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Home builder expands Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate with new offerings

Home builder, Mixta Africa, has expanded its Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate with the unveiling of a new residential, leisure and lifestyle proposition, moving it from golf into polo, equestrian pursuits and country-estate living.

The company is a foremost pan-African real estate company with over 20 years of experience and 30,000 homes delivered across five African countries – Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire.

In Nigeria, it has a project portfolio that includes Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate, Adiva Plainfields Estate and Beechwood Estate, and Fara Park in Sangotedo, Lagos.

The new development was unveiled at an event held at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos. It marks a new chapter in Mixta’s development at Lakowe as a residential and leisure destination, bringing together golf, polo, distinctive homes and a wider country-estate lifestyle.

Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate deepens the evolution of the wider Lakowe into a destination, rather than simply an additional residential phase. The development brings together a regulation polo field, stables, training field, paddock, clubhouse, crescent lake and a collection of residences positioned within the polo and equestrian landscape.

Deji Alli, Mixta Africa’s CEO, in his keynote address titled ‘The Courage to Build: Vision, Execution and Enduring Value,’ said the development reflects the importance of translating ambition into lasting value.

‘My message is simple: building something of lasting value requires the courage to see beyond the present, the discipline to execute and the responsibility to create value that endures; our ambition is not simply to sell property, but to build a destination that gives people compelling reasons to choose it.’

He said the new development builds on Mixta’s long-term approach to Lakowe, explaining that it is about creating a destination whose value extends beyond the individual homes within it.

The proposition is designed around the relationship between residence, landscape, sport, leisure, wellness and community, giving homeowners a distinct reason to choose Lakowe beyond the physical property itself.

The newly unveiled residential collection includes premium villas, loft terraces and apartments, with selected homes overlooking the polo field and lake. The launch generated the first ownership conversations around a broader residential collection that will be released as the development progresses.

The development builds on Mixta’s experience creating and delivering residential communities across its markets, as well as the company’s established track record at Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate.

Bamboo takes center stage in Unesco geopark

Bohol province is embracing bamboo, a traditional material used in construction and handicrafts, as part of efforts to promote sustainable tourism and improve local livelihoods.

In 2023, the island province was designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) as its first Global Geopark in the Philippines, in recognition of Bohol’s internationally significant geological heritage.

In the southern town of Bilar, a bamboo-themed park that opened in October 2023 offers visitors the chance to stroll along a bamboo walkway, dine at an open-air restaurant built and furnished with bamboo, and sample bamboo shoots served on bamboo plates.

‘When guests come here, they appreciate the food. In terms of the property, they get amazed because of the bamboo structure and the architectural design. And they feel it’s cooler here, because we are surrounded by bamboo,’ said Jocelyn Suarez, general manager of Kinaiyahan Forest Park.

The privately run park, home to 45,000 bamboo plants comprising 40 varieties, also features a House of Art where visitors can watch craftsmen making furniture and other items from bamboo.

Plans are also underway to establish a center to develop bamboo materials for construction and other purposes, Suarez said.

Various uses

To promote bamboo as a sustainable material that can support local livelihoods and help combat climate change, the province has been providing training on its various uses and distributing bamboo seedlings, said Joanne Pinat, Bohol’s chief tourism officer.

Arnold Labunog, 65, a co-owner of the park and an engineer, said he and his family bought a 17-hectare property in 2018 where bamboo was already growing in abundance. They developed it into a bamboo-themed attraction during the COVID-19 pandemic.

His brothers, Eduardo and Rodrigo, also helped inspire the concept after separately visiting the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto, Japan.

‘Because we grew up in the countryside, we’d like to develop this place just like the one where we used to play before-with many trees and just nature, and with ricefields … We grew up using bamboo,’ Labunog said.

Labunog, who also serves on a public-private council promoting the bamboo industry in cooperation with the provincial and central governments, stressed the advantages of bamboo, which grows quickly and has a wide range of uses.

523 Ugandans abroad sought govt help in distress calls-report

More than 500 Ugandans living and working abroad contacted the government seeking emergency assistance after finding themselves in distress during the 2025/26 financial year, though less than 20 percent were successfully brought back home, a new report reveals.

The findings, contained in the 2025/26 Governance and Security Programme report released in Kampala on Friday, highlight the severe vulnerabilities faced by the Ugandan diaspora and the mounting pressure on state machinery to protect citizens trapped in hostile environments overseas.

According to the report, state agencies recorded 523 distress calls from citizens in foreign countries, but only 96 individuals were successfully repatriated during the period under review.

‘…The government also responded to 523 cases involving Ugandans in distress and facilitated 96 repatriations, demonstrating continued attention to citizen protection and welfare abroad,’ the report states.

Despite documenting the volume of distress calls, the report omits critical details regarding the exact nature of the emergencies, the specific host countries where citizens were trapped, or why full repatriation was achieved for only 96 individuals.

The report further notes that performance in delivering general consular services fell below set targets, though the government expanded its diaspora engagements to 22 events against an annual target of eight. Interventions were supported by the External Security Organisation (ESO), which monitored labor export processes, recruitment agencies, and immigration flows.

‘While the volume of general consular services was below target, the response to distress cases, repatriation and diaspora engagement demonstrated continued government commitment to citizen protection and diaspora mobilisation,’ the report states.

The intervention figures contrast sharply with larger emergency evacuations undertaken by the state earlier in the year. In July, the government deployed chartered Uganda Airlines flights to evacuate 1,102 Ugandans from South Africa free of charge following a wave of xenophobic violence, anti-immigrant protests, and targeted security threats.

Beyond diaspora management, the report details broader metrics across national security, law enforcement, and judicial administration. The national crime rate dropped from 501 incidents per 100,000 people in FY 2023/24 to 427 in FY 2025/26. The police-to-population ratio also saw slight improvement, moving from one officer per 945 citizens to one per 893, while the sub-county policing model expanded to reach 93 percent coverage nationwide.

On civil registration, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) assigned National Identification Numbers (NINs) to 34.37 million citizens, covering roughly 74.8 percent of the estimated population. During the same period, 14.2 million identity cards were renewed and 8.9 million new citizens were registered.

Infrastructure and technical capacity within the Justice, Law, and Order Sector (JLOS) also recorded progress. Key achievements include the official completion and occupation of the flagship JLOS Tower in Kampala, the construction of the Soroti Regional Office reaching 89 percent, and the completion of Phase II of the National DNA Databank Infrastructure. State security agencies recruited 21,746 personnel and conducted training or retraining for 55,810 officers.

Additionally, command-center CCTV networks monitored 7,591 incidents and directly supported 1,686 specialized investigations.

However, the report warns that state agencies remain constrained by inadequate capacity to respond to modern cyber threats, transnational crime, maritime security challenges, fire emergencies, and the growing demand for specialized technology.

Speaking during the report launch in Kampala, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President, Hajj Yunus Kakande, emphasized the necessity of maintaining national peace as a prerequisite for socio-economic development, reflecting on the nation’s political history.

‘From independence, the first 25 years which we had, Uganda had no peace at all. We were always in conflict, loss of life, extrajudicial killings, and an unspeakable regime. However, from 1986 to date, all that we experienced previously is now history. So it’s our job to make sure that we consolidate the peace we have in our country. Without peace, we shall achieve nothing,’ Mr Kakande said.

Despite the outlined gains, the report concludes that overall performance across the governance sector’s nine primary objectives remained uneven, citing ongoing gaps in international cooperation, refugee resilience programs, gender compliance, and public institution service delivery.

FCSC reaffirms commitment to merit-based recruitment

The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to merit-based recruitment, professionalism, and institutional collaboration as the 45th Annual National Council of Civil Service Commissions of the Federation commenced in Asaba, Delta.

Head, Press and Public Relations of the Commission, Ibraheem Zakariyya, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, noting that this year’s meeting is expected to further strengthen inter-Commission cooperation and provide an avenue for advancing shared priorities towards building a more effective and result-oriented Nigerian Civil Service.

He disclosed that the five-day meeting began with the arrival of the advance party of the FCSC at the headquarters of the Delta State Civil Service Commission, where the delegation was received by the Permanent Secretary of the host commission, Mr Fredrick Yoro.

Yoro, who welcomed the delegation on behalf of the host commission, expressed appreciation for their safe arrival and emphasised the importance of effective communication and coordination among participants to ensure smooth logistical arrangements and a successful conference.

According to the statement, the annual council meeting provides a platform for the Federal and State Civil Service Commissions to exchange institutional experiences and deliberate on critical issues relating to public service administration, personnel management and the strengthening of civil service institutions across the country.

‘FCSC reaffirms commitment to promoting professionalism, merit-based recruitment and institutional collaboration as essential pillars for an effective and result-oriented Nigerian Civil Service.

‘The 45th annual council meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for participants to explore strategies for improving public service delivery and strengthening personnel management across the federation,’ Zakariyya stated.

Ogun BOOT Party governorship candidate pledges better pension others

The governorship candidate of the BOOT Party in Ogun State Mr. Adekunle Adenuga has pledged dual pensions and welfare packages for workers in the State.

Adenuga a trained engineer declared that no other political party in Nigeria understood the needs of labour like the BOOT Party.

He made the remarks during a stakeholders’ engagement with the Ogun State Labour Union comprising representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress RATAWU NULGE the Automobile Association market men and women and other clusters.

The meeting held on Thursday in Abeokuta provided Adenuga the opportunity to listen to the concerns of workers and traders and outlined his vision for labour governance and economic empowerment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Adenuga who described himself as a product of labour and a bearer of the labour spirit promised that his administration would ensure synergy between workers the judiciary and every other arm of government while maintaining the separation of powers.

He said his experience and professional background would be deployed to guarantee steady power supply across Ogun State adding that the state would become a model that other states would copy.

He also pledged to support mechanics with modern technologies and empowerment programmes and disclosed that he had been planning for market women and men for over six years saying it was time to unveil those plans.

The governorship candidate insisted that a worker is entitled to two pensions under his administration-one from the government directly and another from the establishment where the worker had served-and promised to achieve this dual pension framework.

He said the current system shortchanges workers who have given their best years to public service and that his government would correct the anomaly.

He also addressed the issue of Local Government autonomy saying it would not be ‘audio money’ as it is under the present government but would be implemented genuinely so that councils have real control over their resources and can deliver development at the grassroots.

The state chairman of the BOOT Party Architect Akerele in his remarks affirmed that any party ready for success must take workers as the best stressing that the BOOT Party’s commitment to labour is not rhetorical but rooted in policy. He said the party’s agenda for workers artisans and traders is the most comprehensive of any party in the race and that Adenuga’s background as a product of labour makes him the natural choice for Ogun workers.

The labour representatives expressed

appreciation for Adenuga’s engagement describing the session as one of the most substantive interactions they have had with any governorship candidate ahead of the election.

They said the BOOT Party candidate demonstrated a clear understanding of the challenges facing workers and traders and noted that his promises on dual pensions power supply local government autonomy market empowerment and mechanics’ support addressed issues that have been neglected by successive administrations.

The engagement positions the BOOT Party as the party that speaks the language of labour and the masses and Adenuga as the candidate whose agenda is rooted in the everyday realities of Ogun workers-a distinction that could prove decisive when voters head to the polls in 2027.

Tundu Lissu’s brother’s final words: ‘Live in love and unity’

Arusha. The final message delivered by the brother of Chadema national chairman Tundu Lissu, Alute Mughwai Lissu, 72, to his family was a call for maintaining love, unity and cooperation and continuing the good deeds he had initiated.

The message was reportedly delivered shortly before his death at 2 am on Sunday, November 1, 2026, in Arusha, following a prolonged illness.

Speaking to reporters at the deceased’s home in the Fire area of Arusha, where the family was receiving mourners, one of the relatives who cared for him, Mr Peter Lissu, said the deceased had not said much shortly before his death but left a brief message for the family.

‘Just before he died, he did not say many words, but he told us to live in love, cooperate as a family and continue the good things he had started,’ said Mr Peter.

He explained that their late brother had told them he first fell ill in 1999 and had battled the condition for a long time.

Earlier, the deceased’s younger brother, Dr Vincent Lissu, who spoke on behalf of the family, said Mr Alute had died after his condition deteriorated significantly in recent days.

He said Alute had become the family’s spokesperson and clan leader, adding that his death had left a huge gap.

‘We will sit as a family and provide further details on other arrangements, but for now, what we can say is that our brother Alute Lissu had become our family’s spokesperson, clan leader and, generally, the head of the family,’ he said.

According to Dr Vincent, the deceased was also an important figure in Tundu’s life.

Both were lawyers, and the family expects him to be buried in Mahambe Village, Ikungi District, Singida Region, after the judgment in Lissu’s case, scheduled for November 6, 2026.

‘We expect the burial to take place in Singida, but we will announce the date later. We want to attend the judgment in our brother Tundu’s case, which is scheduled for Friday. Following this death, we have postponed the burial arrangements slightly so that we can be in Dar es Salaam on Friday to attend the judgment,’ he said.

He said the family would provide further information on the burial arrangements and other programmes the following week, after the judgment.

He explained that some family members living in Dar es Salaam, accompanied by Chadema leaders, had gone to Ukonga Prison, where Tundu Lissu is being held, to formally inform him of his brother’s death.

‘Alute was like a father to our family. He was a role model to us, particularly Tundu. He was a lawyer, and we believe Tundu may have been inspired to pursue law by looking up to his brother,’ he said.

‘Therefore, we know this is a huge loss and a source of grief for us. But think about Tundu, who is in prison and did not have the opportunity to care for his brother. This will be particularly painful for him. That is why we felt it was necessary to send people to formally inform him, rather than have him learn about his brother’s death through reports circulating outside or in prison,’ he added.

He said Alute, who was a widower, had left behind five children.

According to Dr Vincent, their mother, who was the senior wife in their father’s family, had 10 children, of whom five were still alive.

‘We have always been united and loving towards one another. Even when Tundu was in court, our brother Alute often accompanied us. Even when he was seriously ill, he still managed to attend the court proceedings. We have therefore remained a closely united family, loving one another, and his death has left a huge gap,’ he said.

‘Alute was like our father and the head of our family. Losing him is a huge gap and a great source of grief. But matters of God are in God’s hands. Regarding his illness, he had been sick for a long time, for several years,’ he said.

Chadema Deputy Secretary General Amani Golugwa said the family had informed the party of the death, which had been received with deep sorrow.

He said the family was mourning while arranging to attend the judgment in Tundu Lissu’s case.

‘The family has said the burial arrangements will take place after Tundu Lissu’s judgment. If he is released, he will be able to attend his brother’s funeral. We have received that information from the family, and as a party, we will stand with them during this period of mourning,’ he said.

‘The party will issue an official statement conveying its condolences to the family, and we will fully participate in the funeral arrangements,’ he said.

When freedom of worship turns into exploitation

I wanted to avoid the ongoing debate on pastors and fake miracles until I read about Kenyan pastor Paul Mackenzie, who was recently convicted for starving his followers to death and the murder of 190 children. As commentators, we have an obligation to drive public discourse on critical issues such as faith, culture and religion that shape society.

Lately, the East African social media space has been awash with stories of Mackenzie in Kenya and the feud between Ugandan pastors and businessman Frank Gashumba over the authenticity of miracles.

We cannot ignore these stories because lives are at stake, to the detriment of spirituality, morality and religion.

The debate started when the maverick pundit called pastors out over claims of healing patients without professional medical treatment, and promises of overnight wealth.

For the first time, netizens across all divides united behind Mr Gashumba and like minds to challenge stage-managed healings.

Amid the applause, I noticed retaliation from some pastors and Pentecostals against calls for transparency and accountability.

In my view, the abuses and curses directed at Mr Gashumba were uncalled for and beneath the ‘men of God’.

I expected restraint and intellectual engagement. They could have taken the biblical path of turning the other cheek (Matthew 5:39), or demonstrated a public healing as in Mark 2:11, where Jesus told a man, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home’ to silence the Pharisees and sceptics.

Failing to respond with logic, civility and spirituality, some pastors cited infringement on freedom of worship guaranteed under Article 29(1)(c) and Article 37 of the Constitution.

Article 29(1) (c) states that a person shall practice, belong to, or participate in the practices of any religious body in ways consistent with the supreme laws of the land, while Article 29(1) (b) guarantees freedom of worship and association.

However, Article 29 (1) (c) is increasingly being manipulated, which contravenes the Palermo Protocol, the United Nations instrument that was designed to protect human beings from all forms of exploitation.

By rejecting constructive criticism and accountability, these new reformation leaders are turning freedom of worship into freedom of exploitation.

Some neo-Pentecostal and oneness pastors have exploited Christianity for personal enrichment and power, tactically extorting money and property from the poor by promising jobs, better living standards, healing, travel opportunities and marriage partners.

Offerings and tithes were traditionally voluntary in Catholic, Anglican, Adventist, Orthodox and Islamic faiths until some new evangelical denominations began coercing congregations to give fixed, large amounts to earn blessings and miracles.

Yet no scripture shows God putting a price tag on miracles, mercy, forgiveness and blessings.

Lest we forget, Jesus Christ himself said in Matthew 21:13, ‘My House shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves’, and in Matthew 7:15 warned, ‘Beware of false prophets that will come in my name.’

Can you imagine a prominent city Pastor promising energetic young men that they will become billionaires in just 90 days through sprinkled water? The irony is that the Pastor himself is not ranked among Africa’s billionaires.

Exploitation goes beyond empty financial promises. It is also psychological and becomes physical when some self-proclaimed men of God sexually harass young boys and girls, while others fuel faith and gender-based violence that breaks marriages and families.

I saw a viral TikTok video of a pastor in Zimbabwe purporting to be calling God directly on cell phone while a prophet in Kenya claimed to chat with God on WhatsApp during church service. These are no longer drama skits but pure deceit, intellectual insults and blasphemy.

And anyone who tries to hold them accountable is quickly reminded that, ‘Touch not the Lord’s anointed’ (Psalm 105:15)

Many African countries have not only refused to regulate the multimillion-dollar sector, but have gone ahead to religious leaders, firearms, bodyguards, monetary support, and public land.

Quote me well: there are genuine religious leaders who perform genuine miracles, but the idea of turning miracles into an attraction for followers has lured many pastors into faking miracles, thus turning the freedom of worship into exploitation.

It turns into exploitation when the public cannot hold perpetrators accountable.

When freedom of worship turns into exploitation, the spiritual pact is broken, the church becomes a fiefdom of pulpit merchants obsessed with wealth accumulation, and followers become slaves.

2027: Bayelsa APC has required structure to deliver Tinubu – Ogoriba

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State Chief Warman Ogoriba has dismissed as baseless claims by Bayelsa PDP Chairman Alabh Turnah of Governor Douye Diri’s lack of support for President Bola Tinubu re-election bid.

Ogoriba described the claim as not only baseless but also a clear sign of mental instability adding that his unguarded utterances make it obvious that he needs mental examination.

Speaking in his office in Yenagoa yesterday Ogoriba called on those around him to as a matter of urgency ensure that he is examined.

Ogoriba said Turnah’s penchant for lies was unfortunate saying it is laughable that anyone could imagine that Governor Diri was not backing the re-election bid of President Tinubu as his actions and utterances prove beyond any reasonable doubt that he is in the forefront of the campaign for the President’s re-election.

The APC chairman also rubbished claims by Turnah that the governor was not supporting the City Boys Movement in the state insisting that he does not know the workings of the support group which Diri has been supporting in different ways including his physical appearance at the group’s events.

Ogoriba also described as frivolous figures put out by Turnah as the amount the state government spent to organise the 30th anniversary celebration of the state and urged the good people of Bayelsa to ignore his rantings.

He said Turnah does not have the character and capacity to win a single polling unit for his party in the forthcoming general election.

Ogoriba further stated that it was unfortunate that Turnah who was a beneficiary of Governor Diri’s benevolence could turn around to bite the fingers that fed him and called on security agencies to caution him to desist from insulting the leader of the APC in Bayelsa stressing that campaigns should be issue-based and not an opportunity to heat up the polity with baseless claims.

He declared that in Bayelsa there was nothing like Rainbow Coalition maintaining that the APC has the required structure to deliver President Tinubu and all its candidates in the forthcoming elections.

No girl should miss school, feel ashamed because she can’t afford menstrual products – Ruth Chidiebere, founder, Extraordinary Female

Ruth Ozioma Chidiebere is the founder of Extraordinary Female and Extraordinary Stitches. In this interview by ADERONKE ADESANYA, she speaks on the challenges of building sustainable ventures, tackling period poverty, and expanding opportunities for women and girls.

What inspired you to establish Extraordinary Female in 2018, and how has your vision for the organisation evolved over the years?

Extraordinary Female was born out of my desire to create a platform where women could be celebrated, inspired, and reminded of the extraordinary potential they carry within them. I have always believed that every woman deserves an opportunity to grow, be seen, and make a difference.

We started in 2018 with the Gathering of Extraordinary Females. In 2021, the vision evolved into the Face of Extraordinary Female and Extraordinary Female Awards. Today, we also organise the Gathering of Extraordinary Females as a biannual event and run Pad a Girl Child as part of our community impact efforts.

My vision has grown beyond organising events. I want to build a sustainable platform that empowers women, supports girls, and creates opportunities that make a lasting difference in society. Ultimately, I intend to leave the world a better place than I met it.

How does Extraordinary Female ensure that its programmes translate into tangible opportunities for women beyond awards and recognition?

For me, recognition should be a starting point, not the destination. Through our platforms, we create opportunities for women to gain visibility, build confidence, develop leadership skills, and connect with others who can contribute to their growth.

The Face of Extraordinary Female provides a platform for young women to showcase their abilities, while the Extraordinary Female Awards celebrate women making meaningful contributions in their respective fields. Through the Gathering of Extraordinary Females, we also encourage networking, inspiration and the exchange of ideas.

We are continually working towards building stronger partnerships that will translate these opportunities into mentorship, business development, and sustainable growth for women.

What measurable impact has Extraordinary Female made in the lives of women who have participated in its programmes?

Since 2018, Extraordinary Female has grown from a gathering of women into a platform with flagship events, community outreach and an expanding vision for women’s empowerment. Successfully executing the fifth edition of the Face of Extraordinary Female and Extraordinary Female Awards in 2025 was a significant milestone.

Our programmes have created opportunities to celebrate women, showcase emerging talents and encourage confidence and leadership. Through Pad a Girl Child, we have also carried out outreaches in several rural communities, providing support to girls facing menstrual hygiene challenges.

We are committed to strengthening how we document and measure our impact because I want us to demonstrate not just the activities we organise but the difference they make in people’s lives.

What challenges have you faced in sustaining a women-focused advocacy organisation, particularly in securing funding and corporate partnerships?

One of our biggest challenges has been securing consistent funding. People may believe in a vision, but getting the financial and institutional support needed to sustain it is a different challenge. Building Extraordinary Female has taught me to be resourceful, persistent and strategic. I have had to learn how to build relationships, communicate our value, and keep moving forward even when resources are limited.

These experiences have strengthened my desire to work with corporate organisations, foundations, and individuals who understand the importance of investing in women and girls. I believe that with the right partnerships, we can expand our reach and build a more sustainable organisation.

Through Pad a Girl Child, you address menstrual hygiene among underprivileged schoolgirls. What more needs to be done to tackle period poverty and its impact on girls’ education?

I believe we need to raise much more awareness about period poverty and make sanitary pads affordable and accessible to girls from less privileged backgrounds. No girl should have to miss school or feel ashamed because she cannot afford menstrual hygiene products.

Through Pad a Girl Child, we have taken our outreach to several rural communities, but the challenge is much bigger than any single organisation can address alone. Government, schools, businesses, foundations and individuals must work together to provide affordable sanitary products, improve access to proper sanitation facilities and educate communities about menstrual health. We must also address the stigma surrounding menstruation.

For me, this is about dignity, education, and equal opportunity. Every girl deserves the chance to learn and pursue her dreams without her menstrual cycle becoming a barrier.

As the founder of Extraordinary Stitches, how have you navigated the challenges of building a sustainable fashion business in Nigeria?

I started Extraordinary Stitches from home with a manual sewing machine and basic tools. My journey has taught me that you do not need to have everything before you begin. Sometimes, you start with what you have and build along the way.

Like many Nigerian entrepreneurs, I have faced challenges with the cost of materials, access to equipment, funding and the demands of building a sustainable business. These experiences have taught me that talent alone is not enough. You also need business knowledge, discipline, consistency, and the ability to adapt.

My vision for Extraordinary Stitches extends beyond bespoke fashion to include skills development and fashion training. I want to build a brand that expresses creativity while creating opportunities within the fashion industry.

How do you balance your entrepreneurial ventures with your commitment to women’s empowerment and social advocacy?

I see my businesses and advocacy work as different expressions of my desire to create value and opportunities. Extraordinary Female allows me to champion women and girls, while Extraordinary Stitches gives me an avenue to express my creativity and build a business in the fashion industry.

Balancing both can be demanding, but I am learning to prioritise, manage my time, and approach my responsibilities more strategically. I also recognise the importance of building strong teams and systems. I believe a woman can build a business, pursue a purpose, and contribute to society simultaneously. For me, the goal is to grow personally and professionally while creating something meaningful for others.

How has your involvement in international entrepreneurship platforms shaped your approach to business and women’s economic empowerment in Nigeria?

My involvement with Flux Global Entrepreneurship Magazine Ventures (FGGV), where I serve as an ambassador and have held leadership and editorial roles, connected to its Lagos chapter, has broadened my understanding of entrepreneurship, visibility, and strategic relationships. These experiences have reinforced my belief that talent alone is not enough; entrepreneurs also need access to knowledge, networks, funding and markets.

For women in Nigeria, economic empowerment must go beyond encouraging them to start businesses. We must create environments where they can grow sustainable enterprises, access opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to economic development.

I hope to apply the lessons and relationships gained through these engagements to strengthen my businesses and expand the impact of Extraordinary Female.

As you prepare for the sixth edition of the Extraordinary Female Awards, what are your plans for expanding the organisation’s reach and impact across West Africa?

The sixth edition of the Face of Extraordinary Female and Extraordinary Female Awards, scheduled for December 2026, is an opportunity to strengthen the vision we have been building since 2018. Our immediate focus is to deliver an impactful event, build stronger partnerships, and create greater value for our contestants, award recipients, and supporters.

Beyond Nigeria, I envision Extraordinary Female building meaningful collaborations across West Africa, creating opportunities for women to connect, learn, showcase their talents, and access resources that support their growth.

Achieving this requires strategic partnerships, sustainable funding, and programmes that respond to the needs of different communities. My goal is to build an organisation whose impact extends beyond its annual events and continues to empower women and girls for years to come.

Your personal philosophy is, ‘In as much as I am content with what I have, I do not settle for less.’ How has this principle influenced your journey as an entrepreneur and advocate for women?

This philosophy captures how I approach life. I believe in gratitude and appreciating how far I have come. But I also believe that being grateful should never prevent us from pursuing greater possibilities. When I started Extraordinary Female and Extraordinary Stitches, I did not have everything I needed. However, I chose to begin with what I had and continue working towards what I envisioned. There have been challenges, but they have taught me resilience, patience and the importance of continuous growth.

I want women to understand that they can appreciate their present circumstances while still aspiring to more. For me, it is not about comparing myself with others; it is about becoming better, doing more, and making a greater contribution. I am content with what I have because I am grateful, but I do not settle for less because I believe there is always room to grow, create opportunities, and leave the world a better place than I met it.

Assess, Access, Their, There

Sample 1: ‘Akande, perceived as one of the closest allies to the President, is alleged to have lamented to party stalwarts on how difficult it has been for him to assess the villa, let alone have the opportunity to discuss issues of importance…’ (Tinubu: Discontent as new Aso Rock cabal emerges…News Opera,31 October, 2023)

The word of interest is assess which occurs in the following context: ‘…how difficult it has been for him (Bisi Akande) to assess the villa…’ The context does indicate that the word (assess) is intended to mean to enter, approach, come to without restriction or limitation, enjoy the presence of easily, have the benefit of moving into freely, etc. But that is not the meaning of assess.

The reporter has confused the word assess with access, a function of poor pronunciation and poor spelling. We have repeatedly advised readers to be attentive to slight differences in pronunciation and spelling that communicate lexical and semantic differences. In English, many times it does not require more than the presence or absence of a single letter in this or that position for a lexical item to transform into another word. Anyone who is not sensitive to these instances of lexical morphing is still a stranger to the English language.

Yes, there is a major difference between access and assess, significant enough to make them two words.

Capable of being used as a noun and a verb, the word access means having opportunity or right to use a thing, acquire a thing, enter a place, approach a person, etc.: (1) The business is not expanding because the owner does not have access to sufficient funds. (2) In spite of the media hype, the masses have no access to the low-cost houses. (3) The only access to the village is through a bumpy, dusty road. (4) Close to half a century of its existence, many people around the world still have no access to the email. (5) For more than two weeks now, I have not been able to access my mail. (6) Even Ministers do not have direct access to the president. (7) Three years after the divorce, the man has no access to his children. (8) Only by special permission can the room be accessed through that door. (9) For the country to make great strides in agriculture, farmers must have access to fertilizers and expansive land. (10) The man’s situation is worsened by the fact that he has no access to his lawyer.

Now the word assess is about evaluating, examining, trying to understand a situation, etc. It is a verb, whose noun form is assessment: (1) Experts are assessing the effects of the erosion on the environment. (2) The committee members will soon begin to assess the facts before them. (3) She says she is in the process of assessing how much love the man has for her. (4) Before the loans can be released, representatives of the bank will need to assess your production capability. (5) The purpose of our visit is to assess your facilities comparing them with the claims you make in the documents. (6) You cannot effectively tackle your political enemies without first assessing their strengths and weaknesses. (7) Before the Doctor can undertake to treat him, he must assess the extent of the damage done by the quack Doctor. (8) It is the duty of the Vehicle Inspection Officers to assess the road-worthiness of all vehicles. (9) An engineer from the Federal Ministry of Works is here to assess the quality and extent of work done so far. (10) Each applicant must be assessed objectively and impartially. 11) My assessment of him is that he is an intelligent but pompous man. 12) If journalists were not biased in their assessment, they would know that this man is unfit to rule a state. 13) I don’t believe the assessment of the new product was thorough enough.

At any rate, the verb access should replace access in the context under examination.

Sample 2: ‘I have to refund back there money…’ (News Opera, 31 October, 2023)

I have two complaints against that short piece of communication. The first is contained in the phrase: refund back. Please note the tautology in the phrase. The verb (or noun) refund does not require the particle back. You may pay back a sum of money or you simply refund it. Remember: Do not say, ‘Refund back…’ Say: ‘Refund…’ It is, however, acceptable to say: ‘Pay back…’

Next, we note the word there which occurs in the context: refund there money . It is a matter of elementary grammar that the form their should be the appropriate word in the context. This, I think, is one of the basic points of grammar we learnt at the elementary school. It is obvious that the writer has no grasp of the grammatical difference between the forms there and their. The error is irritatingly shameful.

In the light of this, it is important to illustrate the difference between the words there and their. Please read the following sentences: 1) There are many more people outside the hall than inside. 2) There is no wisdom in that suggestion. 3) There were rumours that the president had another woman in his life. 4) There is no reason to leave so early since the programme is scheduled to commence late in the afternoon. 5) There were many undercover security men snooping around. 6) There was no truth in the story. 7) Neither the chairman nor the secretary was there. 8) I was able to pick some useful information here and there. 9) How soon will you be there? 10) I was there waiting for you for almost three hours.

For the proper usage of the word their, please read the following sentences: 1) Their house is not far from ours. 2) The ancient Jews and their forefathers are part of the heroes of the Christian faith. 3) Their lawyers are holding a meeting with our own lawyers next week. 4) Sadly, their plan is to destroy their opponents’ business interests. 5) I find it difficult to understand why they could not mind their business. 6) Their directors are planning to reduce the workforce. 7) It is not their duty to tell us how to run our own affairs. 8) Their students are not even half as brilliant as our own. 9) Their house is directly opposite the bank. 10) How can our failure be a reason for their celebration?

The following sentences each contain the two words under consideration: 1) Were you not there when their thugs attacked our chairman? 2) It is their fault that their representatives were not there when the case started. 3) There were a few men at the meeting who claimed to be representing their bosses’ interest. 4) A lady went there, met the children, claimed be their mother’s friend and took some money from them. 5) I was there when our president visited that country and said something positive about their political system.

It should be obvious now that the word their should replace there in the context under review.