Category: Business Day

A total of 70 parcels of cocaine factory-packed inside containers of cocoa butter formula body cream and destined for London, United Kingdom, have been uncovered at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), with three suspects arrested in a series of follow-up operations across Lagos.

The cocaine consignment, weighing 3.60 kilograms, was discovered on October 14, 2025, during an examination of cargoes packaged as personal effects bound for London on an Air Peace flight, according to Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s director of Media and Advocacy.

Babafemi said the cargo agent, Lawal Olakunle, who presented the consignment for air freight, was promptly arrested, while investigations spanning two weeks led to the arrest of two principal suspects linked to the attempt to export the concealed Class A drug to the UK.

In a follow-up operation on October 18, a female healthcare worker, Ogunmuyide Deborah, was arrested, leading to the subsequent arrest of Mutiu Adebiyi, the chief executive officer of a travel agency, Mutiu Adebiyi and Co., at his office located at 23 Ladoke Akintola Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, on Monday, October 20.

In a similar development, an attempt by a 35-year-old Lesotho national, Lemena Mark, to export 103.59 grams of methamphetamine concealed in a Diabeta Herbs Coffee Tea pack to the Philippines on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, on Wednesday, October 22, was thwarted by NDLEA officers, who arrested him and recovered the illicit drug.

The NDLEA said, ‘No fewer than 21,950 capsules of Tramadol 250mg concealed inside a 100-litre water heater were recovered from a suspect, Umar Abubakar, 40, who was arrested by NDLEA operatives at Bode Saadu, Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State, following credible intelligence.’

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives, in the early hours of Sunday, October 26, raided Proxy Nightclub at 7 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, where a drug party was underway. Over 100 suspects, including the owner of the club, Mike Nwogu, popularly known as Pretty Mike, were arrested and taken into custody for screening.

Cartons of illicit substances, including Loud and laughing gas, were recovered from the suspects at the party and from the club’s store.

‘The raid followed intelligence about the planned drug party. NDLEA operatives, who had been embedded at the event from 11 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, disrupted the gathering at 3 a.m. on Sunday, October 26, in line with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs),’ the agency said.

In Taraba State, NDLEA officers arrested Auwal Musa, 26, and Salihu Bala, 22, with 450,000 pills of Tramadol and Exol-5 at the Dan-Anacha checkpoint while conveying the consignment in a truck loaded with building materials from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mubi, Adamawa State.

The NDLEA said its officers on patrol along the Okene-Lokoja Highway in Kogi State seized 162.2kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis, from a truck on Friday, October 24. Similarly, operatives in Nasarawa State, on Wednesday, October 22, recovered 128kg of the same psychoactive substance from a suspect, Abubakar Muhammad, 55, in the Keffi area of the state.

A mother of two, Oyonumoh H. H., and a man identified as Effiong, said to be a major distributor of Canadian and California Loud, both potent strains of cannabis, in Lekki, Ajah, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, and VGC areas of Lagos, were arrested by NDLEA operatives on Friday, October 17.

The arrest was made during a raid at her Lekki residence, where 500 grams of the illicit substances were recovered.

In the Ikorodu area of Lagos, NDLEA officers, on Thursday, October 23, raided the home of a suspect, Ogunyabo Adenigbigbe, at Solomade Estate, where 275 litres of ‘skuchies,’ a new psychoactive substance produced with blackcurrant drink, cannabis, and opioids, were recovered.

A 75-year-old grandfather, Echendu Onuoka, was arrested on Wednesday, October 22, at Ovum Village, Obingwa LGA, Abia State, with 4.7kg of skunk, while a 60-year-old grandmother, Aukana John, was nabbed with 225 grams of the same substance at Apanta Village in the same LGA.

While 150kg of skunk was recovered during a raid at Lot Camp, Ikun Akoko, Ondo State, two suspects, Bashir Mohammad, 50, and Samini Tijjani, 35, were arrested with 234.5kg of the same substance at Yan Aya, Saminaka, in Lere LGA, Kaduna State, on Friday, October 24. Another set of suspects, Isah Usman, 50, and Salvation Okoler, 18, were arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway with 8,600 pills of Tramadol 225mg and Rohypnol.

At the Seme border area of Lagos, NDLEA operatives, on Wednesday, October 22, arrested Jacob Ojugbele with 55kg of skunk at Ashipa, Badagry, while Amusa Oluwabukola was arrested with 121.3 litres of skuchies at Itoga, Badagry.

In Zamfara State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Gummi-Anka Road, on Monday, October 20, arrested a suspect, Abubakar Ibrahim, 30, in possession of an AK-47 rifle and 1,746 assorted rounds of ammunition for AK-47 and GPMG rifles while transporting them from Sokoto to Bagega Forest, Anka LGA, Zamfara. Both the suspect and the exhibits have been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.

The agency said it is pursuing its war against drug crimes with renewed vigour across all its commands and formations nationwide.

It added that it has continued to intensify the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities across the country over the past week.

‘These include WADA sensitisation lectures for students and staff of Asabari Grammar School, Iluwa Isale Oke, Saki West LGA, Oyo State; Government Day Girls Secondary School, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State; St. Mark’s College, Nsude, Enugu State; Kusaki Secondary School, Gboko North, Benue State; Government Day Secondary School, Serti-Baruwa, Gashaka LGA, Taraba State; Police Children School 2, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; and Hajara Ahmad International School, Tudun Wada, Kano State, among others,’ the NDLEA said.

Taiwo Akinola, the presiding Archbishop of Rhema Christian Church and Towers (RCCandT) Sango-Ota, Ogun State, has called on the Church in Nigeria to invest more in deepening the peace across the country.

Akinola said the Church is non-partisan and must maintain its stand as advocates of righteousness, justice, and peace in the larger society. He reiterated that Nigerians must promote social harmony, saying ‘peace is the bedrock of progress.

‘.because parties have interests, but the church should rather support the truth, and advocate for the truth, push for the truth, campaign for the truth, and so on,’ Akinola said during the 34th World Convention of Rhema Christian Church press conference, held on Thursday October 23, 2025 in Sango-Ota.

Themed, ‘The God of All Possibilities’, Akinola disclosed that this year’s convention promises to usher in a new dimension of experience in the power of the Holy Spirit. According to him, the convention will usher worshipers into a dawn of refreshing and revival.

‘As a Church, we deeply appreciate the Lord for His enduring mercies and the grace He has so clearly bestowed upon us over the past 34 years. ‘We believe God will use this gathering to release dramatic solutions to life’s challenges and to unleash fresh divine interventions across all dimensions of our personal and national life – for with our God, nothing shall be impossible,’ Akinola said.

The weeklong convention will commence on Sunday November 2, which is the anniversary date of the founding of Rhema Christian Church with an anniversary lecture centred on the theme, and end on Sunday November 9, 2025.

Among other things, the church will celebrate its annual ‘Hosanna Night’ on Friday November 7, with an explosive night of high praise, power, worship, and wonders to celebrate God’s faithfulness to the ministry in the last 3 years.

Ireti Akinola, presiding bishop, Rhema Christian Church, said women are very important in missionary work, while speaking to the critical roles women play during the annual convention and by extension, the larger society.

‘If you see many men in the society who are misbehaving, who are embezzling money, most of the time, it is to please the women in the homes.

‘Women have a role in helping their husbands and the men in their lives, to live lives that are upright, not to pressure them into doing evil. So, a woman is either a daughter, a wife, or a mother. So in all those areas, primarily the woman is very important. Not to talk of positions in her various careers – which is also very important,’ she said.

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, has flagged off the construction of the 13.5 Ariam-Usaka Ring Road in Ikwuano Local Government Area (LGA) of the State.

Governor Otti, in an address at the ceremony, Friday, at Obeama Ariam Model Primary School, said that fixing Ariam-Usaka ring road, would signal the beginning of a new cycle of investments that would ultimately transform Ikwuano into the next frontlines of opportunities and prosperity.

He said that the Ariam-Usaka Ring Road has been designed as an economic enabler for the people of Ikwuano in particular and the entire Abia at large, because of the interconnectivity of agriculture and general scope of entrepreneurship in the area. He disclosed that his government is making plans to commence other road infrastructure development design and execution when the 2026 budget cycle comes on stream, adding that,

‘The grand plan is to connect communities within Oloko, Oboro, Ibere and Ariam to each other and to the clans and communities in Bende, Umuahia North and South LGAs,’ Governor Otti stated.

He thanked the people of Ikwuano for their sustained support since 2015.

‘We have dedicated the whole of this day to Ikwuano as our way of saying thank you to our people for standing firmly by us, believing in the sincerity of our campaign for a new political order and for the significant sacrifices you made to keep the ship afloat in the days of great turbulence. ‘Abia is better today, because you insisted that our great State deserved better than what it had yesterday.

The Governor assured the Ariam-Usaka people that the contractor would get every support he needs to complete the project within 12 months.

He noted that the project is dear to him because of the potential it holds for the transformation of the economic and social experiences of the people, acknowledging that the region, is one of the major agricultural belts in the State. Governor Otti, urged the people to continue to be steadfast in their support for his administration, and refuse to be misled by those who flourish in dishonest communication and ignoble lies.

He appreciated Don Otumchere Oti, the commissioner for Works, and the leadership team at the Ministry for their culture of hard work and professionalism.

Austin Akobundu, the senator, representing Abia Central Senatorial zone, in the national assembly, lauded the Governor for remembering his constituents with the flagging off the project.

Otunchechere Oti, commissioner for Works, thanked the Governor for approving the construction of the road and enjoined the people to own the project.

Nigeria’s Dangote Group is embarking on a bold expansion of its oil refining complex, with plans to more than double capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2028, a scale that would make it the largest single-site refinery in the world and strengthen Nigeria’s drive toward energy self-sufficiency.

Announcing the plan in Nigeria’s commercial capital on Sunday, Aliko Dangote, president of the Dangote Group, said the decision underscores the company’s confidence in Nigeria’s economic prospects and Africa’s ability to lead the next phase of global industrial transformation.

‘We are expanding the Dangote Refinery from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day,’ Dangote said. ‘When completed, this will be the largest refinery ever built at a single site, surpassing India’s Jamnagar refinery.’

Dangote described the project as an endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s industrialisation agenda and his push to make Nigeria a net exporter of refined petroleum products.

‘This expansion reflects our belief in Africa’s potential and our commitment to building energy independence for our continent,’ he said.

According to Dangote, the expansion will be completed within three years, with construction leveraging existing infrastructure such as ports, land, and logistics systems established during the refinery’s first phase.

‘It will take much less time this round because we already have the foundation – the port, the land, the pipelines,’ Dangote said. ‘We know where all the challenges lie from experience.’

While declining to disclose the total investment value, Dangote confirmed the project had been ‘fully costed internally.’ The first phase of the refinery, which began operations earlier this year, cost roughly $20 billion.

The new line will mirror the design of the current 650,000 bpd facility, ensuring redundancy and continuous output during maintenance shutdowns.

‘Even if you shut down one line for 40 days, the other keeps running at 50% capacity,’ he explained. Dangote acknowledged that crude availability had posed difficulties in the refinery’s early months, with some Nigerian producers preferring to export their oil rather than sell locally. But he said recent government policies now prioritise domestic refining.

‘At 650,000 barrels a day, you can struggle for feedstock,’ he admitted. ‘But the President’s policy is clear, we cannot keep exporting crude and importing fuel. That must change.’

Nigeria currently pumps about 1.8 million bpd, below its OPEC quota, but Dangote said the government’s target of 2.4 million bpd would provide enough supply to serve both domestic refiners and exports. ‘If we were once at 2.4 million, we can get there again,’ he said. ‘With investment and policy consistency, Nigeria can easily meet the needs of local refiners.’

The expansion will create over 65,000 jobs during the construction phase and significantly boost output from the petrochemical complex. Polypropylene production will double from 900,000 metric tonnes to 2.4 million tonnes annually, while fuel quality will be upgraded from Euro 5 to Euro 6 standards, among the cleanest globally.

‘Over 85percent of our workforce will be Nigerian,’ Dangote said. ‘We’re building not just infrastructure but human capital. Our goal is to refine opportunities for our people.’

The refinery’s power generation capacity will also be expanded from 500 megawatts to 1,000 megawatts, ensuring uninterrupted operations and potentially supplying nearby industrial users.

Dangote called on other investors to join the federal government’s effort to expand local refining, stressing that competition will strengthen the sector and ease supply constraints.

‘We don’t want to be the only player,’ he said. ‘There are people with more cash than we have. They should go and buy or build refineries so no one talks about monopoly.’

He confirmed that several companies are already in discussions with Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to revive dormant refineries through joint ventures.

‘A $1 trillion economy doesn’t come easy. Everyone must play their part,’ Dangote said. ‘We are doing ours.’

As part of its long-term vision, Dangote revealed that the refinery and petrochemical complex will list on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) by 2026, allowing Nigerians to invest directly in the nation’s most ambitious industrial project.

‘We want Nigerians to own part of this refinery,’ he said. ‘It should belong to the people whose oil it refines.’

He also said that the refinery’s operations have already stabilised local fuel markets, helping to curb supply disruptions that have plagued Nigeria for years.

‘For the first time in decades, Nigerians can approach the festive season without fuel scarcity,’ Dangote said. ‘We’ve had stable prices and consistent quality since production began.’

Dangote expressed gratitude to the federal and Lagos State governments, local communities, and financing partners for their continued support. He described the refinery’s next phase as a testament to ‘Nigeria’s resilience and leadership potential.’

‘This expansion is not just about capacity,’ he said. ‘It’s a statement of confidence, in our people, in our leadership, and in the future of this continent.’

Previously, we looked at the fact that sustainable economic development is not possible where people eternally rely on interventions. We saw how manna ceased when the children of Israel arrived in the promised land, and from that time, they were required to eat by cultivating the land.

In this piece, we will consider the fact that God’s blessing is in the land, and from the beginning, God has always expected man to work the land to derive the good stored in it.

‘And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.’ – Genesis 2:15 (KJV)

The first commandment given to Adam after his creation was not to preach, not to sing, not even to build an altar, but to work the land. God placed him in the Garden of Eden, a prepared environment of fruitfulness and beauty, and instructed him to dress it and keep it. That was man’s first divine assignment. The blessing was in the land, and the proof of obedience was in how man engaged with it.

This truth has not changed. The prosperity of God’s people, both spiritually and materially, has always been connected to how they relate with the land God has placed them in. The land is not merely soil; it is territory, opportunity, and assignment.

The Blessing is in the Land

The first thing to understand is that God locates blessings within places. Every blessing has a location, and every promise has a place of manifestation.

When God created man, He didn’t bless him in the void; He blessed him and placed him in Eden – a defined place. Genesis 2:8 says, ‘And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.’ Notice that before God placed Adam, He planted Eden. The environment preceded the assignment. God never sends you where He has not first provided.

The blessing was already in the land; Adam’s role was to discover and develop it.

When man fell, the Bible records that ‘the ground was cursed for his sake’ (Genesis 3:17). The land that was meant to yield easily began to resist him. This is instructive. It shows that God earlier put the blessing in the land, and human disobedience affects productivity. The earth was the vessel through which blessing or curse would be expressed.

Christ redeemed us from the curse (Galatians 3:13), which means the ground no longer has the right to resist us when we walk in obedience and understanding.

Every Child of God Should Own a Piece of Land

There’s a prophetic truth many believers overlook: every child of God should endeavour to own a piece of land wherever they can afford it. Why? Because ownership of land is participation in God’s original mandate of stewardship.

Psalm 115:16 says, ‘The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.’

Land ownership is not just about real estate; it’s about responsibility. It is in alignment with God’s creative order.

When God blessed Abraham, the proof of that blessing was a land. Genesis 12:1-2: ‘Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation.’

Notice: the promise was not only about descendants or wealth – it was tied to territory. Until Abraham came into the land, the covenant could not be established. In Genesis 13:14-15, after Lot separated from him, God told Abraham, ‘Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art. For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.’

Even when Israel was delivered from Egypt, the destination was not just ‘freedom’ but a land flowing with milk and honey. (Exodus 3:8). They weren’t only delivered from bondage; they were delivered into a prepared place. God’s blessing always involves land, a space to express dominion, creativity, and stewardship.

Therefore, wherever you find yourself, seek to own a portion of the earth. Whether it’s a physical plot, a business domain, or a professional field, you must have a land to cultivate. Dominion requires territory.

Three Steps to Accessing the Blessing in the Land

1. Let God Show You the Field He Has Blessed:

The first key to prospering in the land is divine direction. Not every land is your land. Abraham was told, ‘Go to a land I will show you.’ Isaac was told, ‘Stay in the land I show you.’ Each man prospered because he was positioned where God intended. It was said of Jacob, ‘.the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed.’

Many believers struggle because they are cultivating the wrong field. Prosperity doesn’t come from motion; it comes from location. The field you must cultivate is the one God has blessed, not the one you think looks greener.

Your ‘land’ might be a profession, a business idea, a calling, or even a physical territory. Ask God to show you the field where your blessing lies. The secret of increase is alignment with divine placement.

Just as Eden was prepared before Adam, so your land has been prepared before you were born. Your job is to discern it. When you find your field, stay there. Isaac stayed in Gerar when famine struck, and because God told him to remain there, the Bible says he ‘sowed in that land, and received in the same year a hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.’ (Genesis 26:12)

2. Work Hard to Cultivate and Dress the Land

The second key is work. God blessed man with a garden, but He didn’t make it self-sustaining. Adam was commanded to work it. Blessing does not eliminate responsibility; it empowers it. Grace does not replace diligence; it rewards it.

Every land has potential, but potential must be processed. The seed of greatness will die in the soil if it is not cultivated. Cultivation requires consistency, patience, and vision. Many believers are praying for harvests from lands they have never worked.

In Proverbs 12:11, Scripture says, ‘He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.’ The principle is universal – satisfaction and abundance come to those who till their land.

Cultivation also means discipline. You must learn, grow, and innovate. Whether it’s your business, ministry, or skill, you must ‘dress it and keep it.’ That means improve it and protect it. Guard what God has given you. Protect your ideas from laziness, your business from waste, and your heart from unbelief.

Even God, the Creator, worked six days before resting. Work is divine. Productivity is worship. When we cultivate our land, we participate in God’s creative nature.

Spirituality is not a ground for mental slotfulness. The problem is not that we are not blessed with grace. The problem is that we don’t strategise and funnel the grace in the right places by dressing our land.

The error of the Church today is that we are training people as though everybody is meant to become a pastor. God needs people in all fields and all aspects of society.

3. Eat the Fruit of the Land

‘And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover. and the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land.’ – Joshua 5:11-12

When Israel entered the Promised Land, the manna stopped. That was not punishment; it was promotion. God was saying, ‘Now you will live from the land, not from miracles.’

The ultimate purpose of blessing is fruitfulness. God wants you to eat from what you produce, to enjoy the work of your hands. Psalm 128:2 says, ‘For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.’

Too many believers depend on others’ harvests because they have not cultivated their own. Eating the fruit of the land means living in the reward of obedience and diligence. It means being sustained by what God has empowered you to produce.

The Prophetic Call to the Land

Beloved, the Spirit of God is calling the Church back to the land, not just physically but prophetically. We must return to the place of stewardship, responsibility, and divine productivity. The earth is groaning, waiting for the manifestation of sons who understand how to work the land under divine authority.

The blessing is in the land waiting to be discovered. The promise to Abraham, the instruction to Adam, and the inheritance of Israel all point to one truth – God blesses His people through the land.

So, let God show you your field. Work it faithfully. Guard it diligently. And when the harvest comes, eat of it with gratitude. ‘If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.’ – Isaiah 1:19

The divine order is as follows: revelation – God shows you the field; diligence – you cultivate and dress it; and reward – you eat the fruit of the land. The blessing is in the land – find it, work it, and live from it.

The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) has announced that an internal investigation has cleared a staff member of a fraudulent transaction allegation that recently went viral on social media. However, the employee will still face disciplinary action for violating the agency’s strict ‘no cash’ policy and using a personal account for a transaction.

The controversy according to a statement from the agency, began with a social media post alleging that LASAA staffer, Olukayode John Adetifa, had improperly collected ?45,000 from a client, MJ Beauty Salon, via his personal Opay account but only issued a receipt for ?7,100.

Following the initial outcry, LASAA issued a press statement acknowledging the serious allegation and immediately directing Adetifa, who is deployed to the Alimosho Branch Office, to report for an immediate investigation and disciplinary proceedings. The agency emphasized that all payments must be made only through officially designated government channels and reiterated its commitment to transparency.

The subsequent fact-finding by the Agency’s disciplinary panel, which included a visit to the business owner, paints a complex picture of the transaction.

Adetifa explained to the panel that the business had multiple unregistered signs and was slated for enforcement. During a final visit to encourage registration, the client, MJ Beauty Salon, agreed to pay. She claimed she was feeling unwell and offered him cash, which he declined. The client then requested his assistance to make the official online payment, to which he obliged in an effort to secure the long-overdue revenue.

He collected ?40,000 from the client, which he stated covered the full fees for the three signs: the Application Processing Fee of ?7,140, the Permit Fee of ?28,880 and payment gateway charges. He then registered the signs online in the client’s presence, assuring her she would receive the official notification by email. Adetifa also reported receiving threatening messages later regarding the payment balance.

The owner of MJ Beauty Salon subsequently confirmed this version of events to the LASAA Management team, admitting that she was unaware of the viral post and apologized for the misunderstanding. She specifically stated that Adetifa collected no gratification and dissociated herself from the X (formerly Twitter) handler who misrepresented the story.

Despite clearing Adetifa of fraudulent intent, LASAA confirmed that he still committed a serious offence. ‘It is glaring that our staff though has no fraudulent intent as seen from his explanation and that of the client, he has still committed an offence by collecting client’s money in his personal account contrary to the Agency’s policy,’ the management stated.

Adetifa will be dealt with in accordance with the Public Service Rules upon the conclusion of the disciplinary committee’s report.

LASAA used the opportunity to urge the public to always follow due process, specifically the ‘no cash policy or payment to personal account for no reason’ as the agency’s processes are self-service, seamless and automated. They also reiterated that they do not have any agents and implored clients to transact directly via the official website.

The agency urged the public to report genuine issues responsibly and warned against spreading false information that undermines government services.

Plan International Nigeria has officially unveiled Olori Ivie Atuwatse III, Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom, as its first Ambassador for

Girls in Nigeria.

This announcement marks a significant step forward in advancing children’s rights and promoting gender equality, with a special emphasis on empowering girls in the Niger Delta region.

Through this partnership, the Queen Consort of Warri Kingdom will serve as Plan International’s

Ambassador for Girls in Nigeria, leveraging her influence and platform to advocate for girls’ rights, support key campaigns, and raise public awareness on critical issues affecting children and young women across Nigeria.

The collaboration underscores a shared commitment to breaking the cycle

of poverty, violence, exclusion, and discrimination that many children, especially girls, face today.

As part of this collaboration, Plan International Nigeria and the Royal Iwere Foundation will launch the Royal Iwere Girls Hub Initiative, focusing initially on the Niger Delta. These hubs will serve as safe spaces where girls can come together, free from fear and discrimination to access education, develop leadership skills, and build confidence. Within these supportive environments, girls will have the opportunity to share experiences, receive mentoring, and participate in activities that nurture their personal growth and ambition.

Over time, the program will expand to other regions to maximise its impact.

‘We believe in the power and potential of every Nigerian girl,’ said Charles Usie, country

director of Plan International Nigeria. ‘Partnering with Her Majesty as Ambassador for Girls will further strengthen our commitment to advancing equality and creating meaningful opportunities for girls to thrive. Our mission centres on empowering girls to become leaders of change. By 2028, our goal is to reach 20 million Nigerian girls.’

Expressing her enthusiasm for the partnership, Atuwatse III, stated that ‘It is a profound honour to stand alongside Plan International Nigeria in advancing the cause of our nation’s young girls. I believe in a story where every girl has the power to choose her own path, a story where she decides if, when, and whom to marry; where education is not a privilege, but a right.

Through this partnership, we will create safe spaces for our girls to learn, to grow, and to thrive. Together, we will amplify their voices and open new doors of opportunity, ensuring that no girl is ever left behind.’

The Ambassador for Girls programme brings together respected, value-driven role models who voluntarily contribute their time, expertise, advocacy, and public presence to advance and champion girls’ rights in line with Plan International’s mission. Through purposeful advocacy and active public engagement, these ambassadors help reach wider audiences and, most importantly, empower girls to achieve their full potential.

Congratulations on your appointment as the new director of Nsibidi Institute. But what is the institute all about?

The Nsibidi Institute describes itself as an independent research organization, which is geared towards building local research capacity, promoting learning and effecting critical engagement on societal issues in Nigeria. It was founded in February 2014, by a group of Nigerian professionals, whose motivations were to establish an organisation to engage in activities around research, publications and other activities focused on an understanding and promotion of indigenous intellectualism and excellence – spread across, culture, heritage, technology and innovation.

What impact have you made since your appointment in June 2025?

My first task was to revitalise the Institute’s infrastructure – physical, proprietary, among others. We relaunched our social media presence in the first instance, followed by a new website www.nsibidifoundation.org. Then we held a relaunch event, at the Soto Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos on June 28, 2025. This even saw us open our doors to a broad spectrum of our stakeholders and partners. We unveiled our mobile museum, featuring artefacts loaned from a number of individual and institutional collections. Likewise, a mobile rare books library. This was followed by a film screening of Chikezie Ifedobi’s ‘Ije Enu: The Celestine Ukwu bio documentary’ and a photo exhibition celebrating Nigeria’s Highlife legacy, at Quintessence, Ikoyi, Lagos. Also, a film screening at the Africa Centre, London. We entered into collaborative partnerships with the National Council for Arts and Culture, Premier Records, The Africa Centre, London, the Iba Ajie Knowledge Resource Centre, and Piql Africa – all major players in heritage, culture and media. We organised our inaugural Nsibidi Institute Festival, which was held over three days (September 26-28, 2025) at Quintessence, and the Didi Museum, in Victoria Island, Lagos. The festival featured photo exhibitions, film screenings, symposia and performances, as well as an award ceremony celebrating designated champions of Nigeria’s arts and culture. We have also launched our original documentary film series, ‘The Alchemists’ showcasing champions of indigenous intellectual and cultural excellence. Thus far interviewed have been cultural icons such as artist – Victor Ehikhamenor, flautist Gerald Eze, and globally renowned percussionist – Richard Olatunde Baker. One could say, we have been a little busy.

Considering that the institute was inactive for five years, what are your strategies to forestall reoccurrence?

The pandemic was the main reason for the Institute’s temporary closure, a re-evaluation of the Institute’s focus, and insertion of personnel to drive the new strategic direction. As for preventing future occurrence, the board is determined to pursue the Institute’s long term strategic objectives, to build a resilient operational framework – which would absorb external impacts. I am confident that the Institute is here to stay.

Also, congratulations on the successful inaugural festival. How did the idea come about?

The initiative for the festival was mine, and essentially to create a robust, socio-cultural showcase, that celebrated the various disciplines, covered by its programme – and by extension brought the Institute’s brand back in the mainstream calendar.

The rich content points to wider collaborations, how were you able to gather such content partners within a short time in office?

I was recruited by the Institute, amongst other reasons, for my network of prime stakeholders in the socio-cultural and heritage spaces. I was thus able to leverage on decades long contacts, towards streamlining those partnerships. Additionally, the Institute already had an established reputation for credible and effective engagements, thus it was not a hard sell. It needs to be added that this was my motivation for taking up the current position . effectively coming out of a three-year retirement for this.

What is your highpoint for the festival and also areas you hope to improve on in the coming editions?

All events on the programme were highpoints to be fair. However, if one is to drill down, I would cite the conversation between Major-General Tunde Akinkunmi Rtd and Mr Yemi Candide-Johnson SAN, on the subject of ‘Military rule and its socio-cultural impact on Nigeria’, the other being the thought-provoking music documentary day, in which three critically acclaimed films were screened, to an engaged audience.

How did the presence of Obi Asika, director-general of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), impact the festival, is it government endorsement?

Nze Obi Asika was sadly unable to be present for the opening ceremony of the festival; however, he was represented and delivered a thought-provoking keynote address, which highlighted the synergies between the NCAC’s focus and ours and the need for strong broad-based collaborative efforts between both our organisations.

Apart from the many panels of discussion, movie screenings, conversations, books, among others, there seems to be less focus on the cultural aspect. Is that deliberate?

I would not say that culture spans across both contemporary and ancient modes. If you are referring to more traditional elements of our culture, I would respond that our programme schedule for next year digs deep into traditional occupations, art and cultural histories. I would say, watch this space.

On hearing Nsibidi, one easily connects it to the Igbo cultural heritage. But the festival had content spread across the country. Why?

The name Nsibidi is symbolic of indigenous intellectualism, rather than being strictly indexed to the Nsibidi script form of the Cross River basin. Hence, you shall find that our programmes explore multicultural themes, from all across Nigeria and even beyond. Of course, we are planning a specific Nsibidic Orthography event next year, If I may let that cat out of the bag. However, I hope you get my point?

Of course, you are a man of many parts: historian, lawyer, author, documentary filmmaker, you also sit on many boards, and you have added Nsibidi Institute to your growing laurels. How do you multitask successfully?

I think it is a blessing to be able to exercise one’s skills and experience positively, as far as is possible across any areas they may be deemed necessary. Hence, I shall say, I am grateful for opportunities to be of service to my community and country.

Bournemouth moved up to second place in the Premier League table with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, spoiling Sean Dyche’s first league game in charge of the visitors.

The win extends Bournemouth’s excellent run under head coach Andoni Iraola, earning them their best-ever start to a top-flight season and pushing them within four points of leaders Arsenal.

Forest, buoyed by their midweek Europa League victory over Porto, were outplayed from start to finish by Andoni Iraola’s in-form side, who extended their unbeaten run to eight league matches, their best-ever start to a top-flight season.

The opening goal came when Marcus Tavernier scored directly from a corner midway through the first half. Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels misjudged the flight of the ball, allowing it to sail into the net. Forest players protested furiously, arguing the corner should never have been awarded.

Dyche, who was booked for dissent, voiced his frustration after the match. ‘Everyone can see it’s a goal kick. It’s really hard for us managers when the linesperson gives the goal kick, then the referee, who can’t see it, overrules them. That’s really tough to take. Sometimes you’ve got to hold your hands up, because that’s a really poor moment.’

Bournemouth doubled their lead just before halftime when Eli Junior Kroupi netted his fourth goal in three league games, finishing off a slick attacking move that highlighted the Cherries’ growing confidence under Iraola.

Forest offered little threat in response, struggling to create clear chances as Bournemouth controlled possession and tempo throughout.

The result leaves Forest in the relegation zone after their sixth league defeat of the campaign, while Bournemouth now sit four points behind leaders Arsenal.

Residents of Alagbon Odetunde in Bode Saadu have commended the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, for his administration’s efforts on the ongoing Bode Saadu-Kaiama Road construction project.

The residents described the intervention as life-changing, noting that for years they had relied on narrow footpaths to access their farms, while poor road networks hindered trade, causing their farm produce to rot due to difficulty in transportation.

During a media tour of the project site by journalists, some residents expressed gratitude to the state and federal governments, as well as the BUA Group, for their joint intervention which, they said, has significantly improved their living conditions.

The project, facilitated by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and executed by BUA Group under the Federal Government’s Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, forms part of a 200-kilometre network designed to enhance intra- and inter-state connectivity, boost economic activities, and improve access to agricultural communities.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Sulaiman Odetunde, a farmer and Youth Leader of the town, said: ‘We thank Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for bringing development to our area, especially this road project. We never believed it would be dualised, but now we can see remarkable progress. Different vehicles now ply the road, and it has become easier for us farmers to move our crops from the farm to the market.’

He added that the road, which stretches from Bode Saadu through Kaiama and Banni, links several communities including Lasaki, Elesin, Olokiti, and Sabon Gari, among others.

‘Before, we lived like we were in the bush. Transporting our farm produce was nearly impossible, and even getting a motorcycle was a challenge. Now, we can move freely and engage in trade with nearby towns,’ he said.

Odetunde also appealed to investors to take advantage of the improved infrastructure and establish businesses in the area.

‘We have vast lands and now a good road. We welcome investors in the commercial, industrial, and educational sectors,’ he added.

Also speaking, Kudirat Abdulfatai, a provision business owner, said the road project has significantly reduced transportation costs.

‘Before, we paid as much as ?1,000 to get to the market; now it’s ?500. We are very grateful to the government. Previously, we struggled to transport goods, but now movement is easy. The only thing we still need is an open market where we can display and sell our products conveniently,’ she said.

She further explained that before the construction, residents lived in unhygienic conditions due to poor access roads.

‘We used to trek through bush paths, and rats, reptiles, and other pests invaded our homes. Since the road construction reached our community, our environment has become cleaner and safer,’ she noted.

The residents collectively appreciated both the state and federal governments for remembering their community, urging the authorities to establish a market that would further boost local trade and development.