President Bola Tinubu has said that Nigeria’s increasing population needs industrial solutions that will transform it into “demographic dividends”.

Tinubu, who stated this on Wednesday at the Taraba International Investment Summit, tagged ‘Taravest,‘ in Jalingo, the state capital.

The President, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the country cannot live on raw produce and unprocessed minerals, but needs factories to add value, clusters to drive innovation, and industrial parks to turn ideas into impact.

“We know that our growing population is a cry for an industrial solution. But above all, we need visionaries. We need those who see beyond the narrow confines of trade and into the transformative possibilities of industry.

“We need people like Aliko Dangote. We need people like Tony Elumelu. The trajectory of global growth is facing Africa, and Nigeria will make or mar that transition,” he added.

Tinubu said that with the projection that Nigeria will be the third most populous nation on earth by 2050, the increase would become a demographic disaster if not well-harnessed.

“Our population will hit 440 million people. And what are you going to do with the anticipated population bulge? We can turn the anticipated bulge into demographic dividends, or it will be the demographic disaster that will consume all of us.

“I believe we have the men, the resources, and the capabilities to transform our young population into engines of growth. The whole of Europe is aging. Even the Asian tigers are aging; China is aging,” he said.

He said that Nigeria’s could harness its young and virile population amid the global talent deficit.

The President said, “The highest we have ever earned from the process of oil was $35 billion in 2011 under former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. From outsourcing alone, India generated $120 billion last year. So the opportunities abound.

“There are more English speakers in Nigeria than in India, and with all due respect, the intonation, I believe, most of the Western audiences here could get what I was talking about.

“The intonation of the Nigerian English, with all due respect, is superior to the Indian variety. Am I not right? And our proximity to Europe is an added advantage.

“So I wish to call on all of us: irrespective of differences in political affiliations, religious persuasion, tribal or sectional background, let us fuse into one, because poverty knows no ethnicity, no religion, or no tribe. Let us unite as a people.”

Why Investment Summit Matters
He noted that the summit was significant because Taraba offers Nigeria a strategic contribution to the nation’s shared prosperity, more than its breathtaking mountains and other side attractions.

He said, “Each part of Nigeria is a gift to the other. Each complements the other so profoundly that the deficiency of one region is often redeemed by the sufficiency of the other.

“Our ultimate awakening as a nation begins with this realisation that no part of this country can thrive in isolation. That is why we are here; that is why this summit matters.”

Tinubu said the world was experiencing a new wave of industrial revolution, a situation he said calls for an increase in the scale of Nigeria’s productivity to reflect the magnitude of its population.

“It demands that our farmers transition from the use of horses and cutlasses to tractors and harvestors. It demands that our energy suppliers move beyond power and household to energising large-scale industries.

“Our mining sector must also evolve to meet global demands and standards. This is how we compete with the rest of the world. This is how we stay relevant,” he added.

He, however, said the reforms undertaken by the Federal Government were not arbitrary but deliberate steps to build an economy where enterprise thrives, “while the competence of investors is not a gamble but a guarantee”.

The President added, “What we seek are collaborators, partners in progress. The government is fully committed to supporting every step you take after this gathering. We are not distant observers. We are here with you, ready to provide the institutional backing to turn ideas into accomplishments.”

Access Bank PLC has once again emerged as Nigeria’s most valuable brand, securing the top position for the fourth consecutive year in the latest “Nigeria 25 2025” ranking by Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy.

This achievement reaffirms Access Bank’s sustained brand leadership and its impact on the financial landscape through innovation, customer-centricity, and strategic growth.

The 2025 report shows that banks now account for 59per cent of the total brand value in the ranking, reflecting the strength and influence of the sector in shaping Nigeria’s economic future.

The Nigeria 25 2025 ranking also highlights considerable shifts in the country’s strongest brands, with banking brands rising through the ranks to dominate the top 10. This demonstrates a growing recognition of the sector’s resilience and adaptability, particularly as financial services play an increasingly crucial role in driving Nigeria’s economy forward.

Babatunde Odumeru, Managing Director, Brand Finance Nigeria, noted that, “Nigerian banking brands continue to grow, successfully navigating a challenging economic landscape with strategic agility while also maintaining customer loyalty.”

Commenting on the ranking, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank, said:

“This recognition as Nigeria’s most valuable brand for the fourth year running is a testament to the strength of our people, our customers’ trust, and the strategic clarity that drives everything we do. At Access Bank, we remain committed to delivering value through innovation, financial inclusion, and impactful partnerships across Africa and beyond.”

Also speaking on the milestone, Bolaji Agbede, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings PLC, stated:

“Access Bank’s brand leadership reflects the Group’s long-term vision of becoming the world’s most respected African financial institution. As we continue to evolve and expand our footprint, we are focused on delivering sustainable growth, deepening stakeholder trust, and enhancing the customer experience across all our markets.”

Access Bank’s performance in the ranking showcases the results of sustained brand investment, operational excellence, and strategic expansion across Africa, with a growing presence in key global markets.

The dominance of banks in the “Nigeria 25 2025” list further reinforces investor and consumer confidence in the sector’s long-term stability, innovation capacity, and economic significance.

The Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, fondly called Sunday Igboho, on Wednesday, said he is still on the wanted list of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Igboho lambasted a former director in President Bola Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Council, Naja’atu Mohammed, for reportedly saying he was enjoying freedom of movement despite being on the wanted list of the Federal Government.

Recall that Igboho was declared wanted by the Department of State Services for allegedly stockpiling arms and ammunition.

It will be recalled that Naja’atu had reportedly raised concerns over what she described as a disparity in the government’s treatment of separatist figures, questioning why there had been silence regarding the secessionist activities of Igboho, while Nnamdi Kanu remained in prolonged detention.

Naja’atu also accused Tinubu of sidelining the North in the governance of the country after exploring the region’s electoral value to attain power during the 2023 general election.

However, in a personally signed statement forwarded to The PUNCH in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday, Igboho said Naja’atu’s claim about his freedom aptly showed her ignorance and myopic mindset.

He said, “I’m still on the wanted list of the Federal Government despite the Presidency headed by President Tinubu.”

The activist described her claim as “unfounded and ridiculous, cautioning her to desist from dragging his name into propaganda and campaign of calumny aimed at rubbishing the government of Tinubu.”

The statement reads, “Currently, I’m using my German passport to travel in Europe and other continents and cannot enter the shores of Nigeria, having been declared wanted by security agencies under the leadership of former despotic President Muhammadu Buhari, who handed over a comatose economy to the present government. The order declaring me wanted still remains subsisting under the present government.

“What was my offence? Because I voiced my objection to the incessant killings of farmers, maiming and sexual violation of women perpetrated by herders against South-West communities, most especially in agrarian settlements during the inglorious regime of the immediate past President Buhari.

“It is on record that on July 1, 2021, a combined team of heavily armed personnel from the DSS and the Nigerian Army invaded my residence in Ibadan, with the intent to either arrest or assassinate me. At the end of the vicious attack, which lasted for hours, two of my people were shot dead while 13 others were arrested.

“Since Nigeria attained independence and the advent of democratic rule, out of 16 presidents who governed the nation, only two are from the Yoruba ethnic group- former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the incumbent President Tinubu.”

He added, “Where was Naja’atu Mohammed when Boko Haram terrorists and Fulani herders were wreaking havoc on Nigerians in the North and South-West through mindless killings during the administration of ex-President Buhari. During this period, an Islamic cleric, Abubakar Gumi, who was the negotiator between the Federal Government and terrorist groups, made millions of dollars.

“It’s because Tinubu’s government has resolved to tackle insurgency headlong rather than employing the service of the likes of Gumi which prompted spurious claims and mischievous propaganda by this woman. But she should desist from bringing my name into her diatribe.”