The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, and the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, are among an array of eminent personalities expected to grace the launch of Pathways, Pilgrimage and Destiny, the biography of Medview Airlines owner and renowned businessman, Alhaji Muneer Bankole.

Also expected at the event are the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu I, alongside other first-class traditional rulers, senior government officials, captains of industry, diplomats, religious leaders and members of the business community.

The organisers said the event will celebrate the life and accomplishments of Bankole, whose entrepreneurial journey has left a significant imprint on Nigeria’s aviation industry, Hajj and Umrah travel sector and philanthropic landscape.

The biography chronicles Bankole’s rise from humble beginnings to becoming one of Nigeria’s notable entrepreneurs, highlighting his contributions to aviation, his role in expanding pilgrimage travel services and his enduring commitment to leadership, humanitarian causes and community development.

According to the organisers, the book presents an inspiring account of resilience, enterprise, faith and determination while documenting the defining moments that shaped Bankole’s personal and professional life.

They added that Pathways, Pilgrimage and Destiny also examines his efforts in creating employment opportunities, supporting humanitarian initiatives and contributing to Nigeria’s economic development.

Describing the publication as more than a biography, the organisers said it is a tribute to a life defined by vision, perseverance and unwavering service to humanity.

They noted that the book is expected to inspire entrepreneurs, students, young professionals and leaders by showcasing the values of hard work, integrity, faith and dedication.

The launch will feature a public presentation of the book, a formal review by a distinguished scholar, goodwill messages from eminent personalities, cultural performances and tributes celebrating Bankole’s contributions to national development.

The gathering is expected to attract leading figures from the traditional institution, government, business, academia and the diplomatic community, making it one of the major literary and social events of the year.

Nigeria’s transition to cleaner transportation is set to gain fresh momentum as key government agencies converge at the 3rd Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) Auto Summit to develop a comprehensive roadmap for the safe deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered vehicles.

The summit, scheduled for July 30 at the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, will bring together the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Federal Fire Service, automotive manufacturers, energy experts, investors, regulators and other transport stakeholders.

The event, themed “Nigeria’s Clean Mobility Future: The EV and CNG Journey Under the Bola Tinubu Administration,” will focus on accelerating Nigeria’s shift to cleaner, safer and more sustainable transportation.

Leading the discussions will be the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, who is expected to unveil a comprehensive safety framework for the nationwide deployment of EVs and CNG-powered vehicles.

His presentation will address vehicle certification, roadworthiness standards, emergency response protocols, accident prevention, technician training and public awareness initiatives designed to support the safe integration of alternative-fuel vehicles on Nigerian roads.

Also speaking at the summit, the Director-General of NADDC, Joseph Osanipin, will deliver the keynote address on the future of Nigeria’s automotive industry under the Federal Government’s clean mobility agenda, highlighting policy reforms, local manufacturing opportunities and industrial growth prospects.

The Director-General of SON, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, is expected to outline national standards governing electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, batteries, CNG conversion kits, cylinders and refuelling stations.

He will also discuss measures aimed at eliminating substandard products from the market while strengthening consumer confidence through improved quality assurance and regulatory compliance.

Complementing the discussions, the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, will present strategies for emergency preparedness within Nigeria’s emerging clean-energy transport ecosystem, with emphasis on developing national response protocols and enhancing the capacity of first responders to handle EV- and CNG-related incidents.

Chairman of the Summit Organising Committee, Rasheed Bisiriyu, described this year’s gathering as one of the most significant engagements in Nigeria’s automotive sector, coming at a time when the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to reduce dependence on petrol and diesel through cleaner mobility initiatives.

According to him, the summit will review progress recorded under the Bola Tinubu administration, identify implementation challenges and develop practical recommendations for accelerating nationwide adoption of EVs and CNG-powered vehicles.

NAJA Chairman, Theodore Opara, said the event comes at a defining period for Nigeria’s transport sector as the country pursues cleaner, more affordable and environmentally sustainable mobility solutions.

He stressed that sustained collaboration among government agencies, manufacturers, infrastructure providers, investors and consumers would be critical to achieving long-term success.

Industry stakeholders expect the summit to produce actionable recommendations that will guide policymakers, regulators and investors in expanding clean mobility infrastructure while strengthening safety, quality assurance and emergency preparedness across the country.

Nigeria’s logistics and transportation system require urgent reforms to reduce the cost of doing business, curb food inflation and stimulate economic growth, leading transport experts have said.

The President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Nigeria and former Federal Road Safety Corps Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, and Founder of ABC Transport Plc, Frank Nneji, made the call in Lagos during the 10th anniversary celebration of City Business News Online.

Speaking on the theme, “Logistics as the Engine Room of Nigeria’s Economy,” Oyeyemi said decades of inadequate investment in transport infrastructure, policy inconsistency and rising logistics costs had weakened Nigeria’s competitiveness and slowed economic development.

He described logistics as the backbone of every productive economy, noting that efficient movement of goods and services underpins manufacturing, agriculture, trade and industrial growth.

According to him, Nigeria’s logistics chain continues to suffer from poor road infrastructure, limited rail connectivity, underdeveloped inland waterways, inadequate storage facilities, rising diesel costs, multiple checkpoints and inconsistent government policies.

Oyeyemi said more than 90 per cent of freight and passenger movement in the country still relies on roads, placing enormous pressure on the highway network and increasing transportation costs across virtually every sector of the economy.

He disclosed that nearly 40 per cent of agricultural produce harvested in Nigeria fails to reach consumers because of poor roads, transportation delays and inadequate cold-chain infrastructure, resulting in significant post-harvest losses and contributing to rising food prices.

To address the challenges, Oyeyemi called for renewed investment in rail and inland water transport, restoration of weighbridges on major highways, elimination of illegal checkpoints and stronger collaboration between government agencies, professional bodies and private operators.

He also urged successive governments to sustain policy continuity, warning that frequent policy reversals and abandoned infrastructure projects discourage investment and delay national development.

While acknowledging the Federal Government’s promotion of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles, he stressed the need to provide supporting infrastructure to ensure their successful adoption.

Also speaking, Nneji urged the Federal Government to accelerate road rehabilitation and concession programmes while encouraging greater private-sector participation in transport infrastructure development.

He said modern and efficient transport networks would reduce logistics costs, improve productivity and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness.

Participants at the event agreed that modernising logistics infrastructure and implementing consistent transport policies remain critical to unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential.