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Contributions of Dr. Sam Nujoma in Trade, Business Development Not Well Documented, Says NNCC
Contributions of Dr. Sam Nujoma in Trade, Business Development Not Well Documented, Says NNCC
By: Michael Mike
The President of the Nigeria-Namibia Chamber of Commerce (NNCC), Mr. Ben Gbade Ojo has lamented that the contributions of the late Namibian President, Dr. Sam Nujoma to trade and business development have not been very adequately acknowledged nor documented as his exploits in politics.
Speaking at a memorial service for the late leader at the Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, Ojo said: “Those of us in the business world will never forget the inspiration and drive that Dr. Nujoma brought to the development of business and intra-African trade.”
He added that: “I was specially blessed with the honour of having several memorable interactions with Dr. Nujoma and will never forget his fatherly concern and admonition for us to do everything possible to grow trade among African nations and African business entities. In his characteristic love for Africa’s development, Dr. Nujoma passionately pleaded and challenged us, as African businessmen and women, to work towards unlocking trade and investment opportunities among African nations.
“Dr. Nujoma saw trade as an important engine of economic growth and development in Africa and never ceased to emphasize that there are many regions and countries of the world that have been able to lift their people from poverty to prosperity through trade. In Africa however, he was saddened that trade has not served as a potent instrument for the achievement of rapid and sustainable economic growth and development.”
Ojo said: “Truly, currently, Intra-African trade (trade among African nations) stands at around 13% compared to approximately 60%, 40 %, 30% intra-regional trade that has been achieved by Europe, North America and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) respectively. Even if allowance is made for Africa’s unrecorded informal cross-border trade, the total level of intra-African trade is not likely to be more than 20%, which is still lower than that of other major regions of the world.”
He decried that: “That African countries do not trade much with each other has meant that they have been unable to fully harness the synergies and complementarities of their economies and take full advantage of the economies of scale and other benefits (such as income and employment generation) that greater market integration would have provided. There are cases where products and services could have been sourced competitively from other African countries but were procured from outside the continent.
“As Dr. Nujoma always taught us and as we learnt from him, enhancing intra-African trade presents a multitude of benefits. It fosters the evolution of regional value chains and catalyzes productivity and innovation. Intra-African trade also enhances economies of scale which means that as the scale of output goes up, average costs of production decline—at least up to a point.”
He added that: “While also supporting global trade, Dr. Nujoma was pained that Africa does the bulk of its trade with the outside world and the exports are heavily concentrated on primary commodities; and that the continent has been particularly vulnerable to external macroeconomic shocks and protectionist trade policies. He emphasized that boosting intra-African trade and deepening Africa’s market integration, by fostering competition among African countries would assist in enhancing their capacity and prepare them to compete more effectively on the global market.
And that is what Nigeria-Namibia Chamber of Commerce (NNCC), inspired by Dr. Nujoma, has painstakingly been promoting – boosting intra-African trade and deepening Africa’s market integration by fostering competition among African countries.”
The businessman said: “In my many cherished discussions with him, for he was my mentor, Dr. Nujoma saw Nigeria as a great African nation with potential for global leadership and remained beholden to Nigeria for Nigeria’s role in the liberation and independence of Namibia.
“Dr. Nujoma’s other passions were housing and educational development for Africans and he always challenged us to see all these necessities, these sustainable development goals achieved for the peoples of Africa.
“His passion for housing led to the development of the sprawling Dr. Sam Nujoma Housing Estate in Abuja and his love and advocacy for educational development inspired the founding of the African University of Science and Technology also in Abuja, Nigeria.”
Contributions of Dr. Sam Nujoma in Trade, Business Development Not Well Documented, Says NNCC
News
Borno belong to APC, Zulum affirms party supremacy, says we are for Tinubu
Borno belong to APC, Zulum affirms party supremacy, says we are for Tinubu
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has stated that the state is an undisputed stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and remains loyal to the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The governor made the assertion on Monday during flag-off of the APC Northeast e-registration workshop in Maiduguri.

The occasion, which brought together national party leadership, state executives, local government chairmen, and members of the national and state assemblies, was convened to ensure the party’s membership e-registration exercise as part of the digital reform process.
Governor Zulum, addressing the gathering, said, “I want to assure you that the Government of Borno State under my leadership will provide the desired support to ensure the success of the APC membership e-registration exercise in the north east.”

“Our party members in other states governed by other political parties will be supported to get captured.”
Zulum further stated, “Let there be no doubt in anyone’s mind, Borno State is 100% for the APC. Our loyalty to the party and its leadership is absolute,” Governor Zulum declared.
“Let us be frank and remember our recent history. Before the APC came to power, Borno State was on its knees. Our local governments were under siege, our economy was shattered, and our people were living in fear.”
“But look at where we are today. The narrative is shifting, and this shift is due to the relentless efforts and massive support from the APC-led federal government.”

“From the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, we received unprecedented support in our fight against terrorism. We witnessed the establishment of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), which has played a crucial role in rebuilding our communities and infrastructure.”
“Now, under our leader, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, this support has not wavered; it has been strengthened. The President has shown a deep commitment to the final restoration of peace in Borno and the entire North-East. The Federal Government is actively collaborating with our administration to ensure the safe resettlement of our people and the rebuilding of their livelihoods.”
“The evidence is clear for all to see. The APC government at the federal level has been a true partner in our journey from the storm to normalcy. For the first time, our son became the Vice President of Nigeria under the APC.”

“I wish to reiterate my call to the good people of Borno State to join me in supporting the re-election of President Tinubu in the 2027 General Elections. Let us begin to build that momentum now. Let us work together to ensure his visionary leadership continues to guide our nation forward,” Zulum said.
Borno belong to APC, Zulum affirms party supremacy, says we are for Tinubu
News
Newly coronated Hausa monarch of Makurdi dies after brief illness
Newly coronated Hausa monarch of Makurdi dies after brief illness
By: Zagazola Makama
The newly coronated Hausa Monarch of Makurdi, His Royal Highness Alhaji Rayanu Sangami, has died after a brief illness.
According to the sources, Alhaji Sangami died on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State.
His remains were conveyed to Makurdi the same day and buried at about 11:20 a.m. according to Islamic rites.
The late monarch was coronated as the Sarkin Hausawa of Makurdi on Sept. 20, 2025.
Newly coronated Hausa monarch of Makurdi dies after brief illness
News
MOTION Condemns Demolition of Homes in Oworonsoki
MOTION Condemns Demolition of Homes in Oworonsoki
…Says Action, Genocide Against the Poor
By: Michael Mike
The Movement for the Transformation of Nigeria (MOT!ON) has condemned in the strongest possible terms the alleged ongoing state-sponsored brutality and unlawful demolition of homes in Oworonsoki, Lagos.
The organisation, in a statement on Monday signed by Hauwa Mustapha and Chris Isiguzo, Convener and Co-Convener respectively, said reports confirmed that in the early hours of Sunday, armed policemen and hired thugs invaded the community, teargassed residents, and destroyed homes in defiance of a subsisting court injunction, adding that this brazen contempt for the rule of law, and disregard for human life and dignity, marks yet another dark chapter in the Lagos State Government’s deliberate war against the poor.
The statement read: “This is more disheartening against the fact that the world bank in October 2025 declared Nigeria to be home to 139 million people living in extreme poverty in its report.
One would have thought that the Nigerian government are collectively working hard to lift people out of poverty, unfortunately, the Lagos state government has allowed private interest to override public interest in complete defiance to an existing court order.”
It reminded that: “Nigeria is a signatory to the United Nation Convention on Human Rights. According to United Nation’s definition, forced evictions is the permanent or temporary removal against their will of individuals, families and/or communities from the homes and/or land which they occupy, without the provision of, and access to, appropriate forms of legal or other protection.
“And article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights states that the States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent.
“At the time of this press statement, over 7,000 housing units have already been lost in the Oworonsoki community- a home to the middle class and poorest office poor in Lagos state, with families, pregnant women, children, and the elderly rendered homeless overnight. This is the height of abuse of human rights, cruel treatment of the poor and brazen disregard for the rule of law.
“We want to state clearly that it is irresponsible for the Lagos State government to discard these structures as “illegal structures.” These are people’s lives, built over decades of labour, community, and love. To tear them down without dialogue, compensation, or relocation is not urban development. The Lagos State government is carrying out a social cleansing and a genocide against poor people.
“The government’s actions violate not only the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which makes the welfare of the citizens, including their housing welfare, the responsibility of the government, but also violate the basic principles of humanity and justice. When the state becomes the destroyer of homes rather than their protector, it ceases to be legitimate in the eyes of the people, and utterly useless.
We, therefore, demand an immediate cessation of all demolition activities involving the houses of the Nigerian people in Oworonshoki and across Lagos State, and across Nigeria, immediately. We demand full compliance with the court injunction issued by Justice A.G. Balogun, and an independent investigation into the involvement of armed police and hired thugs in the attack on residents.
“We demand a commensurate compensation and emergency housing for all displaced families, and a public apology and accountability from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Task Force leadership.
“MOT!ON stands with the displaced residents of Oworonshokiand every Nigerian community facing the tyranny of forced evictions and state violence. The struggle for transformation begins in the defense of ordinary lives against the machinery of greed and impunity.
“If the government insists on destroying homes under the cover of “development,” the people must insist on building a country where justice, not bulldozers, shapes our cities. We demand that the government stop the demolitions now. Stop the violence now. Return the people’s homes now!”
MOTiON is a collective force of Nigerians from mass democratic organisations, workers’ organisations, pro-democracy movements, movements for social justice, women groups, citizens groups, NGOs, academia, students and youth groups, and climate action groups. We are a movement of movements channeling shared anger, frustration and aspirations of Nigerians into purposeful action. Through concerted, strategic effort, we are engaging in citizens’ actions to address and overcome the root causes of Nigeria’s current state: elite capture, ineffective leadership, institutional corruption, insecurity, and the pervasive culture of impunity.
MOTION Condemns Demolition of Homes in Oworonsoki
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