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The Federal Government has dismissed reports that it plans to sell the nation’s Unity Colleges, saying the concession of King’s College, Lagos, to its Old Boys Association is a specific intervention aimed at restoring the institution’s lost glory.

Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, who stated this at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, said the government had no intention of selling or transferring ownership of any of the Unity Colleges to private interests.

He explained that the management agreement involving King’s College was designed to allow the school’s Old Boys Association to invest heavily in infrastructure and restore the institution to its former standard, while ownership of the property would remain with the Federal Government.

Alausa, who was accompanied by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, said the press conference was convened to clarify what he described as misinformation surrounding the agreement with the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA).

He said: ‘Federal Government is not selling any Unity College. The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, does not have the intention to sell any Unity College and we will not sell any Unity College.’

While lamenting the high level of dilapidation of the Unity Colleges across the country, the Minister said the government had opted for an innovative approach because of the huge infrastructure deficit confronting the Unity Colleges and the limited resources available to government.

He said even a release of ?2 trillion would not be sufficient to address the accumulated infrastructure decay across Unity Colleges nationwide.

Alausa said the condition of some of the schools became evident during unannounced inspection visits carried out by him and the Minister of State.

He said the situation he encountered at King’s College, particularly its old campus, exposed the extent of deterioration in hostels, classrooms, laboratories, toilets, dining facilities and other infrastructure.

The minister said the school had at a point gone for nine months without electricity before intervention by the government.

He also criticised the use of portions of the school premises as a public car park, saying such an arrangement raised serious security concerns for students.

Alausa said the government had subsequently directed that the car-parking arrangement be discontinued.

He explained that the decision to engage the King’s College Old Boys Association followed its willingness to invest significant resources in rehabilitating and repositioning the institution without increasing fees.

According to him, the alumni association already has a foundation that would manage the institution on a not-for-profit basis.

He said the arrangement was not an abdication of government responsibility, noting that the government would retain ownership of the school and monitor the implementation of agreed performance indicators.

‘The property still remains Federal Government property. The Federal Ministry of Education has given clear KPIs to meet,’ he said.

Alausa also cited the experience of former mission schools and some institutions managed by alumni associations as examples of how private or alumni-supported management could help restore schools to their former standards without transferring ownership.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, explained that the management concession granted in respect of King’s College would run for 35 years.

She said the duration was necessary to enable the concessionaire to make the level of investment required to rehabilitate the institution and achieve sustainable results.

Ahmad stressed that the arrangement should not be interpreted as a sale of the school or a precedent for concessioning all Unity Colleges.

She said the Federal Government was not extending the King’s College arrangement to other Unity Colleges.

The minister said a short-term concession would not provide sufficient time for an investor or alumni body to commit the level of resources required to transform an institution with decades of accumulated infrastructure challenges.

Alausa also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had approved the recruitment of 3,000 teachers this year, with the government working to absorb existing PTA teachers into the public teaching system where appropriate.

He said the government planned to recruit an additional 5,000 teachers next year as part of efforts to address the shortage of teachers in federal schools.

The minister said the administration was also committed to rehabilitating infrastructure in the schools while addressing concerns raised by staff unions.

On the protest by education-sector unions over the King’s College arrangement, Alausa condemned the blockade of the Ministry of Education, saying workers had the right to protest but must do so within the law.

He said the government had already reached a six-point agreement with the Trade Union Congress and other stakeholders, adding that the ministry remained open to dialogue.

He, however, said the government would not tolerate the alleged obstruction of access to the ministry, damage to property or intimidation of workers.

Alausa maintained that the government’s objective was to restore the quality, discipline and unity that characterised institutions such as King’s College when they were established to train future leaders.

He said the government would continue to explore partnerships that could attract additional resources to the education sector without relinquishing ownership of public institutions.

Zobo is one of Nigeria’s most popular homemade drinks. Made from dried hibiscus flowers, it is affordable, refreshing and easy to prepare. Beyond its taste, zobo contains natural plant compounds that may offer several health benefits.

However, the way it is prepared matters. Adding too much refined sugar can turn an otherwise healthy drink into a high-sugar beverage.

In this article, Tribune Online highlights some of the potential health benefits of drinking unsweetened zobo.

It contains antioxidants

Hibiscus is rich in natural compounds such as anthocyanins and polyphenols. These compounds have antioxidant properties that protect the body’s cells from oxidative stress.

This makes unsweetened zobo a simple way to add more plant-based compounds to your diet.

It lower blood pressure

One of the better-known potential benefits of hibiscus is its effect on blood pressure.

Studies suggest that drinking hibiscus tea may help to lower blood pressure, particularly in people with elevated blood pressure.

However, people taking blood pressure medication should not stop their treatment and replace it with zobo.

It may support heart health

Keeping blood pressure under control is important for maintaining good heart health.

Choosing unsweetened zobo instead of sugary soft drinks can also help to reduce your intake of added sugar, making it a better drink choice as part of a balanced diet.

It supports healthy hydration

Zobo is mainly made with water, so it can contribute to your daily fluid intake. Staying properly hydrated supports several important functions in the body, including normal kidney function and the removal of waste through urine. However, plain water should still be an important part of your daily fluid intake.

It supports healthy blood sugar choices

Unsweetened zobo contains no added refined sugar, making it a better option than heavily sweetened drinks for people trying to reduce their sugar intake. Adding large amounts of sugar can significantly increase the drink’s sugar content.

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It is a better alternative to sugary drinks

One of the simplest benefits of unsweetened zobo is what it can replace. Instead of drinking f

soft drinks or other heavily sweetened beverages, you can choose homemade zobo with little or no added sugar. This can help to reduce your overall intake of added sugar and unnecessary calories.

The Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Ado-Ekiti has adjourned further hearing of the petition challenging the outcome of the 2026 governorship election following an application by the petitioners seeking the relocation of the proceedings from the state over an alleged assault on the counsel of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Justice Idris Kutigi, the chairman of the three-man tribunal, adjourned the matter until September 23, 2026, to allow the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, to determine the petitioners’ request for the transfer of the case to another venue considered safe by them.

Speaking after the proceedings on Wednesday, lawyer to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Adetunji Osho, SAN, said the petitioners’ counsel, Ebenezer Akinbuli, appeared before the tribunal on Tuesday and attributed his inability to produce witnesses to a crisis allegedly affecting the proceedings.

He said the petitioners’ counsel consequently sought an adjournment, adding that the respondents had seen Akinbuli and some of his witnesses within the tribunal premises on Tuesday.

Osho said the respondents were, however, surprised when they were served with a letter on Wednesday seeking another adjournment on the grounds that Akinbule had allegedly been assaulted and that some of the witnesses were being prevented from appearing before the tribunal.

He further disclosed that the petitioners had written to the President of the Court of Appeal, requesting that the petition be transferred from Ekiti State to another location which they considered safe.

Osho added that the tribunal, in view of the application before the President of the Court of Appeal, adjourned the matter until September 23 for the court’s decision on the proposed transfer.

He said the respondents had no option but to concede to the adjournment, pending the determination of the venue application.

According to him, ‘From the hearing of the petition commenced on the 8th of September 2026, and as is usual, the hearing was to go on day-to-day, and then it was adjourned today for continuation of hearing.

‘Yesterday, the petitioner’s counsel, one Ebenezer Akinbule, was in court, and then he admitted to the fact that the crisis that is rocking the area prevented him from bringing his witnesses and applied that the matter be adjourned today.

‘We saw him and his witnesses yesterday within the court premises until he drove off.

‘Today, we were surprised to be served with a letter asking for an adjournment on the ground that he was assaulted and that his witnesses were being prevented from coming to the tribunal.

‘We were also informed that he had written to the President of the Court of Appeal for a change of the venue, that the petition be transferred from Ekiti to another venue which they consider safe for them.

‘The tribunal, in its wisdom, adjourned the hearing of the petition till Wednesday, 23rd of September, for the President of the Court of Appeal to take a decision on the petitioner’s application for transfer of the petition.

‘So, we are constrained to concede to the adjournment, and then we will await the President of the Court of Appeal’s decision on the petitioner’s application for transfer of the petition out of Ado-Ekiti.’

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparent and accountable governance, with citizens taking an active role in shaping the state’s 2027 budget.

Diri made the commitment at a stakeholders’ public interactive session on the preparation of the 2027 annual budget, held at the Harold Dappa-Biriye Conference Hall, Onopa, Yenagoa.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, said the administration would strengthen systems for tracking and reporting budget implementation to ensure the proper utilisation of public funds.

He said the government had consistently partnered with civil society organisations, the media and citizens to promote transparency, accountability and good governance in the state.

According to Diri, the interactive session was designed to give people from all walks of life an opportunity to contribute to the budget process through a bottom-up approach.

He said the citizens’ budget to be produced after the session would be published in plain language, enabling Bayelsans to understand how public funds were allocated and utilised.

The governor urged stakeholders to identify what had worked or failed in their communities and sectors, and use the findings to help the government set priorities for the 2027 fiscal year.

Diri also called for inclusion of women, youths, persons living with disabilities and communities affected by oil production in the budget-making process.

Commissioner for Finance, Maxwell Ebibai, represented by the Technical Adviser on Treasury, Accounts and Revenues, Timipre Seipulo, said the state recorded 86 percent performance in its 2025 budget.

Seipulo said Bayelsa received actual revenue of N1.13 trillion in 2025, compared with budgeted revenue of N1.294 trillion, representing a significant increase over the previous year.

He added that recurrent expenditure stood at N274.78 billion, while capital expenditure increased to N838 billion, representing a 41 percent rise over the previous year.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Burutolu Samuel, said the session was aimed at identifying citizens’ priorities and collectively determining the state’s development direction.

Samuel urged Bayelsans to participate actively in the budget process, saying their input will help the government to produce a people-centred budget capable of delivering tangible improvements.

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Moses Teibowei, said the administration had recorded progress in infrastructure development, particularly through the construction of roads linking hinterland communities.

Teibowei disclosed that Diri had approved the rehabilitation of internal roads in Yenagoa, including the old Okaka road, while representatives of women, youths, community development committees and traditional rulers used the session to raise concerns and present their priorities.

Former Cross River state governor and presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has been rated by an international publication, Global Hukum Indonesia, as one of Nigeria’s most promising presidential candidates in two decades. Internet checks revealed that Hukum Indonesia is a national scientific journal described as ‘A double-blind, peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by Riviera Publishing every three months.’

Duke emerged as one of the first set of governors elected after Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. He was elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The report said Duke was attracting increasing attention from international political and economic observers ahead of the election.

The paper stated: ‘Media organisations in the United States, Europe and Asia, including those based in Washington, D.C., Brussels, China, Malaysia and Indonesia, were closely monitoring his campaign.’

The report highlighted Duke’s vision and governance record as evidence of the leadership required to implement comprehensive national reforms.

The report stated further: ‘In response to Nigeria’s economic and governance challenges, Duke is committed to far-reaching structural reforms aimed at building a fair, transparent and corruption-free government.

‘Combating corruption in government institutions is central to Duke’s strategy to restore the confidence of domestic and international investors, reduce poverty, improve public welfare and position Nigeria as a leading economic powerhouse on the African continent.’

Duke is one of the 18 presidential candidates on the final list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the January 16 election.

The report stated that: ‘Duke as a candidate is capable of leading Nigeria out of its current difficulties and towards sustainable economic growth.

‘Education is a key pillar of Duke’s national strategy and his position is that education is not only a right but also a fundamental obligation.

‘His programme envisages the modernisation of Nigeria’s basic and higher education systems to ensure that young Nigerians, regardless of their social or economic backgrounds, have access to quality education and equal opportunities to compete globally.’

The report further highlighted Duke’s proposed national Artificial Intelligence strategy, which is designed to harness technological advancement for national development.

The report said: ‘Under the plan, AI tools would be integrated into public administration to streamline government operations, improve public services, enhance transparency and support the deployment of digital systems in the fight against corruption.

‘The strategy also envisages using AI to accelerate digital transformation in agriculture, manufacturing, fintech and other strategic sectors, alongside a nationwide digital literacy programme to prepare Nigerians for an increasingly AI-driven global economy.

‘The programme would also expand the deployment of modern technology and AI across public infrastructure, healthcare and public safety.’

The publication said international analysts viewed Duke as possessing a combination of global perspective and capacity for local execution, with a vision capable of responding to technological developments while addressing Nigeria’s domestic challenges.

It presented his approach as a potential blueprint for restoring Nigeria’s economic strength and influence as the country approaches the 2027 presidential election.

The Deputy Governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo State, Engr. Open Salawu, has donated N15 million to support the 2026 Rabitah Conference in Ibadan, reaffirming his commitment to advancing Islam and promoting unity among Muslims in Yorubaland.

Salawu, who is also the Giwa Adinni of Oyo State and Babalaje of Ogbomosoland, announced the donation on Tuesday when he received the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Imam Abdul-Ganiyy Abubakry Agbotomokekere, and a delegation of Imams, Alfas and Islamic scholars from across Yorubaland.

He also donated an additional N1 million to the delegation as personal support, in what was described as a demonstration of his longstanding commitment to honouring and caring for Islamic scholars.

The delegation, under the aegis of Rabitatul Aimmat Wal Ulamai Fi Bilaadi Yoruba, also known as the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, paid the courtesy visit as part of preparations for the Yorubaland Muslim Conference, Ibadan 2026, scheduled to hold in November.

The Islamic scholars commended Salawu for his contributions to the propagation of Islam, describing him as the pride of Islam in Oyo State.

They said his interventions in religious and community development had contributed to the growth of Islamic institutions and the welfare of Muslims across the state.

Among the contributions highlighted by the delegation were the construction of the Central Mosque in Ilajue, Surulere Local Government Area, and another Central Mosque in Olokoto, Orire Local Government Area.

The scholars also listed the construction of mosques in Ile-Ogiri and Tara in Ogbomoso, which they said Salawu single-handedly undertook, as well as his support for the foundation of the Ikoyi Central Mosque.

Other interventions, according to the delegation, included the roofing of several Jumat mosques and the introduction of Itikaf at the Ogbomoso Central Mosque.

They disclosed that Salawu had been funding the feeding of 100 participants during the annual Itikaf programme since 2023.

The delegation further noted that he had been feeding 9,000 people every Ramadan for the past eight years, while also sponsoring Muslim and Christian programmes on Parrot FM, Ogbomoso, for more than a decade.

The scholars said these initiatives reflected his contributions to religious activities, interfaith engagement and community welfare.

They formally invited him to the forthcoming conference and expressed appreciation for his financial support.

Speaking during the visit, Salawu commended the League of Imams and Alfas for sustaining the conference and providing a platform for Muslim leaders to deliberate on issues affecting the religious community and the wider society.

He said: ‘I commend the League of Imams and Alfas for sustaining this impactful conference and for recognising the importance of collaboration between religious and community leaders in building a peaceful, progressive and inclusive society.’

The APM deputy governorship candidate assured the delegation of his attendance at the conference, expressing confidence that the gathering would provide an opportunity for meaningful dialogue, reflection and collective action.

He said: ‘I reaffirm my continuous commitment to supporting Islamic development and other initiatives that promote environmental sanity, unity, peaceful coexistence, education, youth empowerment and the overall wellbeing of our people.’

Salawu also commended the organisers for bringing Muslim leaders from across Yorubaland together, noting that such engagements could strengthen cooperation among religious institutions and communities.

He added, ‘I am confident that this conference will provide a meaningful platform for dialogue, reflection and collective action on issues affecting the Muslim community and the larger society.’

The APM chieftain further prayed for the success of the conference, asking Allah to grant the organisers wisdom and reward their efforts.

He said, ‘I pray that Allah, SWT, grants the organisers wisdom, rewards their efforts abundantly and makes the conference a resounding success.’

The three-day conference, scheduled to hold from November 13 to 16, 2026, at Jogor Centre, Ibadan, is expected to bring together renowned Islamic scholars, community leaders, government officials and other stakeholders from across Yorubaland.

According to the delegation, the conference is designed to be intellectually engaging and spiritually uplifting, with discussions focusing on peace, unity, education, moral leadership, youth development and the strengthening of religious and community institutions.

Other areas of discussion will include the role of Imams in purifying Islamic pulpits, the responsibilities of political leaders ahead of the forthcoming elections and other pertinent issues affecting the Muslim Ummah and the nation.

The organisers disclosed that Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde; Deputy Governor, Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal; and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, are among the special guests expected at the conference.

In response to Salawu’s support, the delegation offered special prayers and spiritual blessings for him, his family and his political aspirations.

The conference is expected to provide an opportunity for Muslim leaders and other stakeholders to examine the responsibilities of religious and political institutions in addressing contemporary challenges and strengthening social cohesion across Yorubaland.

The second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu received a boost on Tuesday as the Benin monarch, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, called for continuity, saying there was no point seeking change for its own sake.

The monarch, who reiterated the political neutrality of the Benin Palace, said his position should not be interpreted as support for any political party.

Oba Ewuare II spoke when the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulaziz Yari, led members of the council to the Benin Palace to seek royal blessings, prayers and support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

‘The Benin throne is not partisan. There is no point for change for the sake of change. That is not to say that I belong to one party or the other,’ he said.

The monarch appealed to former governors, senators and other political leaders to work together in the interest of the country, stressing the importance of cooperation between the ruling party and the opposition.

‘In democracy, there must be opposition when a party comes to power. I don’t see why an opposition party can’t support the ruling party,’ he said.

Oba Ewuare II also cautioned against excessive criticism of political leaders, noting that nobody was perfect.

‘Is there anybody who is so perfect as I am talking now? Nobody. I love and like peace and tranquillity. I am American and British trained as a diplomat, and I say it the way it is,’ he said.

Speaking earlier, Yari said the delegation was at the palace to seek royal blessings, prayers and support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

‘Our mission today is simple: Mr. President formed the campaign council for his re-election. We are here to seek royal blessings, prayers, and support for the re-election of your son, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, come 2027,’ Yari said.

The former Zamfara State governor said the Tinubu administration had made progress in the economy, citing changes in GDP growth, inflation and foreign exchange stability.

Yari said Nigeria’s annual GDP growth had risen from 2.7 per cent in 2023 to 3.9 per cent, while inflation had declined from 22.9 per cent to 15.9 per cent.

He added that the administration had stabilised the foreign exchange market and described Tinubu as the right person to lead the country.

Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dennis Idahosa, thanked the Omo N’Oba for his royal blessings, noting that the President deserved a second chance.

Idahosa said equity, fairness and justice in Nigeria demanded that the South be allowed to secure a second term after Tinubu’s first term.

‘For us in Edo State, Governor Monday Okpebholo is the leader and he is leading well as we have a lot of projects to campaign with and the people of Edo State will vote massively for President Tinubu to enable him win the 2027 Presidential election,’ he said.

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has been challenged by Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, to quit the presidential race if claims that his administration left Anambra State with outstanding liabilities are established.

Onanuga’s challenge followed fresh allegations by the Anambra State Government that eight external loans obtained during Obi’s tenure remained outstanding, with the state putting the balance at $92.35m, equivalent to ?127.37bn, as of June 30, 2026.

The state government also disputed Obi’s claim that he left more than ?2.13bn untouched in an ecological fund account for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis, saying the account he identified was instead an Internally Generated Revenue Consolidated Revenue Account.

The allegations were contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Law Mefor, in response to Obi’s recent comments on what he described as ‘Phantom Debts and Ecological Loan Fallacy’.

According to Mefor, records from the Debt Management Office showed that the eight external loans contracted during Obi’s administration were still outstanding as of June 30, 2026.

The loans, the government said, were originally valued at $123.77m and covered projects including malaria control, healthcare, education, community development, erosion control and agricultural value-chain development.

They included the Malaria Control Booster Project, Third National Fadama Development Project, Health System Development Project II, Malaria Control Booster Project (Additional Financing), State Education Programme Investment Project, Community and Social Development Project, Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, and Value Chain Development Project.

The state government said it was not opposed to borrowing where such funds were used for viable projects and human capital development, adding that the present administration had continued to service the liabilities.

‘We are not complaining. It is good for Anambra once we can show the impacts,’ the statement quoted the government as saying.

The government, however, questioned the extent to which Obi’s administration’s spending translated into development, alleging that the former governor left challenges in public water supply, education, healthcare, insecurity and infrastructure.

It claimed that 78 of the state’s 179 communities, representing 44 per cent, did not have public primary schools, while only about 27 per cent of residents patronised public health institutions.

The state government also alleged that Obi left behind unpaid salary, pension and gratuity liabilities. It said the current administration had since cleared about ?22bn in inherited gratuity arrears owed to retired state and local government employees and teachers.

It further claimed that Obi spent about $4.05bn during his eight years in office, which the government said would amount to about ?5.4tn when converted using the current official exchange rate.

Obi, however, has maintained that his administration cleared more than ?35bn in historical gratuities and arrears and left office without outstanding salary, pension or gratuity obligations.

He also rejected the claim concerning the ecological fund, saying more than ?2.13bn remained untouched in a First Bank account for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis.

Obi had challenged anyone capable of establishing that his account of Anambra’s finances was incorrect, saying, ‘If anybody can establish anything to the contrary, I will stop campaigning.’

Reacting to the renewed dispute in a post on X on Wednesday, Onanuga said Obi had previously tied his continued participation in the presidential race to the accuracy of his claims about the state’s finances.

Onanuga wrote, ‘Peter Obi claimed he left Anambra with a clean slate of debt and even threatened to quit the presidential race if his claims were proven otherwise.’

The presidential aide said the state government had now confronted Obi with figures which he claimed contradicted the former governor’s account of the financial position of Anambra when he left office.

He added, ‘Now, the Anambra government has confronted him with facts and figures showing he owed Water Corporation workers, teachers, and pension and gratuities, and had also borrowed for frivolous things,’ Onanuga said.

‘The ball is back in his court. Will he follow through on his threat by quitting the race?’ he asked.

PROFESSIONALS in Nigeria’s travel and tourism industry were confident that the sector is capable of hitting the $100 billion mark, by 2030, set by the Federal Government, if its critical stakeholders are intentional about achieving such goal.

The nation’s tourism sector is presently valued at $14billion.

The experts made the declaration at the Ember2Remember Stakeholders’ Conference and the official launch of Nigeria’s coordinated September-to-December 100-day Calendar of festivals, concerts and cultural events, in Lagos, on Monday.

The CEO, MyCityApp, Mrs. Ifeoma Chukwu, noted that while building a $100 billion tourism economy sounded ambitious, evidence, globally, however, showed that such was achievable.

‘In 2024, tourism contributed over $270 billion to Spain’s economy, about $289 billion to France and more than $2.5 trillion to the economy of the United States.

‘So, the question is not whether a $100 billion tourism economy is possible. It is: why not Nigeria?’ she queried.

She therefore advised stakeholders to avail themselves the opportunity of turning visitor’s experience of the nation’s rich culture, and vibrant creative industry, into economic value.

She explained that the idea of Ember2Remember initiative stemmed from the need to close the gap of fragmented information regarding events at this period, with MyCityApp and MyLagosApp, serving as digital engine for the National Digital Calendar.

‘Events are all over the social media, another festival may have existed for 50 years, yet someone outside that community has never heard about it. That is the gap we want to close,’ she added.

She explained that the digital engine would bring events and experiences across Nigeria into one place and push them through a 360-degree media ecosystem to Nigerians.

Speaking on ‘Unlocking Nigeria’s $100 billion Tourism and Creative Economy Opportunity,’ Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, stated that every year, particularly between September and December, millions of Nigerians and visitors travel, celebrate, reconnect and spend across the nation’s cities and communities.

She explained that the thinking behind the Ember to Remember initiative was designed to convert those activities into sustainable economic value.

The minister commended the chief executive of My City App for being instrumental to driving the initiative, while also expressing the ministry’s commitment to supporting the initiative and working with the private sector to take it to greater heights.

Chief Executive Officer, Landmark Africa, Paul Onwuanibe, described the target as a low benchmark when viewed against the backdrop of the immense potential in the sector.

According to him, for Nigeria to achieve such target, therefore, stakeholders must own the narratives about the Nigerian brand.

He added that for the country’s very rich potential and culture to be effectively showcased to the outside world, it must be well- packaged to attract investors.

He urged stakeholders, especially the government to see tourism not as a decoration, but a serious business, involving both national and sub-national governments.

He also advocated for a single tourism desk in the country to facilitate tourists’ experiences, while also calling for the concession of some of the nation’s tourist sites, such as Olumo Rock, Nike Lake and others to enable it to fast-track growth in the sector.

The Nigerian naira depreciated against the United States (US) dollar, trading at N1,329.1485 at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official foreign exchange (FX) window on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

The data shared on the CBN’s official platform shows that the naira traded at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) rate of N1,329.1458 per dollar and closed at N1,329.5000 per dollar.

The currency, which traded at an NFEM rate of N1,326.3014 on September 14, 2026, depreciated by at least N2.85 after trading activities on Tuesday.

At the parallel market, the buying rate remained the same, while the selling rate decreased by N5 when compared to the previous trading rate on Monday, September 14, 2026.

According to Aboki FX , the Naira-to-dollar exchange rate at the black market on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, was N1,380 and N1,385 per dollar for buying and selling rates, respectively.