Nigeria Needs Competent, Ethical Young Leaders, Says HAVEK Leadership Academy

LAGOS — Nigeria needs a new generation of competent, ethical and purpose-driven young leaders who are adequately prepared to take responsibility for the country’s development, the HAVEK Leadership Academy has said.

The Academy made the call in a statement issued by its General Manager, Mr. Taiwo Bakare, to commemorate the 2026 International Youth Day, observed globally on Wednesday, August 12, under the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”

According to HAVEK, the occasion provides an opportunity not only to celebrate the creativity, resilience and contributions of young people but also to reflect on the responsibilities required to prepare them for leadership and national development.

The Academy stressed that Nigeria does not simply need young people waiting to occupy leadership positions but youths who are deliberately preparing themselves to lead responsibly.

It noted that leadership should not be measured by age, political position, public visibility or the possession of authority, but by competence, character, discipline, courage, accountability, service and the ability to provide practical solutions to societal challenges.

Bakare said the future of Nigeria would largely depend on the knowledge, values, skills and decisions of its young people.

“Nigeria needs a generation of young people who will not only ask what the country can do for them, but who are prepared to ask what they can contribute to building a better country.

“We need young Nigerians who are intellectually equipped, professionally competent, morally grounded, and courageous enough to provide solutions to the challenges confronting our nation,” he said.

The Academy said youth development must move beyond speeches and slogans to deliberate investment in the capacity, character and leadership competence of young Nigerians.

It urged young people to acquire relevant knowledge and practical skills, develop critical-thinking abilities, embrace technology and innovation, cultivate strong work ethics and understand the importance of patience, discipline and continuous learning.

HAVEK also warned that leadership without character could become a liability to society, stressing that Nigeria needs young leaders who would reject corruption, dishonesty, indiscipline, intolerance and the culture of shortcuts.

The Academy said such values were essential across different sectors, including politics, business, education, public service, entrepreneurship, community development and technology.

It maintained that young professionals, entrepreneurs, educators, public servants, community leaders and innovators must understand that leadership is fundamentally about responsibility and service to humanity.

The Academy also called on parents, educational institutions, governments, businesses and civil society organisations to create more meaningful platforms for young Nigerians to learn, innovate, serve and participate constructively in national development.

According to HAVEK, youth empowerment should not be restricted to financial interventions, noting that sustainable empowerment must include quality education, leadership development, mentorship, employability skills, entrepreneurship, digital competence, civic responsibility and meaningful participation in decision-making.

The organisation further noted that Nigeria’s large youth population could become one of the country’s greatest assets if properly educated, equipped and guided.

It urged stakeholders to provide young Nigerians with opportunities to develop their talents and transform their aspirations into practical contributions to society.

The Academy called on Nigerian youths to make continuous learning, critical thinking, hard work, responsible leadership, innovation and selfless service integral parts of their personal development.

It said the future should not be something young people merely wait to inherit but something they should begin preparing to build through their choices, actions and commitment to national development.

HAVEK Leadership Academy reaffirmed its commitment to developing young people with the knowledge, skills, values and leadership capacity required to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria and the global community.

The Academy concluded its message with a call for a renewed commitment to youth development, declaring: “Nigeria needs strong minds. Nigeria needs capable hands. Nigeria needs people of character. Nigeria needs young leaders prepared to serve. The time to prepare them is now.”

The statement was signed by Bakare, General Manager, HAVEK Leadership Academy.

Nigeria Needs Competent, Ethical Young Leaders, Says HAVEK Leadership Academy

Customs Intercept Explosives from Ghana, Expired Noodles in N365m Seme Border Crackdown

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials smuggled from Ghana, alongside 1,306 sacks of expired noodles, narcotics, foreign rice and other contraband. The seizures, with a combined Duty Paid Value of N365.16 million, were unveiled at a press briefing where the Command also announced it had generated N19.84 billion in revenue within the first seven months of 2026.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has dealt a major blow to smuggling and cross-border criminal activities along the Nigeria-Ghana border with the interception of explosive materials, expired noodles, narcotics, foreign rice, cigarettes, and other prohibited items. The seizures, with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N365.16 million, were unveiled at a press briefing by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, at the Seme Border in Badagry, Lagos State.

In what has been described as a significant national security intervention, Customs officers intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials being illegally conveyed through the Seme border corridor from Ghana. Kaila emphasised the grave danger these materials posed, stating that explosives of this nature could facilitate terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes capable of threatening national peace and security. “Explosives of this nature have devastating consequences when they fall into the hands of criminal elements,” he warned. Due to the sensitive nature of the seizure, the explosive materials, alongside one suspect, have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit for safe custody and further investigation.

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The Command also intercepted a truck deceptively declared as carrying food items, which was found to contain 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50 kilogrammes. Kaila revealed that many of the products had already deteriorated and were visibly decomposing, with intelligence indicating that smugglers intended to repackage and relabel them for sale to unsuspecting Nigerians. “Had this shipment succeeded, countless families would have been exposed to serious health hazards ranging from food poisoning and gastrointestinal diseases to other life-threatening medical complications,” he said. The Customs boss described border security as a form of public health protection, stating that every Nigerian had been shielded from what could have become a silent public health disaster.

In the fight against illicit drugs, the Command seized 373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 90 packs of Tramaking 250mg, 69 packs of Royal Tapentadol 250mg, and 310,000 sticks of Time/Yes cigarettes. Kaila described these as dangerous products capable of destroying lives, fuelling criminality, encouraging substance abuse, and undermining the future of young people. The illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products will be formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and necessary action.

The Command also intercepted 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50 kilogrammes, smuggled through illegal routes. According to Kaila, this illegal importation not only denied the government legitimate revenue but also undermined local rice production and threatened the livelihoods of Nigerian farmers. Other seized items included a used speedboat, a used water bike, a 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser, a 2016 Toyota RAV4, and a 2010 Nissan Versa.

The Command recorded significant revenue growth, generating N19.84 billion between January and July 2026, surpassing the N15.94 billion collected throughout the entire 2025 fiscal year. This represents a 24.45 per cent increase of N3.899 billion. Kaila attributed the improved revenue performance to enhanced compliance, stronger stakeholder engagement, improved operational efficiency, and intensified enforcement against smuggling. “This achievement demonstrates that effective enforcement and efficient trade facilitation are complementary responsibilities,” he stated.

Kaila issued a stern warning to smugglers and economic saboteurs, declaring that Seme is no longer a safe corridor for illicit trade. He reiterated that the Command had intensified intelligence-driven operations and would continue collaborating with sister security agencies to frustrate criminal activities along the border. He commended sister security and regulatory agencies for their cooperation and intelligence sharing, while also appreciating the media for its role in informing the public and promoting transparency and accountability in Customs operations.

Customs Intercept Explosives from Ghana, Expired Noodles in N365m Seme Border Crackdown

Osun guber: Adeyanju petitions US, UK, Canada to sanction Fadahunsi over ‘kill accord’ comment

Human rights lawyer calls for visa restrictions and other punitive measures against the Osun East senator, describing his alleged remarks as a dangerous incitement to violence ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has formally petitioned the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, urging them to impose sanctions on Senator Francis Fadahunsi over his controversial “kill Accord” comment. Adeyanju made this known while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on Tuesday, where he called on the three Western nations to consider visa restrictions and other appropriate measures against the Osun East senator.

The controversy stems from a viral video in which Senator Fadahunsi, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , was heard speaking in Yoruba and allegedly urging his supporters to attack members of the rival Accord Party ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election. The video, which surfaced on social media, has sparked widespread outrage and heightened political tension in the state.

Adeyanju described the senator’s alleged remarks as “unfortunate” and “regrettably threatening,” arguing that they amounted to an attempt to encourage violence against members of the Accord Party. “Again, that takes me to the unfortunate remarks that we’ve just heard of Senator Fadahunsi, very regrettably threatening that members of the Accord Party be killed,” Adeyanju said on the programme. He maintained that it was “very clear” to him that the senator was allegedly engineering attacks against members of the party.

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The human rights lawyer said his petition was intended to draw the attention of the three countries, particularly the United States, which has consistently expressed interest in promoting democracy in Nigeria and has warned against political violence. He argued that international pressure could help discourage politicians from making inflammatory statements capable of provoking violence during elections. Adeyanju also called on all leading candidates in the Osun governorship race to publicly condemn threats and violence against political opponents.

Adeyanju expressed concern over the political tension surrounding the Osun governorship election, saying the level of violence and tension preceding the poll was alarming. “For a very long time, we’ve not witnessed this level of violence preceding an election,” he said. His concerns are echoed by a pre-election security assessment by the Kimpact Development Initiative, which recorded 73 election-related violent incidents and 29 fatalities within its assessment period, with 78 per cent of incidents occurring between May and July 2026 as political campaigns intensified.

Senator Fadahunsi, however, has clarified his remarks, insisting that his comment was purely political and metaphorical. In a statement issued by his media office on Tuesday and titled “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence, Senator Fadahunsi Tells APC,” the senator explained that he was calling on APC supporters to overwhelmingly reject the Accord Party at the ballot box through lawful, peaceful, and democratic means. “For the avoidance of doubt, the Senator’s statement was purely political and metaphorical,” the statement read.

The senator’s media office maintained that the remark did not portray Fadahunsi as an advocate of violence against members of the Accord Party or any other political organisation. “At no point did Senator Fadahunsi advocate violence, intimidation or any form of physical attack against members or supporters of the Accord Party or any other political party. His consistent position has always been that elections should be decided by the votes of the people and not by force,” the statement added. Fadahunsi also urged APC supporters and other political actors in the state to maintain peace and respect the law throughout the electoral process.

The development comes amid mounting tension in Osun State as political parties intensify their campaigns ahead of Saturday’s governorship poll. Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re-election under the banner of the Accord Party, has already called for the arrest and prosecution of Senator Fadahunsi over the alleged incitement to violence. The police have since summoned the senator for questioning over the viral comments, with the invitation letter dated August 11, 2026, ordering Fadahunsi to report to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo on Wednesday, August 12, at 11:00 am.

Osun guber: Adeyanju petitions US, UK, Canada to sanction Fadahunsi over ‘kill accord’ comment