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THE United Nigeria Welfare Association (UNIWA), Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country, has announced plans to host a special art exhibition titled ‘The Nigerian Way’ as part of activities commemorating Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Curated by Ayodeji Awoyomi, the exhibition is designed to celebrate Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, creativity, identity and the experiences of Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora.

According to the organisers, the exhibition will provide a platform for emerging and established artists to showcase works exploring themes such as community, belonging, heritage, resilience and contemporary Nigerian life.

Artists working in painting, photography, sculpture, digital art, mixed media and other visual art forms have been invited to submit works that reflect the beauty, diversity and strength of Nigeria and its people.

Speaking on the initiative, UNIWA president, Kunle Aderemi, said the exhibition would add a significant creative component to Birmingham’s celebrations of Nigeria’s independence.

He said: ‘Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary is not only an opportunity to celebrate our nation; it is also a moment to celebrate our people, our heritage and the creativity that tells our story across generations.

‘The Nigerian Way gives our artists a platform to express what Nigeria means to them and allows the wider community to experience our country through art.’

Aderemi added that UNIWA’s independence anniversary activities were aimed at promoting unity, cultural pride and stronger ties between the Nigerian community and Birmingham’s multicultural society.

Applications for participation are now open, with Nigerian artists and those whose works engage meaningfully with Nigerian culture, identity and experiences encouraged to submit entries.

The exhibition forms part of a broader programme marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary in Birmingham under the theme ‘Nigeria at 66 ‘.

Organisers said the anniversary celebration would highlight Nigeria’s rich traditions and diverse cultures, showcase the creativity and artistic excellence of Nigerians across the world, and bring together Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to strengthen unity, cultural understanding and shared aspirations for the future.

The exhibition is being hosted by UNIWA and curated by Awoyomi under the banner, The Nigerian Way – Our Heritage. Our Creativity. Our Community. Our Nigeria.

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos has challenged the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, to substantiate his allegation questioning the eligibility of the APC candidate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, over an alleged United States oath of allegiance.

Spokesman of the party in the state, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, on Wednesday, described Rhodes-Vivour’s latest intervention as a resurrection of an issue that had already featured in the legal challenge to the 2023 Lagos governorship election.

Oladejo said while questions about the constitutional eligibility of political candidates were legitimate, such issues should be determined through the appropriate legal institutions rather than political statements.

According to him, Rhodes-Vivour had himself acknowledged that the issue formed part of his legal team’s case during the 2023 election litigation.

He also drew attention to the reported testimony of an immigration lawyer involved in the earlier proceedings, saying her area of expertise was United States immigration law and that she was not familiar with the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution on dual citizenship.

Oladejo argued that a claim or testimony relating to foreign immigration law should not automatically be interpreted as a judicial determination that a Nigerian citizen is constitutionally barred from contesting an election.

‘An allegation is not a judgment,’ he said, adding that if Rhodes-Vivour had uncovered a new and legally decisive fact, the appropriate avenue was to present it before the courts or other competent constitutional authorities.

The APC spokesman said the party had no objection to legitimate scrutiny of its candidate, insisting that the facts and applicable law should determine the matter.

‘The APC’s position is straightforward: bring the facts, bring the law, and let the competent authorities pronounce,’ he said.

Oladejo, however, shifted the focus to the broader political contest, arguing that the 2027 governorship election should provide Lagosians with competing policy options rather than a continuation of the disputes surrounding the 2023 election.

He challenged opposition candidates to explain how they would address transportation, housing, infrastructure, employment, healthcare, education, security and environmental challenges confronting Lagos.

He said the electorate should also be told how proposed programmes would be financed and implemented.

‘Lagosians deserve policy alternatives. They deserve measurable programmes,’ Oladejo said.

He urged Rhodes-Vivour to present his policy agenda and explain what he would do differently if elected governor, rather than concentrating primarily on criticisms of Hamzat.

The APC spokesman said the party was prepared to defend its own record and programme while allowing voters to assess the competing positions of the candidates.

He maintained that any genuine constitutional question concerning Hamzat’s eligibility should be left to the appropriate legal authorities, stressing that political repetition could not substitute for judicial determination.

‘2027 is not 2023. The future of Lagos cannot be built by endlessly litigating the past,’ Oladejo said.

He urged Rhodes-Vivour to bring forward both his legal and political cases, adding that while the former should be settled by the courts, the latter should be presented directly to Lagos voters.

Blessing Bashorun, Executive Chef and Founder of Cabbilicious Foods and Cabbilicious Culinary School, has called for stronger professional standards across Africa’s food and hospitality industry as part of efforts to position African cuisine for greater global recognition.

African cuisine already carries a strong identity, cultural depth and diversity, but wider international recognition also depends on how consistently that food is presented to global audiences. For chefs and food businesses looking beyond local markets, professional standards can influence whether interest in African food develops into lasting credibility.

Blessing maintains that creativity alone cannot sustain that visibility. She argues that African culinary professionals must be prepared to match the quality of the food they create with the level of professionalism expected in international hospitality environments.

‘African cuisine already has the identity and richness to stand confidently anywhere in the world. What we need is to make sure the standards behind the food are just as strong as the food itself,’ she said.

That argument goes beyond presentation. Global recognition is built through repeated experiences, and a cuisine that attracts attention must also be supported by businesses and professionals capable of delivering quality consistently.

For African food brands seeking international opportunities, this means paying closer attention to the standards that shape the entire dining experience. Strong food safety practices, reliable service and professional execution can strengthen how African cuisine is received in markets where expectations are already firmly established.

‘If we want African cuisine to be respected globally, then the experience around it has to inspire the same confidence as the food itself,’ Blessing said.

Blessing has made food safety one of the key areas of her professional work. She holds the Highfield Level 3 Award in Food Safety for Catering through the London Professional Training Centre in the United Kingdom and has consistently advocated stronger food safety practices within professional catering.

That expertise is relevant to the wider global conversation because international recognition does not stop at introducing new audiences to African dishes. The businesses representing those dishes must also be capable of meeting the standards expected by consumers, hospitality partners and institutions in different markets.

Culinary training is another part of that equation. Through Cabbilicious Culinary School, Blessing works with aspiring chefs and food entrepreneurs, preparing them to understand the professional expectations attached to working in the food industry.

The importance of such training becomes clearer as African chefs seek opportunities outside their home markets. Technical ability may create an opportunity, but the capacity to work within professional systems and deliver consistently can determine how far that opportunity develops.

Blessing stated that stronger training can also allow African culinary professionals to compete internationally without diluting the identity of the food they represent.

‘Global recognition should not mean losing what makes African cuisine unique. It means presenting that uniqueness with the level of professionalism that allows it to compete anywhere,’ she said.

This balance between cultural identity and professional execution is becoming increasingly important to the way African cuisine is positioned. Global appeal does not require African food to become less African. It requires the industry around it to become stronger at presenting its value consistently.

The same principle applies to food businesses. As African entrepreneurs build catering companies and hospitality concepts around local cuisine, the quality of their operations becomes part of how consumers experience the food itself.

A memorable dish can introduce someone to a cuisine, but confidence is built when that quality can be repeated. This is why stronger industry standards matter to the broader effort to move African cuisine from occasional international curiosity into a more established part of the global hospitality conversation.

Blessing’s work through Cabbilicious Foods has given her experience within professional catering, while Cabbilicious Culinary School provides an avenue for developing people who may eventually represent African food in different markets.

Her push for greater global recognition therefore centres on a straightforward principle. African cuisine already has the cultural value and culinary strength required to attract international attention. What can strengthen its position further is an industry capable of supporting that food with the professionalism global audiences expect.

For Blessing Bashorun, stronger food safety, better professional preparation and consistent service standards are not separate conversations from the global future of African cuisine. They are part of what will determine whether the attention African food continues to receive can be converted into lasting international recognition.

The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) has commenced the training and onboarding of prospective Certified Seed Entrepreneurs (CSEs) as part of efforts to strengthen quality seed yam production, certification, and marketing in Nigeria.

Speaking during a one-day mandatory training and onboarding program for CSEs organized by the Council in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) under the PROSSIVA Project, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NASC, Fatuhu Muhammed, said access to quality planting materials remained critical to improving agricultural productivity, farmers’ resilience, and food security.

Muhammed, who was represented by the Director of the DG’s Office, Mal. Dahiru Rabiu noted that strengthening Nigeria’s yam seed system was essential given the crop’s importance to the country’s food and agricultural economy.

He said the training was designed to equip prospective CSEs with the technical, regulatory, and business knowledge required to establish and operate credible seed farm enterprises.

Muhammed urged the participants to see themselves not merely as trainees but as future partners in building a sustainable and commercially viable seed yam industry.

He emphasized that seed yam production and marketing remained regulated activities, noting that commercial seed production without registration contravened the National Agricultural Seeds Council Act, 2019.

‘Under Section 20(1) of the National Agricultural Seeds Council Act, 2019, a person shall not produce seed in commercial quantities unless registered as a seed producer by the Council,’ he said.

He added that the sale or supply of seeds was also subject to certification requirements, describing the regulations as safeguards for farmers and the integrity of Nigeria’s seed system.

Muhammed therefore urged the prospective CSEs to comply fully with requirements for registration, production, certification, quality control, traceability, and lawful marketing.

He said the success of seed entrepreneurs would not be measured solely by the volume of seed yam produced but also by the quality, integrity, and confidence farmers could place in their products.

The NASC, he said, would continue to provide an enabling regulatory and technical environment for the development of a sustainable seed yam system.

He said the Council would strengthen quality assurance, certification, monitoring, enforcement, and digital traceability while collaborating with research institutions, development partners, and private-sector actors to improve farmers’ access to quality planting materials, particularly at the last mile.

The Director-General further commended IITA and SAHEL Consulting for their continued support for the PROSSIVA Programme and praised the NASC technical team for organizing the training.

He said the opportunity for prospective CSEs was significant but came with responsibilities, including producing quality seed, complying with regulations, operating viable enterprises, and earning farmers’ confidence.

Muhammed said the ultimate objective was to transform Nigeria’s yam seed system from a fragmented supply structure into an organised, quality-assured, traceable and commercially sustainable seed delivery system.

The World Bank has urged unified government action across sectors and tiers of government to strengthen early childhood development in Nigeria, stressing that coordinated investment in the first five years of life is critical to improving the country’s human capital outcomes.

The World Bank Task Team Leader, Early Childhood, Dr. Ritgak Tilley-Gyado, made the call during a consultation workshop with Civil Society Organisations and the media as part of the World Bank’s Early Childhood Development Inception Mission.

Tilley-Gyado said the scale of Nigeria’s child population made coordinated action urgent, noting that the country has about 38 million children under the age of five.

‘What this agenda says is that the effort is to coalesce all of government horizontally across sectors, vertically across the four tiers of government,’ she said.

According to her, investments in healthcare, nutrition, responsive caregiving, parenting, protection and early learning during the formative years could significantly influence children’s educational outcomes, lifetime earnings and eventual contribution to national productivity.

She said the greatest opportunity to improve Nigeria’s human capital lies with children in their early years because their physical growth, upbringing and development can still be significantly influenced through appropriate interventions.

‘The flow is where the opportunity is, those that are born today, those that are still under age five, whose upbringing you can still influence, whose physical growth you can still influence,’ Tilley-Gyado said.

She called for an all-of-society approach involving governments at all levels, development partners, civil society organisations, traditional and faith institutions, the private sector and communities.

The World Bank official also stressed the importance of social accountability, describing civil society organisations as a critical voice of citizens and an important mechanism for ensuring that government and development partners fulfil their commitments to child development.

She added that the initiative would prioritise disability inclusion, environmental safeguards and the protection of vulnerable populations as Nigeria strengthens its early childhood development interventions.

Speaking at the engagement, the National Coordinator, Open Government Partnership, Dr. Gloria Ahmed, described early childhood development as an investment in Nigeria’s human capital and future prosperity rather than merely a social intervention.

‘Early childhood development is a critical foundation for the future of every nation. It is not merely a social intervention, it is an investment in human capital development and in the future prosperity of any nation,’ she said.

Ahmed said effective early childhood development delivery required evidence-based planning, adequate financing, effective implementation and transparent monitoring.

She said open governance principles, including transparency, accountability, citizen participation and inclusive decision-making, were essential to ensuring effective implementation of programmes targeting children.

According to her, civil society organisations were strategically positioned to amplify the voices of parents, caregivers and children, monitor service delivery and expenditure, promote public awareness and hold institutions accountable for commitments made towards child development.

Also speaking, a Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Oluwatosin Olorunmeteri, said the first five years of a child’s life were critical to brain development, learning and the acquisition of physical, emotional and communication skills.

She explained that the quality of care and experiences children received during the period significantly shaped their capacity to learn and develop later in life.

Olorunmeteri identified good health, adequate nutrition, responsive caregiving, safety and security, and opportunities for early learning as essential components of nurturing care.

She warned that hunger, violence, neglect, infections and toxic stress could negatively affect children’s development.

‘Only about 47.7 per cent of Nigerian children are developing on track, with gaps also recorded in literacy, numeracy and executive functioning,’ she said.

The paediatrician called for stronger multisectoral collaboration among government, civil society organisations, development partners and communities to address challenges confronting children and strengthen existing interventions.

‘We shall invest to build stronger foundations together; sustained investment in the early years is essential to building the human capital required for Nigeria’s future development,’ she added.

The consultation underscored the need for coordinated, accountable and sustained investment across health, education, nutrition, social protection and other sectors to improve outcomes for Nigeria’s youngest population.

In a bid to check project abandonment, litigation, and community friction across the region, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has organised a three-day capacity-building sensitization programme on conflict sensitivity and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) application for hundreds of its contractors and consultants.

Speaking while declaring the workshop open in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the Executive Director, Corporate Services of the NDDC, Chief Ifedayo Abegunde, who represented the Commission’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, stressed that conflict may be inevitable during project implementation, but its escalation remains preventable.

‘This programme is founded on a simple but important understanding: conflict may be inevitable, but its escalation is not.

‘In the course of implementing development projects, disagreements will sometimes arise over payment, variations, designs, timelines, quality of work, measurements, access to sites, contractual obligations, and relationships with host communities. What matters is how quickly and professionally such disagreements are identified and managed,’ Ogbuku stated.

He emphasized that stalled projects impose severe social costs on host communities, urging contractors to act as first-line peacebuilders.

‘For the NDDC, every project represents more than a contract. Behind every road is a community waiting for access. Behind every bridge is an economic opportunity. Behind every school, health facility, or other intervention is a human need. When conflict stalls a project, the real cost is borne by the people who are waiting for development,’ he noted.

Clarifying the Commission’s intent, the NDDC chief added: ‘Let me make one thing clear: ADR is not about avoiding accountability, nor is it about compromising legitimate contractual or legal rights. It is about addressing problems intelligently, proportionately, and as early as possible before they become more expensive, more complicated, and more damaging.’

Echoing these sentiments, the Director of the ADR Department at the NDDC, Mr. Ogedegbe Godwin, noted that the workshop came at a critical juncture in the region’s socio-economic evolution.

‘The Niger Delta, with its rich resources and vibrant communities, has long been a focal point of national development efforts. Yet, it is equally a region where the complexities of social, economic, and environmental realities often give rise to tensions and disputes,’ Godwin remarked. ‘As contractors and consultants, your ability to integrate conflict-sensitive approaches and ADR frameworks into project execution will determine not only the success of individual projects, but also the sustainability of development in the Niger Delta as a whole.’

Delivering the keynote address, a conflict scholar, Professor Isaac Albert asserted that technical competence alone cannot guarantee project success if host community relations are neglected.

‘NDDC projects in the Niger Delta must integrate conflict sensitivity and ADR into everyday project execution not as emergency fixes, but as core delivery disciplines,’ Prof. Albert argued. ‘Projects are executed twice-first in plans and contracts, then in community relationships. Managing only the technical side may deliver an asset, but lose the trust needed to sustain it.’

He outlined a practical six-step response mechanism for managing disputes on site: Stabilise, Diagnose, Convene, Agree on the process, Resolve and record, and Learn, while calling on contractors to establish live conflict-risk registers and dedicated community-relations focal personnel before site mobilisation.

‘Peace is not an accessory to project delivery; it is part of the infrastructure we are building,’ the professor concluded.

A retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili, has urged law students in the Niger Delta to value every practical experience and learning opportunity, saying such exposure will shape their professional careers.

Odili spoke on Monday, as the special guest of honour at the 2026 Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) annual moot and mock trial competition for faculties of law in the region at the Dr. Nabo Graham Douglas Campus of the Nigerian Law School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

She charged the participating students to give their best regardless of the outcome, stressing that the practical skills acquired from the competition will remain valuable throughout their careers.

‘I enjoin each and every one of you participating to give it all, and whether you win or not, there is a lot you would have gained,’ Odili said, noting that not everything in law could be learnt in the classroom.

Recalling her undergraduate days in the chambers of Chief Philip Nnaemeka-Agu, the retired jurist said her early exposure to drafting quit notices and attending court sessions provided lessons that remained useful throughout her career.

She urged the students to treasure every practical experience, citing the need for precision in drafting legal notices and the serious consequences that could arise from errors in determining statutory periods.

A former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, said moot court training equips students with advocacy skills that are valuable in both litigation and solicitor practice.

Akpata said the ability to construct compelling arguments and present them with clarity and conviction was a skill that will serve lawyers throughout their professional careers.

Representing the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, Director of Finance and Administration, Mr Boma Iyaye, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to youth development and legal education, saying the region’s legal curriculum must continue to adapt to global trends.

Chairman of the NDDC governing board, Mr Chiedu Ebie, said the competition was revived to build confidence and sharpen advocacy skills among future lawyers.

He noted that the 2026 edition marked the third consecutive annual competition since the current board assumed office, with judges, senior advocates, legal practitioners, lecturers and student advocates from universities in the Niger Delta taking part.

The long-awaited Constitution Review Bill, otherwise known as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, has been transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval.

The sixth alteration focussed on 12 thematic areas, namely: Electoral Reforms, Judicial Reforms, Security and Policing, Local Government Administration, Inclusive Governance and Citizenship, Legislature, Devolution of Powers, Human Rights, Fiscal Reforms, Strengthening of Institutions, Traditional Institutions as well as Creation of States and Local Governments.

The Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana, confirmed the transmission of the bills in a statement made available to Parliamentary Correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday.

Ogunlana said the transmission marked the commencement of the next stage of the constitutional alteration process, requiring the State Houses of Assembly to consider the proposed amendments in accordance with the Constitution.

He said: ‘The National Assembly has commenced the next stage of the constitutional alteration process with the transmission of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 to the Houses of Assembly of the 36 States of the Federation for their consideration and approval.’

According to him, the Clerk to the National Assembly, acting pursuant to the directive of the leadership of the National Assembly, transmitted the Bill to the respective State Houses of Assembly on Wednesday.

‘The Clerk to the National Assembly has, pursuant to the directive of the leadership of the National Assembly, transmitted the Bill to the respective State Houses of Assembly in accordance with Section 9 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) today 16th September, 2026,’ he stated.

Ogunlana explained that Section 9 of the Constitution sets out specific requirements for altering the nation’s grundnorm, including the approval of not less than two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly.

He quoted the constitutional provision as stipulating that a Bill seeking to alter the Constitution ‘shall not be passed by either House of the National Assembly unless it is approved by resolution of not less than two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the 36 States of the Federation.’

The transmission therefore places the State Houses of Assembly at the centre of the next phase of the constitutional amendment process, as they are constitutionally required to consider the proposed alterations and communicate their decisions to the National Assembly.

The Clerk said he had requested the State Houses of Assembly to give the Bill the requisite consideration in line with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly after completing their deliberations.

He, however, clarified that the Constitution does not stipulate a specific period within which State Houses of Assembly must communicate their resolutions on a constitutional alteration Bill.

‘Nevertheless, in the interest of an orderly, coordinated and timely conclusion of the constitutional alteration process, the State Houses of Assembly are expected to consider the Bill and communicate their respective resolutions to the National Assembly within 30 days of receipt,’ Ogunlana said.

He stressed that the 30-day period should not be misconstrued as a constitutional deadline, describing it instead as an administrative timeframe intended to facilitate the orderly conclusion of the process.

‘For clarity, the 30-day period is an expected administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline,’ he stated.

Ogunlana further said the National Assembly recognised the constitutional responsibility vested in the State Houses of Assembly and would respect their independence in considering the proposed constitutional alterations.

‘The National Assembly remains committed to ensuring that the constitutional alteration process is conducted in strict compliance with the Constitution and in accordance with the principles of due process, institutional cooperation and respect for the legislative responsibilities of all tiers of the legislature,’ he said.

He added that after receiving the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly, the National Assembly would proceed with the necessary constitutional steps.

‘Upon receipt of the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly, the National Assembly will proceed with the necessary steps in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution,’ Ogunlana said.

Except for the State Police bill, which was voted and supported by 311 members across party lines on Thursday, 23rd July, 2026, the House did not consider nor pass other constitution-related bills before embarking on annual recess, as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Section 9(1-4) of the 1999 Constitution provides that: ‘(1) The National Assembly may, subject to the provision of this section, alter any of the provisions of this Constitution.

(2) An Act of the National Assembly for the altertion of this Constitution, not being an Act to which section 8 of this Constitution applies, shall not be passed in either House of the National Assembly unless the proposal is supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of all the members of that House and approved by resolution of the Houses of Assembly of not less than two-thirds of all the States.

(3) An Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of altering the provisions of this section, section 8 or Chapter IV of this Constitution shall not be passed by either House of the National Assembly unless the proposal is approved by the votes of not less than four-fifths majority of all the members of each House, and also approved by resolution of the House of Assembly of not less than two-third of all States.

(4) For the purposes of section 8 of this Constitution and of subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the number of members of each House of the National Assembly shall, notwithstanding any vacancy, be deemed to be the number of members specified in sections 48 and 49 of this Constitution.’

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.

The Federal Government and the Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the forthcoming 2027 general elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, have expressed grief over the passing of Nigeria’s legendary actor and cultural icon, Sir Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, who died on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the age of 84.

Reacting to the news, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, in a statement issued by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Nneka Ikem Anibeze, described his death as a monumental loss to Nigeria and the entire creative industry.

‘Olu Jacobs was not just an actor, he was a national institution. He was one of the most important pillars of Nigeria’s entertainment industry and one of Africa’s greatest actors.

‘For over five decades, his voice, his presence and his craft gave life to our stories and gave dignity to our industry.

‘Through the Lufodo Academy which has trained hundreds of actors, directors and filmmakers who are now leading Nollywood, and the countless lives he touched, his legacy will continue to live on stage, on screen and in the hearts of millions of Nigerians.

‘Nigeria has lost a Lion, but his light will never fade.

‘On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the entire creative community, the Ministry also extends heartfelt condolences to Dame Joke Silva, his children, and other family members,’ the Minister said.

On his part, Prince Adebayo, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by his campaign’s Head of Communications, Comrade Mark Adebayo, described the late Jacobs as a giant whose passing had left an irreplaceable void in the global film industry.

Adebayo said Olu Jacobs defined the golden era of Nigerian entertainment through his discipline and professionalism, adding that the late actor set a high standard for acting in Africa and beyond.

According to him, ‘Olu Jacobs defined the golden era of Nigerian entertainment with absolute discipline, he treated every role with dignity and respect.

‘He set a golden standard for acting across Africa and beyond. His iconic voice and commanding stage presence inspired millions.’

The statement further added that, ‘Jacobs also used his talent to shape culture and mentor younger generations, while helping Nigerian cinema gain international recognition.

‘He paved the way for Nollywood to gain international respect , his stories touched the hearts of both old and young film lovers. His life’s work will continue to teach and inspire future filmmakers.’

The SDP presidential candidate extended his condolences to the late actor’s family, particularly his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, as well as colleagues and stakeholders across the entertainment industry.

‘Nigeria has lost a national treasure,’ Adebayo said.

‘Olu Jacobs was a professional to the core who positively impacted his generation and beyond. He did not just act stories; he shaped our collective history. We weep because he is gone, but we celebrate because his light will never truly go out.’