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PREMIUM TIMES, EnergyNet strengthen collaboration ahead of Nigeria NOW! Summit
Nigeria’s long-standing narrative of immense potential constrained by structural challenges may be entering a new phase of tangible economic delivery, as stakeholders prepare for the Nigeria NOW! summit, scheduled to hold in November 2026 in Abuja.
This was made known by Simon Gosling, EnergyNet’s managing director and the convener of the summit, during a consultative visit to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday.
The visit was part of pre-event engagements to explore collaboration opportunities with the leadership of Nigeria’s foremost newspaper, to discuss media partnerships and the role of journalism in shaping credible narratives around investment, transparency, and governance in Nigeria’s extractive and energy sectors.
The meeting highlighted the role of data-driven storytelling in bridging information gaps between policymakers, investors, and citizens.
Speaking about the summit, Mr Gosling said, for years, investor engagement with Nigeria has been characterised by caution, driven by concerns around foreign exchange volatility, regulatory uncertainty, contract breaches, policy flip-flops, and infrastructure gaps.
He said: “However, recent developments, including reforms in the foreign exchange regime, implementation of the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, and renewed momentum in gas infrastructure such as the AKK pipeline, point to a transition from policy intent to execution”.
He explained that the summit is designed to reframe global investor perception of Nigeria from a high-risk environment to a destination of verified opportunity, noting that the event is engineered to bridge this trust Gap.
“Unlike previous jamborees focused on Memorandums of Understanding, this launch event focuses on Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) and the showcasing of completed projects. The agenda is designed to move the conversation from “what we plan to do” to “what we have done and how you can plug in”, Mr Gosling said.
He said the high-level event will bring together key sectors, including power, petroleum, solid minerals, transport, agriculture, and infrastructure, while convening policymakers, regulators, investors, industry leaders, and development partners to showcase recent reforms and major infrastructure milestones.
Mr Gosling added that partnerships with local institutions remain critical to the success of the initiative, noting that the summit aims not only to attract investment but also to promote accountability, inclusivity, and sustainable development outcomes.
Also speaking on the collaboration, PREMIUM TIMES’ publisher, Dapo Olorunyomi, emphasised the need to build a strong media community of practice capable of amplifying critical issues across the key sectors.
He noted that a lack of technical capacity has historically hindered journalists from reporting on these complex industries with consequential depth.
Mr Olorunyomi stressed the importance of intensive capacity building to ensure that the Nigerian public and the global community are informed by knowledge-driven storytelling rather than anecdotal evidence.
Similarly, representatives of the Nigerian Indigenous Women in Mining and Natural Resources Organisation (NIWIMNRO), at the meeting, expressed appreciation to EnergyNet for its technical support in ensuring that the voices of women artisanal miners are reflected in broader investment conversations.
The organisation’s Executive Director, Felicia Dairo, commended EnergyNet for its commitment to advancing gender inclusion and supporting initiatives that empower women miners across Nigeria, noting that EnergyNet’s support began even at a time when NIWIMNRO was still developing its structure.
Mrs Dairo said NIWIMNRO looks forward to working more closely with the EnergyNet team to ensure the success of what is expected to be one of the biggest events in Nigeria’s history.
About Nigeria NOW!
The Nigeria NOW! summit is being convened against a backdrop of shifting global economic and energy dynamics. As traditional investment destinations experience slower growth, capital is increasingly seeking high-yield frontier markets.
With projected GDP growth of around 4.0 per cent and ongoing structural reforms, Nigeria is positioning itself as a competitive destination for such investments.
The November 2026 event will serve as a precursor to a larger global investors’ summit planned for 2027, where Nigeria aims to further consolidate its position in the global investment landscape.
READ ALSO: EnergyNet partners NIWIMNRO for Africa Energy Forum (AEF) Conference
The Nigeria NOW! platform is also aligned with regional integration efforts under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with stakeholders highlighting Nigeria’s potential as a gateway for institutional capital into West Africa.
As preparations intensify, the organiser says the initiative’s success will depend on the country’s ability to translate reforms into measurable outcomes and sustain investor confidence.
With renewed momentum across policy, infrastructure, and stakeholder engagement, the Nigeria NOW! summit may mark a turning point in how Nigeria is perceived and how it performs on the global economic stage.
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.
READ ALSO: FAAN defends airport cab tariff hike amid protest against vehicle upgrade policy
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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