Personality in Focus
Why Presidency Should Call Musawa to Order – The Stakeholders Perspective
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By Adepetu John
A Yoruba adage says, “Bi a ba fi ogun odun pile were, ojo wo la fe bu ni je?” This means “If it takes one twenty years to prepare for madness, when will one start biting people?”
The essence of the proverb is for one to strike while the iron is still hot instead of waiting and planning endlessly.
More than a year after President Bola Tinubu appointed Ms Hanatu Musawa as the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, stakeholders have expressed concerns that nothing has been achieved in the sector beyond rhetorics and grandstanding.
They said the actions of the Minister, exemplified more by flippant promises than concrete action, show she may not be well equipped to bring the much needed transformation to the Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy Sector.
Over the past years, economic experts and public affairs commentators have stressed that, as Nigeria grapples with economic challenges and strives to diversify its economic mainstay from oil, the creative sector is a veritable option.
Therefore, in August 2023, when President Bola Tinubu created a stand-alone Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy (FMACCE), many Nigerians, especially industry players, saluted his courage.
They described the move as a genuine commitment to supporting the growth and development of the art, culture, and creative economy sector for national economic gains.
The creation of the ministry by President Tinubu was seen as a clear indication that he recognised the vital role that the sector can play in his “Renewed Hope Agenda”to secure national economic turn-around.
Tinubu’s vision is encapsulated in the 8-Point Renewed Hope Agenda, and the Art, Culture and Creative sector is captured in point seven of the agenda, which is, “accelerating diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, manufacturing, and Innovation.
In the agenda, the Tinubu administration promised to bolster up the youths by exploiting the immense potentials in the entertainment, culture, tourism and arts sectors, particularly for job creation.
The stakeholders, therefore, viewed the creation of the ministry as a genuine commitment to supporting the growth and development of the art, culture and creative economy sector for national economic gains through job creation.
They, however expressed disappointment at Minister Musawa’s endless rhetorics, as all she has done since she was appointed is to peddle promissory notes on the creation of two million jobs for the youths, without any known steps taken to actualise the promise.
Two months after she assumed office, the minister, while addressing newsmen, promised to create two million jobs and shape the creative and cultural landscape of the nation. Nothing was done after that to actualise the promise as the Minister simply went underground.
In April, 2024, at the management retreat of the ministry which held about five months after the briefing referenced above, the minister again announced her intention to create two million jobs, without saying how or making any effort to make it happen.
“We are trying to diversify from oil through the creative industry. It is possible if we can get the support of those who know the creative industry very well and care about what the ministry is doing. We are looking at how to use the talents Nigerians have to bring value to the country.
“Job creation is key and we want to create and contribute 2 million jobs by 2027. We want to increase the GDP of Nigeria by 100 billion dollars by 2030.
“It is doable. We are going to work round the clock to ensure we are able to do that,” she said.
Speeches, promises as usual, no action. Meanwhile, the sector remains where it is.
The latest instance of plenty talk and no action came on Sept. 12, at a roundtable for local and international investors in Lagos, where Musawa reportedly “unveiled plans to generate at least 100 billion dollars and create over two million jobs from Nigeria’s creative economy yearly”.
In her speech, she lamented that despite its huge potential, Nigeria’s creative industry currently contributes just 5 billion dollars to the economy, with its different sub-sectors at various stages of development.
Perplexed Industry players have berated the Minister for lack of capacity to carry out the agenda set by the Tinubu administration to use the new ministry to create employment for the nation’s teeming youths.
Friday Ogunyemi, a member of Screen Writers Association of Nigeria, said that the new ministry needed peculiar leadership, someone who has been there, an industry player who understands in practical terms the challenges and the way forward for the sector.
“The Nigeria film and music industries have been described as self-made sectors, with little or no government input in its trajectory over the years.
“Now that there is a specific ministry for it, the first step should be to engage the industry players by bringing them together to discuss what affects them directly.
“This is why an industry person; someone who has been in the system, who understands the peculiar needs of the sector, is needed urgently to head the ministry,” he said.
Mathias Gimba, a member of Actors Guild of Nigeria, said although the pioneer minister has shown passion in ensuring that there is a turn-around in the sector, her lack of proper understanding of the sector and contact with stakeholders has been glaring in the last one year.
“She will do well in other areas of the Tinubu administration, but a more versatile and industry-oriented person is needed to drive the new art and culture and creative industry ministry,” he said.
Speaking in the same vein, an official of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), who asked for anonymity, said the much anticipated turn-around that the creative space needs to create jobs, engage youths and contribute meaningfully to the GDP required more than jejune political statements and seminars.
According to the official, Nigeria has comparative advantages in the creative sector, for economic development, and the industry should not be left in the hands of a novice.
The official noted that the sector’s contribution of just 1.2 per cent to the GDP in 2022 is an aberration, whereas other African countries with less potentials and comparative advantages are doing better.
It was therefore, the consensus of the stakeholders that President Tinubu should rejig the leadership of the sector with a view to maximizing its potentials.
They warned that the promises being glibly made by Minister Musawa – which she has not taken any steps to actuate – will become an albatross around the neck of the Administration in 2027!
By Eric Elezuo
Premier commercial bank, the United Bank of Africa (UBA) has announced the retirement of its chairman, Mr. Tony Elumelu after 12 years of meritorious service. The retirement notice will take effect from August 21, 2026.
The announcement was made on Monday after a meeting of the Board of Directors, according to a statement titled NOTIFICATION OF RETIREMENT OF GROUP CHAIRMAN OF UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA AND APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR, and made available to Pointblank.ng.
Elumelu will be replaced by Non-Executive Director of the bank, Mr. Emmanuel N. Nnorom, chartered accountant with over forty years’ experience in banking, finance and audit.
Expressing his appreciation for the privilege of serving the bank for 12 years as Chairman, Elumelu noted: that “Serving United Bank for Africa has been one of the great privileges of my career. UBA has established a unique competitive position, across Africa and globally, and I leave the Board with great confidence in UBA’s future. Emmanuel Nnorom is a leader of integrity, experience and sound judgement, and I am confident that the Bank will continue to thrive under his leadership.”
In his acceptance speech, the incoming Chairman, Emmanuel Nnorom remarked that “I am honoured by the trust the Board has placed in me and deeply conscious of the legacy I inherit. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board, Management and our staff across all our markets to sustain UBA’s momentum and continue delivering long-term value to our shareholders, customers and stakeholders.”
The statement quoted the Board as placing on record “its profound appreciation to Mr. Elumelu for his visionary leadership and exceptional contribution to the strategic vision and institutional strength of the UBA Group.”
It added that “Mr. Elumelu’s tenure has been a defining chapter in the Group’s history. Under his stewardship, UBA was transformed into a pan African institution, operating in 20 African countries and 4 global financial centres and serving over 50 million customers.”
Accomplished journalist and former Cable News Network (CNN) International anchor, Isha Sesay, will this week return to the studios of the global news network, not as an interviewer, but as the subject of its celebrated 30-minute magazine programme, African Voices, sponsored by telecommunications giant, Globacom.
The episode will shine a spotlight on the remarkable journey of the distinguished broadcaster whose career has traversed some of the most influential corridors of international journalism.
The 50-year-old British-Sierra Leonean media personality, born on January 6, 1976, rose to prominence through an illustrious career at CNN, which she joined as a news anchor in 2005 after distinguished stints with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Sky News. Over the years, Sesay became one of the most recognisable and respected faces in global television news, bringing clarity and composure to some of the world’s most consequential stories.
An alumna of Trinity College, Cambridge, United Kingdom, Sesay steadily carved a distinctive niche for herself in broadcast journalism. In 2009, she became the host of the inaugural edition of International Desk, CNN’s weekly news programme, further cementing her reputation as a journalist of substance and international standing.
Her career afforded her the opportunity to engage with numerous eminent personalities, including former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and his successor, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, among other notable global figures.
Sesay also contributed to Anderson Cooper 360° as presenter of the 360 Bulletin, a role she assumed on January 17, 2011. Subsequently, she was reassigned as anchor of another flagship news programme, CNN NewsCenter, continuing a professional trajectory that reflected both versatility and excellence.
Beyond the newsroom, Sesay has demonstrated a deep commitment to social impact. In 2014, she launched her educational and humanitarian non-profit advocacy initiative for the African girl-child. The organisation, aptly named Women Everywhere Can Lead, has since provided educational support and empowerment opportunities aimed at nurturing a new generation of female leaders across the continent.
More recently, Sesay captured public attention with her personal journey into motherhood, welcoming her first child through In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) as a single mother. Her experience has resonated with many women around the world, adding another compelling chapter to a life story already rich in courage, resilience and inspiration.
On this edition of African Voices, Sesay will share insights into her distinguished career, her enduring advocacy for girls’ education and empowerment, as well as her new and deeply personal adventure into motherhood. The programme will air on Saturday at 7.30am.
Repeat broadcasts will follow at 11.00am on the same day, while additional screenings are scheduled for Sunday at 3.30am and 6.00pm. Further rebroadcasts will air on Monday at 3.00am and 5.45pm, and on Tuesday at 5.45 pm, with the same time belt continuing into the following week until Monday at 3.00am
Personality in Focus
Double Honours for PLWD: Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation Opens Applications for Scholarship
The Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation (OSF) has announced the opening of applications for the 2026 OSF Scholarship Programme and the Professor Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN Fellowship, reaffirming the Foundation’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities, and developing future leaders within the disability community.
Since its establishment, the Foundation has worked to remove barriers to higher education by providing financial assistance, recognizing academic excellence, and investing in students whose determination and leadership have the potential to create lasting change in their communities.
Dr. Opeoluwa Sotonwa
Founder, Sotonwa Opeoluwa Foundation
The OSF Scholarship Program is open exclusively to Deaf and hard of hearing students enrolled in accredited tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The scholarship recognizes academic merit, leadership, resilience, and a commitment to pay it forward.
The Professor Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN Fellowship is open to law students with disabilities pursuing a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree at an accredited Nigerian institution. Named in honor of one of Nigeria’s most distinguished legal practitioners, the fellowship promotes greater representation of persons with disabilities within the legal profession while supporting the next generation of advocates,
scholars, and public leaders.
Mrs Cassandra Sotonwa,
Chief Operating Officer, Sotonwa Opeoluwa Foundation
“Education has the power to transform lives, strengthen communities, and expand opportunities for generations to come,” said Dr. Opeoluwa Sotonwa, Founder of the Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation.
”Through these programs, we continue our commitment to investing in talented students whose perseverance, engagement, and character will help shape a more inclusive and equitable Nigeria. We encourage every eligible student to apply and take advantage of these opportunities.
Applications will be evaluated through a competitive review process based on academic achievement, leadership potential, community engagement, and the overall quality of each application. Priority consideration may be given to applicants who have not previously received an OSF Scholarship or a Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN Fellowship.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the application instructions carefully. Only fully completed applications submitted with all required supporting documents by the published deadline of July 30, 2026 will be considered. Incomplete applications or those missing required documentation will not be reviewed.
The Foundation maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward fraud. Any applicant found to have submitted forged or altered transcripts, falsified documents, plagiarized personal statements, or other fraudulent materials will be disqualified and permanently barred from future scholarship and fellowship opportunities offered by the Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation.
Application forms, eligibility requirements, and submission instructions are now open and available at opeoluwasotonwafoundation.org.
Interested applicants should review the eligibility requirements and application instructions before submitting their materials.
About the Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation
The Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation (OSF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing educational access, leadership development, and economic empowerment for persons with disabilities in Nigeria. Through scholarships, fellowships, mentorship, strategic partnerships, and advocacy, the Foundation empowers students to achieve academic excellence, professional success, and meaningful
leadership.
