By Raphael Atuu, Abuja

Efiko Management Consulting has unveiled a revamped version of its digital newspaper and knowledge platform, EPaperVendor, introducing enhanced features aimed at professionals, executives, and organizations seeking deeper business and strategic insights.

The upgraded platform comes with a redesigned and more interactive interface, simplified subscription and payment options, improved reader accessibility, and strengthened Digital Rights Management protections to better support newspaper publishers and content owners.

Speaking on the relaunch, Omagbitse Barrow said the development reflects the company’s commitment to supporting knowledge driven organizations and professionals in an increasingly fast-paced digital environment.

“In an age dominated by short-form content, snippets, and headlines, there is still tremendous value in deep reading and informed analysis,” Barrow said. “Newspapers remain one of the most important sources of context, business intelligence, and strategic insight for serious professionals and organizations.”

According to him, the platform currently supports executives and teams across several leading institutions, including Quest Merchant Bank, Oando, Ecobank, ARM, Geregu Power, Stanbic IBTC, Rand Merchant Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, AMCON and CSCS.

The platform hosts several Nigerian newspaper titles, including BusinessDay, New Telegraph, ThisDay, Blueprint Newspapers, Daily Asset, Leadership and Nigerian Tribune, with subscription packages tailored for individuals, corporate organizations, and enterprise library deployments.

Barrow also disclosed that the relaunch introduces a growing library of indigenous learning and business resources focused on leadership, strategy, and organizational effectiveness.

“These resources are designed to help bridge the gap between global management ideas and local realities,” he said.

Among the newly added resources are Quick Reads, which summarize bestselling management and leadership books into concise four-page insights contextualized for African professionals and organizations.

Other additions include business case studies, Executive Insights, Thought Leaders summaries, and working papers aimed at simplifying complex management and strategy concepts into practical knowledge tools.

Efiko noted that many of the additional learning resources are available free of charge, while prospective subscribers can access a seven-day free trial on the platform.

Barrow emphasized that the initiative is also intended to encourage a stronger reading culture among professionals and business leaders.

“There is a difference between consuming information and developing insight,” he said.

“Social media gives speed, but newspapers and deeper reading provide context, nuance, analysis, and perspective. For leaders making strategic decisions, that depth matters.”

He added that organizations that promote reading and knowledge-sharing among employees are often better positioned to adapt, innovate, and respond to changing market realities.

“As business environments become more complex, the ability to think critically and stay informed becomes a competitive advantage,” he added.

Efiko Management Consulting said the platform will continue to expand its content offerings and enterprise capabilities as part of its broader mission to support learning, strategic thinking, and organizational effectiveness across Africa and beyond.

Some residents of Dutse in Jigawa have decried the rising price of ram and other sacrificial animals for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

They said the trend would not allow them to sacrifice animals for the festivities.

A check at Dutse cattle market, showed that prices had shot up by over 300 per cent compared to the previous season.

A big size ram was sold at N500,000, and a well-bred bull sold for N1 million, as against its previous prices of N130,000 and N400,000, respectively.

Traders at the market attributed the price hike to the high cost of animal feeds.

Malam Musa Ayuba said animal rearing was no longer easy due to the rising cost of feed and medication.

“Aimal feed is extremely expensive resulting in soaring livestock prices,” he said.

Alhaji Abubakar Jamilu, a resident, lamented that most families could not afford to slaughter ram for the season due to exorbitant prices.

“Animals are costly for sacrifice now. Many people cannot afford it like before,” he said.

Corroborating an earlier opinion, Umar Abdu, described the trend as unbearable and challenging, adding that most families had resorted to alternative measures to cope with the situation.

Also, Nuhu Iliyasu said that he would contribute money with others to buy a cow and share the meat.

He said that contribution was the only option for the low income earners to enable them to slaughter animals for the season.

“I cannot afford to buy a ram. I joined a contribution group to buy a cow and share the meat,” he said.

On his part, Ishak Ibrahim, said that he would buy chickens to celebrate the season with his family in a good mood.

Stakeholders at the maiden Enterprise Security Risk Management Conference in Lagos have called for stronger collaboration, intelligence-driven systems and technology-based solutions to address Nigeria’s evolving security threats.

The conference, organised by the Association of Enterprise Risk Management Professionals (AERMP) on Saturday in Lagos, had the theme: “Repositioning Enterprise Security Risk Management in Evolving Global Threat Landscape”.

Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said the changing global security environment required a multi-stakeholder approach to safeguard investments, financial systems and critical infrastructure.

Hamzat, represented by Festus Todowede of the Lagos State Safety Commission, said cyber-attacks targeting financial systems, logistics chains and defence infrastructure had become increasingly sophisticated, making enterprise risk management a necessity.

He added that Lagos State had continued to strengthen its business and technology environment through investments in security and implementation of cybercrime and data protection laws.

Similarly, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, said modern security threats had become increasingly transnational and technology-driven.

Represented by Acting Comptroller, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, Bolaji Adigun, Adeniyi said criminal networks now exploited cyber platforms, artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency to advance illicit activities.

He stressed the need for Enterprise Security Risk Management to move from reactive enforcement to predictive, intelligence-led and technology-driven systems supported by stronger inter-agency collaboration and public-private partnerships.

The Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, called for stronger collaboration to tackle violent extremism, cybercrime and organised criminal networks.

Represented by Lagos Controller of Corrections, George Daramola, Nwakuche said the service was strengthening custodial security, intelligence gathering and technology-driven solutions to improve national security.

Former Ogun Governor, Gbenga Daniel said enterprise security risk management should move beyond IT departments to become a broader governance responsibility involving government, the private sector, academia and civil society.

Daniel, represented by Dr Babatunde Onadeko, in a keynote, warned that threats driven by artificial intelligence, cyber warfare and fragile supply chains posed systemic risks to economies and national security.

The Director General, AERMP, Olayinka Odutola, urged stakeholders to translate discussions into practical strategies to tackle insecurity.

Odutola said enterprise risk management provided a holistic framework for addressing strategic, operational, cyber and human related risks.

The Chairman of the occasion, Rtd Rear Admiral Bolanle Ati-John, said security risks such as terrorism, cybercrime, kidnapping and oil theft had become interconnected and required coordinated responses.

The Chief Information Security Officer at Quest Merchant Bank, Marjorie Alamogu, said enterprise security risk management must become a board-level priority rather than remain an IT function.

 “Security is now everybody’s business and must be addressed at enterprise level,” she said.

Another guest speaker, who is the Director, Halogen Security Risk Advisory and Consulting, Adewale Adeagbo, said security must move “from the gatehouse to the boardroom” to become a strategic concern for governments and organisations.

Other experts and panelists at the conference also called for stronger digital risk management frameworks and greater preparedness for the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence across sectors.

The event also featured induction of new risk experts into AERMP.