Author: user user

Imagine a deranged and sociopathic meglomaniac and tyrant, a recalcitrant and unrepentant schoolyard and dockside bully and a cheap and shameless godless scumbag like President Donald Trump @realDonaldTrump threatening our country with violence, military action and invasion. What a nerve!

Permit me to put the matter in context. A friend of mine sent the following words to me last night after reading his threat of war and military action.

She wrote,

‘How I wish we can simply ignore this petulant man spewing utter childish rubbish all over the place. They can categorise us as they like, that is on them and there is nothing we can do OR ought to do about that. He should bring it on. Let them send their troops and let us see. The same Islamic Terrorists that THEY FUNDED to destroy us. Serves us right, We had the CHANCE to stand and be counted on the right side of history, before God with the genocide that is been committed by Israel and funded and supported by America. For all its worth, South Africa STOOD and REPRESENTED. We were nowhere to be seen or heard. AND YET look at this!’

She concluded by saying the following,

‘it is not his fault or the Americans’ fault, it is SOLELY ours. I pray this is a wake-up call for us as leaders, as a nation and Africans. These people are NOT our friends, have never been and will never be; neither should we tolerate having them as our masters, or elders!’

I concur with this deeply courageous lady who has said it as it is. Frankly I couldn’t have put it better myself.

My response to her was as follows.

‘You are right. They are evil and, if he carries out his abominable threat, there will be a war. We shall not leave the country but we will fight it out with them. We behaved like cowards and allowed them to demonise us with no response. I do not know what is wrong with Nigerians but this will be the greatest challenge they have ever faced and maybe after it is all over they will appreciate the importance of having bold, articulate and courageous leaders and disavow themselves of their accursed cowardice, ignorance, pettiness, weakness, envy and complacency’.

I meant every word.

Trump, a fascist and an associate of the globally recognized Hitler of the 21st century, Prime Minister Benjamin @netanyahu, has refused to call the Israeli Zionist Nazis and the UAE-backed RSF butchers of Darfur, Sudan mass murderers and genocidal maniacs but he is calling our people the ‘killers of Christians’ and is desperately trying to label our nation with the genocide tag and create a crisis in Nigeria.

I am not surprised. Permit me to tell you why.

In my essay titled ‘Christian Genocide and the Danger of Mischaracterisation’ which was published one week ago I wrote, inter alia, the following.

‘Our Government must refuse to allow themselves to be hoodwinked by the words of middle-ranking American Governnent officials who are not members of the MAGA inner circle and who do not truly represent the very hardline and extreeme views of the right-wing Christian fundamentalist and anti-Muslim forces that Trump holds dear. If they really want to know what Trump is thinking but has so far refused to voice about Nigeria it would be wise for our Government to consider the words of Secretary of State Marco Rubio @SecRubio, Senator Ted Cruz @SenTedCruz, Congressman Riley Moore @RepRileyMoore and Congressman Chris Smith far more than the soothing and encouraging words and expressions of support from ‘friendly faces’ in the Trump administration who have deep ties with and a soft spot for Nigeria but who are not at the heart of the #MAGA power configuration like Trump’s Lebanese brother in-law and Special Advisor on African Affairs, Massad Boulus, @US_SenAdvisorAF. American doublespeak and subterfuge is an art and we must never take them for their word or drink from their poisoned chalice. As the Bible says ‘their speech is as smooth as butter but war is in their heart’.

Sadly our Government did not pay heed to my words and instead took the comforting words of Boulus as the position of Trump. How wrong they were!

What a profound miscalculation and grave error.

They succumbed to a sucker punch and two weeks later a devastating right cross was delivered to their chin.

I saw it coming but they didn’t.

This decisive blow came when Trump not only claimed that Nigeria is the most dangerous country for Christians to live in the world but also designated us as ‘a country of concern’ falsely alleging that ‘more Christians are killed in Nigeria in one day than in the rest of the world put together’.

He also said that he intends to do ‘far more against Nigeria’ and that ‘this is just the beginning’.

He proved his words by going a step further the following day by threatening to send military forces to our country and kill our people.

What he did not say but which is obvious is that a regime change orchestrated by them may also be on the cards.

That is their objective and desire. That is their style and modus. That is their character and nature.

That is their history and practice in foreign lands whose resources they covet and only a fool will deny it.

Yet it did not stop there.

On the same day Pete Hegseth @PeteHegseth, the American Secretary of War, went even further and threatened to launch air strikes and attacks on Nigeria to ‘protect our Christian brothers’.

This is the brazen threat and nonsensical rubbish that some in our midst have been cheering all night.

They forget that bombs and instruments of war when deployed by American-backed mercenaries, American proxies or American soldiers do not make any distinction between Christians and Muslims or ethnic groups.

Once they deploy, begin the carnage and the bombs begin to fly we shall ALL die or be displaced.

Worse of all those in high places that do not have the intelligence, knowledge or understanding to discern the grave implications of all this and gullible members of the Christian community in Nigeria that are applauding this absurd narrative and course of action will soon find out that we are being pushed the way of Sudan, Libya, Iraq, Congo, Gaza, Lebanon and Somalia only ours will be one hundred times worse.

As much as I despise them and their evil ways, I doff my hat to the Americans, the Zionists and their local collaborators and co-conspirators for achieving their devil-inspired and sinister purpose and pulling off this great evil all in an attempt to destabilise, destroy and divide our nation and push us into a religious war after which they will send in the monster @realErikDPrince

and what is left of his mercenary Blackwater Army to supposedly ‘protect Christians’ but in reality to secure and steal our rare earth and vast mineral resources.

That is really what this is all about: the violent acquisition of our rare earth. Sadly most in our country just don’t get it.

It has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with re-colonising us, balkanising us and destroying us.

Our Government and our people must recognise this for what it is and rise to the challenge.

We must unite, close our ranks, bury our differences and jointly resist the bullies with contempt, defiance, faith and courage. They shall not conquer us and we shall never bow before them.

There is no doubt that both Muslims and Christians are being subjected to genocide by Western and Israeli backed terrorist groups like Boko Haram, Al Qaeda, Ansaru and ISWAP in our country.

This is a matter of concern and with no international support our security forces have made progress against them in the last two years.

Despite this @realDonaldTrump has threatened our nation with war and seeks to divide us on religious lines.

The Nigerians that are applauding him are ignorant and naive because you need to be a fool to believe that Trump genuinely cares about genocide or Christians.

If he did there would be no genocide of Christians and Muslims in Gaza, Darfur or Congo today.

He is interested in only one thing: sparking off a religious war in Nigeria and sending in his troops to bomb and occupy us and corner our rare earth, our oil reserves and our mineral resources.

That is the goal and the sooner our Government and people appreciate this the better.

Whatever your views and whichever side of the divide you stand on our nation has now been threatened with war and it is incumbent upon all sons and daughters of Nigeria to stand firm, prepare for it and defend our sovereignty and every inch of our sacred soil.

We may not have their weapons or money but we have God. Trump will not survive the wrath of the God of Nigeria and he will surely fail.

To be sure this is not about President Tinubu @officialABAT or his Government: it is about our fatherland and our people.

It is about our manifest destiny and our future which some seek to destroy and shatter.

It is about our self-respect, dignity, pride and honor.

It is about the preservation of our noble heritage.

No-one will shed our blood or ‘Gaza us’ and escape it.

If attacked, by either Erik Prince’s CIA-backed private army of ruthless mercenaries or by American forces themselves, we must be ready to die fighting for our women, children, faith, dignity and nation.

To hell with the Yankee Nazis. We do not fear them and we will never bow before them.

They can choose not to help us to fight the terrorists that they sent to plague and destroy our land but they must NEVER threaten us with brazen acts of aggression, violence or an invasion.

We are a mighty nation with an ancient history of struggle and resilience.

We are a strong nation with the most formidable and remarkable people on earth who have excelled in all fields of human endeavour.

Despite the numerous challenges we face, by the power of God, we will fight back as best as we can and in the end we shall prevail.

We shall never be subjugated, broken, divided, decimated or enslaved.

Drop one bomb on our people, whether Christian or Muslim, and the fire of God will burn you, the Sword of the Lord will cut you and the plagues of of the Lord will afflict you.

It happened to Pharaoh, Sennacherub, Herod and Nebuchadnezzar and it will surely happen to you.

He shall deliver us from your evil because He is a God of justice and the oppressed. He will never leave us or forsake us.

Do your worse and let the Lord strike you down.

Rapper Odumodublvck has addressed a prolonged personal crisis, revealing that someone close to him has endured over a year of online abuse, threats and violations allegations.

In a post on X, he stated that the concerns were ignored by powerful figures in the music industry.

He wrote: ‘The past few weeks have been heavy. My friends and I have been painted in terrible lights, and a deeply personal and painful situation has been twisted into something it is not.

‘For over a year, someone close to me has been subjected to ongoing online abuse, threats, and personal violations, and at different points, efforts were made to amplify that abuse. Watching that play out publicly has been difficult, especially as false narratives and targeted attacks continued’.

The ‘Declan Rice’ hitmaker described the situation as deeply painful and personal, rejecting attempts to frame it as a ‘rap beef’ or career-boosting publicity stunt.

He also condemned the exploitation of personal trauma for entertainment, calling it ‘insensitive’ and ‘deeply disrespectful.’

‘This issue has now been twisted to look like a ‘rap beef,’ a move to service someone’s career. I said it last year, even when tensions were low, that this is not rap beef. It’s a personal matter that has been exploited for clout. Reducing a person’s hurt to entertainment is not only insensitive but deeply disrespectful, he alleged.

The artist, known for his unfiltered commentary, said he had privately appealed to label executives, industry leaders, and influential figures to intervene, but received no meaningful support.

He said: ‘Throughout this ordeal, I tried to resolve things the right way. I reached out privately to people with the power and influence to intervene, including label heads, executives, and industry leaders. I believed they would do what was right. But no one helped. Many chose to protect their interests, their artists, and their investments instead of standing up for the truth’.

Odumodublvck emphasised that his eventual public response was not motivated by ego or rivalry, but by a need to protect the individual after others failed to act.

He said: ‘When it became clear that no one would protect her, I felt compelled to step in. These actions were not driven by ego or pride, but by anger, frustration, and the need to defend someone I care about who had been tormented for far too long while everyone looked away’.

The rapper, whose real name is Tochukwu Ojogwu, has a history of speaking out on social and industry issues.

He reiterated his commitment to honesty, even at the cost of relationships with former allies

Odumodublvck, who kept the name of the individual at the center of the abuse or specified the alleged perpetrators undisclosed, has now declared the matter closed, stating his focus is now on ‘peace, closure, and moving forward’.

‘I have always stood for honesty and accountability. I’ve called out those I once respected because when it mattered most, they chose silence. That is not leadership. That is not character.

‘At the end of the day, you can decide if your hate for me outweighs your sense of justice.The matter has been addressed, and I have chosen not to revisit it. My focus now is on peace, closure, and moving forward,’ he stated.

In a dramatic turn of events, the Acting Chairman of the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Abdulrahman Mohammed, on Monday stormed the National Secretariat of the party to assume leadership.

Mohammed took over the affairs of the party amidst tight security. He was received by the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

There was tension at the secretariat when a group of staff members, reportedly aided by external forces, attempted to forcibly evict Senator Anyanwu from his office on the third floor.

The Nation gathered the group tried to break into the National Secretary’s office but met stiff resistance from policemen stationed at the secretariat, who fired tear gas and used minimal force to disperse them.

To prevent a total breakdown of law and order, security operatives subsequently ordered all staff, journalists and visitors to vacate the premises before locking the main entrance.

There were speculations the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun, who was suspended by the Anyanwu-faction was meeting with members of his National Working Committee (NWC).

But as of the time of this report, there was no information about the outcome of the meeting.

The crisis rocking the party peaked with the suspension of Senator Anyanwu by the Damagun-led NWC and a counter suspension of Damagun and others by the Anyanwu-led group.

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the suspension of the elective national Convention of the party.

Accompanied by supporters, Mohammed arrived at the Wadata national secretariat of the party around 11 am and proceeded to the office of the National Chairman, where he addressed journalists after being received by Anyanwu, declaring his mission was to restore unity within the opposition party and reposition it ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He was later taken round the secretariat by the embattled National Secretary before settling into the chairman’s office.

Addressing journalists, Mohammed said: ‘Today is another good day for the PDP family across Nigeria. You can see that everyone is happy to have a new leadership in the PDP. I am here as the Acting National Chairman of our great party, and by the grace of God, under my leadership, I will do everything possible to bring everyone together under one umbrella.

‘PDP is beyond one individual. We will work as a team to ensure a smooth process that will lead to a successful outing in 2027 and pledged to engage stakeholders across the country to heal divisions within the party and restore the confidence of its members and supporters.

He said ‘We will liaise with everyone, hear from them, and receive their guidance to make PDP one united family again. By the grace of God, we will sustain our slogan – power to the people – because power belongs to the people. We are confident that we will reclaim power in 2027″

While responding to questions on how the party plans to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the midst of internal crises and pending congresses, Mohammed said his faction will be guided by the party’s constitution.

He said: ‘We are assuring Nigerians that by 2027, power will return to the PDP. We are currently reviewing our constitution to ensure that all organs of the party function effectively. We will normalize structures across the 36 states and the FCT to guarantee a smooth internal process.’

President Bola Tinubu has directed that the ongoing industrial action by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) should be brought to an end as soon as practicable.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako, who disclosed this on Monday at a briefing in Abuja said President Tinubu has directed the Ministry to take every legitimate step to restore health services nationwide.

Towards this end, Salako explained that most of the union’s 19-point demands are already being addressed through dialogue, recruitment, and financial interventions.

NARD has, however, dismissed the government’s claims as misleading and far from reality.

While expressing regret over the hardship caused by the industrial action, the Minister assured that negotiations with the striking doctors were ongoing.

Salako explained that a Collective Bargaining Agreement mechanism, chaired by the Minister of Labour, has been in place since August to harmonize the interests of all health professionals.

Twelve meetings have been held so far, with an external industrial relations consultant engaged to mediate contentious issues, including pay relativity, remuneration parity, and the creation of a consultant cadre for non-medical doctors. ‘Healthcare delivery is teamwork, and we must find collective solutions rather than isolated agreements that create further divisions,’ he said.

To tackle manpower shortages, Salako disclosed that 14,444 health workers were recruited across 64 federal tertiary institutions in 2024, while approval was given to employ another 23,059 in 2025, including 2,629 resident doctors and 868 consultants.

He added that President Tinubu has approved an increase in the retirement age for clinical staff to 65 years and established a committee, including NARD representatives to develop a universal protocol for hiring locum doctors, with a report expected soon.

On welfare, the Minister confirmed that the government has begun releasing funds to settle arrears.

‘A total of ?21.3 billion has been released, with about 60 percent of affected workers already paid. Another ?11.9 billion is being processed, while ?10 billion was earlier disbursed under the Medical Residency Training Fund to support postgraduate examinations,’ he said.

He also added that the government is also addressing the migration of health workers by expanding medical training capacity to meet local needs and potentially export skilled labour, saying, ‘Nigeria is working toward transforming its health professionals into assets that contribute to both national service and foreign exchange earnings’.

He explained that a new recruitment framework now allows annual employment of permanent staff while empowering hospital chief executives to hire temporary workers between cycles.

He also announced that a ministerial task force will monitor hospital operations to ensure efficiency among health workers not participating in the strike.

Alausa confirmed that ?41 billion in arrears was owed under the 25%/35% CONMESS review, noting that ?31 billion has already been paid or processed, representing about 83 percent of the total debt, which would soon be completed.

He also clarified that there has been no downgrade of doctors’ professional qualifications, contrary to rumours circulating among practitioners.

The representative of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) explained that the Council only undertook a categorisation exercise for additional qualifications such as fellowships and memberships, classifying them from categories A to D based on the awarding institution, specialty, and qualification type.

The Council advised doctors whose certificates were wrongly classified to resubmit them for correction and urged new colleges to formally notify the Council for proper recognition.

Despite the strike, Salako assured that consultants across federal tertiary health institutions were working to sustain critical services.

He said outpatient and emergency departments remain functional, though at reduced capacity, while surgeries and urgent treatments continue nationwide.

He appealed for public understanding, adding that a task force has been deployed to ensure compliance and accountability among health workers still on duty.

In a statement on Monday by its President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajeed Yahya, the association said none of its 19-point demands had been fully addressed.

The association said only a small fraction of the funds disbursed by the government actually reached resident doctors.

‘Our demands represent the minimum requirements for a functional healthcare system and the restoration of dignity to medical practice in Nigeria,’ the group stated.

The association argued that the strike was not merely about unpaid arrears but about survival and humane working conditions.

‘Nigerian doctors are collapsing from exhaustion in hazardous environments without recognition or compensation. The ongoing migration of doctors is driven by hardship, not greed,’ NARD said.

While reiterating its openness to dialogue, the association insisted that ‘industrial peace cannot be achieved through press statements but through justice, sincerity, and respect for agreements.’

It urged Nigerians to see the strike as a struggle for the survival of both healthcare workers and patients, not as an act against the public.

Celebrity TV personality and Big Brother Naija superstar Doyin David is taking on Europe in grand style in partnership with TRAVELTALESLTD,Nigeria’s leading travel and tourism company known for crafting premium global experiences.

Known for her bold personality, elegance, and love for exploration, Doyin is teaming up with TravelTalesLtd to showcase the magic of European travel capturing the glamour of Paris, the romance of the Greek Islands, and the unforgettable cultural moments that make travel a lifestyle, not just a journey.

The collaboration aims to highlight TravelTales Ltd’s mission of creating premium, well-curated experiences that connect Africans to the world. From stunning tours of the Eiffel Tower to the breathtaking sunsets of Santorini, Doyin’s trip will serve as both an inspiration and a testament to the seamless service and world-class packages TravelTalesLtd provides.

Speaking on the partnership, a representative from TravelTalesLtd shared:

‘We’re thrilled to have Doyin represent the spirit of modern African travel confident, classy, and curious. Her journey with us reflects what TravelTalesLtd stands for: unforgettable experiences and trusted travel planning.’

Follow Doyin’s exciting journey across Europe via @traveltalesng on Instagram and social media for exclusive highlights, behind-the-scenes clips, and travel inspiration.

TravelTalesLtd – Where Every Journey Becomes a Story.

Senior Pastor of Guiding Light Assembly (GLA) Lagos Wale Adefarasin has challenged the United States’ recent concerns for Christians in Nigeria, stating that economic interests rather than human rights may underlie their stance.

In a sermon on Sunday and circulated widely online Monday, Adefarasin told his congregation that violence against Christians in northern Nigeria has persisted for decades and does not amount to genocide, contrary to some Western portrayals.

He said: ‘For 40 years that I have been a Christian, there have been killings in southern Kaduna, killings on the Plateau, there have been riots.

‘Sometimes, I think it was in France, an image of Prophet Muhammad was defaced. Who remembers that? And as a result of that, there were killings of Christians in Nigeria.

‘And so, it’s nothing new. It doesn’t amount to genocide. The way the West are talking about it, it’s as if if a Christian steps on the street, his head will be blown off,’ he said.

His comments responded directly to U.S. President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern for religious freedom violations and threats of military action if the government fails to protect Christians.

Adefarasin questioned whether America’s newfound focus on Nigerian Christians is tied to the country’s reduced reliance on exporting crude oil or to its deposits of minerals essential for electric vehicles and nuclear energy.

‘I’m trying to understand this sudden love for Christians. Is it because we now have one of the largest refineries in the world, and no longer have to ship raw materials abroad and bring the finished products?

‘Or is it because of the 21st century minerals that we now have in our earth, that are used to generate nuclear power for electric vehicles? Are those the reasons that our friends are threatening to invade our country to defend and protect Nigerian Christians?’ he asked.

The Federal Government has rejected Trump’s narrative, with President Bola Tinubu asserting that the constitution upholds religious freedom and that national policy prioritises interfaith harmony.

Waiting weeks for a visa can quickly drain the excitement from planning a trip. Fortunately, some countries have revolutionized their visa systems, offering approvals in hours rather than days. For spontaneous travellers, these destinations make last-minute adventures a real possibility.

Here are five countries that issue visas in 24 hours or less:

1. Azerbaijan – Visa in 3 Hours

Azerbaijan operates one of the fastest visa systems in the world.

Through its ASAN Visa platform, travellers can apply online and receive approval in as little as three hours. The process requires minimal documentation, making spontaneous trips to Baku or the scenic Caspian coastline incredibly easy.

2. Sri Lanka – ETA Within 24 Hours

Sri Lanka’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system is both fast and efficient.

Most applications are processed in under 24 hours, allowing travellers to explore the country’s lush tea plantations, ancient temples, and golden beaches without lengthy delays.

3. Pakistan – Visa in 24 Hours

Pakistan’s digital visa platform provides approvals within a single day for many nationalities.

With options for stays of up to 90 days, this quick system makes discovering Pakistan’s mountain landscapes, historic landmarks, and bustling cities much easier.

4. Turkey – e-Visa in 24 Hours

Turkey’s e-Visa system is simple and seamless.

Travellers can complete the entire process online and typically receive approval within 24 hours. Whether visiting Istanbul’s timeless architecture or Antalya’s stunning coast, Turkey’s swift visa process ensures a hassle-free start to your journey.

5. Thailand – e-Visa on Arrival (eVOA) in 24 Hours

Thailand’s eVOA system allows travellers to apply online and get approval within 24 hours.

Valid for a 15-day stay, the eVOA also lets visitors skip long immigration queues on arrival – ideal for anyone craving a quick getaway to the Land of Smiles.

Across parts of West Africa and Southeast Asia, particularly in underserved communities in Nigeria and Cambodia, health inequities remain a growing concern. Many areas still face limited access to quality care, poor health literacy, and systemic barriers that hinder preventive health practices.

Public health advocate and researcher, Tonia Anaekwe, is among a new generation of Africans working to close these gaps through community-led solutions. Her initiative, Tonia’s Health Equity Bridges (T-HEB), focuses on empowering local communities to become the first line of response in improving public health outcomes.

The organisation combines evidence-based training, psychosocial support, and community mobilisation to strengthen local capacity. Its approach has produced tangible results in communities such as Igbodo in Delta State, where T-HEB trained over 150 community health workers on maternal and child health practices.

‘Before this training, I didn’t know how important early antenatal visits were, but now I can teach mothers confidently,’ said Grace O., one of the participants. Data from the programme showed a 143 per cent rise in collective health knowledge, with average test scores increasing from 35 to 85 per cent. A local clinic director, Dr. Festus Ayangwu, also confirmed the progress. ‘Thanks to her efforts, our clinic has recorded fewer preventable complications and more residents now seek timely medical advice,’ he said.

This impactful model has attracted global attention, including a World Bank-funded project in Cambodia to replicate the training framework for community health workers, amplifying its international reach. In the Karu community of Nasarawa State, the impact was also evident. The programme surpassed its initial goal by training 48 Community Health Educators, who later reached over 5,000 households. Data from a partner clinic in the area showed a 22 per cent increase in patient visits for preventive services such as immunisation and antenatal care.

Tonia’s model also prioritises sustainability through partnerships and replication. The Society for Family Health (SFH) recently invited her organisation to lead an intervention in Gwagwa, Abuja, citing T-HEB’s ‘proven expertise in delivering community health training for vulnerable populations.’ That collaboration trained 70 participants, raising their average knowledge scores from 35 to 91 per cent.

A participant from Gwagwa, Amina Yusuf, described the training as transformational. ‘Ms. Tonia helped us see how local barriers affect people’s ability to seek care. Her visit was more than a lecture; it changed how we approach our work,’ she said.

Beyond community projects, Tonia has also worked on broader policy engagement. While at the Society for Family Health, she contributed to expanding female condom access in rural areas and built partnerships with over 50 stakeholders in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Her work aligns with international efforts such as the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Speaking about her long-term vision, she said, ‘Equity is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Our goal is to build resilient communities by equipping people with the knowledge and confidence to take charge of their own health.’

Through Tonia’s Health Equity Bridges, she continues to create a data-backed framework for health empowerment that transforms beneficiaries into advocates. Her work is gradually shaping a new model for community-driven health systems across Africa and beyond.

Barring any last-minute change, six high and senior chiefs on the Otun Olubadan line of the Olubadan Chieftaincy will be promoted to their next level on Friday.

The decoration with the ‘akoko’ leaf to seal the promotion will be done by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.

The promotion was necessitated by the vacancy created by the enthronement of Oba Ladoja, formerly the Otun Olubadan, as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.

The affected High Chiefs are: Oba Eddy Oyewole, Oba Kola Daisi, Oba Hamidu Ajibade, Oba Adebayo Akande, Senior Chiefs Lekan Alabi and Kola Babalola.

If done, Oba Oyewole will move from Osi Olubadan to Otun Olubadan; Oba Hamidu Ajibade from Ekerin Olubadan to Asipa Olubadan; Oba Adebayo Akande from Ekaarun Olubadan to Ekerin Olubadan; Senior Chief Lekan Alabi from Maye Olubadan to Abese Olubadan and Senior Chief Kola Babalola from Abese Olubadan to Ekaarun Olubadan.

The elevation ceremony is billed for the new Olubadan palace, Oke-Aremo in Ibadan North local government area.

The ceremony, as reliably gathered, will be the first traditional ceremony to be performed by Oba Ladoja since his enthronement Friday, September 26, 2025.

China’s growing influence in Africa has been a subject of interest and discussions by experts and observers.

This is because the Asian giant has invested heavily in Africa’s infrastructure, including transportation networks, energy systems and ports, especially in notable projects like the railway projects in Nigeria, Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway in Ethiopia, and the Tema Port expansion in Ghana.

Moreso, China is expanding its role in Africa’s energy sector, particularly in renewable energy with launching of 30 new clean energy projects in Africa, focusing on solar, wind and hydropower.

Other areas are digital infrastructure, including 5G networks, data centres and e-commerce platforms as well as a pledge to create one million jobs across Africa through investments in infrastructure, industrialization and green energy projects.

Though all these have been unsettling some Western interests, but for Africa, experts said the projects are yielding mutual benefit.

Experts claimed that these initiatives demonstrate China’s commitment to Africa’s development and its desire to be a key partner in shaping the continent’s economic future.

At a dialogue on China-Africa cooperation at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos, last week, experts underscored Beijing’s expanding footprint in Africa and its commitment to mutually beneficial partnerships.

The discussions, which centered on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), highlighted China’s approach to partnership, focusing on mutual benefits, global multi-polarity, green energy development and its growing impact on Africa’s transformation.

The dialogue portrayed China not just as an investor but as a strategic partner reshaping Africa’s economic and geopolitical landscape.

Speakers at the event opined that through the BRI and FOCAC, China advances a new model of South-South cooperation rooted in mutual respect, green development, and shared prosperity, offering Africa an alternative path within an emerging multipolar world.

In his address at the event with the theme: ‘Dialogue on China-Africa Cooperation under BRI and FOCAC, the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, said that contrary to the belief in some quarters, China’s engagement with Africa is non-colonial and mutually beneficial, with capacity building and infrastructure development at the forefront.

Osaghae noted that China involvement has helped African nations harness natural resources, expand industrial capacity and deliver critical infrastructure.

According to him, China-Africa cooperation is creating a parallel economic network, positioning Africa closer to the center of International trade.

He said: ‘Unlike Western powers, China’s engagement is presented as non-colonial and mutually beneficial, built on a foundation of capacity building and infrastructure development. Through this partnership, China aims to serve as Africa’s pathway to global integration, emphasizing shared growth rather than exploitation.

‘China’s rise is driving the shift from a unipolar to a multipolar world order. Its engagement with Africa offers an alternative governance model and supports reforms in multilateral organizations for fairer global representation. Through FOCAC, China has pledged billions of dollars for African infrastructure, reinforcing its role as a reliable development partner and a reformist in international governance.

‘China’s involvement has helped African nations harness natural resources, expand industrial capacity, and deliver critical infrastructure. The private sector has emerged as the main engine of China-Africa trade since 2005, strengthening Africa’s industrial systems. China’s leadership in mining-aided by subsidies, infrastructure coordination, and adaptability-has also created new opportunities amid global economic uncertainties, as both regions seek to diversify away from Western markets.

‘China-Africa cooperation is creating a parallel global economic network that positions Africa closer to the center of international trade. This partnership now extends beyond infrastructure to include manufacturing, digital integration, and financial innovation, such as the internationalisation of the Yuan (RMB). The relationship is evolving toward regional value chains and a South-South development model grounded in shared prosperity, industrial dignity, and sovereign agency.’

But, NIIA Acting Director of Research and Studies, Prof. Efem Ubi, at the event, urged Nigerians to maximise the positive aspects of the China-Africa relationship for its economic growth and development.

Speaking on the topic: ‘China-Africa Trade and Investment Cooperation In An Uncertain Global Order,’ Prof. Ubi said that Nigerians and Africans ‘should begin to prioritise our relationship with the super powers and the emerging economies.’

In doing that, Prof. Ubi said, ‘We will be able to maximise our relationship with whichever country that is coming to relate with us, irrespective of the nature of the relationship.’

While urging Nigerians ‘to stop looking at the negativity in our relationship with China,’ the international relations expert said: ‘We should try to be positive about the relationship. What matters in any diplomatic relationship or any political relationship is the countries’ interests. What’s our interest in China expanding interest in Africa? What’s our interest in China’s incursion into Africa?’

He lamented that many times, people focus on the negative aspects of China-Africa relationship.

Saying that Nigeria and Africa need to look at other super powers that exploit their resources without proper agreement with the host countries, Prof. Ubi added: ‘What we need to do now is to formulate policies in terms of resource sustainability, resource security in whatever relationship we are entering into with any other country, even in Africa.’

Also at the event, Prof. Femi Otnbajo, a research professor at NIIA, lamented that Africa has the problem of weak leaders and weak bureaucracy, leading to its exploitation by external forces.

He noted: ‘People come into your country and you cannot negotiate properly with them. If you negotiate in such a way that you are the primary beneficiary, there’s nothing that the other country can do.’

Calling on Nigerian leaders and other African leader to resist exploitation by external forces, Prof. Otunbajo said: ‘Every country has its capacity for exploitation. If you don’t stand up against them, they will take as much as they can.’

Prof. Otunbajo said that the seminar tends to focus on ensuring that Nigeria and Africa are not exploited in any form.

‘The Chinese are here, they want things from us, and we want to see how we can ensure that they don’t exploit us, that is our primary concern,’ Prof. Otunbajo added.