Category: Nigerian Tribune

WHEN the 2023 presidential election results were announced, many analysts and commentators gave a largely unanimous verdict regarding the voting pattern in the South-east. The region had voted almost entirely along the ethnic line. The figures told part of the story: Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party swept the zone with over 1.8 million votes. In comparison, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress recorded just about 127,000 votes across the five South-east states. Three years into the President Tinubu administration, that electoral map is already being redrawn – not by rhetoric, but by landmark projects, appointments in strategic positions and deliberate political engagement. The South-east has historically complained of federal neglect, specifically in relation to federal presence. President Tinubu has moved to close that gap with visible infrastructure projects. The federal projects, completed or ongoing in the zone, are now too numerous and one could easily lose count. They include the renewed federal push on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue Trans-Saharan Superhighway, Enugu-Port Harcourt Road, and the Second Niger Bridge access roads.

For a region whose economy runs on trade, fixing these arteries will directly impact businesses in Onitsha, Aba, Nnewi, and other commercial hubs in the region. I saw some of these iconic roads and the high quality of work being done during a recent National Media inspection tour of the federal and state government projects in the South-east organised by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team. President Tinubu has also committed to the Eastern Rail Corridor from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, under which the South-east segment is prioritised. This revives a transport mode that collapsed decades ago. The import becomes even more significant when some facts are considered. Some of the projects now being brought to life under President Tinubu, according to the Minister of Works, Engineer Dave Umahi, were conceived during the colonial era but left unrealised for decades. Such renaissance is not limited to road infrastructure. On energy, the inclusion of South-east states in the Siemens Power project and renewed attention to gas infrastructure to power industrial clusters in Aba and Nnewi is important. During the inspection tour, we visited the ANOH gas project (Assa North-Ohaji South Gas project), one of Nigeria’s largest natural gas development projects and a cornerstone of the Federal Government’s decade-long gas initiative. The processing plant, operated by ANOH Gas Company as a 50-50 joint venture between Seplat Energy Plc and Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company, a subsidiary of NNPC Limited, was inaugurated by President Tinubu on May 15, 2024. It is already supplying processed gas to offtakers like Indorama Petrochemical Company.

The road and rail projects that crisscross the South-east landscape are not campaign promises. They are budget lines with contractors on site. In politics, delivery takes slogans for lunch. Inclusion in government and important appointments for South-easterners also matter. The 2023 figures showed APC’s vote deficit. However, the 2023-2026 appointments show a deliberate effort to correct the representation deficit. Key South-Easterners now hold strategic positions in foreign affairs, defence, works, science and tech, and security agencies. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, from Anambra State (although Enugu-born), for instance, is today the biggest female political appointee in the Federal Executive Council. Beyond the titles, the message is clear: the South-East is being brought to the centre of decision-making, not kept at the margins. This has started shifting the conversation from ‘exclusion’ to ‘what more can we get done together.’ The President’s economic reforms, such as unification of foreign exchange rates, removal of fuel subsidy, and recalibration of tax, may be tough. Still, the South-East is positioned to benefit most from the pivot to production and exports.

Aba’s Made-in-Nigeria campaign, Onitsha’s trading network, and Nnewi’s manufacturing base are being linked directly to federal grants, CBN intervention funds, and export support. And with the recent formal handover of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, to the concessionaire, the region’s logistics and commercial hub dream has received a massive boost. The Tinubu administration is treating the South-east not just as a voting bloc, but as Nigeria’s industrial engine. In terms of political realignment, the numbers are also moving up. Elections are about addition. In 2023, APC polled 127,370 votes in the South-east. The goal of the Tinubu administration for 2027 is not to win every state on day one, but to grow that base state by state, LGA by LGA. That growth is already visible: from not a single state in 2019, two states in 2023, APC has now moved to three. The other two states in the zone are not opposed to President Tinubu. Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and his Abia State counterpart, Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party, are strong supporters of President Tinubu, his reforms and reelection plans.

All the governors, not only South-East governors, acknowledge and say President Tinubu’s reforms have freed resources to the subnationals, which have, in turn, enabled them to engage in infrastructure projects. Governor Hope Uzodimma, who is also the Chairman of the Progressive Governors, has remained vocal in his support for the President and loud campaign for his second term. Uzodimma is the Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, the main campaign group for Tinubu’s reelection. Speaking at a state dinner for the National Media Team comprising over 50 journalists, editors and members of the Presidential Communications Team in Owerri, Imo State capital, two weeks ago, Uzodimma described President Tinubu as the Lee Kuan Yew of Nigeria. ‘In President Tinubu, I have seen another Lee Kuan Yew,’ he said, praising the President’s bold economic reforms and expressing confidence that his performance would secure him a second term in 2027. ‘The old order is gone and there is now a new order. President Tinubu knew exactly what he came to do. He started implementing the reforms immediately because he understood the task before him,’ he said.

Importantly, governors and stakeholders in the South-East zone are now in regular dialogue with the Presidency. Federal projects are being inaugurated with bipartisan presence. Youth and business groups who sat out in 2023 are now engaging with APC structures because they see tangible projects in their communities.

Politics in the South-East has always been pragmatic. Where federal presence is felt, political alignment follows. The 2023 electoral map showed where President Tinubu and APC were. Now, President Tinubu’s governance story in the South-East is showing where things are headed.

By linking infrastructure delivery with political inclusion and economic empowerment, the administration is redrawing the South-East political map from one defined only by election-day figures, to one defined by roads constructed, factories powered, and people included in governance.

The South-East deserves to be at the centre of Nigeria’s growth story. Under President Tinubu, I dare say that repositioning has begun.

Founder and Group Executive Board Chair of the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN), Dr. Salamatu Garba, has called for the speedy passage of the proposed Agricultural Extension Bill, saying it will strengthen extension services and equip young people with practical skills to drive food security.

Garba made the call while speaking with journalists shortly after the visit of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Maruf Alausa, to the WOFAN-Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) SIBLING (Skills Improvement to Boost Livelihood and Nurture Growth) Project, at Bayero University, Kano.

She said WOFAN and its partners had moved beyond advocacy by establishing a practical model that demonstrates how collaboration between the private sector, government and agricultural institutions can transform agricultural extension in the country.

She said stakeholders in the agriculture sector, two years ago, proposed the bill, which has already passed first and second readings at the National Assembly.

While expressing optimism that the bill will eventually become law, Garba said the SIBLING project is already providing a practical example of the type of extension system the legislation seeks to institutionalise.

‘We have started practicalising what we are advocating by creating a partnership between the private sector, public sector and agricultural institutions so that we can perfect the agricultural extension system,’ she said.

She noted that one of the major challenges facing the agriculture sector is the shortage of competent extension workers capable of transferring modern farming technologies to producers.

Garba explained that WOFAN invested in the infrastructure for the SIBLING project, including facilities covering agricultural production, processing, value addition, logistics and waste-to-wealth initiatives.

‘The SIBLING project is about Skills Improvement to Boost Livelihood and Nurture Growth. We have provided all the infrastructure and value chains needed to enhance agricultural production,’ she said.

She commended the minister for visiting the facility, describing him as a strong advocate of agricultural extension and youth participation in agribusiness.

According to her, his support will further strengthen efforts to secure the passage of the Agricultural Extension Bill.

Garba said the project goes beyond classroom instruction by providing students with intensive hands-on training across multiple agricultural enterprises.

She explained that students are exposed to integrated farming systems, including poultry, fisheries, crop production, mechanisation, waste recycling and fabrication of agricultural equipment.

The centre also trains students to convert agricultural waste such as rice husks into briquettes while exposing them to the fabrication of equipment used in the production process.

She described the Centre for Dryland Agriculture at Bayero University as a true centre of excellence that offers practical learning capable of producing highly skilled agricultural professionals.

Garba expressed confidence that graduates of the SIBLING programme would enjoy strong employment prospects because of their practical competencies.

‘As we popularise this concept, industries and employers will begin searching for graduates from this institution because they possess practical skills,’ she said.

Beyond paid employment, she said the initiative is designed to produce agripreneurs who can establish their own businesses and create jobs for others.

‘Our graduates will not just be job seekers. We are training them to become agripreneurs who can establish their own farms or provide private extension services that are commercially viable,’ she said.

She added that students have access to a wide range of agricultural machinery and equipment, including tractors, tricycles for produce transportation, rice cutters, weeders and sprayers, enabling them to acquire practical experience before graduation.

According to Garba, the combination of practical training, entrepreneurship and modern agricultural technologies will contribute significantly to improved food security and sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria.

The Plateau State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with the gruesome killing of a 25-year-old man suspected of stealing a phone in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

According to a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Alfred Alabo, the command received a report on Sunday at the Lamingo Police Division from a Good Samaritan at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), informing the police that some youths had brought an unconscious man to the hospital under suspicious circumstances.

The command stated that, upon receiving the report, its officers immediately mobilised to the hospital, where the victim was identified as Ibrahim Mbaya, a 25-year-old male from Rayfield, Jos. He was, however, confirmed dead on arrival by the medical doctor on duty, and his remains were deposited in the hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

It added that a follow-up investigation led to the arrest of three suspects, identified as Rinji Daniel Fwanji, 25, Emmanuel Newyear, 30, and Nensemka Fwanji, 22.

The statement further revealed that one of the suspects, Emmanuel Newyear, was captured in a viral video using a large wooden plank to assault the deceased.

‘During the interrogation of the suspects, they revealed that the victim was suspected of stealing an iPhone 12. Rather than reporting the matter to law enforcement agencies, the suspects took the law into their own hands, attacked the deceased and beat him until he became unconscious.’

The command stated that the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Jos, while a discreet investigation is ongoing. It added that efforts are being intensified to apprehend other fleeing suspects connected to the crime.

Meanwhile, the Plateau State Police Command strongly condemned the resort to jungle justice and reiterated that no individual or group has the legal authority to assault or kill anyone suspected of committing an offence.

It emphasised that Nigeria’s Administration of Criminal Justice System provides lawful procedures for investigating and prosecuting criminal offences and that every suspect is entitled to due process under the law.

The command warned that resorting to self-help and mob action not only undermines the rule of law but also exposes perpetrators to criminal prosecution.

ONDO State governor, Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa is fully committed to the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election and the Renewed Hope Agenda in the state, the state government said on Monday.

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Honourable Idowu Ajanaku, who reaffirmed the commitment in Akure, the state capital, promised that the state would deliver more than one million votes to the president in the general election in January next year.

Addressing newsmen in the state capital, Akure, Ajanaku said the present administration considers President Tinubu’s second-term bid a priority because of the enormous developmental benefits state has continued to receive from the Federal Government.

He expressed confidence that the state would be give the president the highest number of votes in the South-West.

Ajanaku said the confidence of the state government in President Tinubu’s leadership is reflected in the numerous federal infrastructure projects currently transforming state.

He highlighted the reconstruction of the Owo-Benin Expressway, which passes through Owo and Ose Local Government Areas, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, with about 71 kilometres traversing Ese-Odo and Ilaje Local Government Areas, and the ongoing rehabilitation of the Ore-Akure Expressway linking Odigbo, Ondo West and Ondo East Local Government Areas.

The commissioner noted that the projects are improving connectivity, facilitating trade and stimulating socio-economic growth across the state.

Ajanaku described President Tinubu’s economic reforms as bold and necessary measures aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s economy for sustainable growth.

While acknowledging that some of the policies have created temporary challenges, he maintained that they are already laying a solid foundation for long-term economic stability, increased investment and national prosperity.

He further reaffirmed that the Aiyedatiwa administration enjoys a cordial and seamless working relationship with the Federal Government, dismissing claims of any disagreement between the state and the presidency.

He urged residents of state to disregard fake news and politically motivated insinuations capable of creating unnecessary tension or undermining the existing partnership.

LAGOS State has emerged as Nigeria’s clear leader in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) per person, while Kebbi State sits at the bottom of the ranking, according to the latest State Performance Index 2026 released by Statisense.

The data reveals a stark disparity in how effectively states convert economic activity into public revenue relative to their populations.

Lagos recorded an IGR per capita of N74,987, more than double that of second-placed Enugu (N32,188) and nearly 29 times higher than Kebbi’s N2,597. Ogun followed in third place with N29,213, while Bayelsa (N25,912) and Delta (N18,600) completed the top five. Other strong performers included Edo and Osun (both N16,781), Kwara (N16,298), Nasarawa (N13,490), and Akwa Ibom (N10,597).

At the other end of the spectrum, Kebbi’s N2,597 per person placed it last among the ranked states. Yobe (N2,649), Benue (N2,866), Imo (N2,895), and Sokoto (N3,470) occupied the next four positions from the bottom. Several northern states, including Bauchi, Adamawa, Kano, Taraba, Zamfara, and Niger, also featured among the lowest performers, with figures ranging between N3,780 and N4,615.

The report excluded the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State. Analysts note that the wide gap underscores structural differences in economic bases, tax administration capacity, and the size of formal sectors across the federation. South-West and South-South states dominate the upper half of the table, while North-West and North-East states are heavily represented at the lower end.

Experts say the figures highlight the urgent need for lagging states to broaden their tax nets, improve compliance, and diversify revenue sources beyond federal allocations.

Lagos’s dominant position continues to reflect its status as Nigeria’s commercial hub, with a large formal economy and relatively efficient revenue agencies.

The ranking is expected to intensify discussions around fiscal federalism and the capacity of states to fund development independently. As competition for investment and talent grows, the ability to generate sustainable internal revenue is increasingly viewed as a critical measure of state performance and long-term viability.

No fewer than 500 women and youth have been empowered with skills in vegetable production in selected communities of Ogun State.

This capacity building programme was conducted by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in conjunction with National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) from July 22 to 25 .

Participants were empowered with starter packs including farm inputs such as seed planters, harvesting baskets, rain coats and rain boots.

They were taught improved production techniques for the production of the selected crops – tomato, telfairia and okra as well as the economics of production, marketing and record keeping of these vegetables.

The training focused on capacity building of the selected stakeholders on the production of Tomato, Telfairia and Okra, which are frontline vegetables produced and consumed in all over the country.

In his welcome address, the CEO/Executive Director of NIHORT, Professor Muhammed Lawal Attanda, represented by the Training Coordinator, Hort Consultancy Ventures Limited, Dr Joel Akinfasoye posited that horticulture is an important means of diversifying the economy from a mono-product.

He stated that the vegetable crops selected for this training programme are vegetables that have huge nutritional, medicinal and economic benefits, which are produced and consumed all over the nation and even outside Nigeria. Moreover, the Executive Director/CEO, NIHORT stated that for the participants to benefit maximally from the production of the crops and to contribute to food security, employment generation and wealth creation, adequate capacity building and training on improved production practices is imperative.

The Executive Director implored participants to make the best use of the golden opportunity offered by the training to acquire knowledge and skills required for their progress as individuals and for the nation at large.

The Chairman of all secretaries in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State, Mr Ashade Enitan Olakunle, who was present at the event, stated that the programme was aimed at improving the production of the selected crops. He enjoined the trainees to make good use of the knowledge gained to improve their welfare and livelihood.

A participant, Pastor Ibironke Olakanmi appreciated the organisers for up the training and noted that he the training to gain more knowledge on the crops. In the same vein, a Mrs Adeosun Deborah, affirmed that she aims to improve her knowledge of tomato, okra and Telfairia production through the capacity building programme and appreciated the opportunity to participate in the empowerment programme.

In the last couple of weeks of the campaign activities, we have gathered a lot of momentum. When you are drawing close to an election period, there are certain things that you look at as a political party or a candidate, and one of which is the movement of major political players within the state. And in Osun for example, we have major blocs when you talk about election or voting. The Oshogbo, of course the state capital is a bloc. Ile Ife is one bloc, Ijeshaland is a bloc. Ede is a bloc. And then you have Iwo and Ila Orangun as major blocs in Osun. If you look at these blocs, and the movement the way you are seeing in Osun today, take for example, key players of the All Progressives Congress, who have decamped into the Accord, supporters and loyalists of Senator Iyiola Omisore, former deputy Governor and former national secretary of the APC, who declared openly to join the Accord when we had the flag off of our campaign on the 16th of last month. If you also look at the Iwo axis, the most dominant factor there is Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, a former secretary of the state government, a loyalist of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and of course one of the key players in the APC in those years before they moved to the ADC, who has also joined forces with Governor Ademola Adeleke. Then you look at the traditional institutions in Osun, you know, the Kabiyesi Ataoja of Osogbo was very unequivocal the day that we had the commissioning of the Lamiko flyover, about the fact that Osogbo will reciprocate. The same thing with the Kabiyesi of Ila Orangun of Ila Orangun, on the day that the Governor went there, who made very direct reference to the unprecedented road infrastructure that the Governor has done in that town, and promised that Ila people will reciprocate with their votes. So, you know the trajectory, the movement has always been in favour of the Accord and Governor Adeleke and this has been very encouraging in the last few weeks.

Do you think the record of performance of the governor can earn him reelection?

Governor Ademola Adeleke has proved cynics wrong, and he has justified the confidence reposed in him by the mass of our people by embarking on legacy projects. In virtually every part of Osun today, it’s more like a construction site, road project. He’s the first Governor in the history of Osun to construct two simultaneous flyovers in the state capital, a major flyover and dual carriageway in Ile Ife. The dual carriageway in Ila Orangun, same thing in Iwo, in Ede, and then, of course, Ilesa, a legacy project with the people of Ijeshaland have been clamouring for, for quite a long time. The Governor has delivered on that road from the roundabout to Brewery and Akure road in Ilesa. And then, you know, talking also about endorsement and support, the Nigeria Labour Congress have been very clear on where their support lies, and they have justified it also by basing that support on the achievements of the Governor and the impact he has made in their own sector. He’s the Governor that pays the best minimum wage in the South West. He’s also the Governor who has offset about 75% of inherited salaries, pension liabilities, and allowances of civil servants in the last three and half years. He has expanded access of persons living with disabilities and pensioners to health insurance schemes by enrolling all pensioners. I think he’s the only Governor in Nigeria who has done that, who has enrolled all pensioners on a health insurance scheme free of charge. He has also earned the confidence of medical doctors and nurses. The Nigerian Medical Association came out boldly to say that the approval of their hazard allowance and some other allowances which ordinarily yearly lead to industrial strike, the Governor has seamlessly approved those things without any form of pressure. So these are all factors that are helping in the ongoing campaign and helping to drive traffic, to drive attention, to drive support for the Governor’s re-election in Osun State. So all these taken into consideration are very major and certainly they are things that will lead to electoral victory on the 15th of August when we have the election.

Some people believe that the defection of somebody like Honourable Wole Oke from the PDP also informed the exit of the Governor from PDP. Can you please shed light on what transpired?

No, the governor had no issue at all with the PDP. PDP has issues with itself. The PDP was polarised into factions and there was no single faction that was recognised by law up till the time the governor was leaving the party and it was very dangerous for us to live in a party that had no secure leadership. So the defection of Hon. Wole Oke is very insignificant. For those who are outside, they may not know, he is a Rep member for two local governments. Some of us are from four local governments, three local governments. He has enjoyed the privilege of representing those two local governments for about 20 years now. And that has made him very unpopular because people are very tired of his representation. And if you see what is happening there today, the young man who has been given the ticket of the Accord, Barrister Pelumi Olajengbesin is obviously the choice of the people, Traditional rulers, power blocs have endorsed Pelumi Olajengbesin. So his (Oke) own going out of the party was not in any way related to the going out of the party by the governor. The governor left the PDP then, because the party had no definitive leadership and the window for the nomination of candidates was about to close in the month of December of last year and that was how the issue of Accord came on board.

And since he joined the Accord, the party has received a lot of boosts in Osun and even in other parts of the country. For the first time in several years, the party is having candidates running for election in many states of the federation, in Oyo, in Kwara, in Plateau, in so many parts of the country now people are running on the platform of Accord as a political party.

Why has the governor decided not to be part of the APC or the mainstream political party in the South West?

I am sure that you are also aware that there was a move at the time for the governor to join the APC based on the invitation he received from prominent leaders of the party and consultation he had with the major players in Osun. The governor actually gave it a positive thought, but what happened was that, there are people in the APC, especially in Osun State, who felt very uncomfortable with Governor Adeleke joining the party led by the Minister of Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola. They began to make all manner of moves, including blackmail and subtle threats on national television, to reject the move by the governor to join that political party. So, Governor Adeleke has done his own part, he wanted to join them. They said no, he shouldn’t join them. And he’s very comfortable in the Accord where he is today. So, the question should be to them why they didn’t want him. Otunba Iyiola Omisore said on television recently that it was Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola that was pushing them that he should go on TV to resist the coming of Governor Adeleke because it would jeopardise the governorship ambition of some persons. So, now they have a governorship candidate who did not emerge through any verified process. He did not partake in any primaries; he was just imposed as a lackey, like Otunba Iyiola Omisore used to say. But the most critical thing is that the Governor Ademola Adelieke, had even before he left the PDP, spoken on the need for Osun to queue behind Mr. President in the 2027 election, and he has given that commitment that he will work for the election of President Bola Tinubu, regardless of the fact that he is not in the APC.

But despite the public support that Governor Adeleke has garnered for Mr. President, can you see that being reciprocated with the way and manner some of the APC members are going about their campaign against him?

Yeah, you are very correct. The important thing is that Governor Adeleke is on ground, he is well loved by the people. The unfortunate part of it is that the APC in Osun is too desperate, and they are pursuing this state capture agenda with so much desperation, weaponising poverty, and weaponising cultism, and getting young boys with weapons to be going around shooting, at times in branded vehicles, branded with the colour of the APC, in a manner that shows that the impunity appears to enjoy some form of official support. But, thank God, we’ve met with the Inspector General Police who came to Osun, the AIG came, and at every point in time they had all spoken against this mayhem. We expect that they will be able to nip that criminality in the bud, and be able to bring perpetrators to book. That’s our expectation, so that we can have an election that is free of violence on the 15th of August, 2026. But, like I said, it’s very sad that the APC in Osun is behaving like a drunken set of power chasers, who just want to grab power at all costs, regardless of what it will cost, in terms of human life and property and comfort.

Virtual reality, or VR, is exciting technology. It can be applied to many industries successfully. However, there are a few that seem ideally suited for this type of tech and are regarded as natural fits.

Let’s take a look at a few of those.

Video Games

Video games are probably the first industry most people think about when the subject of virtual reality comes up. iGaming, in particular, has exploded over the past decade-plus, and VR certainly has something to do with that.

Along with factors like a reliable payment gateway for online gaming and a receptive young fanbase, VR for video games seems to be a no-brainer. There’s nothing like VR to immerse a player in a video game environment, and the relatively low price point of headsets also contributes to this technology’s meteoric rise.

Flight Simulation

Individuals who would like to be pilots one day use VR for the purpose of flight simulation. There is software you can use that puts you in the cockpit of various aircraft models.

When you’re there, you can run programs that perfectly simulate flight conditions. By doing so, you can prepare yourself for the eventual test to get your pilot’s license.

Adult Content

Adult content and technological innovation have gone hand in hand for a long time, and VR is just the latest example of this trend in action. Individuals who crave more intimate experiences can put themselves inside a scene like never before with the assistance of a VR headset.

Medical Professions

There are various positions in the medical profession that always need filling, and VR simulations can help trainees sharpen their skills before they work on actual patients. Surgeons who practice tricky procedures in VR environments will be much better prepared to work on humans when the time comes.

Retail Environments

Stores are handing over VR headsets to focus groups of customers in the hopes that their virtual adventures can aid the company in developing superior physical environments. As these trial subjects ‘walk’ through virtual stores and interact with the displays in various ways, the company that’s in charge of the experiment gains valuable data.

When a would-be customer explains why they appreciate or are disappointed with a display, the company can take note of that and make the appropriate changes. Though digital shopping has taken hold and brick-and-mortar shopping is much reduced, this practical information is still worth collecting.

Virtual Travel

Individuals who can’t travel due to infirmity or disability are now turning to VR to see places that they’ve only dreamed of visiting. Whether that’s Japan, Mexico, or some other locale, these users can feel what it’s like to experience a foreign country without the expense and discomfort of having to get on a plane.

Interior Design and Architecture

Some interior design firms are using VR to show their clients what a room or house will look like with proposed changes. This way, clients can determine whether they’re okay with the layouts or whether they need any changes before renovation starts.

FRESH cracks may be emerging within the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) amid allegations that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has initiated alliance talks with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after some of his preferred aspirants failed to secure the party’s National Assembly tickets.

It was gathered from credible party sources that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC is closely monitoring the governor’s alleged growing romance with the opposition, particularly the ADC, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development, according to sources, has upset the national leadership of the ruling party, especially after photographs surfaced showing Aiyedatiwa with the ADC’s Ondo Central Senatorial candidate for the 2027 election, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, shortly after a church service at the Government House Chapel, Alagbaka, Akure, on Sunday.

It was learnt that the governor allegedly attended Akinyelure’s 70th birthday celebration recently, a development some party leader interpreted as a sign of deepening political rapprochement.

Party insiders, however, maintained that while the APC leadership was not attempting to dictate who the governor should associate with, but at the same time could not ignore what they described as ‘disturbing alleged political alliance between the governor and members of the opposition party in his State.

The party leadership was said to have observed that Akinyelure, the ADC candidate is now frequently seen with governor Aiyedatiwa after his preferred aspirant for the Ondo Central Senatorial ticket, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, who was recently reappointed as Secretary to the State Government (SSG), lost the APC ticket to incumbent Senator Niyi Adegbonmire.

A chieftain of APC, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, alleged that the governor had not concealed his grievances over the outcome of the party’s National Assembly primaries.

The source said, ‘We are aware of the games of Mr. Governor since his preferred aspirants lost the party tickets. We are aware that he instigated some of the aspirants to challenge the decision of the party in court. He also directed some of his loyalists to contest on other parties, while also romancing the ADC in the state.

‘One thing Aiyedatiwa has failed to understand is that he became governor due to the benevolence of our great party and our national leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. If the decision of the party didn’t favour him this time around, he shouldn’t be the person working against the interest of the party and President Tinubu’.

However, a statement issued on Monday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, described the claims as ‘false, misleading and a deliberate attempt to manufacture controversy.’

According to Prince Adeniyan, the Government House Chapel is a public place of worship open to all citizens irrespective of political affiliation.

‘The Government House Chapel is a public place of worship. Just like the Mosque within the Government House premises, the Chapel is open to all citizens, religious leaders and public officials who wish to worship.

‘It is not an APC-only facility. To suggest otherwise is to misunderstand the purpose of Government House as the house of all the people of Ondo State,’ the statement said.

Adeniyan said that Senator Akinyelure attended the church service to worship and also thanked the governor for sending a delegation and goodwill message during his recent 70th birthday celebration.

‘Governor Aiyedatiwa remains committed to the APC and all its candidates. The Governor will work with all party structures to ensure that APC wins all elections in Ondo State’, the statement read.

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has named some newly constructed government buildings after former governors of the state as a mark of honour and recognition of their contributions to the development of the state.

According to a statement on Tuesday by the Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, two of the buildings, named after immediate past Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi and former Governor Chief Ayodele Fayose, are scheduled for commissioning on Friday, July 31, 2026, and Monday, August 3, 2026, respectively.

‘Another building, named after former Governor Engr Segun Oni, is at an advanced stage of completion and is slated for commissioning in October,’ he said.

It would be recalled that in October 2024, Governor Oyebanji named the remodelled Presidential Lodge after the first civilian governor of the state, Otunba Niyi Adebayo.

The facility was subsequently commissioned by the former governor as part of activities marking the second anniversary of the Biodun Oyebanji administration.

The statement added: ‘In a similar vein, the former governors, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Chief Ayodele Fayose and Engr Segun Oni, will serve as Special Guests of Honour and personally commission the buildings named after them on the designated dates.

‘The commissioning of these projects signals the commencement of another phase of project inaugurations by Governor Oyebanji as he rounds off his first term and prepares for the inauguration of a second term in office.

‘This initiative underscores Governor Oyebanji’s commitment to completing and delivering all projects initiated by his administration for public use, in line with the Shared Prosperity Agenda of his administration.’