The Federal Government has taken a significant step toward empowering the nation’s youth by distributing laptops to select public school students as part of its effort to enhance technical, vocational, and entrepreneurial skills. The initiative, designed to promote digital literacy and skill development, aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s mandate to train five million Nigerians annually in diverse skill sets.

Ms. Abiola Arogundade, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational, and Entrepreneurship Education, made the announcement during a ceremony held in Abuja. The event, organized in collaboration with Afrifone Nigeria Limited, saw the presentation of 50 laptops to deserving Junior Secondary School students from Government Secondary School, Tundun Wada, Abuja.

Afrifone Nigeria Limited, the country’s first assembly plant for mobile devices and tablets, has been a key partner in the initiative. The company, incorporated in 2016, has worked alongside the Federal Government to drive local production of technology while supporting educational and entrepreneurial goals.

Arogundade highlighted that this initiative is part of the Tinubu administration’s broader goal to promote technical and vocational training among Nigerian youth. “The president, at the beginning of this administration, mandated relevant Federal Government agencies, including my office, to train five million Nigerians annually in diverse skills,” Arogundade said during the ceremony.

“This effort is not only to make young Nigerians employable but also to empower them with the skills needed to become self-employed after graduation,” she added. “It is one of the pillars of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to build a future-ready workforce equipped with practical skills in a rapidly changing global economy.”

The donation of laptops is part of a series of initiatives rolled out by the Federal Government to stimulate innovation in technical, vocational, and entrepreneurial education. This second phase follows an initial distribution that took place in July 2023. The initiative, Arogundade noted, is intended to support students in developing practical skills that will complement theoretical knowledge.

“One of the overall objectives of this program is to shift our education system from its current emphasis on theory to a more practical, hands-on approach,” she explained. “This is crucial if we want our young people to remain competitive in a global economy that is increasingly driven by technology and innovation.”

She further emphasized the importance of vocational education in ensuring that Nigerian youths are prepared to meet the challenges of the future. “The world is rapidly evolving, and if we don’t equip our students with the necessary tools and skills, we risk leaving them behind. These laptops represent more than just devices—they are tools for innovation, learning, and future success,” Arogundade remarked.

The program is also expected to encourage a broader interest in entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths. By providing access to technology and technical skills, the government hopes to cultivate a generation of self-starters capable of creating jobs, rather than just seeking them. “We are preparing a future where Nigerian youth will be creators of wealth, not just consumers,” Arogundade added.

The ceremony also saw praise for Afrifone’s role in ensuring the success of the initiative. As the first Nigerian company to assemble mobile devices locally, Afrifone has become a symbol of the country’s potential in manufacturing and technology development. “This partnership with Afrifone underscores the importance of public-private collaboration in achieving national goals, particularly in areas like technology and education,” Arogundade said.

The recent developments in Nigeria’s energy sector have left many questioning the effectiveness of the current leadership at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPCL). The repeated failures to meet targets, coupled with a series of management blunders, have raised serious concerns about the competence and accountability of Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of NNPC.

In the face of ongoing fuel scarcity, mismanagement of resources, and an apparent lack of strategic direction, it has become increasingly evident that a change in leadership is imperative. Kyari’s tenure has been marked by a series of missteps that have not only exacerbated the country’s energy crisis but have also eroded public confidence in the NNPC’s ability to address these issues effectively.

Just two days after claiming that the burden of petrol prices had put it into over $6 billion debt, the Mele Kyari-led NNPC upped its fuel pump price from N617 to N897 per liter on Tuesday morning.

Its most recent financial audits revealed material that contradicted previous audits, raising concerns about the auditors’ credibility. For example, in its 2023 audited report, the NNPC stated that it had invested N2 billion at the Dangote Refinery. They estimated N1.6 billion by 2024. Who are those doing these audits? Why is there such a huge difference in just 12 months?

Still talking about the Dangote Refinery. Only after Alhaji Aliko Dangote stated that the NNPCL had only invested 7.4% in the refinery project did the Male Kyari-led agency issue a relatively brief press statement to mitigate the damage.

The ongoing fuel scarcity, which has caused substantial economic disruptions and hardship for Nigerians, emphasizes the critical need for strong leadership. Kyari’s failure to develop long-term solutions or address the underlying causes of the crisis has aggravated the problem.

Now is the time for change. The energy sector, a vital component of Nigeria’s economy, cannot afford to be headed by those who fail to keep their commitments or manage resources effectively. We believe that President Bola Tinubu must act quickly to remove Mele Kyari from his post and select a new GMD capable of restoring confidence, addressing existing challenges, and implementing a robust strategy for the sector’s rehabilitation and expansion.

The appointment of a new GMD at the NNPC should be accompanied by a comprehensive review of the corporation’s operations and policies, as we saw with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), whose embattled Governor, Godwin Emefiele, was removed to restore confidence in the money market. There is a need for more transparency, accountability, and a clear, executable plan to address the sector’s difficulties. It is critical that the incoming leadership provide a fresh perspective, innovative solutions, and a commitment to addressing the systemic challenges that have afflicted the NNPC during Kyari’s tenure.

The current state of Nigeria’s energy sector demands decisive action. Mele Kyari’s tenure has been marked by failures and controversies that have had a detrimental impact on the sector and the Nigerian economy. It is time for the government to act decisively, remove Kyari from his position, and bring in new leadership capable of addressing the challenges and steering the NNPC towards a more successful and transparent future.

The just-concluded 2024 Paris Olympic Games has exposed a glaring crisis within Nigeria’s sports administration. Despite being Africa’s most populous nation and having invested a substantial ₦12 billion in preparation for the event, Nigeria’s athletes returned home without a single medal. This disheartening outcome reveals profound deficiencies in the management and support systems that should have propelled our athletes to success on the global stage.

Nigeria’s athletes, who had worked tirelessly to represent their country with pride and honor, were met with a series of disappointments. The high expectations that preceded the Games were shattered as our teams faltered in critical moments, and many were left to wonder: What went wrong?

The answer lies not with the athletes but with those who were entrusted with their preparation and management. The recent debacle at Paris 2024 is not an isolated incident but a culmination of years of mismanagement and neglect within Nigerian sports federations and the Ministry of Sports. The poor outing highlights systemic failures and raises serious questions about the competence and dedication of the current leadership.

One of the most glaring examples of administrative failure was the exclusion of sprinter Favour Ofili from her preferred 100m race. This debacle resulted from a registration error by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), marking a repeat of previous administrative oversights that had already hindered Ofili’s performance in past Olympic Games. Such negligence not only denied Ofili the opportunity to showcase her talents but also left her with a sense of frustration over years of hard work rendered futile due to systemic incompetence.

We understand that Nigeria’s Olympic performance has had its ups and downs over the years. The nation’s most recent, better-forgotten dismal performance in Paris follows prior lackluster results in the 1952 Helsinki, 1956 Melbourne, 1960 Rome, 1968 Mexico, 1980 Moscow, and 1988 Seoul Olympics, where no medals were won.

The Minister for Sports, Senator John Enoh has said his Ministry will set up probes into the better-forgotten outing which broke the hearts of millions of Nigerian sports enthusiasts. However, this gesture, while necessary, comes too late for athletes like Ofili who have suffered under a cloud of administrative mismanagement. The call for accountability, though important, must be backed by actionable outcomes to restore faith in Nigeria’s sports governance.

The broader issues affecting Nigeria’s sports sector are multifaceted. Pre-Games preparations were marred by delays and inadequacies, with athletes reporting insufficient facilities, training camps, and untimely fund releases. The considerable budget allocated by the Ministry of Sports did not translate into effective support, raising serious questions about the transparency and efficiency of fund utilization.

Furthermore, athlete welfare and support have been recurring issues. Reports indicate that Nigerian athletes were often left without proper equipment with a Nigerian cyclist Ese Ukpeseraye publicly saying she had to borrow a bicycle from the German team to compete in the Keirin and Sprint events. Such neglect most likely contributed to the overall lackluster performance, demonstrating a critical gap in the support systems that should have been in place to ensure their success.

The call for a probe into the exclusion of Favour Ofili highlights a broader issue of accountability within the sports administration. Past probes have frequently resulted in minimal or no significant changes, fostering skepticism about whether the current investigation will yield meaningful reforms.

In contrast, other African nations have shown that success at the Olympics is achievable despite limited resources. Countries like Kenya, South Africa, and Ethiopia secured multiple medals through targeted training, effective management, and a focus on athlete welfare. Their achievements underscore the shortcomings in Nigeria’s sports management and offer a blueprint for improvement.

The intense public and media scrutiny following Nigeria’s poor performance underscores the urgent need for a complete overhaul of the sports administration. There is a growing demand for greater transparency, improved planning, and a more athlete-centered approach in preparing for international competitions. Nigeria’s sports sector must confront these challenges head-on to ensure that future Olympic endeavors reflect the true potential of our athletes and the nation as a whole.

It is clear that the time has come for a radical overhaul. The Sports Minister and the presidents of the sports federations must be held accountable for their failures. Their inability to deliver results and their apparent disinterest in addressing the issues plaguing Nigerian sports are unacceptable. Their resignation or removal from office is not just a matter of principle but a necessary step towards restoring credibility and fostering a more effective sports administration.

A change in leadership is crucial for the revitalization of Nigerian sports. It is imperative that new, competent individuals take charge—those who are committed to reforming the system, investing in athlete development, and ensuring that the necessary resources are allocated effectively. Only with strong, visionary leadership can we hope to restore our nation’s standing in international sports and rebuild the faith of our athletes and supporters.