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Afrobeats star Zlatan Ibile has revealed the inspiration behind his soon-to-be-released third studio album, ‘Symbol of Hope.’

In an interview featuring his son, Shiloh, the rapper explained that the album reflects his journey from humble beginnings to success. He said the title represents the resilience and determination that shaped his rise from hardship to prominence.

‘When I was growing up, I used to have people I looked up to. I saw people who made it from nothing to something. They used their talent, they hustled right, and got to the top,’ Zlatan said.

‘They were symbols that gave me hope. And now, a lot of people look up to me too – including you. I’ve become a symbol of hope to many.’

Zlatan added that his childhood struggles, including the challenge of affording three meals a day, deeply influenced the themes and message of the new album.

‘When I was young, it was really hard to eat three times a day. The life experience influenced this album. It was like a process. I had to work hard. When others were sleeping, I had to motivate myself and tell myself that I want to be great,’ he added.

The album, set to release on October 17, 2025, is titled ‘Symbol of Hope’, and the album took two years to complete, involving a meticulous process of recording and refining tracks.

VFD Group Plc has signed a N50.67 billion Rights Issue, marking a milestone in its drive to fortify its capital base and accelerate strategic growth initiatives.

Chairman, Olatunde Busari, said the move aligns with the company’s vision to build a resilient and diversified investment institution with a growing international footprint.

He recalled that at the Eighth Annual General Meeting, shareholders approved a capital raise of up to N30 billion, of which N12.5 billion had been successfully secured.

‘Building on that momentum, shareholders at our Ninth AGM on May 8, again demonstrated their confidence in our vision by authorising the board to raise additional capital of up to N50 billion through various instruments,’ he said.

The Rights Issue – comprising 5,067,396,400 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each, offered at N10 per share, on the basis of two new shares for every three shares held has been approved by the board.

Busari explained that the proceeds, estimated at N49.55 billion net of costs, will be channelled towards deleveraging the balance sheet, funding geographic expansion into the United Kingdom and Southern Africa, and increasing investments in key subsidiaries.

He emphasised that the capital raise underscores the group’s commitment to building a stronger, more liquid, and well-leveraged institution poised to seize emerging opportunities in diverse sectors and regions.

‘As we sign these documents, we are not merely executing a financial transaction; we are reinforcing our belief in VFD’s future,’ Busari said.

He lauded shareholders for their trust, to advisers for their professionalism, and to regulators for their guidance throughout the process.

Busari added that the Rights Issue marks the start of a new growth phase focused on innovation, value creation, and sustainable prosperity, as VFD Group continues its journey toward becoming a pan-African investment powerhouse anchored on excellence, integrity, and resilience.

He explained that the company’s new rights issue is aimed at deepening shareholder participation and strengthening its investment capacity.

‘As an investment company, our goal is to encourage shareholders to increase their stake and invest more in the company. The approval of this rights issue by the board and shareholders reflects their confidence in VFD Group’s vision and performance,’ he said.

Group Managing Director, Nonso Okpala, expressed optimism about the cfirm’s ability to raise the targeted funds.

‘We are looking to raise N50 billion, and we’re confident this is achievable. The economic climate has created the right conditions for such a capital raise. Two or three years ago, the outlook wasn’t as promising, but today, the economy is opening up and opportunities are emerging.

We’re seeing improved capital formation across various sectors, with increased stability and investor confidence. This gives us the conviction that we can successfully raise the required funds to tap into the economic opportunities unfolding in Nigeria.

We must commend the Federal Government for the ongoing reforms and policy implementations since the start of this administration – they’ve truly helped reposition the business environment.’

Speaking on the broader economic outlook, Okpala observed that the Nigerian economy is headed in the right direction, despite short-term challenges.

‘There are some immediate pains to manage, but the government has shown awareness and sensitivity to these issues. From both economic and corporate perspectives, there are significant opportunities to harness.

The insurance, capital market, and banking sectors, for example, are experiencing revitalisation. Their capital bases are strengthening, and profitability is improving. The next challenge is ensuring these gains translate into benefits for the average Nigerian,’ he added.

Looking ahead, Okpala said VFD Group is strategically positioned to play a leading role in driving and leveraging developmental reforms across the economy.

‘In the coming years, we expect VFD to be at the forefront of Nigeria’s investment sector, leading efforts to mobilise sustainable capital and promote economic growth. The economy thrives when investors and corporates in the investment space effectively marshal capital, implement sound strategies, and strengthen performance – even against global competitors.

Nigeria needs strong investment companies to drive this process, and VFD is ready to seize that opportunity.’, Okpala said.

The House of Representatives has commenced an investigation into the alleged mismanagement of funds allocated for the clean-up of oil spillage in the Niger Delta.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the ad hoc committee set up by the House to carry out the investigation, the chairman of the committee, Okpolupm Etteh, said the Niger Delta has faced years of environmental degradation and untold damage due to oil exploration and frequent spills.

He said the establishment of the Committee by this House underscores the shared commitment to ensuring accountability, transparency, and environmental justice for the people of the Niger Delta.

According to him, the Niger Delta has faced years of environmental degradation and untold damage due to oil exploration and frequent spills, while various government agencies have been created or assigned the responsibility of conducting environmental remediation and clean-up operations.

He said, ‘Unfortunately, troubling reports of alleged mismanagement, inefficiency, and poor coordination have overshadowed these initiatives.

‘Similarly, this House has also received reports that Funds allocated for clean-up efforts have not produced the anticipated outcomes, leaving communities still affected, livelihoods in jeopardy, and public trust diminished.

‘Our Committee has been assigned the critical task of uncovering the truth, evaluating the effectiveness of interventions, and proposing reforms for sustainable solutions.

‘Our objectives are clear. We will investigate the utilization of funds designated for environmental remediation, review the actual execution of clean-up projects, identify deficiencies in the institutional framework, and engage with all relevant stakeholders, including host communities, experts, and civil society. Most importantly, we will recommend specific actions to enhance performance and rebuild public trust.’

He emphasised that the Committee is not on a quest for a witch-hunt, but will not hesitate to ask tough questions to unravel the truth for posterity and to uphold the integrity of our mission.

He said, ‘We will operate transparently, seek broad consultations, and conduct field visits to witness the situation first-hand. Agencies will be held accountable, community perspectives will be valued, and our conclusions will be based on factual evidence rather than emotions.

‘Our aim is to illuminate the truth and ensure that the Niger Delta receives the justice it rightfully deserves. We will conduct our work with professionalism, patriotism, and a strong respect for the rule of law.

‘The task ahead is both urgent and essential. The Niger Delta cannot endure another decade of unfulfilled promises. It is high time we transformed words into action. We, therefore, seek the cooperation of all stakeholders-government agencies, communities, civil society, and the media-to help us effectively achieve our mandate.’

Mohamed Amoura scored twice as Algeria beat Somalia 3-0 yesterday to become the fourth qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup from Africa after Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.

The Wolfsburg striker volleyed a Riyad Mahrez cross into the net on six minutes, then the former Manchester City winger slammed a loose ball into the net midway through the opening half.

Mahrez turned creator again on 57 minutes, setting up Amoura to stretch the lead to three goals. Coach Vladimir Petkovic, convinced that qualification was assured, then substituted both scorers.

It was a predictable outcome in western port city Oran as the Desert Foxes are 163 places above the Ocean Stars in the world rankings.

Algeria have 22 points in Group G with one round remaining, four more than second-placed Uganda. Mozambique lie third, followed by Guinea, Botswana and Somalia.

Luca Zidane, a son of French football legend Zinedine Zidane, had dominated the pre-match build-up having changed his senior international allegiance to Algeria.

A goalkeeper with Spanish second-tier club Granada, Luca Zidane represented France at youth levels, but was able to make the switch because his paternal grandparents were Algerian.

He was named among the substitutes by Bosnian coach Vladimir Petkovic with goalkeeper Alexis Guendouz from reigning Algerian champions Mouloudia Alger in the starting line-up.

Algeria will be making a fifth World Cup appearance when they travel to the 2026 tournament, which the United States, Canada and Mexico are co-hosting.

After first round exits in the 1982, 1986 and 2010 tournaments, they reached the second round at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, losing 2-1 to eventual champions Germany.

Elsewhere, Ryan Ogam scored after 73 minutes to give Kenya a 1-0 win over Burundi in a fiery east African derby in Bujumbura, where the home side had to play with 10 men for all but six minutes.

Forward Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana was shown a straight red card after fouling Kenya goalkeeper Brian Okoth, whose injury forced him off to be replaced by Bryne Odhiambo.

The incident set the scene for a tense first half. When Kenyan Manzur Suleiman committed a studs-up foul, furious Burundians surrounded the referee, appealing for the yellow card to be changed to red.

Despite their numerical advantage, Kenya did not threaten to score until first-half added time when Jonathan Nahimana made a brilliant one-hand save from a long-range shot.

But the brave resistance of the Burundian Swallows finally broke when Ogam netted to lift the Kenyan Harambee Stars to third, eight points behind leaders and reigning African champions the Ivory Coast.

Cote d’Ivoire and Gabon have dominated the six-nation Group F with one point dividing them going into their penultimate matches on Friday.

The Ivorians are away to the Seychelles in Mauritius because their Indian Ocean opponents do not have a FIFA-approved stadium.

Gabon have what is likely to be a much tougher task away in Nairobi to Gambia, another country lacking an international-standard venue.

Cote d’Ivoire will secure a fourth World Cup appearance, and first since 2014, if they win and Gabon lose.

There are nine qualifiers scheduled for today, including three in Group C, where leaders Benin, South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda and Lesotho all have a mathematical chance of finishing first.

Benin lead South Africa on goal difference, and both have three more points than Nigeria and Rwanda. Lesotho are five points behind the pacesetters.

Lesotho benefitted from having a 2-0 loss to South Africa last March changed to a 3-0 victory by FIFA because their opponents fielded the ineligible Teboho Mokoena.

To deliver real-world impact and address the urgent climate crisis, innovations are needed to be unleashed, global authority for project professionals, Project Management Institute (PMI) has said, adding that the world can’t afford to keep innovations in experimental labs.

Chief Marketing Officer at PMI, Menaka Gopinath, spoke against the background of the release of a new documentary series called The Solutionaries, co-produced with Studios and PMI, that highlighted three innovators driving scalable transformation to address global climate crisis.

Cyrill Gutsch, Rebecca Hu-Thrams, and Lisa Dyson are The Solutionaries, that made bold moves to tackle the world’s most urgent challenges and expand their impact through project management.

Gopinath said: ‘The Solutionaries demonstrate that the answers to our greatest challenges often come from individuals with the courage to build the world they imagine. To deliver real-world impact and address the urgent climate crisis, these innovations need to be unleashed – the world can’t afford to keep them in experimental labs. That’s where the power of project management to scale innovation makes all the difference, and The Solutionaries are doing just that.

‘More often than not, the barrier to implementing solutions tackling seemingly insurmountable challenges is just figuring out where to start and having the tools and mindset to move from idea to action. The project profession is a critical element to enabling action.

‘At PMI, we’re redefining how the world tackles environmental challenges, championing for every project to be designed with sustainability at its core. Our research shows projects with sustainability baked in are nearly twice as likely to deliver successfully. Our mission is to inspire project professionals to use their skills to shape a more sustainable future to drive meaningful change.’

United by a shared mission to drive cultural and social impact through storytelling, each innovator’s work is featured in an episode, the first of which premiered on October 8th, on time.com. Further episodes went live on October 28th, and November 10th.

The first episode, Parley for the Oceans – October 8 introduced viewers to Cyrill Gutsch, a German-born designer and founder of Parley for the Oceans, a global environmental organization that brought together creators, thinkers, and leaders to raise awareness about the fragility of the oceans and collaborate to end their destruction. Through Parley Future Material they are introducing natural materials, biofabrication and green chemistry as alternatives to conventional and often harmful and toxic material standards, disrupting the status quo of the fashion and design industries and driving a material revolution.

In 2024, Parley intercepted 1,609,979 kg of debris from the environment, cleaning a 16,028,161 m2 area.

In partnership with Dior, Parley launched its third Beachwear Capsule collection, crafted entirely from innovative materials, including 30per cent made with Parley Ocean Plastic, a bold step toward an eco-innovative future and a ‘Symbol of Change’ for fashion.

Parley’s mission is a powerful reminder that ocean health is the foundation of human and economic well-being.

This is extremely evident in Africa, where the ocean is both a lifeline and a vast reservoir of opportunity. Africa’s oceans are among its greatest economic assets.

Stretching over 30,000 kilometres of coastline and bordering two of the world’s most dynamic oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian, they sustain millions of livelihoods and power key sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, and transport. Healthy oceans are essential to Africa’s food security, biodiversity, and climate resilience, but they are under

increasing threat from pollution, overexploitation, and climate change. Protecting these blue ecosystems is therefore both an ecological and economic imperative.

As global innovators such as Gutsch demonstrate through their work, reimagining human relationship with the ocean can spark a material revolution, one that aligns sustainability with creativity.

For Africa, maintaining ocean health is not just about conservation; it is about safeguarding a foundation for future prosperity, ensuring that the continent’s blue economy becomes a driver of inclusive growth rather than a casualty of neglect.

The second episode, Glacier – October 28 spotlights Rebecca Hu-Thrams, co-founder of Glacier, a next-generation robotics company reinventing recycling to reduce landfilling and unlock a circular economy at scale. Today, Glacier’s robots process recycling streams for 1 in 10 Americans, a sign of how quickly material recovery facilities in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Phoenix, and San Francisco are adopting the technology.

Glacier designs custom-built robots powered by proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) models to trace and recover more recyclables from the waste stream. Their compact units install directly into recycling facilities, where robots extract valuable materials and computer vision captures real-time footage of every item, using AI to classify each one. The result: more materials recovered, higher-quality feedstock for manufacturers, and verified evidence for brands seeking

accountability.

Physical AI meets recycling as Glacier’s models have already identified and sorted more than 50 categories of materials-including plastics, fiber, metals, cartons, glass, and branded packaging-at industrial scale.

Veteran actress Idowu Phillips popularly known as Mama Rainbow, is celebrating 60 years on stage.

In a Instagram post, she shared breathtaking photos from her 83rd photo shoot, expressing gratitude for the grace, passion, and dedication that have defined her illustrious career.

Mama Rainbow credited her amazing team, including director, dress designer, makeup artist, and hairstylist, for bringing her vision to life.

’60 Years on Stage | 83rd Pictures. What a journey it has been – 60 years of grace, passion, and dedication on stage, captured beautifully in my 83rd pictures. None of this would have been possible without an amazing team that brought this vision to life,’ she wrote on Instagram.

As she marks this significant achievement, fans and well-wishers have joined in celebrating a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry.

The E1 Lagos Grand Prix has come and gone but the memories the sporting tournament left will forever linger on in the memories of attendees and special guests.

The three day event, which was held in the heart of Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lekki, was spiced up by special performances led by Adekunle Gold, Fireboy DML, Shoday, Lojay, and Tiwa Savage.

The tone of the tournament was set by Adekunle Gold, who recently released his third album, Fuji, on Friday, October 3, 2025 with his performance at the LASWA Boat Jetty – Five Cowries Terminal.

Attendees of the event at other watching venues couldn’t get enough of the 38-year-old singer, who dished out tunes upon tunes to their delight.

After Adekunle Gold belled the cat for performances at the tournament, other music acts like YBNL signee, Fireboy DML, fast rising singer, Shoday and Lojay took turns in adding spice to the fun filled event.

The performances didn’t come as a surprise to many, who have attended the FirstBank inspired annual initiative, DecemberIssaVybe. Many of the attendees, who were mostly the younger generation, commended the Lagos State Government as well as major sponsors led by FirstBank of Nigeria.

Taiwo Elegbede, a 23-year-old student living in Lagos said the experience has set the tone for what December in Lagos will be like.

In her words, ‘When I heard about the E1 event, the first thing I did was to google about it and I saw that it was a sporting event. I am not really into sport but I was urged by my friends to attend and I don’t regret attending. The performances in the last three days have been awesome and now I have an idea how Christmas in Lagos will be.’

At the sporting tournament, nine teams including Aoki Racing Team, Team Alula, championed by LeBron James, Team Blue Rising, Team Brady, owned by Tom Brady, Team Brazil by Claure Group, Team Drogba, owned by football legend Didier Drogba, Team Miami powered by Magnus, and Team Rafa, owned by Tennis star, Rafael Nadal, participated at the tournament.

However, Team Brazil by Claure Group lifted the highly coveted trophy in a keenly competed race.

On why FirstBank decided to throw its heavy financial weight behind the tournament, the Acting Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Yinka Ijabiyi, who spoke during the E1 Lagos GP, said FirstBank would continue to be involved in driving initiatives that enhance creative culture across the country.

He also expressed that the vision of Firstbank as sponsors of the E1 Lagos GP was to champion a movement that would continue to celebrate global ideas and innovations that are not only sustainable but that could also push the boundaries of sustainability, and unleash the ‘unstoppable Vybes of Lagos’ onto the global stage.

With the success recorded with the first-ever all-electric powerboat racing competition in Africa, Ijabiyi noted that it was a good testimony that the brand was not only determined to drive every initiative that prosper Lagos State, but was ready to transform the Lagos coastline into global reckoning.

The E1 Lagos Grand Prix was rounded off with a scintillating performance by the self acclaimed Number one African bad gyal, Tiwa Savage, on Sunday, October 5, 2025. Tiwa left the audience asking for more as she sang her soul to the delight of guests, dignitaries and other attendees at the event.

These performances were part of a broader effort to celebrate Lagos culture and the innovation of the E1 series electric powerboat race.

Former presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has accused some All Progressives Congress (APC) members of sponsoring what he called renewed allegations against him through his estranged wife.

He described the development as part of a smear campaign to discredit him ahead of the 2027 general election.

In a statement, Olawepo-Hashim alleged that his ex-wife’s recent claims in the media were orchestrated by those he called remnants of the same political handlers who allegedly plotted to stop his 2019 presidential bid.

He said: ‘She had been recruited by elements around (the late President Muhammadu) Buhari in the UK High Commission and the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA). Apart from other sinister things they did, they tried to frame me up for funding terrorism. I was questioned in the UK and released when no evidence was found. She was the one who gave the information to the UK authorities.’

The businessman-turned-politician alleged that the same group seized two of his oil assets during the period, forcing him into a prolonged legal battle.

He recalled that in November 2020, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, restored the Hely Creek and Abigborodo marginal oil fields to his company, Transnational Energy Limited (TEL), after ruling that the government’s revocation of the fields was illegal. The court also awarded $20 million in damages against the federal institutions involved.

Olawepo-Hashim claimed that his ex-wife’s legal battle in the UK was part of that broader scheme, adding that she was ‘recruited by the then Deputy Director-General of the NIA, Air Force General Bello, who is her in-law’.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart alleged that his estranged wife obtained an undefended divorce judgment in England in which she was awarded £18 million (about N36 billion), but the judgment was later annulled by a Nigerian court since their marriage was conducted under Nigerian law.

‘APC handlers funded her with millions of dollars, nominating her for several foreign grants for female entrepreneurs and start-up businesses. My lawyers have written to her several times to provide account details for the children’s upkeep, but she refused because she wants £18 million, not money for their welfare,’ he said.

The former presidential candidate added that his ex-wife had denied his family access to their children, describing her as ‘a professional blackmailer and social climber who has made plenty of money from that trade’.

Olawepo-Hashim said the revival of her story was politically motivated, stressing: ‘Now that the 2027 campaign has started, the same APC team has picked her up again, pushing her story in the media.’

He dismissed reports of a new court order directing one of his companies to pay ?300 million.

The PDP stalwart described the claim as ‘an invention of an APC night court’.

According to him, no such process was ever served on his legal team.

‘This is an act of desperation on their part, and it shows our message is biting them. Picking up stories from bitter women against opposition figures will not save the APC from imminent defeat in 2027.

‘Tales like this did not stop President Trump in America; they won’t stop us here either, by the grace of God,’ Olawepo-Hashim added.

The Super Eagles got the job done against Lesotho winning 2-1 to keep their 2026 World Cup hopes alive.

The Super Eagles started the game dominantly, keeping possession and mounting pressure on the Lesotho defense, however it didn’t yield any positive results as both teams went down the tunnel goalless.

Eric Chelles’ men continued their pressure at the resumption of the second half, and got their deserved opportunity after the referee pointed to the spot in the 55th minute, which captain Troost Ekong made no mistake from, giving the Super Eagles an early advantage.

Debutant Akor Adams ensured the three points was safe for Nigeria in the 80th minute after guiding the ball into the bottom right corner.

The other group match-up saw South Africa draw against Zimbabwe while Benin secured 3points against Rwanda.

The results see Nigeria remain 3rd with 14 points and will only qualify should they defeat Benin and South Africa lose to Rwanda.

Nigeria will need to beat Benin Republic by three or more goals to seal their 2026 World Cup slot.

Mrs Arinola Ajose, widow of Dr Sunny Ajose, Badagry apex leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday hailed Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for naming 420 housing units in honour of her late husband.

Sanwo-Olu had on Wednesday named the newly-inaugurated Ajara Housing Estate in Badagry after the late Lagos State Head of Service (HoS) and member of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Ajose.

Mrs Ajose in a statement signed by Prince Sunday Oke, on behalf of the family, said the kind gesture was a great pride and appreciation for all of them in Badagry.

She said: ”We are grateful to our esteemed governor for this thoughtful and well-deserved recognition.

‘By naming this housing estate after the late Dr. Ajose, our governor has paid tribute to his memory and preserved his legacy for generations to come.

‘This gesture reflects the deep respect and admiration our governor has for those who have selflessly served our state.

‘The immortalisation of the name of the late Ajose is a source of pride and inspiration for his family, friends and colleagues.

‘It serves as a reminder of the remarkable impact he had on the community and the lives he touched through his dedicated service.’

The widow added: ‘On behalf of the family, I express our sincere appreciation to the governor for this noble gesture.

‘We pray that God continues to bless him with wisdom and strength as he leads our state to greater heights.

‘We also extend our gratitude to residents of Lagos State, who have shown their support and love for our late honourable through this recognition.

‘As we celebrate this momentous occasion, let us be reminded of the legacy of Ajose and strive to embody his selfless spirit in our lives.

‘May his memory continue to inspire us to serve our community and make our state a better place for all.’