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The ancient town of Ilaro in Ogun State is set to come alive as preparations have reached top gear for the 2025 Oronna Ilaro Festival, themed Festival of Joyful Grace. The cultural celebration, scheduled to hold from Friday, November 7 to Saturday, November 15, promises a display of heritage, unity and tourism excellence in Yewaland.

According to the festival committee, the annual celebration is a tribute to Oronna, the legendary warrior who defended Ilaro against external threats and brought enduring peace to the land. This year’s theme, Festival of Joyful Grace, reflects the community’s gratitude for the developmental strides and transformation that Ilaro has witnessed through divine favor. It is a call to celebrate with thanksgiving, to dance in the grace of shared history, and to embrace the joy of togetherness.

The festival will begin on Friday, November 7, with the conferment of chieftaincy titles at the private palace of the Olu and paramount ruler of Yewaland, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, Asade Agunloye IV. On Saturday November 8, it will feature a roadshow and the unveiling of the festival mascot to officially signal the commencement of the celebrations.

Events for the nine days include visits to deities, traditional homage and cultural parades, the colourful Onigbaaje procession carnival, the Sisi Ilaro Beauty Pageant, and the famous Ilaro cuisine feast tagged Poosu Night. Other highlights include Bolojo Night at the Children’s Park, Itolu and Ita-osi Day celebrations, a medical outreach, 5km race, football final match, and traditional performances such as Egungun, Igunnuko, and Efe/Gelede dances that attract visitors from within and beyond Ogun State.

The Princesses’ and Princes’ Night will hold on Friday, November 14, at the Yewa Frontier Hotel, while the grand finale and reception will take place on Saturday, November 15, at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion Ground, featuring Balogun horse processions, cultural displays, music, dance, and special recognitions.

The Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince (Dr.) Dapo Abiodun, is expected to grace the grand finale as the Special Guest of Honour, alongside the Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, federal and state lawmakers, ministers, and other top dignitaries.

Chairman, Oronna Festival Committee, Pharmacist Lekan Asuni, said the celebration serves as a reminder of courage, sacrifice, and communal pride. He extended a warm invitation to all sons and daughters of Ilaro, cultural enthusiasts, and tourists to join in the festival.

‘Come witness the grace of tradition, the joy of community, and the heartbeat of Yewaland,’ Asuni said.

The Chairman, Media, Publicity and Programme Committee, Ajiroba Dapo Oke, reaffirmed the organizers’ commitment to making the 2025 edition a tourism and cultural attraction that will strengthen unity and economic development in Yewaland.

The Ekpe masquerade is a significant cultural tradition in some parts of Nigeria, particularly among the Efik and Ibibio people of Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, and Western Cameroon.

‘*Ekpe*’ which literally means Lion, is a traditional secret society originated from the Ekoi tribe in Cross River State.

Ekpe masquerades are known for their vibrant performances, often depicting ancestral spirits or mythological figures. They play important roles in cultural ceremonies, festivals, and community events, often serving as a connection to the community’s history and traditions. The Ekpe society, which the masquerade is part of, also has historical significance in terms of governance and social organization in the region.

The masquerade tradition itself is the most popular in Calabar. The Efik (Calabar) caste structure of Ekpe begins with the basic masquerade – Idem Ikw? to Nyamkpe which is the most common of the highest level displayed only by senior mantle bearers. Members of this sacred cult are endowed as protectors of societal order along with the traditional ruler. We have a set of communication methods known as Nsibidi which includes two thousand year old writing system with some of the symbols commonly found inscribed on the Ukara (leadership) attire. Nsibidi also includes special gesture communications and ancestral vocalizations that can only be understood, interpreted and responded to by senior members of the cult.

The bearer of the masquerade is a living man who goes through an intense ritual and pouring of libation to ask permission, wisdom and guidance of the ancestors before he bears the responsibility of driving the masquerade.

Unlike ‘Ekpo’, the Ekpe is not a variety of masquerade cults but one traditional cult with the same core values known in different localities by slightly different names – mainly Ekpe and Mkpe. It is always the highest and most prestigious masquerade in the locality where it exists, just like the lion is known to be the king of its habitat. As many Ekpe rituals and ceremonies require utmost masculinity, celibacy and purity, women are traditionally prohibited from proximity to any aspect of the cult except for wives and daughters of high ranked members who are ceremonially initiated as distant observers rather than participants. However, women have their counterpart high-status matrachical societies like Abang, Ekombi or Moni-Nkim from which men are strictly forbidden. In its vastness, the Ekpe is a well-structured society with semi-caste characteristics, in that, there are categories and titles which one may qualify to be initiated into, while others are strictly reserved for persons of certain status and backgrounds. However, based on merit, one from a lower category may find favour being initiated to a higher level if he successfully completes the necessary rituals and tough tests that may last for weeks.

The Ekpe parades traditionally happen at the end of every year over a period of seven days (Ukabade Isua) in which Ekpe performs spiritually guided walks that includes the Iyiro/Nyiro (random spins) from a certain starting point in town to the palace of the traditional ruler. The ruler and a senior member of the cult would perform libations of white wine or other spirits to honour the founding fathers by calling out their names after the expression ‘Oje Oje Bari Bari’ (which means ‘order’ in old Ejagam language) followed by the subject – names of proximal clans and localities in which the cults dwell, suggesting unity.

The most noticeable element of the Ekpe cult art form is the masquerade itself which is designed originally red and black but also (though rarely in other colours) with a big round glituans worn at the upper body section to represent the mane of a lion and small versions around the ankles called ‘mkpat etim,’ and smaller versions around the wrists called ‘Itong Ubok Etim’. The masquerade holds a bunch of oboti leaves in the left hand and a long staff in the right.

What the two symbolize cannot fully be established beyond spiritual authority and leadership authority, consecutively.

However, in ancient times, it was popular that if the Ekpe strikes a person with the leaves, there was hope as that simply meant casting out the evil from the person. On the other hand, if the Ekpe struck the person with the staff, that would be the end. Although the Ekpe cult has different factions in different areas across the cross river region, they all communicate in the same Nsibidi gesture and symbols.

The Ekpe cult is a typical dance group and stands out as one of the most prestigious masquerades in West Africa, though it appears to be just an art form during the Ukabade Isua festival, it operated as a complete civilized society within a larger society, serving as law enforcement, judiciary and even spiritual consultation. As tradition has it, the senior members of the cult are also initiated, trained and coronated rulers of the land even till this day, though the influence of the cult slowly fades due to globalization priorities and lack of interest in young people to carry on this tradition, the Ekpe remains the custodian of the Efik cultural heritage.

Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will grow by four per cent, and the Naira will further strengthen in 2026, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has projected.

Director, Research and Economic Policy Division, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Oluwasegun Osidipe, who made the projections yesterday in Lagos at a news conference on the 2025 MAN Think Tank Session, also projected sustained decline in inflation, and improved access to credit in 2026.

He predicted these projections on favourable oil prices, rising foreign investments, stable energy costs, and the effective implementation of key industrial and fiscal policies.

Osidipe said the projections, if actualised, would lead to higher manufacturing output.

He said: ‘For manufacturers, naira is projected to appreciate further to N1, 300 to N1, 400 per dollar, driven by global oil price recovery, stronger external reserves, robust export earnings, increased foreign investments, and remittance inflows.

‘Headline inflation will decelerate further to 14 per cent, supported by easing food prices, stable energy prices, and appreciation of the naira.

‘The Central Bank of Nigeria is anticipated to implement further cuts in the benchmark interest rate to about 23 per cent, in line with disinflationary trend, and to stimulate credit expansion and output growth.

‘Further reduction in lending rates and completion of the bank recapitalisation exercise will enhance credit availability to manufacturers, strengthening investment and capacity utilization’.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Osidipe said that for manufacturing output, real growth was projected to reach 3.1 per cent while contribution to real GDP was expected to rise to 10.2 per cent.

He, however, said the expected gains will be propelled by the effective execution of new tax laws’ incentives, operationalisation of the National Single Window Project, and purposeful implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Policy in close alignment with the ‘Nigeria First’ policy framework.

Osidipe said overall GDP growth was expected to reach four per cent in 2026 due to higher oil output and further improvement in fiscal space.

He added that expansion in financial and manufacturing sectors, and heightened consumption during the election campaigns in fourth quarter 2026, would also spur GDP growth.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesdays, rescheduled the hearing of the suit filed by the police against Omoyele Sowore and other conveners of #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest until Nov. 5.

The development followed the absence of the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, in court who was said to be sitting in Enugu division of the court.

The matter, which was on number 11 on the Wednesday’s cause list, was consequently fixed for Nov. 5 for hearing of the motion notice.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Umar had, on Oct. 17, fixed Oct. 20 for the respondents in the police ex-parte motion to show cause why the interim order made by the court against the protesters should be vacated.

The hearing was, however, stalled as a result of the Oct. 20 protest which held same day, crippling the court activities at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The judge had granted an interim order sought by the police, restraining Sowore and others from protesting for the release of Nnamdi Kanu in some sensitive areas in Abuja.

Justice Umar barred the protesters from demonstrating around the Aso Rock Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square and Shehu Shagari Way, pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

The judge also made an order of abridgement of time ‘within which the respondents will respond to the application on notice to cause the ex-parte order be set aside on Monday, the 20th of October, 2025 at 9.00am,’ before adjourning until Oct. 20 for hearing of the motion on notice.

The order followed the ex-parte motion moved by the police lawyer, Wisdom Madaki, on behalf of Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), on Oct. 17.

The Police Force, in the ex-parte motion, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025, had sued Sowore, Sahara Reporters Ltd, and Sahara Reporters’ Media Foundation as 1st to 3rd respondents.

The force also joined Take It Back Movement (TIB), for the Transformation of Nigeria Or Any Form of Organisation or Any Other Person(s) Acting Either Express or Implied Instruction or Any Other Organisation or Group With the Like Intention; and Unknown Persons as 4th to 5th respondents respectively.

In the affidavit in support of the ex-parte motion deposed to by Bassey Ibithan, a police officer attached to Directorate of Legal Services, Force Headquarters, Abuja, the officer averred that if not granted, the protest might threaten the national security.

Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, had planned to organised the protest for the release of Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Sowore, who was also the 2019 and 2023 presidential candidate of African Action Congress (ACC), had mobilised for what he called a planned peaceful protest against Kanu’s detention on Oct. 20.(NAN)

The United States has revoked the B1/B2 visa of Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

A B1/B2 visa is a temporary non-immigrant visa for business or tourism purposes.

Soyinka revealed the development during a news conference themed: ‘Unending Saga: Idi Amin in Whiteface!’ held at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos yesterday.

He explained that no reason was given for the action by the U.S.

The revocation, he told reporters, appeared to be a form of witch-hunt, which he linked to his long-standing criticism of the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump.

‘I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me,’ the playwright said.

The Nobel Laureate said he received official notification of the visa revocation six days ago through a letter from the Non-Immigrant Visa Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos.

Part of the letter reads: ‘This letter serves as official notification by the United States Consulate General in Lagos that the non-immigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in U.S. Department of State regulations. Additional information became available after the visa below was issued.’

The 91-year-old Soyinka, who appeared calm during the session, said he could not decipher the reason for the revocation because at no point did he violate any laws.

‘I’m still looking into my past history. I don’t have any past criminal record or even a misdemeanour to qualify for the revocation. Have I ever misbehaved toward the United States of America? Do I have a history? Have I gone against the law anywhere?’ he questioned.

The playwright, however, clarified that he bore no resentment toward the US and its citizens.

He maintained that his advocacy for justice and equality remained intact.

‘I will continue to welcome any American to my home if they have anything legitimate to do with me,’ he said, adding that he would keep speaking against racism and policies he considered unjust, including those of President Trump.

Soyinka said that the news conference was to notify people in the US who might be expecting him for engagements not to waste their time, as he could no longer travel to the country.

Soyinka had declined an invitation from the U.S. Consulate for a visa re-interview scheduled for September 11, 2025, saying he felt it was a scam.

‘I thought it came from scammers who prey on those eager to get visas elsewhere, promising to deliver them for a certain amount. It was very strange because I had never received that kind of letter from that or any other embassy,’ he said.

Upon discovering its authenticity, he stated that attending such an interview was out of the question.

‘The question of going to such an interview is totally out of consideration,’ he said, adding that holding the re-interview on September 11, a date he described as one for ‘deep, sober reflection’ in the U.S., was inappropriate.

Soyinka referred to the American government at the time as being led by a ‘white Idi Amin,’ in apparent reference to Trump.

The Nobel laureate had, in December 2016, publicly torn his U.S. Green Card following Trump’s victory in the presidential election, fulfilling a promise he made before the polls.

The Senate at plenary yesterday hailed Ondo South Senator Jimoh Ibrahim for representing the nation well during the celebration of Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Nigeria has now been removed from the financial crime watch list.

Senator Ibrahim thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the Senate.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, adjourned a suit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE against Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and others over oil import licence dispute until Nov. 5 for hearing.

The matter, which was earlier fixed for today for hearing, could not proceed due to the absence of Justice Mohammed Umar in court.

Justice Umar, the presiding judge, was said to be sitting at Enugu division of the court.

The court subsequently fixed Nov. 5 for the hearing of the suit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge had, on July 10, ordered parties in the case to regularise their processes ahead of the hearing of the suit.

Justice Umar also ordered that hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants that were not in court.

The suit, which was formerly before Justice Inyang Ekwo, began denovo (afresh) following its reassignment to Justice Umar.

Dangote Refinery had sued the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) as 1st and 2nd defendants.

Also joined in the suit are AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, 2015 Petroleum Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited as 3rd to 7th defendants respectively.

The oil company, through its lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, prayed the court to nullify import licences issued by NMDPRA to the NNPCL and the five other companies for the purpose of importing refined petroleum products.

NAN reports that Dangote Refinery (plaintiff) also prayed the court to declare that NMDPRA was in violation of Sections 317(8) and (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by issuing licenses for the importation of petroleum products.

It stated that such licenses should only be issued in circumstances where there is a petroleum product shortfall.

It equally sought a N100 billion in damages against NMDPRA for allegedly continuing to issue import licences to NNPCL and the five companies for importing petroleum products, among other reliefs.

The NNPCL, in its preliminary objection, prayed the court to strike out the case for being incompetent.

The NNPCL argued that the suit was premature and it disclosed no cause of action against it.

‘This honourable court lacks the jurisdiction to hear this suit,’ the NNPCL said.

In the affidavit in support of the application deposed to by Isiaka Popoola, a clerk in the law firm of Afe Babalola and Co, counsel to the NNPCL, he said one of their lawyers, Esther Longe who perused Dangote’s originating summons, affidavit and written address told him that an examination of the processes showed that NNPC as sued by the refinery was non-existent entity.

Popoola averred that the court lacked jurisdiction over the 2nd defendant sued as Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).

‘A simple search on the CAC website shows that there is no entity called ‘Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC).’

According to Popoola, the 2nd defendant/objector is not one and the same with the 2nd defendant sued by the plaintiff.

He urged the court to strike out the suit.

Also, the NMDPRA, in its counter affidavit deposed to by Idris Musa, a Senior Regulatory Officer in the office, prayed the court to dismiss the suit as it was misconceived, unmeritorious and incompetent.

Musa argued that Dangote Refinery is not entitled to any of the reliefs sought.

The official, in the application dated and filed Dec. 13, 2024, said the current production of Dangote Refinery is yet to meet the national daily petroleum products sufficiency requirement.

He said based on this and in compliance with Section 317 [9] of the PIA (Petroleum Industry Act), NMDPRA issued licences to import petroleum products to bridge product shortfalls to companies with good track records of international products trading.

Besides, he said the agency is also mandated to promote competition and prevent abuse of dominant market positions and unhealthy monopoly in the oil and gas sector.

He denied the allegation that NMDPRA is partaking in any purported ‘grand conspiracy and concerted efforts’ against the refinery, describing it as ‘an allegation for which the plaintiff has provided no facts or evidence in support.’

The oil marketers, in a joint counter affidavit filed on Nov. 5, 2024, told the court that granting Dangote’s application would spell doom for the country’s oil sector.

According to them, the plan to monopolise the oil sector is a recipe for disaster in the country.

The three marketers; AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, in their response, said the plaintiff did not produce adequate petroleum products for the daily consumption of Nigerians.

They argued that there was nothing placed before the court to prove the contrary

NAN reports that Justice Ekwo had, on March 18, dismissed the NNPCL’s objection against Dangote’s suit

The judge, in the ruling, dismissed the objection on the grounds that the application was incompetent.

Justice Ekwo held that the NNPCL ought to have filed a defence in the form of a counter affidavit to the Dangote Refinery’s originating process before raising an objection.

The judge, who also dismissed the NNPCL preliminary objection, challenging the jurisdiction of the court, granted Dangote’s motion to amend its originating motion by correcting the name of the NNPCL.

Besides, Justice Ekwo equally dismissed the motion for joinder filed by Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for being an unnecessary party and as a ‘meddlesome interloper.'(NAN)

Africa is home to some of the world’s most seasoned political leaders, individuals who have not only stood the test of time but have also helped shape the destiny of their nations over decades.

1. Paul Biya (Cameroon) – 92 Years Old*: Born on February 13, 1933, Paul Biya has been the President of Cameroon since November 6, 1982, making him the world’s oldest serving president and the longest-ruling non-royal national leader.

2. Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové (Togo) – 86 Years Old*: Born on May 7, 1939, Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové became President of Togo on May 3, 2025, making him the oldest person ever to assume the presidency in Togo.

3. Alassane Ouattara (Ivory Coast) – 83 Years Old*: Born on January 1, 1942, Alassane Ouattara has been President of Ivory Coast since 2010, navigating his country through periods of political instability and economic recovery.

4. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (Equatorial Guinea) – 83 Years Old*: Born on June 5, 1942, Teodoro Obiang has been President of Equatorial Guinea since 1979, making him Africa’s longest-serving president.

5. Emmerson Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe) – 82 Years Old*: Born on September 15, 1942, Emmerson Mnangagwa has been President of Zimbabwe since 2017, facing challenges such as economic mismanagement and human rights concerns.

6. Yoweri Museveni (Uganda) – 81 Years Old*: Born on September 15, 1944, Yoweri Museveni has been President of Uganda since 1986, leading his country through progress and political challenges.

7. Denis Sassou Nguesso (Republic of Congo) – 81 Years Old*: Born on November 23, 1943, Denis Sassou Nguesso has been President of the Republic of Congo since 1979, with a brief interruption, focusing on maintaining national stability.

8. Abdelmadjid Tebboune (Algeria) – 79 Years Old*: Born on November 17, 1945, Abdelmadjid Tebboune has been President of Algeria since 2019, facing pressure to implement democratic reforms and diversify the economy.

9. Ismail Omar Guelleh (Djibouti) – 77 Years Old: Born on November 27, 1946, Ismail Omar Guelleh has been President of Djibouti since 1999, making him one of the longest-serving leaders on the continent.

10. Bola Tinubu (Nigeria) – 73 Years Old*: Born on March 29, 1952, Bola Tinubu became Nigeria’s 16th president in 2023, known for his strategic coalition-building and significant force in Nigerian politics.

These leaders set an outstanding remarks in leading their countries going forward and also, gaining supports round the world for a sustainable Nation.

Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has won the Integrity Governor of the Year Award of the Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists (NACJ).

Presenting the Award on Tuesday in Ilorin, President of the Association, Dr Charles Okhai, said AbdulRazaq merited the recognition on account of his impressive achievements across many sectors.

Okhai said the Governor emerged top in the ranking process involving four other states.

Okhai said the Governor scored higher in sectors like education, road infrastructure, healthcare, youth empowerment, and transparency.

He said the Association was thrilled by AbdulRazaq’s commitment to the welfare of the civil servants and teachers, as seen in regular promotion and prompt payment of salary, and how his government transparently recruited at least 8,601 qualified teachers to fill manpower gaps across public schools.

He said NACJ is a body of Christian media personnel, which pursues strictly national development.

‘When we nominated you, we didn’t look at you from a religious perspective but on account of your sterling performance,’ he said.

He was accompanied on the visit by Mr Nasir Lawal.

AbdulRazaq thanked the Association for the honour, which he dedicated to the people of the state for their support and trust in his administration.

‘We take this award as an acknowledgement of our modest efforts to improve the conditions of our people and deliver political goods to the largest majority,’ the Governor said.

‘Beyond the routine adherence to the bureaucratic due processes and transparency, our state has often come out in good standing in peer-review indices for transparency and good governance, including at the level of programmes conducted by the World Bank and other global bodies.

‘We have made significant progress in every sector. We are clearly leaving the state better networked in road and other socioeconomic indices. And we are not resting.

‘No government since 1999 has delivered as many projects in road connectivity, education, health, sports or tech infrastructure as we have done in the last six years.’

AbdulRazaq commended President Bola Tinubu for his support to the state over the years.