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The police in Ekiti State have arraigned Oke Sheriff (30) before the Magistrate Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti over an alleged felony, specifically stealing.

The prosecutor, Inspector Elijah Adejare, told the court that the defendant and others at large, on October 3 at about 8:30 pm in the Adehun area of Ado-Ekiti, allegedly conspired to steal a Bajaj Boxer Motorcycle valued at N2,300,000, the property of Goodies Ride.

Counsel to the defendant, Barrister E. O. Olowolafe, urged the court to grant his client bail.

The Magistrate, K. O. Awosika, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N400,000 with one surety in like sum.

The case was adjourned until November 17, for hearing.

The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has commenced routine maintenance at its 430-megawatt Geregu Power Plant as part of efforts to enhance operational efficiency and improve electricity generation.

The minor inspection, being undertaken by the plant’s Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Siemens Energy, is expected to last about four weeks.

Speaking during an on-the-spot assessment of the ongoing work at the plant in Kogi State, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, said the exercise would significantly improve the plant’s performance and reliability.

According to her, the scheduled maintenance underscores NDPHC’s commitment to sustaining optimal generation capacity and meeting its power supply obligations to the national grid.

A statement signed by its Head, Corporate Communications and External Relations, Emmanuel Ojor, Adighije reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting President Bola Tinubu’s goal of achieving universal access to electricity for all Nigerians.

She said: ‘We are here to participate and offer our full support to the Siemens team, who are onsite to carry out an extended minor inspection. Geregu has three Siemens turbine units with a combined installed capacity of about 430 megawatts.

‘This is a planned outage, and the Siemens team has proactively mobilised to conduct extended minor inspections, alignment checks, and other related works to ensure the units operate optimally. This is also a prelude to the major inspections we are planning for in the near future.’

Also speaking, the Executive Director, Generation, NDPHC, Engr. Abdullahi Kassim, explained that while a minor inspection typically takes about three weeks, the company has allocated four weeks to the exercise to accommodate any unforeseen circumstances.

‘From what we have seen, the condition of the machines is good. They are within the tolerance limits of operation, and we hope to complete the work within the scheduled time,’ he said.

In this role, I often feel a mix of emotions: deep pride in our national journey, regret over the opportunities we failed to seize, and confidence in our direction of travel today. Despite some historical shortfalls and present-day challenges, I believe the most difficult phase of our economic journey is behind us. Nigeria has turned a decisive corner. The road ahead will demand hard work and discipline, but we are firmly on the right path.

When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office in 2023, Nigeria’s economy was on the brink of fiscal collapse. Slowing growth, surging inflation, and market distortions like the fuel subsidy and multiple exchange rate regimes had created an environment that scared off investment. The President’s mandate was clear – dismantle those market distortions, reward productivity, and create a climate where private investment can thrive.

From crisis to stability

Two years later, the results are evident at the macro level. GDP grew by 4.23 percent in the second quarter of 2025. Inflation, while still high, has moderated to 18.02 percent after six consecutive months of decline. The exchange rate has stabilised, and the gap between official and parallel markets has narrowed to about 1 percent, down from a peak of nearly 70 percent. Importantly, foreign reserves have risen above $43 billion, the highest since 2019. These are more than just numbers; they are the foundation for building inclusive growth that benefits every Nigerian.

Notwithstanding, we recognise that the economy is ultimately about people, not statistics. Millions of Nigerians measure progress by the cost of food, transport, and other necessities. I am keenly aware of this reality. Food inflation has been our heaviest burden since it surged after currency depreciation and the removal of fuel subsidies. However, targeted measures are beginning to ease the pressure. A bag of rice that cost about N120,000 last year now averages around N80,000. The prices of garri, pepper, tomatoes, and other essentials have also decreased.

At the same time, we are careful to ensure our smallholder farmers have enough incentives to return to farms next planting season. We are therefore implementing programmes that stimulate agriculture production by safeguarding smallholder farmers’ incomes.

In addition, 8.1 million households nationwide have received direct cash support from the government to help meet basic needs. This is more than a safety net; it ensures that the impact of these necessary reforms is cushioned for the most vulnerable among us, even as we continue to resolve the identity verification issues required to reach our 15 million households’ target.

Hard truths on debt and revenue

The progress we have made does not diminish the tough realities we still face. Debt service costs remain heavy, consuming a larger-than-ideal share of our revenues. This is the consequence of past borrowing and elevated interest rates. At the same time, Nigeria’s fiscal revenue-to-GDP ratio, at about 10 percent after rebasing, remains one of the lowest in Africa. This limits government resources for essential services like health, education, and infrastructure.

On 26 June 2025, the President signed the new Nigeria Tax Act and companion legislation, to take effect on 1 January 2026. These reforms aim to broaden the tax base, simplify compliance, and reduce leakages, while introducing a more progressive tax regime that shields lower-income earners and adjusts rates for higher earners. Together with structural revenue reforms such as the Revenue Optimisation and Assurance programme (RevOp), these measures will strengthen revenues, create fiscal space, and support greater investment in our people and infrastructure.

Anchoring growth in real sectors

A stable economy is crucial, but stability alone is insufficient. To deliver inclusive prosperity, we must anchor growth in sectors that generate jobs and opportunities. We are providing necessary incentives to revive investments in the oil and gas industry. With improved security, oil theft is down, and production has rebounded to 1.68 million barrels per day, including condensates. Refinery projects are setting the stage for a stronger downstream sector.

In agriculture, we are boosting food supply, reducing reliance on imports, and ensuring farmers have security and access to markets. We are encouraging investment in factories and strategic value chains, creating employment for our young and dynamic workforce. We are investing in technology and the creative sector to harness the energy of our youth and position Nigeria as a hub of innovation. In addition, we are expanding exports beyond oil by tapping into the global demand for critical minerals.

Infrastructure is the backbone of growth. Public funds alone cannot meet Nigeria’s vast needs, so we are attracting private capital through public-private partnerships. The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline, and Project Bridge’s 90,000 km fibre expansion are examples of how we are laying out the groundwork for industrialisation and nationwide connectivity.

Restoring confidence at home and abroad

As I begin to conclude, the clearest sign that Nigeria is on the right path is the return of confidence. Investors – both domestic and foreign, multilateral institutions, and ordinary citizens are starting to believe in the nation’s prospects again. But confidence is fragile. Sustaining it demands a predictable policy environment, disciplined fiscal management, and steady progress in reducing inflation.

Our medium-term target is 7 percent growth by 2027/28. Achieving this will require not only government action but the full participation of the private sector, entrepreneurs, and citizens. I am confident that if we work together, we will not only meet this target but surpass it. The task ahead, therefore, is to deepen resilience, broaden opportunities, and ensure that reforms translate into real improvements in daily life – better schools, affordable food, reliable power, accessible healthcare, and jobs for our youth.

Then, we can be rest assured that Nigeria’s next decade will be one of shared prosperity and renewed hope.

Cup holders and 10-time champions Nigeria lead a cast of heavyweights who have put themselves in good positions to advance to next year’s Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals – the 14th edition to be hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco.

Hosts Morocco, losing finalists in the past two editions that they hosted (lost to South Africa in 2022 and to Nigeria this summer), have qualified automatically as hosts of the championship to be staged 17th March – 3rd April.

While the Super Falcons were underscoring their superiority over African opposition by defeating the Amazons of Bénin Republic 2-0 in Lome on Friday, Zambia won their away tie 4-2 to Namibia in Windhoek. They have a simple job to do in the return leg in Ndola on Tuesday.

Ghana’s Black Queens trashed hosts Egypt 3-0, with the return leg set for Accra on Tuesday, while Mali’s senior girls got the better of Cape Verde 1-0 away in Praia.

Angola and Malawi ended their first leg in Luanda scoreless, same as Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire in Dakar, while hosts Kenya saw off The Gambia 3-1 in Nairobi and Algeria edged Cameroon 2-1.

Burkina Faso and Tanzania have decent 2-0 leads on Togo and Ethiopia respectively going for their return legs on away ground, while South Africa’s Banyana Banyana forced the Democratic Republic of Congo to a 1-1 draw away from home.

Ethiopia hosts Tanzania in Addis Ababa on Sunday, while all 10 other return-leg encounters take place on Tuesday.

Nigeria host Bénin’s Amazons at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta, from 4pm, with a two-goal cushion from the first leg courtesy Chinwendu Ihezuo and Esther Okoronkwo.

Residents of the Tudun Wada community in Shendam town in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State have accused police officers of leading hoodlums to destroy their houses in the area.

Residents of the area, who said the incident started around 5am on Wednesday, stated that armed police officers invaded the community, giving cover to those they described as hoodlums.

Our correspondent gathered that the demolition of the houses generated tension with affected residents, including women and children protesting against the police action.

In 2023, there was an attempt to demolish the houses, but the DIG zone 4, directed the police not to proceed with the demolition, as the case was before him, after accusing Festus Fuanter, the former Commissioner for Land and Survey and former Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), of championing the exercise – an allegation the former commissioner then claimed it was a matter between his family and three others.

Contacted on the current development, Festus said he was not one of those sued in court regarding the case and is currently in Abuja.

He added that he was aware that a judgment had been passed by the Court of Appeal, and the plaintiffs were unable to appeal the case to the Supreme Court.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, said he would investigate the incident as the command was not aware of the demolition exercise.

The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State and the leading opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday clashed over an alleged leakage of a consensus candidate list of the latter ahead of the 2026 governorship election in the state.

The PDP in a statement signed by its state chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi, noted that the 2026 off-season governorship election in the state and the 2027 general elections would not be a contest of noise or propaganda but a celebration of performance, trust, and results.

The PDP said the ‘leaked consensus list’ of the APC was another sign of confusion and desperation within a party that has ‘completely lost touch’ with the people.

‘What they call consensus is nothing but confusion packaged in the old way. The people have not forgotten their years of deception. Osun will not go backward.

‘Osun people know the difference between hardship and hope. They have tested both parties, and they are proudly standing with the PDP, the party that has restored light, dignity, and direction to governance through IMOLE,’ the PDP said.

But reacting, the state chapter of the APC expressed its disappointment on the abysmal level the state chapter of the ruling PDP has allegedly slipped to, in order to ‘fraudulently retain power’ in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

The APC state chairman, Sooko Tajuddeen Lawal, in a statement said, ‘The handlers of the hopeless party now go around concocting and circulating imaginary and fake list suggesting that the APC has assigned elective positions to certain individuals, a roguery and drudgery we believe is meant to cause disharmony and division in our party.

‘That an official statement, affirming the fake list, could emanate from the state chairman of the ruling PDP is to show the abyss into which the PDP has dipped and the satyric desperation of the party to win re-election next year.

‘The publication of the false statement by the PDP handlers is a pointer to the fact that they are jittery and they have lost the forthcoming governorship election in the state before it is held.

‘What is crystal clear is that there is none of our governorship aspirants who is not capable of sending Governor Ademola Adeleke back to Atlanta in the United States or wherever he might have come from.’

The APC urged the PDP handlers to go back to their drawing board with a view to ‘planning another subterfuge as this foolishly executed one ‘can neither sit nor fly; it’s dead on arrival.’

On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, I received a brief message from Mrs. Abiola Aderibigbe, the daughter-in-law of the late Chief Joseph Aderibigbe: ‘Baba Aderibigbe has gone to rest.’ It was like being hit with a hammer on the head! Too many thoughts ran through my mind as the reader would discover in the course of reading this piece. Well, in response to Mrs Abiola Aderibigbe’s message, I then wrote a short tribute to the old man:

‘Oh dear. The death of an old man in Africa is the equivalent of the burning of a whole library. With the passing of Chief Joseph Aderibigbe, we have lost more than a library! He was the quintessential representative of the old tradition of committed patriotic service to fatherland, faith, and honour. May the Almighty God rest his soul, and may He give the family the fortitude to bear his passing. Amin.’

The last time I was going to Ilorin, on the 12th of August, I sent this message to Mrs Aderibigbe:

‘Good evening, Biola. It’s been quite a while! How are you doing? I just wanted to let you know that I will be in Ilorin from tomorrow, Tuesday, until August 22nd. I’m wondering whether we could set up the interview we’ve discussed with Chief Aderibigbe during my stay in Ilorin. Let me know if that can be set up. My best wishes.’.

‘Good afternoon. I’m sorry, I’m just responding. Pls let me get back to you on this.’

On the following day, the 13th, I received this:

‘Good afternoon. Unfortunately, the interview won’t be feasible on this trip. But I’d love to explore alternative arrangements for another time. Kindly let me know if you have any upcoming plans to visit Ilorin so that my husband can plan towards meeting up with you. Thank you.’

The message of Wednesday, 22nd October, was final; the venerable old man, Chief Joseph Aderibigbe, had passed. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to do that interview. We had planned it several times, Mr. Adekunle and Mrs. Adekunle Aderibigbe and myself, but somehow, other factors intervened, which made it impossible. That’s why I feel very sad about Chief Aderibigbe’s passing.

The last time that I interviewed him was live on television at KWTV, Ilorin. It was on October 1st, 1998. I was the pioneer GM of KWTV, and as part of Nigerian Independence Day celebrations, I had invited him for a live interview. He obliged me, and that turned out to be a most remarkable experience for me.

I confirmed something that’s a remarkable trend amongst the old men who worked directly with the late Sir Ahmadu Bello. They all retained a fierce loyalty to his memory. I saw it with Malam Yahaya Gusau, Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Malam Adamu Ciroma, and Malam Adamu, Wazirin Fika. I also gleaned that from Malam Mamman Daura, and I’ve read the accounts of several others, and Chief Aderibigbe was not different. He spoke with tremendous respect about his life as a civil servant who worked directly with Sir Ahmadu Bello.

On that Independence Day encounter, I recall three examples. The first was that Chief Aderibigbe, who was the Provincial Secretary of Sokoto (the equivalent of Governor today), was actually one of the last people to see the Premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello, alive.

He had travelled from Sokoto to Kaduna on January 14th, 1966, to see Sir Ahmadu Bello. It was a whistle stop visit because he had actually been on the way to Ilorin and then to the Western Region. He was going to meet a lawyer who defended his brother, who had been arrested because he was the only member or supporter of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) in some Western Nigerian town. A corpse had been placed somewhere close to his residence, and he was then arrested and had been on trial.

Sir Ahmadu Bello had sympathised with him, and just before he left, joked that soon as he left Ilorin, he must ensure that he changed his Northern cap for a Yoruba one, so that he would also not be roped into any problems. They agreed to meet again on his way back to Sokoto, but the Premier was killed in the early hours of January 15th, 1966. The meeting therefore didn’t take place.

The second account was from his position as the Provincial Secretary of Sokoto. The councillors of the Sokoto Native Authority had voted to purchase a new Mercedes-Benz car for the Sultan of Sokoto. Such a vote needed the approval of the Provincial Secretary, and in this case, Chief Joseph Aderibigbe. The only problem was that the vehicle in question was costing the entire amount of money to run the administration, so he didn’t approve and kept the memo in his locker.

One afternoon, he was having his siesta, like a good, colonially-tutored administrator, when he got a knock on his bedroom door. He was informed that the Premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello, was in the compound, along with all the other councillors of the Sokoto Native Authority. Chief Aderibigbe told me that Sir Ahmadu Bello never resigned his position as a councillor in Sokoto despite his station as the Premier of Northern Nigeria!

The provincial secretary said he scampered out of bed, still in his pyjamas, to meet the Premier and his entourage. Sir Ahmadu Bello profusely apologised that they had disrupted his siesta and insisted that they would wait for him to be properly dressed before alighting from their vehicles.

Inside his office, a few minutes later, the Premier once again excused their unannounced visit and told him, Chief Joseph Aderibigbe, that he had led his colleagues to plead for him to approve the resolution to purchase the vehicle for the Sultan of Sokoto.

Chief Aderibigbe added that he opened his locker there and then wanted to do the approval. But the premier told him to take his time and to do it properly, after the team of councillors had departed. The approval was done eventually, and the vehicle was purchased. It filtered back to him that some of the councillors had been disappointed that Sir Ahmadu Bello did not give a marching order to a provincial secretary who they felt was ‘too stubborn’! The premier said such an order would have undermined the Provincial Secretary’s position. Sir Ahmadu Bello told his colleagues in the Sokoto Native Authority that Joseph Aderibigbe was in the position because of his competence!

The third account I got from Chief Aderibigbe came from after the creation of Kwara State in 1967. The state was a merger of the old Kabba and Ilorin Provinces. Ilorin had been named the state capital after an incredible level of machinations. Old bureaucrats and other prominent individuals from the Kabba provincial end then argued that the Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Council should be appointed from their own, Kabba Provincial end, in an attempt to balance the fact that Ilorin had been made the state capital. They wanted the Attah of Igala as the Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Council!

It was Chief Joseph Aderibigbe who provided the answer to break what had become an uncomfortable impasse between the two sides. He pointed out that there was the ‘Order of Proceedings’ of Northern Nigeria, which had listed the exact status of the emirs and chiefs of the region. When they consulted the document, it was clear that the most senior traditional ruler in what became Kwara State was, in fact, the Emir of Ilorin. He belongs to the exclusive list that is often referred to as ‘Northern Nigeria’s First Eleven’! That is the eleven top-most emirs or chiefs of Northern Nigeria. There was no way that the Attah of Igala could have become the chairman. It had to be the Emir of Ilorin.

I escorted Chief Aderibigbe back to his residence in the GRA and I also visited him a couple of times after, before I eventually resigned my appointment with KWTV in 2002, to move to Abuja as pioneer editor of Daily Trust newspaper. I recall that a picture of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello had a prominent place on his wall. It further deepened my appreciation of the man’s sense of loyalty to Sir Ahmadu Bello, along with his contemporaries.

They were a very privileged set of individuals because Northern Nigeria gave them a lot of opportunities. But they also reciprocated by working with an incredible sense of honour, commitment, and unalloyed patriotism. It was a rare moment in our national history when talent flowed into opportunity, and an outcome of tremendous possibilities also followed. It was, therefore, no coincidence that we have continued to valorise these remarkable individuals and their places in our history.

With Chief Joseph Aderibigbe’s passing at the ripe age of 104 years, we have indeed seen a practical example of the burning of an entire library of remembrance. It was the Malian, Professor Hampate Ba, who said that the death of an old man or woman in Africa is the equivalent of the burning of a library. Sir (Chief) Joseph Adeniyi Aderibigbe, KHF, JP, was indeed a truly venerable patriot, civil servant, community leader, and an outstanding individual whom the Almighty God gave a very long life. He served as Head of Service (HOS) and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), with the creation of Kwara State in 1967. They don’t make their types anymore in our administrative and political systems. No.

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 498 pharmaceutical premises across various parts of Lagos State for non-compliance with regulatory standards.

The affected premises were discovered during a week-long enforcement exercise conducted in Lagos.

Addressing journalists at the PCN Zonal Office, Yaba, Lagos, Head of Enforcement, Dr. Suleiman S. Chiroma, who spoke on behalf of the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, explained that the enforcement was part of the Council’s ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2022, relevant regulations, and the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG).

He was supported by the Lagos Zonal Office Director, Dr. Taiwo Filusi. The PCN is a statutory body mandated to regulate and control pharmacy education, training, and practice in Nigeria, including the activities of Pharmacy Technicians and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs).

Its enforcement functions aim to ensure that all medicines distributed and sold in the country pass through approved channels that preserve their quality, potency, and efficacy.

The exercise covered the 20 Local Government Areas-including Agege, Alimosho, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Apapa, Badagry, and Lagos Island with no fewer than 845 premises inspected.

These comprised 483 pharmacies, 162 patent medicine stores, and 200 illegal medicine shops. Out of these, 498 premises (215 pharmacies, 83 patent medicine stores, and 200 illegal medicine shops) were sealed for various infractions, while 29 others were issued compliance directives to rectify identified violations.

During the enforcement exercise, the PCN said various regulatory breaches were identified, including operation of illegal premises, failure to renew premises registration, unauthorised clinical practice, unauthorised access to controlled substances, exceeding approved stockholding limits as stipulated in the Patent Medicine List, training of apprentices, and wholesalers engaging in retail operations in contravention of their licensure terms.

‘An unacceptable trend observed in Lagos is the unregulated access to controlled medicines by non-pharmacist staff in pharmacies, where poisons are not stored securely under lock and key as required by regulations. This lapse allows controlled medicines to potentially fall into the wrong hands, posing a significant security risk to the public,’ Chiroma said.

Chiroma expressed concern over an emerging trend in Lagos State where controlled medicines and poisons were not properly secured under lock and key, allowing unauthorised access by non-pharmacist staff. He described this as a serious public health and security risk.

He advised members of the public to patronise only licensed pharmacies and patent medicine stores, which can be easily identified by the display of their current PCN licences.

This, he said, will help curb the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines, protecting consumers from avoidable health risks.

The PCN reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that only qualified personnel handle medicines and that all pharmaceutical premises meet the required standards of operation, as part of its ongoing mission to safeguard public health.

The Council also expressed appreciation to the people and government of Lagos State for their cooperation during the exercise.

The Women Run Organisation has announced that preparations are in top gear for the maiden edition of the Abuja Women Run, scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 6, 2025, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The event – expected to attract over 1,000 women from diverse sectors including public service, the legislature, the judiciary, business and industry, academia, the military, and the media – is set to become the largest women’s fitness event on the African continent.

In a goodwill message to the Minister of the FCT, Coordinator of the Women Run Organisation, Tayo Popoola said: ‘We sincerely appreciate the unwavering support of the FCT Administration, particularly in granting ministerial approval and providing institutional backing to ensure the success of the upcoming event.’

According to Popoola, the Abuja Women Run is designed not only as a fitness initiative but also as a platform to celebrate women’s empowerment, promote gender-sensitive initiatives, and showcase the beauty of Abuja to the world.

‘Given the unprecedented level of development in the FCT under the Minister’s leadership – particularly in the construction of roads and other critical infrastructure – the Abuja Women Run provides a unique opportunity to highlight the city’s transformation, boost tourism, and attract investment to Nigeria,’ Popoola added.

The Abuja Women Run 2025 aims to encourage a culture of fitness, unity, and social inclusion among Nigerian women, while positioning the FCT as a leading hub for international sports and wellness events.

Coca-Cola Nigeria has relaunched its ‘Share A Coke’ campaign after over a 10-year hiatus.

Speaking at the event, Mariam Kaham, General Manager of Coca-Cola Nigeria, described Share A Coke as the return of the most loved campaign for Gen Zs.

According to her, the relaunch campaign was aimed at fostering the drive to celebrate the timeless values of sharing, personalization, and community of its consumers.

‘This campaign is more than just names on bottles. It’s about creating real connections. When you hand someone a Coke with their name on it, you’re giving them something deeply personal: their identity, their moment, and their story – and that’s what makes Share A Coke so special,’ she said.

Yusuf Murtala, Senior Director and Head of Marketing at Coca-Cola Nigeria, highlighted the campaign’s strategic relevance in reconnecting the brand with younger audiences.

‘We’re reintroducing a campaign with global heritage and giving it a modern Nigerian pulse.

‘By combining personalization, digital interactivity, and community storytelling, we’re creating experiences that people want to share – not just products they want to buy.’

Also, Director of Frontline Marketing at Coca-Cola Nigeria, Valerie Odubogun, emphasised the importance of authentic engagement in every aspect of the campaign.

‘Our goal is to ensure that Share A Coke resonates at every touchpoint, from retail shelves to social spaces.

‘It’s about sparking conversations, creating smiles, and celebrating the joy that comes from sharing a Coke with someone you care about,’ she said.

The launch brought the campaign’s essence to life through interactive installations, creative personalisation zones, and electrifying performances by some of Nigeria’s most celebrated artists, including Wande Coal, Odumodu, Falz, Shody, D.J Shawn, and Rybeena.

Guests were encouraged to locate and personalise Coca-Cola bottles bearing their names or those of loved ones, creating moments of joy and connection captured in photos and videos shared across social media platforms.

The event also featured an engaging digital activation where attendees scanned QR codes on specially marked bottles to generate personalised ‘Share A Coke Memory’ digital keepsakes.

The experience seamlessly blended nostalgia with innovation, showcasing Coca-Cola’s ability to evolve with its audience while preserving the emotional connection that defines the brand.