Business
FG Commissions Senator George Akume Auditorium in Jos, Strengthens North Central’s Trade Infrastructure
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Dr. George Akume, has been honoured with the naming of a newly constructed international conference hall after him in Jos, Plateau State.
The state-of-the-art facility, known as the Senator George Akume Auditorium, is located within the North Central Zonal Coordinating Office of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. It was commissioned by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshen Yilwada, who was represented by the party’s Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emma Eneukwu.
Speaking at the event, Professor Yilwada described the project as a visible outcome of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which continues to deliver federal presence and development across all regions of the country.
He commended President Tinubu for his inclusive leadership, noting that both Senator Akume’s appointment as SGF and his own emergence as APC National Chairman underscore the North Central region’s growing strategic importance to Nigeria’s unity and economic growth.
“This auditorium named in honour of Senator George Akume is a fitting tribute to his lifelong dedication to public service and regional empowerment,” Yilwada said. “It stands as a symbol of partnership between government, industry, and the people — showing how purposeful leadership can deliver projects that outlive administrations.”
Yilwada also lauded the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, for expanding the frontiers of the blue economy, and the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, for his visionary leadership.
In his remarks, Senator Akume expressed gratitude for the recognition, describing it as an unexpected honour for his years of service to Nigeria.
“When I was Governor of Benue State for eight years, I never named anything after myself. This came as a surprise, and I receive it with gratitude and humility,” he said.
The SGF emphasized that infrastructure remains a crucial driver of national growth, adding that the Tinubu administration is committed to improving trade and logistics systems to promote economic diversification.
“Infrastructure development is a national priority, not a choice,” Akume stated. “We must continue to build systems that promote ease of doing business, reduce logistics costs, and open new frontiers for trade and investment.”
Delivering the goodwill message of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Permanent Secretary Oloruntola Olufemi praised Senator Akume’s integrity and the Shippers’ Council’s dedication to national development, noting that the project aligns with the president’s vision for inclusive economic growth.
Other dignitaries at the event included Senator Sani Musa, Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki, and Elder Yahaya Kwande, who all described the project as a major boost to the North Central’s logistics and commerce landscape.
Representing the Plateau State Governor, Deputy Governor Ngo Josephine Piyo congratulated the Shippers’ Council for the achievement and assured of the state government’s partnership to ensure the facility supports local trade and employment.
Earlier, Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to President Tinubu’s blue economy agenda, thanking stakeholders for their collaboration and calling for sustained partnerships to strengthen Nigeria’s export systems.
Traditional leaders and community representatives, including envoys from the Gbong Gwom Jos, also sent goodwill messages applauding the federal government’s focus on inland shipping and commerce in Plateau State.
The commissioning of the Senator George Akume Auditorium marks a key milestone in Nigeria’s drive for inclusive infrastructure development, regional trade integration, and the advancement of the blue economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is rolling out V-Pass, a biometric identity verification system designed to make domestic air travel faster, safer and more seamless.
Developed in partnership with M/S Verxid Technologies Limited, the system will let passengers confirm their identities through facial recognition, reducing the need to rely on physical ID documents at airports.
The rollout was reviewed during a strategic meeting between FAAN and Verxid Technologies Limited, where both sides discussed deployment plans, security measures and ways to improve the passenger experience.
FAAN said the initiative shows its commitment to using technology to improve passenger facilitation and aviation security across domestic airports. V-Pass will give travellers a secure digital identity through a one-time enrolment process.
Nigerian passengers will register with their NIN and facial biometric capture, while foreign passengers will enrol using international passports through OCR and biometric authentication. The system will check passengers before they enter restricted areas and again before boarding.
This dual-verification process is meant to prevent impersonation, unauthorized access and identity fraud, while giving security agencies greater confidence in passenger authentication. During rollout, passengers will be able to use self-service kiosks or get help from FAAN staff.
E-Gates will automate access to controlled areas, reduce queues and improve passenger flow. Developers say biometric processing will take less than 30 seconds after enrolment, while first-time registration will take about one minute. V-Pass will also give airlines secure access to flight schedules, passenger manifests and boarding statistics through a digital platform.
FAAN will benefit from a Central Management System that tracks passenger movement, generates analytics and supports future integration with other airport systems. FAAN and Verxid said data privacy remains central to the project.
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The system complies with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), and passenger data will not be stored on kiosks or handheld devices. Before deployment, FAAN and Verxid plan to launch a nationwide sensitisation campaign.
The campaign will run across TV, radio, social media, airport announcements and airline advisories to help passengers understand how V-Pass works. A live Proof of Concept demonstration and technical site assessment will also be carried out before full rollout
FAAN says V-Pass is part of its broader digital transformation agenda. By combining biometric technology with modern access control, FAAN hopes to build a smarter, safer and more efficient airport system for domestic travellers.
BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—Mrs. Yetunde Ilori, the outgoing President of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), has stated that her greatest fulfillment after two years in office is successfully elevating insurance literacy into a national conversation.
This milestone was achieved through targeted initiatives that reached children, students, professionals, and various communities across Nigeria.
Speaking at her valedictory virtual press conference marking the end of her tenure as CIIN’s 52nd President, Ilori reflected on her administration’s key achievements.
She described her leadership journey as one driven by a steadfast commitment to expanding insurance education, strengthening professionalism, building capacity, and fostering deeper industry collaboration.
She expressed deep gratitude to the media for their unwavering support in publicizing the institute’s programs, noting that journalists played a vital role in boosting insurance awareness and enhancing public understanding of the sector’s economic importance.
“I came into office with a clear intention to make a difference,” Ilori said. “Leadership should always be measured by the impact it creates and the legacy it leaves behind.”
Ilori explained that her administration was guided by the EPIC agenda—focused on Education, Professionalism, Institutional and Individual Recognition, and Capacity Building. This strategic framework served as the foundation for the institute’s major initiatives over the past two years.
Key Milestones of the EPIC Administration
Nationwide Advocacy: A defining achievement of her tenure was expanding “Insurance Week” into a nationwide campaign. The initiative took advocacy beyond traditional industry circles and directly into local markets, schools, universities, and public spaces.
Early Childhood Education: To nurture financial literacy from an early age, the CIIN published two introductory books simplified for children aged 4–10 and 11–16, making insurance concepts accessible and relatable.
Youth & Tech Innovation: To foster innovation, the institute promoted youth participation through a specialized Hackathon, bringing together students, tech experts, and insurance practitioners to develop digital solutions for the sector.
The Million-Youth Project: Ilori highlighted a landmark partnership with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development. This digital learning initiative aims to train one million Nigerian youths in insurance and financial literacy, equipping them with the skills to pursue careers in insurance, entrepreneurship, and sound financial planning.
She also praised the strengthened collaboration among insurers, regulators, and professional bodies, noting that these collective efforts contributed to major industry reforms, including supporting the progress of the new insurance bill.
Beyond domestic policy reforms, the CIIN under her leadership expanded its reach to Nigerian insurance professionals in the diaspora, upgraded facilities at the College of Insurance, and enhanced career development through directors’ conferences, specialized training, and student internship opportunities.
Ilori emphasized that the successes of her tenure were the result of industry-wide teamwork rather than individual effort.
“As I leave office, my desire is for this stakeholder collaboration to continue,” she concluded. “It is not about any single individual; it is about the institution and the sustainable growth of the Nigerian insurance industry.”
The post How Yetunde Ilori Made Insurance Literacy a National Conversation appeared first on Business Today NG.
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