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Preparations are underway for the inaugural edition of À?É10: A Reign of Peace, Culture and Unity, a global cultural festival designed to celebrate Yoruba heritage and strengthen connections across the African diaspora.

Organised by SloweGanzi International, the week-long event will hold from November 30 to December 7, 2025, under the royal patronage of Arolé Odùduwà, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojájá II, the 51st Ooni of Ife.

The festival coincides with the Ooni’s 10th Coronation Anniversary, marking a decade of what organisers describe as visionary leadership dedicated to peace, youth empowerment, and the global renaissance of Yoruba culture.

According to a statement from SloweGanzi International, À?É10 represents more than just a cultural gathering. It is a movement to reunite Yoruba people at home and abroad, from Africa to the Americas, the Caribbean, and beyond, in a renewed spirit of shared identity and cultural pride.

The festival will unfold across Lagos and Ile-Ife, combining exhibitions, performances, academic discussions, and traditional ceremonies that highlight the richness of Yoruba civilization.

Activities will include art and cultural showcases, film premieres, scholarly dialogues on Yoruba identity and Pan-Africanism, fashion and culinary displays, as well as music and dance performances blending traditional and contemporary influences.

A royal banquet and fireworks display will crown the week-long celebration in Ile-Ife, often regarded as the spiritual cradle of the Yoruba people.

In addition to the festivities, organisers will unveil plans for the Yoruba History and Arts Museum, a landmark legacy project to be established in Ile-Ife.

The museum is envisioned as a global center for the preservation and promotion of Yoruba art, history, and philosophy, ensuring that future generations can access and celebrate their cultural heritage.

Speaking on the significance of the event, a representative of SloweGanzi International described À?É10 as ‘a call to reconnect, rediscover, and reassert the power of Yoruba heritage as a global force for unity and peace.’

Her Royal Majesty, Queen Aderonke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi, also commended the initiative, noting that the Ooni’s decade on the throne has redefined traditional leadership as ‘a living, evolving anchor for culture, unity, and development.’

The organisers said the festival aims to promote cultural preservation, strengthen diaspora bonds, foster economic empowerment through tourism and creative industries, and position Ile-Ife as a global hub for African creativity and identity.

SloweGanzi International has called for participation from traditional rulers, cultural custodians, artists, scholars, entrepreneurs, development agencies, and sponsors across the world.

Based in the United States and Nigeria, SloweGanzi International is a global sports and entertainment event company known for creating transformative cultural experiences that connect communities, inspire engagement, and promote social and cultural growth.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) has begun mobilising traders across Anambra State to actively participate in the forthcoming governorship election. It said their involvement is crucial to achieving a higher voter turnout.

SIDEC noted that only 92,000 out of over 2.6 million registered voters participated in the 2021 governorship election-a figure the organisation described as worryingly low.

The group is currently implementing the Inclusive Mobilisation for Participation, Advocacy and Civic Transformation (Project IMPACT) in partnership with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, with funding support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK-FCDO).

Speaking during a voter education session at Ochanja Market, Onitsha, SIDEC’s Executive Director, Mrs Ugochi Ehiahuruike, stressed that good governance depends on the active involvement of citizens, not just elected leaders.

‘It is not their government but our government,’ she said. ‘We all must take ownership, and one way to do that is by casting our votes for candidates of our choice.’

Ehiahuruike urged traders not to stay away from the polls or allow a few voters to decide the future of the state.

‘November 8, 2025, is not a day for football matches or movie marathons. It is a day to decide the destiny of Anambra State for the next four years.

Even if you choose not to vote, those who do will determine our collective direction. Come out and be counted. INEC has assured that every vote will count-speak loudly with your voter’s card.’

She also appealed to candidates, supporters, and the electorate to maintain peace before, during, and after the election, stressing that development can only thrive in a peaceful environment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He was accompanied on the visit by Mr Nasir Lawal.

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

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

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

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

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

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

National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Circuits, Africa’s virtual cinema and audiovisual distribution platform, to digitise its educational and culinary content.

The partnership aims to accelerate the digital transformation of Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism industry by providing online access to NIHOTOUR’s training, capacity development programmes, and culinary showcases.

Established under NIHOTOUR Act, the institute serves as Nigeria’s top agency for training, regulation, and capacity building in the hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors.

Through Circuits’ advanced digital platform, NIHOTOUR will deliver its courses and initiatives to a wider audience, allowing Nigerians, particularly those in hotels, restaurants, catering, travel, and related sectors to access high-quality training.

As part of the collaboration, they will produce and stream culinary shows that highlight Nigeria’s diverse food culture and creative gastronomy. The initiative is expected to set standards for African culinary excellence and promote Nigeria’s reputation as a hub of hospitality innovation.

NIHOTOUR’s Director-General, Dr. Abisoye Fagade, described the agreement as a milestone for the sector.

‘This partnership with Circuits aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritises innovation, youth empowerment, and economic growth.

‘By embracing digital dissemination, we are extending our mandate to Nigerians, providing them with knowledge and skills to compete globally.’

Chief Operating Officer of Circuits, Imade Bibowei-Osuobeni, said the collaboration reflects their commitment to connecting African creativity with global audiences. ‘Partnering NIHOTOUR allows us to merge education, entertainment, and tech to redefine how hospitality expertise and indigenous culinary excellence are shared and celebrated,’ she said.

The MoU reinforces NIHOTOUR’s leadership in hospitality capacity building while leveraging Circuits’ digital infrastructure to expand Nigeria’s global footprint in tourism and gastronomy.

By combining innovation with accessibility, both organisations are paving the way for a new era in Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism education.

Coca-Cola Nigeria has reignited its Share-A-Coke campaign, with a launch in Lagos .

The event, welcomed media professionals, content creators, and fans as well as customers to celebrate the values of sharing, personalisation, and community that have made Share-A-Coke a cultural phenomenon around the world.

The launch brought the campaign’s essence to life through interactive installations, creative personalisation zones, and performances by artists like Wande Coal, Odumodublvk, Falz, Shody, D.J Shawn, and Rybeena. Guests located and personalise Coca-Cola bottles to bear their names or those of loved ones, creating moments of joy and connection captured in photos and videos.

Mariam Kaham, general manager, said the launch was return of a most endearing campaigns, but with a focus on Gen Zs.

‘Today marks the comeback of the world’s most loved campaign, in Nigeria. Nigerians have done this in the past and now it is bigger, better, bolder, here for you. So, we have crafted this for the Gen Zs,’ she said.

She noted that the campaign is more than just names on bottles, but about creating real connections.

‘When you hand someone a Coke with their name on it, you are giving them something deeply personal: their identity, their moment, and their story and that’s what makes Share A Coke so special,’ Kaham said.

The event also featured an engaging digital activation where attendees scanned QR codes on specially marked bottles to generate personalised ‘Share-A-Coke Memory’ digital keepsakes. The experience seamlessly blended nostalgia with innovation, showcasing Coca-Cola’s ability to evolve with its audience while preserving the emotional connection that defines the brand.

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

‘We’re reintroducing a campaign with global heritage and giving it a modern Nigerian pulse. By combining personalization, digital interactivity, and community storytelling, we’re creating experiences that people want to share, not just products they want to buy,’ he said.

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

‘Our goal is to ensure that Share-A-Coke resonates at every touchpoint, from retail shelves to social spaces. It’s about sparking conversations, creating smiles, and celebrating the joy that comes from sharing a Coke with someone you care about,’ she noted.

Originally launched globally more than a decade ago, Share A Coke became a defining marketing movement by replacing the iconic Coca-Cola logo with popular first names on bottles and cans. In Nigeria, the campaign has enjoyed enormous success, strengthening emotional ties to the brand and inspiring a culture of connection among young people. Its return in 2025 marks a renewed commitment by Coca-Cola Nigeria to celebrate individuality while fostering a sense of togetherness across communities.

Following the Lagos launch, Share-A-Coke will roll out nationwide with personalised bottle drops, interactive pop-up stations in major cities, and a series of influencer-led digital activations under the hashtag #ShareACokeNG.

There are over 1,000 names on the bottles, while gifts items would be won during the campaign season that runs till the end of December.

The campaign will continue to spotlight everyday stories of friendship, love, and celebration, reminding Nigerians that a simple act of sharing can create moments that last.

‘As we relaunch this iconic campaign, we’re not just reintroducing a product experience; we’re reviving a movement,’ Kaham concluded. ‘Share A Coke is about joy, connection, and community. We want every bottle shared to represent a story, a smile, and a moment that brings people closer together.’

‘share a coke isn’t about the can or your bottle. It is about the personalized connections, you make, it’s about having your dinner party with all your friends with personalised names on the table, or you like to go to the big parties and you get the baddies with the besties. So, I invite all of you to go out there, try your favorite Coca-Cola products in the can in the bottle. Look for the names that vibe with you, whether it’s the name, whether it’s the mood, whatever energy you want.

She thanked her company’s various partners, including Nigerian Bottling Company, for working tirelessly to bring the campaign back to life.

Members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State yesterday held a solidarity march to back the governorship aspiration of the Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Asiwaju Munirudeen Oyebamiji (AMBO) and re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The supporters converged on Osogbo City Stadium and marched through Ayetoro, Igbona, Olounkoro, Old-Garage, Orisunbare, Ola-Iya, Fakunle, to Ogo-Oluwa, which covered five kilometres before they stopped at Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Office.

They described the NIWA boss as the best aspirant, who had the capacity to deliver victory for the party if given the governorship ticket for the 2026 election.

Former Speaker of House of Assembly Timothy Owoeye said the walk was not just a show of strength for Oyebamiji, but also a reaffirmation that APC remained the party to beat in Osun.

He hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and performance, saying his achievements had rekindled faith in the party across the country.

‘This Unity Walk is to tell Osun people that APC is united and ready for 2026. Asiwaju Oyebamiji stands out as a competent, tested and trusted aspirant with a track record of performance as a two-time commissioner and as managing director of Osun Investment Company Limited,’ Owoeye said.

Addressing reporters, a former commissioner under the administration of ex-Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, Adebayo Adeleke, said the large turnout of APC members to support Oyebamiji was a testament that he was loved by all ahead of December 13 primary.

‘It is obvious that Oyebamiji is an aspirant to beat in the APC primary election. We are happy for this large turnout. We are ready and prepared for the primary election. There is no aspirant in APC that is not competent. They are all competent. But what we are saying is Bola Oyebamiji is above all when it comes to APC. He is more acceptable, a gentleman, knowledgeable and a financial expert. He is the one that can strengthen the economic situation of Osun State.’

ýKehinde Ayantunji, special adviser to former Governor Oyetola, lauded President Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande and Oyetola for their continued support for the APC since 2022.

He said their efforts had strengthened the party and rekindled public trust.

The Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Obi Asika, has said Nigeria’s creative and cultural industries are leading Africa’s entertainment growth, with the sector projected to reach $100 billion by 2030.

He said the latest PwC report placing Nigeria ahead of other African nations with an 11.2% growth rate last year reaffirmed the strength and potential of the country’s entertainment and media ecosystem.

Asika, who spoke on Arise News at the weekend, said: ‘I think the PwC numbers are saying $25 billion by 2025, but for us in the sector, we’re trying to get to $100 billion by 2030.

‘We just completed a significant mapping of the sector for the very first time, supported by Big Win Philanthropy, covering ten sectors. Our target is to add two million jobs by 2030, but the data shows we can actually add up to three million.’

He noted that the report underscored how the creative industry continues to lead Nigeria’s economy even in difficult times, noting that technology remains the key driver of scale.

‘Technology enables scale, but can you imagine a digital platform without our content? It’s dead. This sector animates everything – news, music, entertainment, podcasts, art – all come from it. That’s why these PwC numbers and even Spotify’s figures show how powerful the sector has become,’ he said.

Asika disclosed that Spotify paid Nigerian artists N58 billion in 2024, with over 1.2 million Afrobeats playlists hosted on the platform – a sign, he said, that Nigerian content has fully validated itself on the global stage.

‘Our music is no longer in the phase of validation – it’s already validated,’ he added.

He however warned that to sustain the boom, Nigeria must invest in infrastructure, regulation, and local platforms to ensure artists and creators benefit directly.

‘We want to see more domestic digital platforms built. There’s nothing wrong with YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram, but we must develop our own ecosystem and capture our own value.

‘The key question is retaining that value domestically. A mix of policy, digital and physical infrastructure investment will take us there,’ he added.

Highlighting Nigeria’s immense creative talent, Asika said soft power through the arts had already proven its worth globally.

‘Nigerians need to be celebrated. Our creativity has penetrated everywhere with very little investment. Government can’t claim to have done much yet – maybe we’re just coming to the party.

‘There’s talent everywhere – in Kafanchan, Onitsha, Enugu, Kaduna, Ibadan – not just in Lagos or Port Harcourt. The question is how to create platforms and give opportunities for exposure and growth,’ he said.

On the forthcoming National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), holding between November 22nd and 29th in Enugu State, he said:

‘Come to Enugu, he said, ‘Governor Peter Mbah has promised it will be the biggest and best ever. We’re expecting all 36 states and the FCT, and Katsina is even bringing 100 horses for the first-ever Durba in the Southeast.

‘People don’t even realise that the Durba is the same as the Ofala or Ojude Oba – moments when the king comes out to greet his people. That’s why our theme this year is Connected Culture.’

Asika expressed excitement about the recently reopened National Arts Theatre in Lagos, describing it as a game-changer for the sector.

‘It’s a world-class venue, and once programmed properly, it’ll transform the landscape. My colleague Tola Akerele already has nine months of programming lined up, and from November 1st, you’ll start seeing what’s coming,’ Asika said.

An indigenous tech firm, AbaaTech Solutions Limited, has unveiled the first app that performs three functions, Abaaly.

The app works for socialisation, communication, and financial transactions.

At the unveiling of the app yesterday in Lagos, its Founder/CEO, Mr. Power Aden, said the innovation strongly aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the National Digital Economy Policy, which emphasise unity, inclusion, and digital empowerment as pathways to national prosperity.

Aden said by promoting communication, entrepreneurship, and creative expression, the initiative supports the President’s goal of building a diversified, innovative, and people-centred economy.

‘It complements government’s efforts while remaining independent, citizen-driven, and innovation-led, showing that private sector leadership can work hand-in-hand with public vision to build the Nigeria we all desire,’ he said.

The AbaaTech Solutions chief executive assured users that Abaaly would propel Nigeria to enter a new era of digital transformation and national pride with technology transformation.

According to him, the app is a groundbreaking innovation proudly built in Nigeria by Nigerians for Nigerians and the world.

Aden said: ‘This revolutionary secure platform represents far more than technology; it is a movement of unity, inclusion, and creativity, designed to connect every citizen, strengthen trust, and project Nigeria’s true image to the world. It is the only platform that comes with its security platform.

‘Abaaly brings together the essential elements of daily life, social interaction, communication, and financial transactions into one secure and accessible platform.

‘It allows citizens to chat, share, buy, sell, and pay effortlessly, enabling communities, businesses, and institutions to thrive together.

‘Whether you are in Lagos or Lafia, Sokoto or Port Harcourt, this technology works for everyone. It works both online and offline, ensuring Nigerians can connect, communicate, and transact even in areas with limited internet access across every social and economic class.’

The company chief executive described the platform as a unifying space that gives all Nigerians equal access to tools that simplify life, foster connection, and create opportunity.

He said the launch was a national call to action to all Nigerians who create, build, and inspire.

‘We call on content creators and artistes to develop and share authentic Nigerian stories, music, films and cultural content that reflect our identity and values.

‘Entrepreneurs and brand leaders to build and promote local products, fashion, food, and technologies that strengthen Nigeria’s economy and global reputation; writers, film makers, and musician to project our unique voices and reclaim our national narrative; innovators and technologies to design homegrown solutions that solve local challenges and show the world what Nigerian intelligence can achieve.

‘We all have a shared responsibility to promote our culture, our creativity, and our collective pride.

‘By building and sharing local content, we are not just telling our story, we are reshaping how the world sees Nigeria,’ he said.

According to him, the app is a bridge of trust between people and the nation, stressing that it enables easier communication, greater transparency, and stronger connection between people, government, and institutions.

Aden said it represents a future where every Nigerian can participate fully in the nation’s digital economy and social progress where technology strengthens unity and restores faith in our shared potential.

‘We are not just launching an app, we are launching a national vision. A vision where Nigerians connect, create, and thrive together. This is how we tell our story, this is how we build our future,’ he said.

Also, the Head of Atlanta Georgia, U.S.A office, Dr. Kazeem Bello, said the app has brought transformation to the world in the digital space.

According to him, the Mayor of Atlanta, Andre Dickens, is excited about the new innovation.

Bell said the app would prove to the world that there is nothing that can be done in the U.S., Canada or even India, reputed to be global tech capital, that young tech-savvy Nigerians cannot do. ‘There is no app anywhere in the world that can match the Abaaly super app,’ he said.

The Chief Operating Officer at AbaaTech Solutions Limited, Dr. Ola Raheem, described the app as a wholly Nigerian technology developed for the global tech ecosystem which is a mega export product for the country.

He said the app is the first of its type with its unique features, projecting that very soon, it will provide jobs for about 10,000 Nigerians.

Raheem said the company is working hard to ensure that content creators are paid in US dollars.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has rescheduled the planned arraignment of Senator Andy Uba and Benjamin Etu in the alleged N400 million fraud case for November 6.

Uba and Etu were to be arraigned yesterday but for the absence of the judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, who was said to be sitting at another division of the court outside Abuja.

With the agreement of lawyers in the case, officials of the court rescheduled the arrangement for November 6.

The judge, on September 24, threatened to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Uba, the former Senator representing Anambra South, should he fail to appear in court on October 28.

The threat to issue bench warrant was informed by an application by the prosecuting lawyer, Aminu Abdullahi, that the court should compel UBA to attend court.

Uba’s lawyer, C.F. Odiniru pleaded with the judge to reject the prosecution’a request for a bench warrant.

Odiniru attributed Uba’s continued absence to ill health.

In count one of the two-count charge, Uba, Etu and Hajiya Fatima now at large, are alleged to have, sometimes in 2022 conspired amongst themselves to commit the offence.

Uba and others were accused of obtaining by false pretence, by making a presentation to Mr George Uboh that they had perfected ways for the appointment of the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to any interested persons who could afford N400 million.

Uboh, in a letter dated April 5, 2023, and addressed to the I-G, said the petition was based on documentary and voice recording.

According to Uboh, the evidence is overwhelming and irrefutable.

No fewer than six witnesses had been listed to testify against the ex-lawmaker and Etu.