WITTY GLOBAL BLOGS | THURSDAY FLAGSHIP EDITION Africa's $2 Billion Creative Economy Financing Push: What Nigerian Filmmakers, Musicians and Digital Creators Need to Know By Itoro Uwah | Thursday, November 12, 2026 CREATIVE ECONOMY | BUSINESS | TECHNOLOGY | INVESTMENT LAGOS, NIGERIA — Africa's creative economy is attracting renewed attention from development financiers and policymakers, following the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) WKND 2026 gathering in Lagos from November 5 to 8. Organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and hosted by Nigeria, the gathering brought together creative entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and cultural-industry professionals to explore financing, intellectual property, technology and market access. Afreximbank's CANEX financing ambition has expanded to $2 billion, reflecting a growing institutional effort to support African cultural and creative enterprises. However, the figure must be understood correctly...
‘They Ask Widows for Sex Before Paying Gratuity’: Retired Nigerian Police Officers’ Wives Cry Out at National Assembly
Abuja, Nigeria — The wives of retired Nigerian police officers on Tuesday joined their husbands in a passionate protest at the National Assembly Complex, decrying the deplorable welfare conditions faced by families of those who once risked their lives for national security. The demonstrators cited unpaid gratuities and pensions, exploitation, and systemic neglect as drivers of the unrest—an alarming sign of how terrible the situation has become.
Widows Allege Sexual Harassment for Gratuity
In a shocking revelation, several widows alleged that some officials demand sexual favors before approving or releasing their late husbands’ gratuity or pension entitlements.
“They ask widows for sex before paying gratuity. Many of us have been humiliated and extorted. Our husbands served Nigeria faithfully, yet we are treated like beggars,” one protester said.
The allegations, protesters say, reflect a broader culture of impunity that has left vulnerable families at the mercy of corrupt gatekeepers.
‘First to Be Hit by Bullets’: Safety & Welfare Failures
Protest leaders recounted how officers, during years of service, were often deployed without basic protective gear like bulletproof vests or adequate insurance coverage, leaving them and their families exposed to devastating risks.
“Our husbands were always the first to be hit by bullets during operations because they had no protection. Now in retirement, they are abandoned and dying of hunger,” another woman lamented.
Urgent Calls for Investigation and Payment
The group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and leaders of the National Assembly to launch an independent investigation into the alleged sexual exploitation and immediately clear outstanding entitlements. They also demanded reforms to the Police Pension Board and the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to eliminate bottlenecks and abuse of power.
A Test of National Values
For many families, the crisis is no longer just about money—it’s about dignity and justice for those who defended Nigeria. The protesters vowed to continue their peaceful demonstration until there is tangible action, not rhetoric.
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