Author: Nouman Ali

Enchanted Concerts and WhatADeal Events will be held on December 13, 2025 in Lagos, the organisers have said.

A statement issued in Lagos by the founder and curator of the events, Funmi Oyatogun, said the twin events ‘ will present the Old Skool Christmas Edition: a grand orchestra celebration of Nigeria’s greatest old skool hits, live at the Lagos Oriental Hotel.

The statement read in part: ‘Performed by the renowned Varie Orchestra and with storytelling on stage by award-winning actors Oluchi Odii and Ralph Okoro, the second edition of the Enchanted Concerts series brings to life the timeless music of legends like Victor Olaiya, Oliver De Coque, Onyeka Onwenu, Victor Uwaifo, Bobby Benson, Boney M and so many more.’

It is Christmas the old Nigerian way where highlife meets fuji and afrobeats meet Christmas carols to fill the air with joy.

‘This show promises an evening of sparkle, storytelling, and unforgettable music. Tickets are now on sale here. This isn’t just a concert. It’s a cultural moment to honour the legacy of Nigerian music. Every year, people look for that one event that captures the soul of the season.

‘This is it. It’s a festive throwback to a Nigerian Christmas where you can dance, sing, laugh, and remember where it all began. Produced by TVP Events, the Old Skool Christmas edition brings together the sights, sounds, and styles that defined Nigerian celebrations of the past. Expect live music, elegant fashion, nostalgic decor, and the kind of atmosphere that only a Nigerian Christmas can offer. The show is for the entire family from grandparents to grandchildren and everyone in between.’

Mediacraft Associates, a leading integrated marketing communications and PR agency, has announced that Amina Omoike, Senior Manager and Group Head of Media Services, has been nominated for the prestigious 2025 Industry Changemakers Awards.

She is being recognised as one of The Industry Top 50 Women in 2025.

Selected from various fields including business, entrepreneurship, IMC, sustainability, finance, tourism, culture and governance; Amina was recognized for her exceptional leadership, dedication, passion and impact in the PR / Media industry.

John Ehiguese, CEO Mediacraft Associates, said, ‘We are thrilled to see Amina receive this well-deserved recognition of her strategic brilliance, hard work, and the profound impact she has made in shaping media services.

‘Amina is a quintessential media professional and a true asset to our organisation. Her commitment to excellence and creativity continues to inspire not only our team, but the wider communications community.

‘She embodies the values of excellence we hold dear at Mediacraft. We are incredibly proud of her and inspired by her journey,’ he added.

Commenting on the recognition, Amina said: ‘It is an honour to be included among such incredible women. This recognition is not just a personal milestone, but reflects the collective effort of the talented team at Mediacraft and our shared commitment to telling meaningful stories that make a difference.’

The distinguished Industry Changemakers Awards, powered by The Industry Women Conference (TinW), celebrates and amplifies the achievements of exceptional women who are driving progress and making a difference across the Public Relations field, among other Nigerian business landscapes.

According to the convener, Goddie Ofose, the Top 50 list was compiled by the editorial team of the newspaper, as well as select brand marketing editors.

Amina’s nomination places her among an elite group of 49 other reputable women leaders transforming fields including business, entrepreneurship, integrated marketing communications, sustainability, finance, culture, tourism, and governance.

Amina joined Mediacraft in 2018 and has since managed media relations for the agency’s high-profile clients including Stanbic IBTC, Interswitch, Verve, Quickteller, Olam Agri, Crown Flour Mills, RusselSmith, ICAEW, Truecaller, African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ALSM), US Soy Export Council (USSEC), Flourish, Pfizer, and Sanofi.

Before joining Mediacraft, Amina was renowned for her expertise in brand, marketing and lifestyle reporting. She also received multiple awards in journalism.

Liverpool’s season of abject misery worsened as they were beaten with embarrassing ease by a hugely impressive Nottingham Forest at Anfield.

Arne Slot’s Premier League champions were looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Manchester City, but instead ran into a Forest side revitalised under new manager Sean Dyche and looking back to their best.

Liverpool head coach Slot gave £125m British record signing Alexander Isak a start, but he was totally anonymous once more and only lasted 67 minutes.

Forest went ahead after 33 minutes when defender Murillo shot powerfully past fit-again Liverpool keeper Alisson to subdue an already anxious Anfield.

Anyone who thinks December in Nigeria is just about jollof rice, suya, and recycled holiday greetings hasn’t been paying attention. Every year, Nigerians quietly transform the last month of the year into something extraordinary. This phenomenon is known as Detty December.

For decades, Nigeria’s global image was shaped by negative headlines, but Afrobeats, Nollywood, and social media have rewritten the narrative. Nigerians are showing the world that we know how to celebrate, create, and innovate at a world-class level. Detty December is no longer just a holiday season. It is a cultural and economic powerhouse, capable of putting Nigeria on the global stage.

I attended the Lagos Detty December party hosted by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. I brought along friends from abroad, who had never experienced Nigeria like this. One of them looked around at the lights, music, and vibrant crowds and asked how an entire city could be in celebration mode every single night. In their country, December is quiet. In Lagos, it is alive.

One unforgettable moment was at a beach house in Ilashe. A group of Canadian tourists joined us on a boat ride. When we arrived, one of them froze, staring at the ocean, palm trees, and poolside music. She later posted a video calling it the best day of her year. That one afternoon completely reshaped her perception of Nigeria.

Another highlight came from a lively street scene. Suya vendors and night market stalls were thriving. One vendor told me that his ten days of sales in December made more than he earns in two months. At a Victoria Island wedding, guests who flew in from the UK ended up spending more on the after-party than on their flights. Tourists dancing to Kese in packed clubs shared clips online that went viral almost immediately.

Real-life example of Detty December’s economic power:

A friend of mine in Ikoyi decided to turn his apartment into a short-let while traveling home to Omu-Aran in Kwara State for the holidays. By the end of December, after taxes, he had earned over 15 million naira. This is a clear example of how ordinary Nigerians are turning Detty December into a financial opportunity.

The economic impact is tangible. Lagos alone generated tens of billions of naira last year from concerts, short-let apartments, nightclubs, and events. Investors are taking notice, but the full potential is untapped. With strategic support, Detty December could easily become a $1 billion national festival, creating jobs, boosting tourism, and improving Nigeria’s global image.

Here is how the Presidency could unlock this potential:

1. Official recognition and national branding. Elevate Detty December as a cultural festival with global marketing to attract diaspora and international tourists.

2. Tourism incentives and infrastructure support. Tax breaks for hotels and short-lets, improved roads, and better airport handling would make December a seamless experience.

3. Support for Nigerian creativity. From music to fashion, supporting Afrobeat concerts, street carnivals, and fashion shows increases spending and international partnerships.

4. Expansion beyond Lagos. Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and other cities can replicate the Lagos model to scale the economic impact nationwide.

Every December, tourists arrive expecting only Lagos Island but discover a country alive with joy, fashion, food, and culture. Social media amplifies this energy globally. Videos of street performances, dance challenges, and food experiences show the world Nigeria at its best.

The people have done the heavy lifting. They created the energy, the excitement, and the international attention. All that is missing is strategic presidential support: recognition, infrastructure, promotion, and incentives. By doing this, Nigeria can turn a popular cultural celebration into a $1 billion economic and branding success story.

Detty December is loud, colorful, and joyous, but it is also proof of Nigeria’s creative power, economic potential, and global relevance. From Victoria Island to Ajah, from street corners to beach houses, the festival demonstrates what Nigerians can achieve when culture, creativity, and ambition come together.

The world is watching. This time, they are impressed. The Presidency has an opportunity to take notice and take Nigeria to the next level.

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has dismissed as ‘false and ridiculous’ the claim by ex-governor Nasir El-Rufai that the Kaduna state government under Governor Uba Sani paid N1 billion to bandits.

In a strongly worded statement made available to journalists on Sunday, Senator Sani said the allegation attributed to the former governor lacked credibility and amounted to a ‘politically motivated falsehood.’

Sani, in the statement personally signed by him, accused El-Rufai of institutionalising what he described as a ‘culture of appeasement to terrorists’ during his eight-year tenure.

He recalled that the former governor once admitted to engaging in ‘conditional cash transfers’ to bandits, a revelation that, according to him, led to the arrest of journalist Luka Biniyat at the time.

The former lawmaker said Kaduna State witnessed some of its worst security tragedies under El-Rufai, citing the Kaduna-Abuja train attack, the Greenfield University abductions, and the kidnapping and killing of students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Bethel Baptist High School, and several other institutions.

‘Under his watch, bandits and terrorists operated freely like lords and kings,’ Sani said, adding that vast areas of Southern and Central Kaduna became ‘slaughterhouses where criminals operated unchallenged.’ He noted that even the Kaduna airport had to be temporarily shut down due to rising insecurity.

Sani also referenced El-Rufai’s withdrawal of his own son from a public school over safety concerns, saying the action contradicted the former governor’s current posture on security.

Challenging El-Rufai to provide proof of his allegations against the current administration, the former senator stated: ‘If he has images or videos showing cash being handed to bandits, he should make them public.’

Sani further alleged that El-Rufai’s outburst was fueled by ‘envy’ over what he described as Governor Uba Sani’s success in fostering unity between Southern Kaduna’s largely Christian communities and the Muslim-majority Northern Kaduna.

He accused the former governor of presiding over an era marked by ‘religious and ethnic discrimination, division, persecution, torment and terror.’

While acknowledging that Kaduna, like many northern states, still faces security challenges, Sani maintained that Governor Uba Sani has made notable progress in ‘building bridges across religious divides and dismantling the structures of banditry allegedly inherited from his predecessor.’

‘No sensible or responsible person conscious of history will give credence to the stream of lies that have become habitual in the life of a man in his mid-60s,’ he added.

Suspected thugs on Friday attacked fuji music star Abass Akande, popularly known as Obesere, during a burial ceremony in Okitipupa Local Government Area, Ondo State.

The incident occurred at the Government Field, Okitipupa, where the musician and his band were billed to entertain guests, who came for the burial.

A witness at the event, Mrs Bosede Akinyemi, who confirmed the incident yesterday, told The Nation that the thugs stormed the venue unexpectedly and unleashed violence, causing guests to scamper into safety.

‘I was at the party yesterday (Friday). It was a very shameful scene as a group of boys known for violent acts in the community fomented trouble. They attacked Obesere and his band while they were entertaining guests,’ she said.

Akinyemi added that some members of the band were assaulted while the hoodlums vandalised musical equipment worth millions of naira.

‘They pounced on some of Obesere’s boys and destroyed his equipment.

‘You needed to see how I grabbed my shoes and ran.

‘I heard that one of the band members was stabbed while trying to repel the attack,’ she added.

The music star could not be reached for comments at press time yesterday.

The Chairman of Okitipupa LGA, Hon. Andrew Ogunsakin, who confirmed the attack, described it as ‘unfortunate and unacceptable.’

He condemned hooliganism, insisting that such behaviour does not reflect the values of Ikale people.

‘I received the news of the unfortunate mistreatment meted out to Abass Akande Obesere and his team with deep disappointment and utmost distaste.

‘This incident is unacceptable and does not reflect the values we uphold as a people,’ he said.

He said his administration will not tolerate actions that undermine the collective harmony and reputation of the community, assuring that measures would be taken to forestall a reoccurrence.

‘I want to assure the public that necessary steps will be taken to address this matter and prevent future occurrences, whether toward artists, celebrities, entertainers or any individual visiting or residing in our local government.

‘I will be personally reaching out to Obesere and his team to convey our regrets.

‘We are looking into the matter thoroughly to ensure such an incident does not repeat itself,’ he added.

The 6 Brigade Nigerian Army, operating under Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), has apprehended notorious kidnapper Umar Geyi at Jandei-Kulamu in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba state.

Geyi was apprehended on November 22, following credible intelligence, spokesperson of 6 Brigade, Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, stated in a statement on Sunday.

The suspect was reportedly on the wanted list of security agencies and is believed to be a key member of a kidnapping syndicate that has terrorized several communities within the area.

According to the state statement, preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect is linked to the kidnapping of one Alhaji Jano, a Fulani resident of Jandei-Kulala on November 13.

‘Geyi was arrested after troops intercepted him during a phone conversation in which he confirmed the victim was still being held and demanded a ransom of ?20 million for his release,’ the statement said.

The statement stated that the suspect is in custody, undergoing further interrogation to determine the victim’s location and facilitate his safe rescue.

Norrenberger Pensions Limited has announced a financial performance for the 2024 financial year.

It has expanded its Retirement Savings Account (RSA) client base to 164,619 and recorded a 31 per cent rise in total income, which reached N2.51 billion.

The company said the results underscore its resilience and sustained market growth despite Nigeria’s challenging macroeconomic conditions.

Speaking at the company’s 13th Annual General Meeting, Chairman of the Board, Ibrahim Aliyu Bala, said 2024 was shaped by global inflationary pressures, tight monetary conditions and geopolitical uncertainties, while Nigeria continued to adjust to fuel subsidy removal and ongoing foreign exchange reforms.

He said Norrenberger Pensions closed the year with an 18.54 per cent increase in Assets Under Management (AUM).

Bala added that the company’s rebranded Personal Pension Plan (PPP) would be a major growth driver going forward, particularly in expanding pension penetration in the informal sector.

Managing Director/CEO of Norrenberger Pensions, Mrs. Bolanle Onotu, described the 2024 financial year as one that tested the company’s resilience, citing inflationary pressures, currency volatility and rising operating costs.

Operating expenses grew by only 6 per cent-from N1.67 billion to N1.77 billion-due to deliberate cost-optimisation measures. This efficiency supported a sharp rise in profitability, with Profit Before Tax (PBT) surging by 209 per cent to N741million, from N240million recorded in 2023.

In his remarks, the Managing Director/CEO of Norrenberger Financial Group, Tony Edeh, expressed appreciation to the company’s regulators and auditors for what he described as invaluable collaboration and oversight.

The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) says its partnership with the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI) under the Nigeria Ginger Sustainability Programme (2021-2025) is boosting Nigeria’s global competitiveness as a source of high-quality, sustainably produced ginger.

NEPC Executive Director/CEO, Nonye Ayeni, made this known in Abuja during a visit by the CBI buyers’ mission, noting that the initiative equips exporters with the skills, tools, and international exposure needed to thrive in the global market.

Ayeni explained that 17 ginger companies and 10 Export Support Officers (ESOs) were selected at the start of the programme, with 14 companies and seven ESOs remaining actively involved. The ESOs, who are NEPC staff members, have served as product specialists, guiding companies through training, compliance procedures, and market-readiness activities.

She noted that in the last four years, participating companies and ESOs have undergone intensive training within the CBI curriculum and joined trade missions to Europe, which successfully linked Nigerian ginger exporters to European Union buyers. All beneficiary companies have also developed company-specific Sectoral Export Marketing Plans (SEMPs), confirming their readiness for sustained international engagement.

Ayeni disclosed that CBI and several European spice companies had visited ginger firms in Lagos and Kano as part of a buyers’ mission, leading to a final buyer-seller meeting in Abuja to facilitate networking, deal-making, and increased exports to the Netherlands and other EU countries.

She welcomed five importing companies from Europe-Jayanti Spices, Verstegen Spices and Sauces, Mintas Specialty Foods, Nedspice, and Martin Baur-who are in Nigeria to deepen their understanding of the ginger value chain and explore sourcing and commercial partnerships.

‘For Nigerian exporters, this is an invaluable opportunity to showcase capacity and quality. For visiting buyers, Nigeria offers a vibrant supply base and a sector on the brink of transformation driven by sustainability, improved practices, and strengthened compliance,’ Ayeni said.

She added that as the programme enters its concluding phase, the mission reaffirms the potential of Nigeria’s ginger sector to become a global model for sustainable production, structured value-chain development, and mutually beneficial international trade.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has celebrated the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, describing his leadership as an inspiration to Nigerians as the revered monarch marks his 80th birthday and 35th coronation anniversary.

President Tinubu spoke on Sunday at the celebration of the dual milestones of Oba Adejugbe’s 80th birthday and the 35th anniversary of his coronation, in Ado-Ekiti.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the celebration, President Tinubu said the twin milestones were a moment of pride not only for Ado-Ekiti and Ekiti State, but for the entire nation, which holds the monarch in deep respect for his wisdom, dignity, and service.

According to a statement issued by special adviser to the SGF on media and publicity, Yomi Odunuga, the President noted that the Ewi stool, one of the oldest and most respected traditional thrones in Yorubaland, embodies centuries of guardianship, order, and cultural continuity.

He added that Oba Adejugbe has upheld and elevated these values with ‘uncommon grace and distinction’ throughout his 35 years on the throne.

‘For more than three decades, Oba Adejugbe has embodied these sacred responsibilities with distinction. Under his reign, Ado-Ekiti has witnessed sociocultural renewal, strengthened communal harmony, and closer engagement with government institutions,’ the President said.

Tinubu lauded the monarch’s advocacy for education, youth empowerment, peace-building, and the preservation of Ekiti’s moral and cultural heritage, noting that these qualities had earned him admiration far beyond the state.

Describing the 80th birthday as ‘a remarkable milestone’ marked by memories of service and dignity, President Tinubu said it offered a moment to honour a royal father whose influence had strengthened national unity and enriched Nigeria’s cultural fabric.

‘His Imperial Majesty has not only preserved the prestige of the Ewi stool, he has elevated it, demonstrating the highest ideals of integrity, humility, courage, and patriotic commitment,’ he said.

Ahead of the grand finale of celebrations on November 23, 2025, the President, through the SGF, prayed for God to grant the monarch renewed strength and long life.

He reaffirmed the federal government’s deep respect for the Ewi’s contributions to peace, unity, and national development.

Senator Akume also extended congratulations to the royal family, the Ado-Ekiti Traditional Council, and the people of Ekiti, describing Oba Adejugbe as a monarch whose life ‘continues to illuminate the path of justice, wisdom, and communal progress.’

‘We celebrate not just the age of 80, but a reign that has deepened the cultural dignity of Ekiti and captured the admiration of a grateful nation,’ he said.