We made front page on New York’s biggest newspaper. I’ll always remember this city fondly for many reasons, but it’s time to go home now 🇳🇬 ❤️

Congratulations to @Tunde_OD Tunde Onakoya for breaking the Guinness Book World Record chess playing marathon with the objective of raising money for children’s education across Africa! What a feat and what a laudable objective!

Nigerian neobank Kuda has recorded ₦55.8 trillion (~$61.4 billion) in total transaction value since its launch in August 2019. benjamindada.com/kuda-total-…

YC-backed African fintech @clevabanking, founded by Stripe and AWS alums, has raised $1.5M in pre-seed funding. The startup, launched last August, helps African individuals and businesses receive international payments by opening USD accounts. tcrn.ch/3tJhaK8

#EnuguAir: Lofty dream, misplaced priority. We have only one state in Nigeria with a functional airline. It is arguably one of the best in the country. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the state had a poverty rate of 28% when the airline was launched in 2019. Today, the poverty rate is 71%, showing that there is no direct or substantial impact of airline ownership on poverty reduction. The other airline that existed in one of the southeast states operated for less than a year after its launch. In September, Aviation Industry Stakeholders held a conference in Abuja to discuss the challenges besieging airlines in the country ranging from policy to infrastructural and safety inadequacies. The high interest rates on loans, the forex crisis, dozens of charges by the government, and high costs of operations in Nigerian airports hamper airline profitability in the country, despite the potential for an increase in passenger traffic over the next decade. In Enugu State, 63.1% of our population live below the poverty limit (NBS, 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index Survey). This means that over 2.6 million people live below $1, N775.75 (Exchange rate at the Import/Export window, October 16, 2023) a day, and have little access to food, basic health, education, and sanitary infrastructure. #EnuguAir is not the answer to their daily hunger. If the State continues in the direction as shared by the Commissioner of Transportation, Obi Ozor, a few days ago, it will be a case of placing the cart before the horse and expecting progress. The data and our economic and fiscal conditions are not in favour of high-profile projects at the expense of basic human survival and dignity. While the establishment of a storage and processing facility will facilitate export revenue from farm produce, the transportation can be achieved in partnership with existing airlines. It is also worth noting that in September, the United States travel advisory included Enugu State on the list of places to avoid in Nigeria for reasons of crime, kidnapping, and armed gang operations. Investors will only come to a place where they feel safe. Channelling resources into a state-owned airline will be a misplaced priority when the state faces more immediate dangers and challenges. The state needs solutions that address immediate challenges, ensure security, build trust with the people, and pave a path for progressive and sustainable projects. Available funds and public-private partnerships should be directed at urgent investments to ensure food security, reliable water supply, healthcare, power supply, schools, teacher training, skills and entrepreneurship development, and sanitary and road infrastructure. While exact data is unavailable for road transport in Enugu State, the National Bureau of Statistics shows that road travel accounts for about 90% of the transport sector's contribution to the national GDP. Air transport accounts for 6 to 7%. The ratio will be similar at the sub-national level. This is not surprising. With airfare at N130,000 for a round-trip to Enugu, minimum wage at N30,000 per month, and an unemployment rate of 31.16% (NBS, 2020 survey), more individuals will embrace a cheaper, albeit more arduous and time-consuming road transport as a preferred travel option. The available data and economic reality of the majority of our citizens support the prioritization of road infrastructure development in budget and economic planning. Highfalutin projects and captivating headlines without direct improvements in the human condition are not a viable economic development strategy. We must prioritise our people. The sun will rise again. Our glory will be restored. Our state will be rebuilt. May we live to see the reigniting of the coal city. God bless you. God bless Enugu State.

Any action(s) by anyone in a position of authority, no matter the level, which does not bring verifiable improvement in the human condition, is not an act of leadership. If you aspire to be called a leader and to be addressed as one, on an ongoing basis, you must embrace a critical consciousness that enables you to commit your entire life to the service of people at whatever level you find yourself in society.

Ndigbo, Kunie! The song 'Kunie' was more than a campaign jingle for me. All the jingles we produced for my campaign were powerful, but there was something extra special about 'Kunie'. I could dance to it for hours no matter how tired I was. That sound was always energising. It was a rousing call to awaken and reclaim our values, pride, and identity. Men and women, young and old, artisans and non-artisans succumbed to its alluring and rhythmic beats. And so it was a no-brainer for me that that sound needed to outlive the election period. This year, and in particular, the elections unveiled an unpleasant reality about how quickly our values and identity are being eroded. From the troubling news that reached us from Lagos to the disturbing reality of poverty, criminality, and division within our region, we have to realise the need to wake up and reclaim our identity and our values as a people. For me, that is the essence of recreating this song 'Kunie' as a call to all sons and daughters of Alaigbo. It is a reminder of who we are and how our communities thrived by virtue of the values we uphold - integrity, brotherhood, hard work, communal responsibility, and shared prosperity. It is also a testament to the talent and brilliance in our region. Amaka, or Makysha, as she is known, is a picture of the immense capability and creativity that exist in Alaigbo. I salute her ability to interpret my thoughts into this powerful and moving song. It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you, Ndigbo Kunie, performed by a true Igbo daughter, Amaka @BatelMakysha, available on all digital streaming platforms. Kunie nu, kunie nu, teta nula, teta nula!

This reminds me of the campaign jingle and how it resonates with the common man. Now this is a call to ndị igbo, this is an anthem of hope and strength. We're a people that have always risen from the ashes and considering the recent happenings in the southeast, this is timely.

We need to recover our slowly dying values, morals and traditions. Because the happenings of recent goes against everything we're as a people. NDỊ IGBO KUNIE N'ỤLA, maka ná osi taa diwa mma, ọ diwara gboo. Daalụ @FrankNwekeII and @BatelMakysha nke a bụ nke anyị.

Yesterday, I had a very useful day in Enugu with a cross-section of Nigerian youths. The event was a very interesting interactive session with young entrepreneurs, youth advocates, and change agents in an event aimed at discussing how to 'Accelerate Actions to Achieve the SDGs

We were delighted to host @nwanyi_ocha, a passionate Igbo cultural enthusiast, and her family at our gallery. Their insatiable curiosity and love for history illuminated every corner, infusing our exhibits with a vibrant energy. It's visitors like them who bring our collections

Building a connected and resilient Africa is an ambitious yet critical endeavour to unlock our continent’s immense potential. Join us as we celebrate the incredible accomplishments of the #SPPGlassOf2023. Please mark your calendars and join us for the #SPPPGClassof2023 graduation ceremony on October 7th, 2023. RSVP via the link: thesppg.org/graduation #SPPGClassof2023graduation

The odds of running into each other on our birthday eve. >>>>>> @FrankNwekeII

On this day, we celebrate @FrankNwekeII Who served as the Federal Minister of Information and Communications. 2023 Enugu State Gubernatorial Candidate under APGA. May this day and year ahead bring fulfilment and blessings as your path spreads. #HappybirthdayFranknwekejr #AfiaTv

Legacy. This is a word that weighs heavier on my heart as the years go by. I am grateful for how far I have come and the privilege I have had to serve humanity and my country in various capacities. Even more, I am grateful for the gift of life, good health, and the opportunities that abound to build a legacy that prioritises our collective progress. I thank my team and everyone who sent messages and prayers to celebrate my birthday. May we all live to see the fulfilment of our great dreams. God bless and keep you all.

Happy Birthday to one of the most patriotic leader i know. @franknwekejr May the good Lord continue to give you the strength, wisdom and knowledge to keep teaching us the best way to lead. #destrangeimages #photography #stroryteller #happybirthday #franknwekejr

Based on my commitment to investing in and advancing the most critical aspect of human development - Health, yesterday, I honoured an invitation to the Foundation Stone Laying ceremony for Department of Midwifery and Public Health Nursing of the Millennium College of Nursing

I just read the reports of a 10-year-old Nigerian schoolchild, Oluwademilade Odumuboni, who won the global grand prize for the 2022/23 edition of the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest. He achieved the feat after beating 782,852 other contestants from 90 countries.

I sincerely rejoice with Alex Okosi, a Nigerian who was recently appointed as the new Google Managing Director for Africa. According to reports, he will be responsible for Google’s operations in Africa, including programs to help businesses and economies in the continent grow.

This article by Chido Nwakanma is reminiscent of my call to ndi Enugu, and indeed, all citizens of Nigeria to drive the change we speak of and demand accountability from our governments. From the reports and as Chido explains, each of the 36 states now receives an additional N2 billion. In June, Enugu State received N6.7 billion. We don't know the figures for July and August. The middle class has the unique privilege of educated insight, higher economic power, and better exposure to understanding development needs. History shows that the middle class is responsible for key political and economic changes across the world, including Nigeria. It is time to increase our participation in governance and demand accountability for our collective progress. Read the full article here: enugumetro.com/now-that-gove… You can read my article addressing this matter and more via: franknwekeii.com/post/enugu-…