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The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited, Engineer Lanre Adeleke, has urged Nigerian stadium developers and government agencies to make the playing pitch the top priority in sports infrastructure projects. He also commended the Lagos State Government for its sports infrastructure drive.

Adeleke spoke yesterday during a facility tour of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

He said Nigeria’s failure to secure international accreditation for many of its stadiums stems mainly from poor pitch quality rather than the quality of the stands.

‘I think the pitch must be given the ultimate attention now,’ Adeleke said. ‘Look across Nigeria. We have 20 or 30 grand stadiums with impressive stands. Yet, we fail to get international accreditation because of the quality of the pitch.’

He said Nigeria has misplaced its priorities in scoring stadium projects.

‘In school, if an exam has six questions and question number one is compulsory and worth half the total marks, you don’t spend all your time answering the optional ones but in Nigeria, we’ve been majoring in the minor,’ Adedeji explained as he likened the pitch to an airport runway.

He noted: ‘A traveller might admire a magnificent and shiny terminal of an airport. But an airline pilot doesn’t care about the terminal if the runway is undulating and unsafe for landing. An airport is judged by its runway and its control tower.

‘ In stadium construction, the pitch is our runway. It is the compulsory question. It is the icing on the cake. We must reverse our priorities. Give 50 per cent or 70 per cent of our weight to the pitch and let the rest like the floodlights, scoreboards and dressing rooms follow.’]

Meanwhile, Adeleke has praised the Lagos State Government for what he described as a forthcoming approach to sports development.

‘That is where Lagos State is setting a standard,’ he said. ‘The government has been remarkably forthcoming, and the Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission(LSSC), Lekan Fatodu, is performing at an exceptional level.’

He said Lagos is constructing eight mini-stadia across the state: ‘Three are already at 100 per cent completion, and Ketu is right at the finish line. Ongoing work is pushing forward in Epe and Somolu, with projects moving ahead in Badagry and Orile as well.’

He said Lagos stands apart because its facilities include practice pitches. FIFA standards for major tournaments require a main stadium supported by at least four practice pitches, one for each team in a tournament group.

‘While other regions are still struggling to get a single practice pitch started, Lagos already has these practice pitches built into its infrastructure,’ Adeleke said. ‘And look at Agege Stadium. It stands alone as a fully completed, top-tier facility with its artificial turf 100 per cent ready to go. Whether you look at Gbagada, Ikorodu, Ketu, or Ifako, the vision is being realised.’

On the pitch at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Adeleke said the turf must undergo surface trenching, known technically as grooving, before it is ready for competitive football.

‘After planting this grass, there is what we call trenching,’ he explained. ‘Underneath where we stand, there are four hidden layers of drainage connecting to the perimeter drains. The fifth layer, the surface trenching, is what seals the deal. It takes a month of precision, but once done, the water drains flawlessly, and the pitch holds.’

Didier Pascal, a foreign consultant who was on site, said the work cannot begin until the dry season.

‘We cannot start the trenching just yet. It’s the wet season,’ Pascal said. ‘If we cut the trenches while the ground is soaked, the pitch levels will collapse. We must wait for the dry spell so we protect the integrity of the surface.’

Adeleke said the process drew criticism during the Warri City Stadium project.

‘When we did it in Warri, we had some misconceptions. Bloggers started writing that we planted grass only to dig it right back up. But we had to show them: this surface trenching is the vital final phase before a pitch is ready for true football,’ he added.

Africacomicade and the GIZ Digital Transformation Centre (DTC) Nigeria programme have partnered to expand training, business and international market opportunities for Nigerian game developers and emerging studio founders.

The partnership, being implemented under the ICT Skills for Youth initiative of DTC Nigeria, includes a specialised game development bootcamp and international industry exposure for young Nigerian developers.

The collaboration follows the participation of a delegation of Nigerian games industry stakeholders at Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany, in August.

The programme is expected to culminate in a showcase at Gamathon 2026 in Lagos from October 28 to 31, where participants will present their work and engage with other players in the African games industry.

DTC Nigeria is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

At Gamescom, Nigerian game developers, studio founders and other industry stakeholders engaged with international publishers, investors, technology platforms and developers.

Edu Shola, founder of Deluxe Studios, one of the Nigerian studios supported to attend the event, said the international exposure provided opportunities for Nigerian studios to establish relationships beyond the local market.

He said, ‘As a Nigerian studio, Deluxe Studios is already making games that can compete globally. What we’ve lacked is a presence in the spaces where business opportunities and relationships are fostered.

‘That’s exactly what GIZ Nigeria’s support has given us.’

The bootcamp will combine technical game development training with business strategy, with participants expected to learn how to develop commercially viable games and build sustainable creative businesses.

The programme will also expose participants to areas including game development workflows, entrepreneurship and opportunities within the wider digital economy.

Michael Oscar Esio, founder of Africacomicade and technical partner for the programme, said the collaboration would help address some of the challenges facing Nigeria’s games industry.

‘For many years, the growth of Nigeria’s games sector has been constrained by limited resources, access to opportunities and institutional support,’ he said.

‘Through this training venture with the GIZ Nigeria team, we can begin to build stronger foundations and partnerships that can propel the sector forward.’

Africacomicade operates across the video games, animation, comics, extended reality and interactive media sectors, providing training, industry events, fellowships, research and other support for digital creators and studios.

The partnership comes amid growing global interest in the games and interactive media industry, which spans software development, publishing, technology, esports, animation, music, marketing and other creative services.

The organisers said the programme was designed to help Nigerian developers gain technical and business skills while improving their access to international markets and industry networks.

The Gamathon 2026 showcase in Lagos will provide an additional platform for participating developers and other Nigerian creators to display their projects and connect with stakeholders in the games ecosystem.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has approved the recruitment of 6,000 teachers to enhance teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools.

Already, the newly recruited teachers have completed a six-week intensive training at the state-owned Ben Uwajimogu College of Education, Ihitte Uboma.

Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, who announced the news in Owerri yesterday, said the exercise was part of a broader strategy by the state government to strengthen education.

He said recruitment was undertaken to fill vacancies as well as ensure there was no gap in teaching and learning across the 27 local governments.

According to Emelumba, this is the first time in a long time that this large number of teachers is being injected into the school system at once.

He said to underscore the importance the governor placed on the exercise; he would address the new teachers at Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Conference Centre, Owerri.

The commissioner said the meeting, which will be held today by 10am, will afford the teachers the opportunity to meet face to face with the governor.

He said only teachers who underwent the training at Ihitte Uboma would be allowed to attend the meeting.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday said the proposed Gateway Deep Seaport and Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone will attract more than $7 billion in initial investment and create over 50,000 direct jobs, as Nigeria intensifies efforts to expand its maritime economy and non-oil exports.

According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu spoke in Paris, France, at the signing of Memoranda of Understanding between the Ogun State Government and DP World, one of the world’s leading port and logistics operators, for the development of the two projects.

The President assured domestic and foreign investors that the Federal Government would provide regulatory clarity, policy stability and a predictable business environment necessary to support long-term investments, while removing bureaucratic obstacles capable of delaying implementation.

‘These agreements envisage an initial investment of more than $7 billion in the Nigerian economy. At full development, the projects are projected to create more than 50,000 direct jobs and many additional indirect opportunities, while generating substantial non-oil export earnings from Nigerians’ creativity and productivity across the value chain’, Tinubu said.

He described the agreements as a major milestone in the administration’s drive to attract foreign direct investment, expand productive capacity and position Nigeria as a major hub for maritime trade, logistics, manufacturing and exports.

‘This is economic diversification made tangible. This is industrialisation made visible. This is Renewed Hope in action’, the President said.

According to the project plan, the Gateway Deep Seaport, to be located at Ogun Waterside, will have a four-kilometre berth and an 18-metre draft, enabling it to accommodate larger, deeper-draft vessels used in modern global commerce.

The port is expected to ease pressure on the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos, reduce congestion along the Lagos port corridor and cut costs and delays faced by importers, exporters and consumers.

It is also expected to provide a competitive logistics gateway into the African Continental Free Trade Area, giving Nigeria stronger access to a continental market of about 1.4 billion people.

Ogun deep seaport

The accompanying Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone is proposed to occupy 10,000 hectares and host manufacturing and industrial activities linked directly to the new port.

Tinubu said the combination of the port and special economic zone would enable imported inputs to be converted into finished products within Nigeria while domestic raw materials would be processed for export.

‘Within the zone, imported inputs will be transformed into finished goods, Nigerian raw materials will be processed for export and, most importantly, our young men and women will find dignified, productive and sustainable employment.

‘The Gateway Deep Seaport is the critical infrastructure that will support the zone’s viability. A port moves cargo; a port integrated with a special economic zone helps to build an economy. Each reinforces the other’, he said.

The President said the Federal Government would provide the regulatory and institutional support required to move the projects from agreements to implementation, adding that all parties would also be held accountable for their commitments.

‘We will facilitate road, rail and power connectivity; strengthen investment security and our maritime domain; and remove unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles’, he said.

Tinubu commended Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and his administration for securing the land, structuring the investment framework and reducing risks for prospective global investors, describing the partnership between the federal and state governments as an example of cooperative federalism.

He said the Federal Government would continue to work with Ogun and other states to remove investment bottlenecks and facilitate projects capable of creating economic value and employment while ensuring compliance with the country’s laws and regulatory requirements.

The President said the projects were particularly significant because Nigeria’s strategic location at the heart of West African trade had for years been undermined by congestion, inadequate port draft capacity and logistics bottlenecks that raised the cost of doing business.

‘Nigeria lies at the heart of West African trade. Yet, our strategic advantage has been constrained by port congestion, inadequate draft capacity and logistics bottlenecks that increase the cost of doing business. These projects respond directly to those constraints.

‘This is how modern infrastructure should be delivered: as an integrated ecosystem, operated to world-class standards and supported by a serious and responsible government. This is nation-building in its most practical form’, Tinubu said.

Tinubu identified the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a critical component of the emerging economic corridor, saying the 28-kilometre Ogun section of the 700-kilometre highway was scheduled for completion before the end of 2026.

According to him, the highway will connect the port and economic zone more effectively with Lagos, Nigeria’s hinterland and markets across the African continent.

‘Without it, the coastline would have remained rich in potential but without access. With it, the zone and port will connect more effectively to Lagos, the Nigerian hinterland and markets across the African continent’, he said.

The President said the projects would also anchor a wider strategic corridor around the proposed Nigerian Navy Operating Base and Dockyard and the OK LNG Project, linking the emerging industrial cluster with Nigeria’s energy and gas-export ambitions.

He urged Ogun State and the investors to sustain the momentum generated by the agreements and proceed expeditiously to implementation.

Governor Abiodun led the Ogun State delegation to the ceremony, accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, commissioners responsible for finance, works, industry, trade and investment and transport, as well as a representative of the host community.

Also present were the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; Nigeria’s Ambassador to France, Emmanuel Ayodele Oke; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho; Group Chief Executive Officer of DP World, Yuvraj Narayan; Managing Director of SkyKapital, Karim Noujaim; and DP World’s Senior Vice President for Business Development, Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Office, Mohammed Rashid Ismail.

‘The agreements before us bring together vision, expertise, capital and execution capacity. I particularly welcome DP World, one of the world’s leading port and logistics operators’, Tinubu said.

He added that strengthening Nigeria’s maritime economy remained central to the administration’s broader economic diversification strategy, with the government determined to turn the country’s geographical advantage into increased manufacturing, exports, jobs and investment.

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Olugbile Holloway, on his inclusion in the inaugural TIME100 Art list, describing the recognition as a reflection of Nigeria’s growing efforts to recover its cultural treasures and strengthen institutions that preserve the nation’s heritage.

The President said Holloway’s recognition among the 100 people shaping the future of art underscored the progress the NCMM has made in retrieving Nigerian artefacts held abroad, conserving them, and improving access to the country’s cultural heritage.

TIME describes its 2026 TIME100 Art list as recognising ‘the 100 people shaping the future of art-and our world’.

In a statement on Thursday, Tinubu described the return of Nigeria’s cultural property as an important act of historical justice and a restoration of the dignity and memory of the communities from which the objects were taken.

Holloway, who was appointed NCMM Director-General in March 2024, has worked with the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, to establish a framework for the retrieval, conservation and exhibition of returned Benin artefacts.

According to the statement, the arrangement has strengthened Nigeria’s position in negotiations with foreign governments, universities and museums over the repatriation of cultural objects taken out of the country.

Under Holloway’s leadership, the Commission secured the return of 119 Benin Bronzes from the Netherlands as well as the legal transfer of 116 Benin Bronzes from the University of Cambridge.

The NCMM also recently secured the return of 18 Benin Bronzes and four Ikom monoliths from Switzerland as part of continuing efforts to retrieve Nigerian cultural objects held overseas.

Tinubu said the international recognition reflected the work Holloway and the Commission had undertaken to recover the country’s cultural treasures and renew the institutions charged with preserving them for future generations.

The President also commended the Commission’s deployment of technology to widen public access to Nigeria’s heritage, including the launch of the country’s first digital museum of antiquities.

More than 200 objects from the National Museum in Lagos have been scanned in three dimensions and made available through an immersive online platform.

Tinubu equally praised the renovation of the National Museum, Lagos, including the upgrading of its galleries, installation of modern display systems and improvement of facilities for the preservation and presentation of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

He applauded Holloway for what he described as the diplomacy and institutional leadership he had brought to the Commission, while also congratulating the NCMM staff on the international recognition of their work.

The President urged the Commission not to relent in its efforts to recover Nigeria’s cultural property and modernise museums across the country.

He also charged the NCMM to make the nation’s history and cultural heritage increasingly accessible to young Nigerians.

The federal government has reiterated its commitment to developing the country’s creative industry to make it a major contributor to the national economy.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Abdulkarim Ozi Ibrahim, made the commitment on Thursday during a cultural event organised by the Chinese Cultural Centre in Abuja. The programme was themed: ‘Shared Moon, Shared Moment. Meet in Africa – Human Culture and Tourism in Nigeria.’

Artists and cultural practitioners from Hunan Province, China, graced the occasion and presented a rich showcase of song, dance, theatre, acrobatic arts, and shadow art.

Ibrahim, represented by ministry official Musa Alhamdu, stated, ‘Nigeria is committed to developing its creative economy as a significant contributor to national development, employment, tourism, investment, and international cultural relations.’

He emphasised that Nigeria possesses an evolving cultural heritage deeply rooted in its history, providing a strong foundation for sustained cultural cooperation between Nigeria and China.

The Permanent Secretary noted that both nations share extraordinary cultural diversity and deep-rooted traditions ranging from indigenous music, dance, theatre, visual arts, festivals, crafts, fashion, and film, to literature and contemporary creative industries.

‘We, therefore, see cultural exchange with China not only as an avenue for artistic interaction, but also as an opportunity to explore new partnerships, creative collaborations, tourism opportunities, skills development, and avenues for our young people to participate in the global creative economy,’ he said.

He added that the theme of the event beautifully captured the spirit of friendship, shared humanity, and mutual understanding connecting both nations.

‘Culture has a unique ability to bring people together. It transcends language, geography, and differences, allowing us to discover what we share as human beings,’ Ibrahim said. ‘Through music, dance, theatre, acrobatics, puppetry, traditional arts, and other creative expressions, we can tell our stories, preserve our heritage, and build bridges between communities and nations.’

‘Today’s programme is much more than a performance,’ he added. ‘It is a celebration of Nigeria-China friendship, cultural diversity, mutual respect, and people-to-people exchange.’

Welcoming the visiting artists from Hunan Province, the Permanent Secretary expressed enthusiasm for showcasing Nigeria’s warm hospitality and rich cultural heritage.

‘For us at the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, cultural diplomacy is an important instrument for strengthening international relations, promoting tourism, and creating opportunities for our creative practitioners. Programmes such as this enable artists to travel, collaborate, learn from one another, and introduce new audiences to the riches of their respective cultures while demonstrating the economic potential of culture,’ he stated.

Mr. Yang Jianxing, Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and Director of the Chinese Cultural Centre, noted that the Mid-Autumn Festival holds a special place in Chinese tradition.

He stressed that the festival, commencing on Friday, September 25, 2026, serves as a poignant reminder of family and reunions. Quoting an ancient Chinese proverb-‘The same moon shines over us, though we may be thousands of miles apart’-the envoy explained that it conveys a universal longing for reunion, harmony, peace, and a better life.

‘In many ways, the Mid-Autumn Festival reflects some of the most cherished values of Chinese culture: family, the warmth of reunion, the pursuit of harmony, and our longing for peace. These simple yet profound sentiments resonate deeply with Nigeria’s rich cultural traditions. Although China and Nigeria are thousands of miles apart, our shared appreciation for family, friendship, and a better life brings our hearts closer together,’ Yang said.

He also disclosed that Hunan Province is home to three World Heritage sites and has nine items inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

He added that the province maintains active exchanges and strong ties with Nigeria across trade, economy, and people-to-people relations.

Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele said on Thursday that Nigeria cannot realise its full potential unless women are given greater opportunities to participate in governance, diplomacy, economic development and public leadership.

Bamidele described gender inclusion as ‘a strategic investment in Nigeria’s human capital and institutional strength’, rather than an act of favour, stressing that meaningful inclusion must go beyond merely increasing the number of women in public institutions.

The Senate Leader spoke on Thursday while chairing the presentation of The Female Diplomat: Navigating Power, Ambition and Identity at Nigeria House in New York, United States.

The event attracted prominent Nigerian and international figures, including United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Amina Mohammed; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim; Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Kayode Are; and the President/CEO of Montefiore Einstein.

Bamidele said Nigeria’s democracy would be strengthened when citizens were adequately represented in institutions established to serve them.

‘Gender inclusion is not an act of favour. It is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s human capital and institutional strength,’ he said.

‘No nation can realise its full potential if a significant proportion of its population is unable to contribute fully to governance, diplomacy, economic development and public leadership.’

He said President Bola Tinubu’s administration had recognised the importance of harnessing the abilities of all Nigerians, noting that the Renewed Hope Agenda emphasised ensuring that women and young people were not excluded from the nation’s political, economic and social development.

According to him, genuine inclusion requires more than having women occupy positions in government or other institutions.

‘It requires genuine opportunities to participate in decision-making, exercise responsibility and contribute to the formulation and implementation of public policy,’ he said.

Bamidele also linked gender inclusion to Nigeria’s diplomatic strength, arguing that the country’s international representation would benefit from drawing on the full breadth of its human talent.

‘Our foreign relations are also enriched when Nigeria is represented by capable professionals whose knowledge, judgement and experience reflect the breadth of our national talent,’ he said.

The Senate Leader said the National Assembly had an important role to play in creating the legislative and institutional framework for greater inclusion.

He said Parliament would continue to promote institutions that were ‘fair, accessible and responsive’ through legislation, representation and oversight.

Bamidele urged the National Assembly and other institutions to create an environment where competence was recognised, and qualified women had broader opportunities to assume leadership responsibilities.

‘This is not a responsibility for the government alone,’ he said, adding that political institutions, the diplomatic service, the private sector, academic institutions and civil society all had roles to play.

‘Progress will require deliberate policies, supportive institutions and a collective willingness to recognise talent wherever it is found,’ he said.

The Senate Leader said the book presentation gave leaders, diplomats, scholars and members of the public an opportunity to deepen the national conversation on gender, leadership and Nigeria’s engagement with the international community.

The event was held alongside the Nigeria Investment Forum 2026, which brought together government representatives, international investors, development finance institutions, multinational corporations, business leaders and strategic partners to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria.