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Ogunlesi backs Tinubu reforms as FIRS chairman Adedeji highlights export-led economy

Published

3 weeks ago

October 6, 2025

Joel Ajayi

After a high-level meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, Nigerian-born global investor Adebayo Ogunlesi expressed renewed confidence in the country’s economic reforms, indicating potential mega investments across energy, aviation, and port sectors.

He was joined in that optimism by Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), who stressed that the reforms were laying the groundwork for an export-driven economy.

Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting, Ogunlesi praised the sweeping policy changes under Tinubu’s administration, including the removal of subsidies, tax reforms, and the revival of a refinery already exporting aviation fuel.

“We had an excellent meeting where we discussed how to put Nigeria front and center for international investment. The President was very encouraging, and we shared useful suggestions on driving economic growth,” Ogunlesi said.
Although he declined to reveal specific details, Ogunlesi confirmed that his firm is actively investing in Nigeria and assessing new opportunities.

“Watch this space. Nigeria is not yet the most exciting investment destination, but that’s what we are working on,” he teased.

Pressed on the sectors of interest, Ogunlesi highlighted energy, gas, aviation, ports, and renewables. Drawing on his firm’s experience with LNG projects in Texas and Australia, he noted Nigeria’s massive untapped gas reserves.

On aviation, he acknowledged his reputation as “the guy who bought Gatwick Airport” and signaled interest in similar ventures locally.
He also admitted that one of his companies operates ports in Cotonou and Lomé but none in Nigeria, a point Tinubu reportedly challenged him on.

“He forgave me but said, ‘you have to bring port investment to Nigeria,’” Ogunlesi recounted with a smile.

International investor Hakeem Bello-Osagie, who was also present, underscored the importance of diaspora participation in Nigeria’s growth story.
“When Nigerians at home and abroad invest in Nigeria, it sends a strong signal to the world,” he said, lauding Tinubu’s policies for making the country “investable.”

Echoing the sentiment, FIRS chairman Adedeji described the reforms as the foundation for an export-led economy.

“We’ve done the fundamentals, and now it is time to deliver growth,” he said.

With global players signaling confidence, the momentum for Nigeria’s economic repositioning is gaining ground, setting the stage for transformative investments in key industries.

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Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment To A Digitally-Driven Workforce

Published

1 day ago

October 29, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

In a strong affirmation of his administration’s vision for a technology-enabled public service, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has reiterated the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to building a world-class, digitally-driven, and citizen-centred workforce capable of driving inclusive and sustainable national development.

The President, represented by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, at the opening ceremony of the 57th International Conference and Exhibition of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) held in Abuja, noted that the Conference provides a vital platform for thought leaders, policymakers, and human resource professionals to examine and discuss the evolving dynamics of work under the theme, “Reimagining the New World of Work.”

President Tinubu commended the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria for its consistency and nearly six decades of professional excellence, ethical leadership, and dedication to human capital development in Nigeria. He acknowledged the Institute’s invaluable role in promoting professionalism and strengthening workforce governance across both public and private sectors.

Highlighting the Administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the President emphasized that “Nigeria’s greatest asset is not its oil or minerals, but its people.” He underscored key Federal Government initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talent Programme (3MTT) and the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), designed to position Nigeria as a global hub for skilled digital professionals.

The President also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ongoing public service transformation through the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2025 (FCSSIP25), which aims to achieve a fully digital and paperless civil service by 31st December, 2025.

He explained that the adoption of the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) solution is a major milestone in enhancing efficiency, transparency, and accountability in public service operations.

In his welcome address, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir FCIPM, fnli, emphasized that the future of work will not necessarily reward the strongest or the smartest, but those courageous enough to remain human in a digital world. He described the conference as “not just another HR event, but a transformative movement that will echo through boardrooms, classrooms, and corridors of influence for years to come.”

Mallam Gobir reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to redefining workplace leadership and advancing professional excellence. He urged human resource professionals to transcend traditional management practices and cultivate work environments “where humans and technology collaborate, not compete; where innovation meets integrity, and productivity aligns with purpose.”

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