A goodwill message delivered by Joel Popoola, Managing Director, Anchora Advisory and Chair, UK Institute of Directors (IoD) Africa Group at the Northern Nigeria Investment & Industrialisation Summit 2025. Theme: Unlocking Strategic Opportunity in Mining, Agriculture and Power (MAP). September 29th -30th 2025.
It is a new dawn. The moment we have long awaited is finally here, the beginning of Africa’s economic prosperity.

If Northern Nigeria were a country, it would be the most populous in Africa after Nigeria itself, larger than Ethiopia. By landmass, it ranks just after Algeria, and in natural resources, it stands only behind the Democratic Republic of Congo. This makes Northern Nigeria not just a regional powerhouse but a decisive factor in shaping the prosperity of Nigeria, Africa, and indeed the entire Black race. That is why today matters.

It is no coincidence, that this moment comes on the eve of Nigeria’s Independence Day. Perhaps it is not too bold to declare 29th September as the Economic Independence Day for Northern Nigeria and, by extension, for Africa.

Nigeria has waited too long for Northern Nigeria to take its rightful place in driving our nation’s economic independence. Until the North is economically fixed, Nigeria cannot be fixed. And until Nigeria is fixed, Africa cannot be fixed. Fixing South Africa has not fixed Africa. Fixing Egypt has not fixed Africa. But fixing Northern Nigeria will inevitably fix Nigeria, and Africa, almost simultaneously.

Yes, we have celebrated the successes of some Nigerian states in boosting their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), but those achievements remain isolated. They have not transformed Nigeria as a whole. It has become increasingly clear that the true destiny of Nigeria’s prosperity lies in the soil on which we stand today, the same soil that has produced global champions in business, entrepreneurship, and trade. Alhaji (Baba) Aliko Dangote, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu and Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata.

Trade and investment thrive on perception. Together, we must build and project the right perception for this region. Northern Nigeria is ours, and it must be seen as a global investment hub. It is not enough for Mark Zuckerberg to visit Lagos; we must welcome him to Kano, Yobe, and Jigawa. Sokoto, Kaduna, and Adamawa should host Bill Gates, Jack Ma, Elon Musk, and Alastair King, the Lord Mayor of London.

As the Institute of Directors Africa Group, we are committed to going beyond Lagos. We want to facilitate trade missions across the Northern states, from Kogi to Katsina, and everywhere in between.

Access is trade, and trade is access. Business leaders should be able to fly directly from Heathrow to Taraba, or from JFK to Kano, without first stopping in Lagos or Abuja for a connecting flight. It is time for Northern Nigeria to unlock this opportunity.

From agribusiness to power to mining, there are investment-ready ventures waiting to scale across Africa. The world’s businesses always have options, but at this conference, together with Mr. President Renew Hope Agenda, we can, and we’ll join hands to position Northern Nigeria as the priority investment hub of the continent.

Through the Northern Elders Economic Forum, we can also nurture innovation and entrepreneurship by establishing hubs for young startups to test their ideas and grow into tomorrow’s global success stories.
This is our moment. This is the dawn of Northern Nigeria’s economic independence, and the rise of Africa.

The Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has vowed that his administration will deal decisively with anyone who commits ‘blasphemy’ against the Islamic Prophet Muhammad bin Abdullah (PBUH).

The governor made the revelation in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Abubakar Bawa, while warning against any act capable of “degrading the personality of Prophet Muhammad SAW, especially in a state like Sokoto, which is predominantly a Muslim-dominated community.”

The Sokoto State Police Command had earlier confirmed the murder of a butcher, Usman Buda, who was killed on Sunday by extremist Muslims over an alleged blasphemous comment.

Some of Buda’s closest business partners in the market who made attempts to rescue him were also injured by the extremists, and now receiving medical treatment.

This was as the police promised to investigate the incident and bring perpetrators to book.

Reacting to the development, Bawa said there’s a need for all the residents to respect and protect the prophet’s dignity and personality.

The statement read, “Sokoto State Governor, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu, has called on the people of the state to remain calm and law-abiding at all times. The governor cautioned the people against any act capable of degrading the personality of Prophet Muhammad SAW, especially in a state like Sokoto, which is a predominantly Muslim-dominated community.

“Dr Aliyu said that Sokoto people have so much respect and regard for Prophet Muhammad SAW, hence the need for all the residents to respect, protect his dignity and personality.

“I want to call on the people of Sokoto State to avoid taking laws into their own hands and instead report any alleged crime or blasphemy to the appropriate quarters for necessary action.

“Our religion does not encourage taking laws into one’s hands, so let us try to be good followers of our religion,” he appealed.

Aliyu’s spokesperson further noted that the governor has warned would-be troublemakers to have a change of mind, adding that Sokoto is the wrong place for them.

Bawa said, “He added that the present administration will not take the issue of blasphemy lightly, and will deal decisively with anyone found guilty of any act aimed at degrading the personality of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in line with the provision of Islamic laws.

“The governor assured the people of the state of his administration’s commitment to guarantee the safety of lives and property of all law-abiding citizens.

“The governor also warned would-be troublemakers to have a change of mind, adding that Sokoto is a wrong place for them.”

The Punch

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee has opened invitations for lawyers to apply for the 2023 award for the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria at N1m, per applicant.

The LPPC, in a notice issued by its Secretary/Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Hajo Bello, stated that the purchase of the application which began on January 1, will end on March 31, 2023.

In the notice obtained by The PUNCH, on Tuesday, it stated that the invitation was in accordance with the provisions of Section 5(2) of the Legal Practitioners Act, Cap L11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Regulation 10 (1) (4) of the Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria 2022.

The notice read,” The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (the LPPC” or “the Committee”) hereby makes a formal call for applications preparatory to the award of the rank for the year 2023.

“Commencing with this year’s exercise, applications shall only be made online and prospective applicants are directed to visit www.lppconline.com to make their applications.”

It further directed prospective applicants that an applicant must pay a non-refundable processing fee of N1,000. 000.00 only to any of their bank accounts.

“Only clear copies of materials presented shall be considered/acceptable by the Secretariat in compliance with Regulation 9(2) of the Guidelines. In the case of Academic applicants who may wish to submit publications that are too voluminous to be conveniently scanned and uploaded, it shall be sufficient to scan and upload the title page of such publications, whilst submitting the hard copies along with the flash drives referred to in clause 25 below.

“After uploading copies of all mandatory or supporting documents online, applicants shall also submit five flash drives containing a copy of their completed application form (to be downloaded from the online portal) as well as copies of all the mandatory and supporting documents uploaded on the online platform to the LPPC Secretariat.

“Any application together with supporting documents submitted in a manner contrary to the directives of the LPPC as enumerated above will be rejected by the Secretariat.

“All applications together with their mandatory or supporting documents must be submitted online at www.lppconline.com before 12:00 noon on March 31, 2023, whilst the flash drives referred to in clause 25 above must be delivered to the LPPC Secretariat before 4:00 pm on April 3, 2023.

“Upon conclusion of payment, an applicant should upload a copy of the evidence of payment on the application portal. The applicant will receive an email notification from the LPPC Secretariat confirming the applicant’s payment and clearing the applicant to proceed with the application process online.”

The LPPC warned further that Any submission made after the deadlines “shall be treated as a non-submission.”