Top on the agenda of Governor Badaru Abubakar is to create a sustainable economy for Jigawa State. To achieve this, he needs resources. That is one of the reasons he is collaborating with fellow governors from across the North to negotiate a loan facility from the Islamic Bank. Abubakar speaks on the loan issue in this interview and what he has been doing in the last 10 months of his administration to turn the economy of what he called “a civil service state” around.

Barely 10 months into the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (2006–2008), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, takes a critical look at the state of the nation. Agbakoba, who argues that Nigeria was already sliding into recession, given its equal negative growths in two quarters, however, advises Buhari on how to save the nation. Excerpts:

With the worsening fuel scarcity facing Nigeria’s economy amid forex crisis, it appears effort by government to revive the economy is not yielding positive results. In some areas of Lagos, fuel scarcity is biting very hard as transportation fare has increased by 50 percent.

Mr. Kehinde Joseph is the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Civic Engagement, in this interview discussed the passion and steps taken by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode towards protecting lives as well as improving the conditions of living of Lagosians.

I am quite happy with the outcome of events. In terms of technical content, I think it was successful. The different units and organisations that made presentations at the conference demonstrated a clear understanding of the different sectors of agriculture. They also proposed adopted and tested solutions to challenges in agriculture in the country. I am really impressed with the presentations made at the conference, particularly the way the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, tackled the issues in the agricultural sector. I am quite convinced that the minister has a good idea of the direction the agricultural sector in Nigeria is headed.

HUAWEI Technologies, the leading provider of next generation telecommunications solutions, has been conducting business in Nigeria for 16 years. Since entering the market, the company has helped to improve Nigeria’s ICT infrastructure which plays an important role in GDP growth and job creation. Frank Li is the Managing Director of Huawei Nigeria.

Ankio Briggs, in this interview, comes down hard on all those involved in the abduction and sustained detention of Ese Oruru. She insists that conscious efforts should be made to protect the innocence of the girl-child in Nigeria.

Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, is a long standing legal practitioner, notary public and an executive director of Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP. In this encounter, he sheds more light on the recent court judgment in favor of his group against the federal government. He concludes that all Nigerians must rise to the occasion and save the country from imminent collapse due to corruption and impunity. He also speaks on some other national issues.

Laila St. Matthew-Daniel, a social activist, explains, in this interview, why all those implicated in the Ese Oruru saga should be prosecuted. She also says sentiment, religion and culture should never be used as excuses to abuse children. Excerpts:

Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. Mr. Nzubechukwu William Eluagu, a visual artist and graduate of Fine Art (Sculpture) from the Yaba College of Technology, took waste recycling to another level with his final year project; an audacious 13.6 feet sculpture entitled, Your Destiny Is In Your Hands, made mostly from waste materials.