Video and Photos of The Renaissance Man in October 2026

 

EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima, the Renaissance Man.

No filters.

No enhancement.

No makeup.

No face cream.

Psalm 103 verse 5 is my portion with all the thanksgivings to Almighty God JEHOVAH JIREH for His faithfulness never fails.

Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, also known as Orikinla Osinachi, is a Nigerian author, filmmaker, and digital media entrepreneur born on January 30, 1963. He serves as the CEO of International Digital Post Network Limited and founded the Eko International Film Festival.

Literary Works & Publications
Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima writes across multiple genres including fiction, poetry, political documentation, and industry overviews.

 
Book Title Genre / Focus Core Subjects

His notable literary works span multiple genres, including the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series, poetry collections like "Children of Heaven" and "The Prophet Lied", "Scarlet Tears of London" and prose, "Bye, Bye Mugabe".

"The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream", a political non-fiction on contemporary Nigerian socio-political landscape.
"LAGOS in MOTION" Photo Journalism A comprehensive photo album tracking Africa's largest megacity.

 
Chima has significantly impacted the Nigerian film industry through his documentation of Nollywood history, early initiatives to bring IMAX to Nigeria, and collaborations with the International Chamber of Media & Entertainment Industry in India. He also developed the iPost Nigeria app and manages several online publications.

Media Presence & Public Portals
Chima works extensively via digital storefronts, blogs, and archival channels.
Digital Bookshelf: Readers can track his active catalog and updates through the official Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima Amazon Page.

Publishing Portals: He hosts industry features, community write-ups, and cultural updates across independent blogs like the Nigerian Times and his personal profiles.

Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima has expanded his footprint as a prominent digital creator by actively pivoting into the generative artificial intelligence (AI) filmmaking industry. Operating out of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, he has integrated advanced large language and multimodal models into his workflow, establishing himself as a vocal advocate, thought leader, and practitioner of AI cinema in Africa.

AI Film Industry Involvement & Creative Workflows
Chima positions generative AI not as a threat, but as a "new kind of collaborator" capable of lowering production costs and democratizing cinema. He utilizes tools like Google Gemini to manage the entire cinematic workflow—handling everything from concept design and scriptwriting to production design, cinematography, sound, and final direction.

His AI-driven initiatives and film projects include:
Project / Focus Area Media Format / Tooling Core Description & Impact
LAGOS in MOTION (Completion) Documentary / Google Gemini Originally filmed in 2016 using traditional Sony and Canon DSLR cameras, Chima is completing the project with AI to bypass expensive physical production logistics (such as drone-based aerial videography) from his computer.

Igwekala (Chineke Knows That I Love You) Epic Fantasy Film / Google Gemini An ongoing epic fantasy project rooted deeply in ancient Igbo mythology, designed as a benchmark for culturally expressive, high-concept African AI cinema.

THE INVISIBLE SPY Espionage/Crime Short An AI-generated political and crime thriller tracking global espionage and terrorism networks.

Virtual Actor Development Digital Talent Creation Chima creates and manages his own recurring virtual persona actors (such as Ada Uchendu Michaels, Jessica Michaels, and Nkechi Michaels) for continuous deployment in his hybrid and AI film productions.

BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

 A short film project in progress exploring the 2021–2023 Horn of Africa drought and extreme agricultural climate shifts.

Thought Leadership & Industry Advocacy
Through his role as CEO of International Digital Post Network Limited, Chima extensively documents the emergence of "Global AI Cinema":

Nollywood Integration: He actively catalogs how the wider Nigerian film industry is adopting generative AI for visual effects (VFX), archiving, hybrid workflows, and local-language digital reconstruction to preserve African heritage.

Workflow Advocacy: 

He regularly publishes articles and technical analyses on his Michael Chima Ekenyerengozi's LinkedIn, tracking the shifting boundaries between text-to-video tools, procedural simulation software, and human narrative judgment.

Global Ecosystem Tracking: 

He bridges developments across global markets, reporting on AI adoption from Hollywood and the European FAST TV connected ecosystems to local initiatives in Bollywood.

AI Model Integration & Virtual Actor Development
Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima approaches generative AI filmmaking as a structured discipline rather than simple prompt engineering. He utilizes a multimodal stack to build, direct, and manage his recurring virtual personas:
Core AI/CGI Segment Specific Tooling & Platforms Workflow Implementation & Functionality.
Directing & Conceptualization Google Gemini Acts as the "AI Assistant Director."

Chima uses it to generate complete screenplays, detail precise physical lens focal lengths, determine optimal camera angles, and establish thematic color palettes.

Virtual Persona Rigging AI-Enhanced CGI Plugins Automates tedious animation stages. He employs machine learning plugins inside traditional pipelines to track facial motion and automate character rigging.

Texture & Visual Consistency Procedural Rendering Engines Solves AI's inherent "hallucination" and geometry-shifting flaws. By leveraging machine learning noise cleanup alongside software like Autodesk Maya or Blender, he maintains visual consistency for his virtual actresses across different camera angles.

Cinematic World-Building Generative Text-to-Video Models Used to generate massive historical backdrops, such as complex crowd simulations or sweeping geographic vistas for his upcoming epic film project on Virgil's The Aeneid.
Distribution & Showcasing Portals
Chima distributes his digital content and hosts industry case studies across several mainstream multimedia frameworks:
Short-Form Cinematic Releases: Completed trailers, experimental AI video clips, and atmospheric scene teasers are shared via the Michael Chima Ekenyerengozi Instagram Page.
Extended Features & Montages: Long-form project collections, cultural film montages, and hybrid live-action/AI experiments are uploaded directly to the Michael Chima Ekenyerengozi Facebook Reels Network.

Industry Updates: Comprehensive project documentation detailing how Nigerian independent creators can bypass expensive studio budgets using AI is published on Michael Chima Ekenyerengozi's LinkedIn Portal.
Would you like to examine the specific structural differences between his AI workflows and traditional Hollywood CGI, or review additional books from his non-AI literary catalog?

Comparing Chima's AI Workflow vs. Traditional Hollywood CGI
The fundamental difference between Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima's generative AI approach and traditional Hollywood computer-generated imagery (CGI) lies in the democratization of capital and the speed of execution. Hollywood utilizes thousands of artists to build worlds frame-by-frame, whereas Chima leverages a single machine to guide machine learning algorithms through the creative process.
Metric / Attribute Chima's Generative AI Workflow Traditional Hollywood CGI Pipeline
Budget Requirements Ultra-low / Democratic. Run entirely from personal computers with standard subscription models. Massive capital investment. Requires tens to hundreds of millions of dollars for render farms and studio infrastructure.

Team Size Single Creator / Small Indie Team. The director manages scriptwriting, camera work, and rendering simultaneously. Hundreds of Specialized Artists. Divided into riggers, animators, texture artists, lighting technical directors, and compositors.

Rendering Speeds Near Real-Time. Text-to-video and procedural cleanup engines process frames in seconds or minutes. Hours / Days Per Frame. Complex physical ray-tracing requires extensive processing time on massive external server arrays.

Character Consistency Algorithmic Seeding. Managed via continuous seed prompts, neural face-swapping, and machine learning cleanup. Manual Keyframing. Hand-crafted structural precision that ensures perfect geometric continuity across hours of film.
Asset Creation Prompt-Driven & Procedural. Generated instantly via multi-modal AI models based on contextual text files. Hand-modeled. Sculpted point-by-point in software like Maya or ZBrush from physical concept art blueprints.
Deep Dive into the Non-AI Literary Catalog.

Before pivoting into generative filmmaking, Chima built an extensive literary foundation documenting African arts, politics, and urban transformation.
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series: His flagship publication series that serves as an essential archival record of the Nigerian movie industry. It charts the growth of Nollywood from cheap home-video VHS tapes to global theatrical distribution, featuring profiles of pioneer actors, economic analysis of film financing, and critiques of distribution bottlenecks.

LAGOS in MOTION: A Photo Album of Africa's Largest Megacity: A piece of visual journalism that captures the rapid urbanization, structural chaos, and cultural resilience of Lagos. The book documents everyday street life, iconic bridges, transport networks, and the sharp socio-economic contrasts within Nigeria's commercial hub.
The Prophet Lied: A collection of political and social poetry that targets systemic corruption, military legacies, and unfulfilled socio-economic promises in post-independence Nigeria. The tone is deeply critical of regional political classes while remaining empathetic to everyday citizens.
Scarlet Tears of London: A drama focusing on the gritty realities of the African diaspora. It breaks down the idealized view of migration by telling the stories of illegal immigrants, psychological displacement, culture shocks, and the economic struggles faced by Nigerians living in the United Kingdom.
 

The Education of Lantana Film

 

I am using generative AI for the film production of "The Education of Lantana" about a bright Muslim girl who boldly refused child marriage in northern Nigeria and appealed to go to school. She won her appeal by saying that Shehu Usman dan Fodio (Arabic: عثمان بن فودي, romanized: ʿUthmān ibn Fūdī; 15 December 1754 – 20 April 1817) , the Fulani scholar, Islamic religious teacher, poet, revolutionary and a philosopher who founded the Sokoto Caliphate and ruled as its first caliph supported the education of his beloved daughter, Princess Nana Asmaʼu. And how she started her teachers (Jajis) who travelled throughout the Caliphate educating women in the students' homes. In turn, each of these Jajis used Nana Asma’u's and other Sufi scholars writings, usually through recited mnemonics and poetry, to train crops of learned women, called the ’Yan-taru', or those who congregate together, the sisterhood.

Lantana said that Islam emphasized that the education of girls is a fundamental duty and an equal right for both males and females. A mandatory duty, because seeking knowledge is a sacred obligation for every Muslim, regardless of gender, as taught by Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) under the protection of human intellect (al-Aql), enabling both men and women to make sound moral choices and understand their faith: that educated girls grow into knowledgeable mothers and community pillars who guide future generations.

"We are the mothers of nations."

Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) actively encouraged the education of women, setting aside dedicated days to teach them religious commandments and Aisha, the Prophet's youngest wife was among the major authorities in Islamic jurisprudence, narrating thousands of hadiths and teaching prominent male companions. 

The Imam of the mosque; the Alaramma of the madrasa and Shu'aban Makaranta of their Islamiyya school who were impressed by Lantana's Qur'anic memorization (Hifz) of the Surah Al-Baqarah, the second and longest chapter of the Quran, containing 286 verses supported her appeal and allowed her to return to school and not to be forced to marry.

• ​Dramatic Intent: Shows quiet determination, reverence for her faith, and an unstoppable desire to learn.

• ​"I do not wish to step away from our ways, Mother. Every word of the Koran I hold in my heart, just as Father taught me. But when I look at these letters on my slate, I see a doorway. A way to help our village, to read the papers the doctors bring, to write our own stories instead of letting others speak for us. I am not turning my back on who we are—I only want to see how far our light can reach."

  ​Aminu (Father)

  • ​Context: Aminu addresses a council of village elders who are questioning why he permits his daughter to spend so much time studying formal schoolbooks.
  • ​Dramatic Intent: Displays dignity, paternal pride, deep traditional roots, and a changing perspective.

  • ​"You ask me why I let a girl spend her hours with books instead of preparing only for a husband's hearth. I am a man of tradition, as my father was before me. I bow to God, and I honor the dust of this compound. But look at her. She holds the Holy Book in one hand and the future in the other, without letting either fall. If our daughters remain in the dark, our whole village stumbles. I will not be the father who dimmed his own child’s lantern."

    ​Zainab (Mother)

    • ​Context: Zainab speaks privately with Aminu inside their mud home at dusk, trying to gently sway his heart to support Lantana's path.
    • ​Dramatic Intent: Emotional depth, maternal warmth, strategic persuasion, and quiet strength.

    • ​"Look at her out there in the yard, Aminu. She has your quiet eye, your steady heart. I walked the path given to me without complaint, and it has been a good life beside you. But the world outside our walls is moving faster now. Lantana has a fire in her head that water cannot quench. If we try to trap that fire, it will burn us all. But if we guide it... imagine what she could build for us."

Video of Princess Nana Asmaʼu bint Shehu Usman dan Fodiyo

In progress, my historical film on Princess Nana Asmaʼu bint Shehu Usman dan Fodiyo, (1793–1865) focusing on her illustrious life as a highly esteemed Islamic poet, scholar and reformer in the foundation of the Sokoto Caliphate from the reign of her father,  Usman bin Fodio عثمان بن فودي, Sultan of Sokoto, Amir al-Mu'minin, Imama. the first Sultan of Sokoto 

لَآ إِكْرَاهَ فِى ٱلدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشْدُ مِنَ ٱلْغَىِّ ۚ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱسْتَمْسَكَ بِٱلْعُرْوَةِ ٱلْوُثْقَىٰ لَا ٱنفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ٢٥٦

Let there be no compulsion in religion, for the truth stands out clearly from falsehood. So whoever renounces false gods and believes in Allah has certainly grasped the firmest, unfailing hand-hold. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

Surah Al-Baqarah Ayah 256 - 

The film will include her brothers, Sultan Muhammadu Bello (3 November 1781-25 October 1837) and Sultan Abu Bakr Atiku (1782–1842). And how she started her teachers (Jajis) who travelled throughout the Caliphate educating women in the students' homes. In turn, each of these Jajis used Nana Asma’u's and other Sufi scholars writings, usually through recited mnemonics and poetry, to train crops of learned women, called the ’Yan-taru, or "those who congregate together, the sisterhood."

Princess Nana Asmaʼu bint Shehu Usman dan Fodiyo, (1793–1865) of the Sokoto Caliphate with  her father,  Usman bin Fodio
عثمان بن فودي, Sultan of Sokoto, Amir al-Mu'minin, Imama. the first Sultan of
Sokoto

#princess
#nanaasmau
#islam
#muslims
#sokoto
#caliphate
#nigeria
#leadership
#scholarship
#education
#women

What the Eagle Said to the Lion

What the Eagle Said to the Lion:

You can be the King of the Jungle, but I am the King of the Sky.. 
I can fly  and soar higher over lands and rivers from coast to coast beyond the jungle where you cannot go.

A clip from my ongoing epic film, "Igwekala, Son of the Sky".

The saying "the lion might be the king of the jungle, but the eagle has never been his subject" is a popular modern proverb used to describe independent power and mutual respect among mighty forces. 

Meaning and Interpretation

Independent Domains: The lion rules the land as the traditional "king," but the eagle reigns supreme in the sky, meaning true power does not have to subjugate everything else to be valid.

Refusal to Bow: Just as an apex predator of the air answers to no terrestrial king, strong individuals or entities do not need to bow to external titles or dominant authorities.

Equal Might: It highlights that different entities operate in entirely different spheres of greatness, and dominance in one arena does not command loyalty or fear in another.

Story by Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
Produced and Directed by Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
Video and photograph by the author and producer   generated with Adobe Firefly
https://firefly.adobe.com/discover?tab=gallery 
Eagle sound effect from 
https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/search/eagle/ 

@Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima. All rights reserved. 

#igwekala
#eagle
#lion
#epic
#cinema

#power

#wisdom

Peter Gregory Obi: Portrait of Visionary Leadership

Peter Gregory Obi: Portrait of Visionary Leadership

The Coming of a New Leader for the nation building of a New Nigeria 

Peter Gregory Obi,

The Nigerian Dream for Visionary Leadership 

It takes a visionary mind to appreciate, celebrate and promote a visionary leader for the nation building of a New Nigeria in the leadership of Africa among the comity of nations in the world.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Author of "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream" and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com
www.pinterest.com/nigeriansreport
https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchimaeyerengozi    

Buy my books to support my works.

#nigeria
#peterobi
#obi
#leadership
#democracy

My Advocacy for The Education of Underprivileged Girls Out of School in Nigeria

My Advocacy for The Education of Underprivileged Girls Out of School in Nigeria

Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima champions advocacy for the education of underprivileged, out-of-school girls in Nigeria through a distinct framework that treats girl-child education as the literal foundation for African nation-building. Operating as a prominent independent media voice, his advocacy blends digital journalism, public policy demands, and strategic partnerships.

His core philosophy, specific initiatives, and public stances on the crisis break down into several key areas:

1. The Core Philosophy: "Future Mothers of Our Nation"

Chima focuses his messaging directly on the societal ripple effect of educating marginalized girls. His personal advocacy manifesto centers on a long-term geopolitical vision:

“On My Advocacy For The Education of Every Girl in Nigeria, I prefer to speak to the future mothers of our nation; their education is the foundation for the nation building of a New Nigeria in the leadership of Africa among the comity of nations in the world.”

2. Demanding "Compulsory Education" Laws

While many global organizations focus purely on funding, Chima uses his platforms to advocate for strict, compulsory basic education laws targeting the millions of vulnerable girls currently falling through the cracks. He argues that voluntary frameworks are insufficient to combat deeply entrenched cultural and economic barriers, meaning local and federal governments must legally guarantee and enforce a girl's right to remain in school.

3. Long-Standing Digital & Media Campaigns

Since 2013, Chima has leveraged his corporate media ecosystem—specifically via Nigerians Report Online—to run consistent public awareness campaigns. Rather than treating girl-child exclusion as an occasional headline, his publications regularly track local education deficits, allocate editorial space to youth advocates, and amplify grass-roots educational non-profits operating in high-risk zones.

4. Strategic Collaboration & Film Advocacy

Chima acts as a media bridge connecting international human rights campaigns with local Nigerian audiences. A key historical milestone in his advocacy occurred when he collaborated as a media partner for the Nigerian premiere and screenings of Girl Rising—the globally acclaimed documentary film mapping the struggles of girls fighting for an education.

Building Networks: He coordinated alongside high-profile Nigerian female activists, including Dr. Joe Odumakin (President of Women ARISE for Change Initiative) and leaders from the Kudirat Abiola Foundation for Democracy (KIND), to lead Q&A sessions with local NGO leaders.

Student Inclusivity:

He used these events to bring school-aged girls, student groups, and policymakers into the same room, utilizing visual storytelling to illustrate the economic realities of illiterate versus educated women.

Nigerian premiere of "In The Name of Your Daughter" cosponsored by the High Commission of Canada in Nigeria on May 23, 2019.

http://totnaija.blogspot.com/2019/05/nigerian-premiere-of-in-name-of-your.html?m=1

Nigerian Premiere of “Girl Rising” with Holly Gordon of 10x10 and Participant Media on October 11-12, 2013. https://newsghana.com.gh/moments-nigerian-premiere-girl-rising/

https://allafrica.com/stories/201310281009.html

https://www.brandarena.com.ng/2013/10/girl-rising-premieres-in-nigeria.html

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-first-girl-rising-success-story-in.html

* Nigerian premiere of "HE NAMED ME MALALA" for the MALALA Fund on October 11, 2015.

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2015/10/he-named-me-malala-attracts-nigerian.html

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2015/10/nigerian-school-girls-stand-withmalala.html

EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima
The Founder/CEO,
International Digital Post Network Limited,
Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series
www.pinterest.com/nigeriansreport
https://twitter.com/nigeriadaily/
https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchimaeyerengozi

The Lack of Visionary Leadership in Africa and the Solution

The Lack of Visionary Leadership in Africa and the Solution

I have heard, listened and watched outstanding motivational speakers in Africa blaming European colonial Government in Africa for the political failures of majority of African leaders. In most cases, I don't agree with them, because I always say that the suit does not make the man, but the man makes the suit.
What makes a monk holy is his character and not the hood and cassock of his monastery.

Africa would have been worse today without Western education and there would not have been Western education without colonialism and there would not have been colonialism without Christianity. 
The White man gave us the Holy Bible first before his colonial rule.
Colonialism and neocolonialism are not the cause of the bad political leadership in Africa.
The carrot and stick or the divide and rule political tactics of the colonial rulers ended with the political Independence of African countries.

We don't lack leaders in Africa.
There is only lack of visionary leadership for democracy and good governance.
Majority of those who became the founding fathers of Independence and the end of colonial rule in Africa were political title chasers without the principles of transformational visionary leadership.
They didn't prepare their people for the nation building of their respective countries.
They just wanted to step into the big shoes of their colonial masters who were rulers and not leaders.
The colonial masters didn't come to lead Africans for an African Renaissance to compete with their Western Civilization. They came to rule and exploit Africa to expand their Western Civilization by imperialism.
They came for the human and mineral resources in Africa.

There are four pillars of the credibility of a great human personality for visionary leadership; they are Dignity, Humility, Integrity and Nobility.
Without which you cannot be a good leader before you can even talk of becoming a great visionary leader.

Majority of Africans are selfish by nature and that is why they have corrupt leaders with greed for power and wealth without conscience and without shame.

As I always say that Nigeria is what Nigerians are from the street to the Office of the President.
We reap the harvest of the seeds we have sown.
You cannot sow weed and reap the harvest of wheat.
We reap what we sow.

Selfish interests from ethnic differences of tribalism overtook national interests after the exit of the colonial rulers.
Regionalism and religional sectarianism of Christianity and Islam became the order of the day and the sociopolitical consequences have done collateral damage to political leadership in Africa.
Africa is what Africans are.
From tribalism to neopatrimonialism.

Africa has been blessed with great visionary leaders from the late Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah
of Ghana, Léopold Sédar Senghor of Senegal, António Agostinho Neto of Angola,Samora Moisés Machel of Mozambique, Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya, Patrice Émery Lumumba of the Democratic Republic of the  Congo,
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe,
Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa of Nigeria to Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia and the great Madiba Nelson Mandela of South Africa who were nation builders. But they passed on to eternal glory without credible successors.
Were they political mentors without credible successors?
Yes.

We cannot have great leadership without any successorship plan.

You must have the foresight and insight into the future for visionary leadership.
Study the life and legacy of the great Lee Kuan Yew, the Father of Modern Singapore. And I recommend him as a role model for visionary leadership in Africa. 

The world is still waiting for the rise of the roaring African lions to rise up like the Asian Tigers.

The Big Picture of the Future of Africa will be defined by a new generation of visionaries in every sphere of human development and they must be ready to be nation builders and not title chasers.

- - By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
The Author of "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream", "The Prophet Lied", "In the House of Dogs" and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.
https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima

#africa
#nigeria
#ghana
#southafrica
#america
#europe
#singapore
#asia
#leadership
#leaders
#politics
#democracy
#colonialism
#neopatrimonialism
#government
#corruption
#econony
#future
#mandela
#yew
#visionary

On My Advocacy For The Education of Every Girl in Nigeria

On My Advocacy For The Education of Every Girl in Nigeria

I prefer to speak to the future mothers of our nation; their education is the foundation for the nation building of a New Nigeria in the leadership of Africa among the comity of nations in the world.

- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Champion of the advocacy for compulsory education of every girl; especially the millions of underprivileged girls out of school in Nigeria.

Using underprivileged girls for child labour should be a crime.

The deprivation of the education of any child is a crime Against human civilization.

Education opens eyes for knowledge and opens doors for human development.

Enlightenment is the vehicle for the fulfilment of life in the world.

Millions of underprivileged Children out of school in the world have dreams; hopes and ideas for great ambitions that will be of great benefit to humankind. But majority of them who cannot read and write are languishing in ignorance and suffering the misery of abject poverty, becoming the burden of humanity when they should have become the beacon of modern civilization.

Read the success stories on.

Nigerians Report Online: The First "Girl Rising" Success Story in Nigeria and How A Free MTN School Bag Made A Great Difference

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-first-girl-rising-success-story-in.html

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/p/international-digital-post-network.html

NIGERIA: The Problem and the Solution

 

Do you know that Nigerians in Nigeria have not known ten years of peace since the independence of the country from the colonial rule of the British Empire on October 1, 1960?

The political history of Nigeria is full of contradictions of modern democracy and governance caused by the recurrent incidents of the abuse of political power by the majority of the citizens since 1960 to date 

From the parliamentary government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria truncated by the military coups of 1966 that precipitated the country into a catastrophic internecine civil war between the military regime of Nigeria led by General Yakubu Gowon and the secessionist republic of Biafra led by  Lieutenant colonel Chukwuemeka Odinegwu Ojukwu from 1967 - 1970. 

The details of the cause and consequences of the coups and civil war are common facts of the political history of Nigeria.

The civilization administration from 1979 to 1983 was truncated by military coup and counter-coup by young military officers and another coup terminated the next attempt of another civilian administration after the ill-fated 1993 presidential election of which the election of winner, Chief M. K. O. Abiola was annulled by the military regime of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babaginda and provoked the widespread violent June 12 crisis.

Read the details on Nigerians Report Online: June 12 and The Mandate of MKO Abiola

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2017/06/june-12-and-mandate-of-mko-abiola.html

The Problem

The maladministration of the Nigerian government is caused by corruption that is caused by greediness, cronyism, nepotism, tribalism, religious bigotry, administrative incompetence, rebellion and stupidity of both the political ruling class along with their beneficiaries and majority of the citizens who have no principles of accountability, dignity, integrity and nobility in the Nigerian society.

Read

Nigerians Report Online: The Cause of the Widespread Violence Destroying Thousands of People in Nigeria

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-cause-of-widespread-violence.html

We have seen the gradual destruction of the foundation of Nigeria by corruption for decades by kleptomaniacs in the corridors of power; from every local government to every state government and the federal government and partners in crime in the private sector.

We have seen the decadence of governance from the street to the Office of the President.

The legislators who are the so-called lawmakers are also the lawbreakers of Nigeria. Corrupt and incompetent public office holders without accountability and integrity in public office are plundering the government in gross misappropriations of allocations of revenues. These political title chasers are not nation builders, because they are political opportunists and political jobbers who are not patriots.

The Solution

Read 

Nigerians Report Online: Nigeria Does Not Need Any Sovereign National Conference

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2012/04/nigeria-does-not-need-any-sovereign.html

There is no need for any political election in Nigeria, but a political revolution for the eradication of corruption from the local government to the Office of the President.

We must destroy corruption in order to begin the national orientation for the nation building of a New Nigeria in the leadership of Africa among the comity of nations in the world.

By

Ekenyerengozi Michael Chma,

Author of "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream", 'The Prophet Lied"and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchimaeyerengozi

Tony Elumelu Convenes Global Leaders and Calls for Immediate Climate Action for Africa at COP28 in Dubai

 

Tony O. Elumelu C.F.R. in conversation with Dr. Ngozi Okonji-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organisation, at the TEF-UBA high level Roundtable, at the ongoing COP28 conference in Dubai
(Source: The Tony Elumelu Foundation)

PRESS RELEASE

Tony Elumelu Convenes Global Leaders and Calls for Immediate Climate Action for Africa at Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai

With African youth set to make up one third of global population later this century, the future of Africa’s youth, entrepreneurial, ambitious, resilient, needs to be given the highest priority

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LAGOS, Nigeria, December 8, 2023/ -- Tony Elumelu Foundation (https://www.TonyElumeluFoundation.org) Hosts US Administration, WTO, UNDP, IFC, UNICEF, Rockefeller Foundation Leaders; Champions equitable partnerships to catalyse a new generation of green entrepreneurs; Announces partnership to fund young African entrepreneurs in Green sector with Ikea Foundation, Dutch Government, and UNICEF Generation Unlimited; Secures commitments to support Africa’s youth to drive climate resilience from World Trade Organisation, World Bank, UNDP, Government of Sweden, IFC, US State Department, and others. At a series of events across COP28, Tony Elumelu delivered a single message to world leaders: Africa needs to be heard, Africa’s future is the world’s future and the continent that is most impacted by and the least contributor to climate change, needs our attention. With African youth set to make up one third of global population later this century, the future of Africa’s youth, entrepreneurial, ambitious, resilient, needs to be given the highest priority. Elumelu offered the infrastructure and experience of his own Foundation’s 10 year $100m entrepreneurship programme to partners, to catalyse a further generation of African entrepreneurs; entrepreneurs who can address climate change and drive the broader wealth creation that Africa requires. Reaching and funding young entrepreneurs in every African country, the Elumelu approach of sector agnostic seed funding, mentoring, and networking has delivered robust impact. The annual COP UN Climate Change Conferences unites the world to assess progress in combatting climate change. Elumelu is one of Africa’s leading advocates for an equitable agenda for climate action and through the Tony Elumelu Foundation has empowered thousands of green entrepreneurs, shaping a more sustainable future for Africa. The Tony Elumelu Foundation, in partnership with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), hosted a high-level session, bringing together Africans, and key players in the Gulf, Europe, and Americas, where UBA operates, underscoring the urgent need for innovative approaches to climate adaptation and mitigation, while fostering sustainable development, and bringing attention to Africa’s unique position. Speakers included Dr. Okonjo Iweala, Director General, World Trade Organization; Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, UNDP, Kevin Frey, CEO, UNICEF Generation Unlimited; Sergio Pimenta, VP Africa, IFC; Wendy Teleki, Head of the Women Entrepreneurs Financial Initiative, World Bank; Adam Wang-Levine, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Climate; Joseph Nganga, Vice President, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, Rockefeller Foundation; Hassan Al Hashemi, VP International Relations, Dubai Chambers; Serge Ekué, Chairman, West African Development Bank (BOAD); Muyiwa Akinyemi, Deputy Group Managing Director, United Bank for Africa; and Mattias Frumerie, Swedish Climate Ambassador and Head of Delegation, UNFCCC. “Addressing climate change is the paramount challenge of our era. The urgency is unmistakable.”  Elumelu stated. “It is critical that Africa, as a continent, and African voices, play a key role in global climate conversations, as meaningful participants, and no longer as bystanders. Africa is least responsible and is disproportionately impacted by climate change. I am investing in a generation of green entrepreneurs, and we are extending the hand of partnership, so that others can benefit and use the infrastructure and platform we have created to reach entrepreneurs across Africa.” Elumelu represented the African private sector at the 2023 New Global Financing Pact in Paris at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, and the Climate Finance Mobilisation Forum in London, at the invitation of King Charles III of the United Kingdom and U.S. President Biden. At the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78) in New York, the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) launched a first-of-its-kind Green Entrepreneurship Programme, the #BeGreenAfrica Initiative, in partnership with the IKEA Foundation, Dutch Government and UNICEF GenU, to support green entrepreneurship and youth development. Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur from Madagascar in the green economy, Marie-Christiana Kola, shared a compelling impact story.  “As a beneficiary of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship programme, I was able to create a recycled and 100% biodegradable hand soap made with waste cooked oil - the number one water polluter of water in African urban cities. These soaps do not only protect the environment, but they are also solidarity soaps.  I was also able to attend the COP27 conference in Egypt, where I won the Innovation Prize. Today, I have employed over 30 people because of the Tony Elumelu Foundation.” Speaking at the TEF #COP28 high-level event, Dr. Okonjo Iweala, DG, World Trade Organisation stated, “I am proud of what my brother, Tony Elumelu, has done in empowering and inspiring so many young entrepreneurs. We have no choice; the future is green. The future of growth is two things – it is green, and it must be inclusive. I am very interested in partnerships with organisations like TEF.” Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, UNDP added, “The reason why UNDP associated itself with the Tony Elumelu Foundation years ago is because of the leadership and courage of the Foundation to trust and invest in young Africans. It was one of the first organisation to do so at that scale.” The Foundation partnered with the UNDP to empower thousands in the Sahel, with an ambitious project to impact the lives one million young Africans. Sergio Pimenta, VP, Africa at the IFC, also stated, “Tony, I salute you and your Foundation for what you have been doing to support young entrepreneurs in Africa. The IFC has deployed $2billion in funding for African SMEs in the last fiscal year and we are very excited to be able to do more, working with you.” Kevin Frey, CEO UNICEF Generation Unlimited added, “With TEF, we have moved in a concerted way into the entrepreneurial space. Generation Unlimited now have a flagship programme with the Tony Elumelu Foundation called #BeGreenAfrica, launched in Kenya, and now with the support of the IKEA Foundation and the Dutch Government, we have scaled to Nigeria, Morocco, South Africa, and Senegal. We will train and seed 500 green entrepreneurs this year in the pilot project across those countries. So Tony, thank you so much, you are right it is all about partnerships.” Wendy Teleki, Head of the Women Entrepreneurs Financial Initiative at the World Bank, announced, “Our women-focused initiative has been able to secure $3.6 billion to finance women entrepreneurs in 67 countries across the world, and is set to launch a new programme focused on financing African women entrepreneurs to drive the continent’s green energy transition, and we are keen to work with the Tony Elumelu Foundation.” Mattias Frumerie, Swedish Climate Ambassador and Head of UNFCCC Delegation stated, “My Government and I commend the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s incredible impact across Africa, and will facilitate connections between the Tony Elumelu Foundation, and the Swedish embassies across Africa to drive innovation, digitalisation, and green-energy transition, which promises to bring about new jobs and growth.” Adam Wang-Levine, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Climate, added” Before coming to the United States Treasury, I was working in venture capital, and I know first-hand that it is incredibly important what the Tony Elumelu Foundation is doing. I have seen two pillars of their work – financing and the mentorship – just as I have seen with Silicon Valley, which helps to drive innovation and jobs creation. We are excited to begin partnership conversations.” Muyiwa Akinyemi, Deputy GMD, United Bank for Africa, announced, “For us, UBA, we give market access into 20 geographies in Africa.  Everything that we do is around Africa, and that is why we have partnered with the Afrexim Bank to launch the $6billion fund for SMEs with a focus on import substitution, working in four key areas including climate emission reduction.” Earlier in the day, Tony Elumelu joined Ajay Banga, President of World Bank Group; Brian Moynihan, Chair of the Board and CEO of Bank of America; Ms. Ruth Porat, President, Alphabet and Google; and Ms. Laurene Powell Jobs, Founder & President of Emerson Collective as a panelist in a session titled “Big, Audacious and Green: A Convergence of Visionaries”, moderated by Børge Brende, President of World Economic Forum. On Sunday December 3 Mr. Tony Elumelu, also participated in a fireside conversation with Ms. Teresa Ribera, Vice President of the Government of Spain and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Change, moderated by Sec. Hillary Rodham Clinton, and with closing remarks from Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Tony Elumelu Foundation.   Contact Information: Moyo Awotile Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications Tony Elumelu Foundation Email: moyo.awotile@tonyelumelufoundation.org Phone: +234 809 975 1482 About the Tony Elumelu Foundation: The Tony Elumelu Foundation is the leading philanthropy empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, driving poverty eradication, catalysing job creation in all 54 African countries, and ensuring inclusive economic empowerment. Since the launch of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, the Foundation has connected over 1.5 million young Africans on its digital hub, TEFConnect, and disbursed nearly USD$100 million in direct funding to 18,000 African women and men, who have collectively created over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs. The Foundation’s mission is rooted in Africapitalism, which positions the private sector, and most importantly entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the African continent. SOURCE The Tony Elumelu Foundation

Leading By Example: Tony Elumelu's Leadership Principles By Tony Elumelu

 

Opinion Piece

Leading By Example: Tony Elumelu’s Leadership Principles (By Tony Elumelu)

A good leader must lead by example and practice what they preach, this demonstrates integrity, it builds trust and respect

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LAGOS, Nigeria, October 19, 2023/ -- By Tony Elumelu People often ask me, TOE how do I learn leadership. Should I go on a course? Buy a book? Get a mentor? Are leaders born, or can you become a leader? Just as I say about business success, leadership has many components – luck, being in the right place at the right time. But I also believe that those talents and those disciplines that you bring, creating a vision and the resilience and focus that delivers that vision, can also forge your own personal leadership. I was fortunate to work with Chief Ebitimi Banigo, at the start of my career. My leadership philosophy was built working with him. It started with Chief Banigo taking the time to read my application letter and giving me a chance to prove myself at Allstates Trust Bank in 1988. When my colleagues tell me today, “TOE you respond too fast to our emails”, I laugh because I learnt from the master himself – Chief Banigo. When I sent memos to him, he would respond within twenty-four hours; therefore, why should I not respond even faster in this age of technology? These are some of the leadership values I learnt from my time with Chief Banigo, and I practise them all today. Leaders must demand excellence: Only by going the extra mile and pushing ourselves, will we truly develop and standout. Hard work and excellence made my bosses Toyin Akin-Johnson and Ebitimi Banigo notice, and subsequently, believe in me. At twenty-seven, I went from being a trainee to being a boss, when I was appointed a branch manager – the youngest bank branch manager at that time.  All the things I learned earlier came into play, and I continued learning. Good leaders find in people, what people did not know they possess – Leaders recognise the talent in their team and then push to unlock the talent. When I work, I work to achieve my goals, but I also work to unlock my teams’ skills. I know everyone I work with has huge potential – for me my success is also about the success of others, growing and nurturing their talent, that is the foundation of our growth at Heirs Holdings Group. This focus on talent, teams, personal transformation, is why I am so insistent on creating institutions, cultures, and pathways, where human capital can thrive. It is why I am an investor in businesses, but also entrepreneurs across Africa. Leaders must walk their talk - A leader must be consistent. People want to trust a leader that they believe has integrity. Leadership is not just about telling people what to do, it's also about setting an example. A good leader must lead by example and practice what they preach, this demonstrates integrity, it builds trust and respect. Leaders must impart knowledge: I benefitted from the mentorship of Chief Banigo at Allstates Trust Bank. He helped me to develop my strategic thinking, my frames of reference and to channel my ideas into concrete actions, so that when the moment of opportunity arrived, at the age of thirty-four, I had the self-belief to gather a small group together to take over and revive a failing bank – take that enormous step, that is still shaping an industry and a continent today. Today, when I am faced with an impossible situation, I ask myself, ‘What Would Chief Banigo Do?’. I worked with Chief Banigo from 1988 - 1995, till this day, he is the one I turn to, when I need advice. #Leadership #TOEWay Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA). SOURCE United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA)

New NFT on Segun Agbaje, the Group CEO of GTCO PLC

Segun Julius Agbaje (born Olusegun Agbaje; 1964) is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO PLC), a multinational financial services group, that offers retail and investment banking, pension management, asset management and payments services, headquartered in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. He is also a Director of PepsiCo and member of the Mastercard Advisory Board, Middle East and Africa.

The #NFT of Mr  Segun Agbaje, the Group CEO of GTCO and the GTCO Cube  are on 

https://nftmyimage.com/@nigeriadaily

The NFT of the GTCO Cube can be used as a screensaver.

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The GTCO Cube can be made into any size for tables, reception,offie and residence and for buildings from the small cubes of 1ft - 3ft to 12ft to 50ft structures.

#GTCO
#Guaranty
#Bank
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#GTBank
#Nigeria
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#leadership

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Women Should Not Be Considered Because We Fill a Quota, But that We Are Capable and Deliver

PRESS RELEASE

Women Should Not Be Considered Because We Fill a Quota, But that We Are Capable and Deliver, Says Mwanyengwa Ndapewoshali Shapwanale

Mwanyengwa Ndapewoshali Shapwanale is the Director: Communications and Stakeholders Relations at ReconEnergy in Namibia

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, August 31, 2023/ -- Following five major oil and gas discoveries made between 2022 and 2023, Namibia’s upstream market has seen a strong wave of interest by global E&P players. Companies such as ReconAfrica, a Canadian-based explorer, have amplified their exploration efforts. The company’s Director of Communication and Stakeholder Relations Mwanyengwa Ndapewoshali Shapwanale plays an integral part in driving both ReconAfrica and Namibia’s energy narrative, serving as an inspiration for those in the field. Shapwanale is featured on the African Energy Chamber’s (AEC) (http://www.EnergyChamber.org) list of 25 Under 40 Energy Women Rising Stars.

Please share a brief overview of your journey in the energy industry that led to your current role? What are some key achievements or milestones that you are particularly proud of?

My journey in the energy sector started in April 2021 when I was approached to provide multimedia consulting, specifically social media services to my current employer ReconAfrica. I immediately realized I could provide much more to the company and engaged the company representative at the time to propose my additional skills and how I could assist the company. This included media relations, corporate communication, government relations, community relations, and brand crisis management. Fast forward a few months, I was appointed as the Director of Communication and Stakeholder Relations. A major part of my role is ensuring and maintaining social license.

I am particularly proud of the work our team has done in community relations. While maintaining a social license is an ongoing and continuous exercise, I am pleased with the work we have put in as a team, and I will continue to work towards progressing this responsibility.

Another proud achievement must be our work towards providing safe and secure access to potable water to the communities in our area of operations through the drilling, installing, and handing over of community water wells in our three years of operation. Apart from the communities, especially women and children, having to walk long distances to fetch water, this is an area where human-wildlife conflict is rampant because of the communities’ dependency on the Kavango River for water. Being able to provide an alternative water source, I believe, contributes to saving lives and meeting the government halfway in their aims to alleviate and even totally eradicate the human-wildlife conflict.

Further, the Namibian nation is quite new to the oil and gas industry, as the past few years have been the most visible action we have seen in the country. For the nation and the average Joe on the street to understand, welcome, and meaningfully participate in oil and gas activities, there must be efforts to educate and inform about the industry and the energy sector at large. As part of my communication role, we have done training with the media so that they can report from an educated, understanding, and informed position.

We have also collaborated with the University of Science and Technology to host bi-monthly public lectures on oil and gas activities in the country. These sessions have been extremely successful, with an audience of over 600 in person and a maximum of 900+ online. The audience included students, professionals from all fraternities, diplomats, academics, and government officials. The speakers included the Minister of Mines and Energy in Namibia, the Petroleum Commissioner, lawmakers, geologists, and educators, to name a few. Lastly, I am pleased to have teamed up with exceptional fellow women in the industry to establish the first ever Women in Oil, Gas, and Energy Association in Namibia, a body aimed at achieving the advancement of women in the energy sector.

Energy poverty is an African reality, and Namibia is not singled out from this reality. Further to that, my area of operation is one of the most socially challenged in our country, and I have started and will continue to use my role to innovatively tackle these challenges to ensure that my country and our continent as a whole benefit from its resources.

The energy industry is known for its complexities. What were some significant challenges you faced along the way, and how did you navigate through them to achieve your goals?

It definitely has to be the onslaught that accompanies the frowning upon of oil and gas exploration and development of this resource by African countries and the public's perception of oil and gas exploration and development. I was very lucky to, very early in my career, listen to the AEC chairperson speak on the just transition as well as really grasp the concept of African solutions for African challenges. This helped me focus on the matter at hand, which is to ensure that I carry out my role without listening to the unwarranted attacks.

Adopting the just transition and African solutions for African challenges has also helped me stay focused on the bigger responsibility, which is to ensure meaningful, impactful, and tangible contributions to eradicating energy poverty in Namibia and the continent, meaningful participation in the sector, and meaningful benefit from the energy sector.

What advice would you give to young females aspiring to excel in the energy sector? Are there any specific strategies or mindsets that helped you overcome obstacles and reach your current position?

Humility, listening to those who have been in the sector, put in the work, collaboration and willingness to learn learn learn!

I was very privileged to have been welcomed into the sector with open arms by so many, including the leadership in our oil and gas sector in the country. I specifically want to highlight the women including Maggy Shino, Victoria Sibeya, MME Dep Minister Kornelia Shilunga, and Taimi Itembu, to name a few. Leadership in my company is the true definition of meaningfully giving a young black woman a seat at the table and supporting her in the role.

It is important to note that it is not enough to be given a seat at the table; the work has to continue to maintain that seat at the table. To be considered at the table should not be to satisfy a quota but because one is capable of excelling, achieving, and delivering.

A career in energy can be demanding. Could you describe a typical day in your life?

Demanding indeed! I am typically up by 05:30 and start my day with reflection, praise, worship, or prayer—not every day as I would like to. Because our team works in different time zones, I use my mornings to attend to emails that may have come through in the night. Having planned my to-do list the night before, I start executing my items for the day.

My role involves a lot of writing; therefore, I am constantly writing or preparing messages. Our meetings normally take place in the late afternoon or early evening. I work well at night and therefore choose to action some of the deliverables right after our meetings, in the evening.

With stakeholder relations, I am also constantly working on monitoring our relations and finding ways to maintain or improve them. One must be innovative. A lot of moving pieces, all the time. The last two hours of my work day are dedicated to upskilling. I try as much as possible to take short courses to assist me in carrying out my role.

Looking ahead, what changes or advancements do you hope to see in the energy sector, and how do you envision your role in shaping that future?

Meaningful participation in the energy sector, advancement of women in the energy sector, community understanding, being informed and educated about the energy sector, meaningfully benefiting from the sector, and overall. I truly believe that local content and meaningful participation in the energy sector needs to start with an understanding and education of the sector. An example is understanding that there are certain skills and capital capabilities we do not have and how we are going to work with operators to achieve our goals in combating energy poverty and social challenges throughout the energy sector. I believe that I can use my role as a vehicle to educate the Namibian nation on the energy sector for the purpose of meaningful participation.

Additionally, being on the ground and understanding the social challenges means using my role as a vehicle to be innovative in tackling these challenges and ensuring meaningful impact. As a female executive in the energy sector, it is my duty to show other women that it is possible to be in the energy sector meaningfully. At the same time, I have the very important duty to show and prove that women in the sector are capable, deliver, and have the skills to contribute to the sector. Moreover, women should not, are not, and don’t just want to be considered because we are women and that we can fill a quota, but that we have capacity, put in the work, have the skills, are capable, and deliver.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

SOURCE

African Energy Chamber