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Seinye Lulu-Briggs Named Year 2024 African Philantropist
The Chairman-cum-Chief Executive Officer of Moni Pulo Limited, Dr. Seinye Lulu-Briggs, has been named 2024 African Philanthropist of the Year at the prestigious African Leadership Magazine (ALM) Persons of the Year Awards, organized by the African Leadership Organization in Casablanca, Morocco.
The award recognises her extensive humanitarian work and commitment to social impact and nation-building.
Dr Lulu-Briggs, through the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, has provided healthcare, education, economic empowerment, elder care, and access to justice to over one million people in Nigeria over the past two decades.
Former President of Tanzania and chair of the advisory board of the African Leadership Organisation, Dr Jakaya Kikwete praised the honourees for their leadership and contributions to Africa’s development.
Also speaking at the auspicious event, President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar and the Prime Minister of Uganda, Robinah Nabbanja both highlighted the importance of economic development, investment in social infrastructure, and inclusive leadership in shaping Africa’s future.
Accepting the award before an audience of political, business leaders and policymakers from across the African continent, Dr. Lulu-Briggs expressed deep gratitude to the organisers and framed her philanthropic work as a lifelong mission.
Quoting 2nd Corinthians 9:12, she highlighted the spiritual essence of service: “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”
She dedicated the honour to the communities her foundation supports, stressing that their strength and resilience serve as an inspiration to continue expanding her work.
With the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation funding medical outreaches, scholarships, community emergency interventions as well as social welfare programmes for vulnerable groups in Nigeria, the industrialist highlighted the importance of sustainable and long-term humanitarian efforts, noting that philanthropy is a journey, not a final destination.
According to her, “This recognition is especially meaningful, coming shortly after receiving the 2024 Special African Business Leadership Commendation Award and my induction into the African Business Leadership Council at the House of Lords in the UK. These honours reaffirm that philanthropy is not an endpoint—it is a continuous commitment to uplifting others and transforming lives.”
The award comes a day after she delivered a moving address at the ALM Policy, Investment, and Development Breakfast Forum, where she called for industrialisation as the key to Africa’s economic transformation.
“Philanthropy can ease suffering, but industrialisation creates jobs and gives people the dignity of lifting themselves out of poverty. That is the true difference. Yet, philanthropy itself depends on economic strength. Without the means, our goodwill is limited to good intentions,” she said.
She pointed to financial barriers that limit business growth in Africa, citing her own experience of shifting bank policies that hinder business expansion. She called on policymakers and business leaders to implement innovative financing systems, industrial policies, and investment incentives to foster sustainable development.
The high point of the evening was the special recognition conferred on Dr. Seinye Lulu-Briggs by the State of South Carolina in the United States of America.
The members of the South Carolina House of Representatives honoured Dr. Seinye Lulu-Briggs with an official House Resolution, recognising her exceptional contributions to philanthropy and business.
The resolution, introduced by Representative Henderson-Myers and her colleagues, commended her for transformative leadership, sustainable business practices, and unwavering dedication to humanitarian causes.
It highlighted her achievements, including leading Moni Pulo Limited to five million man-hours without lost-time injuries, fostering sustainable development in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, and improving the lives of vulnerable populations through the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation.
The resolution reads in part:
“With a heart dedicated to nurturing local talent and creating long-term societal impact, High Chief Dr. Lulu-Briggs continues to lead with compassion, fostering positive change in the communities she serves.”
The honour was officially presented on February 13, 2025, in the South Carolina House of Representatives, signed by Speaker of the House G. Murrell Smith, Jr. and Clerk of the House Charles F. Reid, underscoring international recognition of her impact.
With her latest honour as African Philanthropist of the Year, Dr Lulu-Briggs said the award serves as a renewed call to action, urging greater collaboration between business, government, and civil society. She expressed gratitude to her team, partners, colleagues, and family, acknowledging their role in the foundation’s success.
“I accept this award as a renewed call to action—to serve more, build more, and inspire more—because together, we can power Africa’s transformation,” she said.
Dr. Seinye Lulu-Briggs reaffirmed her commitment to expanding her philanthropic efforts while continuing to advocate for economic policies that promote job creation, industrial growth, and sustainable wealth.
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had lauded the courage and commitment of troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
Abubakar gave the commendation during a morale-boosting visit to the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, Borno.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, yesterday, in Abuja.
The CAS said their sacrifices were etched in the history of the nation, and in the hearts of millions of Nigerians who sleep safer because of the troops’ vigilance.
He emphasised that their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity have not gone unnoticed, saying his visit underscored the vital role airpower plays in neutralising threats and protecting communities.
Abubakar pledged continued investment in cutting-edge technology to empower frontline units.
According to him, the NAF remains steadfast in its mission, guided by leadership, strengthened by unity, and driven by the selfless service of its personnel.
The visit comes at a critical moment, reinforcing the importance of public support for military operations and spotlighting the human element at the heart of national defence.
Nigeria’s soft drinks and beverage market continues to show strong growth potential, making it the leading consumer of soft drinks in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association.
A statement by the VDMA disclosed during a press conference held in Lagos ahead of drinktec 2025, that Nigeria consumed over 53 billion litres of soft drinks in 2024, placing it well ahead of other African countries such as Ghana and South Africa.
Despite challenges such as inflation and a weakening naira, Nigeria’s growing population, rising urbanisation, and expanding middle class are key factors driving demand in the beverage sector.
Bottled water led the segment with 48.7 billion litres sold in 2024, a figure projected to rise by 27% to 62 billion litres by 2028.
Carbonated soft drinks followed with 3.4 billion litres, expected to reach 4.4 billion litres by 2028, while energy drinks are forecasted to grow by 30% over the same period. Juices, though relatively small, are also on an upward trajectory.
“The Nigerian beverage market is expanding quickly due to increasing accessibility and affordability,” VDMA stated, citing data from Euromonitor International.
Set to take place in Munich from 15 to 19 September 2025, drinktec is the world’s leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry.
VDMA, a key exhibitor and technical partner for the event, revealed that Nigerian participation is expected to be strong, especially as the country anticipates economic recovery.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has condemned the recent ban placed on a song by Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, describing the development as a return to the culture of censorship and a threat to the right to free expression.
Abdulkareem had waxed a song titled “Tell Your Papa” which criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued from New York University, Abu Dhabi, yesterday, Soyinka criticised the action and its wider implications, saying it echoed past attempts to stifle artistic and socio-political commentary in Nigeria.
“Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learnt recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem,” Soyinka said in the piece posted on PM news.
He expressed irony in suggesting that the ban did not go far enough, stating, “It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed. Next, PMAN, or whatever musical association of which Abdulkareem is member, should also go under the hammer.”
Soyinka noted that he had not listened to the banned song but stressed that the issue transcends content and concerns a fundamental democratic principle.
“It cannot be flouted. That, surely is basic. This is why I feel that we should look on the bright side of any picture and thus recommend the Aleshinloye cartoon – and others in allied vein – as an easy-to-apprehend, easy-to-digest summation of the wisdom of attempting to stifle unpalatable works of art or socio-political commentary,” he said.
He also pointed out the irony that censorship often benefits the targeted artist.
The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him,” he added.
The literary icon warned that such censorship was not only counterproductive but also dangerous to democratic development.
“We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseum. We know where it all ends. It is boring, time-wasting, diversionary but most essential of all, subversive of all seizures of the fundamental right of free expression,” Soyinka said.
He warned that the ban creates “a permissive atmosphere of trickle-down power,” where state authorities feel emboldened to clamp down on dissent.
Soyinka’s statement also touched on broader issues of impunity and mob violence in Nigeria, lamenting the recent lynching of 19 youths in Edo State.
“My heart goes out to friends, colleagues and families of victims and traumatised survivors of this senseless slaughter. Our thirst for justice must remain unslaked,” he said.
Referencing the 2022 killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, Soyinka criticised the culture of impunity, saying, “Identified killers were set free to gloat, and paste their photos on the Social Media… in full daylight glare, in the presence of both citizen voyeurs and security forces.”
He called for accountability, warning that “as long as the culture of impunity is given the sheerest strain of legitimacy in any given cause, such gruesome assaults on our common humanity will continue to prevail.”
Soyinka concluded by urging the relevant regulatory body to reverse what he described as a “petulant irrationality,” warning that any government that only tolerates praise-singers “has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.”