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Nestlé Nigeria appoints Egbebi new corporate communications, sustainability manager

Nestlé Nigeria has announced the appointment of Toritseju (Toju) Egbebi as Corporate Communications and Sustainability manager. The appointment which takes effective November 2026, followed the retirement of Victoria Uwadoka after decades of service with the company.

Toritseju Egbebi, currently Corporate Affairs Manager, brings 18 years of experience in public relations and corporate communications across the technology, financial services and consumer goods sectors.

Since joining Nestlé Nigeria, she has played a key role in strengthening the company’s corporate reputation, public affairs and stakeholder engagement.

Through the Nestlé for Good platform, she has helped deepen visibility and understanding of Nestlé’s investments in healthier nutrition, thriving communities and environmental sustainability, while strengthening strategic media and stakeholder partnerships.

During her decade with Nestlé Nigeria, Victoria Uwadoka played a central role in strengthening the company’s reputation, stakeholder relationships and Creating Shared Value agenda.

Her leadership advanced communications and sustainability priorities across nutrition, youth empowerment, agriculture, water stewardship, environmental responsibility and community development.

She also championed stronger employee engagement and helped translate complex corporate and sustainability priorities into clear, credible narratives that built understanding and trust.

Beyond Nestlé, Victoria has contributed to the development of Nigeria’s communications profession through industry leadership, advocacy and mentorship, championing strategic communications as a driver of business and societal progress.

Commenting on the transition, Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé Nigeria, Wassim Elhusseini said: ‘Victoria has made an important contribution to Nestlé Nigeria over the past decade, and we are deeply grateful for the leadership, professionalism and commitment she has brought to our business and the communications profession. We wish her every success in this next chapter.

‘As Toju takes on this responsibility, I have every confidence in the experience, judgement and energy she brings to the role. Strong communication and stakeholder engagement are fundamental to building trust and advancing our purpose, and I am confident she will continue strengthening these relationships while helping us demonstrate the positive impact of our business in Nigeria.’

Kwara 2027: 31% Undecided as Poll Projects how parties stand

Ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial poll in Kwara State, an African research and strategy consultancy specialising in opinion polling, NU Northstar Research, has reported that 31 per cent of voters have not undecided or declined to disclose their preference in the governorship race.

However, the poll reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, is leading his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival, Bolakale Kawu, by 63 per cent to 34 per cent among voters who have expressed a voting preference, according to a new opinion poll.

The findings, signed by the Head of Research, NU Northstar, Mr Ebuka Iloh, are based on a survey of 30,000 registered voters across the state’s 16 local government areas and 193 wards.

Iloh said the survey was conducted between September 2 and October 20, 2026.

The report also puts the ruling APC candidates ahead of their PDP counterparts in all three senatorial districts.

Among the entire electorate surveyed, Danladi recorded 43 per cent support, compared with Kawu’s 24 per cent, while 31 per cent were undecided or declined to disclose their preference.

Zakari Mohammed of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) polled one per cent, while Ridwan Apaokagi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) recorded less than one per cent.

A breakdown of the governorship findings showed that Danladi led in all three senatorial districts and all 16 local government areas.

His highest margin was recorded in Kwara North, where he polled 71 per cent against Kawu’s 26 per cent among decided voters. In Kwara Central, the figures were 56 per cent and 41 per cent respectively.

The closest local government contest was recorded in Ilorin West, Kawu’s home local government, where Danladi led by 51 per cent to 46 per cent. The poll, however, identified 58 of the state’s 193 wards as too close to call, while Danladi recorded clear leads in 135 wards.

Kwara South accounted for the largest concentration of undecided governorship voters, with 43 per cent yet to identify a preferred candidate.

The corresponding figures were 28 per cent in Kwara Central and 24 per cent in Kwara North. All six local governments where undecided voters exceeded 40 per cent were in Kwara South.

Young voters aged between 18 and 29 also recorded the highest level of uncertainty, with 37 per cent yet to make a choice.

Undecided voters were also more concentrated in Kwara South, where 36 per cent had yet to identify a preferred senatorial candidate, compared with 25 per cent in Kwara Central and 19 per cent in Kwara North.

On voting patterns, 64 per cent of respondents said they intended to support the same political party in both the governorship and senatorial elections, while 15 per cent indicated a possibility of splitting their votes. Another 21 per cent were uncertain.

The survey also examined public assessment of the incumbent administration.

Bad roads emerged as the most frequently identified problem statewide, cited by 25 per cent of respondents. However, priorities differed across the senatorial districts, with electricity prominent in Kwara Central, road infrastructure in Kwara South and insecurity in Kwara North.

According to the research team, the exercise combined telephone interviews, street surveys and online questionnaires to capture voters’ preferences, perceptions of government performance and concerns across different communities.

Daily Trust reports that the controversial outcomes of the APC’s candidate selection processes have deepened divisions within the ruling party in Kwara State.

Fifteen influential party leaders, operating under the aegis of the G-15, had rejected candidates backed by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and warned the party’s national leadership of the potential consequences of the internal crisis ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The G-15 which later rebranded as ‘The Otoge Progressives,’ comprising former ministers, serving and former lawmakers, party chieftains and grassroots mobilisers, has reportedly thrown its weight behind the PDP governorship candidate, further complicating the APC’s political calculations in the state.

One of the group’s members, Senator Saliu Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central, has since defected to the PDP and secured the party’s senatorial ticket.

His emergence as the PDP’s senatorial candidate sets up a direct contest against Governor AbdulRazaq, who is also seeking election to the Senate on the APC platform.

Home builder expands Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate with new offerings

Home builder, Mixta Africa, has expanded its Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate with the unveiling of a new residential, leisure and lifestyle proposition, moving it from golf into polo, equestrian pursuits and country-estate living.

The company is a foremost pan-African real estate company with over 20 years of experience and 30,000 homes delivered across five African countries – Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire.

In Nigeria, it has a project portfolio that includes Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate, Adiva Plainfields Estate and Beechwood Estate, and Fara Park in Sangotedo, Lagos.

The new development was unveiled at an event held at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos. It marks a new chapter in Mixta’s development at Lakowe as a residential and leisure destination, bringing together golf, polo, distinctive homes and a wider country-estate lifestyle.

Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate deepens the evolution of the wider Lakowe into a destination, rather than simply an additional residential phase. The development brings together a regulation polo field, stables, training field, paddock, clubhouse, crescent lake and a collection of residences positioned within the polo and equestrian landscape.

Deji Alli, Mixta Africa’s CEO, in his keynote address titled ‘The Courage to Build: Vision, Execution and Enduring Value,’ said the development reflects the importance of translating ambition into lasting value.

‘My message is simple: building something of lasting value requires the courage to see beyond the present, the discipline to execute and the responsibility to create value that endures; our ambition is not simply to sell property, but to build a destination that gives people compelling reasons to choose it.’

He said the new development builds on Mixta’s long-term approach to Lakowe, explaining that it is about creating a destination whose value extends beyond the individual homes within it.

The proposition is designed around the relationship between residence, landscape, sport, leisure, wellness and community, giving homeowners a distinct reason to choose Lakowe beyond the physical property itself.

The newly unveiled residential collection includes premium villas, loft terraces and apartments, with selected homes overlooking the polo field and lake. The launch generated the first ownership conversations around a broader residential collection that will be released as the development progresses.

The development builds on Mixta’s experience creating and delivering residential communities across its markets, as well as the company’s established track record at Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate.

First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva watched “Thikra: Night of Remembering’ dance production [PHOTOS]

On November 1, the dance production “Thikra: Night of Remembering” was performed at the Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theater as part of the Baku International Arts Festival (BIAF-2026).

First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, along with her family members, watched the performance.

“Thikra: Night of Remembering”, the latest work by acclaimed director and choreographer Akram Khan, was commissioned by Wadi AlFann, a global destination for contemporary art based in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia.

Created in collaboration with award-winning visual artist Manal Al-Dowayan, Akram Khan Company’s final touring production draws on the ancient landscapes, mythology and cultural heritage of Al-Ula.

Through sacred rituals and shared recollections, an all-female ensemble transcend the boundaries of time, bridging past and present to invoke an act of spiritual renewal.

The production features an original score by Indian-American singer and composer Aditya Prakash.

The visual aesthetics of the play were created by “Wadi AlFann” artist Manal Al-Dowayan, renowned for her large-scale multimedia installation featured at the Saudi Arabian pavilion during the 60th Venice Biennale.

In the Thikra project, the artist blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary forms. Natural dyes mirror the color palette of the desert, while geometric motifs rooted in Al-Ula’s heritage highlight the symbolic role and significance of each character.

The production draws on the ancient landscapes, mythology and cultural heritage of Al-Ula. The site-specific world premiere of the play was presented in January 2025.

Customs deepens inter-agency collaboration with six agencies to tackle money laundering

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has engaged six federal government agencies to strengthen inter-agency collaboration in tackling cross-border illicit financial flows, money laundering, corruption, drug trafficking, terrorism financing, and other related offences.

The three-day visit, held from 27 to 29 October 2026, was led by the Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Headquarters, Muhammad Shuaibu.

It focused on deepening strategic cooperation and intelligence sharing among the agencies to combat financial crimes and other illicit activities.

The agencies include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the National Counter-Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Speaking during the engagements, Shuaibu expressed that the initiative was aimed at enhancing inter-agency coordination in addressing threats to Nigeria’s economy and national security. ‘The sole objective of this mission is to effectively detect and disrupt cross-border illicit financial flows.

The measures include field visits to selected border stations to assess practical Customs control measures and engage with relevant agencies.’ Shuaibu Said.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, represented by the Chief Operating Officer, Intelligence Security Service Sector, Muhammed-Mustapha, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its efforts in combating smuggling and reinforcing border security.

He also noted the longstanding relationship between the two institutions.

‘When NFIU was created, NCS was the first to collaborate with us. No particular agency understands things better than how Customs does globally,’ Mustapha said.

Meanwhile, the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Mentoring Team, led by Shahiduzzaman Sarkar, interacted with the agencies on approaches to addressing Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT).

The team also called for stronger collaboration with the NCS to ensure the success of the initiative.

During the engagements, participants identified communication gaps, bureaucracy and database privacy concerns, among others, as impediments to effective inter-agency collaboration.

The discussions also explored measures to address these challenges and strengthen institutional synergy.

The engagements also featured the presentation of NCS awards and WCO certificates to the agencies, demonstrating the Service’s commitment to enhance collaboration in tackling threats to Nigeria’s economy and national security.

Tokong, Lopez make waves in Siargao

Filipino surfer John Mark ‘Marama’ Tokong defeated world No. 11 Samuel Pupo of Brazil to reach Round 2 of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour Philippines Pro at Cloud 9 on Sunday in Siargao.

Tokong scored 16.60 points on waves of 8.60 and 8.00, beating Pupo’s 11.00 in their opening-round heat.

‘It’s crazy and amazing. There was a lot of pressure, but I just told myself to relax, keep things simple and enjoy the waves,’ Tokaong.

The Philippines Pro is presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, with support from various national and local government agencies.

The champion will receive US$80,000 (around P5.1 million). Opening-round losers will each earn US$13,000 (around P830,000). The competition is livestreamed on One Sports’ YouTube channel and Cignal Play.

Big outing for Lopez

Meanwhile, 15-year-old national surfing champion Mara Lopez of La Union came up with a fine performance in a tough match against world No. 1 Molly Picklum.

PSC Chairman Patrick ‘Pato’ Gregorio said Lopez’s parents could not travel to Siargao because they could not afford the expenses. The WSL and PSC had hoped to bring them to watch their daughter compete but learned of their situation too late.

Despite the loss, Lopez was guaranteed US$13,000 as a wildcard competitor.

‘Sports is a great equalizer,’ Gregorio said, stressing the importance of giving young athletes, especially those from less privileged families, opportunities to compete at the highest level.

Falana requests prosecution of Sowore’s attackers in Ado-Ekiti

A Lagos-based human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, on Sunday charged the Ekiti State Police Command to immediately arrest and prosecute the suspected thugs who attacked the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, in Ado-Ekiti.

The SAN equally urged the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice to take over the prosecution of two suspects, Joseph Rotimi Olabiowonu, popularly known as Metilo, and Opeyemi Adedoyin, who are accused of abducting and assaulting Sunday Ogunsakin, leading to his death.

Falana made the request in a statement on Sunday while expressing sadness over what he described as the growing incidence of political violence, thuggery and unlawful killings in Ekiti State.

While recalling past incidents of political violence in the state, the human rights crusader referenced the alleged killings of Dr Ayo Daramola, Tunde Omojola and Engr Kehinde Fasuba by a notorious killer squad allegedly operating because of political differences.

Falana maintained that the criminal gang also threatened the lives of other prominent indigenes of the state, just as he noted that although suspects were arrested and charged with the murders before the Ekiti State High Court, the cases were allegedly compromised by powerful political interests.

The senior lawyer stated that the failure to ensure justice in those cases had contributed to the persistence of political thuggery and unlawful killings in the state.

Falana equally recounted the circumstances surrounding the death of Sunday Ogunsakin following an alleged attack on 14 September 2026.

The SAN alleged that Olabiowonu, a former chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), and Adedoyin invaded Ogunsakin’s residence in Afao-Ekiti over a land dispute.

According to the human rights lawyer, the victim was abducted and severely assaulted before the suspects allegedly pushed him out of a moving vehicle, causing serious head injuries.

‘Ogunsakin was subsequently rushed to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), where he was pronounced dead.

‘The two suspects were arrested and investigated by the Ekiti State Police Command under Commissioner of Police Michael Falade before being arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court in Ado-Ekiti,’ he said.

Falana commended the magistrate for ordering their remand in a correctional facility pending legal advice from the state Attorney-General, despite alleged pressure from powerful interests.

Falana further urged the state Ministry of Justice to take over the case involving Olabiowonu and Adedoyin and ensure that they are charged before the High Court for alleged abduction, torture and murder.

2027: Igbo people have unanimously agreed to re-elect Tinubu, says Kalu

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has said the people of the South-East have unanimously agreed to support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in 2027.

Kalu spoke on Saturday at the flag-off of the APC Women’s Mobilisation Campaign and South-East Women Empowerment Programme by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in Enugu.

He said the immediate political mandate of the people of the region was to support Tinubu, whom he described as a leader who had demonstrated his commitment to the Igbo people.

Kalu recalled that Tinubu, during his tenure as governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, appointed people of Igbo extraction into his administration.

He said, ‘This man has not hidden his love for Ndi Igbo. During his time as the governor of Lagos State, no Igbo property was taken. Nobody who was a businessman in Lagos was arrested. Mr. Ben Akabueze was an Igbo man that he brought into his cabinet as Governor. It has never happened before. I hope we will reciprocate his kind gestures to Ndi Igbo. We must do so this time’.

The Deputy Speaker, who is also the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council 11 (South), said successive administrations had failed to fulfil the post-civil war promise of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reintegration for the people of the South-East until Tinubu assumed office.

He cited the signing into law of the South-East Development Commission Bill as evidence of the President’s commitment to the region, noting that the bill had remained pending in the National Assembly for several years.

Kalu said, ‘I also need to remind you that after the civil war, we waited for almost 60 years for a promise that was made to the people of Igbo land that was not kept. The 3Rs: Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Reintegration. Was the promise kept or not? It wasn’t kept.

‘Government after government, but they ignored us. Administration after administration, they ignored the Igbo, and we were waiting and asking, when will the messiah come to save the Igbo? Then came a man who loves the Igbo from his heart.

‘South East Development Commission Bill has been in the Parliament from year to year, Assembly to Assembly; they refused to sign it into law. But when President Tinubu came, the South East Development Commission became a commission under the law. Tinubu is a warrior, a great President,’ he said.

He added that the President was constructing roads and bridges and providing scholarships and loans, while the First Lady’s empowerment programme was supporting women in the region.

Kalu urged residents of the South-East to turn out on January 16, 2027, to vote for Tinubu and Shettima, insisting that the region had no alternative candidate.

He said, ‘To this end, I am appealing to Ndi Igbo: come January 16, 2027, we don’t have any other candidate. The Igbo are complete. The governors are complete. Abia is here. Enugu is here. Imo is here. Anambra is here. South East is complete. Ndi Igbo have unanimously agreed that we will return President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima in 2027 to continue their good work,’ Kalu declared.

The Deputy Speaker also argued that the South-East should not accept a four-year presidential arrangement when other regions had held the office for eight years.

He said, ‘Others have had it for 8 years and we have waited for too long, almost 60 years. Is it fair for us to do 4 years? Those who want Ndi Igbo to do only 4 years, it will not work. Just like others who did 8 years, when it is our turn, we will also do 8 years because what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

‘But for now, our mandate is to support the man that has been supporting us. This man has not hidden his love for Ndi Igbo,’ the Deputy Speaker said.

Caleb British School emerges national champion at Zenith Bank’s young innovators’ challenge

Caleb British International School (CBIS), Abijo, Lagos, has emerged national champion at the Zenith Bank Future Innovators Challenge Zecathon 6.0.

Represented by a quartet of senior secondary students – Deborah Iweha, Makayla Inyere, Fife Alonge, and Okeke Janelle, the winning team, carted home the grand prize of Five Million Naira (N5,000,000) for their groundbreaking project, ReLearn.

ReLearn actively bridges educational gaps by allowing children in underserved communities to access quality learning materials at a fraction of the market price.

Instead of allowing old textbooks to sit idle in homes after an academic session, the ReLearn platform seamlessly redistributes them to students in need.

The Future Innovators Challenge is Zenith Bank’s innovation contest dedicated to senior secondary schools, organised in partnership with Beyond Limits as part of the broader Zecathon 6.0 2026 innovation programme.

The programme provides African students early exposure to technology, teamwork, and problem-solving, offering a combined N10 million prize pool for the top three schools.

With the N5,000,000 prize money, the CBIS team plans to scale the ReLearn

platform beyond Caleb group of schools to provide more textbooks for *indegent* Nigerian students.

‘This national success is a firm validation of our huge investment in modern, state-of-the-art ICT learning hubs, tech innovation labs, and world-class audiovisual laboratories,’ Oladega Adebogun, the director of the Caleb Group of Schools, stated.

He described the CBIS team as worthy ambassadors of the Caleb brand, which prioritises excellent academic performance with high moral standards.

Adebogun added that the feat is no surprise, as the Caleb Group of Schools-spanning Lekki, Magodo, and the Lagos Mainland has consistently established itself as a citadel of academic excellence and a nurturing ground for future entrepreneurs.

‘The platform helps families save money and ensures no child goes to school without the right set of books,’ Deborah Iweha, one of the CBIS team members stated.

According to her, the ReLearn project directly aligns with three United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Quality Education (SDG 4), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), and Responsible Consumption (SDG 12).

Faith vs. Legislation: Inside the religious backlash facing Ogun State’s safe termination law

The General Overseer of the Victory Life Bible Church, Rev. Lawrence Achudume, has appealed to Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun not to assent to the pregnancy termination bill.

Achudume made the appeal on Sunday during a thanksgiving service in Abeokuta to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

He described the proposed legislation as a dangerous move that could encourage abortion and lead to the loss of unborn lives across the state.

‘I received information about this proposed bill from my contacts in the United States and a prominent Christian leader from Plateau State,’ Achudume said.

?He said that he subsequently contacted the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which prepared a formal letter appealing to the governor to withhold his assent.

?’Abiodun is a decent leader who loves children and humanity; he should reject this proposal in the interest of protecting human lives. Nigeria has experienced enough bloodshed and should not support policies that could encourage further loss of innocent lives,’ he said.

?The cleric called on the governor to safeguard his administration’s legacy by ensuring the state does not legalise actions that facilitate the termination of unborn children.

Achudume while commending Abiodun’s administration, noted that Ogun has remained free from acts of terrorism because of the peaceful disposition of the government.

Ogun House of Assembly had on Sept. 24 passed the bill seeking to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.

The proposed law also seeks to promote safe motherhood and reproductive health rights and establish conditions for safe pregnancy termination under specified legal indications.

The bill was titled ‘H.B. No. 036/OG/2026 – Ogun State Safe Termination of Pregnancy Law, 2026.’

The passage followed the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Health by its Chairman, Mr Wahab Haruna, (APC-Yewa North II), which was adopted by the lawmakers.

The ?Speaker of the House, Oludaisi Elemide directed that a clean copy of the bill be transmitted to Gov. Abiodun for his official assent.