In pursuit of capital to finance its operations, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited offered a substantial volume of the nation’s crude oil to creditors to secure about $6 billion in loans within three years.

The NNPC is also currently shopping for another $2 billion loan that will see the company hand over more barrels to deep-pocket investors.

The crude-backed loans, drawn from four different deals, were obtained between 2020 and 2023 — a period Nigeria’s crude oil production fell from 1.49 million barrels per day (bpd) to 1.31 million bpd.

TheCable presents details of the deals.

PROJECT GAZELLE

In August 2023, the NNPC secured a $3 billion oil-backed loan from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to support the naira and stabilise the foreign exchange (FX) market.

In the deal, the oil company pledged a total of 164.25 million barrels of crude.

At 90,000 barrels per day, starting from 2024, NNPC is expected to repay the loan through Project Gazelle Funding Ltd, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) incorporated in the Bahamas.

Commenting on the transaction in its 2023 audited financial statements, the NNPC said the funding was utilised to finance an “advance payment of future taxes and royalty obligation due to the federation on production sharing contracts (PSC) assets managed by the company on behalf of the federation”.

According to the NNPC, the interest rate for the facility is 11.8 percent while the margin and liquidity premium are 6 percent and 0.5 percent respectively.

In January, Afreximbank announced the first disbursement of $2.25 billion under the crude oil prepayment facility.

The lender also paid out an additional $925 million in June — bringing the total disbursement to $3.175 billion.

PROJECT BISON

In September 2021, the NNPC proposed to acquire a 20 percent interest in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery for $2.76 billion.

According to the national oil company, the deal was financed by a forward sale agreement of $1.036 billion from Lekki Refinery Funding Limited — of which $1 billion was paid to Dangote refinery.

The oil firm said it signed the forward sale agreement with the Lekki refinery to supply 35,000 barrels of crude per day (bpd) for the settlement of the $1.036 billion (N426.2 billion) funding.

The interest rate for the facility, according to the NNPC, is 11 percent.

NNPC said it paid $625 million principal, while $424 million (N324 billion) is still outstanding, as of December 31, 2023.

The national oil company added that the investment was initially held by the NNPC Greenfield Limited, its wholly-owned special-purpose vehicle (SPV).

PROJECT EAGLE

In 2020, the NNPC signed a $1.5 billion prepayment deal with Eagle Export Financing Limited.

Under the terms of the agreement, the NNPC commenced reimbursement of the facility on August 28, 2020, with 1.8 million barrels of crude oil every delivery period.

The forward sale agreement (FSA) was meant to provide capital for investment in NNPC’s production capacity, which is of strategic importance to the Nigerian economy and the country’s leading source of FX earnings.

“The production under the FSA will support debt of up to N627.8 billion (US $1.5 billion), which has been structured as a crude oil prepayment facility over two tranches,” NNPC said.

United Bank for Africa (UBA), Standard Chartered Bank, Afreximbank, Union Bank, as well as Vitol and Matrix — two oil trading companies — participated in funding Project Eagle.

As of December 31, 2023, the NNPC said its subsidiary, NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), had capital commitments of $352.88 million (N158.3 billion) relating to the forward sale agreement with Eagle Export Financing for the delivery of crude oil.

“Under the contract, Eagle Export Funding Limited will make an upfront payment to NEPL for crude in a forward sale agreement (FSA),” the firm said.

“The payment received is required to be settled with delivery of crude oil volumes i.e. NEPL sells crude to Eagle Export Funding Limited based on a delivery schedule.

“Based on the agreement, at least 1,800,000 barrels of crude oil must be nominated and scheduled by NEPL and delivered at the relevant delivery terminal to Eagle Export Limited in every delivery period which commenced on August 28, 2020.”

PROJECT EAGLE SUBSEQUENT

In another deal, the national oil company obtained pre-export finance (PXF) loans, named PXF1 and PXF2, for the settlement of its debts to some import vendors of petroleum products.

According to NNPC, the NEPL had capital commitments of $159 million (N60.3 billion) regarding the deal, as of December 2020.

However, NNPC said there are no capital commitments regarding the pre-export financing as of December 31, 2023.

“As at 31 December 2023, there are no capital commitments regarding pre-export financing as outstanding PXF 2 liability balance was refinanced through a forward sale of crude valued at $694m (N278 billion) to Eagle Export Limited tagged “Project Eagle Subsequent” on 15 March 2021,” the company said.

PROPOSED $2 BILLION LOAN BY NNPC

On July 9, Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the NNPC, said the company is in talks with lenders for a new $2 billion oil-backed loan to finance the NNPC’s operations and allow investment in its business.

Kyari said the company was seeking a loan against 30,000 bpd to 35,000 bpd of crude production.

He said the cash raised would be used for all NNPC’s business activities, including supporting production growth.

“We have no problem covering our gasoline payments. This is just money for normal business and not a desperate act,” Kyari said.

“It will be a syndication with critical but regular partners who have been in business with our company to forward the cash.”

In August, TheCable reported that top NNPC officials were in Europe to source the loans and were targeting Standard Chartered Bank in the United Kingdom.

If the deal is successful, it will increase the volume of crude oil pledged to NNPC’s lenders.

IMPACT OF NNPC’S CRUDE-BACKED LOANS

The NNPC said crude-backed loans are important for several reasons including accessing FX, financing its business activities, supporting production growth, and buying stakes.

However, stakeholders have raised concerns about the deals, stressing the negative impacts of such transactions.

According to oil experts, the forward sale arrangements have immense impacts on the country’s oil output, petrol availability, and external reserves.

Speaking to TheCable, Jide Pratt, an oil and gas expert, said the arrangements would negatively impact export volumes and domestic supply when crude oil production drops, as NNPC is compelled to set aside some barrels for the creditors.

“So if we have 1.34 million bpd production and 60 percent of that is for NNPC, if the company takes crude-backed loans, it reduces federation revenue,” he said.

“The impact also flows from under production as this means the company struggles to meet domestic crude supply obligation (DCSO) as we see with refineries not getting enough local crude feed.”

On August 11, the management of AIPCC Energy Limited, operators of the Edo Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited (ERPCL), said NNPC has failed to supply crude oil to the refiner despite having several meetings, correspondences, and communications with the national oil company over the past three years.

Speaking further, Pratt said the country’s revenue would decline over low oil production or the barrels offered in exchange for loans, preventing the government from increasing FX in the excess crude account.

“As such, with less volume produced or more pledged to forward sales combined with dropping crude prices, the government is unable to increase FX in the excess crude account,” he said.

“In all of this, NNPC shouldn’t have the free reign on crude-backed loans in a proper organisation with corporate governance structures.”

Also, Oyeyemi Oke, managing partner at AO2LAW, a law firm, said Nigeria uses potential revenues, which it is supposed to get in future, for the deal.

“We have collected it, or it will be part of the amount that will be used to repay the loan. Does that mean that, essentially, our revenues have gone down? Not necessarily,” he said.

“But what it means is that we don’t have flexibility to sell crude oil to other persons. What it means is that perhaps the financers under the forward sales arrangement have already locked in the crude to be supplied at a particular price, which gives little flexibility. What it means is that we may not be able to take advantage of the increase in crude oil price.”

Oyeyemi said part of the amount which should be in the foreign reserves — as a result of crude oil sale — is used to service loans obtained from the arrangement.

“But this is not unusual. The question is: what is the interest on loan to be repaid? I don’t think it’s unusual whereby we’re using part of our revenues to service debt, just like any commercial venture,” he said.

“If NNPC did not borrow the loans, Nigeria may have more money in its reserves, but since we are using loans, part of the monies which should be in our reserves will be used for settling the debts.”

October 1 is celebrated as Nigeria’s Independence Day. But Nigeria isn’t independent. It is, for all practical purposes, a dependent state, a satellite state, whose political and cultural elites are still tethered to the coattails of colonialism and neocolonialism. Its economy is almost literally run by the World Bank and the IMF, and the older the country gets, the more it seems to tighten the apron strings that tie it to its former colonial overlord.

No one illustrates this contradiction and emotional dissonance more dramatically, not to mention more symbolically, than President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who chose to depart for the United Kingdom, Nigeria’s former colonizer, for a two-week annual leave just a day after celebrating Nigeria’s so-called 64th independence from British colonialism.

To publicize traveling to rest in a country that colonized you, a day after celebrating freedom from that country’s colonialism is the ultimate national self-ridicule. It’s like a woman throwing a party to celebrate her emancipation from an oppressive relationship with a wild brute, only to show up at her ex-partner’s doorstep the next morning to seek validation.

A president choosing to spend personal time in the country that once colonized his own projects an image of lingering dependence on the former colonial power. It’s an implicit endorsement of the cultural and societal norms of the colonizer over those of the home country and raises questions about national pride and the commitment to fostering domestic tourism and economic growth.

Most world leaders opt to spend their annual leave within their own countries or in neutral locations to support local economies. For instance, former U.S. President Barack Obama often vacationed in the state of Hawaii, his birthplace, while French presidents traditionally spend holidays in French territories. These choices reflect a conscious effort to remain connected with their homeland and to promote its attractions.

 Like Muhammadu Buhari before him, Tinubu didn’t find any part of Nigeria worthy of his presidential annual leave. London is worthier of presidential annual leave than any part of Nigeria because these leaders actually disdain Nigeria, which provides the political, social, and cultural basis of their power. That’s such an unrelieved national tragedy.

Nigeria boasts diverse landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and numerous tourist attractions—from the savannahs of the north to the coastal regions of the south, from Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi to Obudu Ranch Resort in Cross River. By vacationing domestically, the president could spotlight these attractions, boost national tourism and inspire citizens to explore their own country.

 It would also send a strong message to potential international tourists (whom this and previous governments seem fixated on attracting) about the safety and appeal of Nigeria as a destination.

But choosing to vacation abroad, particularly in the former colonizing country, redirects personal expenditure away from the domestic economy. While the economic impact of a single individual's spending might be minimal, the symbolic loss is significant. It suggests a lack of confidence in the nation's infrastructure, leisure facilities, or security— issues that are within the president’s remit to address and that he claims he is deeply concerned about.

The timing of the trip particularly exacerbates its symbolic dissonance. October 1 is not—or should not be— merely a historical marker; it is—or should be— an annual reaffirmation of Nigeria's autonomy and identity. Departing for Britain immediately after such a celebration diminishes the day's significance.

 It conveys a message that, despite official rhetoric, the ties to the colonial past remain unsevered on a personal level for the president who should symbolize our national identity and pride.

Leadership everywhere but particularly in transitional, post-colonial countries like Nigeria that are still battling national self-image issues carries the added responsibility of shaping and reinforcing national identity.

The personal choices of presidents often serve as a reflection of their commitment to this role. By engaging in actions that align with national interests and cultural pride, leaders can foster a stronger sense of unity and purpose among the populace.

To be fair to Tinubu, he has signaled from the inchoate stage of his presidency that he wants no truck with national self-pride and that he is a fawning, unapologetic crawler of British colonialism. That was why he pushed the restoration of the discredited, self-humiliating colonial national anthem through the National Assembly with unprecedently breakneck speed.

In my June 1, 2024, column titled “‘New’ National Anthem is National Self-Debasement,” I observed that it’s inexcusable national self-humiliation to discard a home-made national anthem, irrespective of its defects, for one that was made by an imperialist whose influence we’re supposed to be independent of.

“A country whose symbolic song of independence is inspired, written, and composed by the appendicular remnants of imperialist oppressors of whom the country has supposedly been independent for more than six decades isn’t worthy of its independence. Such a country has lost the moral and philosophical argument for independence and against recolonization,” I wrote.

The national anthem, as an auditory emblem of sovereignty, should carry the weight of our independence and self-fashioning. "Arise, O Compatriots," whatever its deficiencies, was a product of Nigerian composers who won a national contest in 1978.

The national anthem should be a rallying cry. It should encapsulate the country’s ideals, aspirations, and identity, as espoused by the citizens of the country. Reverting to an anthem with colonial ties is a step backward in Nigeria’s journey toward solidifying its post-colonial identity.

So, it should come as no surprise that a president who so casually and so thoughtlessly discarded a homemade national anthem for one that was composed by a British woman is so enamored of colonial tutelage that he chooses to depart for the country that colonized his country a day after celebrating independence from the colonizer.

I noticed that the usual patriotic fervor that most Nigerians evince on October 1 was noticeably absent this year. Maybe it’s because they can sense the lack of investment in Nigeria’s pride right from the presidency—in addition, of course, to the raging hunger and listlessness in the land.

What’s the point of patriotism and national pride when the president of your country is so ashamed of the country that he is restoring symbols of colonial domination?

I was especially piqued that the official statement announcing his London trip said the president “will use the two weeks as a working vacation and a retreat to reflect on his administration’s economic reforms.” What? Why does he need to go to London to reflect on the death and destruction that his IMF/World Bank economic policies are inflicting on Nigerians?

Nigeria is the theater of destruction. That’s where he should be to reflect on his IMF/World Bank economic policies whose outcome is already foretold—deepening mass poverty, hopelessness, torment, extermination of the middle class, etc.

 Maybe Tinubu doesn’t need a vacation anywhere. He only needs to descend from his Olympian presidential height to the streets of Nigeria to see the cries, tears, and blood of everyday folks being crushed by the impossibly ponderous weight of his sadistic economic policies.

Well, we now have a second moon from outer space. It is merrily orbiting the earth, like the good old round moon we have always known. But it is not round. It is not big either. We would most probably not have seen it, or known about it, but for the advances in astronomy and related sciences.  Worse still, this small, 10 metres wide non-round moon will go away again, beyond the earth and its orbit by the end of November. Strictly speaking, this celestial wayfarer is an asteroid, suspected to have gotten here from a set of asteroids that are less then 200 million kilometres from us.

The official view is that it poses no threat to life here on earth. But is that the same thing as saying that its presence will not have any effects whatsoever here? I think not. Consider the points to be made in the next paragraphs.

The tides we experience in all bodies of water on earth are caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun. At the Bay of Fundy in Canada, where you have the biggest tide in the world, the difference between low and high tide could be as much as 16.3 metres. But leaving all that, and coming to the simple matter of tides and what causes them, we should simply note that there won’t be high and low tides if there was no moon..

So, it is possible that any stary object will saunter into our planetary space and orbit and not have its radiation and even gravity leave some impression? I think not. But let us take the conversation further, by listening in on a conversation between Celest and her friend, Jasmine, on recent events going on around us. Let’s follow them, as Jasmine brings up something in the news that made her think that life on earth was almost about to come to an end.

Jasmine: Celeste, sorry I have to impose on you right now, but I saw something in the news report of July 30, 2024, about a killer asteroid, coming towards the earth from outer space?

Celeste: Yes, I read about it in Yahoo News. And now a new moon hanging over, and around our dear earth.

Jasmine: Yes, and that is very scary. I was worried, when I read about the approaching asteroid, that it would hit the earth and wipe out all life. The report said that preparations were underway to prevent a possible cataclysm, so I figured that we were on the verge of being wiped out. Now I am relieved that it has moved on.

Celeste: The report did not say that the asteroid was about to hit our earth, but the title of the report: “Preparations underway as ‘planet killer’ asteroid, the size of cruise ship, nears Earth” must have created the impression of a looming disaster. But let us go into the science of it all, if you don’t mind?

Jasmine: Very well then.

Celeste: The asteroid mentioned in the July 30, 2024 global media reports is called Apophis. It is about 350 metres wide. It would have caused quite some damage to life and environment if it had struck the earth.

Jasmine: Well, I am glad that it has carried its trouble elsewhere.

Celeste: Going by its size, it would have completely destroyed a big country in one fell swoop if it impacted land here on earth.  It would have triggered floods and tsunamis across beaches and coastal cities all over the world, if it struck ocean or sea. That is what would have happened if it struck the earth. It is expected again sometime in 2029, and again in 2036.

Jasmine: The asteroid is named Apophis by scientists. Now, that is the ancient Egyptian god of Darkness and Chaos; who was constantly fighting the Sun god, Ra. The report also said that scientists were sending their “RAMSES” into space to learn more about Apophis. And is Ramses not the name of one of Egypt’s Pharaoh.

Celeste: Yes, it is.

Jasmine: So, what is all this romance with ancient Egypt right now?

Celeste: Sorry, I don’t understand, Jasmine.

Jasmine: Ramses died many centuries ago. But here we are, with scientists trying to dispatch him to deal with this invading Apophis, the ancient Egyptian god of darkness and chaos? Has science suddenly turned to voodoo and witchcraft?

Celeste: Voodoo and witchcraft? C’mon Jasmine! The RAMSES mentioned in the report is an acronym for “Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety”.

Jasmine: Oh, really?

Celeste: Yes! If you had read the report in greater detail, you would, perhaps, have noticed that RAMSES was part of a Planetary Defence Program, to study and better understand the makeup and behaviour of the more than 1,000 other so-called “planet killer” asteroids that cross the Earth’s orbit from time to time.

Jasmine: And this particular asteroid will be here again in about five years time, right?

Celeste: Yes.

Jasmine: Tell, me, what genuine risks do asteroids pose to the earth?

Celeste: Our earth passes through a lot of what astronomers call interplanetary dust daily. Some of the objects there are the meteors, or the shooting stars, we sometimes see at night.

Jasmine: Really?

Celeste: Oh yes! Some are about the size of pebbles. Others are like bowling balls in size. They enter the atmosphere three or four times everyday, causing some of the brightest flashes in the night sky. Something as big as a truck does not come in so frequently. But there was a hit in 2013, when a massive fireball smashed windows and injured pedestrians over the city of Chelyabinsk, in Russia.

Jasmine: So, a big asteroid can really do a lot of damage?

Celeste: A big asteroid measuring anything from 150 metres across would have a devastating effect. If something about 1km in size should strike the earth from space, that could end civilisation as we know it today.

Jasmine: I don’t get it. How could something that small end civilization?

Celeste: With its speed and all, it would dig a massive crater, trigger devastating tsunamis, throw fireball as far across the earth as possible, create huge clouds of debris that would block out the light of the sun, and most likely bring about a new ice age.

Jasmine: Hmmm, that is very scary. Well, I hope that none is coming our way right now; really!

Celeste: Maybe, maybe not. What I do know is that there is so much going on out there right now. The earth has attracted a new “moon” for itself, has it not? Then there was the comet (named Devil comet by scientists) which was visible during the 2024 eclipse. Do they all mean anything other than the mere fact that they appeared and we saw them?

Jasmine: How would I know? You are the science person between the two of us. New moon, eclipse and Devil comet, why?

Celeste: My concern is that we cannot say what the effects of the radiations of these heavenly bodies on life on earth might be. The earth’s overall vibration and even on its magnetic field may all be in the line of fire.

Jasmine: Aha, there she goes again! Always looking for an opportunity to talk about Armageddon!

Celeste: And there you go again, forgetting that a little knowledge of astrology and physics tell us how everything is in what can best be described as a network of radiations. Our way of living could “invite” triggers of a new wave of experiences, just as objects from outer space could have specific effects on us and the world around us. Take Climate Change, for instance.

Jasmine: What about Climate change?

Celeste: We keep thinking that it is just about the weather and air emissions. We do not know that earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, weather catastrophes and much more are linked with it.

Jasmine: All that can be linked to Climate Change?

Celeste: I have often said that the earth’s climate is changing too fast for many things to return to normal again. Temperatures are rising in some areas, while wildfires and phenomenal heat waves are rising in other places. There are more downpours, droughts, storms, devastating flood and rapid melting of glacial ice in different places.

Jasmine: Well?

Celeste: Well, what? The world’s glaciers lost their ice at the rate of 267 billion tonnes of ice per annum, between 2000 and 2019.

Jasmine: And what is wrong with ice melting as it pleases?

Celeste: Such melting ice contribute to rising sea levels. Rising sea levels means that more coastal city flooding, more erosion and other hazards should be expected. Our changing climate will be contributing to the number and frequency of natural disasters occurring on the Earth’s surface. And there could also be other dangers from beneath the Earth’s surface, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Jasmine: Climate Change can also induce all that?

Celeste: But of course! Rising temperatures lead to a warmer atmosphere. A warmer atmosphere retains more water vapour. The retained water vapour leads to higher levels of precipitation, or rainfall. And geologists have long since established some connection between the rate of rainfall and volcanic activity. Catherine Brahic’s 2008 piece “Heavy Rain Can Trigger Earthquakes”, which appeared in Scientist, established that fact. This book, and similar works, show that the number and frequency of earthquakes is influenced by the annual rainfall cycle of what is called the summer monsoon season in the Himalayas.

Jasmine: Really?

Celeste: But of course! There is ample evidence, showing that some 48% of Himalayan earthquakes strike during the drier pre-monsoon months of March, April and May. Only 16% occur in the monsoon season.

Jasmine: Hmmm. Alright, so the ongoing glacial meltdown caused by global warming is also likely to increase the number and frequency of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the future?

Celeste: That is the implication. The effects of Climate Change are everywhere for us to see. All the sings of the End-Times are also here, but no one is paying attention.

Jasmine: What did I say earlier about you leading conversations like this towards some kind of end of the world scenario? You may know all the science in this world, you may have all the information on ancient prophesies and predictions, but I dare say that this world of ours is not coming to an end anytime soon. You can take that from me.

Celeste: No problem, Jasmine. As for the new moon now orbiting the earth, I also dare say that it is likely to introduce a new variable into the cosmic ecosystem of our earth.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC), Mr. Bismarck Rewane, has warned that sustained monetary tightening could discourage investments and slow down economic growth.

Rewane, therefore, called for an urgent handshake between the fiscal and monetary authorities to avert a situation where continued monetary tightening would lead to economic recession.
He expressed these views in his October 2024 presentation at the Lagos Business School (LBS) Breakfast Session in which he stated that the new minimum wage of N70,000 was a money illusion.   

The LBS’ breakfast session presentation was titled, “The World Awaits in Nervous Anticipation….for Madam President?,” an allusion to Vice President Kamala Harris of the Democratic Party winning the November 5, 2024, United States of America’s presidential election.

Arguing that monetary policy was necessary but not enough, Rewane stated that, “sustained monetary tightening can slow down economic growth as higher borrowing costs discourage investment and consumption.”

He, therefore, highlighted that, “the necessity for a handshake between monetary and fiscal policy in Nigeria is critical,” warning that “without this balance, monetary tightening could lead to a recessionary environment.”

According to him, “Businesses are struggling under the weight of high borrowing costs while consumer spending contracts.”
Rewane, also observed that the high cost of borrowing was already taking its toll on the private sector’s economic activities, which contracted for the second consecutive month to 49.8 in September 2024, by 0.2 per cent from 49.9 in August 2024

“The decline is largely attributed to weak consumer demand and rising cost of inputs, amid the lingering inflationary pressures.

“Activities are projected to fall further to 49.7 in October 2024 due to the high-interest environment and expected rise in inflation,” he said.

He stated that the handshake between the monetary and fiscal policies would enable the central bank to focus on controlling inflation through contractionary monetary policy such as higher rates, higher cash reserve requirements (CRR), sales of treasury bills, open market operations (OMO), etc, to mop up liquidity while fiscal measures could target underlying structural problems in the economy, such as insecurity affecting food supply chains, investing in infrastructure and social programs that enhance productivity.

He noted that higher borrowing cost at 33-34 per cent would, “stifle investment growth as businesses adopt a wait-and-see approach focus” and cause a “potential shift in investment.”Commenting on the minimum wage, Rewane stated that, “a minimum wage hike in an inflationary environment can often be considered a money illusion

“The core issue of rising prices persists, leaving workers with little or no real improvement in their financial situations” because “real wages may not significantly improve due to rising prices.”
He observed that workers have been focusing on the N70,000 nominal value of their minimum wage without considering its real value, which he put at slightly below N53,000 in the face of the current 32.15 per cent inflation rate.  

Rewane also warned that the impact of further increase in the pump price of petrol for the market would be heightened inflationary pressures, reduced consumer disposable income, lower consumer demand, and supply chain disruptions.

He also highlighted that the impact of further surge in petrol prices on investors is that “inflation will put pressure on the currency” and cause investors to “become wary of sectors affected by low consumer demand due to petrol price increase.”
But for business and corporate organisations the impact would be “increased cost of production, reduced output, shift to alternative sources of energy like solar.”

He added: “SMEs will be hit the hardest due to lower capital reserves and less ability to absorb increased costs,” which could trigger shutdowns or job losses.
Rewane also projected that the Naira would come under renewed pressure through “persistent forex demand stemming from stockpiling ahead of the festive season, high import demand, and speculative activities.”  

He, therefore, recommended that “a scheduled and systematic forex supply program could provide the much-needed support to stabilise the Naira” that have already “fallen to a low of N1,700/$ at the parallel market on September 30.” 

[ThisDay]

Meta seems to be leaving no stone unturned in its bid to dominate the AI landscape. On Friday, the Mark Zuckerberg-led tech giant announced that it had created a new AI model named Movie Gen which can generate realistic video and audio clips in response to prompts. The company claims that it can rival some of the most capable AI video tools from the likes of OpenAI and ElevenLabs.

This development comes months after OpenAI introduced its video model Sora to the world. Even though Sora is not yet out in public, demos shared by OpenAI created a frenzy on the internet especially owing to its hyperrealistic footage and motion that seemed straight out of Hollywood.

“Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”

-Romans 13:7

I have, in my little way and from my very small corner always celebrated excellence. I celebrate people, low or mighty; dead or alive. But it is always better to celebrate them whilst alive. We have a local adage in my Weppa Wanno, Etsako and Afenmai language which says "Akha tse nokha,lobo the luo khao ( translated, it means it is when you eulogise an achiever that his hand is strengthened to perform more" ). Steve Lavin once moaned: "We have a tendency to celebrate people when they pass away. Why don't we do the same when they are alive? That's when they need us the most". He is not alone. Stacye Branche drives the point home when he intoned, "Let's start appreciating people while they are here". Such is the case of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, CON, OFR, FCIArb, LL.D, etc, one of the most influential figures in Nigeria.

THE LATEST HONOUR

I had wanted to write this piece for him on his 96^th birthday which comes up on 30^th October, 2024, having been born on 30^th October, 1929. But I could not wait for this as I am compelled by a unique thing worth celebration that just came up. On 23rd August, 2024, His Royal Majesty, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Dr. Adeyemo Aladesanmi, on behalf of the good people of Ekitiland decided to give honour to whom honour is due; and to pay tribute to whom tribute is due (Rom 13:7). On that day, the respected monarch made a royal proclamation, declaring that this pride of Ado Ekiti, nay Nigeria and Africa, Aare Afe Babalola, would henceforth be honoured and celebrated with pomp and pageantry in Ekitiland on the 18^th day of October of every year, starting from 2024. In effect, 18^th October is now to be known as "AARE AFE BABALOLA DAY". What a gift! What a giver!! What a recipient!!! By my reckoning (and I stand to be corrected), this is an unprecedented honour in Nigeria.

I congratulate Aare Afe Babalola and the entire people of Ekiti land on this landmark proclamation. This is the very first time a day is declared to be marked in honour of an individual in this clime. Aare is indeed worthy of the novel honour; deserving of the proclamation; and eminently qualified for the celebration.

I have always over the years respected and admired the Aare. This is not only because of his strong personality, but most importantly, because of the way he audaciously defied all man-made obstacles. His “grass-to-grace" story (very similar to mine) through sheer dint of hard work and elevation by God Almighty is a ready plot for poets, novelists and movie makers. His is a fairy tale. Aare’s life is a product of raw and unflagging doggedness, tenacity of purpose and an uncompromising determination to succeed and leave a mark in the sands of time. These qualities endeared him to me as our humbling story is similar in many respects. In more ways than one, the Aare has been a silent mentor and inspirer. He may never have known this. I am telling him now.

AARE’S TOUCHING STORY

Aare was born into an agrarian family in Ado Ekiti about 96 whopping years ago. However, because his parents were illiterates, he does not really know the exact year, month or date he was born. He merely conjectured. While growing up, he lost 6 of his siblings to poor maternal care and preventable diseases. This story of “Impossibility Made Possible” (the very title of his personal autobiography) is one that rends the heart.

He was raised in the farm with his parents in a mud house, covered with thatch roof. They used to sleep on banana leaves at night, which they usually change after about 2 or 3 days. But, he not only enjoyed it, he actually thought it was the best thing in life. Afterall, he had never experienced better life due to his humble beginnings. Thus, Aare was not even born with any wooden spoon in his mouth at all, let alone a silver or golden spoon. Nor was his case that of a child of destiny who had his palm kernel cracked for him by a benevolent sprit (thank you, Chinua Achebe- “Things Fall Apart”). He was simply a case of Romans 9:15; and raw dint of hard work and perseverance. As he once put it, "we didn't bother about clothes. I was a young boy, I didn't wear clothes, of course, there were no shoes at that time. I thought and I prayed then, that one day, I will inherit part of my father's farm. I will inherit part of his cutlasses and hoes. That was my ambition."

Babalola’s father had himself inherited a portion of his own father’s land at Ajipon, towards the present-day Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti. He later moved to Odo Asa, Igirigiri, seeking fertile land for cocoa cultivation. He did not strike gold, forcing him to again relocate to Alayegbe, 8 miles from home. This forced the young Babalola and his father to stay in the farm for about 3 months at a time; coming home merely to participate in annual festivals like Ogun or Egungun. So, the Aare grew up in farm settlements, romancing with elephants, antelopes, tigers, gorillas, monkeys and pythons.

Thus, from 6am to 6pm, the Aare and others would work in the farm and also hunt for animals that would serve as delicacy with pounded yam at about 7pm. Farm life was not without its inherent dangers. Huge snakes mistaken for rodents dug holes; and menacing tigers were common place.

Aare’s only romance with a school was Emmanuel Primary School, Ado Ekiti. Yet today, he is a lawyer, Barrister, Economist, teacher, industrialist, Scholar, University administrator, farmer, Philosopher, author, Philanthropist, educationist, etc.

When the cerebral legal pugilist was about 8 years old, a Reverend Father came and pleaded with his father to send one of his children to school. As he was the eldest child, his father ordered him to go to school. This was how he left the farm house in 1937, to live in the city. Even then, it was not easy, as he had to walk about 5 kilometres everyday from his family house to Emmanuel Anglican Primary School, Okesha, Ado-Ekiti.

This disruptive ritual went on for about 7 years. Even then, he did not have any interest in learning, principally because on the farm, he did not have to bathe; or change his clothes; or clean his teeth. But in the school, he was compelled to do these. Nonetheless, the renowned Senior Advocate managed to complete his primary 6, where he obtained his standard six certificate. That was the end of his formal education in a school setting. All the other educational qualifications listed against his name were obtained through private study because he could not afford school fees for secondary school. He later attended the University and obtained his degrees in both economics and law. I will tell you how the Aare wielded this Professor Peller’s abracadabra magic wand.

Chief Afe had taken advice from a white man and ordered some coursewares from Wolsey Hall Oxford, one of the oldest home-schooling colleges in the world. It was founded by Joseph William Knipe in 1894. The school offered courses for Primary, Secondary, IGCSE and A Level subjects to home-schoolers. This is similar to what is obtainable on internet nowadays as e-learning.

For a course that should take him 6 years to complete, Babalola chose to do it in 5 years. He would read, prepare, write exams and send his answers by post to England where it would be marked, with necessary corrections and sent back in 14 days. By 1950, he had attempted both Cambridge School Certificate Exams (the equivalent of Senior School Certificate) and Cambridge Advanced Level Certificate Exams, all at home. Although he passed the exams, he was however not satisfied with his grades.

Consequently, he repeated the Advanced Level exams to enable him prepare for university degree. By 1953, he had cleared all the 4 subjects at the advanced level, more than the 2 that was required. At that time, there were only 3 Nigerians who had passed 4 subjects at one sitting in the Advanced Level Exams. The other 2 Nigerians aside the Aare were Igbos. It was a record at that time.

He then went further to prepare for a B.Sc degree in Economics from the University of London, still studying from home. In 1959, he obtained BSc in Economics. He then proceeded to study from home for his LL.B (Hons) degree, from the same University of London. He completed this in 1963. He had to travel to London to sit for the Bar Exams.

Upon completing his law exams in London in 1963, he was called to the Bar as a member of the Lincoln’s Inn, London; and he registered as a member of the Bar of England and Wales. Thereafter, he returned to Nigeria to begin his legal practice as a litigation lawyer at the Chambers of Olu Ayoola in Ibadan, until 1965, when he established his own law firm, Afe Babalola & Co (Emmanuel Chambers) in Ibadan.

His Chambers has since remained one of the most reputable and leading law firms in Nigeria with offices in Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. He has produced over 1,500 legal practitioners, including Judges, Senior Advocates of Nigeria and Attorneys-General.

In 1987, he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the highest rank in the legal profession in Nigeria. After reaching the pinnacle of law practice in Nigeria, he was offered the position of a Judge by Justice Oyemade who was then the President of The Court in the Defunct Western Region of Nigeria. He declined it, because he wanted to remain in active legal practice.

As a Solicitor and general practitioner, Chief Babalola has handled over 10,600 court cases, many of which were such landmark cases that could have scared away the cowardly. Many of such cases have helped to redefine the law and recreate our jurisprudence.

As a Presidential Nominee at the 2005 National Political Conference, the Aare chaired the Revenue Allocation and Fiscal Federalism Committee, arguably one of the most sensitive Committees. The living legend was twice offered the ministerial position of the Attorney General of the Federation by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, but he twice rejected it.

In 2001, he was appointed, Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. He held the position till 2008 during which he emerged as best Pro-Chancellor of Nigerian Universities consecutively in 2005 and 2006.

With the awards of CON and OFR firmly in his kitty, the cerebral Advocate was in 2008 conferred with the title of the Aare Bamofin of Yoruba Nation by His Royal Majesty, late Alayeluwa Oba Dr. Lamidi Adeyemi II, the Alaafin of Oyo. This was in recognition of his legendary exploits in the legal profession and his fame that spreads like manure, beyond the African shores.

The Alaafin in pronouncing him as Aare Bamofin, decreed his preeminence as a Royal Highness and tribal legend. He was forbidden thenceforth from ever prostrating to any man, except God. He was required to carry himself in the manner of royalty.

The Aare has won several awards and honours locally and internationally. He has bagged the LL.D (Honoris Causa) from Universities in Ekiti, Kogi, Lagos, Jos, Akure and the University of London. The LL.D degree award made Afe Babalola to belong to the elite class of honorary recipients of the degree of the University of London, having been preceded by only two Africans in the history of the University, Nelson Mandela and Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu.

In 2009, Chief Babalola, at the ripe age of 80, established the now famous popular Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Ado-Ekiti on a 130 hectares vast expanse of land to promote education in Nigeria. The university's College of law has at different times, been rated best in Nigeria. Indeed in 2013, the university was ranked the best private University in Nigeria and one of the leading 400 Universities in the world.

The ABUAD with a 3-star guest Inn facility offers academic programmes in the six Colleges of Law, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Social and Management Sciences, Medicine and Health Sciences. It also offers Postgraduate Studies. Its College of Engineering is built on nearly three and half acres of land and is well equipped with sophisticated state-of-the-art facilities imported directly from Europe and the Americas. It is reputed to be one of the largest in Africa. ABUAD’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences and its Multisystem Teaching Hospital with theatres, 8 modular CT and MRI scan machines, ICU and 16 kidney dialysis and machines are nullus secondus in Nigeria, given their sophisticated medical facilities and the professional expertise with which patients are handled.

When I first visited this living legend at ABUAD in May, 2018, he spritely took me from his office upstairs to the downstairs and handed me over to a high-ranking university official, who took me round on a guided tour of ABUAD’s facilities. I was showed vast expanses of agricultural trees, mangoes, guavas, oranges, pineapples; fish ponds; factories to process, package and sell the fish; potteries; piggeries; etc. The university is a city within the Ado-Ekiti city. Aare fondly calls me, “Ozekhome, my son” (never Mike), an acknowledgment I relish. He fires the embers in me. He is an inspiration to many Nigerians, Africans and the black race.

MY LIFE ENCOUNTERS WITH THE AARE

FIRST ENCOUNTER

On this special occasion of the Ewi’s declaration, I cannot but recall some of my encounters with this unrepentant workaholic and teetotaller. My first close encounter with this legal iroko was when we fiercely crossed legal swords at the Federal High Court, Abuja, between 2001-2002. This was before the then Chief Judge of the FHC, Hon Justice Rose Ukeje. The legal fisticuffs was over the Electoral amendment Bill. Senator Anyim Pius Anyim was the then Senate President. This Education Czar was Counsel to the Federal Government; and I was to the Senate and the National Assembly. When one of the court sessions ended with me sweating profusely, I met the Aare outside the court. He gently patted me on the back and said, “Ozekhome, I thought you are just a handsome boy; I didn’t know you are also good in court and deep intellectually. Come and visit me at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel where I am staying.” I was flattered by his kind lofty words. They dropped on me like raindrops on parched flowers. I quickly visited him at Transcorp Hilton hotel. Who would lose such a golden opportunity to visit one you idolise? He laid his hands on me and blessed me with unforgettable words and pieces of advice and encouragement.

SECOND ENCOUNTER

My second close encounter with the distinguished Elder Statesman was at the NBA Annual General Conference held in Enugu in 2003. On his invitation, I visited him in his hotel room in Enugu. He expressed his admiration for me as a fierce and courageous human rights activist and pro-democracy campaigner during successive military juntas. He again lionised me with unforgettable words of encouragement, thus further firing the embers of activism in me.

THIRD ENCOUNTER

Our third meeting was in his sprawling Emmanuel Chambers office at 80, Adekunle Fajuyi Way, Adamasingba, Ibadan, Oyo State, which he founded in 1965. He had given me an appointment to see him on a Sunday. Sunday? I thought he was mistaken; and I told him so clearly. He laughed, nay, guffawed, and told me he worked every day of the year except on Christmas Day, because of the name, “Emmanuel” ("God with us") by which his Chambers is called. I was amazed; even dazed. When eventually I went to the office, it was a beehive of legal activities like any normal working day. Lawyers and para-legal staff were on their desks. I gawked. I learnt great lessons from that encounter which again sharpened my resilience, work ethics and devotion to my profession. Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, GCON, SAM, my late mentor and to whom I was Deputy Head of Chambers in 1985, together with Chief Kanm Isola-Osobu ("People's Lawyer") with whom I interned for four years whilst at the University of Ife (now OAU), Ile Ife, had taught me as much. But Aare sharpened these. Till date, I still work and sleep in my offices many days in a week.

A TOWERING FIGURE

THE FOURTH ENCOUNTER

Aare is a rare diamond; a towering pride to the Black race. For our fourth encounter, I was honoured and privileged when in 2022, he personally signed a letter inviting me to deliver the 10^th ABUAD convocation lecture, and also receive its LL.D doctorate degree (Honouris Causa) in Law. When I visited him on 20th October, 2022, at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), to receive the ABUAD doctorate degree and deliver its 10th convocation lecture, I prostrated flat on my belly to greet him, as is the endearing custom of the Yorubas (even though I am not one; I am Afenmai, Etsako and Weppa Wanno).This was past 11pm. The legend was still in his office, working with the Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof Smaranda Olarinde. I was shocked that at 93 years then, he could still be in the office at that late hour of the night when nonagenarians like him should be snoring away in a deep slumber.

After my lecture on the 20^th, I again visited him at his modest office that neither reflected nor befitted his larger-than-life stature. Aare profusely prayed for me and decreed that I would not just be great but greater than him. Ha! I was dumbfounded when I heard those words from a mortal being. Here was a living legend praying that I should be greater than him! Who does that? The only person that I have read who dared make that utterance was Jesus Christ when he said in John 14:12:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

Before Aare uttered those words, he had instructed ABUAD Vice Chancellor, Prof Olarinde, to take me round on a guided tour of ABUAD University premises- the hospital, factory and the industrial hub, so that I could better appreciate his thoughts and prayers for me. Thus, when he prayed for me at past 11pm, I clearly understood what he meant. Besides the serene atmosphere of prayers we were immersed in, I saw an incredibly hardworking nonagenarian who was still engaging some of his staff on the minutest details at that late hour of the night. I marveled and I counselled my children and some members of my staff who had accompanied me on the trip that if Aare could still be working like that at this stage of his illustrious life, then I had not even started at all. I then challenged them to embrace and imbibe the virtues of hard work, industry, honesty, dedication, character, integrity and prayers to God, as the Aare exemplified.

ABUAD, A WONDER!

FIFTH ENCOUNTER

During my second visit to ABUAD in 2022, I noticed that everything had changed. I beheld many industries and state of the art facilities that were not there four years earlier. There was so much remarkable transformation within a space of just five years. I just could not comprehend how one person could constitute such a one-man riot squad that decreed into existence such monumental development that would make many State Governors green with envy.

The ABUAD University can now process grains, poundo yam, elubo, garri and fufu for local assumption and export. It provides its own bottled water, t-shirts, faze caps etc. The University generates its own electricity up to 5 mega watts. The ABUAD state of the art hospital with modern hitec facilities and gadgets is certainly one of the best in Africa (no hyperbole here).

AARE 'S PERSONA

Wealth or money? This is no longer Aare’s pre-occupation or headache. He is rated among the top 10 richest lawyers in Nigeria; and the highest private investor in Ekiti State; with an estimated net worth of $350 million (about 560 billion naira).Even with his stupendous wealth, inexhaustible goodwill, societal reach and intellectual fecundity, Aare Babalola still wears humility like a second skin. At his age of 96, when his peers should be relaxing, sleeping, enjoying holidays, or smoking a pipe, the first class lawyer still works round the clock. He personally oversees and supervises his vast education empire called a university. As a multi-columnist in several Nigerian newspapers, he influences and leads national discourse with his rare weekly insights and lucid adumbrations. This includes his well-known recommendation that Nigeria should put in place a brand new people’s autochthonous Constitution that will bring about social justice, egalitarianism and allow young, creative, patriotic and selfless Nigerians emerge as leaders. This has always been my stand.

Believing that “no idea is stupid; it is better carried out than ignored”; the Chief once said: “The only change that can be a lasting change, that would change the world and change the people, is changing the mind of the youths.” Then, he added the clincher: “Hard work does not kill; what kills is indolence.” Then the icing on the cake: “My legacy is not in the buildings I have, not by the money in my account, but in these children, students of my school.”

My good friend, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, once described Chief Babalola as a man who has broken into smithereens, the usual adage that a tree cannot make a forest. I agree with him that his gargantuan contributions to national development have put the proverb to severe test, as the national icon has singularly become a huge forest, both metaphorically and literally.

Aare’s imprints in the legal profession in Nigeria and indeed Africa are simply inerasable. This is why he has since emerged in several leadership capacities in the noble profession, one of which was as President of Arbitrators in Africa, among others. His iconic imprints in the legal profession have served as major reference points for many legal practitioners and the Bench.

While some people in the legal profession in Nigeria have also achieved similar legal feats, I dare say Aare Babalola has however surpassed them in one major respect: becoming a highly successful and influential entrepreneur in several other sectors such as education, agriculture and leadership. The Aare currently has in his employment over 7,000 Nigerians working and earning their living in his University which also consists of the fast growing and very large university farm and one of Africa’s best and most equipped hospitals, the ABUAD multi-system hospital. ABUAD is rated the best university in Nigeria and one of the 400 leading universities in the world. Such is the vision and feat of one man. Just one man!

What is very unique about Aare Babalola’s highly influential and humanitarian life is that all classes of humanity enjoy his kindness, large heart, benevolence and mentorship. They include the educated elite; the ruling class; the middle class and power wielders; the middle class; and more importantly, the poor masses, comprising mainly of uneducated Nigerians- the hoi polloi and the Frantz Fanon’s “Wretched of the Earth”.

The legal colossus and education czar is a man that never forgets his lowly roots and humble beginnings. As one born into a family of poor farmers and who had to be sleeping on banana leaves on reptile-infested farmlands, his love for farming till date is unquenchable. He owns very large farms and plantations in many towns across Nigeria where he cultivates teak trees and various food and cash crops. He is also one of the biggest fish, piggery and poultry farmers in Nigeria. He is already at the stage of processing sausage, bacon, ham and minced meat to be sold to shopping malls in Nigeria and abroad.  

Aare has not only instituted an annual award for farmers in Ekiti, but recently complemented his love for agriculture by setting up an industrial park in Ado-Ekiti where various crops such as cassava, tomatoes, yam among others would be processed into finished products, thereby helping to reduce the huge waste always encountered while storing such perishable items. Aare Afe Babalola has run a good race. He is simply a living legend; a colossus of law; an unmatched philanthropist; a trail blazer; a builder of generations through education; an unrepentant workaholic; and a great humanist. I am very proud to be associated with him and to drink from his bottomless pool of knowledge. The sage epitomizes 1 Cor. 9: 24. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? So run that you may receive it”. Aare has run the good race and he has received the diadem.

It is my hope that Ekiti State and the federal government of Nigeria would borrow a leaf from this innovative declaration of Afe Babalola Day by the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti to honour this towering national figure, a global icon and an international hero who deserves to be celebrated as a model of patriotism and a symbol of our collective vision and commonwealth.

For him are surely the blessings of Genesis 6:3; and Philippians 4:7, which I wish him. Aare, your case is one of Vini Vidi Vici.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred the nation’s second highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

In his 64th Independence Anniversary Speech on 1 October, President Tinubu conferred the Commander of the Federal Republic( CFR) on the speaker and the deputy senate president.

This development led to a debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, calling on the President to confer a higher honour on the Speaker.

President Tinubu was persuaded by the House of Representatives position and has decided to remedy the historical error and oversight.

Thus, he has decided to upgrade the Speaker to GCON from CFR, in accordance with the National Order of Precedence.

The speaker, the Senate President, other principal officers of the National Assembly and the Chief Justice of Nigeria will be formally decorated with their new honours later.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)

Samsung’s One UI 7, the Android 15 based update which will bring a bunch of new features and a major UI overhaul won’t be coming  this year. The news comes after some leaks hinted that One UI 7 based on Android 15 will be available sometime by the end of July or early August, but .

At the 2024 Samsung Developer Conference (SDC), the South Korean tech giant confirmed that the One UI 7 will be coming with the upcoming Galaxy S25 series, with the update rolling out for older devices after that. Samsung’s delayed Android 15 software update comes as a surprise, as the tech giant is often known for rolling out a new Android version a few weeks after it is officially available on Pixel phones.

When children are chronically ill and unable to attend school, it’s not just the illness that can be debilitating — the separation from the classroom and friends can also take a toll.

For young people undergoing long-term treatment or struggling with mental health issues, Norwegian company No Isolation developed the AV1 robot, which can take a child’s place in class, serving as their eyes, ears, and voice, and helping them stay connected with their classmates.

The AV1 looks like a blank, simplified version of a human head and torso. It can rotate 360 degrees and is fitted with a camera, microphone and speaker. Teachers place it on a classroom desk and the student controls it remotely using an app, for which they are given a unique password.

“They can tap or swipe their finger around the screen to look at different corners of the classroom,” said Florence Salisbury, marketing director for No Isolation. The student can talk to the teacher or their classmates through the speaker, and the app has a “raise hand” option that makes a light flash on the robot’s head. They can also select emojis that display in the robot’s eyes.

Salisbury says there are 3,000 active AV1 units in 17 countries, mostly in the UK and Germany, both of which have over 1,000 of the robots in operation.

In the UK, schools can rent the AV1 for around £150 ($200) per month, or opt for a one-time purchase for £3,700 (just under $4,960), with an additional service package of £780 (around $1,045) annually.

The AV1 is fitted with a camera, microphone and speaker. 

Markus Haner/No Isolation

Salisbury says that perhaps the robot’s biggest benefit is its ability to maintain social bonds. She shared the story of a 15-year-old student in Warwickshire, England, using AV1 whose friends take the robot to lunch with them, keeping him included in their social circle.

“During a long absence, where classmates might not see their friend for an extended period, this connection to school really becomes a lifeline for that student, especially for those with a medical condition,” Salisbury said.

According to the most recent government statistics, more than 19% of students in England were persistently absent from school in the autumn of 2023/24, 7.8% due to illness alone, which is higher than pre-pandemic levels.

During the Covid pandemic, remote learning became the norm, but as students returned to school, for many it’s no longer an option. AV1 was launched before the pandemic, but some schools have reported using the robots to help students who have struggled to reintegrate with the classroom environment.

“They make the child important”

The UK’s Chartwell Cancer Trust has a supply of 25 AV1 robots it provides to children with serious illness. Founding trustee Michael Douglas told CNN that the robots enable children to stay engaged with their education even while in intensive care. “They are loved by the parents and make a real difference,” he said. “They make the child important.”

But he acknowledged that there can be administrative challenges around their use and that “red tape can be a real issue” when trying to get the AV1 system into schools or hospitals.

He added that some schools may also struggle to maintain the necessary technical infrastructure for seamless operation, because of weak Wi-Fi or mobile signal dark spots.

An AV1 charging station at Moulsham High School, in England. 

No Isolation

Technical training

In June, research published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Digital Health, examining the use of the AV1 in Germany and of the OriHime avatar robot in Japan, found the technologies “bear high potential for children to stay socially and educationally connected.”

However, it added that there was a need to establish structures to give equal access to avatar technologies, and that training sessions for teachers on the technical and social aspects of the robots are important for successful implementation.

Last August, No Isolation rolled out AV1 Academy, a library of training materials and resources aimed at improving the usability of the robot.

According to Salisbury, the AV1 is designed with robust privacy features. No personal data is collected, and the app prevents screenshots or recordings. Encryption secures the livestream, and only one device can connect at a time, with the robot’s head and eyes lighting up to signal active use.

There are other avatar robots on the market and some, like VGo and Buddy, have wheels and can move around the school or workplace, while some have a screen that shows the user’s face. Salisbury said that not having wheels is more practical for AV1, and weighing around 1 kilogram, the robot is easy for teachers or students to move between classes in a bespoke backpack.

She added that the absence of a screen showing the child’s face can also be an advantage. “Removing that pressure to be on camera, we’ve seen, increases the likelihood of the robot being used for students with emotionally based school avoidance,” Salisbury said.

[CNN]