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ipNX has called for stronger collaboration across the telecommunications industry and wider adoption of open-access infrastructure models to bridge Nigeria’s connectivity gap and accelerate nationwide broadband penetration.

The call was made during the first panel session of the recently concluded Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), ICTEL EXPO, entitled ‘Broadband, Fibre and Telecoms Infrastructure: Solving Nigeria’s Connectivity Gap’. The discussion brought together industry leaders to examine the barriers to broadband expansion and practical solutions for improving digital connectivity across Nigeria.

Speaking during the session, Oluseyi Lala, Divisional Chief Executive Officer, ipNX Business, highlighted the economic realities of broadband deployment, particularly in underserved and low-density communities.

‘Deploying broadband infrastructure is capital-intensive,’ Lala said.

‘The cost of building infrastructure, providing reliable power, transporting equipment to remote locations, and maintaining networks in difficult terrains significantly impacts deployment economics. These challenges become even greater in low-density environments,’ he added.

Lala also noted that while Nigeria continues to make progress towards its broadband penetration targets, improving the quality of broadband services must receive equal attention.

‘Achieving Nigeria’s broadband ambitions will require more than fibre alone.

We need to leverage both fibre and wireless technologies, encourage greater collaboration among operators, and embrace infrastructure-sharing models that reduce unnecessary duplication of investments.’

He stressed that competition within the industry should increasingly focus on service innovation, customer experience, and quality of service rather than duplicating physical infrastructure.

‘If one operator has already deployed fibre along a route, there is little value in having multiple operators excavate the same corridor to install parallel infrastructure. We should instead exploreinnovative infrastructure-sharingmodels that optimise investments and accelerate network expansion.’

The panel also examined broader structural challenges affecting broadband deployment across the country, including the limited implementation of Right of Way reforms by state governments, multiple layers of taxation, security concerns, power costs, and regulatory complexities.

Also sharing his thoughts during the panel, Obinna Adumike, Head of Converged Digital Infrastructure for Africa at Open Access Data Centres, observed that Nigeria’s geography presents inherent connectivity challenges, noting that submarine cables land along coastal regions while extending connectivity inland requires substantial additional investment.

Adumike reinforced the need for operators to embrace infrastructure sharing, pointing out that the model has already proven successful globally.

The Shell Hall of the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, came alive penultimate Friday as dignitaries gathered to celebrate the 100th birthday of Afenifere, leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, and reflect on a life that has traversed some of the most consequential chapters of Nigeria’s political history.

The event brought together generations of Yoruba political leadership around an elder statesman whose public life has been defined by courage, conviction, democratic ideals and service.

First-class traditional rulers, serving and former governors, politicians across party lines, Afenifere leaders and prominent Yoruba personalities converged to honour Fasoranti, the elder statesman and leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State was physically present, while other South West governors, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Ekiti State Governor Abiodun Oyebanji, were represented by their deputies and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), respectively. Former governors Olusegun Osoba, Niyi Adebayo and Kayode Fayemi also featured prominently.

There were also figures whose political trajectories have placed them on different sides of Nigeria’s contemporary political divide, including the Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo.

The occasion, themed ‘A Century of Courage and Stewardship of Yoruba Democratic Legacy,’ inevitably became a reflection on what Nigeria has gained, and perhaps lost, from the political tradition represented by the centenarian and his generation.

At 100, Fasoranti has become more than an individual. He has become a repository of memory.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, echoed this when he captured the significance of the gathering as he declared that the elder statesman’s contribution could not be confined to Yorubaland.

‘The history of Nigeria can never be written without his name being written in gold. His name can never be erased,’ Tinubu said.

The statement perhaps best explained the unusual convergence of political figures at the event.

Fasoranti’s political journey belongs to an era when politics was frequently framed not merely as a contest for power but as an instrument of social transformation.

His association with the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and the progressive tradition of the old Western Region placed him within a political school that emphasised education, development, social welfare, regional autonomy and disciplined public service.

Tinubu’s message captured the national dimension of Fasoranti’s legacy.

He said: ‘The life and times of Pa Fasoranti cannot be viewed parochially or limited to the Yoruba race. That would be a great disservice to him and the Yoruba race.’

It was a fitting conclusion to a celebration that began as a Yoruba gathering but repeatedly returned to the Nigerian question.

At 100, Fasoranti’s greatest political significance may no longer lie in the positions he held or the political battles he fought. It may lie in the fact that his life offers a reference point against which contemporary leadership can be measured.

But beneath the birthday tributes was a more difficult demand: that the values associated with his century – courage, character, service, democratic commitment, consultation, sacrifice and collective development – should survive the generation that embodied them.

In his remarks, Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, described Fasoranti as a ‘national asset’, stressing that his contribution extended beyond occupying public office.

‘Living for a century while contributing to knowledge and upholding democratic ideas and values is an even greater achievement,’ he remarked.

The unfinished South-West project

In a sense, Pa Fasoranti’s centenary provided a platform for revisiting one of the central questions of Yoruba political thought: How can a region with a strong historical identity convert that identity into practical economic and social development?

This was the focal point of the submission by Lagos State Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat. The governor argued that the region could not achieve meaningful development through isolated efforts by individual states. ‘We must work together as a team and not move at our own pace. We must have a developmental agenda for the South West,’ he added.

The argument introduced an important contemporary dimension to the celebration.

The South West possesses substantial economic resources, human capital, industrial capacity and a sophisticated private sector. Lagos remains Nigeria’s commercial hub, while other states in the region possess significant agricultural, mineral, tourism and human-capital potential.

Yet political coordination among the states has often been inconsistent. Sanwo-Olu’s call for a coordinated regional agenda therefore echoed an older Yoruba political idea: that regional development requires collective planning rather than fragmented state-level initiatives.

For Ekiti State Governor Oyebanji, represented by the SSG, Fasoranti has become a repository of history whose affection for the Yoruba people has helped younger generations understand their origins and democratic heritage.

Professor Ropo Sekoni, one of the lecturers at the event, recalled that Fasoranti had the privilege of working alongside Awolowo between 1952 and 1960, describing their political orientation as rooted in social democracy.

Sekoni said that the elder statesman had devoted his life to the advancement of the Yoruba people and the development of Nigeria.

Perhaps the most striking feature of the celebration was the way the past and present of Yoruba politics appeared to meet under one roof.

The most politically consequential dimension of the celebration, however, was the effort to connect Fasoranti’s legacy with the present political moment.

His endorsement of Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election was repeatedly recalled.

Speaking on behalf of his father, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti recalled asking his father why he had supported Tinubu’s presidential bid.

According to him, Fasoranti replied: ‘That is the man that is going to turn around Nigeria.’

Three years after that endorsement, Taiwo Fasoranti said his father remained convinced that Tinubu should be allowed to continue. He added, ‘Pa Fasoranti told me to tell you to ensure that Tinubu returns for another term to continue his great work.’

The message was significant, not simply because of the electoral implications of an endorsement from an influential Afenifere leader, but because it illustrated the continuing contest over the political inheritance of the Awolowo tradition.

For Osoba, Tinubu represents the culmination of a progressive political lineage.

The former Ogun State governor argued that the All Progressives Congress was an offshoot of the progressive political tradition associated with the Alliance for Democracy and that Tinubu, as a former Lagos governor, remained a disciple of Awolowo.

‘Tinubu is Awolowo’s son. Tinubu is the first progressive president,’ Osoba declared.

He said Fasoranti’s support for Tinubu in 2023 was intended to help translate the ideals of the Awolowo School into national governance. But the significance of the remarks goes beyond partisan politics.

Beyond politics: The question of character

Perhaps the most profound argument at the celebration came from Archbishop Prince Ayo Ladigbolu, whose lecture shifted the focus from political structures to character.

His sub-theme was ‘Yoruba Ethical Renaissance and Ways to Reinvent Our Natural Values to Rebuild the Nigeria of Our Dream.’ For Ladigbolu, the real significance of Fasoranti’s centenary was not simply that he had lived for 100 years. It was that he had accumulated a reputation for character over those years.

The retired clergyman said: ‘At the heart of Yoruba ethics lies the concept of iwa. In your thought, a person’s true worth is determined by the quality of his character.’

That intervention was particularly relevant in a country where public discourse is increasingly dominated by questions of corruption, institutional weakness, political patronage and declining public trust.

Ladigbolu argued that the Nigerian crisis was fundamentally a crisis of values. The argument placed Fasoranti within a broader Yoruba conception of leadership in which personal integrity is inseparable from public responsibility.

He invoked Awolowo as another example of the same principle. He said: ‘It is character that makes a leader see into the future while others see only their experiences or today.’

That may ultimately be the most enduring lesson of Fasoranti’s century.

Institutions matter. Policies matter.

Elections matter. But institutions are operated by people, and the quality of public institutions is inevitably influenced by the ethical standards of those who occupy them.

The celebration therefore raised a difficult question for contemporary Nigeria: what happens to a political tradition when its ethical foundations are remembered in speeches but not reproduced in public conduct?

To answer the question of disappearing authority of elders, Ladigbolu identified another challenge – the weakening authority of elders.

Traditionally, Yoruba society invested elders with responsibility for transmitting values, settling disputes and providing moral direction.

But globalisations, changing family structures, social media and rapid cultural transformation have altered that relationship.

‘Elders have been our moral compass, but what do we do when the elders have also become victims of globalisation?,’ he said.

At 100, the Afenifere leader represents one of the last surviving bridges to a political culture shaped by the nationalist and pro-democracy struggles of the 20th century.

The question is what happens when men like Fasoranti are no longer available to recount those experiences firsthand. The preservation of historical memory, therefore, becomes a political responsibility.

Unity, truth and collective development

Traditional rulers from across the South West also used the occasion to reinforce the centrality of unity and truth. The Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Obas, who is also the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin, speaking on behalf of traditional rulers across Yorubaland, urged Nigerians to make truth a standard of public and private life.

‘We have to use Pa Fasoranti as an example. Let us adopt truth as the standard for our living. We must unite if we want collective development,’ he said.

The intervention was significant because the Yoruba political space, like every other political constituency in Nigeria, has not been immune to internal disagreements.

Afenifere itself has experienced periods of division, while Yoruba political actors have sometimes found themselves on opposing sides of major national questions.

Yet the Fasoranti celebration demonstrated that a shared cultural and historical identity can still provide common ground.

The governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has given suspected kidnappers and other criminal elements operating in the state’s forest reserves a 14-day ultimatum to vacate the forests or face a government crackdown.

The governor said the directive was aimed at flushing out criminals using the forest reserves as hideouts and restoring security to enable legitimate economic activities to thrive.

The ultimatum was announced on Tuesday by the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Forestry, Bidemi Obayangban, in Akure.

Obayangban said the directive formed part of the state government’s renewed efforts to rid the forest reserves of criminal elements and restore peace to the affected areas.

He said the government had concluded comprehensive plans to tackle kidnapping and other criminal activities in the forests, adding that security agencies and hunters across the state were collaborating with the administration.

According to him, the state government would no longer allow criminal elements to frustrate legitimate economic activities in the forest reserves.

He said the safety of farmers, investors, timber contractors, and other legitimate operators remained central to the government’s plan to revitalize the forestry sector.

‘A vision without maximum security to ensure the safety of investors, farmers, timber contractors, and those conducting legitimate business across Ondo State’s forest reserves is effectively meaningless,’ he said.

Obayangban said the administration was taking the fight directly to the criminals, adding that Governor Aiyedatiwa had adopted a discreet but action-oriented approach to the security challenge.

‘The primary focus of the Aiyedatiwa administration is to flush out criminal elements from our forests and state. We are taking the battle directly to them.

‘The government is fully committed to this objective and has finalized comprehensive plans to eliminate kidnapping and other illegal activities within our borders,’ he said.

He subsequently announced the 14-day deadline, warning that individuals who failed to vacate the forests would face the consequences of the planned operation.

‘I am using this opportunity to announce that the state government is giving these individuals 14 days to vacate Ondo State forests. Failure to comply will result in them meeting their Waterloo,’ Obayangban said.

He added that securing the forests was the first phase of the government’s broader plan to restore legitimate economic activities and attract investment into the forestry sector.

Obayangban maintained that meaningful economic development could not take place in an environment where farmers, investors, and other legitimate forest users were exposed to criminal activities.

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.

Nigerians are facing fresh pressure on household energy costs as the price of cooking gas has increased by 25 per cent, rising from N1,200 to N1,500 per kilogramme.

The latest increase comes amid a further rise in the price of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), popularly known as diesel, with the commodity selling for as much as N2,300 per litre at some filling stations and depots.

The development is expected to compound the financial burden on households and businesses already grappling with high energy and operating costs.

The latest mid-day depot price report for Wednesday, September 16, 2026, showed that diesel prices recorded significant increases, particularly in Lagos and Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

In Lagos, Ibachem recorded the highest increase among the depots listed, raising its AGO price by N170 from N1,830 to N2,000 per litre.

Ibeto followed with a N135 increase, moving from N1,835 to N1,970 per litre, while Duport and Integrated increased their prices by N110 each to N1,940 per litre.

Ardova also raised its diesel price by N20 to N1,970 per litre, while Eterna and Rain Oil sold at N2,000 per litre. Nipco’s price stood at N1,950 per litre.

Similar increases were recorded in Port Harcourt, where African Terminal, Duport and Integrated raised their AGO prices by N110 each to N1,940 per litre.

In Warri, Matrix increased its diesel price by N40, from N2,080 to N2,120 per litre, making it the highest depot price captured in the report.

The rising cost of diesel is likely to put further pressure on manufacturers, transport operators, telecommunications companies, small businesses and other users that depend heavily on diesel-powered generators and vehicles.

Meanwhile, petrol prices remained relatively stable in Lagos, where the product sold within a narrow range of N1,350 and N1,353 per litre.

Dangote, Pinnacle and A.A. Rano recorded N1 reductions, while Ascon and Integrated increased their prices by N2.

MRS retained its price at N1,352 per litre, while Sahara and African Terminal increased their prices by N1 each to N1,352.

Some of the notable petrol price reductions were recorded in Calabar, where Alkanes reduced its price by N17 to N1,338 per litre.

Matrix also cut its price by N10 to N1,355, while Mainland and Soroman reduced their prices to N1,338 per litre.

In Warri, Matrix and Keonamex maintained their petrol prices at N1,350 per litre, while Nepal and Prudent reduced theirs by N10 each to N1,340. Rain Oil retained its price at N1,350.

The latest price movements highlight the contrasting trends in the downstream petroleum sector, with petrol prices showing relative stability in some locations while diesel continues to record increases.

The situation could translate into higher production, transportation and logistics costs, particularly for businesses that rely on diesel for electricity generation and other operations.

Commenting on the development, Vice-President, Oil and Gas Service Providers Association of Nigeria (OGSPAN), Lawal Kamaldeen, told Vanguard that the downstream sector remained unstable, with prices continuing to fluctuate.

‘The downstream sector has been very unstable, characterised by frequent leaps in prices due to the prolonged USA-Iran war. Prices are likely to continue to be unstable in the coming weeks,’ he said.

Raffaele Annecchino, a transformative figure in the global media industry and former President and CEO of Paramount International, suddenly passed away at 55 years old. He was widely respected for his strategic vision, entrepreneurial mindset and ability to guide major media organisations through periods of profound change.

Over more than twenty-five years at Paramount/ViacomCBS, Annecchino rose from an early commercial role in Madrid to lead the company’s international operations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia. As CEO of Paramount International, he steered the business’s shift from broadcasting to digital, driving the international rollout of Paramount+, the global expansion of Pluto TV, and the creation of the SkyShowtime joint venture with Comcast.

‘Raffaele was a deeply valued colleague and a dear friend,’ said Alex Okosi, former EVP, BET International and Paramount Africa. ‘He built lasting trust, inspired those around him to think bigger, and always made time to uplift people. His impact on the global media industry is undeniable, and his warmth, generosity and spirit will be just as enduring. He will be deeply missed.’

He built long-term partnerships with major players, including Sky, Canal+, MultiChoice and Viaplay, and oversaw the growth of networks such as MTV, Nickelodeon, BET and Channel 5 in the UK, while supporting production hubs across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. His impact was felt especially in Africa, where colleagues in Nigeria remember a leader who made the region feel central to the business.

‘He guided the EMEA business through an extraordinarily difficult period, particularly during COVID, with exemplary leadership, empathy and humanity,’ said Bada Akintunde-Johnson, former Country Manager, Paramount Africa, Nigeria. ‘What I will especially remember was his genuine interest in Africa and the way he made those of us in the region’s executive leadership feel that our business, our people and our contributions truly mattered within the broader organisation.’

‘Raffaele was one of those leaders whose presence was genuinely felt. He had a deep love for Africa and carried that with him,’ said Solafunmi Oyeneye, former Senior Channels Manager, Paramount Africa, Nigeria. ‘Even those of us several layers removed from him remember him with enormous warmth and affection. He was deeply respected, genuinely loved, and will be very fondly remembered.’

After leaving Paramount, Annecchino founded Blue Ocean Media Partners, a global consultancy focused on innovation, transformation and strategic growth.

‘Raffaele had a profound impact on my career and on me personally. He saw potential in people and championed their growth,’ said Fathima Beckmann, former SVP, Global Inclusion, Paramount International. ‘Raffaele was an extraordinary leader, visionary and ambitious, yet deeply human, generous with his encouragement and always willing to share his wisdom.’

Colleagues remember Annecchino not only for his strategic acumen but for his warmth, humanity and ability to inspire trust wherever he went.

His legacy reflects the themes that defined his life’s work – embracing new technologies, building international bridges and reimagining the future of media – and he leaves behind a global impact that will continue to shape the industry he helped transform.

PRESIDENT and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has reaffirmed his commitment to making the ongoing Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Dangote Petroleum Refinery a truly ‘People’s IPO,’ assuring retail and small investors that they will receive priority allocation should the offer become oversubscribed

Dangote said the offer was deliberately structured to broaden ownership of one of Africa’s most strategic industrial assets and give millions of Nigerians an opportunity to participate directly in the refinery’s growth and future value creation. The IPO is designed to deepen financial inclusion and democratise wealth creation by opening ownership to a wider segment of society.

Dangote stated that one of the core objectives of the offer is to build one of the largest shareholder communities in Africa, with a target of attracting not less than 10 million investors from Nigeria and across the continent

Speaking on the public offer, Aliko Dangote said: ‘This is more than a capital-raising exercise. It is a historic opportunity to deepen financial inclusion, democratise wealth creation and enable ordinary Nigerians to become co-owners of a world-class industrial enterprise. From the beginning, our vision has been to create a genuine People’s IPO that allows millions of Nigerians to share directly in the success of this refinery.’

Dangote emphasised that while the Company welcomes participation from all categories of investors, allocation decisions in the event of oversubscription would be guided by the principle of broad-based ownership.

‘If the offer is oversubscribed, retail and small investors will receive priority consideration. We are determined to ensure that ordinary Nigerians are not crowded out by large subscriptions. Our objective is not merely to raise capital, but to create millions of shareholders who can participate in the growth and prosperity of the Dangote Refinery. We want as many people as possible to own a stake in this national asset.’

According to Dangote, prioritising retail investors is consistent with his long-held belief that economic development should go hand in hand with widespread citizen participation and ownership.

‘We believe prosperity should be shared by the many, not concentrated in the hands of a few. This refinery was built to transform Nigeria’s energy landscape, and we want millions of Nigerians to be part owners of that transformation.’

Dangote further noted that the IPO represents a significant step towards building an ownership economy in which civil servants, artisans, traders, professionals, cooperative societies, pension contributors, young entrepreneurs and Nigerians in the diaspora can participate directly in one of Africa’s most important industrial enterprises.

He added that the offer has been designed to be simple, transparent and technology-driven, with BVN-enabled subscription channels helping to remove traditional barriers that have historically limited participation in the capital market.

Expressing confidence in the success of the offer, Dangote said the IPO would not only deepen Nigeria’s capital market but also stand as a landmark example of inclusive wealth creation.

‘Our ambition is clear. We want to build a shareholder base of at least 10 million investors and create one of the most widely owned companies in Africa. That is the essence of the People’s IPO. It reflects our conviction that every Nigerian should have the opportunity to participate in the value being created by this world-class refinery.’

The National Population Commission (NPC) has raised concerns over the low rate of birth registration in Nigeria, revealing that about 60 per cent of children in the country are not registered.

NPC Director Obodo Adaku said the development poses a serious threat to national planning, child protection, and the realisation of Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which seeks legal identity for all by 2030.

Speaking at a training workshop for stakeholders in Oyo State, Adaku described birth registration as a fundamental right and a critical tool for governance.

‘Any unregistered child does not exist. They are victims of child trafficking. An unregistered child has no future because the system cannot account for them,’ Adaku stated.

She emphasised that birth registration is as important as healthcare, explaining that accurate data from birth enables the government to plan effectively for education, health, security, and other social services.

According to her, the training was organised to strengthen digital birth registration across the country. She noted that while digital registration is capital-intensive, the federal government has made registration free for children between the ages of 0 and 5.

‘The National Population Commission will partner with necessary people and institutions to ensure that every child is visible and protected. We cannot achieve proper planning if a large chunk of our population remains invisible,’ she said.

Adaku linked the poor registration culture to Nigeria’s inability to meet global targets, stressing that SDG 16.9, which focuses on providing legal identity for all, can be achieved if stakeholders take the process seriously.

She also cited the recent Orire incident in Oyo State, where the Ministry of Health said missing children could not be properly accounted for due to poor birth records.

According to her, ‘Until parents started calling about their missing children, authorities had no proper record to trace or identify them. That is the danger we face when children are not registered.’

Also speaking at the event, ALGON Chairman in Oyo State, Sikiru Sanda, urged parents to embrace the initiative and give their children a sense of belonging from birth.

‘I charge all parents to take this initiative seriously. Registering your child is the first step to giving them identity, access to opportunities, and protection under the law,’ Sanda said.

Other stakeholders at the training agreed that electronic birth registration will help Nigeria solve its long-standing planning and data problems and called for wider sensitisation to ensure no child is left out.

The NPC reiterated its commitment to work with traditional rulers, health facilities, local governments, and civil society to ensure that every Nigerian child is captured in the national database.

In order to promote clean-energy innovation, STEM education, creativity and practical problem-solving among secondary school students statewide, the Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, has launched the Lagos Clean Energy Schools Innovation Challenge (LCESIC) 2026.

The launch, held on Wednesday at the ASSBIFI Event Centre, Plot 5, ASSBIFI Road, C.B.D., Alausa, Ikeja, brought together top government officials and key stakeholders from the energy and education sectors.

Speaking at the event, Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, described LCESIC as an investment in the next generation of clean-energy innovators, stressing that the initiative goes beyond a conventional school competition.

Ogunleye noted that the rapidly changing global energy landscape requires deliberate investment in young people who will design, build, regulate, manage and lead the energy systems of the future.

According to him, the initiative provides students with a structured platform to identify real-world energy challenges, develop ideas, test solutions and apply their scientific knowledge and creativity to practical problems.

‘This is not simply a competition. It is a platform for our young people to identify problems, ask questions, develop ideas and create solutions to real-world energy challenges,’ the commissioner said.

He explained that the challenge focuses on four thematic areas: Solar Energy and Photovoltaics; Energy Efficiency and Conservation; Biogas and Waste-to-Energy; and Wind and Hybrid Energy Systems.

The commissioner emphasised that Lagos, as Nigeria’s economic and innovation hub, must continue to develop the human capacity required to participate meaningfully in the transformation of the energy sector. He added that such capacity building must begin early by exposing students to innovation, technology and practical problem-solving.

Ogunleye encouraged participating students to remain curious, work collaboratively, test their ideas and learn from setbacks, stressing that the objective goes beyond producing a winning project to developing a generation capable of identifying challenges and working systematically towards practical solutions.

He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the education sector, schools, private-sector partners, mentors and other stakeholders to create opportunities for young people to learn, innovate and contribute to the development of Lagos State.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Mrs. Ibilola Kasunmu, described the initiative as an investment in young people and the future of the energy sector.

Kasunmu stated that the energy challenges facing Lagos State and the wider world require young people who can think critically, embrace technology and develop practical and sustainable solutions.

She explained that the maiden edition of LCESIC brings together eligible Senior Secondary School One (SS1) and Senior Secondary School Two (SS2) students from Education Districts 1, 2 and 3 to develop innovative solutions across the four thematic areas.

She said participating students would progress from district-level competitions to the State-level competition and ultimately the championship.

The Permanent Secretary noted that the programme aligns with the Lagos State Government’s commitment to youth development, STEM education, innovation and sustainability under the THEMES+ Development Agenda.

Kasunmu acknowledged the support and leadership of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, and the Honourable Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, in advancing initiatives that invest in the future of young people.

She also commended the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Education Districts, school principals, teachers, mentors and implementing partners, particularly Dr. Yetty Ogunnubi, founder of YD Company, for their contributions to the development and implementation of the initiative.

In her goodwill message, the representative of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Adumasi Bosede, described LCESIC as a laudable initiative that provides students with opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges.

Adumasi emphasised the importance of collaboration among government institutions, schools, teachers, industry partners and other stakeholders in nurturing the talents and capabilities of young people.

She encouraged participating students to approach the challenge with enthusiasm, curiosity and an open mind, stressing that meaningful innovation begins with identifying a genuine need and developing an appropriate solution.

The launch was graced by top government officials and key stakeholders from the energy and education sectors, including senior officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the General Manager, Lagos State Electrification Agency (LSEA), the Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC), representatives of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Education District officials, school principals, teachers, mentors, participating students, implementing partners and members of the media.

The presence of stakeholders across the energy and education sectors underscored the importance of collaboration in equipping young Lagosians with the knowledge, skills and practical experience required to contribute to the future of the energy sector.

The launch also provided an opportunity to recognise and appreciate the teachers accompanying participating students, whose dedication and mentorship remain critical to nurturing innovation and developing young people’s skills.

The Lagos Clean Energy Schools Innovation Challenge 2026 is expected to provide participating students with practical exposure to clean-energy concepts while strengthening their skills in innovation, creativity, teamwork and problem-solving.

The initiative represents a collaborative effort between the energy and education sectors to nurture young talent and develop a pipeline of future professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators capable of contributing to the evolving energy landscape of Lagos State and Nigeria.

The ministry therefore called on participating schools, teachers, mentors, partners and students to embrace the initiative and contribute to its successful implementation.

The Benin Zone of NBM of Africa Worldwide has donated blood to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State, as part of its sustained humanitarian initiatives.

The exercise was aimed at replenishing the hospital’s blood bank and ensuring that patients requiring urgent transfusions have timely access to blood.

Speaking during the exercise on behalf of the national president of the organisation, Dr. Charles Chimezie, chairman of the Benin Zone, Comrade Desmond Izevbigie, said the initiative reflected the organisation’s belief that humanitarian service must be demonstrated through tangible actions capable of positively impacting lives.

Izevbigie said the organisation had, over the years, undertaken various humanitarian initiatives across the country and beyond, particularly in healthcare, welfare support, community development, and other interventions aimed at alleviating human suffering.

He stressed that the organisation remained committed to responding meaningfully to the needs of vulnerable members of society while promoting initiatives that protect human dignity and improve the wellbeing of the people.

According to him, blood donation remains one of the most direct and practical ways of saving lives, as donated blood can provide an immediate lifeline to accident victims, surgical patients, women experiencing complications during childbirth, and other patients whose survival depends on timely transfusion.

The NBM chairman urged Nigerians, corporate organisations, and community groups to embrace voluntary blood donation, noting that nobody could predict when a relative, friend, neighbour, or a stranger might need blood that another person had willingly donated.

Izevbigie commended the Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Professor (Mrs) Idia Ize-Iyamu, and the hospital’s management for what he described as their commendable efforts to revamp the institution and improve the quality of healthcare services delivered to the people.

He called for greater support for the hospital’s ongoing efforts, stressing that improved healthcare infrastructure and quality medical services will ultimately benefit not only the people of the state but also Nigerians across the country.

The NBM chairman also commended Governor Monday Okpebholo, for his efforts in tackling cultism and related violence, as well as his administration’s drive for infrastructural development.

He equally praised the governor for what he described as his respect for the traditional institution, particularly the revered Benin Traditional Institution and His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin.

Izevbigie called on individuals, corporate bodies, and other organisations to support initiatives aimed at addressing social vices, strengthening community safety, promoting peaceful coexistence, and advancing sustainable development in the state.