By Gloria Ikibah

Nigeria and South Africa have restated their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through deeper cooperation in trade, investment, defence, energy, and cultural exchange.

Both countries made this pledge during a high-level political consultation held in Abuja on 21 October 2025.

The meeting, which marked the inaugural session under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Political Consultations, was co-chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and South Africa’s Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Thandi Moraka.

The consultations were held within the framework of the Bi-National Commission (BNC), which serves as the highest bilateral mechanism between the two nations. The discussions focused on strengthening the longstanding friendship, cooperation, and solidarity between both countries, in line with the directives of Presidents Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Cyril Ramaphosa.

Both delegations engaged in extensive discussions on political, economic, and social developments within their countries, across Africa, and globally. The meeting provided a platform to review progress on previously agreed commitments and to address areas that require renewed attention.

According to the communiqué, the two sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to multilateralism, pledging continued cooperation within the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), and other international organisations. Both nations also agreed to support each other’s candidatures in multilateral institutions and to jointly advance African positions on global issues.

Among the highlights of the meeting was the review of progress made in key bilateral agreements. The parties noted the April 2025 visit of South Africa’s Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, to Abuja, during which he signed a partnership agreement with Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake. The agreement aims to boost investment, share knowledge, and promote technology transfer between the two countries’ mining sectors.

On visa liberalisation, both sides agreed to fast-track simplified visa procedures for businesspersons to ease mobility and enhance trade.

The communiqué also emphasised the strength of cultural collaboration, noting the ongoing Nigeria–South Africa Audio-Visual Cooperation Agreement, which facilitates co-productions, skills transfer, and investment in the film industry.

In the transport sector, the meeting expressed satisfaction with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in January 2025 between South Africa’s Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) and Nigeria’s Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

However, the two sides also acknowledged delays in finalising the MoU on Standards and Standardisation between Nigeria’s Standards Organisation (SON) and the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). It was noted that the document remains under review by Nigeria’s Ministry of Justice, prompting South Africa to express concern over the delay through diplomatic channels.

The communiqué further revealed that the two countries plan to operationalise the Joint Ministerial Advisory Council on Industry, Trade and Investment (JMACITI) before the end of 2025 to accelerate economic cooperation and resolve market access challenges.

Both nations welcomed the conclusion of the MoU on the Early Warning Mechanism, describing it as a vital tool for addressing consular and migration issues. They agreed that the 3rd Consular and Migration Forum (CMF) should take place in Pretoria during the first quarter of 2026 to review progress in these areas.

In defence and security, the meeting commended the work of the Defence and Security Working Group, which convened the 6th Session of the Defence Committee (DEFCOM) in Abuja in September 2025 to assess progress on BNC decisions. Other working groups were encouraged to intensify their efforts to ensure timely delivery of all agreed commitments.

To ensure effective follow-up, both parties announced the establishment of a Joint Implementation Committee (JIC), which will serve as a monitoring and evaluation mechanism for all bilateral commitments. The JIC will meet quarterly, primarily through virtual sessions, to track implementation of decisions taken during the last two BNCs and the current consultations.

The two countries also expressed strong support for the upcoming G20 Africa Outreach Meeting on Industrialisation and Agriculture, scheduled to take place in Abuja on 3 November 2025, describing it as an opportunity to amplify Africa’s voice in global economic discussions.

Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, speaking on behalf of the Nigerian government, commended the South African delegation for its commitment and constructive engagement during the talks, which she said led to “fruitful and forward-looking outcomes.”

Both parties agreed to hold the next round of political consultations in 2026, preceded by a mid-term review meeting, with dates to be determined through diplomatic channels.

The Abuja meeting underscored the shared resolve of Nigeria and South Africa to deepen collaboration, promote regional stability, and advance Africa’s collective development agenda through mutual respect, partnership, and strategic engagement.

By Prosper Olayiwola

The Senate Thursday through its Committee on Public Procurement, harped on the need to make procurement process in the country more transparent and in strict compliance with laid down procedures .

It posited that public procurement in Nigeria should be a model of transparency and efficiency towards ensuring value for money by making every naira spent , translates into provable projects in the country .

Submissions to these effects , were made by the Chairman of the Committee , Senator Olajide Ipinsagba ( Ondo North ) in his speech at the 2- day retreat organised for members of the committee at Fraser Suites in Abuja by LeadBold Resource Consulting .

According to him,” Public procurement is not merely a technical or administrative activity; it is the mechanism through which government policies are transformed into tangible services, infrastructure, and development outcomes.

“It accounts for a significant proportion of national expenditure and, therefore, demands the highest standards of integrity, efficiency, and accountability”.

He said though in Nigeria, the Public Procurement Act 2007 vis – a – vis , the establishment of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Senate Committee on Public Procurement,
marked a decisive step toward institutionalizing these principles but more still needed to be done in terms of required reforms .

” Public Procurement is not a one-time event; it is a continuous process of evolution, adaptation, and learning.

” The Senate Committee on Public Procurement remains committed to legislative oversight, policy advocacy, and institutional reforms that strengthen integrity and compliance in the procurement system.

“Let us, therefore, reaffirm our collective resolve to make public procurement in Nigeria a model of transparency and efficiency—not only in Africa but across the global stage.

” By aligning our practices with international standards and embracing innovation, we can ensure that every naira spent translates into better schools, safer roads, improved healthcare, and a more prosperous nation in line with Mr. President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda”, he added .

Earlier in her opening remarks , the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Leadbold Resource Consulting Ltd , Bartister Kelechi Kingsley , said the overarching aim of the Retreat was to enhance the strategic leadership capacity of the Senate Committee on Public Procurement to effectively drive oversight, transparency , accountability and compliance in Nigeria ‘s public procurement ecosystem.

” The retreat seeks to expose participants to global regulations, international best practices and practical frameworks that will strengthen institutional integrity, ensure value for money in public expenditure and advance national development objectives through sound procurement governance”, she explained .

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa and Prosper Olayiwola

October 23,2025.

Lagos-born engineer Ayomide (“Ayo”) Yusuf is part of a new class of automotive software leaders pushing electric and hybrid vehicles to be not just cleaner—but measurably smoother, safer, and more intuitive.

His portfolio spans peer-reviewed ADAS research, production-grade driveline control for flagship EVs, and a novel driver-to-driver signaling invention designed to reduce roadway conflict. Together, these contributions have earned him recognition from senior industry and academic voices as an engineer of “extraordinary ability,” with impact already felt on U.S. roads.

A research-to-roads pipeline
Yusuf’s academic foundation was forged at Oakland University, where his master’s thesis advanced GPU-powered neural networks for real-time lane tracking and culminated in a peer-reviewed paper at the SAE World Congress (2019). The throughline of his work—bridging AI perception with embedded, real-time constraints—became the launchpad for industry-scale systems. Faculty who taught and advised him point to both scholarly rigor and deployment readiness as markers that set him apart early.

Making EVs feel better—and be safer—at scale
At General Motors, Yusuf designs and implements driveline dynamics software that reduces vibration and driveline lash and makes torque transitions and regenerative braking feel natural to drivers. These improvements aren’t theoretical—they ship in high-volume EVs such as the Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Blazer EV, and GMC Hummer EV, where they enhance both safety and ride quality. Senior engineering managers at GM and beyond describe his work as production-level and “of major significance,” noting real-world drivability gains and peer recognition for technical depth and leadership.

A new language for the road: “Drivemoji”
Yusuf is also the inventor of Drivemoji (U.S. Patent App. No. 63/820,012), a driver-to-driver communication interface that enables intuitive, human-readable signals—think “Thank you” or “Please merge”—from within the vehicle. Expert assessors call the concept original, technically feasible, and socially meaningful, citing its potential to reduce misunderstanding, road rage, and improve real-time coordination in congested environments. Under USCIS policy, credible expert testimony can support the significance of pending patents; multiple independent letters do exactly that for Drivemoji.

Engineering tools other engineers use
Beyond vehicle features, Yusuf authored Codeillac, an open-source plugin for cross-platform code analysis and diagnostics in automotive software. Leaders note it can enable systematic detection of driveline anomalies and shorter development cycles, extending his impact beyond a single company to the broader engineering community.

Peer recognition and field leadership
A hallmark of top-tier professionals is being trusted to judge the work of others. Yusuf serves as a peer reviewer for journals and conferences in robotics, embedded systems, and automotive AI—evidence of professional esteem typically reserved for subject-matter experts. Multiple independent recommenders also credit him with original contributions of major significance, reflecting a consensus across academia and industry that he is among the leading voices advancing intelligent mobility.

Societal impact: safer roads, cleaner mobility, stronger STEM pipelines
Yusuf’s work directly addresses public-interest outcomes: better vehicle stability and braking behavior that reduce crash-linked driver errors, behavioral-safety communication to calm tense road interactions, and tooling that helps other engineers build safer systems faster. He also amplifies impact through education—mentoring young developers and demystifying AI/robotics for U.S. youth—helping seed the next generation of transportation innovators.

What comes next
Now pursuing a PhD focused on safe social robotics, Yusuf is integrating embedded perception, driveline control, and human behavior modeling into a unified vision: vehicles that are smoother, safer, and more socially aware. As one professor summarized, his ambition to combine driveline performance, lane-keeping support, and real-time communication “aligns with U.S. goals of clean mobility, transportation safety, and next-generation innovation.” That alignment—paired with deployed results and peer recognition—signals a professional already operating at the top of his field.