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Akwa Ibom State is setting its sights firmly on the future, as the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno signalled his government’s intention to partner with T2 to accelerate digital technology growth and innovation across the state.

The announcement was made at the opening ceremony of the Ibom Ignite Conference 2025 in Uyo, a youth-focused leadership and entrepreneurship gathering designed to equip participants with tools, networks, and insights to transform ideas into impact.

Governor Eno’s declaration came in response to a keynote delivered by T2 CEO, Obafemi Banigbe, who painted a bold vision of Akwa Ibom as Nigeria’s next digital innovation hub.

‘I believe this state has the capacity to lead in building software solutions, Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications, and vibrant startup ecosystems. Akwa Ibom is not just poised to birth the next big thing like Flutterwave or Paystack – it has the potential to emerge as a genuine digital goldmine for this region,’ Banigbe said.

The T2 boss stressed that unlocking this future depends on investment in people and skills. ‘The future is not built on oil. It is built on education, on human capital, and on digital skills. If we fail to develop the next generation, we risk wasting the immense talent of our youth,’ he noted, calling on government, industries, and communities to prioritize human capital development.

Banigbe spoke with heartfelt sincerity, expressing appreciation to Akwa Ibom residents for their patience and support for the brand throughout its challenges, while assuring them that the company was on a path of rebound.

‘We are back in business. We’ve gone through transitions and are re-emerging as more than a telecom operator. T2 is repositioning as a digital business and lifestyle partner, youth-friendly, tech-friendly, startup-friendly, and committed to enabling innovation and the creative economy. We are ready to work hand-in-hand with His Excellency and the government to turn Akwa Ibom into the South-South’s digital powerhouse,’ he affirmed.

This year’s conference, themed ‘Ignite to Accelerate,’ lived up to its billing with a rich programme of keynote speeches, fireside chats, thought-provoking conversations, and panel discussions on leadership, innovation, and resilience. Participants were also given a platform to showcase ideas and innovations through pitch opportunities, reinforcing the conference’s reputation as a launchpad for future changemakers.

On the sidelines, T2 deepened its customer engagement by hosting a Customer Forum in Uyo. The interactive session provided a direct platform for customers to voice concerns and share feedback with the company’s management. For T2, the forum was more than a listening exercise; it was a tangible demonstration of its renewed commitment to service excellence, customer satisfaction, and building long-term trust with its users.

With the state government’s vision and T2’s renewed drive, the partnership signals a major step toward transforming Akwa Ibom into a beacon of digital innovation, talent development, and youth empowerment in Nigeria’s Southsouth.

Italian Fabio Cannavaro will coach Uzbekistan as they prepare for their first World Cup next year, the Central Asian nation’s soccer association said on Monday.

Cannavaro won the World Cup with Italy as a player, captaining his country to the title in 2006, but his record as a coach is more mixed.

His most recent job was with Dinamo Zagreb but that was a short-lived spell of less than four months that ended in April.

‘The Uzbekistan Football Association has signed a contract with Fabio Cannavaro – a renowned specialist, one of the best defenders of his generation,’ the statement said.

The 52-year-old has previously had coaching roles with clubs in China and Saudi Arabia as well as in Italy. He also had a short spell as caretaker manager of China in 2019.

He will succeed Timur Kapadze, who was in charge in June when the Central Asian country qualified for the World Cup for the first time.

Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Dr. Pius Akutah has said that President Bola Tinubu returned the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) bill without assenting to it due to issues concerning the mandate section of the Bill and also the one per cent Freight Stabilisation fee.

Speaking with reporters on the sideline of the visit of the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez at the weekend in Lagos, Akutah said that the issues surrounding the NPERA Bill have been addressed and the Bill is currently at the National Assembly for assessment before going back to the Presidency for his assent.

He said: ‘The NPERA bill was returned by Mr. President to the office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice for advisory due to issues raised over the mandate section of the Bill, 1 per cent Freight Stabilisation fee and also the new role of the Shippers Council as Port Economic Regulator.

‘But those issues have been clarified by the council. We met with the Attorney- General of the Federation and we have looked at those issues one after the other.

‘Those issues created a little bit of confusion but that has been resolved because the Gazette of the Presidential Order of 2015 and the regulations of 2015 have all been handed over to the Minister of Justice.

‘So, they have now looked at it again to see that the council mandate has changed by the order of the president appointing the Shipper’s Council as the Port Economic Regulator.

‘So, those aspects that needed to be corrected have been corrected and the bill has gone back to the National Assembly on its way back to Mr. President for assent.

‘There was a little bit hitch but we have overcome that hitch. So, it is now on track heading back to Mr. President. But the National Assembly still have to look at it because of those corrections that were made.

‘You can’t correct a bill that has been passed without the National Assembly looking at it. The corrections are not so many, just a few of them regarding the mandate and then regarding the one per cent freight fee.

‘The Bill is still with the National Assembly. You know that they have been on recess. They were supposed to resume last week but I think they moved it forward.

‘As soon as the National Assembly resumes sitting, they will look at this quickly and then do all the corrections and send it back’.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is creating jobs through the construction of roads in the nation’s capital.

Wike reiterated the need for the residents to pay their taxes, saying the money is used to provide modern roads and social amenities.

The minister said this while officially flagging off the construction of the Mohammed Isa Road extension within the Asokoro District in Abuja.

He emphasised that the ambitious infrastructure drive undertaken by the FCT Administration was heavily dependent on the availability of resources.

Wike urged the residents to pay their taxes and continue to support President Tinubu’s administration to enable it to deliver programmes that would make their lives better.

The minister likened the provision of good infrastructure to making a ‘good soup,’ which cannot be provided without resources.

He said: ‘The President is providing jobs through the construction of roads in the FCT. Pay us what you owe us. If soup sweet, na money kill am (A sweet soup is a product of good money). If you don’t have the money to buy the various items when you are cooking the soup, it will look like ordinary water. But when you have money, all the medemede (ingredients) will be there. Even if you are not hungry, but because the soup attracts you, you will be forced to be hungry.

‘So, all these good roads, good drainage systems won’t be possible if you don’t pay your taxes. So, try to pay your taxes so that we can provide more of these roads.’

Wike noted that prominent critics of President Tinubu’s administration have begun to acknowledge its successful performance, particularly in infrastructure development.

The minister said the new road project was initiated following a direct appeal from a major critic of the present administration, calling for infrastructure provision, specifically roads, drainage, and streetlights in the Asokoro extension, similar to the work being done in other districts of the FCT.

Recalling their exchange, he said: ‘I remember very well that one of the major critics of the present government of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu – I will not call his name – he came to me and said: ‘Look, you have been providing infrastructure in terms of roads in all these other districts. What about us in the Asokoro extension?”

Wike described himself as one of the agents of President Tinubu, whose task is to translate the President’s vision into action.

According to him, the FCT’s progress is a testament to the President’s effectiveness.

He added: ‘We forget that Mr. President has agents or people who carry out his directives or instructions. You cannot say the FCT is working and Mr. President is not working. Through us, we carry out the directives, we carry out the instructions, we carry out the vision of Mr. President. One of the visions is that the FCT must compete favorably with other cities of the world, and that is what we are doing.’

The minister explained that the Mohammed Isa Road extension project was taking place on the 10th day of project flag-offs across the FCT in the current series covering roads and water projects.

He said the road would significantly enhance connectivity, improve the city’s landscape, and create employment for residents.

‘Look at the topography; look at the landscape. By the time these roads are completed, the drainages are put in place, the streetlights are on; look at the employment that is being created. Every day, one company carries out one construction or the other. Tomorrow, we will be in another place where one company is carrying out another construction. Our teeming youths are all engaged in this. That is creation of employment,’ Wike stated.

Providing an overview of the project, the Acting Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Richard Yunana Dauda, said the contract for the Mohammed Isa Road extension was awarded to Messrs. Global Spectrum Energy Services Limited with a completion period of 14 months.

He said the scope of work included the construction of approximately four kilometres of roads along with the provision of modern drainage systems, water distribution network, sewer line network, street lighting, power supply, telecommunication ducts, and other infrastructure services.

The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has cautioned the party’s Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, to desist from making statements that could mislead the public and exacerbate divisions within the party.

Ologunagba reportedly stated that Anyanwu’s role as PDP’s National Secretary is limited to administrative duties, such as managing day-to-day activities, handling correspondence, and ensuring that directives are carried out.

Ologunagba’s comments were in response to a perceived misunderstanding of roles within the party, and he emphasised that Anyanwu could not summon meetings or issue statements without authorisation.

But in a statement yesterday by his media aide, Dr. Ikenna Onuoha, the National Secretary described Ologunagba’s claims as ‘ridiculous and ignorant’.

He emphasised the National Secretary’s critical role in the party’s operations.

Anyanwu noted that Ologunagba’s comments indicated his lack of understanding of the party’s constitution on the duties and functions of the National Secretary.

He said: ‘This statement, if indeed it came from a supposed party spokesperson, is an indication that he lacks the requisite knowledge of the provisions of the party’s constitution regarding the duties, functions, and programmes of the office of the National Secretary.

‘Debo Ologunagba, who ordinarily should be speaking for the party, failed to highlight the duties of Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the National Secretary of PDP in Section 36 (1) of the PDP Constitution 2017, as amended, simply because he was out for mischief-making.’

The statement said Anyanwu’s role is far more significant than what Ologunagba suggested, arguing that his actions were guided by the party’s constitution.

He urged Ologunagba to focus on constructive strategies to strengthen the party rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric.

The statement said that despite the provocation, Anyanwu would continue to act with maturity and wisdom, upholding his oath to ensure the party’s cohesion.

Mr Adekunle Omoyele, the Commander, Osun Amotekun Corps, has escaped an assassination attempt, after an ambush by gunmen in Osogbo on Monday.

This is contained in a statement issued by the spokesperson for the corps, Mr Abass Yusuf, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Osogbo.

Yusuf said the ambush occurred on Monday at about 10:05p.m, on Ikirun road, opposite charity hotel, Osogbo.

He explained that the commander was driving home alone after official work when some gunmen opened fire on him leaving his vehicle riddled with bullets.

‘It is deeply troubling that Amotekun commander could be targeted in such a coordinated and vicious manner.

‘Apart from the attack same yesterday, 15 unidentified armed men masked, reportedly stormed Omoyele’s private residence and witnesses claimed the attackers arrived in a Hilux van and a Toyota Highlander SUV,’ Yusuf disclosed.

According to him, the attack of the top ranking security official raises questions about rising insecurity among those who are tasked with the responsibility of protecting the people of the state.

‘The corps urged citizens to remain calm and also report any suspicious activities to local security agencies for prompt responses and actions.

‘The attack is not just an attack on one man but on the symbol of localised security structure,’ Yusuf said.

He further stated that the commander sustained gunshot injuries and currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility under protective watch.

Yusuf, however, said the case has been reported to the Ota-Efun Police Division and investigations are ongoing.

The fifth edition of The Atinuda Experience, tagged Atinuda 5.0, is set to bring together some of Africa’s brightest minds in business, technology, design, and entertainment as it returns with the theme ‘From Local to Global Creative Transformations.’

The three-day event, which began on Monday and will end on Wednesday at Steak House, 1 Karimu Kotun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, promises to be a convergence of creativity, innovation, and transformative ideas.

Founded by Ayiri Oladunmoye, Atinuda has evolved from a small gathering of event professionals into a continental platform driving collaboration and excellence within Africa’s creative and business sectors.

In her welcome address on Monday, Oladunmoye described Atinuda as ‘more than just a gathering, it is a movement born within the bounds of creativity.’ She added that the 2025 edition ‘represents another chapter in our shared journey of innovation, knowledge exchange, and continuous improvement.’

Atinuda 5.0 will feature an impressive 75+ speakers drawn from across Africa and beyond, representing a wide range of industries. The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will grace the event as Special Guest of Honour.

Keynote speakers at the event include Alexander Amosu, who will speak on ‘Redefining Luxury in Africa – From Access to Experience’; Diann Valentine, on ‘Reinventing Your Brand for Global Relevance’; Leo Stan Ekeh, on ‘Entrepreneurial Resilience: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities in African Business’; Gbemi Shasore, on ‘Content is King: How Quality Storytelling Drives Business Success’; and Charles Odii, who will deliver a session on ‘Strategic Partnerships and Policy Frameworks to Empower Creative Entrepreneurs.’ among others.

The conference will also feature internationally acclaimed personalities such as Stephanie Busari (Emmy-winning journalist and founder of SBB Media), Claudia Lumor (Glitz Africa founder and UNFPA ambassador), Kelvin Okafor (UK-based fine artist), Samke Mhlongo (South Africa’s wealth coach), and Juliet Ibrahim (award-winning actress and filmmaker).

Atinuda 5.0 will not only be a platform for dialogue but also for tangible empowerment. Participants will have the chance to win a brand-new car, courtesy of Nord Motors, through a tech-driven entrepreneurship pitch competition.

Additionally, the Kwende and Kwasi Foundation will award a $10,000 grant, with $7,000 for the top startup and $3,000 for the runner-up, to innovative African entrepreneurs with high-impact business ideas.

Organizers say these incentives are designed to inspire and reward creativity while encouraging practical solutions that can scale beyond local boundaries. ‘Atinuda is about transforming potential into performance,’ Oladunmoye noted.

‘We want to help creatives think bigger, collaborate smarter, and expand their reach globally.’

Over the years, Atinuda has become a beacon of excellence in the African events and creative industries. Previous editions have fostered collaborations across fashion, technology, design, and media, establishing Atinuda as one of the continent’s most influential platforms for professional development and networking.

This year’s edition will feature immersive masterclasses, interactive workshops, and panel discussions focused on business transformation, brand storytelling, sustainability, and the future of African innovation. Participants are also expected to enjoy an evening of cultural celebration showcasing art, music, and cuisine.

Atinuda’s long-term vision, according to its organizers, is to expand beyond Nigeria and position the brand as a pan-African movement that amplifies local talent for global recognition. Plans are already underway for regional chapters and hybrid participation models that will make the experience accessible to global audiences.

Since its inception, Atinuda has championed the belief that creativity, when nurtured, structured, and celebrated, can become a driving force for economic and social transformation across Africa. As the event prepares to open its fifth edition, it continues to remind participants that innovation starts from within.

Kwara State Government says it is no longer permissible to charge or collect parent-teacher association (PTA) levy in public primary schools.

It therefore approved annual grants for the schools to replace PTA levy and serve as their running costs.

Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof Shehu Adaramaja, said this in Ilorin at the bid opening for the 2024 (3rd and 4th quarters) UBEC/SUBEB intervention projects.

‘The governor has approved the stoppage of the payment of PTA levy in all public primary schools. From primary 1 to 6, no more payment of PTA levy in Kwara State,’ he said, announcing immediate launch of disbursement of grants for at least 1,717 public schools.

Adaramaja announced the approval of procurement of English and Mathematics textbooks by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, which he said, would be distributed free of charge to pupils of primary 1 to 6.

On the bid opening, the chairman said the intervention would cover critical projects, including the building of a block of two classrooms with an office, construction of VIP toilets, remodelling and renovation of classrooms, drilling of solar powered borehole with tank stand, rehabilitation of digital literacy across the state, procurement of foundation literacy teaching and learning materials for primary 1, fabrication and distribution of two-seater pupils/students’ furniture, and safe schools initiative in some selected local governments, among others.

Adaramajaa hailed the state government for investing in school infrastructure, human capital development and welfare of teachers.

He said the governor had equally approved the payment of 2025 counterpart funds for UBEC/SUBEB intervention projects.

He urged contractors, who would eventually get the jobs, to execute them in line with the specifications, warning that shoddy jobs would not be condoned.

Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) hailed the action.

The association described the development as bold.

CSACEFA’s state Coordinator, Abdurrahman Ayuba, said: ”The decision demonstrates government’s commitment to making basic education free and compulsory, aligning with the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Law.

‘CSACEFA commends the governor for prioritising education and promoting a more inclusive and equitable education system. CSACEFA Kwara considers the government step as a big win, especially as the coalition has been at the forefront advocating abolishment of PTA levy.

‘CSACEFA is thus calling on the heads of schools to ensure prudent and judicious utilisation of expected grant in meeting the needs of their schools.

‘We look forward to continued collaboration and support for initiatives that benefit our children and in raising the quality of education in Kwara State and Nigeria.’

The Leader of Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has expressed sadness about the level of disunity in the country after 65 years of independence.

He said at the outset, there was no great philosopher or great thinker who could have united the people as it was done in other climes.

‘If you study the history of some kingdoms, some countries and some societies, it will be indigenous warring tribes or groups, disunited by many factors, including politics, but united by culture. And a great leader rises among them and says, ‘let me unite my people.’ That’s not the history of Nigeria. Nigeria started accidentally; there are no great philosophers or great thinkers within our population who said, ‘oh, let us all come together. Let me unite people”, he said.

He attributed the disunity and the array of problems confronting Nigeria 65 years after independence to its evolution, saying: ‘So, Nigeria started merely as a trade zone, just like you have a free trade zone or export processing zone; it’s a zone. It is like the arbitrariness with which they created areas for discos. We created Lagos disco, Ibadan disco, Benin disco, Yola disco and others.

‘So that’s how Nigeria was to the Royal Niger Company. It was just a trade zone. Let’s have this trade zone and those trade zones are different kingdoms and communities and all of that. And somehow for the efficiency of the business, they decided to hand it over back to the British government and run it as a protectorate and part of it as a colony.

‘And then after a while, they ran it as protectorates, you know, next to each other. In 1914, they said let’s amalgamate together. So, but 46 years later, the people who put it together just said, we’ve had enough of it, let’s hand it over to the locals now.

And young people who had never run anything before, but who were united by the philosophy that these are indigenous people, right from Herbert Macaulay in Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmed Bello and others took charge.’

He expressed hope that the SDP, which he described as an independent party with ideals different from other parties, was ready to take Nigeria out of the woods.

He said it was very rare to find a true SDP person, who would have interest in the APC or the PDP because the idea of what they were doing was totally opposite to what the SDP was preaching.

On how the party is preparing for the 2027 contest, he said the dialogue to strengthen the party continued among members because there were elements who would work against the party’s interest.

‘When I ran for president, there were elements that worked against us in the party. There were party agents who would not show up and state chairmen who collected our agent card and then went and gave it to another political party.

‘I went to Kwara and discovered that from our research sheets, we scored 122,000 votes, but they recorded only 22,000 for us and the people who were working with us; who were supposed to protest and do everything, thought that they could have a relationship with the ruling party and then they messed that up.

‘So, we’re changing those leaderships, we’re bringing new people in.

‘So it takes a while to get a political party, whose majority of members will be people that are selfless, patriotic and in politics because they want nothing other than a better country. That’s what we are building in the SDP,’ he said.

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has said the Federal Government will not renew the licences of electricity distribution companies (DisCos) that fail to meet performance standards when their current licences expire in 2028.

Adelabu issued the warning at the 2025 Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja during a session on the power sector, where he identified the inefficiency of the DisCos as one of the major challenges preventing a stable electricity supply in the country.

The session, with the theme: ‘Uninterrupted power supply: The Industrial Imperatives,’ attracted key industry stakeholders to discuss solutions to Nigeria’s enduring electricity problems.

According to the minister, while the power sector is burdened by structural issues, the poor performance of the DisCos continues to impede progress toward achieving reliable and sustainable power delivery.

He said: ‘The distribution companies need to sit up. They are a major bottleneck in the sector, and the government is doing everything possible to ensure they meet expectations. Their licences will expire in two years, and there will be major reforms before any renewal.

‘Those that have not demonstrated technical expertise, financial stability, or commitment to national interest will be replaced. The government will ensure that every household is metered within the next three to five years.’

On efforts to resolve the liquidity crisis in the sector, Adelabu disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has approved a N4 trillion bond to offset verified debts owed to power generation companies (GenCos) and gas suppliers.

‘To stabilize the market, Mr. President has approved a N4 trillion bond to clear verified GenCo and gas supply debts. Alongside this, a targeted subsidy framework is being developed to protect vulnerable households and ensure the sector’s long-term viability,’ he said.

Chief Executive Officer of Azura Power, Mr. Edu Okeke, and the Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Limited, Mr. Philip Mshelbila, called for improved liquidity and efficient gas pricing to attract investment in power generation.

Okeke noted that payment concerns over gas being priced in dollars were minor compared to other structural challenges facing the industry, while Mshelbila stressed that appropriate pricing would help stimulate investment in gas supply for electricity generation.