Category: Nigerian Tribune

Rice meals are not fattening. In fact, they are perfect for dieting! The calorie of rice is not high compared to other foods. For example, a bowl of rice has 160 kcal, equivalent to a slice of 6 loaves of bread.

On top of that, it is digested slowly, so it is difficult to accumulate as fat, and it can be said that it is a food that is difficult to gain weight. The main nutrients of rice are 77% carbohydrates and 7% protein, which are sources of energy for the body. In addition, it contains various nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibre.

Veteran Nollywood actress, Bukky Wright, has defended women who make financial demands in relationships, saying they should not feel ashamed of having high standards or being labelled ‘gold diggers.’

Speaking on a recent episode of The Morayo Show, Wright criticised what she described as the hypocrisy of some men who shame women for expecting financial stability from their partners.

According to the actress, there is nothing wrong with being called a ‘gold digger.’

She encouraged women not to lower their standards and urged men to pursue relationships with women whose expectations they can meet.

‘I hate it when I hear men calling women Gold diggers. What do you expect her to dig before? I won’t advise any woman to dig anything less than gold.

‘If you can not afford a woman, don’t go for it. Go for the one you can afford,’ she said.

Reflecting on her younger years, Wright explained that many women preferred dating older men because they were more financially established than their peers.

‘I remember when I was growing up, we would not date our age mates because what can you offer?

‘As a man, if you are dating somebody that her level is higher up, then you are in trouble. That is why I said cut your clothes according to your materials,’ the actress added.

Seeing a man approaching a stall where household items are being sold to purchase a pestle, the trader and others in the area are likely to harbour the thoughts of the buyer being a very good husband who must have cherished his family so much as to spare time to purchase a damaged item which is usually attached to a woman. But to 35-year-old Aliu (surname withheld), who went to purchase one, his plan was sinister – to strike down any okada rider who might try to stop him from dispossessing him of his motorcycle. It was the weapon he and his gang member, Toheeb (surname also withheld) chose to use gain power over targeted motorcyclists until their cups became full recently.

The two armed robbery suspects were arrested by the operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) in Oyo State Police Command after they started their criminal operations in different parts of Ibadan City, in Oyo Town, and even extended it to Iwo Town in Osun State. Their operation in Oyo Town was said to have been unsuccessful, while they hijacked two motorcycles from their owners in Iwo Town.

The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, who spoke on the arrest to Saturday Tribune, said that the VCRU operatives had been on the trail of one of the suspects, Toheeb, who had been initially arrested in February by a surveillance team for phone theft.

The PPRO said that the operatives, on intelligence gathering, learnt that Toheeb was frequently seen with a sack, moving out of an area, at nightfall. Thinking that it could be a gun, the operatives kept trailing the suspect until he was arrested along with his partner in crime after their last operation at Oki area, Olodo axis in Ibadan.

He was eventually trailed and apprehended, followed by the arrest of Aliu, and, during preliminary investigation, both confessed to being serial armed robbers who were pretending to be passengers, but would end up dispossessing the owners of their bikes.

Saturday Tribune gathered that Aliu a.k.a Ibadan, from Lalupon in Oyo State, was the one who introduced the armed robbery style to Toheeb. Their modus operandi was to move out at night, armed with a pestle cut to a size that would make it club-like, but bigger in size. After putting it in a sack, they would target a motorcycle, wave down its rider and ask to be taken to a destination. Aliu would sit behind the rider while Toheeb would be at the back, holding the pestle hidden in a sack. On getting to a quiet or deserted spot, they would stop the driver as if they would want to disembark, only to land the pestle on the rider’s neck and escape with his motorcycle while he would be writhing in pain or running away to escape being killed. The riders who tried to fight back to prevent being dispossessed of their belongings reportedly suffered most, as they would receive more blows from the pestle to weaken them physically, leaving them no choice but to give up. From that spot, the suspects would speed off and end up selling their loot.

Saturday Tribune further learnt that Aliu was once an ex-inmate in Ilaro Custodial Centre in Ogun State after committing an offence, and had spent four years before he regained freedom. According to information gathered, their outings every month were more than 10 times, and were always successful except the one in Oyo Town.

In a bid to disguise the atrocities they were perpetrating, each of the suspects started running a gas station from the proceeds of their criminal operations, but told VCRU operatives that they continued hijacking motorcycles because of low returns from the business.

Further investigation led to the discovery of transactions between the suspects and the buyers of the robbed motorcycles, with one of them always paying for the purchased motorcycles in cash while another was so benevolent that he even gave N200,000 to Aliu as a monetary gift to celebrate his girlfriend’s birthday, while he would loan them money or a dash of N10,000, N20,000 for outings.

In his confession, Aliu disclosed that he learnt how to use pestle on their victims from the experience he also once had in the hand of such a criminal.

Aliu, who made it known that he learnt furniture as a vocation, said: ‘I was arrested because my gang member, Toheeb, and I, used to dispossess motorcyclists of their bikes while armed. Our mode of operation was to flag down a motorcyclist and ask to be taken to a destination. I would sit directly behind the rider while Toheeb would be at my back. Whenever we got to the targeted spot where we could attack, I would get down and pretend as if I wanted to pay. At that time, Toheeb would pull out the pestle kept in the bag he was holding and smash it on the rider’s neck.’

Disclosing that his gang began its operation in December 2025, Aliu explained how he fell victim to the method of robbery he adopted: ‘Following my learning furniture making, I was doing the job in Lagos before moving to Igbesa in Ogun State. While there, I bought a motorcycle which I was using to convey frozen turkey from Seme Roundabout to Ijanikin Otto or Okokomaiko. On my return, I would pick passengers.

‘One day, I picked a passenger, and as he was dropping off, I didn’t know what happened to me. By the time I became conscious, I saw people surrounding me, asking questions. I felt pain on my neck as if I was hit with something. When I became a lit bit calm, I realised my motorcycle had disappeared. My attacker was unable to go with his weapon and we found it to be a pestle cut into a sizeable shape like a big club. That was what later gave me an idea of hijacking motorcycles from owners.

‘I suggested the idea to Toheeb in December 2025. We were working together at a block-making industry at Oloje in Ibadan which I joined in June the same year. He was the machine operator while I was a sand and cement mixer.

‘One day, we were discussing and I told him of my experience in Igbesa. Some days after, I brought up the issue and suggested we start the same operation to get money. This was because our boss used to deny us the payment of our wages whenever concrete blocks got broken due to rainfall. Sometimes, we would not get paid for two, three days, so, that brought the thought to my mind. Toheeb agreed with me. We left our employer that December and went to purchase a pestle for N5,000.’

Our first operation

‘It was at Iwo Road. We flagged down a motorcyclist at about 8:30 p.m. and just told him to go along the road. We directed him towards a deserted spot and asked him to drop us off. I had already told Toheeb what he would do, so I made as if I wanted to pay the transport fare to the rider. Toheeb suddenly landed the pestle on the back side of the man’s neck who yelled in pain and started running away. I mounted the bike, with its engine still running. Toheeb quickly joined me and we sped off.’

However, according to Aliu, all they got as payment for the first bike was N50,000. He narrated what happened: ‘Immediately we dispossessed the owner of his motorcycle, we moved to Sabo at Mokola area of Ibadan, sourcing for a quick buyer. We saw a Hausa guy and inquired on how to get a buyer. The guy called another Hausa man whose name we didn’t know, and he said he would ride the motorcycle to a place to get a buyer. To our shock, on his return, he brought N50,000. We started dragging issues with him but he said that the motorcycle was old. It was while the altercation was going on that another Hausa man came in and told Toheeb and I to take it easy, as the bike would not be returned to us. He promised to link me with someone who would buy from us at a reasonable price.

‘About a week later, we went for another operation at Alakia area and the Hausa man took us to another man from his tribe. He was living among the Hausa at Bodija. He bought it for N300,000. We gave our link N20,000 and shared the remaining equally.

‘Later, we didn’t see the buyer again, and our Sabo link connected us with another person, who is also a Hausa man. In that December alone, we hijacked 10 motorcycles.

‘I cannot say precisely the number of operations we carried out. We started using the money to make purchases of household items. I also started a gas station. I’m only left with about N100,000.’

Aliu claimed that none of their victims was killed as they usually ran away to save their lives, while the stubborn ones also capitulated when they got more blows on their hands from the pestle. He confirmed that one of the buyers also used to hand out free money to them whenever they had anything to celebrate such as birthday ceremony. He said that one of the buyers used to pay in cash.

Aliu spoke on what led to his being remanded in prison for four years before he regained freedom: ‘I was involved in a fight. We were in a bar in Igbesa when a fight broke out and someone was stabbed. And the person stabbed was the son of an influential figure. Though I was not the one who stabbed him, I was present at the time, and I was pointed at when people were being picked. I was an Awaiting Trial Inmate (ATM). My parents didn’t know of what happened to me because I lost my phone and couldn’t contact them. The case was eventually struck out after four years of awaiting trial.’

On why he went into crime on his return to Ibadan, paving the way for another stay in the prison, Aliu said: ‘It was not my desire. I pray for God’s mercy.’

Toheeb a.k.a Tboy Alaso, and aged 27, in his own story, told Saturday Tribune: ‘I learnt motor spare parts trading before I started working as a machine operator at a block-making industry when there was no one to help in taking care of my kids. I have two daughters, but my wife got missing in 2023 when our second child was 15 months old. I sent her to her bank during the time of no-cash, because I was using her account, and we didn’t know what happened to her. My in-laws blamed me for it and I started going to spiritualists to seek her return home, but was told that we should forget about her. Till today, we have yet to set her.

‘I met Aliu at the block-making industry and we were working together. Sometimes, I would go and sleep in his apartment. One day, he told me of a particular work we could be doing together that would yield more than we were getting as wages at the industry. He didn’t open up to me immediately. He made a mistake by saying that I followed him to buy the pestle. We didn’t go together. On a day, he took me to Iwo Road. He was the one who carried the sack with the pestle. We boarded a bike, and as we got down and I was paying the bike man, Aliu hit him with the pestle. As the man wanted to raise the alarm, Aliu handed the pestle to me to deal with the motorcyclist while he mounted the bike.’

He confirmed keeping the pestle in his mother’s rented but abandoned room which he had a key to. He also disclosed that the motorcycles they sold to one of the receivers were more than 12 pieces in December 2025. According to Toheeb, the highest amount the gang got from the receivers of the stolen motorcycles was N650,000 while the lowest was N300,000.

He said when he was arrested in February, he admitted stealing phones as a diversion from the armed robbery he was carrying out with Aliu, but was fortunate to have been pleaded for by a personality. Toheeb stated further that though Aliu escaped arrest at that time, they continued the bike hijacking after he was released until his latest arrest in his residence at Apata Area of Ibadan. He however admitted his wrong.

The PPRO said that the VCRU operatives are making efforts to apprehend the receivers of the stolen motorcycles, after which they would face the full weight of the law.

Benue State Government is investigating a reported suspected case of Mpox in Konshisha Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday and made available to journalists in Makurdi.

He was reacting to reports of a suspected Mpox case allegedly discovered at the residence of Tyokula Achihi in Korinya, Konshisha Local Government Area.

The commissioner said that immediately the ministry received the report, it activated its surveillance system in line with established public health protocols and deployed a team to the area.

Dr. Ogwuche explained that skin rashes and fever could result from several medical conditions, adding that laboratory confirmation is required before any diagnosis of Mpox can be made.

The statement read in part: ‘The Director of Public Health was directed to liaise with the State Epidemiologist, who in turn immediately deployed the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO) for Konshisha Local Government Area to the reported location for on-the-ground assessment, case investigation, and collection of appropriate clinical samples for laboratory testing.

‘At this stage, no Mpox outbreak has been confirmed in Benue State. It is important to emphasise that skin rashes and fever can result from several medical conditions, and laboratory confirmation is required before any diagnosis of Mpox can be made.’

The commissioner said the state’s disease surveillance system remains active across all 23 local government areas, adding that the ministry maintains close collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other development partners to ensure prompt detection of and response to any public health event.

Dr. Ogwuche appealed to members of the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information capable of creating unnecessary panic.

‘We encourage anyone experiencing fever accompanied by unexplained rashes or blisters to report immediately to the nearest health facility for proper medical evaluation and to avoid close physical contact until assessed by healthcare professionals,’ the statement read in part.

The commissioner assured residents that the ministry would continue to keep the public informed as soon as the investigation and laboratory findings become available.

He added that appropriate response measures would be implemented immediately, in line with national guidelines, if the laboratory results confirm Mpox or any other disease of public health importance.

I was filled with joy when I heard that the abducted pupils and teachers had been released. It was one of the happiest pieces of news I have heard this year. Many people thanked God in schools and churches because we had all been praying for their safe return. I appreciate the efforts of the security agencies and everyone involved in securing their release. I hope the government will continue to strengthen security and create more opportunities for young people so that our country will become safer for everyone.

Hannah Ojeyemi, 11 years old, JSS 1

I was very happy when I heard that the children had finally been released. When I first heard about the kidnapping, I was very sad and prayed every morning and night for their safe return. I felt sorry for their parents and teachers because they were worried and heartbroken. I followed the news closely and kept hoping for good news. Now that they are back home, I thank God for protecting them. I pray that no child will ever have to experience such a terrible situation again.

John-Precious Akinloye, 13 years old, JSS 3

The news of the victims’ release filled me with relief because many families had lived in fear and uncertainty for weeks. I imagined the joy of parents and loved ones seeing their children again after such a difficult experience. At the same time, I remembered those who lost their lives during the ordeal. I appreciate everyone who worked tirelessly for the victims’ freedom and pray that such incidents will never happen again in Nigeria.

Sofiat Ibrahim, 14 years old, SSS 1

I was almost moved to tears when I heard that the abducted people had been released because I had been praying and hoping for their safe return. I often thought about the fear and hardship they must have faced while away from their families. I also remembered those who lost their lives, and I prayed for God to comfort their loved ones. I hope the survivors fully recover, and that peace and security will continue to reign in our nation.

Emmanuella Awotoye, 11 years old, JSS 1

I was very happy when I heard that the abducted children had finally been released. When I first heard about the kidnapping, I was very sad. My family prayed regularly for their safety. I felt sorry for the children because they spent many weeks away from their loved ones and endured hardship. I thank God that they are now back home, and I pray that every child in Nigeria will always be safe and protected.

Olusola Aduragbemi, 15 years old, SSS 2

I felt joyful when I heard that the abducted pupils and teachers had been released. Throughout the period, I was saddened whenever I saw reports about what they were going through. It was painful to imagine the suffering they experienced while in captivity. I thank the security agencies and everyone who played a role in securing their freedom. I pray that kidnapping will become a thing of the past and that our country will enjoy lasting peace.

Damilola Akinbo, 15 years old, SSS1

I was very happy when I heard the good news. I almost cried because I remembered how frightened everyone was when the kidnapping happened. I felt sorry for the victims and prayed every day that they would safely return to their families. I also remembered those who lost their lives during the incident. I pray that God will comfort their families and help the survivors recover from the experience.

Michael Awotoba, 12 years old, JSS 3

I was very happy when I heard that the abducted children and their teachers had been released. During the period they were in captivity, I prayed for them every morning and night because I wanted them to return home. I also felt sorry for their parents, who were worried and anxious. I thank God for answering our prayers and hope every child can go to school without fear.

Imole Kuforiji, 12 years old, JSS 2

I was filled with joy when I heard that the abducted people had been released. It brought great relief because many people had been praying for them. I was especially happy for the children who had spent many days away from their families. I thank God and everyone who contributed to their release. I pray that peace, safety, and justice will always prevail.

Daniel Afolabi, 10 years old, JSS 1

I was very happy when I heard that the abducted children had been released. I thank God for protecting them and bringing them home safely. I pray that kidnapping will end in Nigeria so that every child can attend school without fear.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the presidency’s attempt to invoke China in attacking him as a ‘monumental own goal,’ saying the comparison has only exposed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to greater public scrutiny.

In a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said it was ironic that while the presidency has been ‘parading the United States government’s routine reply to its diplomatic correspondence as though it were a love letter, a trophy, and a certificate of innocence rolled into one,’ its spokesman carelessly introduced China into the debate.

‘It takes a peculiar kind of unintelligence for a spokesman to set out to drag an opponent before a hypothetical Chinese court, only to end up dragging his own principal into the dock.

‘Perhaps the spokesman did not realise that the maximum penalty under Chinese law for the most serious drug trafficking offences is death. Having chosen China as his benchmark, he unwittingly invited Nigerians to examine the very standard he thought would embarrass Atiku Abubakar,’ the statement said.

Atiku stressed that he has ‘never been indicted or convicted by any court in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world for corruption, narcotics offences or, indeed, any criminal offence whatsoever. That is an incontrovertible matter of public record.’

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said if the Presidency insists on using China as the yardstick for accountability, then Nigerians are entitled to ask what Chinese authorities would do in a case involving the $460,000 forfeited to the United States government in a civil forfeiture proceeding alleged to be connected to narcotics trafficking and money laundering.

‘China is renowned for its uncompromising approach to narcotics-related offences and public accountability. It is not a jurisdiction where the forfeiture of suspicious proceeds ordinarily marks the end of official scrutiny. More often than not, that is where scrutiny begins.’

Atiku further argued that the Tinubu administration should also acquaint itself with China’s treatment of corruption and abuse of office.

‘Not in China would a President sign into law a national budget immersed in scandals, padding and duplicitous appropriations. Not in China would a President look the other way while a senior presidential aide faces grave allegations of creating a fake government agency.

‘Not in China would a government campaign on Renewed Hope only to deliver renewed hardship to its citizens. These are precisely the reasons the Presidency should have been more circumspect before invoking China.’

The former Vice President also faulted the Presidency for ‘brandishing the United States Government’s reply to its diplomatic correspondence as though it were a judicial acquittal.’

‘Diplomatic correspondence between sovereign governments is routine. It is neither a judgment of a court, nor a declaration of innocence, nor an instrument for rewriting history.’

He said that the lesson is clear: ‘Those who invoke China must be prepared to accept the Chinese standard-not selectively, not rhetorically, but completely. Accountability is not a buffet from which governments choose only the dishes they find palatable.’

Atiku urged the Tinubu administration to focus on ‘confronting the economic hardship, rising hunger, insecurity and institutional decline afflicting Nigerians instead of manufacturing diversions that collapse at the slightest contact with the facts.’

He urged the Presidency to elevate the quality of its public communication, noting that while propaganda may dominate a news cycle, facts ultimately prevail.

In a statement on Thursday titled ‘When Will Atiku Abubakar Report Himself to President Trump?’, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has said that, ‘A man with such a dismal record as a public servant certainly has no business asking for our votes. Indeed, if Atiku Abubakar were a Chinese, he would be rotting away in jail for his crimes against the Nigerian people.’

The Nigerian naira appreciated against the United States (US) dollar, trading at N1,362.0866 at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official foreign exchange (FX) window on Friday, July 24, 2026.

The data shared on the CBN’s official platform shows that the naira traded at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) rate of N1,362.0866 per dollar and closed at N1,361.0000 per dollar.

The currency, which traded at an NFEM rate of N1,367.7574 on Thursday, July 23, 2026, appreciated by at least N5.67 after trading activities on Friday.

At the parallel market, the buying rate remained the same while the selling rate appreciated by N5 when compared to the previous trading rate on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

According to Aboki FX , the Naira-to-dollar exchange rate at the black market on Friday, July 24, 2026, was N1,405 per dollar for the buying rate and N1,415 per dollar for the selling rate.

The Federal Government has commenced the third phase of its Renewed Hope Employment Initiative in Ekiti State, opening a fresh window of opportunity for unemployed youths to acquire marketable skills and improve their economic prospects.

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Ekiti State Office, announced the commencement of registration for the programme during a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, saying the initiative formed part of the Federal Government’s commitment to job creation, poverty reduction and youth empowerment across the country.

Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the NDE, Silas Ali Agara, the Ekiti State Coordinator of the agency, Mr Orelusi Michael Omoniyi, disclosed that the online registration portal was officially opened on Thursday, 23 July, and would remain accessible until Wednesday, 29 July 2026.

Omoniyi explained that the programme was specifically designed for unemployed Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 40, urging eligible residents of Ekiti State to take advantage of the opportunity.

He said the initiative was aimed at equipping beneficiaries with practical and market-driven skills capable of promoting self-employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.

‘On behalf of the Director-General of the NDE, I am pleased to inform the general public and the good people of Ekiti State that registration for the third phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative has officially commenced.

‘We are offering practical, market-driven skills acquisition across four critical sectors to equip participants for economic self-reliance. I therefore urge all interested applicants to log on to www.nderegistrationportal.ng and complete their registration before the application window closes on Wednesday, 29 July 2026,’ he said.

The state coordinator disclosed that about 26,961 beneficiaries would be trained nationwide during the third phase of the initiative.

According to him, the training programmes had been structured into four major operational areas to meet current labour market demands and emerging economic opportunities.

He said the four categories included Agricultural Skills Training, which focuses on modern crop production techniques, livestock farming and agribusiness value chains; Entrepreneurship Skills Training, covering enterprise management, business planning and financial literacy; Vocational Skills Training, which offers hands-on technical and artisan skills for self-employment; and Renewable Energy Training, designed to expose participants to solar power installation, clean energy technologies and maintenance.

Omoniyi stressed that all applications from the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State must be completed online through the dedicated registration portal, adding that the registration process was entirely free.

He cautioned prospective applicants against falling victim to fraudsters, emphasising that no payment was required at any stage of the registration process.

The NDE coordinator also noted that only applicants who were successfully shortlisted would be contacted for the next stage of the programme.

He expressed confidence that the initiative would further complement the Federal Government’s efforts to tackle unemployment, reduce poverty and empower young Nigerians with practical skills required to become economically independent and contribute meaningfully to national development.

The gathering was generally a spontaneous coagulation of eggheads in the University of Ibadan. It was quite convivial as people milled while coming and leaving, but it was also measured. The venue – the Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s Residence – immediately spelt sublimity, but it also buzzed with different kinds of feelings. Relief. Thanksgiving. Joy. Laughter. Accomplishment. Belief. Expectation. The established academics and other members of the immediate University of Ibadan community had congregated, on the spur of the moment, at the residence of one of theirs, Professor Peter Olamakinde Olapegba, who had just been announced as the 14th Vice Chancellor of Nigeria’s Premier University. Friends and well-wishers too were coming in their various forms, shapes, sizes and callings – some with their spouses to rejoice with the new Vice Chancellor.

I had also arrived there with a reasonable measure of ‘what should we expect?’ Was it still purely a university affair – which would mean that all non-initiates must ‘hold on’, or could ‘civilians’ now join in the deserving felicitation? It would be trite to say that my classmates, who went with me, upon the prompting of the Head of the Department of Communication and Language Arts, Dr Bisi Olawuyi, would also be wary of what to expect there. However, we were all within the university campus and would lose nothing by just getting there to see. What is more, it is good to rejoice with them who rejoice… going by biblical suasions.

And here is a unique opportunity to, once again, rejoice with ‘Makinde Olapegba, my roommate in the Great Ransom Kuti Hall of Residence of the University of Ibadan; my housemate for a brief period in Fodacis Estate, Ring Road, Ibadan; my friend, my gist-mate; my brother, and more. We are proudly The Boys from Kuti – where we lived for years as hopeful undergraduates. Now, we have come of age even though we are still trudging forward as we travel in the journey. But we have come long enough to be grateful to the Almighty God, and to all men (and women) who have been instrumental to the successes of today.

The Boys from Kuti is not thinking in the same mould as Ira Levin’s 1976 book entitled: ‘The Boys from Brazil.’ Levin wrote about present atrocities; the chilling realisation that evil usually persists even when we have achieved peace after an open war, and so on. The Boys from Kuti is a celebration of small beginnings, of friendship, comradeship and solidarity. The nearest lesson from Ira Levin’s work, which warns against complacency, is its implicit advice that we should not forget lessons of our past. Levin warns against forgetting past atrocities so that we will not fall into the same snares. The boys from Kuti are here with the exact opposite of such sentiments – we want a sustenance of those successes after we have fought through barriers, enjoyed The Divine Assistance to rise to the top.

Mrs. Temilola Hannah Olapegba, PhD, fetched the thought of ‘the boys from Kuti’ when she welcomed me and my friends to their home. Days earlier, we reeled in the joy of Dr Olapegba’s successful defence of her PhD thesis. Days after, her husband got the nod to be the 14th Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan beginning from November 1, 2026. While we shared the joy of the moment, she went into a deep contemplation. She recalled the days her husband and I were undergraduates and roommates in Kuti Hall. Prof. Olapegba, myself, Chief Ademola Adebayo and Chief Olushola Olaniyan were roommates at B48, Kuti Hall, University of Ibadan. She lifted her face in an introspective gaze and said: ‘Look at you, look at your friend… The boys from Kuti.’

She struck a chord with that statement. It was a profound reflection that pulled many strings in the harmonious relationship our families share. That statement sat so deeply in me that I deduced it was not a submission from mere human wit or introspection. It was a call to show and give thanks to Him who makes all things beautiful in His time. There are many other hugely successful boys from Kuti, but we are simply being grateful for one of them – one with whom I share a close relationship. There are also many other boys from Kuti who have been forgotten. There are many other boys from Kuti who would have gone six feet under. There are many Kuti boys who cannot joyfully declare their relationships as roommates, floor mates, block mates or even hall mates. Of a fact, there are many Kutites whom we do not know. But they too are boys from Kuti and they sure would have their stories.

Professor Olapegba should especially be celebrated. His emergence as the Vice Chancellor of Nigeria’s Premier University on Wednesday, 22 July, 2026 did not come as a passing whiff. He had come from such depths that you will not fail to decipher after a few minutes with him. Makinde is profound in his convictions, and vocal in his thoughts. When you interact with him, you will soon be sure of the direction of your interaction. No airs, no pride, no pretenses, and be sure you have a strong enough standpoint to defeat a convinced Makinde. This is the same in the room back; at home, at the Kegites Club, in Hall interactions and in school positions.

His emergence seeped in so innocuously and left many in amazement. The surprise expressed at his emergence was not because of the appointment itself, but the smoothness of the process. There was the usual politicking and lobbying, but his appointment is among the smoothest the university has witnessed in many years. A lot of factors are responsible for that, but the ones that stand out are the overwhelming love and support of his colleagues, the love from alumni, the backing of the students, and the prayers of friends. All these speak to the kind of person Prof Olapegba is. He has built his reputation over the years and his lifestyle agrees with people across board in and outside of the university community. What might earn a man such acceptability? Integrity. Humility. Humaneness and worthwhile relationships.

In November 2022, this column mused on the life that one has lived up to that point. It was a peep into some of the events that one recalls with nostalgia and why our past should rather not haunt us. It was entitled: ‘Language, lies and all of us.’ A successful man’s reputation should rather excite his friends and community. I also think that a man’s trajectory should not be a source of confusion and conflict. Why would your life become some people’s debate standpoint? Why should your life cause so much argument and strife? The entire University of Ibadan community felt the same way when Professor Olapegba was announced as the new Vice Chancellor. Those who felt differently could not speak up because he is not just qualified and experienced, his appointment met all the necessary criteria, and his persona satisfied the overwhelming majority of the relevant stakeholders. That is the boy from Kuti.

A man who opts to go to the stream will have to go. Olapegba has sought appointment as the VC. He submitted himself for all that was necessary to be able to get the job. Now he has got the job. We trust his ability to do all of us his supporters proud. However, it must be stated that the job of a Vice Chancellor is not a miniature responsibility. It is even more so being the Vice Chancellor of a first-grade, iconic institution like the University of Ibadan. So, Prof Olapegba will need the sustained support of all and sundry, especially stakeholders in the university. He needs the continued support of all those who have been behind him all along, who encouraged him to get to this height. Those prayers for his success must not stop, and the work to make his job easy for our overall success must also not cease.

Please pray for the success of the boy from Kuti who has come of age. Congratulations Professor Olapegba and best wishes.

Self-styled financial and relationship coach, Geh-Geh, has revealed that he has four baby mamas and is expecting two more children from different women.

The content creator made the disclosure during an appearance on the Echoo Room podcast, where he spoke about his personal life and relationships.

Responding to a question about whether he had a girlfriend, Geh-Geh said he was involved with multiple women rather than being in a relationship with one person.

When the podcast host asked in Pidgin, ‘So as you dey like this now, you get girlfriend?’ Geh-Geh replied, ‘I get women.’

Asked to clarify how many women he was referring to, Geh-Geh disclosed that he currently has four baby mamas.

‘They’re many. I get like four baby mamas now,’ he said.

Geh-Geh also revealed that his first child is about four years old, while his youngest child is only a few months old.

He further disclosed that two other women are currently pregnant for him.

‘My first child dey like four years now, and the youngest dey like months. I still get two women wey still get belle for me,’ he said.

The revelation comes months after Geh-Geh made headlines over his controversial opinions on relationships and politics, including his claim that Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi would not defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.