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PETER MBAH’S NOISELESS STRIDES IN ENUGU
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By Tunde Olusunle
You would think I had personal relationships with Chukwuma Soludo and Alex Otti Governors of Anambra and Enugu states, the way I’ve followed their governance trajectories. I was only doing my job as conscience of society and documenter of history. Soludo I know somewhat because he was Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in whose administration I also served. He was subsequently appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN). We met a few times during meetings he attended in the State House, which I covered as a component of the President’s official secretariat. Otti I never met though. But in two separate essays, *Plaudits for Soludo, Otti and Bago,* and *Soludo, Otti and Prospects for National Integration,* I took specific note of their efforts in prosecuting people-oriented developmental agendas. With Soludo and Otti appointing non-indigenes of their respective states to the pinnacle of the civil service as Permanent Secretary and Head of Service, respectively, I reckoned elsewhere, that national integration was indeed feasible despite our fractious sociopolitics.
Enugu State began to feature in my thoughts in the aftermath of President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the state early January and the jaw-dropping projects he commissioned. I tracked the 2025 budget of the state and discovered it nearly approximated the one trillion naira mark, frantically chasing after established deep pockets like Lagos, Rivers, and now Niger State. Enugu now nestles with Ogun, Delta and Akwa Ibom states, on the column next to the big spenders. A substantial part of what the state intends to spend this year would indeed be generated via internal revenue, which was surprising. When the Nigerian Guild of Editors, (NGE), served notice of its 2025 Biennial Convention for Thursday June 26 to Sunday June 29, with Enugu State as host, I reckoned it was a fitting opportunity for the verification of the good tidings from the famous, primordial headquarters of Nigeria’s South East.
Enugu welcomes you, wide-armed, with smooth, motorable roads as you drive out of the *Akanu Ibiam International Airport.* Your driver is not dodging ditches or running into potholes. Mbah’s government you get to know, has rehabilitated 90 urban roads within his initial two years in office. Very evidently, Enugu has profited from quality leadership all through the past 26 years. The baton passed down from Chimaroke Nnamani, to Sullivan Chime, and thenceforth to Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and more contemporaneously, Peter Mbah, has steadied the state on an upward developmental trajectory. Whereas every dispensation etches its name on the whiteboard of time, the collective interest of the people of the state, are primary. Mbah, soft-spoken, with no airs around him, welcomed us at the formal commencement of the Convention on Friday June 26, 2025, at the very stately, purpose-built *Enugu International Conference Centre,* also developed by his administration within the first two years of his administration. Adjacent this and under fast-paced construction is a 340-room five-star hotel, consistent with growing Enugu into a tourism and conferencing hub. Mbah’s strategic vision indeed is to elevate the economy of his state from its present $4.4Billion to $30Billion in eight years.
The opening ceremony of the Enugu Convention of the Guild of Editors, also had in attendance media heavyweights like *Aremo Olusegun Osoba,* CON, a living legend of the Nigerian media, who edited *Daily Times,* the flagship of the erstwhile Daily Times conglomerate and served as two-time Governor of Ogun State. Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, FNGE, CON, media icon, who holds the record of having edited three major titles in the *Daily Times* stable in his time, *Business Times,* the London based *West Africa* magazine, and the flagship newspaper, *Daily Times* itself, was present. Nonagenarian Sam Amuka-Pemu, publisher of *Vanguard* newspapers, one of the elder statesmen of the profession who was expected, sent his apologies. Proprietor of Channels Television, one of Nigeria’s media bright lights, John Momoh, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, were equally in attendance. Media Adviser to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina; long-serving Adviser to Babatunde Fashola, SAN, Hakeem Bello, and Senior Special Assistant, (SSA) to President Bola Tinubu on Media, Tunde Rahman, were present. For the avoidance of doubt, the Enugu Convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors could rank as the most enthusiastically attended in recent years, commanding over 400 delegates. It was star-studded.
Typically, the third days of our Conventions are devoted to touring projects executed by our host governments. En route the *Michael Okpara Square* where editors converged before breaking into groups, Enugu residents were seen walking, jogging, exercising on sidewalks across the city in good numbers. It was for me, a reflection of contentment by the people with the leadership of their state. People being owed salaries, benefits, allowances and pensions wouldn’t prioritise exercising when there’s crippling hunger in their homes. It was also a reflection of the people’s confidence in the security regimen emplaced by their government for their safety. I found myself in *Group B* of the tourists, guided by the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), the US-trained Professor Chidiebere Onyia. Emeritus Editor Ugochukwu, pioneer Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), was our team leader. My colleague and sister from our days in *Daily Times,* Angela Agoawike said that once she sighted Ugochukwu at the Convention, she could swear I was somewhere in the audience!
Mbah’s *Smart Green Schools* which are being replicated in each of the 260 electoral wards in the state, must provoke the envy of many tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Thirty of this prototype have been completed. Under Mbah, education is free and imperative from kindergarten to JSS 3, to avail children of basic education. For starters, computer literacy is compulsory for every student. Side-by-side with approved curricular, Mbah’s vision is for each child, each graduate to acquire specific skills to help them become gainfully self-employed, rather than wait despairingly, for white collar jobs which may be slow in coming, or may never come. Each school has departments or laboratories or workshops for practical teaching of dressmaking, vulcanising and mechanical artisanship, hotel management and so on.
Mbah is as passionate about the agricultural sector and has indeed established a tractor assembly workshop. Completely knocked down parts, (CKDs) are imported and cobbled together in the workshop, ensuring value chain benefits at every intersection. Patrick Nwabueze Ubru the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Allied Industries briefed editors about the vision of the Mbah administration, to establish farm settlements of a minimum of 200 hectares, in each local council area. Each settlement is to grow crops compatible with its soil texture and environment to minimise crop failure. Agro-processing will be vigorously encouraged to ensure that benefits accrue to food producers down the line. The state hopes to have 1000 tractors working across the state in its bid to achieve self-sufficiency and food security. One hundred tractors have been coupled, one of them tested by Ugochukwu. It is expected that a similar number would also have been assembled before the end of the outgoing year.
With video clips of the deployment of cameras across roads in Lagos State which trended recently, it would seem, from what editors were shown in Enugu, that both states are racing for the medal for positively leveraging technology for security management. The *Command and Control Centre,* (CCC), in Government House, Enugu, is a specifically developed facility from where the entire state is monitored. Visible and invisible cameras mounted around and about the state, transmit information, real-time, to the Command Centre. As at the time of our visit to the CCC, 137,000 vehicles had moved around the state or driven through, that very day. The cameras can zoom to the faces of security personnel manning various outposts and pin-down points, and have the capacity to pick their name tags for disciplinary purposes in the event of misconduct in their area of responsibility, (AOR).
Mbah’s precedence demonstrates in graphic, practical terms, that artificial intelligence can be successfully deployed in crime tracking and security management in Nigeria. Every state Governor sincere with the pursuit of the security of his people needs to visit Peter Mbah in Enugu. They need to experience what he has put in place, with the aim of replicating and operationalising same in their domains. The Mbah concept is powered by renewable energy and totally immune from the irascible instability of public electricity. Indeed, unabating insurgency culminating in the loss of the innocent lives of ordinary folks and soldiers, crimes like banditry and kidnapping, genocidal attacks on unsuspecting communities, can be pre-empted and mitigated with the aid of modern technology. It will unmask so-called “unknown gunmen,” outlaws and similar sadists who derive joy in the pain and grief of others.
Governor Peter Mbah treated the Guild to a beautiful gala night, after a day of trekking and climbing projects and sites being developed by his government. Very instructively, classy, top-of-the-range alcoholic beverages and wines were served, demystifying pretentiousness elsewhere. As one who has worked with and followed three Governors and at least one President over the years, one observed Mbah’s genuine resentment for needless exhibitionism. When he got up to address editors at the revelry, he needed no podium before him, no security aide behind him. He was just himself. He capped a beautiful Convention for the Guild by confirming that Enugu State will host the next conference of the body. He can be sure we will be back with our sneakers next time. We would be delighted to continue our project tours from where we took a break from today’s Enugu State, where Peter Mbah is noiselessly taking legendary strides.
*Tunde Olusunle, PhD, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA), is an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Abuja*
By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria is set to push for stronger humanitarian cooperation, youth empowerment and economic partnerships when the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers meets in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on August 27.
The Nigerian delegation to the meeting is being led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, who said the country’s participation was aimed at securing practical partnerships that would deliver tangible benefits to Nigerians.
The delegation departed from the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on Tuesday ahead of the meeting.
Speaking to journalists before departure, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria’s participation was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the country’s 4-D Foreign Policy Doctrine of Demography, Development, Diaspora and Democracy.
“This is a journey of strategic partnership and purpose devoid of ideological or religious fixation. Nigeria goes to Jeddah to advance cooperation that delivers real benefits to our people.
“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, our focus goes beyond partisan religious orientation and persuasion. It is about bringing real benefits and development to Nigerians. Our focus remains peace, prosperity, from stronger ties with the Islamic world,” the Minister of State said.
On humanitarian and security cooperation, the minister said Nigeria will advocate the operationalisation of a Nigeria-OIC Working Group on Humanitarian Affairs.
He said the proposed mechanism would strengthen regional responses to insecurity and humanitarian challenges in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel.
According to him, the initiative would cover support for interfaith dialogue, the rehabilitation of displaced communities, as well as efforts to tackle terrorism and violent extremism.
The minister also said Nigeria will seek expanded OIC-supported programmes targeting young people, women and other vulnerable groups.
He listed vocational training, women’s empowerment, healthcare and cultural exchanges among areas where Nigeria would seek greater cooperation.
The aim, he said, was to equip Nigerian youths with relevant skills while promoting peace and unity among OIC member states.
On economic diplomacy, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria will use the meeting to showcase the country’s economic reforms and investment opportunities under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said priority areas will include agriculture, manufacturing, Business Process Outsourcing, automotive, oil and gas, and commerce.
The minister added that Nigeria will engage OIC investors and institutions on Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) partnerships to attract foreign direct investment and support economic diversification.
The meeting will also feature the election of a new Secretary-General of the OIC.
Enikanolaiye said Nigeria will participate constructively in the process and work towards the emergence of leadership committed to unity, reform and people-centred programmes across the 57-member organisation.
He also sought to correct what he described as a lack of awareness about the activities of the OIC in Nigeria, noting that the organisation had implemented several programmes and projects in the country without religious bias.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multilateralism and stronger solidarity within the OIC, which he described as the second-largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations.
He noted that Nigeria had remained an active and prominent member of the OIC since 1986 and continued to play a leading role in promoting peace, development and cooperation among its 57 member states.
“Nigeria remains a committed member of the OIC. We will work with all member states to ensure our collective decisions reflect the aspirations of over 1.8 billion people and contribute to global peace and development,” he added.
The Minister of State is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts and OIC officials on the sidelines of the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting.
The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations and advancing Nigeria’s interests in humanitarian affairs, security, youth development and economic cooperation.
By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria and Thailand have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on technical cooperation as both countries seek to deepen economic relations, increase bilateral trade and attract more investment.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sihasak Phuangketkeow.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the agreement would provide a fresh platform for both countries to work together in skills development, technology transfer and sustainable development.
She welcomed Thailand’s Thailand-Africa Initiative (TAI) and called for closer collaboration between the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) and the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA).
The minister also highlighted the ongoing Thailand-Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Technology Development Project, proposing that it be expanded to other parts of Nigeria.
She called for greater cooperation in agricultural research, technology and innovation, stressing the need to use the partnership to improve development outcomes.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria was interested in taking its relationship with Thailand beyond its current level and building a strategic partnership anchored on stronger economic cooperation.
She urged both countries to diversify bilateral trade, which has largely centred on commodities and agricultural products.
The minister called for increased Thai investment and joint ventures in agro-processing, manufacturing, energy, ICT, mining, renewable energy and other value-added sectors.
She also drew attention to Nigeria’s large consumer market and the investment opportunities available to Thai businesses, urging them to take advantage of the country’s incentives and growing economic potential.
The minister further proposed the establishment of a Joint or Bi-National Commission to provide a permanent framework for bilateral economic dialogue, monitor the implementation of agreements and speed up the conclusion of pending bilateral instruments.
Among the agreements she identified for attention were the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, Trade Agreement, and Agreement on Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation.
Nigeria also called for closer relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), saying stronger regional cooperation could open up fresh opportunities for trade, investment and development.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to building a stronger economic partnership with Thailand through increased trade and investment, technical cooperation and regular high-level engagements.
On his part, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, described Nigeria as “a key economy in Africa.”
He said a strategic economic partnership between the two countries would boost investment and trade while delivering benefits to their citizens.
The signing of the MoU comes as Nigeria and Thailand seek to build on their longstanding diplomatic relations by expanding cooperation beyond traditional areas of trade and towards technology, agriculture, manufacturing and other sectors capable of creating jobs and supporting economic growth.
By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria and Thailand have agreed to strengthen their longstanding diplomatic ties and expand cooperation in trade, agriculture, investment, technology, security and other areas of mutual interest.
The commitment was made at the inaugural Nigeria-Thailand Bilateral Consultations Meeting held in Abuja.
The meeting brought together senior officials from the foreign ministries of both countries and provided an opportunity to review bilateral relations, discuss regional and global developments and identify practical areas for closer cooperation.
The Nigerian delegation was led by Ambassador Grema Garba, Director, Regions Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the Thai delegation was led by Mrs Sirilak Nyom, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The consultations also marked an important step in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of Bilateral Consultations, signed during the visit of Thailand’s then Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to Nigeria in 2023.
Nigeria and Thailand established diplomatic relations in 1962 and, at the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the cordial and mutually beneficial nature of their relationship.
Nigeria highlighted opportunities for increased cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture and food security, energy, manufacturing, tourism, healthcare, technology and technical cooperation.
Both countries also acknowledged their strategic positions as gateways to their respective regions, with Nigeria offering access to the African market and Thailand providing a gateway to Southeast Asia and the wider Asian market.
Agriculture emerged as one of the key areas of interest, with Nigeria expressing interest in Thailand’s experience in rice production, cassava processing, aquaculture, agricultural machinery and food processing.
The two sides also explored opportunities for increased Thai investment in Nigeria’s agricultural value chains.
Other sectors identified for greater economic cooperation included agro-processing, oil and gas, renewable energy, manufacturing, mining, healthcare, tourism, ICT and infrastructure.
The consultations further considered the possible operationalisation of the Joint Trade Committee and measures to encourage greater private-sector participation and make trade and investment between both countries easier.
Visa and consular matters also featured prominently during the meeting, with Nigeria raising concerns about visa procedures affecting Nigerian businesspeople, investors, students and tourists travelling to Thailand.
Nigeria called for greater transparency, efficiency and predictability in the visa application process.
The two countries also discussed migration management, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, protection of nationals, repatriation and prisoner-transfer arrangements.
On security, Nigeria and Thailand agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation against drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime, online scams and other forms of transnational organised crime.
Thailand highlighted its existing cooperation with Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the proposed Memorandum of Understanding on narcotic drug control and suppression.
It also introduced the SHIELD database as a tool for sharing information on scams and human trafficking, while expressing readiness to strengthen cooperation in intelligence sharing, digital forensics, law-enforcement coordination and capacity building.
The two countries equally welcomed opportunities for expanded technical cooperation through the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), including training, scholarships and institutional partnerships.
The areas identified for such cooperation include agriculture, food innovation, climate resilience, renewable energy and digital technology.
On international affairs, Nigeria and Thailand reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, international peace and security, regional integration and a rules-based international order.
Both countries supported comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council to ensure more equitable representation for Africa and stronger participation of developing countries in global decision-making.
Nigeria also welcomed Thailand’s Thailand-Africa Initiative and expressed its readiness to support stronger Thai engagement with the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The two sides exchanged views on regional developments, including insecurity in West Africa and the Sahel, stressing the importance of dialogue, confidence-building and coordinated responses to emerging security challenges.
They further agreed to continue consultations on cooperation within multilateral organisations and mutual support for candidates seeking positions in international institutions.
At the end of the meeting, both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcome and pledged to turn the discussions into concrete programmes and deliverables.
Thailand also indicated its readiness to host the second round of the Nigeria-Thailand Bilateral Consultations in Bangkok on a mutually agreed date and expressed interest in advancing outstanding bilateral agreements.
Nigeria, in turn, reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with Thailand to deepen their longstanding friendship and expand cooperation across economic, agricultural, technological, security, consular, developmental and multilateral areas.
Nigeria to Push Humanitarian, Youth, Economic Ties at OIC Meeting in Jeddah
Nigeria-Thailand Sign Technical Cooperation Pact, Target Bigger Economic Ties
Nigeria-Thailand Move to Deepen Ties, Expand Trade, Security Cooperation
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