By Ambrose Nnaji

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the rollout of 4,000 telecom towers nationwide in a major push to expand digital access and economic inclusion in Nigeria’s underserved communities.

Speaking after FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, said the approval stemmed from a joint memo by the Ministry of Digital Communications and the Ministry of Finance.

Idris said the initiative would address the digital exclusion of an estimated 23 million Nigerians who currently lack reliable connectivity, limiting their participation in the economy, access to information, and basic communication.

“Under this programme, about 4,000 towers will be erected in underserved communities. These service centres for agricultural mechanisation and the digital economy will ensure that no community is left behind”, he said.

He noted that the lack of digital access in remote areas had slowed rural commerce and hindered national security efforts. The deployment of the towers, he said, would boost local economies, improve security communication systems, and support the federal government’s broader digital transformation drive.

“Indeed, this will also help in fighting insecurity and enhancing commerce and economic activity amongst the people of Nigeria,” the minister added.

Idris further disclosed that FEC had approved the establishment of agricultural mechanisation service centres across the six geopolitical zones to strengthen year-round farming and support food security. The decisions, he said, align with the medium-term expenditure framework presented earlier by the Ministers of Finance and Budget.

The initiatives are part of ongoing government reforms aimed at accelerating digital inclusion, strengthening rural economies, and modernising the agricultural sector.

By Ambrose Nnaji

Africa’s foremost industrial conglomerate, the Dangote Group, is on track to become the world’s largest producer of fertilizer by 2028, according to its Chairman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote. He made the disclosure at the Imo Economic Summit held in Owerri.

Dangote said the group is accelerating an aggressive expansion strategy that will raise its urea production capacity from 3 million metric tons to 12 million metric tons within four years—placing Nigeria at the forefront of the global fertilizer market.

He emphasised that Africa must now assert its place in global commerce and industrial growth, noting that the continent’s development will only be achieved through bold local investments.

“The time has come for Africans to step into greatness. We will top global fertilizer production by 2028 because we are expanding capacity from 3 million to 12 million tons,” he said.

Dangote urged African investors to prioritise investments within the continent, arguing that foreign capital often follows the confidence demonstrated by local entrepreneurs.

“Only a local investor can convince a foreign investor to invest in his home. There is no place like home,” he said.

He also revealed ongoing efforts to double the group’s domestic investments—including plans to scale up operations to 1.4 million barrels per day in the energy sector—while calling for stronger private-sector interventions in electricity generation.

The summit also featured notable global leaders. Former President of Mauritius, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, noted that Africa’s youthful population and its 30% share of the world’s mineral resources offer a foundation for long-term economic transformation.

“It is time for Africa to take her destiny in her hands,” she said.

President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, declared the event open. Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also graced the summit, underscoring its international significance.

By Ambrose Nnaji

Seplat Energy Plc., Nigeria’s leading independent energy company, has secured three significant awards across finance, upstream operations, and sustainability, reinforcing its position as one of Africa’s most admired corporate performers.

At the 30th Anniversary of the PEARL Awards in Lagos, Seplat clinched the Market Excellence Award for the 2025 Highest Net Asset Ratio, a recognition that underscores the company’s strong asset efficiency and profitability on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX). The PEARL Awards—established in 1995 to promote discipline, transparency, and growth within Nigeria’s capital market—apply a rigorous, data-driven process to honour top-performing listed companies.

Explaining the metrics, the organisers stated that the Return on Net Assets (RONA) ratio highlights how efficiently a company converts its assets into earnings. Seplat’s performance in this category reflects sustained operational strength and investor value creation.

The company also won Upstream Deal of the Year at the World Energy Capital Assembly (WECA) Awards in London, a global recognition that celebrates outstanding transactions, financial performance, and innovation in the oil and gas industry. The accolade places Seplat among globally respected deal-makers shaping the future of upstream energy.

Rounding off the honours, Seplat received the Education Intervention of the Year at the SERAS Africa Sustainability Awards in Lagos. The award recognises the company’s contributions to human capital development and its role in driving inclusive, community-focused education initiatives. This year’s SERAS theme—“Sustainability 2.0: Innovating for Impact and Inclusive Growth”—reflects a shift towards more intentional, future-ready actions across the continent.

SERAS Founder Ken Egbas emphasised that African companies must increasingly connect “growth to inclusion, profit to purpose, and ambition to equity,” noting that Seplat and other winners demonstrated exemplary leadership in sustainable development.

Pearl Awards President/CEO Tayo Orekoya highlighted the credibility of the awards’ methodology, adding that each category is determined through verifiable metrics. NGX CEO Jude Chiemeka commended the Awards’ founders for fostering a culture of performance excellence within Nigeria’s capital markets.

Together, the recognitions affirm Seplat’s strong strategic execution, operational resilience, and commitment to innovation and social impact—hallmarks that continue to position the company as an industry leader both locally and globally.