Boss Picks

US/Nigeria Faceoff: Akinyemi, Keshi, Adebanwi, Sani Brainstorm on Way Forward

Published

4 weeks ago

November 14, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The Dele Momodu Leadership Centre in Ibadan came alive Thursday when prominent Nigerians took it upon themselves to brainstorm over the threat of invasion by the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, and the redesignation of Nigeria as Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the same United States as the result of the alleged and reported Christian Genocide ongoing in the nation.

Moderated by famous journalist, Dr. Reuben Abati, with the theme ‘How to Resolve the America-Nigeria Faceoff’, and organised by the Dele Momodu Foundation at the prestigious international arena of the Dele Momodu Leadership Centre, Ibadan the parley lived up to its billing, x-traying possible angles of mitigating the imbroglio for sustainable diplomatic relationship between the two countries.

The event featured renowned professionals in local and international diplomacy including Professor Wale Adebanwi of the University of Pennsylvania, Senator Shehu Sani, Ambassador Joe Keshi, a former Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, who once supervised the Nigerian Consulate in Atlanta, Georgia and seasoned diplomat and former Minister of External (Foreign) Affairs, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi.

Discussing the tangible impact of the diplomatic friction between Nigeria and the US on everyday Nigerians, in terms of security cooperation, economic opportunities, and other implications, Senator Sani noted that Nigeria should take the lead to solve its own problems as depending on America could be counter-productive.

“Let us solve this security problem as a national problem. Let no one think America will come here, sacrifice its resources and soldiers, to protect any faith. They don’t do that. They have never succeeded anywhere,” Sani said.

While maintaining that the bandits and terrorists do not have the consent of real Muslims to perpetrate their heinous crimes, he added that;

“But it’s a fact that Nigerian governments and security agencies and defence forces have failed to protect Muslims in Zamfara and Christians in Benue and Plateau state. That’s the fact of it. If you change the wordings and the phrases, it can change a whole meaning. There is a fundamental difference between saying terrorists operating in Benue and Plateau are the same terrorists operating in Kaduna and Zamfara states.”

He further dismissed Trump as unseriois and cannot be trusted as many of his threats have gone unaccomplished.

“And if you live by the tweet and the True Social media posting of Trump, you are likely going to be disappointed all your life. He said he’s going to invade Greenland; he has not done it. He say he’s going to invade Mexico for drug; he has not done it. He say he’s going to invade Colombia; he has not done it. He say he’s going to invade Venezuela; he has not done it,” he said.

In his own response to the issue of the first and most critical step both governments need to take to de-escalate tension, as well as the confidence-building measures Nigeria should adopt even as Financial Tomes called Nigerian diplomacy inept, Ambassador Joe Keshi started by denouncing that fact that Nigeria is a ‘strategic partner’ of the United States considering the fact that Nigeria has never got what known strategic partners of the US get.

Keshi blamed the escalation of the issues on Nigeria’s porous diplomatic framework, citing how the government did nothing Christian groups were making their representations in the US senate and other highly rated platforms.

“The truth we must tell ourselves sometimes is that in the last, probably 10 years, quite frankly, I will tell you — because I’m involved and I still reach out to the ministry — things have gone very bad with the Nigerian diplomatic service; not to talk of Nigerian diplomacy itself, completely.

“But even the ministers today do complain — the capacity is not there. Nobody wants to do any serious work. All they want to do is: they come back, they go; they want to go to posting again immediately,” Keshi lamented.

In his concluding remarks, Keshi posited a question “So you ask yourself this question: why has the Nigerian military not been able to address these security issues? Why has the government taken its eyes off the ball, realizing that the security situation is not only affecting human lives but also affecting our economy, and that something needed to be done to take care of the problem as quickly as possible?”

Also speaking, Professor Adebanwi traced the origin of the crises, blaming it on poor response to crisis, poor crisis management and management of foreign relations among others.

“The fundamental challenge is the objective reality of our security problem, and this has been going on for long. There have been different kinds of dimensions of this objective crisis that we’ve had to face in the last almost two decades. So that’s the first challenge. So, there is a problem, as you articulated in different ways when you started out. This didn’t just happen; there was a critical problem that needed to be addressed that, you know, was not addressed for a long time.

“The second issue is the management of the immediate crisis, which is the response that we received from the United States: the president, the senator who first spoke, and then the reaction of the president, and some of the issues that had been raised earlier about the mobilization within the domestic environment in the United States. And of course, this was also in response to some of the challenges in our own domestic environment in Nigeria. Some of the earlier speakers had mentioned people from some of those communities who have visited the United States and met with, you know, senators and other communities within the United States. So we have that challenge— the management of that crisis— apart from the fundamental security challenge,” he exposed.

In his exposition, the former External Affairs Minister, Bolaji Akinyemi, who presently runs a foreign policy platform called Through My Eyes, rejected the conspiracy theories of Trump’s ulterior motive in lending a helping hand, saying “I am not buying into these conspiracy theories—which we love to use as distractions when we are avoiding the core issues we should be facing.”

He added that one makes offers to take confrontation off the table, stressing that “I find nothing wrong with that.”

He noted, “If the United States needs an international peacekeeping force in Gaza—we are not looking for a clean slate anywhere in the world, definitely not in Gaza—but if the United States needs an international peacekeeping force and Nigeria can offer a battalion, I find nothing wrong with offering that. Because, in a way, Trump also needs some form of positive acknowledgment of his contributions in the world.

“Number two, we cannot deny that.
We cannot deny the fact that the Christians, Nigerian Christians, have access to American Pentecostal Christians. And while we were leaping diplomatically, they’ve managed to get through to those people and present their case to them about what’s happening.

Their own mandate, or their own core mandate, is with the Christians in Nigeria and what’s happening to them. And I don’t know how many times a loser of that…”

Boss Picks

The Incredible World of Capt. Segun Sotomi @45

Published

6 days ago

December 6, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

If there is a limit to paying dues as regards affecting humanity, Captain Emmanuel Adesegun Sotomi, has done absolutely divine, excellently well and incredibly outstanding. And he is only 45 years. Yes, December 5, 2025 was his birthday.

A typical all-rounder, Sotomi is a blend of academic, field and the unthinkable. He is a generalissimo in every field he has found himself; enterprise, camaraderie, business of 9-5 or flying for commercial purposes or pleasure. Sotomi is the future.

A brief of his adapted career trend reveals that Sotomi has seen it all, achieved it all, and can be defined as human technology transfer in the way he has mentored a great number of youths and competitors and contemporaries alike.

Philanthropism; yes, a lot of folks, who know him are full of testimonies of his open handedness, his love to rescue the needy and lift the downtrodden are phenomenal. He is a lover of humanity, a true legend in discipline.

Soft spoken and well read, Sotomi is a dream of every growing youth, who planned to be thoroughly established before the golden age. He is a role model.

Below is a derived biodata of the fast rising pilot-cum-entrepreneur…

Captain Segun Sotomi is a skilled commercial pilot, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He attended the University of Lagos before going to top-tier aviation schools in South Africa, Canada, and the United States to obtain his pilot licenses. He is currently a captain with Gulf Helicopters Qatar, a subsidiary of Qatar Petroleum.

Capt. Sotomi is licensed to operate both airplanes and helicopters [Licenses include SACAA PL (Airplane); CPL / FAA ATPL (Helicopter)]. His previous work experience includes Nest Oil, where he flew offshore.

He is also the founder and CEO of Southern Shore Integrated Services LTD, an offshore aviation logistics support company, and has a passion for working with, and empowering youths.

Captain Sotomi has served in several management positions in his flying career, and also sits on the board of different top-tier companies.

He is an avid polo player, and is happily married with children.

Happy 45th birthday!

Boss Picks

Meet Muhammad Ashfaq Hussain, CEO at Profound Realtors

Published

6 days ago

December 6, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

It takes hard work to work harder. It takes achievement to attract more achievements. And so, at Profound Realtors, hard work and achievements have remained the other of the day, creating leverage for more affordable housings clients in and out of Dubai, and unleashing comfort and peace of mind never experienced anywhere else.

The success of Profound Realtors, the credit it has enjoyed across the world, and the goodies it still have in store for as many that are making up their minds to transact concluding businesses of homes and lands with the company, is attributed to a dedicated team of workers, led by the ever trustworthy Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Ashfaq Hussain, a seasoned real estate personal with experience spanning years.

Mr Hussain is a handful when it comes to service delivery, customer satisfaction and accountability. His human face to every transaction has placed Profound on the great map of trust, honesty, affordability, reliability and comfort.

One just need to purchase from Profound to prove the grace of service delivery.

Ashfaq Hussain is further presented as a colossus in putting smiles on the faces of clients and every other person he comes in contact with in the entrepreneurial journey.

His biodata is presented as follows:

With over 20 years of experience in Dubai’s dynamic real estate market, Mr. Ashfaq Hussain is a seasoned professional who has witnessed the evolution of the industry from its early leasing days to the launch of freehold properties in 2004. Hailing from a humble background in Pakistan, Ashfaq moved to Dubai with a dream and a determination to succeed—and through hard work and unwavering dedication, he has turned that dream into reality.

Ashfaq’s expertise and passion for real estate have earned him a reputation as one of Dubai’s most trusted realtors. His exceptional track record includes brokering high-value transactions of villas and luxury mansions on the iconic Palm Jumeirah, catering to investors and celebrities from around the globe.

Currently, Ashfaq manages one of the largest celebrity property portfolios in Dubai, and his name is synonymous with excellence in the industry. He is well-regarded by leading developers such as Emaar, Nakheel, Damac, and Dubai Properties.

As the founder of Profound Realtors, Ashfaq now leads a team of experienced real estate professionals, providing top-notch services in luxury property sales, leasing, and investment consultancy. His deep knowledge of the market and dedication to client success continue to make him a respected figure in Dubai’s real estate landscape.

Profound is the name when it comes to affordable houses in Dubai.

Boss Picks

Ghana’s Inna Mariam Patty Called to the Bar of England & Wales with Distinction

Published

2 weeks ago

November 27, 2025

Eric

Distinguished Ghanaian entrepreneur and philanthropist, Inna Mariam Patty, was officially called to the Bar of England and Wales at Lincoln’s Inn on November 25, 2025, graduating with Distinction from the University of Law.

In an extraordinary show of support, guests travelled from Ghana, Dubai, Uganda, South Africa, the United States of America and across the United Kingdom to celebrate this landmark achievement at both the Call ceremony and the private dinner celebration held afterwards.

Among the high-profile attendees were Miss Patty’s parents, Ambassador Youssif Patty and Mrs. Jameelah Patty, and her siblings, as well as: H.E. Mrs. Zita Benson, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, and Mr. Bobby Benson.

Others were Mr. Kwabena Osei-Danquah, Chief of Staff, Commonwealth Secretariat, London, Ms. Eileen Baguma, HR & Corporate Affairs Director, EACOP Uganda; Ms. Pihillipa Pepera, CEO of Pippas Health Centre, Accra; Mrs. Vangie Mari Patty, Regional Engineering Manager, Puma Energy; General Manager, EIB Network; and Founder & President, Women in Sustainability Africa.

The dignitaries joined family, friends, and colleagues who travelled internationally to honour Miss Patty’s distinguished academic achievement and her transition into the legal profession.

Speaking after the ceremony, Patty remarked: “This milestone is a continuation of my purpose—to use law as a tool for empowerment, justice, and social impact, especially for women and vulnerable communities.”

Patty is widely celebrated for her leadership as CEO of Exclusive Events Ghana Ltd and Chairwoman of the Miss Ghana Foundation, through which she has driven initiatives in education, healthcare, and community development. She also serves as a Board Member of FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital.

Her exceptional career has earned her recognitions including:

Overall African Woman Achiever (CSR Consultant), African Women Awards 2023
Top 50 Young CEOs in Ghana (Avance Media, 2023)
International Arch of Europe Award (2017)

Patty’s call to the Bar marks a powerful blend of entrepreneurial excellence, philanthropy, and legal advocacy—positioning her as a rising legal voice and social impact leader for Ghana and beyond.

ABOUT INNA MARIAM PATTY

Inna Mariam Patty is a Ghanaian business executive, lawyer, and philanthropist. She is CEO of Exclusive Events Ghana Limited, Chairwoman of the Miss Ghana Foundation, and a Board Member of FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital. Patty holds an MSc in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics, as well as a GDL and BPC with Distinction from the University of Law.