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PDP Will End Poor Governance In Ogun – Adebutu

The 2027 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, has formally flagged off his campaign, promising to ‘liberate’ the state from poverty, insecurity, unemployment and what he described as poor governance.

Adebutu unveiled his campaign agenda, tagged ‘ITURA DE’, meaning relief or liberation, on Wednesday, at the Ake Palace in Abeokuta, where he presented his address titled: ‘A Call to Liberation’.

The former federal lawmaker said the agenda would form the blueprint of his administration if elected, with a focus on restoring local government autonomy, improving workers’ welfare, reviving the economy and expanding access to social services.

According to Adebutu, the ITURA DE agenda is built around seven priority areas: improved security, law and order; local government financial autonomy and workers’ welfare; urban and regional development, physical planning and transportation; rural and border communities development; agricultural, economic and industrial development; development of women, youth and sports; and enhancement of education, healthcare and other social services.

He said the programmes would be anchored on strategic infrastructure development, entrepreneurship, economic resilience, functional communities, and accountability and transparency in governance.

Adebutu pledged to strengthen security across farms, highways and communities, while guaranteeing citizens the freedom to associate politically without fear of victimisation.

‘With ITURA DE programmes, the seven cardinal pillars are designed to systematically eradicate entrenched poverty and restore power to the good people of Ogun State,’ he said.

‘We shall dismantle the architecture of fear, aggressively securing every farm, highway, and neighbourhood from lawlessness and also guarantee total freedom of choice of political leaning as a dividend of true democracy.’

The PDP candidate also promised to restore what he described as genuine financial autonomy to local governments, arguing that stronger councils would create additional centres of development across the state.

Workers’ welfare, he added, would be a major priority of his administration. He pledged to address outstanding pensions and gratuities and review the Contributory Pension Scheme.

On the economy, he said his administration would prioritise agriculture, vocational training, entrepreneurship and easier access to finance for farmers and young people. He promised zero-interest loans and other interventions to make farming more profitable.

He also pledged to review what he described as ‘predatory structures of double taxation’ affecting traders and small business owners, while restructuring government policies to improve the ease of doing business.

At the campaign launch, the PDP deputy governorship candidate, Alhaja Yemi Showunmi-Kolapo, also called on Ogun residents to support the party, saying an Adebutu-led government would bring relief from poverty and what she described as maladministration.

Vietnam investments in 2026 seen to surpass $100 million

INVESTMENTS from Vietnam are expected to exceed $100 million by year-end, according to Ambassador Lai Thai Binh.

At a reception marking the Southeast Asian country’s National Day in Manila, Lai said Vietnamese companies had invested more than $90 million in the Philippines, or about 70 percent of cumulative funding in the country to date.

Both countries also aim to increase bilateral trade by 30 percent to $10 billion this year. Trade between the Asean neighbors reached nearly $8 billion in 2025, making Vietnam the Philippines’ 11th-largest trading partner.

According to Lai, Vietnamese rice has consistently accounted for about 80 percent of the Philippines’ total rice imports, while the latter accounts for nearly half of Vietnam’s rice exports.

‘As we look ahead to the next 50 years, amid an era of profound global changes, Vietnam and the Philippines share a compounding responsibility,’ the ambassador said. ‘We must further deepen our economic cooperation, recognizing that development is not secondary to security; rather, [it] is one of the very foundations of enduring security.’

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Maria Andrelita Austria said Manila will work to achieve a ‘balanced trade relationship’ by expanding two-way opportunities, improving market access, alongside reduction of trade and investment barriers.

In a separate interview, Lai said the two countries are working on a new plan of action to facilitate practical cooperation in several areas: ‘[Our two countries have been able to upgrade our relations to an] Enhanced Strategic Partnership. This is very important for both countries, and it’s not just a name; it’s a real upgrade of the very close and special relation between the two countries.’

‘We hope that the new partnership will contribute a lot, not only to the benefits of our two peoples, but also to the region,’ he added.

The Philippines and Vietnam formally established diplomatic relations on July 12, 1976. Their ties were elevated into an Enhanced Strategic Partnership during President To Lam of Vietnam’s state visit to Manila in June.

Ondo women urged to embrace public service for societal change

Women in leadership positions have been called upon to use their respective positions to influence institutions and build careers in public service.

Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, who made the call on Wednesday at a one-day capacity-building workshop and retreat organised by the Ondo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for female leaders across the state, emphasized the need to transition from advocacy to occupying strategic positions where women can make an impact.

Adejuyigbe, who spoke on the theme, ‘Transformational Leadership and Women’s Empowerment,’ said women must move beyond occupying leadership positions but to transform the society.

She noted that effective leadership was not determined by gender but by vision, courage, competence, integrity and the ability to mobilise people towards achieving common goals.

The Vice-Chancellor cited Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Grace Alele-Williams, the late Dora Akunyili, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Oluremi Tinubu and former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as examples of women who had broken barriers through purposeful leadership.

Adejuyigbe, therefore, urged women leaders to support and mentor one another, stressing that the success of one woman should not be seen as a threat to another.

She also cautioned against transactional leadership driven by personal interests, saying transformational leaders should focus on the positive impact they make on people and the institutions under their care.

Earlier in her remarks, the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Seun Osamaye, challenged women leaders in the state to take stock of their contributions to the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and identify gaps in their performance towards advancing the government’s development agenda.

Osamaye said the retreat, approved by Governor Aiyedatiwa, was designed to provide women occupying strategic positions with an opportunity to assess their performance, identify areas requiring improvement and strengthen collaboration towards achieving the administration’s objectives for women.

She said the gathering was particularly aimed at determining how much women leaders had contributed to the governor’s efforts to improve the lives of women and promote development across the state.

The commissioner said women occupying strategic positions must constantly evaluate whether they had effectively discharged the responsibilities entrusted to them.

While the guest lecturer, Bridget Awosika of Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for bringing women leaders from different sectors together to deliberate on leadership and development.

She urged women leaders to work together, avoid unnecessary conflicts and support one another in their respective workplaces.

Oluseyi Odusola, the Ondo State President of the National Council for Women Societies, urged women and non-governmental organisations to take greater responsibility for mobilising resources to support development initiatives.

Odusola said women must not rely solely on the government, stressing that the government alone could not meet all the needs of society.

BusinessDay reports that the programme, held at Nibanola Motherland and Resort, Ondo State, brought together female permanent secretaries, elected and appointed political office holders, heads of government agencies and parastatals, board chairmen and members, heads of non-governmental organisations and political support groups, among others.

Two Bangkok schools closed for 3 months over student brawls

Two vocational colleges in central Bangkok have been ordered closed for three months as repeated brawls between their students have affected public safety and the economy, according to the higher education minister.

Yodchanan Wongsawat issued the order on Wednesday after meeting with police and representatives of the two schools: Pathumwan Institute of Technology and Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok, Uthenthawai Campus.

‘This measure is aimed at restoring confidence to the Siam and Pathumwan areas which are vital to the economy, tourism and education,’ Mr Yodchanan said.

The latest brawl happened at the elevated Siam BTS station on Monday morning when two students were stabbed.

It was reported that dozens of students from each school clashed with each other as nervous commuters looked on, while fewer than 10 police officers were on duty.

Uthenthawai had just resumed on-site education on Monday after being online since Aug 29. Students from both institutions also brawled on Aug 28 and 29.

The Siam station stands at the Pathumwan intersection, roughly halfway between the two campuses, which are only about 800 metres apart. The busiest station on the BTS network, it is a major interchange for commuters and tourists in inner Bangkok. (Story continues below)

‘The problem concerns not only two institutions but also national security, image and confidence,’ Mr Yodchanan said. ‘Pathumwan and Siam are economic, tourism and educational zones. Young people share those areas. So, safety is the priority.’

The suspension of on-site learning at both institutions took immediate effect. Mr Yodchanan said school officials concerned would organise alternative teaching programmes, while looking into speeding up the relocation of both institutions to end the feuds for good.

If solutions are not in place within the three-month period, the closure can be extended, the minister said.

Police would continue to stand guard in the vicinity of both institutions and would strictly enforce the law, he added.

Pol Lt Gen Siam Boonsom, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said leaders of both educational institutions agreed with the temporary suspension and would work out a plan to stop the rivalry.

Clashes between rival vocational college students in Thailand are as old as the schools themselves, but the Pathumwan-Uthenthawai rivalry is particularly notorious. Some brawls have led to fatalities and serious injuries, leading to temporary suspension of classes.

Uthenthawai, which began life in 1956 as Uthenthawai Builders School, sits on land leased from Chulalongkorn University, which has been trying to take back the land since 1975.

The Supreme Administrative Court in late 2023 ordered the school to move but protests from students and alumni have prevented the relocation from going ahead.

AFL allows fruit exporters to earn more than $200M

Local fruit exporters generated a combined $290.71 million in booked and under-negotiation sales during a two-day fresh produce trade show in Hong Kong, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The Philippines returned to Asia Fruit Logistica (AFL) after almost a decade as part of efforts to expand the country’s export market portfolio. The fair was held at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong last September 2 to 4.

Broken down, exporters secured $222.75 million in booked sales and $70.4 million in under-negotiation sales across four commodities, such as banana (Cavendish and Cardaba), durian, mango, and dragon fruit.

Of this, durian held a lion’s share of the total generated sales at around $275 million. This was followed by Cavendish and Cardaba bananas at $11 million and $3.5 million, respectively.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the government and the private sector actively promote the country’s tropical fruits.

‘Our efforts are now bearing fruit to further increase the income of our farmers, especially those in the high-value commercial crops (sector),’ De Mesa told reporters on Wednesday.

He also said the DA will go to Rome in October for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) global Hand-in-Hand (HIH) initiative, where they will pitch mango, seaweeds, coffee, and cacao to private investors.

AFL, Asia’s leading fresh produce trade show, covers the fresh produce supply chain and allows exporters to meet buyers, distributors, retailers, and other industry players. The 2026 edition featured over 760 exhibitors and some 14,000 buyers from 80 countries.

The Philippine delegation was led by Agriculture Undersecretary for High Value Export Crops and Agri-Fishery Export Development and Promotion Philip Young.

‘We are participating not merely to exhibit but to forge durable global partnerships, secure vital market shares, and showcase the unmatched quality of our high-value export crops,’ Young said.

Stakeholders who joined the trade show included Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) and the Philippines Banana Council Inc. (PhilBana Council).

Also present were the Durian Exporters Association of the Philippines Inc. (DEAP), the National Mango Farmers and Stakeholders Federation Inc., and the Philippine Dragon Fruit Growers Association.

The agency said it already identified 16 priority export commodities as part of its broader overseas market development program.

Brand highlights rising visibility of signature gloves

BALNIA has announced the growing visibility of its signature motorcycle gloves beyond the riding community, with the product increasingly appearing in fashion, music and streetwear circles.

Originally designed for motorcycle riders, the gloves have become one of the brand’s most recognisable products. While maintaining their roots in motorcycle equipment, they have also gained attention for use outside traditional riding environments.

According to the brand, the gloves have featured prominently in motorcycle stunt culture through French rider Gringo, who has worn them while creating motorcycle-related content. The company said the product’s presence in the riding community continues to reinforce its connection to motorcycle culture.

The brand also noted that French rapper Ninho has been seen wearing pieces from the brand, reflecting its growing visibility within France’s music and streetwear scene.

The company said the development mirrors a broader trend in which clothing and equipment originally created for technical or specialist purposes, including motorcycle gear, are increasingly accepted in mainstream fashion.

BALNIA said its gloves remain designed for motorcycle use but are increasingly recognised as part of a wider cultural shift that blends technical apparel with contemporary fashion and urban culture.

SEGUM Launches One Voice 27 To Strengthen Communication Outreach

The South East Ghana Union Mission (SEGUM) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has officially launched One Voice 27 in Anloga in the Volta Region.

A statement issued on Monday, September 7, 2026 by the Communication Department of the South East Ghana Union Mission said the initiative is aimed at mobilising members in evangelising the church’s message through coordinated media engagement, digital platforms and content creation.

It said the launch brought together more than 600 participants from four districts, including church leaders, the President of the Volta Ghana Union Mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and his wife, as well as directors of various departments.

The statement said the ceremony, which was held at the Anloga Technical Institute, formed part of the Aflao District Zone Camp Meeting and was graced by the President of the South East Ghana Union Mission, Pastor Col. (Rtd.) Peter Nyarko Duodu and his wife, the SEGUM Communication Director, Pastor Dr. Samuel Dorgbetor, and other dignitaries.

‘One Voice 27 represents a major communication and mission initiative. The Anloga launch featured several activities that created an atmosphere of worship, celebration, and renewed commitment to the initiative,’ it stated.

It said the Communication Department of SEGUM also reaffirmed its commitment to using communication as a strategic instrument for mission by strengthening media partnerships, empowering content creators, as well as leveraging traditional and digital platforms to reach wider audiences.

‘The Union remains committed to contributing its communication expertise, media network and human resources to the success of the initiative as the Seventh-day Adventist Church continues to engage communities through the power of media and communication,’ it added.

Saliya Kumara to coach DS

D.S. Senanayake College has signed up former Sri Lanka Sevens and Fifteens player, Vidyartha, Trinity and Kandy SC captain Saliya Kumara as Head Coach of its 1st XV Rugby Team for 2027.

Kumara brings coaching experience to the school, having established himself as one of Sri Lanka’s highly respected coaches in the country.

Saliya is a qualified Rugby Coach and World Rugby Educator and currently serves as Head Coach of Havelocks SC.

At school level, his most outstanding achievement came with Isipathana College, where he guided the Green Machine to an unbeaten League and Knockout Championship double in 2022. He followed this with the 7s Championship in 2023 and the Knockout Championship in 2024.

Saliya has also coached Trinity College, St. Anthony’s College and the Sri Lanka Women’s National Sevens team, while previously serving Navy SC as its Head Coach as well.

His appointment is expected to bring fresh direction, discipline and championship experience to D.S. Senanayake College rugby. (SJ)

Why govt wants pre-primary children near their homesWhy govt wants pre-primary children near their homes

The National Private Educational Institutions in Uganda (NPEIA) leadership is calling on parents to consider taking their children to pre-primary schools within their locality to abide by the demands of the Pre-Primary Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and the 2025 Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) policy, which places strict limits on reporting and study time.

Mr Jossy Busiku Wanemba, the NPEIA chairperson in Kampala District, noted that the ECCE policy and the pre-primary curriculum emphasise that early childhood care centres should start lessons at exactly 8am and end at midday; a policy directive that he said is frequently flouted by parents, whose children study outside their localities.

‘We want to continuously encourage our parents to find schools with the same services nearby, to avoid waking up children as early as 5am, so that they are not affected by cognitive psycho-motor and issues to do with affective part of learning,’ Mr Busiku told an ECCE policy dissemination workshop at Kitante Primary School yesterday.

“If you live in Mukono and work in Kampala, there is no need to come along with the children from Mukono to Kampala. Take them to nearby schools in Mukono,” he emphasised.

However, Ms Prossy Naigembe, a parent, says some places still lack ECCE centres, a concern that the government is yet to address.

Under the new pre-primary and lower primary curriculum guidelines in Uganda, the official reporting time for nursery school children is 8am.

Mr Busiku explained that the new CBC and ECCE policy limits school hours to safeguard children’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development.

According to the proposed reforms, ECCE centres will have daily contact time that shall not exceed three hours, save for learners with special learning needs, as well as 30 minutes for breaks, which are intended to keep up with the average attention span of most children.

Teaching methods are planned to be interactive, engaging and playful; while encouraging exploration, inquiry and hands-on learning to help children develop critical thinking and problem- solving skills. Boarding school arrangements for children aged 0 to 6 years are also banned.

All learning activities must be completed within these short school hours so that children can rest and play when they get home.

Reflecting on this, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda, said all stakeholders in the education sector should take the policy reforms seriously and ensure children are given the correct portions of quality work at specific ages.

”Now that we have guidelines, you are not going to ‘kill’ our children with a lot of work again,’ Dr Turyagyenda said. ‘When you subject a four-year-old to materials beyond their age for longer hours, you affect their brain.’

She also encouraged ECCE teachers to continue learning to acquire certificates of Continuous Professional Development to enable them to register and acquire the appropriate licenses to work in ECCE centres.

Dr Safina Mutumba, the assistant commissioner for Pre-Primary Education in the Ministry of Education and Sports, said the policy is being disseminated and tested in the Kampala Metropolitan Area to create awareness among key stakeholders, including teachers, school proprietors, political leaders and partners ahead of policy implementation.

‘We have moved very fast with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) so that we begin observing implementation of the policy right from the beginning of Third Term of 2026 academic year,’ Dr Mutumba said.

The Education ministry launched the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE/ECCD) policy in April this year, in a bid to provide a national framework to regulate and improve learning and care for children under 6 years.

Dr Mutumba acknowledged that the absence of such a policy had made it difficult for the government to enforce standards. Records indicate that 58 percent of 50,000 ECCE centres in Uganda do not meet the minimum basic standards. They are also all privately owned.

Officials’ records also indicate that only five percent of caregivers or pre-primary teachers have the minimum requirement of a degree.

About 75 percent hold certificates, while the rest have diplomas.

The government has earmarked an undisclosed sum of funding to help the Ministry of Education come up with a complete package of standards.

Nigeria cuts AfCFTA certificate processing to 24 hours

Nigeria has reduced the processing time for Certificates of Origin under the African Continental Free Trade Area from more than five days to 24 hours, the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office has said.

The National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the NACO, Mrs Patience Okala, disclosed this at the third-quarter meeting of the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee in Abuja.

Okala attributed the development to the digitisation and automation of the Certificate of Origin process, including registration, verification and certification by the Nigeria Customs Service.

She said the reform would enable Nigerian businesses to access AfCFTA trade preferences faster and reduce delays that could affect their competitiveness in African markets.

The NACO boss also disclosed that the country had facilitated the resolution of eight reported cases of non-tariff barriers since the committee’s second-quarter meeting.

She identified access to finance, standards, logistics, market information and non-tariff barriers as some of the major challenges being addressed through collaboration among government institutions and other stakeholders.

On access to funding, Okala said five Nigerian businesses had applied for financing under the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund following an initial engagement with eligible companies.

According to her, one female-led business had progressed to the next stage with support from NACO.

She said the facility offered Nigerian businesses access to part of the minimum $10m available to help them scale up operations, improve production, strengthen competitiveness and expand into African markets.

Okala further said Nigeria’s AfCFTA implementation efforts had attracted recognition from the AfCFTA Secretariat and other African countries.

She disclosed that Nigeria had been formally invited to lead a peer-learning session on AfCFTA implementation for other African countries during the forthcoming institutional meetings in Zimbabwe.

She said the session would provide an opportunity for Nigeria to share its experience while strengthening continental business linkages and opening up more market opportunities for Nigerian businesses.

Okala said the development would also contribute to job creation, particularly for Nigerian youths.

She listed other major activities undertaken during the quarter to include the hosting of AfCFTA Week, the HerAfCFTA event for women-owned and women-led businesses, the 18th Meeting of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers and related institutional meetings, as well as the second edition of the AfCFTA Digital Trade Forum in Lagos.

She said the events provided platforms for discussions on women’s participation in trade, digital trade and investment facilitation, while creating opportunities for Nigerian businesses to benefit from the continental market.

The NACO coordinator also disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, in collaboration with NACO, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and the United Nations Development Programme, led Nigerian businesses on a Nigeria-Botswana AfCFTA Trade Mission.

According to her, the mission had already yielded results, with CSO Fashion Academy securing a contract to supply 6,000 T-shirts to a Botswana business.

She added that Chumpy’s Food introduced its instant ready-to-eat rice during the mission and received positive interest from businesses and consumers in Botswana.

On the domestication of the AfCFTA agreement, Okala said Nigeria was making progress, noting that a draft Domestication Bill was currently before the House Committee on Commerce of the National Assembly.

She said Nigeria had also launched the Africa Digital Access and Public Infrastructure for Trade initiative to support the implementation of the Digital Trade Protocol and strengthen the country’s digital trade ecosystem.

Okala said the progress recorded during the quarter followed the implementation of decisions reached at the committee’s second-quarter meeting.

She said NACO had completed an Adjustment Fund briefing with Afreximbank for interested companies, activated the Digital Trade Sub-Committee for the implementation of the Africa Digital Access and Public Infrastructure for Trade initiative and established a communication channel for Adjustment Fund enquiries.

However, she said the development of metrics and a measurement framework for Customs AfCFTA procedures remained a third-quarter action item.

Looking ahead, Okala said the fourth-quarter priorities would focus on simplifying the AfCFTA framework to enable more Nigerian businesses to understand and take advantage of opportunities available under the continental trade agreement.

She said the government would intensify stakeholder engagement, continue its subnational engagement tour, organise webinars and peer-learning activities, and develop additional simplified AfCFTA tools for businesses.

Okala said the ultimate objective was to increase the number of Nigerian businesses trading under AfCFTA, expand the presence of Nigerian products in African markets, strengthen links between producers and buyers, and improve access to finance and standards required for international competitiveness.

She urged members of the Central Coordination Committee and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and ensure that AfCFTA moved beyond a policy framework to become a source of concrete economic opportunities for Nigerians.