Author: Nouman Ali

The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) Wealthy Place Church Iyanaipaja Lagos has intensified efforts to equip children and young people with the character, leadership skills and values needed to make meaningful contributions to society.

Speaking at the church’s annual programme with the theme: ‘Talents for the Master’s Use’ the pastor in charge of the church Rev. Rotimi Adekunle Olukorede said the church places strong emphasis on character, integrity, honesty and leadership as part of its mission to prepare the next generation.

Olukorede explained that the programme was designed to go beyond spiritual instruction by helping young people develop healthy relationships, leadership abilities and strong moral values

According to him, the initiative has been running for several years, with children brought together from different TREM branches and other churches to participate in Bible studies, character-building sessions, leadership training, music, dance, recitation and other activities.

He said the programmes also encourages children to learn tolerance, relationship, forgiveness and teamwork while developing the ability to relate positively with others.

‘We bring them together, and then we try to ensure that they are able to relate with each other, have tolerance for each other and forgive each other,’ he said.

Beyond the annual programmes, Olukorede noted TREM had over the years supported children in its community by helping them pursue further education.

He therefore urged parents to complement the efforts of the church by becoming positive role models for their children.

‘Children learn more from our actions than even from what we say,’ he said, advising parents to demonstrate prayerfulness, honesty, integrity, hard work and responsible living.

Prizes, medals, awards, and trophies were presented to first runner up, second runner up, third runner up, to encourage them.

The Leader of the Women and Children Department and one of the coordinators of the Programme Mrs. Ayodeji Olukorede charged the children to be bold, take control, showcase their talent and not be ashamed of what God has placed in them.

‘This programme is a way of engaging their minds, taking them away from bad influence. Of course, we know we are in a technology-driven society but we are not taking them away from the technology but to bring out the best in them.

‘The talent impacts the society greatly, because developing, bringing them out and showcasing them, not only help to bless the church, but also, wherever they find themselves, are useful to the society. A child that can play the violin, can not only play in the church, but can also play in school, can also play at concerts,’ Olukorede said.

Churches that participated in the programme were TREM Wealthy Place, TREM branches from Ishuti, Oko oba, Ejigbo, Iju, Ambassador Mega Zone, Igando, Ikotun, RCCG Great Expectation, RCCG Ark of God, Christ Gospel Church of Praise,

Go Ye Pentecostal Mission International and Hour of Touch Bible Ministry.

The event featured Bible recitation, dance competition, Bible quiz, music competition,

Bible Sword, among other. TREM Wealthy Place emerged winner in most of the competitions with RCCG Ambassador Mega Zone as first position for Bible Sword competition.

If there is one thing Big Brother Naija has mastered over the years, it is the element of surprise. Just when housemates think they have figured out how to navigate the house, Biggie completely shifts the dynamic.

Three weeks into the Show Ya Sef season, the show is proving once again why it remains a massive cultural staple. Rather than relying solely on housemate drama, the franchise keeps finding fresh ways to evolve its own rules, keeping both the contestants and millions of viewers on their toes.

High stakes, new dynamics

Take The Gambit, one of the most talked-about twists this season. By giving Flora and Aikou permanent immunity all the way to the grand finale, the show handed them a major safety net. The catch? They are completely excluded from winning the grand prize money.

They get to stay till the end, but they cannot take home the cash.

That single move changes the social dynamic of the house. How do you form alliances or build trust with housemates who do not have to worry about eviction, but also have no financial skin in the game? It forces everyone to play a completely different kind of strategic game.

Putting a price on performance

Then there is the shift in how weekly accountability works. The N100 million prize money is no longer a guaranteed static figure. Instead, it is directly tied to how well the house performs each week, with N5 million deducted for every failed weekly performance.

This changes the energy during presentations and tasks. Laziness or a lack of effort is no longer just a personal risk for eviction; it directly reduces the final cash prize that everyone is fighting for. When every misstep costs real money, weekly tasks naturally carry a whole new level of focus, teamwork, and prime-time intensity.

Staying ahead of the curve

This constant shift in rules is exactly why the show continues to drive daily conversations across social media. Viewers are not just passively watching people interact; they are actively deciphering the rules and predicting how these twists will play out in real time.

Over eleven seasons, we have seen fake evictions, secret pairings, double houses, and dynamic voting formats. The details always change, but the core strategy remains the same: disrupt the game before it becomes predictable, and give the audience something genuinely exciting to discuss every day.

All too often, girls who have their normal education disrupted as a result of pervasive poverty that forces them to drop out of school, early marriages and unanticipated pregnancies, communal displacements due to crises or violent attacks on schools, particularly in the North, have their educational pathways blocked for life and their potentials irreversibly trapped and aborted.

The commissioning of the rehabilitated Alternative High School for Girls, Agboju, Lagos State, by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) is a commendable demonstration of a commitment to giving this category of girls who had dropped out of school another opportunity to resume learning, be equipped with new skills and have brighter chances of achieving success.

According to the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, the institution was rehabilitated through the UBEC Direct Intervention Programme and, apart from the provision of physical infrastructure, is designed to restore hope and create opportunities for girls and young women desirous of re-connecting with education.

The rehabilitated school is equipped with two blocks accommodating over 26 classrooms, laboratories for agriculture, physics and biology, a library and information and communication centre.To fulfill its unique purpose of enabling students to complete their secondary school education while also learning vocational skills to prepare them for careers and make them self-reliant, the school also has vocational workshops for cosmetology, garment-making, hair dressing, catering, and home economics.

UBEC is also to provide the school with a school bus and digital smart boards before the end of 2026.This is surely the right way to ensure Dr Garba’s affirmation that ‘A girl whose circumstances prevented her from completing her education should be given another opportunity. Every child deserves an alternative pathway to acquire the education needed to succeed in life’.

Girls with better education will certainly be able to more effectively utilise whatever intervention funds are made available to them to set up small businesses.

We join the UBEC executive secretary in commending the consistent support of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for the education of young women, even long before she attained her present status.Apart from providing these facilities, it is equally important that no effort be spared to reach girls in this category and rekindling their hopes in the possibility of continuing their education so that they can utilise the opportunity.

UBEC has announced that work on another such alternative high school is ongoing in Ikorodu, also in Lagos.Earlier, a similar institution for girls with disrupted education had been established in Bauchi State.

These efforts only scratch the surface of what is a very serious challenge and need to be considerably expanded and the rate of implementation accelerated across the country through closer collaboration between UBEC and state governments.It is estimated that there are approximately 7.6 million out-of- school girls in Nigeria.

Girls are particularly vulnerable to having their education disrupted due to such cultural practices as early marriages and pregnancies in many communities, especially in the North.

There is also the tendency in rural communities to prioritise the education of the male child to the neglect of girls who may be able to have an opportunity later in life only through initiatives like this.

However, boys can also be the victims of debilitating poverty, destabilising conflicts that displace communities or entanglement in vices like drug addiction or cult activities that disrupt their education.

They also deserve to be reached out to, redeemed from hopelessness and offered opportunities to receive an education and empowered to become productive members of society.

The Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu’s investment in Seplat Energy Plc has crossed the $1 billion mark in market value, less than eight months after his investment vehicle, Heirs Holdings, acquired a 20.07 percent stake in the Nigerian energy company for approximately $500 million.

The sharp appreciation in the value of the holding follows a strong rally in Seplat’s shares on both the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) and London Stock Exchange (LSE), which has lifted the company’s market capitalisation to about $5.24 billion.

Heirs Holdings acquired 120.4 million Seplat shares from French energy company Maurel and Prom in December 2025, becoming the company’s largest shareholder.

Based on Seplat’s referenced share prices of N11,200.60 on the NGX and £6.47 on the LSE, the 120.4 million-share holding is now valued at approximately $1 billion, more than twice the original investment.

The gain underscores the scale of Seplat’s market rerating since the transaction and represents one of the more notable appreciation stories among major Nigerian-listed companies in 2026.

Seplat entered 2026 at N5,809 per share but quickly began a sustained rally after the Heirs Holdings transaction.

Within the first trading week of the year, the stock gained 6.2 per cent and reached a new 52-week high.

By March, the share price had moved above N9,000, before crossing the N10,000 threshold in April.

Seplat became the first stock listed on the Nigerian Exchange to trade above N10,000 per share, closing at N10,450 on April 14 and recording a year-to-date gain of almost 80 percent at the time.

The stock has since moved above N11,000, putting its 2026 gain at more than 90 percent from its year-end 2025 level.

For Heirs Holdings, the sustained appreciation has effectively transformed the $500 million acquisition into a holding worth about $1 billion at the referenced market prices.

The rise in Seplat’s share price has coincided with a significant expansion in the company’s underlying business following its acquisition of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU).

The transaction transformed Seplat’s production scale and significantly expanded its offshore portfolio.

The impact was evident in the company’s 2025 financial performance, its first full year reflecting the enlarged asset base.

Revenue increased 144 percent to $2.73 billion, while adjusted EBITDA rose 137 percent to $1.28 billion.

Operating cash flow increased 276 percent to $1.17 billion, while net debt declined 25 percent to $673.3 million.

Seplat also increased its total dividend for 2025 by 52 percent to 25 cents per share.

The company’s 2026 performance has further strengthened the case for the market’s rerating.

In the first half of 2026, Seplat generated N2.50 trillion in revenue, while profit before tax rose 74 percent to N790.4 billion.

Profit after tax increased sharply from N42.5 billion in the corresponding period of 2025 to N225.5 billion.

The company also continued to strengthen its balance sheet.

Interest-bearing borrowings declined from about N1.44 trillion at the end of 2025 to N1.11 trillion by June, while cash increased to N598.3 billion.

The combination of higher earnings, stronger cash generation and lower leverage has provided additional support for the market’s more bullish assessment of the company.

Seplat’s enlarged asset portfolio has also translated into higher production.

Average working-interest production reached 139,509 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) in the first half of 2026, compared with 134,492 boepd a year earlier.

Offshore assets accounted for more than half of total production, while natural gas liquids production more than doubled to 8,459 barrels per day.

The change represents a significant shift in the company’s production profile.

In 2025, average production had already risen to 131,506 boepd from 52,947 boepd in 2024 following the first full year of offshore consolidation after the MPNU acquisition.

The enlarged production base has therefore given Seplat greater diversification across assets and revenue streams than it had before the transaction.

Elumelu’s increasing involvement in Seplat adds another dimension to the investment.

After joining the company’s board in January 2026, he is expected to become chairman from January 1, 2027.

That would place Seplat’s largest shareholder in a more direct leadership position as the company seeks to consolidate the gains from the MPNU acquisition and pursue further growth.

The development also deepens Elumelu’s involvement in the Nigerian energy industry, alongside his interests across banking, power and other sectors through his investment holdings.

However, the sustained value of the Heirs Holdings investment will ultimately depend on Seplat’s ability to maintain production growth, manage costs, generate cash and translate its enlarged asset base into sustainable shareholder returns.

For now, the movement from an approximately $500 million investment to a stake worth around $1 billion highlights the scale of the market’s reassessment of Seplat since the MPNU acquisition.

More importantly, the company’s stronger earnings, higher production and improving balance sheet suggest that the share-price rerating is increasingly being supported by improvements in the underlying business rather than market sentiment alone.

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the domestic steel industry after executing a major sub-lease and operations pact to unlock over $1.3 billion in private-sector investment for the full revival of the dormant Delta Steel Company.

The agreement, signed between the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO), Itakpe, and Premium Steel and Mines Limited (PSML), marks a decisive step towards reactivating the Ovwian-Aladja steel complex in Delta State.

Under the operational framework, the Federal Government is resolving longstanding raw-material supply bottlenecks by guaranteeing sustainable iron-ore access from NIOMCO to power the steel plant’s operations.

The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, emphasised that the resuscitation forms a core pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at accelerating local manufacturing, driving import substitution, and creating high-value jobs.

‘The revival of Delta Steel Company is not merely about bringing an old industrial facility back to life,’ Minister Audu stated. ‘It is about restoring Nigeria’s capacity to produce steel locally, creating opportunities for our young people, supporting downstream industries, and strengthening the foundation for sustainable industrialisation.’

Commissioned in 1982 as an integrated greenfield complex with a capacity to produce one million metric tonnes of liquid steel annually, the Delta Steel Plant suffered years of operational decay-peaking at just 25 per cent capacity before shutting down entirely.

Efforts to privatise the asset in 2005 were stalled by financial distress, leading to its acquisition by PSML via the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in 2015. The facility has remained inactive as a fully integrated plant ever since.

Under the newly executed agreement, PSML has committed to injecting over $1.3 billion into raw-material exploration, site rehabilitation, and modernising the production lines. Commercial operations are targeted to resume within 18 to 24 months, returning the complex to its full capacity of 1 million tonnes of liquid steel per annum.

The Ministry outlined key economic deliverables expected from the deal, including a capital injection of over $1.3 billion in direct foreign/private investment into Nigeria’s real sector, creating about 5,000 direct jobs and over 20,000 indirect jobs across logistics and fabrication chains.

The deal is expected to ensure immediate upstream commercial reactivation of NIOMCO and the expansion of the Ajabanoko iron-ore deposits, target a push of 10 million tonnes of annual liquid-steel capacity by 2030, and increase freight transport along the Central Rail Line and the full deployment of the DSC Jetty for maritime logistics.

The Minister noted that the government will closely monitor progress to ensure the firm adheres strictly to the 18 to 24-month timeline.

‘The Federal Government is committed to working with responsible private-sector investors to unlock the enormous potential of Nigeria’s steel sector, while ensuring that investments are supported by the necessary raw materials, infrastructure, policy coordination, and an enabling business environment,’ Audu added.

The Ministry of Steel Development commended the strategic collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in finalising the agreement, reiterating that actualising local steel production remains central to positioning Nigeria as an industrial hub across Africa.

The Benue State House of Assembly on Thursday recommended the suspension of the Chairman, Kwande Local Government (LGA), Mr Vitalis Neji, for three months over allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office.

The recommendation followed consideration of the report of an ad hoc committee constituted by the house to investigate the allegations against the council chairman.

Presenting the report during the plenary, the Majority Leader and Chairman of the committee, Mr Peter Ipusu, said that Neji appeared before the committee but was unable to satisfactorily defend himself against the allegations levelled against him.

Following the presentation and debate on the report, members unanimously called on the Speaker, Mr Alfred Emberga, to rule on the committee’s recommendation.

Ruling on the matter, Emberga announced the suspension of Neji for three months to allow for further investigation into the allegations against him.

He said that the suspension took effect immediately pending the outcome of the investigation. (NAN)

The Authentic Nigeria Football and Allied Sports Supporters Club (ANFASSC) has written to President Bola Tinubu, appealing for a structured dialogue involving the Presidency, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to address what it describes as a sustained decline in Nigerian football.

In the letter, copied to Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko, ANFASSC – recognised by the Confederation of African Football and endorsed by FIFA – stressed it was not seeking government interference in the NFF’s statutory independence under FIFA and CAF rules, but a partnership-based engagement to chart ‘a new, progressive course’ for the sport.

The club’s request is threefold: a transparent dialogue between the Presidency, the NSC, the NFF and recognised stakeholders; a shared push to build a ‘modern, well-governed and competitive football ecosystem’; and a timeframe from the President’s office for when such engagement could begin.

ANFASSC’s appeal traces Nigerian football’s slide from the peak of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA U-17 World Cup double under the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF, which took office in October 2014, through to the current administration of Ibrahim Musa Gusau, in office since October 2022.

The Super Eagles missed the 2015 and 2017 AFCON tournaments, and the decline has deepened since. Nigeria’s U-23 side missed both the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, while the CHAN Eagles missed the 2022 edition of their tournament. The Flying Eagles were eliminated from 2027 U-20 AFCON qualification after a 4-1 defeat to Burkina Faso in August, and Nigeria’s U-17 side failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations and, in turn, the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Most significantly, the Super Eagles were eliminated by DR Congo on penalties in the November 2025 African play-off final, missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after losing their play-off to South Africa.

ANFASSC noted this marks the first time both the Super Eagles and Super Falcons will be absent from their respective World Cups in the same cycle.

‘ANFASSC does not raise these concerns to assign blame but to responsibly highlight a pattern that calls for thoughtful, forward-looking intervention,’ the letter states.

The club said it envisions the requested engagement leading to renewed investment in grassroots and age-grade development, stronger coaching structures, improved player and official welfare, and a more transparent governance framework, and offered itself as a ‘constructive partner’ in the process.

Actors from the Yoruba film industry held a special prayer session for veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, as he continues to battle health challenges.

In a video circulating on social media on Friday, several prominent Yoruba film stars gathered to pray for Allah’s mercy, divine intervention, strength and complete healing for the actor.

Those present included Jide Kosoko, Fausat Balogun (aka Madam Saje), Yinka Quadri, Rotimi Salami, Mr Latin, Adewale Elesho and Antar Laniyan.

The prayer session comes amid growing concern over Ogogo’s health.

His family and colleagues have urged Nigerians to keep praying for him.

Earlier this week, Kosoko appealed to fans and well-wishers to continue praying for Ogogo.

In a statement on his Instagram page on Wednesday, he also explained why the actor could not be moved to another facility despite offers of spiritual and medical help, citing his current medical condition.

The appeal followed an emotional request from Ogogo’s daughters, who sought medical assistance for their father amid reports that he is battling stage-four cancer.

The veteran’s condition has triggered an outpouring of support from across the Nigerian entertainment industry, with colleagues asking the public to keep him in their prayers.

The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has announced N7,882,822.00 as the final fare for intending pilgrims wishing to perform the 2027 Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This is lower than the N7.9 million charged last year.

The Board Secretary, AbdulHakeem Ajomagberin, attributed the reduction in the 2027 fare, compared with 2026, to the efforts of Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

‘The credit for this reduction goes to the NAHCON Chairman, who, since assuming office, has pledged to work towards reducing the Hajj fare and making the exercise seamless for Nigerian pilgrims,’ Ajomagberin said.

He urged intending pilgrims to pay the Hajj fare on or before September 26, 2026, the deadline set by NAHCON.

According to him, early payment will enable the Board to secure travel documents within the timeframe stipulated by Saudi authorities.

Ajomagberin reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to the welfare of pilgrims throughout their stay in the Holy Land.

He said the government will continue to provide standard accommodation, regular daily meals featuring local delicacies, comfortable local transportation, and organised Ziyarah to historical sites in Makkah and Madinah.

He added that the State Government will also ensure adequate medical care, payment of Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), and support for the slaughtering of Hadayah rams, among other benefits.

The Federal Government has assured that work will soon resume in earnest on the Bida-Lapai-Lambata Road project in Niger State to address the road’s deplorable condition, save lives and property, and tackle the lingering insecurity along the corridor.

The assurance was given during a meeting between the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and a delegation of stakeholders under the aegis of the Coalition of Niger South Development Associations, led by the member representing the Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency of Niger State, Hon. Sa’idu Musa Abdullahi, during a courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja.

The lawmaker reiterated the need for the Federal Government to complete the project, citing its socio-economic importance and the need to address the security challenges affecting communities along the axis.

In his address, the Chairman of Bida Forum, Mallam Muhammad Jameel Muhammad, who spoke on behalf of the coalition, said they had come to appeal for the Minister’s urgent intervention to address the challenges residents had faced on the road for decades.

He said, ‘The first one, sir, is now because of the way the road is. In fact, very close along the stretch, articulated and heavy trucks, so we’re requesting the first one is emergency remedial work on the bad spots, but at least the road will be passable.

‘The second is… all that we want in the next two months: let’s begin to see something on the ground, mobilisation to the site, let the contractors.

‘And the third is that we want to have a monitoring team, community representation. At least, we will be able to interface with the team. We are not saying we are going to interfere with the technical, but we will support that in terms of community relations. What do they need, and what can we do to speed things up?

‘And lastly… it’s important to us. People have said it; we have seen it in the past: that road has been a political campaign tool. So this time around, it shouldn’t be about political approval. We want the job done.

‘We have had governments that have come to do the same. We have even mentioned some. Some will even say that they are doing groundbreaking, but afterwards nothing happened.

‘Honourable Excellency, this is our request, and we will be so much happier, and we’ll be able to calm the frustration of people back home. People will go back today with a certain level of commitment, not promises. Promise and action with a clear timeline.’

In his remark, the Minister of State for Works, Bello Mohammed Goronyo, who received the delegation on behalf of the Minister, commended the lawmaker for his commitment to his constituents.

He said, ‘Sa’idu, you have shown a lot of commitment to your people. The Honourable Minister has already said it: you are a lover of your people. Just keep it up, because God is there to continue to support you.

‘Niger South is the home of my brother-in-law. I know a lot of people from Lapai, and I’m sure when we go there, the Minister will really fulfil this very important pledge that he made.’

‘He has been talking about this Niger for a very long time, and he said we should find time to go there and do the groundbreaking. And I want to tell you that my minister is the type of person who will not just come and give you empty promises. If he will do it, he’ll do it. Take it, or you leave it.

‘And we are lucky in this country to have somebody like you. So we commend you, sir, for your leadership, for your resilience, even though there are some bad eggs that are there.’

On his part, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, said the Federal Government was committed to carrying out projects in Niger State because of concerns raised by the condition of the roads, particularly the frequent incidents of trucks falling along the corridor.

He said the pressure from stakeholders, including Hon. Abdullahi, the Niger State governor, the Minister of Information and Senator Musa, had also contributed to the government’s renewed attention to the project.

He added, ‘Because of the pressure, I went to Mr. President. I said, please, you have so much in your hands. Can we allow that? … President said, if we do it, it will help, and the insecurity within that corridor will be eliminated.’

The Minister further disclosed that important road projects were being undertaken in Niger State through tax credits, including two projects recently awarded.

He said, ‘The greatest beneficiary of the NMP’s tax credit is in Niger State. So both Niger State and the entire South-South constitute 51% of the entire tax credit.

‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not, you know, make a political statement, you know, as far as roads and bridges are concerned. When we came on board, we had it in 2068, you know, but it’s totally over 13 trillion Naira, and with the removal of subsidy and with the removal, the floating of Naira, your guess is as good as mine, what the cost of this project will be.

‘At that time, a kilometre of road was costing about N500 million.

‘Today, a kilometre of road, standard average, with no swampy area, or without pits, you know, is costing between 2.5 million. So you can imagine if you multiply, you know, that, you know, 13 trillion, you multiply by six, you know, find out what the cost will be.

‘And the president has been very intentional in helping this country.

‘He’s been very intentional in funding the roads and the bridges. Every part of this country became a construction site.’