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NIGERIA: SHAME OF A NATION By – Comrade Westo Adekunle Adejumo
I had wished to ignore the rain of shame that descended on Nigeria my country in the past few weeks but, the patriotic spirit will not just allow me to sleep off it. Therefore, I have decided to come up with my position paper.
I cannot but concluded that President Buhari can hardly do anything rightly in Nigeria. He is no doubt a confused Man. I am still willing to see the day when Mr. President will do things rightly as I am willing to celebrate with others that care.
It is a peak of shame on our great country that appointments, employment and empowerment are full of nepotism and connection. Upon all the honesty and sincerity that was gullibly accorded to our President by some myopia, Mr. President is still fighting an incompetent war on corruption, added with many denials of reality and blame game on past government, thereby, exempting those corrupt officials under his nose rather than making them examples.
Also in this Buhari government, Nigerians have witnessed where a single person has held three different ministerial portfolios with huge task. There is no amount of capacity that one might have gotten for himself, even when one’s memory is working like 500-million Gigabytes computer system, added with lot of temerities, he or she cannot comfortably handle two commissioners’ offices in a small populated state capital in Nigeria, let alone; three ministerial positions in Nigeria. Only God knows what ministered to Mr. President to have made Babatunde Raji Fashola a 3-in-1 minister; (Power, Works and Housing) without getting three other capable hands to work with him. Now, total darkness has become our trademark in Nigeria at every night. Thank God for plant generating machines.
I even read in the news recently that some groups are protesting in Abuja, and displaying lanterns as a sign of no light, over lack of electricity in their communities since more than two months back, and they keep receiving and paying NEPA bills. Unfortunately for Nigeria, this protest is also covered by different mass media stations including international ones, and shortly, Mr. President will travel to other countries to disgrace us more. If I may ask, how many Presidents of other countries has been flying around, especially down to Nigeria? This is terrible.
Another shame of the nation is the MMM heartbreaks, where millions of Nigerians have been outsmarted by the unregistered Ponzi / Pyramid scheme due to the lack of social security in Nigeria. The hardship in the country has allowed for internet scam on millions of Nigerians, since the government has no live touching programme for the commoners that dominated the largest percentage of our population. Instead of this government to address the vulnerability of the people and occasionally protect the masses from self-inflicting harms, our government has only warn the victims of the MMM. If our government has provided a regulatory and prosecutorial agency against the Ponzi / Pyramid scheme of this nature, Nigeria victim would not have experienced such heartbreak from those three Indian brothers (Sergie Mavroid, Vyacheslav Mavroid Olga Melnikova) that created MMM.
Though, I am not also exceptional in the area of participation / membership of the MMM scheme. Just that, I have such a large heart to do away with issues that are capable of weighing me down, while I move on quickly. But, some people are not gifted in that regard. Till this moment, many Nigerians are still very frustrated with the shock and heartbreak gotten from MMM due to the sad news that came to them that the scheme has been paused and all pa account had been frozen. I have continue getting a lot of hit and attacks on my Facebook timeline and inbox over my last broadcast on MMM, where I displayed some screenshots of participants with big monies they had invested on MMM scheme. Even, some of my Polytechnic days friends are not left behind in the personal attack game on my timeline / thread on Facebook.
Moreover, Nigeria Government has rather taken the good citizens for granted by shifting blames on the MMM participants in Nigeria, forgetting that, the hardship condition in the country does not give enough room for many participants to look deeply, the risk crested in the MMM scheme.
It is shameful to our country in this Buhari government that all the Honorable Ministers that accompanied President Buhari to National Assembly for 2017 budget presentation were found sleeping. (Not even dozing BUT slept off)! No wonder our Great Economy is wiping off in the face of recession.
It is in this Buhari government that our Great Falcons were tuned to streets protesters, after making $4.3 million from their 1st position in the just concluded ‘AWCN’ tournament. Funny enough, the sports minister said that the Falcons’ victory was not prepared for and there is no budget for them, therefore, no money was allocated to pay their dues / allowance! What a shame!
However, I read on the social media this very afternoon that; the CBN has gotten the federal government order to pay the Super Falcons after they had been embarrassed initially. Well, I just hope that they had been paid this afternoon.
Lest I forget, the same federal executive members, who have been saying there is no money in the country after sinking the country into recession are the ones driving and flying around the country / world in big cars and jets of their choice. But to pay the young Heroines who have suffered to bring a great honour to the country is a big problem!
Funny enough, in this same government, how could President Buhari who could not put the country in order, who has been disobeying court orders, who has never for once congratulated his counterparts in those days he was losing presidential elections could stood up, aiming to mediate and persuade Gambia president to accept defeat? Honestly, shameless is a big virus. One just needs to remind our President that he has done worse in the area of not accepting defeat and he has not lived by example in the past! Leadership should be by example. Thank God; Gambia president has replied him accordingly!
In addition, it still baffles me that this is same Buhari that is currently messing the country’s economy and reputation is the one that has tried severally / repeatedly, begging Nigerians for one (more) chance to the office number citizen of Nigeria after his military representation. It is was believed that, all the while he kept trying, he would have gathered him with more strength and ideas to take Nigeria to the next level, unfortunately, reverse is the case. He has just wasted an approximated two years to surrounding himself with greedy old mediocre, ineffectual comrades, the sick, the aged, people bereft of common ideas, bigots and pretenders.
Another thing that this government has gotten wrong is the banning of importation cars by road. This is a huge miscalculation and misadventure. Instead of this, why has Mr. President not reduced the duty on importation by 50%, and support importers by giving them all incentives they required, while waiting for the wonders that will follow afterward.
The N-Power program is yet another shame and scam which I will like to talk about in my next episode, as it was full of scam, lies and deceits.
The most painful thing is that, 2017 budget was presented three days ago without any life touching achievement from 2106 budget. No judicious use of the N6.06TR of 2106 budget, nothing to show for 2016, except flying from one country to the other, and blaming the past government. Our president (Bulgari) has rather used the 2016 N6.6TR to blame and travel around the world, while some wailers still celebrated him in the face of recession.
How I wish someone could just tell Mr. President that; in recession, a responsible governent will spend massively in all sectors and liberalize trading activities, and not the opposite he is doing around the world.
Here we come again! Now, another budget of N7.29TR has been presented again for 2017, tagged; BUDGET OF GROWTH AND RECOVERY. Honestly, I’m just shaking my head!
Where are we going in the country?
I think Buhari needs to hire some good opposition and borrow ideas from them, if not… (I’m short of words)!
Sincerely, I don’t just know what else to write or say because; this government has deprived us our right in all aspect. But, I will still say that we should keep praying and wait patiently till 2019, when we shall be opportune to re-decide!
Till then; I rise and care…
– Comrade Westo Adekunle Adejumo.
#An Advocate and a Social Critic
#From the Office of Good Citizens.
Precision and Heritage: How Fifi Stitches Is Rewriting African Fashion Narratives
A Nigerian-born designer is gradually carving out a cross-continental footprint in contemporary fashion, blending African textile heritage with British technical discipline.
Esther Fiyinfoluwa Adeosun, Founder and Creative Director of Fifi Stitches, is gaining recognition for structured womenswear and bridal couture that reinterprets traditional fabrics through architectural tailoring and precision construction.
Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Adeosun’s fashion journey began at home, seated beside her mother’s sewing machine. What started as childhood curiosity, sometimes jamming the machine just to understand its mechanics—evolved into a disciplined design practice now operating between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
During an interview with journalists the fifi Stitches once mentioned “I was fascinated by how flat fabric could transform into something structured and meaningful”.
In her Story , early designs made for her family, though imperfectly finished, were worn with pride—an encouragement that laid the foundation for her professional confidence.
Today, Fifi Stitches is recognised for sculpted bodices, controlled tailoring, corsetry construction, and the contemporary reinterpretation of Ankara, Aso Oke, and Adire textiles.
The brand challenges the long-held perception that African fabrics belong solely in ceremonial contexts, instead positioning them within global luxury and modern design spaces.
Adeosun’s training reflects this dual perspective. She studied Fashion Design and Entrepreneurship at the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Development Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, and earned a Diploma in Fashion Design through Alison Online.
In the UK, she undertook industry-focused technical training with Fashion-Enter Ltd and gained fashion business exposure through Fashion Capital UK.
Her technical expertise spans pattern drafting, draping, garment technology, structured tailoring, corsetry, and bespoke fittings—skills she describes as central to credibility in fashion. “Precision builds trust,” she says. “A designer must understand construction as deeply as creativity.”
Fifi Stitches has showcased collections at the Suffolk Fashion Show, Liverpool Fashion Show – FB Fashion Ball, Red Carpet Fashion Event in London, and through editorial features in London Runway Magazine.
The brand has also received coverage in The Guardian Nigeria and Vanguard Allure, expanding its visibility across markets.
Beyond couture, Adeosun integrates community impact into her practice.
She has facilitated garment construction workshops, draping sessions, and introductory training programmes for women and emerging creatives, promoting fashion as both artistic expression and vocational empowerment.
Fifi Stcithes Boss operates between Nigeria and the UK, in order to continue to shape her brand identity.
According to her “Nigeria provides cultural richness and expressive textile traditions, while the UK offers structured production systems, sustainability conversations, and institutional frameworks”.
Looking ahead, Adeosun said she plan to establish a fully structured fashion house spanning Africa and the UK, develop scalable production partnerships, launch capsule collections, and expand independent editorial visibility.
Her broader ambition is clear: to position African textile craftsmanship within global contemporary design conversations—through structure, discipline, and technical excellence.
GTCO Launches “Take on Squad” Hackathon 3.0, Opens Call for Applications
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or the “Group”) has announced the launch of “Take on Squad” Hackathon 3.0, reaffirming its commitment to fostering innovation, empowering talent, and supporting the development of technology-driven solutions that address real-world challenges across Africa.
Now in its third edition, the Hackathon brings together developers, designers and entrepreneurs across Nigeria in a collaborative environment to build practical solutions across key sectors including financial services, healthcare, commerce and digital inclusion. Under the theme “Smart Systems: The Intelligent Economy,” participants are challenged to design and build intelligent, data-driven solutions that transform how communities engage with money.
Applications are now open, and interested teams can find full guidelines and registration details on the official portal at https://squadco.com/hackathon.
Speaking on the initiative, Eduophon Japhet, Managing Director of HabariPay, stated: “Today’s dynamic, digitally driven world demands continuous innovation, which is shaping how economies grow, how businesses scale, and how societies evolve. Through “Take on Squad” Hackathon, we are deliberately investing in the ideas and talent that will define the future. Our objective is not simply to encourage innovation, but to enable its translation into scalable solutions that deliver real and measurable impact. This reflects GTCO’s role as a financial services platform that connects capital, capability, and creativity to drive sustainable progress.”
The social coding event remains a cornerstone of HabariPay’s mission to foster creativity and problem-solving among emerging tech talents. Competing teams will leverage Squad’s advanced APIs to create scalable digital tools that address everyday challenges faced by businesses and individuals.
Through initiatives such as this, GTCO continues to position itself at the intersection of finance, technology and enterprise, actively shaping the future of digital transformation in Africa.
About HabariPay
HabariPay Ltd is the fintech subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), one of the largest financial services institutions in Africa with direct and indirect investments in a network of operating entities located in 10 countries across Africa and the United Kingdom.
Licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), our goal is to support SMEs, micro merchants, large corporations and other fintechs (Tech Stars) with the tools they need to thrive in an evolving digital economy and expand beyond their current market reach. HabariPay’s solutions include Squad, a full-scale digital payments toolkit to make in-person and online payments simpler, HabariPay Storefront, an e-commerce website to facilitate online purchases, Value-Added Services to help merchants access cost-effective and flexible airtime and data bundles to run their businesses, as well as a switching infrastructure that enables tech-focused businesses to optimise cost and make transactions more efficient.
HabariPay’s contributions to Accelerating Digital Acceptance in Africa have not gone unnoticed–it received Mastercard’s Innovative Mobile Payment Solution Award at TIA 2022 for its innovative payment solution, SquadPOS.
About Squad
Squad is a complete digital payments solution that is reliable, secure, and affordable, making receiving in-person and online payments simpler and convenient.
Thousands of merchants currently leverage Squad’s payment solutions for their daily business operations. Squad’s current products and service offerings include SquadPOS, Squad Payment Links, Squad Virtual Accounts, USSD, and E-Commerce Storefront.
Find out more at www.squadco.com.
Electric 8-Seater Tula Moto Keke Enters Nigerian Market, Targets Higher Operator Earnings
LAGOS — A new electric-powered tricycle with an expanded passenger capacity has been introduced into Nigeria’s urban transport sector, offering operators a potentially more profitable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional petrol-driven “keke.”
The newly launched 8-seater electric tricycle, now available in Lagos with plans for nationwide distribution, features a dual-row seating arrangement capable of accommodating up to eight passengers per trip—significantly higher than the standard three-passenger configuration common across the country.
Promoters of the innovation say the increased capacity is designed to boost daily earnings for operators, particularly amid persistent fluctuations in fuel prices. By running entirely on electric power, the vehicle eliminates dependence on petrol, reducing operating costs and shielding drivers from fuel price volatility.
According to the distributors, the tricycle is equipped with a durable battery system capable of covering extended distances on a single charge, making it suitable for commercial operations across high-traffic routes, residential estates, campuses, and marketplaces.
“The concept is straightforward—enable drivers to earn more while spending less,” a company representative stated. “With higher passenger capacity and zero fuel requirements, operators can maximise each trip without the burden of daily fuel expenses.”
Beyond its cost-saving potential, the electric keke is also said to require less maintenance than traditional models, offering additional long-term savings. Its quieter and smoother operation is expected to enhance passenger comfort and overall commuting experience.
Industry analysts note that the introduction of electric mobility solutions reflects a growing shift toward cleaner and more sustainable transportation alternatives in Nigeria, particularly in densely populated urban centres such as Lagos.
The distributors added that the product is currently available under a limited promotional offer, with delivery options across the country.
For inquiries and purchase: 📞 08153432071
📞 08035889103
Office Address:
📍 Plot 9, Block 113, Beulah Plaza,
Lekki–Epe Expressway,
Lekki Phase 1, Lagos
As transportation costs continue to rise and environmental concerns gain prominence, innovations like the electric 8-seater keke may signal an emerging transition toward more efficient and sustainable mobility solutions nationwide.
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