of Africa before colonisation

26 |



| 27

FEATURE / ANALYSIS

The New Auditorium. AFRICA

AFRICA ‘The Plan’ -

uTNuBu

A tapestry of woven words, found

dormant in the shade.

UBUNTU, with its past acts, little

progress has been made.

Forward as we understand, less

comes from saying yes!

To bow and curtsy, our

subservience has created our

African mess.

Directions from others interest,

guiding where to go.

No longer are we to journey

there, as uTNuBu

has discovered the power of NO!

We have a plan, we have a guide,

No longer does Africa’s future

need to hide.

This generation will play the

game of correcting from within,

Our next generation that follows

us will dance to play and win.

Step by step we will stand for

ourselves uTNuBu every

day will start to act,

Placing UBUNTU once again

within history books that will

forever tell the facts.

Dance to our

Future:

Choreography

L22C: Learning From the 22nd

Century - Learn Anything from

Anyone, of Any age, Anywhere

at Anytime.

OSI: Original Skills Initiative

- Tribal Respect Achieving

Developing Environprovoirs. A

new way to TRADE.

CGL: Centres of Global

Learning - Bringing

ancestral wisdom and next

generation excitement back

*Map of Africa after

colonial independence

into tomorrow’s future

neighbourhoods.

V5: Village 5 -

Interdependency thriving

amongst regional

collaborating communities.

A54: Continental

Collaboration Connecting 54

African Countries.

G196: Global Collaboration

Connecting 196 Global

Countries.

uTNuBu: We are because

I am! A mindset choice for

individuals who realise self

responsibility to re-set their

community’s future is needed

to bring about the philosophy

of UBUNTU.

UBUNTU: I am because

we are! A philosophy that

emphasises community,

interconnectedness and

shared humanity.

WILLIAM D. HOLLANDS

AUTHOR’S BIO

William D. Hollands has always

been able to draw what’s on his

mind, however crazy the idea is.

He writes comprehensively about

the idea before reducing the details

of what his heart, head, body, soul

and spirit see. Then, he writes a

summary in a ‘five point’ pentagonal

explanation style that even an eleven

year-old would clearly understand.

His uncle was, and still is, the oldest,

living ‘Best Selling Author’ in the

United Kingdom. He was a journalist

travelling the world with much time

dedicated to Africa, and perhaps

left a few Afrocentric DNA strands

in William. He’s a son, brother,

father and grandfather with three

daughters and a great wife.

28 |



| 29

FEATURE / ANALYSIS

FEATURE / ANALYSIS

POLITICAL TRUTH

AND ETHICAL

ABERRATIONS

By Victor Olewunne

Every society thrives on its ethical

values. Truth is the moral compass

that guides social relations, political

conduct and public discourse. Yet,

in today’s political climate, truth is

no longer treated as a non-negotiable

principle - it is shaped, stretched,

concealed, or even sacrificed on the altar

of personal interest and expediency. This

distortion of truth has birthed a crisis of

ethics in public life, where spin replaces

sincerity and deception is rewarded

over duty. The information ministry now

sees itself as the official spin channel of

government. So, we live in an era of ethical

aberrations - where what is right is not what

is done, but what is made to appear right.

In the face of suppression, speaking truth to

power is applauded as an act of courage.

The Politics of Convenience

Today’s politics is increasingly driven by

convenience rather than principle and

conviction. Interest is more permanent than

principles. Campaign promises are made

not to be kept, but to secure power. Policies

are often crafted not with the people in

mind, but with political survival as priority.

In such landscape, truth becomes a tool

to be manipulated - not a value to be

upheld. We have seen this in Nigeria and

elsewhere, where leaders deny wrongdoing

even in the face of overwhelming evidence;

when institutions forge statistics to protect

reputations, and media channels distort

facts to serve pay masters. This political

behaviour has normalised dishonesty and

gradually desensitised citizens

to corruption, incompetence,

and betrayal.

The Ethical Vacuum

What emerges from such

political climate is an ethical

vacuum - an absence of

accountability, transparency,

and moral clarity. Political

truth is no longer grounded

in objective reality or public

interest; instead, it is measured

by what the public can be

persuaded to believe. Image

laundering becomes an indemand

service, because

image is considered more

important than integrity. In this

environment, those who dare to

speak inconvenient truths are

labelled as divisive or extremist.

Public institutions, once trusted

to safeguard justice and

fairness, become battlegrounds

of partisan interests. Truth is

routinely twisted to fit narratives,

rather than narratives being

shaped by truth.

Ethical Aberrations

Ethical aberrations occur when

leaders know what is right

but choose what is expedient;

when truth is sacrificed for

political advantage; when

lying becomes strategic rather

than shameful. These are not

mere slips in judgment - they

are deliberate choices that

reveal a deeper rot in the moral

foundation of governance. The

resulting dissonance weakens

the ethical expectations of

leadership and gives rise

to public cynicism, political

apathy, or blind loyalty.

Reimagining Political Truth

To reverse this trend, Africans,

especially Nigerians, must

reimagine what political truth

should mean. We must trash

that word ‘political correctness’,

the very curtain behind which

lies thrive. Truth should be

about a steadfast commitment

to facts, justice, and the

common good - even when it

is unpopular or inconvenient.

Truthful leadership is not

flawless leadership; it is

accountable leadership.

It admits mistakes, owns

consequences, and invites

dialogue. It does not silence

opposition or avoid criticism - it

engages, learns, and evolves.

A Call to Ethical Leadership

The antidote to ethical

aberrations is ethical,

transformative leadership -

rooted in humility, courage

to speak truth to power, and

fidelity to the truth. Incidentally,

in African moral traditions,

leadership is not just a position

of power, as in the western

concept of democracy, but

a sacred trust. The leader is

accountable not just to the

people but to a higher moral

order. Truth, in this worldview,

is not a pliable weapon - it is

a duty. The world, and Africa

in particular, need leaders

who can resist the temptation

of deceit and manipulation.

Leaders who are not swayed

by popular opinion and

personal interest but anchored

in moral conviction. Leaders

who understand that the cost of

sacrificing truth is the erosion of

public trust - and that no political

gain is worth that price.

VICTOR

OLEWUNNE

AUTHOR’S BIO

Victor Olewunne, the Ethicist,

is a public affairs analyst and

Founder/President, Afrocentric

Ethics for Leadership and Social

Responsibility Foundation. He

is the Business Development

Director of Accomplish

Magazine and member of

its Editorial Board.


www.theaccomplishmagazine.com | 31

CEO INTERVIEW

CEO INTERVIEW

Dr. Kenneth Gbandi

From “Showboy Wonder Kid”

to Diaspora Champion

By Harry Choms

In the village of Akwukwu-Igbo, Delta State, Nigeria, a young

boy earned the nickname “Showboy Wonder Kid” for his

ability to repair radio and television sets and creating

public address systems from scrap electronics. Today,

that innovative spirit has propelled Dr. Kenneth Chibuogwu

Gbandi into one of Africa’s most influential diaspora leaders.

As the youngest of ten children, Gbandi’s character

was shaped by his father, Chief E.C. Gbandi, a respected

community leader, and his mother, Mrs. Ezinne Victoria

Gbandi, an award-winning entrepreneur. By age 10, Kenneth

was already helping to manage his mother’s tailoring

business while developing technical skills that foreshadowed

his future endeavours.

His journey to Europe wasn’t planned; after receiving

recognition for his National Youth Service in 1993, a

conversation with one of his older brothers led him to Greece

and eventually Germany. The challenges he faced as an

African in Europe inspired his determination to reshape



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CEO INTERVIEW

CEO INTERVIEW

narratives about Africans

abroad.

Over nearly three decades, Dr.

Kenneth Gbandi has founded

‘African Heritage Magazine’

and other media platforms, led

Nigerian diaspora organisations

in Europe, consulted for the

German government, and

launched the innovative

Diaspora City Housing Project

in Delta State, Nigeria. His

advocacy for recognising

the Nigerian diaspora as the

country’s “37th state” earned

him the African Union Diaspora

Leadership Award among

other honours. Despite these

accomplishments, he remains,

in his own words, “just a humble

Akwukwu-Igbo homeboy,”

committed to leaving lasting

footprints in the sands of time.

In this exclusive interview

with ACCOMPLISH Magazine,

he reflects on the challenges,

triumphs, and sacrifices that

have shaped his mission to

transform the Nigerian diaspora

narrative and build bridges

between continents.

Let’s begin with you telling us about your

childhood and early school experiences.

I am the Benjamin of my family, being the last

of ten: three sisters and seven brothers. Like

most last-borns in large African families, I was

showered with love, attention and kindness.

Born 56 years ago into the household of Chief

E. C. Gbandi, a first-class chief, industrious

leader, and strict disciplinarian, and Ezinne

Victoria Gbandi, a multi-talented entrepreneur,

community activist, and longtime church

mother in Akwukwu-Igbo, the headquarters of

Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta

State, I grew up deeply rooted in Christian as

well as traditional African family values and

the extended family system; where everyone

looked after one another. Despite my mother

managing over 20 apprentices, all females, in

her tailoring business, by age 10, I had already

become her business manager, handling

tailoring tasks, selling clothes in various village

markets, and taking on domestic chores like

fetching water, gathering firewood, and running

household errands. Nevertheless, protective

elder sister, Ngozi, who was with us at that time,

often shielded me from the

tougher tasks, giving me extra

time to enjoy my childhood,

playing freely with other kids in

the village.

Growing up in Nigeria, what

experiences or influences

shaped your passion for

diaspora engagement and

international relations?

Growing up in Akwukwu-Igbo,

my childhood was more than

just play; it was a time of

invention, curiosity, and early

leadership. By age 10, I wasn’t

just assisting my mother in her

business, I was already a selftaught

technician and young

innovator. I could assemble,

disassemble, and repair small

radios sets and standing

black-and-white televisions,

set up battery-powered

lighting systems to illuminate

our home and neighbouring

houses, and even create a

makeshift village broadcasting

system using microphone,

improvised loudspeakers and

scrap electronics. My technical

skills and ingenuity earned

me the village nickname:

“Showboy Wonder Kid”, a

name some elders still call me

to this day.

But my world wasn’t just about

technology; it was also deeply

rooted in community activism

and leadership, thanks to my

parents. My father, until his

passing at 76, was the longestserving

secretary of the highly

respected Alor Chiefs Council,

often mediating in council and

community affairs and chaired

over 50% of all community

events. My mother, a part-time

teacher, was also a secretary

of multiple community

organisations and an active

church leader, chairing over

50% of all events, especially

women events. They were both

politically engaged.

Beyond activism, they were

also successful farmers, with

my mother winning multiple

agricultural awards in Benin,

capital of the old Bendel

State, for her contributions to

community farming initiatives.

As the Benjamin of the family,

I was constantly by my

parents, attending community

meetings, political gatherings,

and social development

events - running errands for

them.

I unknowingly walked the path

they laid out for me, taking

on multiple leadership roles

at the University of Calabar,

post-university engagements,

and in the diaspora. Looking

back, I have no doubt that

those early experiences

shaped my entrepreneurial

spirit, leadership abilities, and

unwavering commitment to

service; setting the foundation

for the journey ahead.

What were some of the

biggest challenges you faced

as a Nigerian living abroad,

and how did they shape your

leadership journey?

Leaving Nigeria was never

a priority for me. After

completing my NYSC in 1993,

I was honoured with an NYSC

State Award for Outstanding

Service, which came with

automatic employment. I

was posted to Boys’ Model

Secondary School in Benin

City, Edo State, living in the

staff quarters. Life was simple,

but not without its challenges.

Teachers, often, went months

without salaries but one of

my older brothers, Associate

Professor Elly, was a business

manager at the Benin office of

NITEL and was always there for

me.

During a visit, my immediate

older brother, Charles, then a

director of human resources

at an oil company, who by

the way saw me through the

university, saw my working

conditions and asked a

rhetorical yet life-changing

question: “Have you thought

about furthering your studies

abroad instead of getting

stuck here?” He offered to

sponsor me, and that was how

the idea of travelling abroad

was born.

At the time, my second eldest

brother, Dr. Raymond, was

already a medical director

in Greece, and his wife, Sister

Maria, was an associate

professor of Law at the



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CEO INTERVIEW

CEO INTERVIEW

University of Thessaloniki.

Since they had both studied

in Germany and heard and

read all the great things about

the German society, Germany

became my first choice, but

visa difficulties forced me to

opt for Greece.

Though my brother and his

wife, as expected, welcomed

me with love and support,

Greece posed unexpected

challenges. The language and

alphabet were overwhelming,

and for the first three months

in Thessaloniki, I was often the

only African in buses, shops,

and restaurants. I could feel

the piercing stares, a silent

reminder that I was different.

When I was finally admitted

to the University of Hamburg,

Germany, I faced another

set of hurdles, recognising

my Nigerian certificate, the

language barriers, and the

perception that I came from

a poor country, worthy only of

pity. Instead of letting these

challenges define me, they

motivated me.

You have been an advocate

for Nigerians in the diaspora

for nearly three decades.

What personal sacrifices

have you made along the

way?

The success of African

Heritage Magazine, Miss Africa

Pageant, a radio station,

and a TV talk show was

undeniable. These platforms

discovered and celebrated

the brilliance of Africans in

Germany, proving that our

impact extended far beyond

stereotypes. For instance,

the designer of Berlin’s train

station, the most modern train

station in Europe even till now,

was Egyptian; the curator of

one of Germany’s oldest and

most prestigious art houses

was Nigerian; and, two of the

best cardiologists at the time

were Nigerian and Ghanaian.

Stories like these deserved to

be told and we told them in

African Heritage Magazine.

But success came at a cost.

Funding these projects drained

my savings and later, those of

my wife, Tanja. She stood by

me through every challenge,

earning the affectionate title

“Mama Africa” from African

community in Germany.

When finances became

overwhelming, her parents

even lent us €10,000 to keep

the magazine running. Though

African Heritage Magazine was

stocked in major German train

stations, the revenue barely

covered a fraction of the

publication costs.

When I later became deeply

involved with the Nigerians

in Diaspora Organisation

(NIDO), the sacrifices extended

beyond finances. My wife and

two children, Nelly and Fabian,

endured long days without

me at home. During an event

in Ireland, when Tanja was

praised for her unwavering

support, she responded with

a statement that defined our

journey: “I have long accepted

that I must share my husband

with the African diaspora

community because the

community equally needs him

as much as I do.”

While the personal and

financial sacrifices were

enormous, the biggest struggle came from

within the African community itself. Though

many were supportive, it is often the very people

I worked hardest to change their narrative for

that sought to undermine my efforts most,

whether out of ignorance, envy, or both.

Yet, despite the challenges, the mission to

change the narrative, celebrate African

excellence, and leave behind a legacy of impact

was quite stronger than the challenges.

Your work spans multiple sectors - politics,

media, and peacebuilding. How do you

balance these roles while staying true to your

core values?

It’s amusing that Dr. Alex Osarogie, one of my

most vocal critics in the Nigerian diaspora

network, recently asked, in a private chat, how

I manage to juggle a peace mission within

NIDOE, the Diaspora Housing Scheme, and

my advocacy for good governance in Nigeria

- while facing relentless pushback from many

quarters.

My answer is found in my great family values,

a strong support system, and mentors who

remind me to rise above the noise and stay

Greece posed

unexpected challenges.

The language and

alphabet were

overwhelming, and for

the first three months

in Thessaloniki, I was

often the only African

in buses, shops, and

restaurants. I could feel

the piercing stares, a

silent reminder that I

was different.

focused. Mastering the art of purpose and

balancing criticism and choosing your good

fight is the key.

I often joke that I am a jack of all trades and

master of a few, but the truth is, I recognise

the challenges facing Africans in the diaspora.

Founding African Heritage Magazine, Miss

Africa Pageant, a radio station, and a TV

talk show wasn’t because I had unlimited

time, energy or resources. In fact, aside from

sponsorship-driven projects like the magazine

and pageant, most of these initiatives were

purely voluntary without financial gain. Yet, I saw

them as powerful tools to reshape the African

narrative and create a better future for the next

generation.

I realised that avoiding opportunities out of fear

of being labelled a “jack of all trades” would be

a disservice to my values and humanity. So,

instead, I have learned to act like an orchestra

conductor. I may not play every instrument, but

I can bring together talents, harmonise efforts,

and create something greater than the sum of

its parts. The key? Be stubborn with your vision

and goals, but flexible with the path to success.

As the longest-serving Nigerian diaspora

representative, what would you say has been

your most impactful achievement so far?

I get both emotional and excited whenever

I have the opportunity to speak about my

stewardship at NIDO. This is because, despite

all the political efforts to diminish or erase my

contributions, the impact of my over eight years

of service to Nigerians in the diaspora remains

undeniable.

From 2013 to 2016, I served as president of

NIDO, Germany, and from 2016 to 2020, I was

elected and re-elected continental chairman

of Nigerians in Europe (NIDOE). I took over at a

time when NIDO was losing its appeal, and my

mission was clear: to reposition the organisation

internally and externally, strengthen advocacy

and media engagement, galvanise the

diaspora for homeland development, expand

professional networking and business

partnerships and build local and international

cooperation. I fiercely advocated for the

recognition of the diaspora as the 37th state of

Nigeria and caving out the Nigerians in diaspora

as the 7th geopolitical zone.



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CEO INTERVIEW

CEO INTERVIEW

In 2025, $21.2 billion sent

home by Nigerians in

diaspora surpassed

the $19.6 billion earned

from oil exports. Also in

2016, the $19.7 billion in

remittances was more

than $10.4 billion oil

revenue.

Can you tell us more about the Diaspora City

Housing Project? What inspired this initiative,

and what challenges have you faced in its

execution?

The Diaspora City Estate is a project that its time

has come; it is about turning a long-awaited

dream into reality. For years, Nigerians in the

diaspora have longed for a place to call home

in Nigeria; a secure, well-planned community

where they can live or invest without fear of

fraud or disappointment. Unfortunately, past

attempts at diaspora housing initiatives,

including some I personally championed

under NIDOE, have ended in frustration due to

vested interests, bureaucratic sabotage, and

corruption within government agencies.

So, I took a different path. The Diaspora City

Estate in Delta State was born as a private,

visionary initiative driven by like-minded

individuals determined to make this dream a

reality. Located in Akwukwu-Igbo land, capital

of Oshimili North L.G.A. of Asaba capital area

territory, just a mere 15 munites from Asaba

International Airport in Delta State, Diaspora

City Estate is an ambitious, forward-thinking

real estate project designed to offer premium

residential living and investment opportunities

for Nigerians in the diaspora.

Yes, skepticism remains. After years of broken

promises and failed diaspora projects, many

people fear this could be just another initiative

that won’t materialise.

Securing funding remains a huge challenge.

While the estate model empowers buyers to

build homes to their personal taste within a

structured, well-planned development, we

are also working to secure mortgage options

in Nigeria for diasporans. One of the biggest

concerns in Nigeria’s real estate is land fraud.

To eliminate this fear, the over 60 acres of land

for Diaspora City Estate was purchased directly

from my maternal community. The certificate

of occupancy has been successfully processed,

and we are currently fencing the estate

perimeter to ensure security and legitimacy.

Diaspora City Estate is not just another real

estate venture, it is a movement to reclaim our

stake in Nigeria, to build a home where we truly

belong.

How have your collaborations with

organisations like CIM/GIZ and the German

Ministry for Economic Cooperation and

Development (BMZ) helped shape

employment opportunities for Nigerian

youth?

During my tenure at NIDO leadership and

my time at the Hamburg Senate Foreigners

Advisory council, I discovered the enormous

budgets allocated for economic cooperation

with developing countries, especially Africa.

Despite bureaucratic hurdles, I managed to

secure several key projects under my NGO,

African Germany Information Centre, including

the Youth Capacity Building and Business

Development Training (YCBBD) and Migration

Enlightenment Campaign Nigeria.

The YCBBD project, held from April to May 2021

at the State Senior Civil Servants Centre, Asaba,

Delta State, trained over 100 youth and adults

in critical business and entrepreneurial skills.

This initiative was designed to equip Nigerian

youth with practical, real-world skills, leveraging

expertise from German-based Nigerian

professionals and local experts.

Participants underwent a one-week internship,

compiled a report and business plan, and

received mentorship to help secure funding for

their ventures. Today, many of those youth are

successfully running their own businesses.

Migration policies are a major topic globally.

Based on your experience, what steps should

Nigeria take to maximise the potential of its

diaspora community?

For decades, Nigerians in

the diaspora have been at

the forefront of homeland

development efforts,

contributing skills, knowledge,

mentorship, finance, and

expertise to address Nigeria’s

pressing challenges in an

unorganised fashion. Despite

having one of the largest

and most skilled diaspora

populations globally, Nigerians

abroad still lack a workable

comprehensive instrument to

engage with the government,

lack the right to vote, the most

simple and fundamental step

to full integration.

Going by multiple sources

and World Bank and CBN

reports, diaspora remittances

consistently outpace Nigeria’s

oil revenue, proving to be a

critical pillar of the country’s

economy. In 2025, $21.2 billion

sent home by Nigerians in

diaspora surpassed the $19.6

billion earned from oil exports.

Also in 2016, the $19.7 billion in

remittances was more than

$10.4 billion oil revenue. In 2017

the $22 billion remitted, nearly

doubled the $13.4 billion from

oil.

While financial remittances are

vital, the real game-changer

lies in diaspora human capital,

education, skills, knowledge,

and technological expertise.

When properly harnessed,

the brain gain from Nigerians

abroad can drive economic

growth, social progress, and

good governance.

To maximise their impact,

Nigeria must take deliberate

steps to fully integrate the

diaspora into its economic,

social, and political policies. My

key suggestion will be to start

with the full constitution of the

NIDCOM Board to strengthen

its mandate to facilitate

diaspora engagement.

Upgrade NIDCOM to the

Ministry of Diaspora Affairs

and align with the best global

practices. Implementation of

Diaspora Voting Rights, which

to my view is a non-negotiable

step toward full political

inclusion.

As a consultant for the

German Ministry of Foreign

Affairs, what are some key

policy changes you have

advocated for regarding

Nigeria-Germany relations?

Our collaborations have,

primarily, focused on projectbased

initiatives, particularly

on migration and economic

cooperation. However, as

members of the Nigerian

diaspora and key political

stakeholders, we have

consistently leveraged every

opportunity to advocate

for policies that benefit

both countries, including

visa reciprocity. We were



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CEO INTERVIEW

CEO INTERVIEW

vocal in addressing the challenges Nigerian

businesspeople faced in securing German

visas, pushing for fairer and more accessible

processes. In the area of dual citizenship

advocacy, we strongly advocated for Nigerians

in Germany to obtain dual nationality without

losing their Nigerian citizenship, recognising its

economic and social benefits. We also hosted

and facilitated events that promote bilateral

trade, investment, and policy discussions,

ensuring that diaspora voices remain central in

shaping these engagements.

Over the years, you have been recognised

with numerous awards, including the African

Union Diaspora Leadership Award. What does

this recognition mean to you?

Every recognition, whether from a kindergarten

group or a prestigious institution, matters. It

is more than just an award; it is a powerful

statement that tells you that you are not

alone, that your efforts are seen, and they

stand with you. It is also a reminder and an

encouragement to keep pushing forward, to do

more, and to inspire others.

The African Union African Diaspora Leadership

Award is a profound testament to my

unwavering dedication to Africa’s progress and

my belief in the limitless potential of our people

if we unite with purpose and determination.

These recognitions are not just personal

milestones; they represent the collective effort

of all who believe in Africa’s and Nigeria´s

future.

Your political activism in Nigeria is well

known. Tell us what brought you into

politics.

My political journey began with a fierce

advocacy for the recognition of the

Nigerian diaspora as the 37th state of

Nigeria, a vision I championed as part of

my manifesto in 2016. I firmly believed that

Nigerians in the diaspora must have the right

to serve, vote, and be voted for. To actualise this,

I pushed for the diaspora to be recognised as

the 7th geopolitical zone of Nigeria, ensuring our

voices were fully represented in governance.

During my four-year tenure as Chairman

of NIDO Europe, and with the support of my

executive committee, I led several high-level

advocacy missions to the National Assembly

and The Independent National Electoral

Commission (INEC), lobbying for diaspora

voting rights.

I also joined other global leaders to the National

Assembly and to INEC. At NIDO Europe, we

also organised political party discussions,

urging them to integrate diasporans into their

structures.

While most political parties ignored this call,

only one, the African Democratic Congress

(ADC), under the leadership

of Chief Okey Nwosu

recognised the potential

that the full participation

can bring to Nigeria and

acted. ADC established the

7th Geopolitical Region for

the Diaspora, granting party

members equal political

rights as their counterparts in

Nigeria. Today, many parties

are scrambling to establish the

Diaspora 7th Region.

After completing my tenure in

Europe, I joined ADC to walk the

talk, and was later appointed

the deputy national chairman,

diaspora engagement.

The 2023 general elections in

Nigeria have been described

in certain quarters as a

watershed. You were actively

involved. What is your take?

For many of us in the diaspora,

getting involved in the 2023

elections was about more

than just breaking barriers, it

was about walking the talk

and being part of a formidable

force for change. The Electoral

Act reform gave us hope that

diaspora voting and a credible

electoral process were finally

within reach. Motivated

by this, many Nigerians

abroad returned home to

join and contest for various

positions. Instead of upholding

transparency and improving

on previous elections, INEC

repeatedly violated its own

rules, failing to provide live

updates from polling units,

while the election was marred

by widespread vote buying,

election violence, suppression

and intimidation and bribery of

polling agents.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s

open letter to President

Joe Biden, published in The

Atlantic as “Nigeria’s Hollow

Democracy,” captured

the betrayal of millions of

Nigerians who voted with

renewed trust in the system,

only to have it shattered.

Looking back, INEC did not just

fail over 200 million Nigerians,

it failed the diaspora, it failed

Africa, and it failed the world.

Is there any hope for real

transformative politics in

Nigeria?

A German adage says

that hope dies last. We

cannot afford to lose hope;

the alternative will be

unimaginable. We must not

give them a free ride but

continue to engage in the

rescue mission believing that

sooner than later, real change

will come.

Do you still have political

ambitions? What do you

think you should do

differently?

I remain the national

deputy chairman, Diaspora

Engagement of the African

Democratic Congress (ADC).

The current situation in Nigeria

proves that the main political

parties offer no real difference.

ADC has consistently

championed people-oriented

policies, with a strong focus on

youths, women, and persons

with disabilities (PWDs). I

remain committed to charting

a new political path and

driving meaningful change.

As an investor and CEO, how

would you advise aspiring

youth who want to follow

your footsteps; especially

those who want to lead

change, whether in the

diaspora or at home?

There will be a time when

goals and vision are as clear

as daylight and other times

when the same vision and

goals will be blurred. So, they

must learn to be stubborn

about their goals and visions

but learn how to be flexible

with the pathways.

Looking ahead, what legacy

do you hope to leave behind

as a diaspora leader, as a

politician, as an investor and

as an individual?

I am just a humble Akwukwu-

Igbo homeboy, deeply grateful

to Almighty God for granting

me the strength and wisdom

to serve humanity both in

the diaspora and in Nigeria.

My journey has been one of

advocacy, leadership, and

unwavering commitment

to creating positive change.

As I continue this path, my

only hope is to leave lasting

footprints in the sands of time.

HARRY

CHOMS

AUTHOR’S BIO

Harry Choms is a freelance writer

with a passion for words and a

keen eye for details, an editor, and

an avid tech believer. His works

can be seen on EntrepreneurNG.

com, Imautomator, Secureblitz,

Withinnigeria, Feelgospel,

Kemifilani, and Glamsquad

Magazine. He is the Webmaster

and sole owner of Matrismart.com

and biowiki.com.ng.

GRAND DESIGN / ARCHITECTURE

GRAND DESIGN / ARCHITECTURE

By Damian Ikenna Ngere

• Rooted in the Earth:

Casa Q’anil by Juan

Pablo Barrios

Casa Q’anil has been described as a living structure carved from

soil and spirit. Nestled in the mountainous terrain of Antigua,

Guatemala, Casa Q’anil, is a poetic ode to nature, architecture,

and ancestral wisdom.

Designed by Juan Pablo Barrios with contributions

from Sigfrido Arrivillaga and the Ortiz brothers, this

residence reimagines modern architecture as

an organic continuation of the land rather than a

disruption. Inspired by the Mayan sign for “seed”

- symbolising life, growth, and new beginnings

- the home rises like a monolith from the earth,

disappearing into its environment while honouring

the surrounding volcanoes and natural contours.

In a city bound by colonial design norms and

threatened by unchecked expansion, Casa

Q’anil breaks the mould. It embraces ecological

responsibility through locally sourced materials,

such as 54,000 handcrafted bricks made from the

excavated soil, and promotes sustainable living with

adaptive design. The structure flexes like a living

organism, with sliding layers of doors that allow

seamless interaction with the outdoors, while an

internal courtyard breathes life and light into its core.

More than a dwelling, Casa Q’anil is a philosophical

and architectural statement - an earthy, elemental

structure that respects time, space, and the

environment it inhabits. It stands not just as a shelter,

but also as a sanctuary where humanity and nature

coalesce.

DAMIAN

IKENNA NGERE

AUTHOR’S BIO

Ikenna is a graduate of

Physics and Education, who

works as a freelance writer.

He has interest in technology,

humanity and sports.



| 43

REALTORS' AVENUE

REALTORS' AVENUE

REAL ESTATE

BUSINESS AS

A RELIABLE

STREAM OF

EXTRA INCOME

By John Abiodun Olaitan

Venturing into real estate business, in

Nigeria, can be a sure way to generate

additional income, with tested and trusted

options, ranging from buying and renting

out properties to investing in land or

commercial spaces, or even becoming a

real estate agent.

Here’re some avenues potential real estate ventures

can consider to earn additional income in Nigeria:

1. Basic Rental Properties:

Workability: Purchase residential or commercial

properties and rent them out to tenants, generating a

consistent income stream.

* Core Considerations:

- Invest in areas with high demand for housing.

- Secure long-term tenants.

- Maintain properties well to attract and retain

tenants.

2. Landed Property Investment:

Workability: Purchase land and hold it for some time

so it would appreciate for later development or sale

(land banking). Globally speaking, land consistently

appreciates.


- Seek out locations with potential for growth and

development.

- Consider land leasing for agricultural or commercial

purposes.

3. Collaboration - Real Estate Investment

Trusts (REITs):

Workability: Invest in companies that own, operate, or

finance income-generating real estates.


- REITs offer a worthy business collaboration in which

you earn passive income without owning physical

property.

- Diversify your portfolio by investing in different real

estate sectors.

4. Real Estate Realtor or Agent:

Workability: Facilitate property sales and rentals, earning

commissions on successful transactions.


- Network with property owners and potential buyers.

- Develop strong marketing skills.

- Consider offering property management services.

5. Typical Short-Term Rentals:

Workability: Rent out properties for short periods, such as

through platforms like Airbnb.


- Focus on high-demand areas with tourist attractions

or business travellers.

- Ensure properties are well-maintained and attractive

to guests.

6. Property Rejigging or Overhauling:

Workability: Buy undervalued or distressed properties,

renovate them, and sell them at a profit.


- Thoroughly research the market and identify

undervalued properties.

- Manage renovation costs efficiently.

7. Basic Commercial Real Estate:

Workability: Invest in commercial properties like

office buildings, retail spaces, or warehouses.


- Search for locations with high level of

commercial activities.

- Consider long-term lease agreements.

8. JV — Joint Venture Investments:

Workability: Partner with other investors to pool

resources and share the rewards and risks of real

estate investments.


- Choose reliable partners with a proven track

records.

- Clearly define roles and responsibilities of each

partner.

9. Real Estate Typical Partnerships:

Workability: Collaborate with property developers

and investors to access opportunities and expertise.


- Build a strong network of contacts in the real

estate industry.

- Stay informed about new developments and

trends.

Conclusion

Targeting multiple streams of income is a masterkey

for desired financial success and comfort. In a

depressed economy like the current situation

in Nigeria, everyone needs multiple streams of

revenue, including the wealthy. So, let’s go for it, with

unfeigned intentionality.

As usual, I am wishing you all good success

and great accomplishments in your business

investments along with sound health.

JOHN

ABIODUN OLAITAN

AUTHOR’S BIO

John Abiodun Olaitan is a real estate consultant, realtor

and emerging developer and CEO of Arklanded Properties

Ltd. He diversified into real estate after decades of

experience in the oil and gas sector. He’s happily

married with children.



| 45

THE INCUBATOR

with Diiyi William-West

SERIES

DIIYI

When Patriotism

Is Waning

Patriotism in Nigeria has been under significant strain in recent

years. A major contributor waning patriotism in Nigeria is political

disillusionment. Many citizens feel that their leaders have consistently

betrayed them with regards to promised good governance with hydraheaded

corruption permeating all levels of government.

Prominent figures like

former President Olusegun

Obasanjo, Salihu Lukman,

Oby Ezekwesili, Chidi Odinkalu,

Femi Falana, Sule Lamido

and Ushie Rita Uguamaye,

openly criticise the state of

maladministration, emphasising

that rampant corruption and

mismanagement are fuelling

much disenchantment in the

country. This disillusionment

has bred apathy towards

national identity and civic

responsibilities.

Another significant factor

that has contributed to

the decline of patriotism

in Nigeria is economic

hardship. Nigeria possesses

vast natural resources, yet many

citizens live in poverty. Economic

mismanagement has resulted

in high unemployment rates

and a lack of basic services,

such as education and health

care. For example, the World

Bank reports that over 70 million

Nigerians currently live below

the poverty line. These economic

struggles have made individuals

to prioritise personal survival over

national pride.

Nigerians

currently live

below the poverty

line. These economic

struggles have made

individuals to prioritise

personal survival

over national

pride.

Social divisions are also a

substantial obstacle to patriotism

in Nigeria. The country is home to

a multitude of ethnic groups and

religions, which can sometimes

breed conflict and resentment.

The historical context of Nigeria’s

formation and colonial legacy

has created barriers between

these groups. Ethnic nationalism

often overshadows patriotism

towards the Nigerian state.

Influential individuals such

as Nobel Laureate Wole

Soyinka have spoken on

these issues. In his works,

he highlights that the

fragmenting of national

identity along ethnic

lines threatens the

very fabric of Nigeria

as a unified nation.

This fragmentation

poses a challenge to

any movement seeking

to promote patriotism in

Nigeria.

Furthermore, recent events in

Nigeria, such as the #EndSARS

protests against police brutality,

have been indicative of the

• Prof. Chidi Odinkalu

• Femi-Falana

• Sule Lamido

• Salihu Lukman

• Dora Akunyili

growing dissatisfaction with

the state. While the protests

initially united many Nigerians,

they also exposed deep-seated

grievances that have eroded trust

in governmental institutions. The

aftermath of these protests has

seen a resurgence of ethnic and

regional sentiments as people

seek accountability and justice

within their own communities

rather than a unified national

cause.

The role of education in

fostering patriotism cannot be

underestimated. With regards

to this, experts in the field of

education and civil society

organisations are advocating

for a curriculum that promotes

civic education: history, culture,

and citizenship. If effectively

implemented, such initiatives

could encourage youth, the

most disenchanted nationals, to

develop a sense of pride in their

country and the shared values

that bind Nigerians together.

Despite these challenges, there

are avenues for reengineering

patriotism in the country.

Initiatives focusing on youth

empowerment and community

rebuilding can help foster a sense

of ownership and belonging.

Additionally, the use of social

media as a platform for positive

messages about Nigeria can

counteract negative narratives

as the “Good People, Great

Nation” project launched by the

late Mrs. Dora Akunyili set out to

do. Influential figures, including

musicians and visual artists can

inspire patriotism through their

works. Acts of civic responsibility

promoted through cultural

expressions can rekindle national

pride.

In analysing various perspectives

surrounding patriotism in Nigeria,

it is essential to acknowledge

divergent viewpoints. While some

THE INCUBATOR SERIES

argue that ethnic identities are

critical to personal identity and

should be celebrated, others

contend that such distinctions

hinder national unity. Most citizens

yearn for a collective identity that

acknowledges these differences

while promoting a greater good

for the nation. Reconciling these

perspectives is crucial for the

future development of patriotism

in Nigeria.

Looking ahead, the future of

patriotism in Nigeria may hinge

on addressing the fundamental

issues like transparency,

economic reforms, and social

equality.

In conclusion, as Nigeria

navigates the patriotism

challenge, the potential for a

renaissance of patriotism exists

if citizens choose to engage

with their national identity and

collectively seek a brighter future

for Nigeria.

WILLIAM-WEST

AUTHOR’S BIO

More fondly known as DDWEST,

he has several years of media

practice experience spanning

magazines, newspapers, television

and radio; laying emphasis

on maintaining standards in

media practice. He practised

and lectured Public Relations for

nearly a decade before going into

leadership consulting and real

estate consultancy.

46 |



| 47

AI

TODAY & TOMORROW

AI

TODAY & TOMORROW

Grok 3:

Elon Musk’s AI

Challenger

Redefining the

Landscape

By Wisdom Thursday

generation tool called Aurora,

which creates photorealistic

visuals.

- Computational Power:

Trained on the Colossus

supercomputer with over

100,000 NVIDIA H100 GPUs,

Grok 3 delivers unparalleled

efficiency, with an average

response latency of 67

milliseconds.

Performance

Benchmarks

Grok 3 has demonstrated

superior performance across

various benchmarks:

- Mathematics (AIME):

Scored 52, outperforming other

models in this challenging

mathematical test.

- Science (GPQA):

Achieved a score of 75,

showcasing strong capabilities

in PhD-level Physics, Biology,

and Chemistry questions.

- Coding (LCB Oct-Feb):

Attained a score of

57, indicating robust

programming abilities.

These scores suggest that

Grok 3 has surpassed GPT-4o,

Claude 3.5 Sonnet, DeepSeek

V3, and Google’s Gemini 2 Pro

in these specific areas.

to note that benchmark

performance doesn’t always

translate directly to real-world

application superiority. Each

model may have strengths in

different areas.

Access and Availability

Initially, access to Grok 3 is

limited to X’s Premium+ and

xAI’s SuperGrok subscribers,

with plans to offer it later via

xAI’s enterprise API.

Conclusion

Grok 3 represents a

significant advancement in AI

technology, offering enhanced

reasoning capabilities, realtime

data integration, and

multimodal interactions.

While it has demonstrated

superior performance in

various benchmarks, the true

measure of its impact will be

seen in real-world applications

and user experiences. As AI

continues to evolve, Grok 3

stands as a testament to the

rapid progress and potential of

artificial intelligence in shaping

our future.

In the rapidly evolving realm of

artificial intelligence, Grok 3 has

emerged as a formidable contender.

Developed by Elon Musk’s xAI and

launched in February 2025, Grok 3 is

the latest iteration of the Grok series,

designed to rival leading AI models such

as OpenAI’s GPT-4o, Google’s Gemini

2.0, and Anthropic’s Claude 3.7.

Key Features and Capabilities

Grok 3 boasts several advanced

features that distinguish it from its

predecessors and competitors:

- Advanced Reasoning: The “Think”

mode allows Grok 3 to engage in

multi-step reasoning, breaking down

complex problems into manageable

steps, particularly in Mathematics,

science, and coding.

- DeepSearch: This feature enables

Grok 3 to scan the internet and

X (formerly Twitter) for relevant

information, providing contextaware

responses that go beyond

simple keyword matching.

- Big Brain Mode: Allocating

extra computational resources,

this mode is tailored for tackling

complex tasks, making it

particularly useful for scientific

research and intricate problemsolving

scenarios.

- Multimodal Capabilities:

Grok 3 supports interaction via

text and image inputs, including

a proprietary text-to-image

Comparison with Other

Models

While specific head-to-head

comparisons are limited,

available data indicates that

Grok 3 outperformed GPT-

4o, Claude 3.5, DeepSeek

V3, and Gemini 2 Pro in

Mathematics, science, and

programming benchmarks.

However, it’s important

WISDOM THURSDAY

AUTHOR’S BIO

Wisdom Thursday is a digital

growth specialist. He is a

disruptive thinker with a diverse

skill set and experience in

Brand Strategy Development,

Digital Marketing, Web Design

and Marketing Strategy

Development..



| 49

AFRICA RISING: NEWS ABOUT AFRICA

By Adams Oma


Opportunity Act (AGOA), a United

States’ trade policy, were essentially

invalidated by the tariffs that

President Donald Trump announced.

AGOA, which allows duty-free

access to the U.S. market for eligible

African countries, is set to expire in

September.

Furthermore, Trump’s extensive tariffs

imply that it is now doubtful that the

2000 trade agreement would be

renewed.

The foreign and commerce

ministries of South Africa told a press

conference that the country may

try to expand its export markets

and negotiate more quotas and

exemptions with the United States.

of the Congo have withdrawn

from the strategically important

town of Walikale. Since January,

M23 has quickly advanced

into the two biggest cities in

eastern Congo, killing thousands

and uprooting hundreds of

thousands more.

Congo’s neighbours, Burundi

and Uganda, also have soldiers

in the area, thus the fighting

has sparked worries of a wider

regional conflict.

TECHNOLOGY

South Africa Claims Trump Tariffs

Undermine AGOA Trade Benefits

• Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa

The South African government stated on Friday, April 4, that the

benefits that African nations receive under the African Growth and

Kenya Extends Crude Oil Supply Contracts

With Gulf Producers

Kenya has extended its fuel purchase agreement with three

state-owned Gulf oil companies for another two years and

renegotiated terms to secure lower margins. According to the

country’s energy regulator, the deal will continue with Saudi

Aramco, Emirates National Oil, and Abu Dhabi National Oil, which

will supply gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and jet fuel under a 180-day

credit arrangement.

The renewal, set to begin in late 2025 after the completion of

current fuel shipments, follows an earlier extension through

the end of 2024. Daniel Kiptoo, the head of Kenya’s Energy and

Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), shared the details with

Bloomberg News.

POLITICS

Rebels Withdraw

from Key Congo

Town Ahead of Doha

Peace Talks

In anticipation of scheduled

peace negotiations with

the government, Rwandanbacked

M23 rebels in the

eastern Democratic Republic

• Yoweri Museveni

Ugandan President

Visits Juba Amid

South Sudan’s Political

Turmoil

Yoweri Museveni, the president of

Uganda, arrived in neighbouring

South Sudan on Thursday, April

3, in the highest-level expedition

since hostilities and his vice

president’s imprisonment

sparked regional concerns

about a potential civil war

recurrence.

President Salva Kiir of South

Sudan, whose government has

placed First Vice Presiden, Riek

Machar, under house arrest

Kenyan Court Rules Meta Can Be Sued Over

Ethiopia Violence Posts

A Kenyan court has ruled that Meta, the parent company

of Facebook, can be sued in Kenya over its alleged role in

amplifying content that contributed to ethnic violence in

neighbouring Ethiopia. The lawsuit, filed by the Katiba Institute

and two Ethiopian researchers, centres on claims of hate

speech on the platform during the 2020-2022 civil conflict in

Ethiopia’s Tigray region.

This landmark decision could set a significant precedent

for how Meta interacts with content moderation practices

across the globe. Meta had

argued that local courts

lack jurisdiction to hear

cases against the company

in countries where it is

not officially registered,

but Kenya’s High Court

dismissed this argument in

a ruling on Thursday, April 3.

after accusing him of inciting

rebellion, welcomed Museveni

at the airport. The visit comes

after the African Union and a

regional organisation from East

Africa conducted mediation

missions to try to defuse the

situation.

ADAMS OMA

AUTHOR’S BIO

Adams Oma is a skilled blogger

and SEO content writer. When

he is not writing, Adams Oma,

a Computer Science graduate,

enjoys music, playing video

games and surfing the

internet for more knowledge.



| 51

TECHNOLOGY

GLOB AL NEWS ROUND UP

By Adams Oma

ENTREPRENEUR

budgets would find it difficult to absorb

a surprise price increase from a tariff.

POLITICS

The Meta logo, a keyboard, and robot hands

Meta Unveils Next-Gen AI:

Llama 4 Model Released

The most recent iteration of

Meta Platforms’ large

language model (LLM) Llama,

known as Llama 4 Scout and

Llama 4 Maverick, was

published on Saturday, April

5.

Llama is a multimodal AI

system, according to Meta.

Text, audio, video, and image

data can all be processed


Farmers look at new farm machinery at a

farm show in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

and integrated via

multimodal systems, which

can also translate content

between these formats.

In a statement, Meta

described the Llama 4 Scout

and Llama 4 Maverick as its

“most advanced models yet”

and “the best in their class for

multimodality.

Tariffs Disrupt US

and Canadian

Farm Equipment

Manufacturers

During a recent

Canadian farm show,

equipment salespeople

found it difficult to close

transactions with farmers

who were concerned

about tariffs. Since some

combines can cost over

$800,000, most farm

Although Canada was exempted from

the Trump administration’s extensive

worldwide tariffs on Wednesday, April

2, it still has to pay duties on steel and

aluminium shipments to the United

States and on automobiles that don’t

adhere to the US-Mexico-Canada trade

agreement.

Aramco tanks and oil pipe at Saudi Aramco’s Ras

Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia Slashes Oil

Prices to Asia, Hits Lowest

Level in Four Months

Following the OPEC+ oil group’s

unexpected decision to boost

supplies, Saudi Arabia, the world’s

largest oil exporter, on Sunday,

April 6, reduced the price of crude

oil for Asian clients in May to its

lowest level in four months.

According to a pricing document

released by the state oil

corporation, Saudi Aramco

reduced the May official selling

price (OSP) for its flagship Arab

Light crude by $2.30 to $1.20 per

barrel above the average price in

Oman and Dubai.

For other grades it distributes to

Asia, the business also reduced

April prices by $2.30 per barrel.

Iran Calls for

Indirect US Talks,

Issues Warning

to Neighbouring

Countries

According to a senior

Iranian official, Iran

is retaliating against

American demands

that it engage in direct

negotiations over its

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

nuclear programme or

speaks during a meeting with defence industry

face bombing, warning

experts in Tehran, Iran.

neighbours that house

American bases that they may also be targeted if they get involved.

Iran wants to maintain indirect negotiations through Oman, a longstanding

route for signals between the two governments, after rejecting

President Donald Trump’s desire for direct talks, an official told Reuters

on condition of anonymity.

Ukraine Reports Civilian Casualties After Russian

Missile Strike on Kyiv

Ukrainian officials reported Sunday, April 6, that the worst Russian missile

attack on Ukraine, in weeks, killed one man and injured three others

overnight in Kyiv, causing damage and fires in multiple areas.

Since the United States announced, late last month, that it had

negotiated two ceasefire agreements with Russia and Ukraine, including

one that would focus

on each other’s energy

infrastructure, the strike

was the first significant

missile and drone attack.

A view shows the site of a Russian missile strike, amid

Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine April 6, 2025.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy,

the president of

Ukraine, claimed that

the continuous attacks

demonstrated Russia’s

unwillingness to put an end

to the three-year conflict.

Elon-Musk

Elon Musk Merges X with

xAI in $33 Billion Deal

Tech entrepreneur, Elon Musk, has

announced that his artificial

intelligence startup, xAI, has

acquired his social media

platform, X, in an all-stock deal

valued at $33 billion. This

transaction boosts xAI’s valuation

to $80 billion while X remains

valued at $33 billion.

Both companies are privately

held under Musk’s leadership and

share key investors such as

Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia

Capital, Fidelity Management, Vy

Capital, and Saudi Arabia’s

Kingdom Holding Co.

Established less than two years

ago, xAI is focused on developing

artificial intelligence models with

the goal of understanding “the

true nature of the universe”.

ADAMS

OMA

AUTHOR’S BIO

Adams Oma is a skilled blogger

and SEO content writer. When

he is not writing, Adams Oma,

a Computer Science graduate,

enjoys music, playing video

games and surfing the

internet for more knowledge.

52 | Accomplish www.theaccomplishmagazine.com

Magazine Accomplish Magazine | 53

LIFESTYLE

LIFESTYLE

ARTS & THE MASTERS

By Damian Ikenna Ngere

Blurred Lines:

When Artificial

Intelligence

Mimics Human

Art Too Closely

The creative world confronts an

unsettling trend: AI-generated images

that blur the line between homage and

heist. In an era where algorithms can

conjure up dreamlike landscapes and

photo-realistic portraits at the click of a button,

a growing unease is spreading among artists

and photographers. The concern? Artificial

intelligence is no longer just learning from them

- it’s impersonating them!

For acclaimed photographer, Tim Flach, known

globally for his arresting animal portraits often

set against stark black backdrops, the line was

crossed when his style began to reappear in

AI-generated images - without his consent.

Speaking to The Sun, Flach expressed a

sentiment echoed by many creatives today: “AI

should support, not supplant human creativity.”

His discovery didn’t come through a legal notice

or tech headline - it came via a phone call from

an academic. “She contacted me because she

was doing research and asked, ‘are you aware

you’re one of the most scraped photographers

out there?’ And I wasn’t,” he said.

• AI-generated image (left) and Tim Flach’s photograph (right). Credit: Tim Flach

It prompted Flach to explore the AI art platform

Midjourney. There, he typed in a simple

command: render an image of a snow leopard

or eagle “in the style of Tim Flach.” What he got

back, he described as “remarkably similar”.

These platforms, including the likes of

Midjourney and

others, rely heavily

on a technique called

‘scraping’ - a digital

dredging method that

pulls trillions of images

and text snippets

from across the

web. Many of those

images, however, are

copyrighted, and often

scraped without the

creator’s knowledge or

consent.

“There were multiple

websites online saying

you can now ‘recreate

Tim Flach’s pictures’,”

he explained.

Flach is no stranger to

artistic evolution. “I’m

always very curious.

There’s always a kind

of process in the arts

where things have

been influencing

each other,” he said.

“But here, it’s the fact

that there’s a sort of

commoditisation [of

my work] without my

permission.”

The UUnited Kingdom

government is

currently drafting

legislation that could

further complicate

matters. Under the

proposed changes, AI

companies would be

allowed to access and

train on any content

In the face of this

digital dilemma,

one thing is clear :

the future of art will

depend not just

on innovation, but

on the ethics that

underpin it.

they can legally retrieve online - unless creators

explicitly opt out. This shift could make it even

more challenging for photographers and artists

to protect their intellectual property in a digital

world where duplication is frictionless.

It’s a shift that flips copyright law on its head,

leaving creators with the burden of protecting

their own work from digital exploitation.

“What we can’t really permit is the unlicensed

harvesting of our work and impersonation of

our style that is not remunerated or without

permission,” Flach emphasised.

In the face of this digital dilemma, one thing is

clear: the future of art will depend not just on

innovation, but on the ethics that underpin it. As

the battle lines between machine learning and

human expression blur, the question isn’t just -

can AI replicate human creativity - but should it?

DAMIAN

IKENNA NGERE

AUTHOR’S BIO

Ikenna is a graduate of Physics and Education,

who works as a freelance writer. He has interest in

technology, humanity and sports.



| 55

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

WONDERS

OF CASSAVA

LEAVES AND

STEM

By Joel Logbo

The plant kingdom has been the best source of

remedies for curing a variety of diseases since ancient

times. Plants continue to serve as possible sources for

new drugs and chemicals derived from various parts of

plants.

Manihot esculenta, popularly

known as cassava, is one of

the most neglected medicinal

herbs found all over the world.

It is not so commonly used in

herbal medicine because of

some of its potentially toxic

components, but still various

literatures have mentioned

that this plant has numerous

medicinal indications.

Generally, roots and leaves of

this plant have been used in

various parts of world for dietary

as well as medicinal purposes.

Though neglected, this is one

of the most useful medicinal

plants.

Cassava leaves have been

used in some localities to

treat anaemia in children,

haemorrhage, and headaches;

while the roots are used in the

treatment of erectile

dysfunction and malaria.

Cassava leaves are used

in the following situations:

1. Metrorrhagia of pregnancy,

haemorrhage at childbirth:

Use aqueous macerated

tuber without bark and

powdered residue of the

macerate.

2. Emetic: Apply macerated

stem in fermented corn

water.

3. Cutaneous dermatoses:

Use juice of crushed

leaves, applied locally.

4. Snake bite: Get leaf paste

mixed with cooking salt for

local application.

5. Heart palpitation: Use

crushed leaves with

cooking salt and palm oil

for consumption.

6. Coughs: Use tuber crushed

with chilli; to be eaten.

7. Wounds, abscesses,

chickenpox: Apply paste

of tuber or leaves; applied

locally (rubbed with the

juice for chickenpox).

8. Constipation, indigestion:

Use grated tuber juice.

9. Diarrhea: Get boiled or

pulverized fresh tuber; to

be consumed.

10. Toothache: Use

macerated dry leaves as

a mouthwash.

11. Emmenagogue: Use

infused leaves.

12. Headache: Use paste of

crushed leaves; applied to

the forehead.

Though it is not well known

that cassava could be used

to manage cancer, several

testimonies are emerging

regarding the management

of cancer by eating cassava

roots.

Indeed, amygdalin

(D-mandelonitrile-ß-

Dgentiobiosid), which can

be derived from manioc

(cassava) is a popular and

well-documented

cyanogenic disaccharide

that is also very abundant

in the seeds of apricots,

almonds, cherries, plums,

peaches, apples and other

rosaceous plants used in

human nutrition.

Indeed, cassava leaves and

stem deserve more attention

due to numerous medicinal

benefits.

JOEL

N. LOGBO

AUTHOR’S BIO

Dr. Joel N. Logbo is a patient-centred

Natural Medicine doctor with 12

solid years of industry experience

in Lagos, Nigeria and Wales,

Scotland. He is currently seeking

more international collaborations

to provide holistic, non-invasive

medical care for patients and the

public on health promotion.

His unique approach that has

led to admirable achievements

include meeting with patients to

assess their health and wellness,

learn their health goals and create

treatment plans. He also collaborates

with various teams of medical

professionals to provide first-line and

supplemental medical treatments

through a holistic, natural approach.

He loves traveling, adventures,

cooking and driving.



| 57

CORPORATE SUITE

CORPORATE SUITE

Nigeria: The Need for a


By Chinedu Ugo

Nigeria stands at a crossroads.

Despite abundant natural

resources and human capital,

the country faces significant

economic challenges including

inflation, unemployment, and overreliance

on oil exports. A fundamental shift towards

a production-focused economy could

transform Nigeria’s trajectory.

Understanding the


A production mentality

emphasises creating value

through manufacturing,

agriculture, and service

provision rather than

consumption or rent-seeking.

It focuses on building capacity

to produce goods and services

that meet local needs and can

compete globally.

Key Pathways

to Economic

Transformation

• Agricultural

Revitalisation

Nigeria possesses vast

arable land that remains

underutilised. Modernising

agricultural practices through

mechanisation, improved seed

varieties, and irrigation systems

could dramatically increase

crop yields. Investment in food

processing facilities would

reduce post-harvest losses and

create value-added products

for domestic consumption

and export. The government

should provide targeted

support through accessible

loans, subsidised inputs,

and extension services while

connecting farmers to markets.

Young entrepreneurs should be

encouraged to view agriculture

as a viable business opportunity

rather than subsistence

farming.

• Manufacturing

Renaissance

Nigeria must move beyond

being, primarily, a consumer

of imported goods. Developing

manufacturing capacity

in strategic sectors like

textiles, food processing,

pharmaceuticals, and

construction materials would

create jobs and reduce import

dependency.

Special economic zones with

reliable power supply, tax

incentives, and streamlined

regulations could attract

both domestic and foreign

investment. Technical

education programmes aligned

with industry needs would build

the skilled workforce required for

manufacturing growth.

Young

entrepreneurs

should be

encouraged to

view agriculture

as a viable

business

opportunity

rather than

subsistence

farming.

• Digital Economy

Development

Nigeria’s young, tech-savvy

population provides a

competitive advantage in the

digital economy. Investment

in digital infrastructure and

education would enable

Nigerian businesses to provide

services globally while creating

innovative solutions to local

challenges.

Expanding broadband access,

promoting digital literacy, and

creating innovation hubs could

position Nigeria as a technology

centre in Africa.

• Energy Security and

Infrastructure

Reliable power supply remains

critical for production. Nigeria

must diversify its energy mix

through investments in solar,

hydroelectric, and natural

gas projects while improving

transmission and distribution

networks.

Roads, railways, and ports

require significant upgrades

to reduce logistics costs

that currently hamper

competitiveness. Public-private

partnerships could accelerate

infrastructure development.

Cultural Shift Toward

Production

Beyond policy changes, Nigeria

needs a cultural reorientation

that values production over

consumption. Educational

institutions should emphasise

creativity, problem-solving,

and entrepreneurship. Media

organisations should celebrate

makers, builders, and innovators

as role models.

Nigeria’s economic

transformation requires a

steadfast commitment to

building productive capacity

across multiple sectors. By

embracing a production

mentality, Nigeria can create

sustainable prosperity, reduce

dependency on imports

and oil revenue, and provide

meaningful employment for its

growing population. The journey

will require patience and

persistence, but the potential

rewards are immense. For

Nigeria, it has to be a production

mentality or nothing else - on

the economic front!

CHINEDU

UGO

AUTHOR’S BIO

Chinedu Ugo is a writer,

editor and media expert with

over six-year experience.

He is renowned for crafting

compelling articles that thrills

readers. Chinedu Ugo wants to

change the world with the pen.



| 59

AUGUST 2023

Accomplish Magazine 1

OCTOBER 2023

Accomplish Magazine 1

2023

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PROMOTE

YOUR BRAND AND EVENTS

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OUR MISSION:

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The Erosion of

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