Eko Tourism Foundation Intensifies Drive to Position Lagos as a Global Cultural Tourism Hub

The Eko Tourism Foundation (ETF) has reaffirmed its determination to position Lagos as a leading global cultural tourism destination by leveraging the state’s vast artistic, historical and creative assets to attract visitors, investment and international recognition.

The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Foundation and former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made this known during a visit by the Foundation to the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art at Pan-Atlantic University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, on Monday.

Speaking during the visit, Mohammed described culture and heritage as the foundation of successful destination marketing, stressing that Lagos possesses all the ingredients required to become one of the world’s foremost cultural tourism capitals.

He described the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art as ‘a sanctuary of memory, identity and civilisation’ and a compelling example of the kind of cultural infrastructure needed to drive sustainable tourism, national pride and global visibility.

‘This visit is not a courtesy call. It is a statement of intent,’ he said. ‘The Eko Tourism Foundation is declaring, in the clearest possible terms, that culture is the soul of tourism. No destination can successfully market itself to the world without first understanding, preserving and celebrating what makes it unique.’

The former Minister commended the vision and contributions of renowned art collector and philanthropist Yemisi Shyllon, describing the museum as a world-class institution dedicated not only to preserving Nigerian art and heritage, but also to deploying culture as a powerful instrument for education, historical memory and social transformation.

According to him, Lagos possesses unique advantages in history, visual arts, music, fashion, cuisine, film, architecture and the broader creative economy, all of which must be strategically packaged and promoted to the global audience.

‘Our mission is bold and unapologetic: we exist to bring the world to Lagos,’ he said. ‘Not just for our beaches or business districts, not just for the energy and spectacle of Detty December, but for our history, our heritage sites, our food, our music, our film industry, our arts, our fashion and our architecture.’

Drawing comparisons with iconic tourism destinations around the world, Alhaji Mohammed noted that millions of visitors travel annually to Paris for the Louvre Museum, New York City for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Cairo for the pyramids, stressing that Lagos must cultivate similar global recognition for its own cultural landmarks and creative institutions.

He revealed that the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art has increasingly become a destination of choice for international visitors to Nigeria, reflecting the growing global appetite for Nigerian culture, heritage and creative expression.

Alhaji Mohammed also called for stronger collaboration among museums, universities, galleries, creative hubs and tourism stakeholders, stressing that successful tourism destinations thrive on the richness, authenticity and diversity of experiences available to visitors.

‘The mission of the Yemisi Shyllon Museum aligns naturally with ours,’ he said.

‘Together, institutions like this can help place Lagos firmly on the global cultural tourism map and redefine how the world experiences Nigeria.’

He thanked the leadership of Pan-Atlantic University and the management of the museum for hosting the Foundation, adding that the visit had further strengthened the Foundation’s resolve to promote Lagos as a world-class cultural and tourism destination.

‘We leave here not just inspired, but even more determined to bring the world to Lagos,’ he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman Advisory Council, YMSA, expressed readiness to collaborate with the Board of Trustees and Governing Council of ETF to achieve the objective of Bringing the World to Lagos

Other members of the Eko Tourism Foundation at the event were Chief Gabriel Idahosa, immediate past President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and industry; Karl Hala, Group General Manager, Lagos and Abuja Continental Hotels , and Erelu Abimbola Dosunmu.

Also present were the Vice Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University, Enase Okonedo; Museum Director, Jess Castellote; and Chairman of the YSMA Advisory Board, Adedotun Sulaiman; Grand Donor and Chairman of the YSMA, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, alongside other distinguished guests.

INEC timetable insensitive, unworkable – Olawepo-Hashim

Former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has continued his criticism of the electoral timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing it as unlawful, unworkable, and insensitive to Nigeria’s political and religious realities.

Hashim argued that the current scheduling framework is creating avoidable tension within the political system and could destabilize party structures ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking on the development in Abuja on Sunday, he contended that the tight electoral calendar does not allow political parties sufficient time to properly conduct internal primaries and democratic processes.

According to him, the situation is already placing unnecessary pressure on parties and contributing to growing internal conflicts across the political landscape.

Hashim disclosed that he had earlier written an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to ensure INEC strictly adheres to the provisions of the Electoral Act. He noted, however, that no response has yet been received.

The former presidential candidate further faulted INEC for scheduling politically intensive activities, including party primaries, around sensitive religious periods such as Hajj and Ileya (Eid al-Adha).

He warned that these periods already come with significant logistical and security demands, and combining them with political primaries could heighten tensions and trigger avoidable disruptions.

‘Combining election primaries with periods like Hajj and Ileya, which already carry security and mobility challenges, is unreasonable,’ he said.

Hashim added that party primaries themselves often generate political tension and security concerns, insisting that such activities require adequate spacing and proper planning.

He maintained that compressing religious and political schedules unnecessarily increases national risk and could undermine stability within political parties.

Furthermore, Hashim argued that the Electoral Act already provides sufficient timelines for parties to conduct nominations without resorting to what he described as a ‘chaotic timetable.’

Citing Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, he stated that political parties are required to submit nominations not later than 180 days before elections-a provision he said effectively allows parties until mid-September to complete their nomination processes.

‘Why adopt a chaotic timetable circumventing the provisions of the Act?’ he queried.

He warned that failure to review and adjust the timetable could deepen political tensions and erode public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.

Police arrest 11 over cult-related killings in Benue

The Police in Benue State on Monday confirmed the arrest of 11 suspects in connection with suspected cult-related killings in Makurdi metropolis of the state.

Daily Trust had earlier reported that the incident occurred at about 2:30am on Monday at several streets in the High Level area of Makurdi.

Police spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, in a statement, noted that the arrest follows a distress call received from a landlord who reported that armed men invaded his residence, dragged some young men out of their rooms and shot them.

Edet said that detectives were immediately deployed to the scene, while preliminary investigations indicated that the attack was cult-related.

She added that the operation was allegedly carried out by a gang suspected to have been led by one ‘Odinaka,’ said to be notorious for similar criminal activities in the area.

Edet further disclosed that 11 suspects had been arrested in connection with the case, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the alleged gang leader, who is currently at large.

‘Preliminary investigation reveal that it was a cult related killing done by a team suspected to have been led by one ‘Odinaka’ who has become notorious for such activities. Eleven (11) suspected have been arrested in connection with the case while efforts are being made to arrest the gang leader Odinaka,’ she stated.

Edet added that further details on the incident would be communicated in an official press release to be issued later.

Gov Radda gifts cars to outstanding Katsina students

Two outstanding graduating students of the Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management have been rewarded with brand new vehicles by Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, in recognition of their exceptional academic performances.

The presentation ceremony was held at the Government House in Katsina as part of the state government’s commitment to rewarding excellence and encouraging hard work among students.

The beneficiaries, Ibrahim Mai Nasara Bugaje of the Department of Networking and System Security and Aisha Isiaku of the Department of Computer Software Engineering, emerged as the institution’s overall best graduating students with CGPAs of 4.92 and 4.75 respectively.

Governor Radda said the gesture was in fulfillment of the promise he made during the institution’s convocation ceremony held on April 28, 2026, where he pledged vehicles and employment opportunities for the best graduating students.

He congratulated the beneficiaries on their achievements and urged them to continue contributing positively to the development of Katsina State and Nigeria.

‘I hope you will continue to be beneficial to the state, put more effort into its development, and inspire younger generations to follow in your footsteps,’ the governor stated.

Earlier in his speech during the occasion, the Katsina State Head of Service, Falalu Bawale, presented the students to the governor and described the award as part of the government’s tradition of recognising and rewarding academic excellence.

ýNBC, CEMESO Task Journalists on Fact-Checking Amid Deepfake Threats

ýThe National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), and the International Press Centre (IPC) have raised concerns over the growing threat of deepfakes, artificial intelligence-driven disinformation, and coordinated misinformation campaigns to Nigeria’s democracy, urging journalists to strengthen fact-checking mechanisms ahead of future elections.

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ýThe stakeholders gave the charge recently at a Technical Summit on Elevating Fact-Checking Capabilities of Journalists organised by CEMESO in Abuja, where media experts warned that the country’s electoral information ecosystem was increasingly vulnerable to manipulation through AI-generated content and coordinated digital propaganda.

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ýSpeaking at the summit on behalf of the Director-General of NBC, the Commission’s Director of Broadcast Policy and Research, Stella Erhunmwunsee, said misinformation and disinformation had become direct threats to national stability, democratic legitimacy, and public trust.

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ýShe said the integrity of information dissemination was now as important as the integrity of the electoral process itself.

ý’We are operating in an information environment that is increasingly complex, fast-moving and, at times, volatile. The proliferation of misinformation and disinformation, particularly in the context of elections, poses a direct challenge not only to media credibility but also to national stability, public trust and democratic legitimacy,’ she said.

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ýAccording to her, distorted information compromises public perception and ultimately places democratic outcomes at risk.

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ýErhunmwunsee stressed that fact-checking must no longer be treated as an optional journalistic responsibility but as a core professional obligation requiring proactive and technologically enabled verification systems.

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ý’Accuracy is no longer sufficient on its own; verification must be proactive, continuous and technologically enabled. The media must evolve at the same pace as the threats it seeks to counter,’ she stated.

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ýShe also described the unveiling of an AI Fact-Checking Tool Guide at the summit as a major step toward proactive verification and newsroom accountability.

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ýThe NBC official urged media organisations to institutionalise fact-checking in editorial workflows, warning that technology alone would not solve the growing problem of information disorder without ethical and professional discipline among journalists.

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ýProviding a broader context to the danger posed by deepfakes and AI-generated propaganda, Executive Director of Centre for Media and Society, Akin Akingbulu, warned that Nigeria was entering a dangerous era where artificial intelligence had ‘industrialised the production of disinformation.’

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ýAccording to him, AI tools now allow false narratives to be produced ‘at scale, at speed, and with a sophistication that makes detection exponentially harder.’

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ýHe disclosed that between 2019 and 2023, deepfake content globally increased by over 500 percent, adding that Nigeria had already suffered the consequences.

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ýAkingbulu cited cases where AI-generated videos falsely showed international celebrities endorsing presidential candidates during the 2023 elections, while cloned audio recordings were used to fabricate conversations between political figures.

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ý’In June 2025, a synthetic video was specifically designed to inflame farming and herding conflicts in Benue State that have historically triggered deadly violence,’ he said.

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ýHe added that AI-generated clips of foreign leaders discussing Nigerian oil and political issues were also circulating online with hundreds of thousands of views, thereby manipulating public opinion and amplifying propaganda.

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ý’What we are witnessing is the simultaneous scaling up of the threat and the scaling down of our defences. That asymmetry is not a coincidence. It is a crisis,’ he warned.

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ýAkingbulu said disinformation campaigns in Nigeria were increasingly exploiting ethnic and religious divisions, targeting vulnerable groups, and undermining confidence in democratic institutions.

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ýHe linked the trend to declining voter participation, noting that turnout during the 2023 general elections dropped to 27 percent.

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ý’Disinformation in Nigeria is not random. It is purposeful. It exploits ethno-religious fault lines, weaponises identity, and targets the populations least equipped to contest it,’ he said.

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ýHe also raised concerns over the growing influence of paid online influencers coordinating propaganda campaigns across WhatsApp groups and X, formerly Twitter.

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ý’This is not organic political communication. It is a shadow industry. And until we treat it as one, our regulatory responses will remain inadequate,’ he stated.

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ýAkingbulu warned that the 2027 elections could witness ‘the most technologically complex disinformation campaign in African history’ if urgent steps were not taken to strengthen verification systems and newsroom capacity.

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ýHe disclosed that CEMESO, through its haltfake.org initiative, had intensified efforts to track and neutralise AI-driven misinformation, fabricated political alliances, deepfake endorsements, and synthetic voice notes capable of triggering unrest.

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ýHe added that the organisation had already trained over 100 journalists and newsroom leaders in Ekiti State and recently conducted specialised sessions for journalists at Aso Radio Television and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.

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ýThe CEMESO boss also announced plans to establish Campus Newsroom Labs in tertiary institutions to train young journalists in civic education and fact-checking practices.

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ýAlso speaking, Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, said advancements in artificial intelligence had significantly complicated efforts to verify information.

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ýArogundade noted that AI-powered technologies could now generate highly realistic videos, images, and audio capable of misleading the public.

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ý’Deepfake and other forms of AI manipulation are indeed making it increasingly difficult for people to know what to believe,’ he said.

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ýAccording to him, detecting and debunking AI-generated disinformation requires both human expertise and technological tools.

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ýHe warned that AI manipulation tools were advancing faster than existing safeguards and fact-checking systems.

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ýThe summit, supported by the European Union under the EU Support to Democratic Governance Programme Phase II, brought together journalists, civil society groups, regulators, and media stakeholders to discuss strategies for strengthening electoral information integrity ahead of upcoming elections in Ekiti, Osun, and the 2027 general elections.

Tinubu: 2007 in 2027?

On current trends, the 2027 election is increasingly looking like it would be a repeat of the 2007 election. There is even good reason to believe the 2027 election could be worse. I am therefore writing this piece today as an early warning signal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

By a rare consensus in Nigerian politics, the 2007 presidential election has been adjudged as possibly the worst ever held in this country. That election was so wild and predetermined that it is now widely agreed that the winner was declared even while voters were still voting at thousands of polling booths across the entire country. In fact, that election was so bad that even the winner, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, admitted forthrightly that the election was significantly flawed.

His first pledged was to reform the electoral system, and he did. As we trudge slowly but steadily towards Election Day 2027, however, the writing is by now clear on the wall that the election may well turn out to be worse than in 2007. For an indication of that, I invite the reader to look closely at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 election strategy, which is not only already in effect, but is clearly playing out for all to see. I have previously described Tinubu’s 2027

re-election strategy as akin to a person trying to enter their own house by jumping over the fence. That metaphor is by now clear enough for all to see.

Rather than campaign and win on his record in office, Tinubu’s 2027 strategy appears to rest on a tripod of tactics. The first of these tactics appears to be to destabilise, disrupt and distract opposition parties by all means possible. The second tactic looks like to divide the North in the reverse direction of 2023, this time by alienating the largest and dominant group in the region. The third tactic appears to be to use all the institutional apparatuses of the federal state-INEC, the judiciary, anti-corruption agencies, etc-to skew the electoral field in only one direction. And for this strategy to be successful, all three must work concurrently according to plan.

You may argue that no one had traced Tinubu’s hand directly in all of these things, and you may be right. But what is more important than who does what is the fact that events are manifesting in a particular way, and that their combined effects on the entire election process is leading to particular outcomes. And on that score, an early warning is justified because no one but the most rabid partisan would fail to see that the electoral field is now playing out-in overdrive-according to these three scripts. This, then, is a warning to all.

I don’t know who came up with this ‘brilliant’ idea of how to win a Nigerian presidential election, but they probably read their books upside down in school. It is easy to learn everything about power. But it is also easy to forget the most important thing about power, that is, the limits of power. We are all witnesses to this script in motion, but we must all wonder aloud about what the end game would look like if we factor in the limits to the power of any one person, even the power of an incumbent Nigerian president standing for re-election.

First of all, it is true that the whole idea of crippling opposition parties appears to be working successfully right now. It is also true that the script playing out in the PDP, ADC, NNPP, and Labour Party has been entertaining, as opposition figures run from one court or party to another. But this early ‘success’ should not give Tinubu’s people any false hope because this approach, if it’s a deliberate approach as many Nigerians suspect, has its limits and an expiry date.

More importantly, if the end game of all the legal, political and institutional hurdles that opposition parties like the PDP, ADC, LP, NNPP, and maybe NDC soon enough too, have been facing over the past three years or so is to make Tinubu and the ruling APC the only viable candidate and party on the ballot on Election Day, then even a false alarm at this stage will be useful for us all because things are highly unlikely to turn out that way.

Nigeria is not Cameroon or Uganda or Zimbabwe where one candidate, even an incumbent, can manipulate and manoeuvre the entire electoral system to their sole benefit. Nigeria is a huge and diverse country of 230 million people, and with some of the most competing regional, religious, ethnic, and personal interests ever imaginable. When they want, and especially when pushed to the wall, Nigerians are also among the active political animals on this planet, in both senses of the term. Therefore, regardless of the merits and demerits of the legal, political, and anti-corruption cases currently being faced by opposition parties and their leaders, there will be no election in 2027 if there are no credible opposition

parties and candidates in the election.

As a journalist, I have stayed clear of partisan politics, and don’t particularly think highly of any political party in Nigeria. But whenever I look at the travails of opposition parties in the past three years, I am increasingly wondering why anyone will be actively playing a script that General Sani Abacha, even as a military head of state, tried and failed in 1998. Or for that matter, a script that then President Obasanjo tried and failed in 2006. Remember the late Chief Bola Ige’s ‘five fingers of a leprous hand’? That is what the current strategy of crippling the opposition, if indeed, it is someone’s strategy, looks to me, and the only outcome I can think of is failure. It simply won’t work in Nigeria’s complex federation, then or now.

There is also the not-so-small matter of how much Nigeria and Nigerian elections have changed in those 20 years since 2007. The problem here is not so much that a 2007 kind of election would be impossible to replicate in 2027, but that the social, political and constitutional consequences of such an election are potentially more volatile than Nigeria can contain. This is true even if the election is only perceived to have been irredeemably flawed.

Nigeria is bursting at the seams with young people whose political consciousness has risen to stratospheric levels, who are digitally savvy in a changed media environment, but who yet cannot see in any future for themselves in the current political and governance arrangement. Moreover, for many millions of Nigerians, Tinubu’s own warped economic policies have directly and unbearably exacerbated the cost-of-living crises they have long faced. Equally important, the country as a whole has gotten used to better and more credible elections since 2011, even if problems remain in several areas.

Therefore, the sort of election where there are no credible opposition parties and candidates, or where an INEC Chairman will just stand up and declare a winner because the outcome is pre-determined is unlikely to go down quietly under the social and political circumstances of 2027 in Nigeria. For the Nigeria of today, an in-your-face flawed election would represent nothing but a trigger for what is better imagined than described.

President Tinubu and his party can win this election, but they must win it free and fair. Nigeria is not Cameroon or Uganda. This is my warning, and I rest my case.

APC Panel disqualifies Fubara’s loyalists, clears Wike’s allies

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Screening Committee has disqualified former factional Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, and 64 other aspirants from contesting the forthcoming state assembly primaries for the 2027 elections.

Daily Trust gathered most of the aspirants disqualified are core loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The report of the screening committee obtained by Daily Trust and signed by the chairman, Rt. Hon. Muraina Ajibola and three other members.

The disqualified aspirants were said to have been screened out for failing to meet the necessary requirements.

However, 33 aspirants, who are loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, were cleared.

Most of them are incumbent members of Rivers Assembly.

The committee said it had successfully verified the credentials of the cleared aspirants and they met the party’s eligibility criteria to participate in the primaries.

Those cleared to participate in the primaries include; Maol Dumle, ?Major M. Jack, Nwabochi Frankline, ?Ofiks K. Christopher, ?Enemi Alabo George, ?Tonye Smart Adoki, Tekenari W. Granville,

?Azeru Opara, Igwe Obey Aforji, ?Opuende Lolo Isaiah, Ukalikpe Napoleon, ?Hope Ugwumadu, ?Kenneth Minimah, ?Justina Aniton Okorji, ?Onyema Rex Nwankwo, ?Jumbo Soparagha, Wami Solomon, ?Gift Esede Ali, ?Ejekwu Chisa Nathan and

?Peter E. Abbey.

Others include; ?Loolo Bulabari Henrietta, ?Barida Alice Samuel, ?Ohanuna Bright, ?Kue Yeghene Nwankwo Chimezie C., ?Emeji Gloria Chika, ?Ejekwu, Ezebunwo Leslie, ?Okpokipou Peters, ?Arnold O. Davids, Gerald C. Oforji, ?Amadi Promise Amadi, ?Opuene Thompson Atekebo and ?Amakri Awowari.

Prominent among the disqualified aspirants include; former Chairman of Obio/Akpor local government and core loyalist of Governor Fubara, Chijioke Kemzunum Ihunwo and others.

Daily Trust recalls that a total of 98 aspirants obtained nomination forms to contest for the APC state assembly primaries in Rivers and went through screening at the party Secretariat in Port Harcourt over the weekend.

The development has further heightened political tension in Rivers ahead of the 2027 general elections, as Wike’s loyalists all have their ways in the screening, while those aligning with Fubara are screened out.

A supporter of Fubara told Daily Trust that the action of the party may make it easy for any other organized opposition party to win Rivers in the 2027 general election.

He said: ‘You cannot just pursue out your key mobilizers from the party because you want to please a particular interest and you expect them to sit back and work for the success of the same people that oppressed them.

‘Though we are handling it as a party, but if it’s not handle well, I believe APC as a party has just shot itself in the foot, and the resultant effect will be felt during the general election.’

Julius Berger emerges best construction firm in W/Africa

For the second consecutive year, leading engineering and construction firm, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, has emerged as the Best Construction and Infrastructure Company of the Year (West Africa).

Organised by the West Africa Innovation Awards, the recognition saw Julius Berger outperform competitors including Micheleti Construction Ghana Limited and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation to secure the prestigious honour.

In a statement, the Chairman of the Awards Organising Committee, Canmil Chineme, said the award recognises a distinguished brand that serves as a pillar in one of the sub region’s most critical industries.

He noted that such accolades inspire innovation and promote superior customer engagement aligned with global best practices.

Chineme further stated that, following extensive consultations and careful evaluation by a panel of judges, the Governing Board of the West Africa Innovation Awards selected Julius Berger Nigeria PLC as the 2026 winner.

The company was commended for its exceptional contributions in innovation, professionalism, and customer service excellence.

Reacting to the recognition, Julius Berger’s Director of Administration, Dr Abdulaziz Isa Kaita, described the award as a reaffirmation of the company’s over five decades of steadfast commitment to excellence, innovation, quality, safety, and nation-building across Nigeria and the wider West African region.

He expressed appreciation to the organisers for the honour.

In his acceptance speech, Dr Kaita remarked that the award represents more than a corporate achievement. ‘Tonight, we celebrate more than concrete, steel, and asphalt, we celebrate vision, resilience, and the transformative power of infrastructure in shaping economies, connecting communities, and improving lives.’

He emphasised that infrastructure development is not just a business for Julius Berger, but a lasting legacy. From iconic bridges and highways to airports, seaports, industrial facilities, hospitals, and other critical national projects, our journey has always been guided by one principle: building excellence and connecting futures, he added.

Dr Kaita dedicated the award to the company’s workforce, including engineers, technicians, architects, operators, artisans, administrators, and support staff, whose dedication continues to uphold Julius Berger’s reputation for excellence.

The 15th edition of the awards ceremony also celebrated other organisations, including Sovereign Trust Insurance PLC, Vitafoam, CRC Credit Bureau Limited, and West African Human Resource Outsourcing Company, in a vibrant evening marked by glamour and celebration.

Salam Takaful shares surplus with customers, unveils new brand identity in Kano

In a landmark event that underscores the growing acceptance of ethical insurance in Nigeria, Salam Takaful Insurance Limited has distributed surplus funds with over 220 customers while unveiling its new brand identity and digital application.

The occasion, held in Kano, marked the company’s 2nd Surplus Sharing and Rebranding Event, drawing business leaders, government officials, regulators, investors, and healthcare institutions.

Salam Takaful operates on the principles of Islamic insurance (Takaful), a mutual risk-sharing model rooted in cooperation, transparency, and ethical financial protection. Unlike conventional insurance where profits are retained by shareholders, Takaful redistributes surplus funds among participants after claims and expenses are settled.

This year’s surplus-sharing saw a dramatic increase in beneficiaries, rising from 44 in 2023 to 220 in 2024, reflecting growing public confidence in non-interest insurance.

Chairman of the company, Alhaji Musbahu Bashir, emphasized the company’s mission, saying, ‘We aspire to ensure our customers get value for their investment in insurance, contrary to the conventional model where you put in money and might end up getting nothing. Here we ensure your money works for you.’

He further stressed that Salam Takaful is inclusive, open to all Nigerians regardless of religion or financial status.

Major Beneficiaries

The surplus distribution rewarded both corporate and institutional participants. Leading beneficiaries included A.A. Rano Nigeria Limited who got ?44,766,170.04, Malcomines Minor Metals Ltd which got ?7,855,691.26, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) that got ?6,565,842.58, TAJ Bank with ?2,680,776.47 and Jaiz Bank with ?1,681,148.85 among others.

Other recipients included state governments, healthcare institutions, and individual contributors, underscoring the broad reach of Salam Takaful’s ethical insurance model.

The company also presented awards to distinguished partners such as Albasar Foundation (Makkah Hospital), IMG Petroleum Limited, and the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, recognizing their loyalty and contributions to the growth of ethical insurance in Nigeria.

Why Salam Takaful rebranded

The unveiling of Salam Takaful’s new brand identity was a highlight of the event. The company explained that the rebranding was not just cosmetic but a renewal of purpose, aligning with customer needs, digital transformation, and Shariah-compliant principles.

The new identity embodies values of Service, Accountability, Leadership, Authenticity, and Mutuality, positioning Salam Takaful as more customer-centric, technology-driven, and strategically poised for growth.

New logo and digital application

The company introduced a new logo featuring a shield and the letter ‘S,’ symbolizing trust, protection, and security. Alongside this, Salam Takaful launched a digital application designed to simplify policy management, enhance accessibility, and strengthen data security.

With the new application, customers can now conveniently access services through a secure and user-friendly platform.

Emir of Kano’s endorsement

Representing the Emir of Kano, Shehu Muhammad urged entrepreneurs and traders to embrace Islamic insurance as a safeguard against disasters such as fire outbreaks.

He commended Salam Takaful for promoting ethical financial protection and raising awareness about non-interest insurance.

Other highlights of the ceremony include presentation of surplus cheques to beneficiaries, launch of Salam Takaful’s digital app, award presentations to outstanding partners, interactive questions and answers sessions with prospective customers and networking with financial institutions and investors

With its rapid growth, innovative digital solutions, and strong ethical foundation, Salam Takaful Insurance Limited is positioning itself as a leading force in Nigeria’s insurance sector. The company’s rebranding signals a bold step toward expanding financial inclusion and reinforcing trust in non-interest insurance.

Salam Takaful Insurance Company headquarters is located at No 65, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Opposite Fillin Parking Kano, Nigeria, and has brancj offices in Abuja and Lagos.

The company is licensed by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to provide both Family (life) and General Takaful insurance services in Nigeria and it positions itself as an ethical, Shariah-compliant alternative to conventional insurance, targeting both Muslim and non-Muslim customers.

Edo police nab 73 suspects in 1 month

The Edo State Police Command said it has arrested 73 suspects allegedly involved in various crimes in the state in the month of march.

The command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, in an interview with Daily Trust, said the suspects were apprehended for various crimes including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, murder and rape.

Giving the breakdown, she said, 42 suspects were arrested for kidnapping four for robbery, 12 for cultism, four for murder while 11 suspects were arrested for rape.

She restated the command’s commitment to the fight against crime and criminality in the state.