Duke of Edinburgh Visits Nigeria to Host Series of Events, Meets Tinubu

By: Michael Mike

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh is expected in the country to host a series of events in Lagos, Nigeria from 17 – 23 November 2025 to champion the expansion of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award across the world.

He is also expected to meet President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, and get involved in some other activities at the nation’s capital.

According to a statement on Sunday, Prince Edward, as Chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, will convene almost 200 young people from more than 50 countries over the week, alongside hundreds of leaders delivering the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award globally, policymakers, and representatives from global youth movements.

Young people will take part in an intensive three-day youth leadership programme, before taking part in the International Award’s triennial Forum focused on expanding access to the Award globally.

Last year almost 1.2 million young people in more than 130 countries took part in the Award. While young people in the UK make up around half of all participants, Kenya has the second-highest number of young people involved in the Award. In Nigeria – where this week’s events are taking place – participation has surged by 37% in the past year, reflecting increasing interest across West Africa.

On the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award turning 70 next year, new analysis about the global impact of the Award shows that the social value generated by young people completing the Award in the last year has exceeded £1 billion for the first time. The social value is calculated through a robust methodology developed by PWC quantifying the impact of volunteering, improved mental and physical health, and social cohesion.

The Award has gained increasing momentum in recent years, as the likes of the World Bank, World Economic Forum and International Labor Organisation have placed strong emphasis on skills developed beyond the classroom, such as teamwork, communication skills, resilience and problem-solving.

Over the course of the week the Duke of Edinburgh will meet the President of Nigeria in Abuja, convene senior ministers and international development agencies in Lagos to foster deeper collaboration on non-formal education and take part in major events hosted by the Governor of Lagos and the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos.

Secretary General of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award worldwide, Mr. Martin Houghton-Brown, commented that: “More and more young people across the world are taking on the challenge of the Award, and embracing learning outside the classroom. Through smartphones and AI, young people can access the world’s knowledge in seconds fingertips, but the Award is providing a fresh challenge and helping young people develop the skills that give them the ‘human edge’. From team work to creativity, determination to flexibility, the Award is helping young people across the world become World Ready. Our gathering here in Lagos is focused on significantly increasing opportunities for young people in every country to take on the Award’s challenge and opportunity.”

British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter said: “The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award exemplifies the potential of Nigeria’s young people, and that is important because Nigeria’s success matters deeply to the UK. As partners, we share a commitment to empower the next generation, create jobs, and unlock economic potential. We applaud Nigeria’s bold reforms and are optimistic that these plans will remove constraints on Nigeria’s entrepreneurial spirit and help move Nigeria forward. The UK stands ready to work together to drive growth, stability, and prosperity for the benefit of both our countries.”

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a global framework for non-formal education, empowering young people to develop skills, resilience, and a spirit of service. It is delivered through schools, youth organisations, and community groups worldwide.

Founded in 1956 by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, the Award has grown from a UK-based initiative into the world’s most widely recognised youth achievement framework delivered in more than 130 countries and territories, with 1.2 million participants annually. The Award equips young people aged 14 to 24 with essential skills for life and work, including confidence, empathy, teamwork, resilience and leadership, through experiential learning beyond the classroom.

As the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award approaches its 70th anniversary, more than 1,500 young people begin their Award journey every day, engaging in activities from environmental restoration and volunteering to skills development and adventurous journeys.

Duke of Edinburgh Visits Nigeria to Host Series of Events, Meets Tinubu

Border Governance: NIS, IOM Strengthen Collaboration

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) as part of its efforts at enhancing border management, has reinforced its collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

The collaboration aims to strengthen institutional cooperation for effective migration management and border governance in Nigeria.

At a meeting, held in Lagos, themed “Strengthening Strategic Collaboration for Effective Migration Management and Border Governance.” NIS Zonal Coordinator, ACG Echefulam Anugwa, hailed the partnership as a model for government–international organisation collaboration, commending IOM for its continued support.

Goodwill messages from donor agencies, including the British High Commission, German Consulate, and Dutch Consulate highlighted the importance of leveraging the partnership for improved border governance.

In her keynote address, NIS Comptroller-General, Kemi Nandap noted that the engagement offered a strategic opportunity to review NIS–IOM cooperation and chart a roadmap for deeper collaboration towards modernized, technology-driven border management.

She acknowledged IOM’s contribution to institutional reforms, operational capacity enhancement, and policy development, including the National Border Management Strategy.

IOM Nigeria Chief of Mission, Dimanche Sharon, on his part, commended NIS for its visionary leadership, citing its regional reference status in digital border governance through systems such as MIDAS, e-Border solutions, and enhanced identity management.

He emphasized that the engagement would help identify operational gaps, capacity needs, and areas for impactful interventions in the next phase of NIS–IOM partnership.

The two-day engagement includes high-level presentations and technical sessions, aimed at producing actionable recommendations and a joint roadmap to guide future NIS–IOM collaborations.

The initiative is expected to bolster Nigeria’s leadership in migration management and border governance in West and Central Africa.

During the engagement the two organisations, NIS and IOM issued a communique identifying their key priority areas.

The actionable deliveries on the key priority areas include: Policy & Legislation; Institutional & Capacity Development; Infrastructure Development & Equipment; Migration Management; Border Governance and Legal Identity Solution

Border Governance: NIS, IOM Strengthen Collaboration

KACRAN Cries Our Members Extorted by Bandits and Terrorists, Mislabeled and Killed by Volunteers

By: Michael Mike

Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has cried out that members of the association continued to be extorted by bandits and terrorist group, killed by volunteers

The association, while condemning all forms of violence, called on bandits and terrorist groups to put an end to the siege on the country, and lamented ceaseless killing by volunteers who wrongly labeled them as bandits

The association in a signed statement by its National President, Khalil Bello on Sunday condemned all forms of violence and urged bandits and terrorist groups to end their atrocities.

The statement read: “We, the Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN), find ourselves in a moment of great concern. Say it to anyone if you so wish: the shameful, brutal killings of innocent Nigerians, the destruction of properties worth billions of Naira, and the rustling of millions livestock in the Northern part of our country are issues generating heated debate worldwide.

“We are highly worried that our innocent members and law-abiding citizens have now become victims of circumstances. The nature of their pastoral occupation forces them to be in the bush, where they face all types of ruthless extortion in the name of Zakat or are forced to give one of their sons to join banditry as a condition to continue their business of livestock production.

“Secondly, our members are also vulnerable to Volunteers who, instead of entering the deep forests where the actual Bandits are, always end their operations by killing innocent Pastoralists. Likewise, when the security operatives attack the Bandits, too many times innocent Pastoralists are killed. We are the people who are being forced to give the actual bandits cover, as the Bandits will not allow us to freely go into the deep forest to do our business otherwise.

“We of KACRAN are also so concerned and state that, if God forbid, an external attack were to happen, our innocent Pastoralists would be the first and the last target, just as they have been during previous attacks by Volunteers or security operatives.

Bello said KACRAN, as an association of peace and unity that is always working hard towards promoting peaceful coexistence between Pastoralists and Farmers, decided to issue this statement and took the following positions.

“KACRAN, for whatsoever reason, rejects in totality and condemns in unmistakable terms any act of killing innocent Nigerians. We call on Bandits, Vigilantees and Volunteers to end their act, which is a heinous crime that has no cause or justification.

“We are highly disturbed and very worried about how people in their real common sense would kill their fellow human being.

“Among the Bandits’ condemnable acts that KACRAN rejects and strongly confirms is the killing in some parts of Katsina, Kano, and Zamfara States where Bandits broke the peace deals reached with some respected peace-loving Communities in Katsina State.

“We are all aware that some few months ago, the people of some Local Governments in Katsina State accepted the Bandits’ deal to reconcile their misunderstanding and live in peace, but unfortunately, as reported by media, some disgruntled elements of the Bandits broke the promise and moved ahead to painfully attack, kill, and abduct some communities who reposed trust in the peace accord.”

KACRAN alleged that the security volunteers, on their own part, also, if they want to attack the bandits, instead of going into the deep forest to confront the actual bandits, they unfortunately resort to attacking innocent pastoralists, killing their wives, elderly, and children, as well as stealing their livestock.

The statement further read that: “KACRAN has painfully consider the recent bandits’ attacks as a setback to our move to assist in the amicable solution to the North West and North Central conflict to restore peace, confidence, trust, and unity in the region and the nation at large.

“In the same vein, we call on the Katsina State Government to support the peace accord organized and reached between some Local Government communities in the State to enable them to confiscate the Bandits’ and Volunteers’ weapons to end the insecurity in the state.

“Similarly, KACRAN condemned the Volunteers and Vigilantes recent brutal killing of about 70 innocent Pastoralists and burning their houses in Kebbi State, and passionately appeal to Kebbi State governor to kindly use his good office to immediately stop the continuation of the attack under reference on the people who are operating their pastoral occupation in the most peaceful manners.”

They assured “Katsina, any State in the North West/North Central, and the Federal government that KACRAN is ready to help through dialogue, kinetic, and non-kinetic approaches to end the insurgency in the said North West and North Central regions and the country as a whole.”

KACRAN Cries Our Members Extorted by Bandits and Terrorists, Mislabeled and Killed by Volunteers