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Motherland’s tourism product no 10 beckons: Heed the call, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye urges tourism aficionado

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Tourism icon, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye’s 10th Tourism Product is ‘Motherland Beckons – Heed the Call’ and leverages off the fact that Nigeria and Africa have a huge population living in the diasporas.

He explains that, most people when referring to the Nigerian or African.

Diasporas think only of those originally born in Nigeria or Africa and their first generation children. However, the upsurge of ancestry sites such as ‘23andMe’ and AncestryDNA, which provide insights into individuals’ ethic composition via their DNA, has meant that individuals can now determine their roots in Africa and commence the connection process.

 

Otunba Akinboboye mentions that countries with an active and connected diaspora thrive in this regard. Israel, he says, has a Jewish Diaspora of 8.3 million people. He noted that these people feel a deep connection to and actively support and advocate for their country. They are committed to its development and provide it with both political and financial support.

 

Otunba Akinboboye reminds us that Nigeria has a large Diaspora spread throughout the world. A Diaspora, which is estimated to consist of 17 million people, remitted over US $22 billion to Nigeria during 2022. This translates to an average per person remittance of US$1389 per annum or US $116 per month.

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The majority of these remittances were designed to provide stipends for family members still living in Nigeria. They therefore represent the portion of the diasporans’ income those individuals could afford to gift or give away. Some amounts were used to build second homes in Nigeria. However, only a small proportion of this money represented arms length investments in industries and infrastructure that would ultimately grow Nigeria’s economy.

 

He said that, this is a sharp contrast to India. “In 2022 India’s diaspora population was 18 million (out of a population that exceeds a billion) and they remitted US $111 billion to India. This translates to an average remittance per person of US $6111 per annum or US $509 per month.

 

“While approximately 33% of this money represented stipends paid to family members, a further 33% were gifts and donations while the balance represented arms length investments in bonds, deposits, FRI bank accounts and so on. These remittances obviously had a beneficial impact on that country’s foreign exchange flows and the comparitive strength of its currency.

 

In 2021, 5.18 million non – resident Indians visited India. This suggests approximately 30.4% of all Indians in the diasporas visit India each year. While it is difficult to obtain similar data for Nigeria, the Federal Bureau of Statistics mentions that, in 2021, 2.2 million international ticket holders went through our international airports (in – coming and outgoing). As this number is an aggregate of Nigerian residents, Nigerians in the Diasporas and Non – Nigerians, we can assume that less than 5% of Nigerians in diasporas visit Nigeria each year.

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“When we look at these figures, we realise the importance of creating tourism products that will enhance the connection of those in the diasporas to Nigeria and the continent as a whole.

 

It is with this in mind that Otunba Akinboboye speaks of the need to leverage off our connection with those born in Nigeria that now live abroad, and those ‘Africans ’ that, over 300 years ago were shipped to the Americas and the Caribbean via slave ships, courtesy of the trans – Atlantic slave trade.

 

“These are the people whom we should look forward to welcoming back as tourists, so they can visit and connect with Nigeria and ultimately Africa via cruise ships and aero planes.

 

Otunba Akinboboye emphasizes that Motherland Beckons as a product, is designed to encourage Africans in diaspora to connect with Africa and to learn first hand through visits to the continent, the tremendous opportunities that are available in Africa, and which can be leveraged on to the ultimate benefit of all.

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Nigeria is uniquely placed to provide an entry point to Africa. He refers to the newly constructed deep sea port at Lekki, which provides an ideal landing spot for the giant cruise liners that will form the focal point for transporting those In the diasporas who ‘Heed the Call’ when Africa beckons to them. Lagos tourists can leverage off our international airlines to visit other parts of Africa.

 

By creating a specific tourism product that encourages Africans in the diaspora to visit Nigeria and from there access the rest of Africa, we will begin to create the strong connections required for an engaging diaspora.

 

Such diaspora will then be determined to uplift the continent and ensure that it takes its rightful place on the world stage. Their commitment in this regard will be based on the understanding that a developed continent uplifts not just Africans but the perception of Africans and people of colour throughout the world .

 

Otunba Akinboboye has promised that in the coming weeks. he will speak on other Tourism Products that are linked to this product and which evolve when the Motherland Calls and Africans Heed the Call.

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Relief as suspected Ebola cases in Adamawa tested negative

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said that there are currently no laboratory-confirmed cases of Ebola  in Adamawa.

The NCDC had on Saturday said that there were two suspected cases of Ebola in the north-east state, adding that the individuals had been isolated while contact identification was ongoing.

But in a statement on Sunday, the director-general of NCDC, Jide Idris,
said samples collected from the two individuals, who had symptoms suggestive of Ebola, tested negative after two rounds of testing.

“The report was received by the Adamawa State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) in the early hours of 30 October 2026, following the identification of two individuals presenting with symptoms suggestive of Ebola, requiring further investigation,” the statement reads.

“Hence the alert that was released early this evening. The individuals have been isolated, and appropriate public health measures have been initiated.

“Samples were collected for laboratory testing to establish the cause of the illness. Fortunately, the samples turned out negative for EBV after two rounds of testing.”

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Idris commended the Adamawa health commissioner and his team for their “proactive approach”, adding that the NCDC was working closely with the state government to investigate the report of suspected Ebola cases.

“Currently, there is no laboratory-confirmed Ebola case in Adamawa state,” he said.

“The index case previously confirmed in the Federal Capital Territory remains the only confirmed case reported in Nigeria to date.”

He urged the public to remain calm and avoid sharing unverified information or speculating about the situation.

“The public is encouraged to obtain information from official government and public health communication channels,” he said.

Idris described Ebola as a serious infectious disease that requires prompt identification, appropriate clinical management and effective infection prevention and control measures.

“Anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding, particularly following relevant exposure, should seek immediate medical attention and inform healthcare workers of any relevant travel or contact history,” he said.

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“Individuals should avoid self-medication and follow the advice of healthcare professionals.”

Nigeriaconfirmed its first Ebola case in more than a decade on October 20, after a 42-year-old Swiss woman tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain in Abuja.

The patient, who had travelled from Uganda to Nigeria, was subsequently isolated and treated by Nigerian health workers.

On Monday, the federal governmentevacuated the patient to Switzerland aboard a medical plane.

Her husband, who was identified as a close contact, was also evacuated to Switzerland.

Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, said the patient was clinically much improved, stable, conscious and communicating, with her laboratory test results approaching baseline levels.

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Good morning! Nigerian Newspapers Headlines: 2027: S’West ADC leaders revolt against Atiku

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1. Many leaders of the African Democratic Congress in the South-West have expressed dissatisfaction with what they described as the marginalisation of the party’s structure in the region by the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The ADC leaders, including some state chairmen and governorship candidates, alleged that Atiku had been conducting his political activities in the region through his friends and allies, while leaving the party structure sidelined as presidential campaign activities prepared to gather momentum.

2. A United States federal court has rejected an attempt to obtain discovery from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and DCI Group in an ongoing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). 

3. The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammad Bello, has confirmed the “rescue of three of the six Islamic clerics kidnapped on September 12 while travelling to Talata Mafara, Zamfara State.” Bello gave the confirmation in an interview with select reporters in Gusau. He said the rescue followed a multi-agency collaboration and seamless synergy between the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, the Department of State Services, DSS, and police operatives.

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4. The Grand Patron of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, have set a target of at least 1.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. According to a statement, the target was announced on Saturday in Osogbo during the inauguration of the movement’s state and local government structures.

5. Nigerians lose no less than N75bn annually to visa application expenses across foreign missions, with rejected Schengen visa applications alone accounting for an estimated €11.5m, equivalent to about N19bn in 2025.
This is according to a visa-cost analysis report obtained by Sunday PUNCH from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

6. With one accord, the governors of Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, and Anambra States yesterday urged the people of the Southeast to avoid political distractions, and vote massively for President Bola Tinubu in next year’s presidential election. Governors Peter Mbah, Hope Uzodimma, Francis Nwifuru and Charles Soludo, said it was necessary for the zone to support Tinubu’s re-election bid to enable him consolidate the gains of his administration’s economic reforms

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7. Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has said Nigeria’s security challenges predate the administration of President Bola Tinubu, noting that terrorism, insurgency and banditry had been entrenched in the country before 2023 when Tinubu assumed office. He said the country’s security problems were rooted in years of porous borders, illegal arms proliferation, youth unemployment and the spread of extremist ideologies.

8. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike has directed supporters of President Bola Tinubu to deliver their polling unit in the forthcoming 2027 general elections. Addressing the supporters, Wike framed the upcoming general elections as a critical opportunity for residents of the nation’s capital to rectify past electoral missteps and unite under a strategic development banner.

9. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has removed the name of the Kano State governorship candidate of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, from its updated list of candidates for the 2027 general elections. A check on the commission’s website shows that the names of Gwarzo and his deputy were conspicuously missing from the updated list.

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10. Four young men have been arrested by the Bauchi State Police Command for allegedly abducting and gang-raping a 12-year-old girl in Sakwa District, Zaki Local Government Area of the state. The suspects were arrested following a complaint by the victim’s 50-year-old father, who reported the incident at the Sakwa Divisional Police Headquarters on Thursday.

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Wale Tinubu, Rabiu, others Join President Tinubu in Makkah for Umrah

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The Group Chief Executive Oando Plc, Jubril Adewale Tinubu; Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, and several other Nigerian business mogul have joined President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, for the performance of Umrah, the lesser Islamic pilgrimage.

The presence of the prominent Nigerian business leaders alongside the President in the holy city has drawn attention, bringing together three influential figures from Nigeria’s political and business communities in a moment of religious observance.

Tinubu and Rabiu, both prominent names in Nigeria’s corporate landscape, were seen alongside the President dressed in the traditional white Ihram garments worn by Muslim pilgrims performing Umrah.

Umrah, unlike the obligatory Hajj pilgrimage, can be undertaken at any time of the year. It involves a series of religious rites in Makkah and holds profound spiritual significance for Muslims across the world.

For the Nigerian business community, the appearance of the corporate leaders alongside the President also offers a glimpse into the intersection of faith, business and public life, particularly when influential figures come together outside the usual settings of boardrooms, corporate engagements and official functions.

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The development comes as President Tinubu undertook the pilgrimage to seek divine guidance and offer prayers for Nigeria’s peace, unity, stability and progress.

According to the Presidency, the President performed the Umrah rites early Friday, October 30, at the Grand Mosque, Masjid al-Haram, where he circumambulated the Holy Ka’abah.

Speaking after completing the spiritual exercise, Tinubu described the pilgrimage as significant, linking it to his commitment to Nigeria and its people. He also expressed gratitude to Allah for the opportunity to pray for the country.

The President’s prayers reportedly centre on national harmony, security, economic prosperity and the need for Nigerians to live together peacefully.

Rabiu also used the occasion to express his hopes for the country, describing it as an honour to accompany the President on the spiritual journey. He prayed for lasting peace, unity and prosperity in Nigeria.

For Tinubu, whose Oando Group occupies a prominent position in Nigeria’s energy industry, the journey offered a departure from the familiar world of corporate leadership and business engagements. Rabiu, similarly, is a major player in the country’s industrial sector, with interests spanning manufacturing, cement and food production.

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Their appearance in Makkah alongside the President underscores the presence of leading figures from Nigeria’s private sector at an important spiritual moment for the country’s leader.

Umrah, often described as the lesser pilgrimage, is a significant act of worship in Islam. Unlike Hajj, which takes place during a specific period in the Islamic calendar, Umrah can be performed throughout the year.

President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria next week after completing his spiritual engagements in Saudi Arabia.

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