Nigerian entrepreneur, business leader, and philanthropist Dr. Elizabeth Jack-Rich, Founder and CEO of Elin Group Limited, commanded global attention at the inaugural UNLEASH Global Business Conference 2026, held Friday at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, DC.

Widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most respected businesswomen and philanthropists, Dr. Jack-Rich featured as both a key panelist and a keynote speaker — further cementing her status as one of Africa’s most influential voices on the global stage.

She joined a high-level Fireside Chat titled _“Leadership in the Age of Disruption: Identity, Power, & Impact,”_ alongside Denise Fall, Senior Leader in Immunology at Johnson & Johnson, and Tolani Alli, Creative Campaign Director at the World Bank. The session brought together accomplished women leaders to examine how identity, power dynamics, and purposeful leadership intersect in today’s volatile global business environment.

Described as insightful, energizing, and highly relevant, the conversation resonated strongly with young professionals and emerging leaders navigating volatility, sustainability challenges, and opportunities across emerging markets.

Beyond the Fireside Chat, Dr. Jack-Rich delivered a powerful keynote address that anchored key discussions on building resilient enterprises and leading with impact amid disruption.

Dr. Jack-Rich leads Elin Group Limited, a diversified conglomerate with strategic interests spanning:
– Real Estate Development
– Power Generation and Gas Utilization
– Agriculture
– Mining
– Maritime and Aviation — notably through Elin Air, where she stands out as one of the few female operators of private jet charter services in Nigeria
– *Logistics and Infrastructure*

Beyond her corporate achievements, she is the driving force behind the Elizabeth Jack-Rich Aid Foundation (EJRAID), through which she has executed numerous high-impact philanthropic initiatives focused on poverty alleviation, women and youth empowerment, education, and community development across Nigeria.

Themed _“Building For What’s Next,”_ UNLEASH 2026 was a one-day strategic summit co-hosted by three prominent student organizations at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School: the Africa Business Club, Women in Business Graduate Club, and Net Impact Club. The conference drew MBA students, young professionals, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and policymakers for robust dialogue on leadership, innovation, sustainability, and strategies for thriving in an era of global disruption.

Her participation was widely applauded as a proud moment for Nigerian and African representation in global leadership conversations, with many attendees citing her journey as a blueprint for purpose-driven enterprise and impact.

*Fixes May 18 for hearing

Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, thwarted a move by Tope Temokun, counsel to online publisher and politician, Omoyele Sowore, to secure a month’s adjournment in a suit he filed against the Department of State Services (DSS) and Meta Platforms Incorporated (owners of Facebook and X).

The judge expressed surprise that Temokun, who as counsel to the plantiff, ordinarily should be interested in a speedy adjudication, would seek a month’s adjournment. He overruled the counsel and fixed May 18 for hearing.

Sowore had last September sued the DSS, Meta Platforms Inc. and X Corp., accusing them of unconstitutional censorship of his social media accounts. He prayed the court to declare as unconstitutional the request by the DSS for Meta to delete his posts calling President Bola Tinubu a “criminal.” Listed as defendants were the DSS, its Director General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, as well as Meta.

When the matter came up on Wednesday, Sowore’s counsel, Temokun, drew the court’s attention to the withdrawal and substitution of an earlier application and counter-affidavit by counsel to Meta Incorporated, who were listed as the third defendants.

Responding, counsel to the DSS and their Director General, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, lamented the tardiness of the Meta legal team. He blamed the Meta team for all the delays encountered in the course of the matter, and expressed a desire for speedy resolution of the matter.

Kehinde told the court that it was in the interest of justice that the matter be quickly dispensed with. He stated that he had fully prepared from the beginning. The senior lawyer begged the court to accord the matter accelerated hearing. He and Sowore’s counsel, however, didn’t object to the withdrawal and substitution of Meta’s application and counter affidavit.

Counsel to the DSS appealed to the court not to make a long adjournment.

At this point, Justice Umar, who noted that courts prioritize matters bordering of the rights of citizens, offered Sowore’s counsel the privilege to choose a date. The counsel proposed June 2, which the judge said wasn’t a close enough date.

Justice Umar held that, against the importance the matter, he, as the presiding judge, has the final say. He directed all the parties to return to his court on May 18.

The same court had on April 2, dismissed a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Sowore, against the DSS), its Director General, and Meta Platforms Incorporated (formerly Facebook).

Justice Umar resolved the three issues identified for determination against Sowore, declined to grant any of the reliefs sought, and dismissed Sowore’s suit for lacking in merit. He awarded N1.5 million cost against Sowore.

The Arewa Socio-Economic Forum (ASEF) has dismissed as false claims of a new vehicle tax allegedly introduced by the Federal Government, saying its independent findings show no such policy exists.

In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its National President, Dr Aminu Kuta, the Forum said its investigation into the widely circulated claims has cleared both the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and the Federal Ministry of Finance of any involvement in the purported tax.

The group said the viral message, which urged vehicle owners to pay unspecified levies through unofficial channels, was misleading and designed to create confusion among Nigerians.

“The Arewa Socio-economic Forum wishes to categorically state that there is no new tax on vehicles as being falsely circulated in some quarters. Our findings confirm that neither the Nigeria Revenue Service nor the Ministry of Finance has introduced any such policy,” the statement read.

Dr Kuta said the Forum undertook a careful review of available information and engaged relevant stakeholders before arriving at its conclusion, adding that the clarification was necessary to prevent public panic and misinformation.

He urged Nigerians to rely on verified government channels for policy updates, warning that fabricated messages and fake websites are increasingly being used to exploit citizens.

“We advise the public to disregard such misleading content and to always verify tax-related information through official platforms. Misinformation of this nature not only creates unnecessary anxiety but also undermines public trust in government institutions,” he said.

Beyond the clarification, the Forum called on citizens to remain vigilant and actively monitor the implementation of existing tax policies, particularly as the Federal Government continues to roll out fiscal reforms aimed at improving revenue generation and distribution.

Dr Kuta noted that recent reforms have begun to yield measurable benefits, especially at the subnational level, where increased Value Added Tax (VAT) allocations are providing much-needed financial support to states.

According to him, poorer states are already experiencing improved fiscal capacity as a result of these reforms, enabling them to meet basic obligations and invest in critical sectors.

“The ongoing tax reforms are beginning to show positive outcomes. We are seeing increased VAT inflows to states, and more importantly, a more equitable distribution that supports less economically advantaged states,” he said.

The Forum commended the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, for what it described as a “clear and reform-driven approach” to fiscal policy, particularly in advancing a system that promotes efficiency, transparency, and inclusiveness.

It also praised the Chairman of the NRS, Zacch Adedeji, for his role in strengthening tax administration and improving public communication on fiscal matters.

“We salute the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, and the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, for their commitment to building a tax system that works for the country. Their efforts are helping to restore confidence and improve revenue outcomes,” the statement added.

The Forum stressed that while reforms may take time to fully mature, consistent implementation and public cooperation remain critical to their success.

It reiterated the need for transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in sustaining progress within Nigeria’s fiscal framework.

“As stakeholders in national development, Nigerians must not only support reforms but also hold institutions accountable through informed engagement. This is how we build a system that is both fair and effective,” Dr Kuta said.

The Arewa Socio-economic Forum concluded by urging continued collaboration between government institutions and the public, noting that credible information and responsible civic participation are essential to strengthening trust and advancing economic stability.