Aviation anxiety is rising globally as 49 crashes within the first six months of 2025 have killed over 529 people, sparking renewed fears over the safety of air travel, once considered the world’s safest transport mode. Experts, however, insist aviation remains safe, writes OLASUNKANMI AKINLOTAN Panic is growing both in the aviation industry and among passengers as what is believed to be the safest and fastest means of transportation begins to take human lives in droves. Just midway into 2025, the industry has experienced commercial and non-commercial aircraft incidents and accidents globally, resulting in the loss of hundreds of passengers. Private and military aircraft have not been spared in the fatal crashes. According to the Bureau of Aircraft Accident Archives, there have been a total of 49 aircraft crashes between January and June 2025, claiming more than 529 lives, while many landed on hospital beds fighting for their lives. As alarming as these numbers are, aviation experts agreed that the severity and fatalities associated with the recent unfortunate incidents have increased compared to past years but insisted air travel remains the safest. In the first six months of the year, the National Transportation Safety Board said, since the beginning of 2025, at least 106 people have died in 20 aviation accidents in the U.S. alone. A mid-air collision between American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700, and a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with all 67 individuals on board both aircraft perishing. The Washington crash was the first fatal commercial aviation crash in 2025 and in the past 15 years in the US. Also, a Learjet 55, operating as Med Jets Flight 056, crashed shortly after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, resulting in the deaths of all six individuals on board and one person on the ground. Two days earlier, a Beechcraft 1900D operated by Eagle Air on behalf of Light Air Services crashed shortly after takeoff from GPOC Unity Airstrip en route to Juba International Airport in South Sudan, claiming the lives of 20 out of 21 occupants. In another surprising scenario, Bering Air Flight 445, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, disappeared from radar before its scheduled arrival in Nome. The wreckage of the plane was later found 34 miles from the destination, killing all 10 individuals on board. Like Bering Air Flight, in February, a U.S. military EA-18G Growler fighter jet crashed into San Diego Bay near Shelter Island. Both pilots ejected safely and were rescued by a nearby fishing boat. No fatalities occurred. Not so long after Delta Connection Flight 4819, a Bombardier CRJ900, crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport, flipping upside down. A mid-air collision between a Cessna 172S and a Lancair 360 MK II occurred near Marana Regional Airport, resulting in two fatalities; the Cessna landed safely. The highest fatality in a single crash in the first six months of 2025 was recorded with the crash of the 787-8 Dreamliner operated by India Air, where a total of 274 persons lost their lives, expanding the scale of the worst single-aircraft disaster in the history of Indian aviation. The aircraft with 241 passengers and crew crashed on the campus of Ahmedabad’s BJ Medical College, killing an additional 33 medical students, workers, and others in the Meghaninagar neighbourhood. Varying causes of crashes Although all crashes resulted in unpalatable stories, they all happened on different accounts. For instance, Air India Against the popular belief that the unfortunate Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner owned by the India Air airline, which has claimed the largest number of casualties this year at the time of filing this report, crashed over a faulty locking mechanism in the captain’s seat. A preliminary report published by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau published in mid-July 2025 showed that soon before the June 12 crash, fuel to the aircraft’s engines was cut off. Fuel control switches for the engines of an Air India flight that crashed last month were moved from the “run” to the “cutoff” position moments before impact, starving both engines of fuel. The report, issued by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, also indicated that both pilots were confused over the change to the switch setting, which caused a loss of engine thrust shortly after takeoff. A midair collision near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., on the evening of Wednesday, January 29, also claimed the lives of 67 persons. The crash occurred at approximately 9 p.m. local time when an American Airlines regional jet, arriving from Kansas, collided with a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter operated by the U.S. Army. Initial reports suggest that the air traffic control staffing during the time of the incident was below normal levels, according to The New York Times. Preliminary findings from the Federal Aviation Administration indicated that the air traffic controller managing helicopter traffic was also overseeing planes departing and landing at the airport when the crash occurred. The exact cause of the collision remains under investigation. In the same month, a pilot was killed while four others were injured after a Bombardier Learjet 35A veered off the runway on landing at Scottsdale Airport and crashed into a Gulfstream 200 business jet parked on private property. According to initial reports, the Learjet’s left main landing gear failed upon landing, leading to the collision. One person died upon impact, according to Scottsdale Fire boss Capt. Dave Folio. He was identified Wednesday by the Scottsdale Police Department as 78-year-old Joie Vitosky, a pilot on the Learjet flight. The Maricopa County medical examiner will determine the cause of death, police said. Two individuals were in critical condition and sent to local trauma centres. Another person was sent to a local hospital, and a fourth refused treatment at the scene, he added. Also prominent among the unfortunate records was the case of a Cessna Caravan commuter plane operated by Bering Air that took off from Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m. on February 6 on a routine flight and disappeared from radar just an hour into the flight. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, an “event” occurred around 3:18 p.m., leading to the sudden drop in speed and altitude. By the time rescue crews arrived at the last known coordinates, they discovered wreckage scattered across the icy Bering Sea, with all 10 persons on board killed. Alaska State Troopers, the Coast Guard, and the NTSB launched an extensive investigation, sending a multi-state NTSB team to the site. The flight went missing in conditions of light snow and fog, with temperatures hovering around 17°F, aligning with the harsh realities of aviation in Alaska’s rugged and remote terrain. The third major U.S. aviation mishap in just over a week heightened national concern over an apparent spike in aeroplane tragedies. Year-on-year data The number of deaths already recorded in just six months of 2025 has surpassed the data recorded yearly in the last seven years. From records, in 2024, the number of aviation deaths stood at 416, higher than the 229 in 2023 but consistent with the averages of previous years: 578 in 2019, 463 in 2020, 414 in 2021, and 357 in 2022. The last time fatalities surpassed 1,000 was in 2018, when two Airbus planes crashed in Ethiopia and Indonesia.   Fear grips passengers With this significant spike in the number of deaths noticed in air accidents in the 2025 record compared to years past, air passengers, particularly in Nigeria, are concerned about aviation safety, taking into consideration accidents that have characterised the first half of the year. Many passengers’ phobia of air transportation seems to have increased, as many are trying to either minimise flying or avoid it as much as possible. While some blame the apparent rise in plane crashes on “random clustering,” where multiple incidents occur in a short timeframe, public perception has not been encouraging. A London-bound passenger at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Dairo Ajediran, said that with the recent incessant crashes, there is a possibility of a recurring mistake ravaging the global industry. Ajediran, who met our correspondent on transit in June, said he ought to have returned to work in London on May 13, but the fear of incessant crashes kept holding him back. He noted that the tragic death of his friend, whom he said was unfortunately a victim of a crash in February, has remained fresh in his mind. “I can’t explain my feelings toward air transport anymore; this is really unspeakable! Aviation is global, and for this to have continued, it means there is an error that experts are yet to either identify, pay attention to, or try to keep away from the public.  “This year alone, I have lost two people to air accidents, and this is too much for me. The most painful was that of my very close friend, who was my neighbour in London. He recently completed his PhD programme. As a matter of fact, we are already planning a party for his convocation, only for him to die in a crash in February.” He added his discussion with an aviation expert showed that accidents will always be sudden, but incessant crashes are “mostly not of God but human errors.” He appealed to aviation handlers to rise to the occasion to minimise needless deaths across the world. Another Nigerian traveller also narrated his harrowing experience of flying with domestic airlines in the country, describing it as a “terrifying ordeal” marked by chronic delays, safety concerns, poor customer service, and deteriorating aircraft conditions. Olufemi Owoeye, a frequent domestic flyer, shared a deeply personal account that reflects growing public frustration with Nigeria’s aviation industry. “Flying with Nigerian airlines fills me with dread. Not just for delays, but for my safety. I wake early, eager for a 9 a.m. flight, only to learn at the airport it’s now 4 p.m., with no warning.” Owoeye described the anxiety caused by these unexplained delays, citing fears over aircraft safety. “The recent reports of frequent aircraft crashes haunt me; I am honestly terrified. Each delay increases my fears of a disaster waiting to happen.” His concerns go beyond flight schedules. According to him, cramped and worn-out seats make air travel uncomfortable, while cabin crew behaviour adds to the distress. Customer service is another source of frustration, as Owoeye painted a grim picture of long queues, unresponsive staff, and complaints that often go unheard. “Complaints about safety concerns vanish into thin air, leaving me feeling helpless and ignored.” He also raised the alarm over treatment in economy class, describing it as physically and emotionally exhausting. “Economy Class feels like a gamble with my life; passengers are treated like they are being done a favour,” he complained. “These issues are so common that I brace for them every trip. My heart races at the thought of a crash,” Owoeye added. While acknowledging that a few carriers strive to maintain higher standards, he argued that most appear indifferent to passenger fears, calling for stricter regulations, improved customer service, and a commitment to safety and professionalism across the board. “I long for stricter regulations, safe travels, and airworthy planes to ease my mind,” he said. “Until then, flying in Nigeria is a terrifying ordeal, where I pray for safe landings and dream of a day when reliable, safe air travel is the norm and not a rare hope.”   Experts intervene  Meanwhile, aviation experts say that although there were increased accidents and incidents, they insisted that the causes cannot be ascribed to shortcomings in the industry globally. The professionals also said the cause of the accidents cannot be generalised, as the unfortunate incidents happened on different grounds. Although some industry experts with various focuses in the industry raised concerns over the shocking development, they also allayed passengers’ fears, insisting that the aviation development had continuously recorded a forward progression, though with pockets of challenges. Citing the Air India aircraft accident in retrospect of the crashes and incidents, experts spoke differently but agreed that the causes of air incidents should not be a subject of speculation, as such might be counterproductive and unprofessional. Also baring his mind, a renowned aircraft engineer and retired Nigerian Air Force officer, Air Vice Marshal Moses Onilede (rtd), called for immediate disregard of circulating claims that a seat defect was responsible for the recent crash of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Speaking with our correspondents, Onilede emphasised the importance of waiting for the official accident investigation report, which is currently being conducted by Boeing and India’s Accident Investigation Body. “Firstly, and most importantly, I want the public to disregard the claim about the aircraft seat. That cannot be tenable at this time. This is not the first year in the existence of the aircraft type in question, and it would be professionally irresponsible to jump to conclusions without the full findings,” he asserted. Onilede also warned against misinformation being spread via artificial intelligence, noting that AI-generated content can appear realistic, including fabricated videos: “I received one of such videos a few days ago. I advise everyone to disregard such materials in their entirety.” While not ruling out the possibility of human error or technical failure, Onilede stressed that both are common immediate causes of air accidents. He cited scenarios such as bird strikes as potential triggers but maintained that technology and proper analysis would eventually reveal the truth about the incident. Beyond immediate causes, he called attention to the importance of reviewing remote factors such as maintenance standards, pilot training, and regulatory oversight once the investigation is concluded. Despite the tragic incident, Onilede reaffirmed that air travel remains the safest mode of transportation globally. He said, “When you compare the casualty rate with the vast number of air travellers, aviation still stands out as the safest. What we must keep pushing for is proper training, not just for pilots, but for everyone involved in flight operations.” Focusing on the Nigerian aviation sector, Onilede praised the recent interest shown by the Minister of Aviation in improving the industry, urging sustained efforts, particularly from the regulatory authorities. While stressing the importance of ongoing training and refresher courses in maintaining aviation safety, the industry expert added that “no airline should be allowed to operate without meeting the required safety and operational standards. If any operator falls short, they should be grounded until full compliance is achieved.” Also, Managing Director of Belujane Consult and former spokesperson of the liquidated national carrier, Nigeria Airways, Chris Aligbe, stressed that it will be inaccurate to generalise the cause of the incessant crashes and air incidents, stressing that the unfortunate developments have different peculiarities. The industry expert added that the report of the crashes by the accident investigators will better show where global aviation currently stands and where improvements are needed. He said, “For instance, the Air India incident has been said to have been caused by the seat of the aircraft, and I think some of the planes in India have been grounded to further investigate the issues, especially as it has to do with the seats. To then attempt to generalise the causes of the incidents will be very counterproductive. “Aside from the seat of the Air India, there was a head-on collision and all other incidents that have been recorded recently. So, we can only deal with each of the incidents in accordance with their peculiarity after the report of the incident by the accident investigation body of different countries makes their reports public.” A retired chief pilot, Muhammed Badamosi, echoed concerns over the growing number of crashes recorded globally within just six months. While corroborating Aligbe’s assertion, Badamosi said that while the cause of some of the crashes may be said to be human error, he added that some others may be mechanical. Comparing the Air India accident and the collision of two aircraft in Tokyo as a case study, Badamosi said, ”From statistics, there are about 52 air accidents in the first half of this year, with seven of the accidents fatal. Each accident has its own identity and has to be treated differently. Let us take Air India and the collision of two aircraft in Tokyo as a study. “For Air India, the accident was caused by a design error. A preliminary investigation report indicates that the captain’s seat railed back at the beginning of the takeoff climb. It shouldn’t have happened if a fail-safe mechanism had been incorporated in the design. The accident that claimed the lives of many people shouldn’t have been a case study. “This accident can be classified as human error on the side of the manufacturer of the aircraft series and not that of the pilot.” He further said, unlike the Air India, the Tokyo collision was a case of inattentiveness. He added, “As for the accident on the Tokyo runway in which a border guard aircraft made an unauthorised incursion on the active runway while a passenger aircraft was landing on the same runway, it was a clear case of inattentiveness of the border guard crew members. “Fortunately, only four members of the border guard aircraft died, and all passengers on the other plane and the captain of the border guard aircraft survived the accident. With this report, you will agree with me that every aircraft accident has to be treated differently depending on the cause.” He, however, added that such accidents happen when the “chain of doing the right thing is broken.” Another expert, Capt. Peter Adenihun, said the crashes that have occurred this year call for action in the aviation industry, stressing that reports from several of the accidents pointed to mechanical failure, technological vulnerabilities, and others. He observed that “Air crashes in 2025 have raised concerns about aviation safety. According to recent reports, there have been numerous incidents globally, mostly involving aircraft with fewer than 19 passengers, while commercial jets were also involved in some major crashes. He said, “Preliminary reports point to various factors, including mechanical failure, icy conditions, and potential technological vulnerabilities. Aviation watchdogs are investigating these incidents to identify root causes and improve safety measures. “These incidents have sparked discussions about aviation safety, regulatory oversight, and technological vulnerabilities.”

Every election season in Africa, particularly Nigeria, echoes with a desperate cry for good leaders, redeemers, and miracle-working saviours to rescue the nation from despondency. Campaigns overflow with promises of integrity, reform, and transformation. However, the real power to shape leadership outcomes positively or negatively doesn’t lie solely with the candidates; it rests mainly with the followers. In a democracy, numbers rule, and the majority, if credible, enlightened, and politically conscious, can demand and drive real change. Yet, when this followership is misinformed, transactional, or complicit, even the best intentions collapse under the weight of a corrupt system. The brutal irony, however, is that followership most times is steeped in corruption, tribalism, and transactional politics, while hoping to birth saints from the very system it enables and defends. The question isn’t where the good leaders are; it’s whether the society that produces them even wants good leaders. This contradiction forms the paradox of Nigeria’s leadership crisis, a society riddled with broken values, expecting angelic leaders. It is like planting thorns and expecting roses to bloom. Democracy thrives not only on the legitimacy of elections but also on the vigilance of the electorate. Nations like Norway, Canada, and Germany exhibit strong, transparent leadership not because of extraordinary politicians, but because of the strength of their civic culture. In these countries, citizens are educated, engaged, and empowered. They demand policies, question authority, protest injustice, and vote on issues, not emotions. From local government offices to the highest rungs of governance at the centre, Nigeria is plagued by a leadership problem. But what’s less discussed is that these leaders are not aliens; they emerge from the same communities, where citizens bribe to get ahead, inflate figures to win contracts, or offer money to bypass due process. The same parents who lecture their children on integrity also pressure them to cheat in exams to secure the future. The hypocrisy is both cultural and systemic. The need for enlightened followership is more urgent than ever. For decades, Nigeria’s leadership failures have been attributed to a string of corrupt or incapable leaders. Yet, this diagnosis only scratches the surface. The deeper question is: Who enabled them? Who cheered them into power, turned a blind eye to their past, or demanded ethnic or religious allegiance over merit? The uncomfortable truth is that poor followership, characterised by ignorance, blind loyalty, and political illiteracy, has fertilised the ground from which subpar leaders emerge. The reality is that bad leadership is the fruit borne from the soil of society and shaped by its values, influenced by its culture, and moulded by its expectations. When society tolerates, even celebrates, es shortcuts, dishonesty, nepotism, and mediocrity, it should come as no surprise when those same traits show up in the corridors of power. Where over 150 million citizens live in multidimensional poverty, political awareness takes a back seat as people think first of survival. Politicians exploit this desperation with tokenistic handouts during campaigns. Many citizens view elections as transactions, not a democratic process with long-term consequences. And until this perception changes, power will always go to the highest bidders. Leadership is not merely the product of ballots, constitutions, or party manifestos; it is a mirror, a reflection of the collective values, knowledge, priorities, and moral fabric of its people. When nations are governed by enlightened, informed, and politically engaged citizens, the quality of leadership naturally rises. Conversely, where ignorance, apathy, and transactional relationships dominate the populace, leadership often degenerates into tyranny, corruption, and incompetence. Africa, and particularly Nigeria, offers a sobering case study of this reality. True reform rarely starts in government houses; it often begins with enlightened citizens. The civil rights movement in the U.S., led by ordinary but informed citizens, forced systemic change. In Tunisia, the Arab Spring was triggered by a single act of defiance from a frustrated vendor, but sustained by masses who had reached a tipping point and could not stomach bad leadership and the attendant suffering.  Even in Nigeria, rays of this civic light are emerging. The #EndSARS movement in 2020 signified a new wave of youth-led civic awakening. Though brutally suppressed, it illustrated the potential of an informed and organised followership to challenge the status quo. NGOs, investigative journalists, and youth-led platforms like BudgIT, Enough Is Enough, and SERAP are beginning to redefine the civic space, demanding transparency and people-centred governance. Every four years, many Nigerians cast votes not based on vision, character, or record but along lines of tribe, religion, or personal gain. Politicians, knowing this, do not offer substance. They offer stomach infrastructure, distribute wrappers, or promise to “carry the people along, a euphemism for patronage and favouritism”. The tragedy is that many citizens do not vote to hold power accountable, but to partake in it. The question then arises: Can a society that does not value excellence produce excellent leaders? Can a population that is largely uninformed, uncritical, and transactional hold leaders to standards it does not hold itself? One of the gravest misconceptions in African political discourse is the belief that a society can somehow stumble upon saintly leaders amidst a sea of moral decay. But history shows that great leaders often emerge in societies that demand greatness. They are held accountable by institutions, pressured by informed electorates, and challenged by vibrant civic cultures. Countries like Finland, New Zealand, and Denmark are nations lauded for transparent, people-centred governance. Their leaders are not superhuman. They are products of systems that reward honesty, competence, and public service. These societies don’t just hope for integrity; they demand it, enforce it, and live it. In Nigeria, the pattern is disturbingly predictable. A new leader emerges with a promise to change everything. For a while, hopes soar, but then, the system swallows him, either through compromise or confrontation and the cycle of disillusionment resumes. Meanwhile, the same citizens who decry corruption are often complicit in the very acts they condemn when given the chance. Until the people undergo an inner reformation, leadership will remain a tragic reflection of society: flawed, self-serving, and stuck in a loop of failure. The real transformation, therefore, must begin from the ground up: with the family, in classrooms, through the media, and in everyday interactions. Being an enlightened citizen goes beyond formal education. It encompasses civic literacy, ethical reasoning, historical awareness, media literacy, and the ability to question, critique, and engage power structures constructively. Such citizens do not wait for the government to change their lives; they initiate, innovate, and influence it from the bottom to the top. In Rwanda, for instance, post-genocide recovery wasn’t achieved by leadership alone. A culture of discipline, self-reliance, and civic duty was reignited among the people. Community-based justice systems like Gacaca courts and citizen-driven development efforts helped rebuild trust and accountability. The success of this model underscores the truth: leaders cannot act beyond the consciousness of the people they serve. Leadership, no matter how well-intentioned, will always mirror the values, awareness, and resolve of the people. If followers are passive, uninformed, and ethically compromised, leaders will exploit that void. Nigeria and Africa’s hope lies not in a few saviours, but in millions of torchbearers who, with clarity and courage, light the path of accountability and progress. When the people rise in knowledge and conviction, even the most obstinate regimes must listen. As the 2027 elections approach, what Nigeria needs is not just a change of guard at the top, but a change in the moral compass at the base. A new kind of followership, enlightened, informed, ethical, and courageous, has to emerge. We must stop expecting saints from the same society that excuses corruption as “being smart” or claps for fraudsters because they brought the money home. We must teach integrity not just as a concept, but as a culture. We must build systems that reward merit, punish wrongdoing, and give power back to the people, not through slogans, but through consistent civic action. It is time to flip the script from asking who will lead us to asking how we will lead ourselves. Only then can we move from the shadows of dysfunction into the light of lasting transformation. In the end, leadership is a mirror. What it reflects is the true image of the people it leads. If we want better leaders, we must become better citizens and followers. The tragedy is not that saints are rare in leadership; the tragedy is that our society has stopped producing them. Until that changes, we will continue to elect not the leaders we need but the ones we deserve. Okoronkwo, a leadership and good governance advocate, writes from Lagos via [email protected]

Industries around the world are facing a paradox: talent shortages in key sectors and rising unemployment in others. Developed nations struggle with ageing populations, while emerging markets grapple with youth unemployment. Artificial Intelligence is seen as a potential solution, improving productivity and job matching, but concerns remain about if it can be sustainable and inclusive. Across industries, employers are having trouble finding the necessary talent at the right time, while millions remain underemployed or excluded. AI also risks displacing jobs, reinforcing bias, and widening inequality, benefiting developed nations and large firms over small businesses and developing economies. The challenge is ensuring AI addresses labour gaps ethically, inclusively, and in ways that strengthen the global workforce. ManpowerGroup’s 2025 Talent Shortage report reveals that for the first time in 10 years, businesses are reporting a decrease in skills shortages, with 76 per cent of employers reporting difficulty in filling roles due to a lack of skilled talent. The challenge is structural, affecting healthcare, logistics, engineering, and fast-growing digital fields. The global talent crunch is driven by converging forces: skills mismatches as qualifications are becoming irrelevant in evolving market demands, demographic shifts such as ageing populations in developed nations and youth unemployment in emerging economies, changing worker expectations: the desire for flexibility, purpose, and personal growth and the rapid technological disruption transforming job requirements. As companies scramble to keep pace with rapid change, the demand for future-ready talent is quickly outstripping the capacity of traditional education and workforce development models. What’s needed is investing in lifelong, modular learning that evolves with market needs; leveraging AI to enable dynamic skills mapping and personalised upskilling; strengthening partnerships between industry, education, and government; and expanding access to non-traditional and underrepresented talent pools. Ultimately, solving the talent crunch requires reshaping workforce systems for the jobs of tomorrow. AI is emerging as a transformative solution to global workforce challenges, offering tools to match, upskill, and mobilise talent. Beyond automating routine tasks, AI enables intelligent talent matching by analysing vast data on candidates, job descriptions, labour trends, and hiring outcomes. It considers hard skills, transferable capabilities, learning agility, and values alignment to deliver more inclusive and efficient hiring. However, this potential requires transparent implementation, bias audits, and integration into human-centred strategies to enhance, not replace, human judgment. AI also revolutionises personalised upskilling. Traditional one-size-fits-all training no longer meets evolving industry demands. AI-powered learning platforms assess current competencies, identify skill gaps, and deliver adaptive, modular content aligned with individual goals and shifting job requirements. This approach benefits employers by developing internal talent pipelines, reducing reliance on external recruitment, and increasing workforce agility. For employees, especially underrepresented groups, it democratises lifelong learning by making reskilling affordable, flexible, and accessible beyond traditional education barriers. At scale, personalised upskilling fosters resilience, adaptability, and career confidence amid disruption. Workforce planning and predictive insights represent another critical application. AI leverages predictive analytics to model workforce trends, aligning talent supply with future demand, mitigating economic shocks, and strengthening labour market resilience. By analysing technology adoption, demographic shifts, and economic indicators, AI anticipates emerging skill needs, guiding long-term talent strategies. Policymakers and educators can also use these insights to redesign curricula, improve vocational training, and target upskilling programmes for vulnerable populations. Healthcare exemplifies how predictive AI can avert crises by forecasting regional shortages of medical professionals, enabling proactive interventions like expanding training capacity or adjusting immigration policies. Similarly, sectors like manufacturing, logistics, energy, and public services can prepare for automation, sustainability transitions, or large-scale retirements through targeted retraining and recruitment strategies. Economically, AI-driven workforce planning reduces unemployment and job vacancies while supporting sustainable growth. Socially, it creates more equitable opportunities by helping workers prepare for future changes. However, ethical deployment is essential, with safeguards for transparency, fairness, data privacy, and bias mitigation. Ultimately, AI-powered talent matching, personalised upskilling, and predictive workforce planning shift decision-making from reactive to proactive. By combining technology with inclusive strategies, AI can build a more adaptable, equitable, and future-ready global workforce Artificial Intelligence holds great potential but is not a universal solution, and overreliance poses serious risks. Bias in training data can replicate or worsen inequalities, leading to discriminatory hiring and further marginalising disadvantaged workers. Automation threatens routine and lower-skilled roles, often without generating enough alternative employment. Additionally, digital divides exclude those lacking access, connectivity, or necessary digital skills. While AI can help address labour gaps, it may also deepen social and economic inequality unless equity, transparency, and fairness are intentionally built into its design, deployment, and workforce integration strategies. A sustainable AI talent strategy must prioritise people over technology, using AI to enhance human creativity, problem-solving, and decision-making rather than simply replacing jobs. Organisations should invest in tools that foster employee growth, engagement, and continuous learning. Equally vital is building inclusive AI ecosystems through collaboration between developers, HR leaders, and policymakers. This means ensuring AI systems are transparent, explainable, and fair by auditing algorithms for bias, protecting worker data, and making tools accessible across different languages, abilities, and education levels. Addressing the digital divide is crucial, requiring joint efforts from governments and organisations to expand access to infrastructure, education, and upskilling, particularly in underserved communities. AI can also support flexible work models: remote, hybrid, or gig-based, broadening access to talent and accommodating diverse needs. However, such flexibility must come with fair pay, safe conditions, and career growth for all workers. Ultimately, a sustainable AI workforce strategy balances technology, equity, and human potential. AI is a powerful tool, but cannot solve global workforce challenges alone, as talent shortages stem from human challenges of education, inclusion, access and opportunity. A sustainable solution requires integrating AI into a broader strategy for human capital development that prioritises equity, adaptability, and dignity at work. When used responsibly, AI can shift us from scarcity, unfilled roles and disengaged workers to alignment, where everyone has the skills, tools, and support to contribute meaningfully to the economy. Alika is an experienced human resources and business strategy professional

If any individual embodies sustained excellence in Nigeria’s healthcare, business, public service, opinion and thought leadership, it is Prince Julius Adewale Adelusi-Adeluyi, the man affectionately referred to across generations as My Lord, Pharmaceuticals. As he turns 85 on August 2, 2025, Nigeria pauses to honour a man who has remained a steady flame of integrity, versatility, and national consciousness for over six decades. He is more than a pharmacist. More than a lawyer. More than an opinion moulder. More than a businessman. Prince Juli, as he is fondly known, is a national institution, a conscience in white apparel, a visionary who lives simply but thinks deeply about the challenges and possibilities of our nation. We have so many things to say and celebrate about him: A mind forged by curiosity, guided by purpose: Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi was born into royalty in Ado-Ekiti in 1940, but he chose the path of knowledge and service, not privilege. His brilliance became evident from his teenage years. At Aquinas College, Akure, he completed his secondary education ahead of his peers and emerged with a Grade One certificate and five distinctions, securing both federal and Western Region scholarships for his Advanced Level studies. In 1965, he graduated from the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) as one of Nigeria’s first set of Pharmacy graduates. That alone was a pioneering achievement. But for Prince Juli, the thirst for excellence is unending. In 1987, at the age of 47, he stunned the nation when he emerged as the best overall graduating student at the Nigerian Law School, proving once again that discipline and vision know no age or limitation. Today, he has published over 40 articles and policy papers across the fields of Pharmacy, Law, Health Policy, and Education. His intellectual curiosity is boundless; his mental acuity remains sharp, even at 85. Leadership on every stage: Prince Juli’s journey is a study in transformational leadership, leadership that doesn’t shout, but shapes destinies. He started early, becoming: President of the Pharmacy Students Association at the University of Ife, Vice President of the National Union of Nigerian Students  in charge of International Affairs, Secretary for Africa of the World Student Movement in the 1960s. His influence extended beyond borders. As Secretary-General of the World Student Movement, he led a delegation of African students to Nigeria during the civil war, holding talks with then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, a testament to his diplomatic tact and visionary clarity. In professional circles, Prince Juli has worn many caps, each with distinction: Secretary and later President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria; Founding Secretary-General of the West African Pharmaceutical Federation (now WAPCP); Founding President of the Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy; Composer of the Pharmacy Anthem still sung with pride today. His tenure at PSN was particularly impactful. He redefined the role of professional associations, making the PSN not only a community of pharmacists but a thought-leadership platform for healthcare advocacy and professional ethics. In 1993, he made history as the first and only pharmacist to serve as Minister for Health and Social Services in Nigeria. His tenure, though brief, remains a reference point for intelligent policy direction and professional decorum in governance. A career built on enterprise and integrity: In 1968, after a stellar early career with Pfizer as an Assistant General Manager, Prince Juli struck out on his own. By 1971, he had founded Juli Pharmacy Nigeria Limited, which later became Juli Pharmacy Plc, the first indigenous pharmaceutical company to be quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Juli Pharmacy was more than a company; it was a bold declaration that Nigerians can build world-class enterprises without cutting corners. Under his watch, Juli Pharmacy won the President’s Merit Award of the NSE in 1997 and 2004, and set new standards in ethical marketing, quality assurance, and local investment. He is not just a businessman. He is a builder of institutions. The conscience of a nation: Prince Juli’s philosophy of life is captured in his favourite Yoruba expression: “Mi ò yó, ṣùgbọ́n ebi ò pa mí”— “I’m not full, but I’m not hungry.” It reflects a life of balance, contentment, and principled living. Yet, beneath his elegant simplicity lies a restless soul—restless not for self, but for Nigeria’s unrealised greatness. At 85, his concerns remain urgent and sincere: That Nigeria remains rich in resources but poor in results. That millions of youths roam the streets without jobs or hope. That the pharmacy profession, despite its potential, is yet to be fully mainstreamed into public health policy. That drug distribution remains disorganised, with public safety at risk. That corruption continues to eclipse competence. These are not just passing worries. They are the pillars of his continued advocacy, the driving force behind his vision for the Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy as a hub for policy reform, innovation, and ethical rebirth. Prince Juli is not the one to give up on these issues and he will often admonish us: “Focus on your focus and you will become the focus”, a piece of advice that many of us have kept close to our hearts. The man beyond the titles: To meet Prince Juli is to encounter humility wrapped in nobility. Clad often in immaculate white, he is calm, articulate, reflective, and deeply spiritual. He is a devout Catholic, happily married to Princess Julia, and blessed with accomplished children, one of whom is also a pharmacist. He is multilingual, fluent in Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Latin, Spanish, and German. He is a songwriter, painter, public speaker, and passionate Rotarian. As Nigeria’s first Rotary District Governor, his service in 1984 led to the creation of a new district due to his expansion efforts. His installation was attended by Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme on behalf of President Shehu Shagari—a testament to his national stature. He has chaired and served on numerous boards: MTN Foundation, Odu’a Investment Ltd., University of Ibadan Council, Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, National Council for Population and Environmental Activities, Alumni Association of NIPSS, among others. His door remains open to all: ministers and market women, policymakers and students. His office is a sanctuary of wisdom, comfort, and courage. How do you celebrate a man like this? At 85, what gift is worthy of such a man? Not plaques. Not grand parties. But a recommitment to the ideals he lives by. We must all strive for: Excellence in our professions, not shortcuts. Service to community, not selfish ambition. Courage in leadership, not opportunism. Empowerment of the youth, not indifference. To Nigeria’s pharmacists, let this milestone reawaken our pursuit of relevance and public trust. To those in public service, let it serve as a reminder that integrity is not outdated. To our youths, let it spark hope that a life of purpose is still possible. A national treasure still shining Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi is not just a man to be celebrated. He is a national compass. A symbol of what Nigeria can become if excellence meets integrity, and vision meets responsibility. At 85, he is still writing, mentoring, advising, building. He remains a mentor, a mobiliser, a moral voice, and a silent reformer. A pharmacist, a barrister, a minister, a builder, a servant-leader. He is our timeless standard of excellence. Happy 85th Birthday, My Lord Pharmaceutical. Nigeria salutes you. History will remember you for good.