By Babafemi Ojudu

I was startled when I saw the video clip that emerged from the Oval Office yesterday. It was a scene that should never have played out in any nation’s highest diplomatic chamber, let alone in the hallowed halls of the United States presidency. The Oval Office, a space traditionally reserved for measured statecraft and dignified engagement between nations, became the setting for an extraordinary display of public humiliation—an event that will go down as a dark moment in the annals of international diplomacy.

Watching that clip, I was reminded less of a formal diplomatic exchange than of the kind of public tirades one might expect from Portable, the notorious Nigerian musician infamous for berating his former collaborators, baby mamas, or anyone who crosses his path. Or worse, it felt like a street-corner altercation where a senior gang member bullies a subordinate into submission. This is not how states should relate. This is not how diplomacy is conducted. And I struggle to find any historical precedent for the sheer abrasiveness of what we witnessed.

The scene was not a discussion; it was a harangue—a coercive performance meant not to strengthen alliances but to humiliate an ally. It reminded me of my own encounters with security operatives in Nigeria in the 1990s—officials who, after an arrest, would gather around in numbers to badger, insult, and break the spirit of their captive under the guise of interrogation. When reason fails to persuade, they resort to threats, and when threats fail, they simply lock you up. In this case, Donald Trump and his co-conspirator in the public berating of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky stopped just short of calling for him to be carted off and detained in Guantanamo Bay.

This was not diplomacy; this was arm-twisting. Yes, stronger nations do apply pressure on weaker ones, but rarely in such a brazen and undignified manner. It was the kind of psychological bullying one might expect in a school dormitory, where a senior student torments a younger one to the point of breaking their self-esteem. Zelensky, a wartime leader navigating the existential survival of his nation, found himself subjected to a spectacle that reduced him from a visiting head of state to an object of scorn—ordered out of a meeting and forced to stand as his nation’s dignity was chipped away. One wonders how he truly felt in that moment—trapped, verbally battered by both the first and second most powerful figures in the United States. What was their objective? What was their calculation?

The practice of diplomacy is rooted in mutual respect, even among adversaries. Henry Kissinger, the master tactician of realpolitik, understood that power alone cannot sustain relationships—diplomacy is also about perception, negotiation, and maintaining equilibrium. The idea that a nation should treat its allies with dignity is a foundational principle in international relations—one I was taught in my master’s degree class at the University of Lagos. European leaders, from French President Emmanuel Macron to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have made clear that allies should not be pressured in such a crude manner. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has emphasized that diplomacy must be rooted in “strategic autonomy”—a term that, in this case, seems to have been completely disregarded.

The great theorists of diplomacy, from Hans Morgenthau to modern scholars of statecraft, recognize that the strength of a nation is not merely in its military or economic power but in its ability to build and sustain alliances. The United States, once seen as the paragon of global leadership, has set a dangerous precedent with this display. The world is watching, and the message it received was clear: the new age of diplomacy, at least in some quarters of Washington, is one of intimidation rather than persuasion, of humiliation rather than partnership.

One of the core tenets of Yoruba wisdom says, a kìí pa alejo eni ǹjàkin—you do not slaughter your guest and call it valor. Respect for visitors is deeply embedded in our culture, as it is in many others. The idea that a visiting head of state could be so publicly shamed, with cameras rolling, is an affront not just to Ukraine but to the very essence of diplomacy itself.

What happened in the Oval Office yesterday will not be forgotten anytime soon. Not by Ukraine, not by America’s allies, and certainly not by history.

Welcome to the new age of diplomacy—where might replaces right, where alliances are forged under duress, and where global leadership is measured not by wisdom but by the ability to humiliate.

By Anna Collard, SVP Content Strategy & Evangelist at KnowBe4 Africa (www.KnowBe4.com) 

With growing cybersecurity concerns top of mind for many organisations this year, recognising the varying approaches that different generations have to digital safety is an important component of effective security cultures. Even though younger generations grew up in a hyperconnected world, their overconfidence and lax approach to cybersecurity precautions are potentially putting organisations at great risk.

According to a 2022-survey by Ernst & Young (EY) (https://apo-opa.co/3Q4Wnbx), almost half of Gen Z respondents (48%) say they take cybersecurity protection on their personal devices more seriously than on their work devices. The same survey found that Gen Z workers are far more likely than older employees to use the same password for professional and personal accounts and to ignore important IT updates.

Even though Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) and Gen Alpha (born after 2013) (https://apo-opa.co/3XbQeOX) have grown up on a steady diet of tablets, smartphones, and social media, their vast exposure to the digital world – and the confidence it’s brought about – makes them increasingly susceptible to cyber threats, particularly in the face of AI-powered attacks.

This vulnerability is evident from the fact that 72% admit to clicking on suspicious links at work (https://apo-opa.co/3CEoWtc), a figure that is far higher than that among older generations.

Gen Z’s elevated risk profile 

Unlike millennials and older generations, Gen Z and Gen Alpha have grown up in a fully connected world. Their awareness of technology is instinctive rather than learned – but this has both negative and positive side effects.

On the plus side, they may instinctively understand certain risks, but paradoxically are therefore less concerned about them, such as when it comes to sharing personal information. These younger adults exhibit a classic case of the Dunning-Kruger effect (https://apo-opa.co/3Ej2XIL): they overestimate their cybersecurity knowledge, while lacking the overall competence needed to recognise that they are, in fact, not proficient. This may make them resistant to training from older generations, whom they feel know less about technology than they do.

Because they’re more comfortable sending messages via social media, Gen Z and Gen Alpha are, for instance, more vulnerable to phishing emails. The EY survey found that despite being digital natives, only 31% of Gen Z-respondents actually feel confident in identifying phishing emails (https://apo-opa.co/3CEoWtc). In addition, their love of media-multitasking makes them more distracted and therefore more susceptible to social engineering threats.

Another risk is that younger employees tend to mix personal and work devices, increasing organisations’ exposure to security vulnerabilities. Moreover, digital-first employees may resist traditional security systems at work, viewing them as inefficient or unnecessary.

The key differences relating to cybersecurity to be aware of among various generations in the workplace are:

• Millennials:
  • More cautious, as they witnessed the rise of the internet and early cybercrime.
  • Tend to follow traditional cybersecurity protocols, like password rotation and antivirus usage.
• Gen Z/Alpha:
• Exhibit more trust in tech solutions like password managers, but are less vigilant with manual precautions.
• More reliant on AI-based protections and quick fixes, leading to assumptions that systems are inherently secure. ​​​​​

Building an intergenerational cybersecurity culture

Knowing younger generations’ different approaches to learning and technology can make it easier for cybersecurity training programmes to really work.

Forget old-school compliance training: standardised cybersecurity training might not connect well with Gen Z employees.

If you want to grab their attention, use gamified learning platforms to make training interactive and fun. Not only will they be more engaged, but you’ll be aligning the training with their tech-savvy nature and familiarity with social media, making it more impactful.

Gen Z and Alpha thrive on bite-sized content, being far more likely to consult TikTok to learn something new than consult their parents (https://apo-opa.co/3Er4exw). Organisations can take advantage of this by creating short, engaging, and mobile-friendly lessons that resonate with younger generations.

Another way to make cybersecurity risks hit home is by incorporating real-life examples into training sessions. Because younger employees may not fully understand the consequences of cyber risks, case studies are useful in pointing out the impact that cyberattacks can have on individuals and organisations, such as losing your job or costing the organisation millions of rands in damage.

Bridging this awareness gap can also be done by encouraging intergenerational collaboration at work. Younger employees can learn from the experience and insights of older workers​ while also providing great insights and wisdom by sharing their perspectives too​. Mentorship ​and knowledge exchange ​programmes where experienced employees can guide ​but also listen and try to learn from the ​Gen Z workers will solidify your organisation’s cybersecurity culture. This bridge can also be crossed by encouraging collaborative learning. Younger employees are far more likely to embrace cybersecurity initiatives when they feel involved and their input is actively welcomed.

By tailoring cybersecurity training to the unique characteristics and preferences of each generation, organisations can create more effective and engaging programmes. In this way, workplaces can cultivate a culture of shared responsibility and ongoing improvement by empowering Gen Z with a sense of ownership and autonomy.

…Governor Bala Mohammed Applauds President Tinubu On Good Governance

The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu has disclosed that the Federal Government’s Irrigate Nigeria Project, amongst other things, targets increase in income of Nigeria’s farmers nationwide, even as the formal launch of the initiative took place at the weekend in Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Improved irrigation, according to NASENI EVC/CEO, “helps farmers to extend the number of farming rounds made possible in a year for each farming household. And this means a rise in income for farmers as farming activities increased all through the dry season”.

Speaking on Saturday 1^st March 2025 in Gamawa, Bauchi State at the formal launch of the programme, the chief executive of NASENI said the goal of Irrigate Nigeria under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu administration essentially includes the transformation of entire Nigeria’s agriculture sector through provision of sustainable irrigation systems that empower farmers to achieve year-round farming, and by extension increased productivity and reduced food prices.

He said amongst other things, the programme is jointly being implemented by NASENI and the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF) and also has the participation of private sector at the core of its operations and it’s in line with President Tinubu’s commitment to fully empower and enable Nigeria’s private sector with farmers to develop the Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Beginning with this pilot phase, Halilu explained that the irrigate Nigeria Project kicked-off on a 10-hectare land in Gamawa Local Government of Bauchi State under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) built on a large scale farming basis for the purpose of sustainability and more production.

According to Halilu “this Federal Government initiative rests on four components for its sustainability which include: first the deployment of centralized NASENI irrigation systems to support farming clusters in the participating communities, Second is the provision of input-enhanced seeds and fertilizers including technical support to the participating farmers to complement the provision of irrigation equipment, third is the specialized nature of the commercial model, aimed at ensuring commercial viability and long-term sustainability, and lastly Irrigate Nigeria Project will be run on commercial basis, but with every care taken to ensure that this does not burden the participating farmers unnecessarily”

To this end according to NASENI’s chief executive “the repayments by farmers for the support being provided will be in the form of convenient portions of their harvests, like rice paddy. These repayments will be pooled into a strategic food reserve that will help to stabilize commodity prices and also made available for institutional sale for export, and finally it has the objective of ensuring that Nigeria’s farmers are able to farm throughout the year regardless of the availability of rains while increasing the quantity and quality of harvests”

The Governor of the host state for kick off of the nationwide programme, Bauchi State, Alhaji Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for choosing Gamawa Local Government Area, as the first state to benefit from irrigate Nigeria initiative.

He said “What the Federal Government is doing today in Gamawa is the fulfillment of the essence of governance, that is to create an enabling environment, and it is a plus for President Tinubu or the Federal government. This project is more than just about farming; it is about food security, economic empowerment, and national stability. It aligns perfectly with Bauchi State Government’s broader goals of expanding irrigation farming, reducing dependence on rain-fed agriculture, and promoting sustainable agricultural infrastructure”

According to Bauchi state Governor, the irrigate Nigeria initiative is a new Model for agricultural excellence, capable of leading to sustainable growth and development of the agricultural sector. “The Irrigate Nigeria Project, if implemented as designed, will have a multiplier effect across the agricultural value chain, both vertically and horizontally. It will drive knowledge transfer, introduce advanced technologies, and distribute wealth equitably ensuring that even the most vulnerable members of our society benefit from this transformation. This is the kind of structured agricultural intervention which Nigeria needs, one that prioritizes inclusivity, accountability, and long-term economic impact”, the Governor said.

Dr Mohammed Dahiru who is the Chairman Presidential Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT) said at the occasion that the Irrigate Nigeria Project was designed essentially on the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in order to sustain the initiative beyond its take off, and to make it run on business principles and yet not leaving the farm households nationwide behind  in the overall aim of developing the whole agriculture eco-system of the country.

He said unlike similar initiatives in the past which received funding 100 percent from government or development partners and yet failed, the Irrigate Nigeria project was conceived and funded at the outset extensively on PPP basis to drive sustainability.

According to Dahiru, “no private sector puts funds into any investment and allows it to fail or go to sleep. The private sector’s mindset primarily is that anything that is worth investing in must be nurtured to succeed, which is not always the case with fully government funded projects.”

The weekend’s take-off of the Irrigate Nigeria Project in Gamawa, Bauchi State is the first phase of the Launch. The exercise will be replicated in other parts of the country by NASENI under the auspices of the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF).