The morning broke with my birthday along with two good news from the president as the greatest birthday gift.

The Nigeria economy has been suffering from bad “grading” and the country is suffering artificial security issues. But this morning cracks the shell around these good news;

For 14 years, the story of Nigeria’s economy on the international stage was trapped in a cycle of negative outlooks and stagnation. This week, that narrative officially cracked. The S&P global rating agency upgraded Nigeria’s economy from a B- to a stable B. This is not just a letter grade; it is a fundamental shift that signals macroeconomic stability, ignites investor confidence, and ensures more capital flow into Nigeria. It proves a hard truth about capitalism: the global world only respects you when your economy works.

As the dust settled on the economic upgrade, a beep on my phone was a tweet from Trump which is the second gift, a massive security victory broke from Washington and Abuja. In a joint partnership and collaboration between Nigerian troops and United States forces, the second-in-command of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was successfully neutralized.

This global terrorist had long compromised safety across borders. President Tinubu’s confirmation of this joint military triumph underscores a massive shift in how Nigeria is viewed globally. We are no longer just fighting asymmetric warfare in isolation; we are delivering precision results alongside global superpowers. This victory vindicates an earlier prediction I made during a recent interview at News Central: following the King Charles encounter, it is only a matter of time before President Donald Trump extends an official invitation to President Tinubu to visit the United States. The respect Nigeria is commanding on the global stage is returning rapidly.

Tinubu is a leader like no other, a journey back to some moths ago when President Trump designated Nigeria as a country of concern over insecurity and threatened Nigerian Government, this threat was turned to strategic partnership by the President which are now yielding massive results in Joint military action against terrorist in Nigeria by both countries. An event the opposition thought would break him or destroy his administration now turned to a global victory and celebration.

The good news has been back-to-back. President Tinubu was in Kenya the Rwanda when he filled Nigeria with pride and bragging right when he opened that Nigeria welcomed additional $20 billion foreign investment across various sectors.

When questioned recently about ongoing tax reforms, President Tinubu’s answer cut through bureaucratic noise: make tax simple, remove the bottlenecks, and speak an English that the common man understands.

The philosophy here isn’t to create a predatory system that forces citizens to pay out of fear. Instead, the administration is focusing on transparency, explaining why taxes are paid so that citizens become willing stakeholders in nation-building. This approach was tested during his tenure in Lagos, and its nationwide deployment is already yielding fruits.

The administration’s people-oriented policies are taking deeper root: The NELFUND (Nigerian Education Loan Fund) is providing concrete relief and academic security to students nationwide.

The developed world has historically looked down on Nigeria not because of simple societal issues, but because our economy was structurally broken. For too long, Nigeria borrowed money simply to pay salaries and fuel consumables.

Under Tinubu’s leadership, the paradigm has shifted toward strategic investment. When you borrow to fund infrastructure such as the power sector the expansion of the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos-Calaba Coastal highway, Sokoto-Badagry super highway and Kano-Kaduna-Ajaokuta Gas project, you shield the future economy from hyper-inflation. President Tinubu’s foundational approval of the land for Dangote Refinery project years ago laid the groundwork for Nigeria to become Africa’s largest exporter of fuel.

Much like his historic vision that tamed the Atlantic Ocean to create the Eko Atlantic City, President Tinubu’s policies are designed for long-term, high-impact results.

BAT-IG Launched Policy Enthusiasts Platform just days ago, this media initiative brings actual beneficiaries of NELFUND and the TVET forward to share their testimonies. True testimony is best heard directly from those whose lives have changed.

These grassroot representatives receive monthly stipends of N20,000 to ensure the message of economic reform reaches every corner of the populace.

As BAT-IG, we extend our deepest gratitude to the President for his courage, intellect, and steadfast vision. Nigeria is reclaiming its position on the global stage, proving that with the right structural reforms, African nations can thrive in a capitalist world.

The milestones of this week are a reminder of why we continue to support, analyze, and pray for the success of this administration. The trajectory is clear: Nigeria is working again.

Bamidele Atoyebi is the Convener of BAT Ideological Group, National Coordinator of Accountability and Policy Monitoring and a publisher at Unfiltered and Mining Reporting