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AFC Joins Ecobank and Soto Gallery to Host +234Art International Art Exhibition to elevate African art and empower artists

Lagos, March 14, 2024 – The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), the continent’s leading instrumental infrastructure solutions provider, has joined forces with Ecobank Nigeria and Soto Gallery to host the +234Art Fair, a 10-day international exhibition intended as a springboard to promote Africa’s art and its artists. The exhibition will display more than a thousand works of art from emerging and “un-galleried” artists starting Friday 22nd March at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) on 270 Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos. Announcing the partnership in Lagos, Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of Africa Finance Corporation, said: “The +234Art Fair aligns with AFC’s advocacy strategy of empowering and elevating Africa’s youthful population, thereby fostering job creation, skills development, value retention and rapid economic growth. We are proud to collaborate with Ecobank to help drive Africa’s creative industry forward by creating a catalyst for promoting African art and artists locally and on the global stage.” Commenting, Bolaji Lawal, Managing Director and Regional Executive, Ecobank Nigeria said: “Our shared objective as the pan-African Bank is to project Africa’s creatives, including visual artists, by highlighting and developing talent, and providing a platform and opportunities for artists to showcase their works locally and globally. All arrangements are in place to make the fair exciting and fulfilling for both the ‘un-galleried’ artists and art enthusiasts across the world. We are so impressed with the interest and enthusiasm generated among young and emerging artists.” Curated by Soto Gallery, one of Africa’s foremost art collections, the collaborative approach by Ecobank and AFC sets out to catalyze the creative sector by enabling emerging artists to achieve recognition and livelihoods, contributing to economic growth through art sales locally and internationally. Alongside showcasing artwork, +234Art Fair will focus on enhancing the creative skills of participating artists through workshops with established local and international artists. A series of discussions between artists, collectors, gallerists, and exhibition visitors will impart critical knowledge of the global art world. The exhibition’s title ‘+234Art’ combines Nigeria’s country dialing code with the concept of art to signpost a thorough exposition of what regional art looks like today, and how it interacts with the larger art community across the continent and beyond. The thematic direction for the maiden exhibition – ‘A New Heritage’ – reflects the melting pot of artistic creativity from different strata and states, said Tola Akerele, Founder of the Soto Gallery. “In presenting ‘A New Heritage,’ +234Art Fair seeks to connect Nigerian art from the past to the present, fostering a sense of pride and purpose among emerging artists. The event prompts essential questions: What does it mean to be a Nigerian artist? What heritage underlies our artistic practice? How can we celebrate emerging artists, knowing they will contribute to our artistic heritage and legacy in the future?” Already, hundreds of works of art have arrived at the 2,000 square meter venue in preparation for the exhibition. Highlights of the +234Art Fair include: Diverse art exhibits: Paintings, sculptures, curated photography by Lagos Photo, an international photography festival presented in Nigeria, and compelling art installations – each with price tags to spur an affordable local marketplace.Art-centric bookstore: A curated selection of publications celebrating the richness of African arts and culture.Immersive children’s area: Nurturing young minds with a dedicated art tour and a delightful play area for our youngest art enthusiasts.VIP lounge: An exclusive space for connoisseurs to immerse themselves in the artistic ambiance.Culinary delights: A rich culinary experience awaits visitors at our in-house food court.Engaging masterclasses and workshops: Thought-provoking conversations and engaging sessions that provide a platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and creative exploration.
NEWS
3,000 Nigerians Join Young Professionals for Tinubu Nationwide Network to Build a Stronger Youth-Led Movement

Lagos, Nigeria – Tuesday 11 Feb 2025 – In a rapidly changing world where the role of young professionals in shaping national policies and economic progress has never been more critical, more than 3,000 Nigerians have now joined Young Professionals for Tinubu (YP4T), a dynamic and fast-growing youth-driven movement dedicated to leadership, policy engagement, and economic empowerment. From Lagos to Kano, Oyo to Abuja, YP4T’s expanding membership reflects the increasing recognition among young Nigerians that national progress is best achieved through active participation rather than passive observation.Founded in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for economic transformation, YP4T has quickly established itself as a mobilizing force for young professionals who see themselves not just as beneficiaries of development but as key drivers of it. Across multiple states, its members are actively working to strengthen Nigeria’s economic, technological, and entrepreneurial landscape, ensuring that young people are not left behind in the country’s evolving growth story. With an economy valued at over $440 billion and a youth population that makes up more than 60% of Nigeria’s 200 million citizens, the impact of an organized and engaged professional youth network cannot be overstated.Through direct interventions in education, career development, and entrepreneurship, YP4T has already begun making a tangible impact. In the past six months, the movement has facilitated over N50 million in small business support, connected more than 1,200 young Nigerians to industry mentors across finance, technology, and governance, and provided professional development training to over 800 early-career professionals. Its education-focused initiatives have also led to the launch of the YP4T Scholarship & Skills Fund, which has supported university students and technical training beneficiaries in multiple states, ensuring that economic hardship does not derail potential.Speaking on the significance of this milestone, Alex Oware, Regional Director of YP4T noted that the energy and enthusiasm among Nigerian professionals is a clear indicator of a national shift toward youth-led development. He emphasized that beyond conversations, YP4T is focused on real impact. “We are building a generation that is ready to lead, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to national growth. The rapid expansion of our network is proof that young Nigerians want to be involved in shaping the country’s future. The best way to honor the administration’s vision for national development is not just to support it but to become part of the execution—ensuring that policies translate into opportunities for people across the country.”With a global economy increasingly shaped by innovation, digital transformation, and skills-based growth, Nigeria’s ability to leverage its youth population as a competitive advantage is key to future success. Countries that have seen rapid economic expansion, such as South Korea, India, and Singapore, have all placed structured investments in their young workforce at the center of their policies. Nigeria, with an annual graduate output of over 600,000 students, has an opportunity to turn its youth into a global workforce powerhouse, and movements like YP4T are providing a structured platform to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity.Members across multiple industries have expressed how joining YP4T has helped them connect to opportunities they previously struggled to access. One of the beneficiaries of the YP4T professional development initiative, Raphael Utoku, described how the movement helped him transition from struggling to find his first job to securing a role in a multinational company. “I joined YP4T because I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself. Beyond the leadership discussions and the networking, I gained practical mentorship that has completely transformed my career path. It’s the kind of community that young professionals in Nigeria have needed for a long time.”YP4T’s growth is a direct reflection of its members’ commitment to building a stronger, globally competitive Nigeria. As the network expands, its next phase will focus on providing additional funding support for small businesses, scaling mentorship programs to reach more sectors, and launching policy engagement forums that give young professionals a direct voice in national decision-making. The momentum behind the movement is a reminder that real change happens when young people take ownership of their future, and YP4T is ensuring that no young Nigerian is left behind in this era of national transformation.For more information on YP4T’s programs or to become a member, visit YP4T on Instagram.
NEWS
Lagos cancels work-from-home policy, workers to resume full on-site duty April 1

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has scrapped the work-from-home initiative introduced by his administration, directing all public servants to resume full on-site work from April 1, 2025.Sanwo-Olu had in February 2024 announced the policy which allowed civil servants in the state from levels one to 14 to work only three days.However, the Head of Service, Bode Agoro, in a statement on Tuesday, noted that scrapping of the policy followed the implementation of the new minimum wage and other welfare measures for state for state workers.
“Further to the implementation of the New Minimum Wage in the state public service and other commendable measures put in place by this administration to improve the welfare and well-being of public servants, Mr. Governor has approved the cancellation of the work-from-home initiative in the Lagos State Public Service,” the statement read.He urged all public servants to rededicate themselves to their duties and ensure improved service delivery across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies .“Accounting Officers are enjoined to note the contents of this circular and give it the service-wide publicity it deserves,” he added.
NEWS
Bill For Research Trust Fund Scales Second Reading At Lagos Assembly

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Princess Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, has committed a bill to establish the State’s research trust fund to a sub-committee of the House.Meranda also emphasised the need for tertiary institutions in the state to partake in effective research works for the benefit of the state.This was as the bill, sponsored by a member of the House, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, scaled second reading on the floor of the House.The proposed law is aimed at creating a ‘state research trust fund for the allocation, management and administration of the trust fund and for connected purposes’.Supporting the bill, lawmakers praised the sponsor and noted that it would help advance the state.Yishawu told his colleagues that the bill was important as it would help drive innovation, economic growth, and technological advancement in the state.According to him, Lagos, as Nigeria’s economic hub, cannot afford to lag in scientific and technological development.He argued that a well-structured research and development funding system would enhance governance, stimulate industrialisation, and position the state as a leader in innovation.He also stressed that the bill, when passed, would touch every facet of Lagos.Dissecting the bill, some of the lawmakers raised concerns over taxation but agreed that the bill was important.Hon. Noheem Adams stressed that funding would help to provide a veritable opportunity for researchers to come up with results that help societies.According to him, when Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, “it would have been difficult to visualize that a day would come when we will all have a handset in our pockets.”The ad-hoc committee is expected to fine-tune the bill ahead of further processes leading to its passage.Signed:Media Office Of The Rt. Hon. Speaker
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