Category: Nigerian Tribune

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has lifted the freezing orders (Post-No-Debit) made against the bank accounts of four defendants linked to a 2023 N21 billion system glitch fraud case instituted by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on Monday, agreed with the legal team of the four defendants, led by Abbas Onoja Ochogwu of Lexlaw Solicitors and Attorneys, that the police suppressed material facts when it applied to freeze the affected accounts through an ex parte application.

The latest legal development is connected to a broader investigation and litigation involving banks and financial institutions, which aimed to reverse billions of naira allegedly withdrawn fraudulently from a Flutterwave account at Wema Bank.

The withdrawals reportedly occurred due to a system glitch between October 12 and 13, 2023, according to court documents sighted by newsmen in Abuja.

However, the four affected defendants, through their lawyers, filed a motion on notice, urging the court to vacate the ex parte order on the grounds of non-disclosure by the police as required by law, stressing that a similar court of coordinate jurisdiction had discharged the restrictions imposed on them.

Ruling on the matter, Justice Nwite held that orders made by a court are not permitted to stand where it is demonstrated that judicial discretion was exercised on a materially incomplete factual foundation.

The judge said, the circumstances disclosed in the present case, as highlighted by the defendants, justified the exercise of the court’s jurisdiction in reversing its previous orders.

‘The Court therefore finds that the failure to disclose the order of 2nd April 2026, which had discharged and lifted the restrictions affecting the Applicants’ accounts, constituted a material non-disclosure in the circumstances of the ex parte application.

‘The subsequent procurement of an order imposing substantially similar restrictions without first disclosing and addressing the earlier order cannot be permitted to stand,’ Justice Nwite ruled and accordingly resolved the issue for determination in favour of the 1st to 4th Defendants/Applicants.

The judge ruled that, ‘the ex-parte order made by the Court on 2nd June 2026 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1004/2026, together with all consequential directives issued pursuant thereto, is hereby set aside and vacated.’

Consequently, the judge ordered that all freezing orders, restrictions, Post-No-Debit instructions or other encumbrances imposed upon the accounts or properties of the 1st to 4th Defendants/Applicants pursuant to the said Order of 2nd June 2026 be discharged and set aside.

According to data from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), 9,633 erroneous transactions were conducted on the Flutterwave POS platform on October 12 and 13, 2023, by 814 Flutterwave POS agents during the system glitch.

According to NIBSS, Flutterwave’s total exposure at the time was estimated at N21.2 billion. However, Flutterwave worked with banks to restrict the affected accounts, successfully preserving N7.2 billion.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) had noted that his team eventually arrested some suspected POS agents involved in the fraudulent activities and commenced investigations and litigation against the suspects.

Before Justice Nwite, the police, through a counter-affidavit, had maintained that the four respondents ‘are among those whose account receive volumes of money from the incident that happened on the Flutterwave platform.’

However, the respondents’ lawyers argued in their processes that an earlier order unfreezing their accounts, as issued by Justice Liman, remained ‘valid’ and had not been appealed against and accused the police team of engaging in a grave abuse of judicial process and forum shopping.

ABOUT 800 students from Kabba/Bunu and Ijumu local government areas of Kogi State have benefited from the Sunday Steve Karimi Education Foundation/Tinubu Support Group bursary scheme between 2024 and 2025.

The senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Sunday Karimi, disclosed this at a town hall meeting with constituents in Kabba, the headquarters of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area.

The meeting formed part of his ongoing consultations across the three federal constituencies in Kogi West, during which he has been presenting his scorecard.

Karimi said 1,000 students benefited from his scholarship scheme in Kogi West in 2024, while 3,000 students benefited in the state in 2025.

He explained that 800 students from Kabba/Bunu and Ijumu received N100,000 each under the bursary programme, with 150 beneficiaries from each local government in 2024 and 250 from each in 2025.

He said preparations were underway for the 2026 edition, stressing that the annual bursary scheme was funded by him, and not part of his constituency projects.

He highlighted other education interventions, including the construction of schools, a N10 million donation to the Anglican Church Nursing School, Iyara, and the construction of three blocks of classrooms at Odo-Ape St. Barnabas and Iluke.

On infrastructure, Karimi said he had provided solar-powered boreholes in several communities in Kabba/Bunu-Ijumu federal constituency to improve access to potable water.

He also said he facilitated about N2 billion for the rehabilitation of the Kabba-Egbe road and secured an additional N6 billion from the minister of works to facilitate the contractor’s return to the site after 11 years of abandonment.

The senator added that he funded the reconstruction of Pakuta bridge, which links Aiyegunle Gbede, Kiri Kingdom, Kupa North and South, and parts of Niger State.

The collapsed bridge had caused years of economic hardship and disconnected communities from neighbouring areas.

He said the ongoing construction of the Kabba-Ilorin road will improve transportation, boost economic activities and help reduce insecurity across the senatorial district.

On empowerment, Karimi said his office had facilitated the provision of transformers to communities and empowered 50 cooperative societies in the federal constituency.

The Onikoyi of Ikoyi-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Oba Moses Akinwande Ogundana, has commended the Heart of Gold Support and Care Initiative (HOGSCI) and the Patrick Ejedawe Empowerment Foundation (PEEF) for their commitment to humanitarian service, empowerment and community development.

The monarch spoke at an empowerment programme organised as part of the annual Ogun Onikoyi cultural festival in Ikoyi-Ekiti.

Oba Ogundana, who served as the Royal Father of the Day, at the HOGSCI/PEEF luncheon and fundraiser, advocated sustained efforts to empower youths, women and vulnerable members of the community.

He said such initiatives are essential to grassroots development, adding that he attended the event not only in his traditional capacity but also because he identified with programmes that improve lives and give hope to humanity.

‘As a traditional ruler, I consider it part of my responsibility to identify with genuine initiatives that seek to improve lives, strengthen families and contribute positively to society,’ he said.

The monarch said empowerment should go beyond the distribution of money or materials, adding that sustainable empowerment must provide people with knowledge, skills, opportunities, resources and confidence to become productive and self-reliant.

He called for stronger collaboration among government, traditional institutions, foundations, philanthropists, corporate organisations and other development partners.

Describing youths as one of Ikoyi-Ekiti’s greatest assets, Oba Ogundana urged them to take advantage of education, vocational training, technology and entrepreneurship.

He advised young people to prepare for available opportunities and aspire to become entrepreneurs, professionals, artisans, innovators and community leaders rather than rely solely on paid employment.

The monarch also commended HOGSCI and PEEF for supporting women, youths and vulnerable people, urging stakeholders to sustain initiatives that promote economic independence, skills development and sustainable livelihoods.

On the cultural festival, Oba Ogundana urged residents to preserve values inherited from their ancestors, including hard work, courage, honesty, communal living, respect and responsibility.

He said culture could also serve as a tool for economic development, identifying traditional arts and crafts, food, fashion, music, history and festivals as areas capable of creating jobs and attracting visitors to Ikoyi-Ekiti.

Ogundana called for stronger partnerships among the traditional institution, government, foundations, philanthropists, corporate organisations, individuals and members of the Ikoyi-Ekiti diaspora.

According to him, no single institution can achieve meaningful development alone, adding that the collaboration among HOGSCI, PEEF and the traditional institution demonstrated the impact of shared commitment.

Youths and women from Oba-Ile in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Sunday, protested what they described as distortion of the traditional process for selecting the next Oloba of Oba-Ile.

The protesters, who carried placards and marched through the community, demanded that the traditional method of selecting the monarch, which involves consultation of the Ifa oracle, be upheld.

They said the six kingmakers traditionally supervise the process and are expected to abide by the outcome of the spiritual consultation rather, than conduct an election, which they described as alien to the community’s tradition.

The protesters alleged that the kingmakers had earlier agreed to uphold whoever emerged through the established traditional process among the aspirants to the vacant stool.

They claimed that after the Ifa oracle selected a successor in the presence of the kingmakers, some individuals allegedly took them to the council secretariat at Iju-Ita Ogbolu and compelled them to conduct an election.

They described the alleged election as contrary to the tradition of Oba-Ile and called for its outcome to be discarded.

The leader of the protesters, Pastor Omoboyede Fagoroye, said the demonstration was organised to appeal to the kingmakers not to present a wrong candidate as the next Oloba.

Fagoroye said the two ruling houses: Elegbejeogbo and Omodara, had conducted spiritual consultations and produced one candidate each, adding that the kingmakers should subject the candidates to further traditional consultation.

He also expressed displeasure over the alleged inclusion of a candidate who was not part of the initial selection process, insisting that the oracle should determine the next monarch.

The protesters urged the relevant authorities and stakeholders to intervene, warning that imposing a monarch through a process contrary to the customs of the community could create tension and threaten peace.

The regent of the community, Princess Foluke Agunbiade, appealed for calm and assured the protesters that the kingmakers will do justice in selecting a new monarch.

The protesters appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and security agencies to wade into the matter.

They urged the authorities to ensure that the controversy over the selection of the next Oloba does not disrupt the peace and stability enjoyed in Oba-Ile.

The Ibadan Descendants Union (IDU), New Jersey Chapter, has renovated a block of three classrooms at Islamic Mission Primary School, Moniya, Ibadan, Oyo State, as part of its contribution to the development of education in the state.

The renovated classrooms were commissioned on Monday, August 31, 2026, in the presence of government officials, representatives of the IDU, school management, community leaders, teachers, pupils and other stakeholders.

Speaking at the event, the representative of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Chairman, Dr Nureni Adeniran, and Executive Secretary of the board, Dr (Mrs) Kemi Adeosun, conveyed the appreciation of the state government to the IDU New Jersey Chapter for the intervention.

He said the project represented more than the renovation of a school building, describing it as an investment in the future of children and an example of how government and communities could work together to improve education.

According to him, the condition of the building before the intervention was not conducive enough for effective teaching and learning, adding that the transformation at the school demonstrated what genuine partnership could achieve.

He said, ‘A conducive learning environment is not a luxury. It is the very foundation upon which literacy, numeracy, confidence and a child’s sense of dignity are built.

‘By providing this facility, the Ibadan Descendants Union has done more than renovate classrooms. It has opened doors of opportunity that will shape lives for generations to come.’

The government representative, who also appreciated members of the community, said the intervention aligned with the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde’s commitment to providing safe and conducive learning environments for children across Oyo State.

He assured the donors that the facility would be properly maintained and put to productive use for the benefit of present and future pupils.

Also speaking, Comrade Adewale Adesina, Education Secretary, Akinyele Local Government, expressed appreciation to the IDU New Jersey Chapter for remembering its roots and investing in the community.

Adesina acknowledged the rising cost of building materials and construction, saying the government appreciated the resources committed to the project.

He said, ‘We are truly happy and grateful for what you have done for our people. We know the cost of building materials and construction work these days, and we deeply appreciate the resources you have committed to providing this facility.

‘I want to give you my assurance that we will take proper care of this building. We will ensure that it is maintained and preserved for the benefit of our pupils.’

The representative of the IDU and chairperson of the occasion, Alhaja Saidat Iyabo Azeez, described the project as an eye-opener and a challenge to other diaspora chapters to emulate the initiative.

Azeez, who said she belongs to the Baltimore Chapter, noted that although she was not a member of the New Jersey Chapter, she was inspired by its intervention.

She said the initiative demonstrated another meaningful way of giving back to the society, particularly through investment in the education and future of children.

‘We are not affiliated to any political party or person. Whatever we do is not for politics; we are merely giving back to the community and society,’ she said.

Azeez also commended Dr Ibrahim Bello and Alhaji Ademola Yusuf for their commitment to ensuring the project became a reality.

She said the initiative would encourage the Baltimore Chapter and other diaspora groups to consider similar interventions in schools and communities in Ibadan.

‘The New Jersey Chapter has opened the way and shown us what is possible. We will therefore look at how we can emulate this initiative and contribute our own quota to the development of our schools and communities,’ she said.

Earlier, Alhaji Ademola Yusuf, one of the representatives of the Union in Nigeria, said the classroom renovation was part of a wider intervention programme by the organisation.

Yusuf said the Union had previously supported communities through road grading and interventions in the health sector, including the provision of medicines and first-aid materials to primary healthcare centres.

He said three schools were selected for the current phase of the intervention, adding that the first project had been completed at Aladebomi, while the Moniya project was the second.

According to him, the remaining projects would also be executed in due course.

He said the motivation behind the interventions was to remember their roots and give back to society, stressing that the projects were not politically motivated.

Yusuf, however, urged the school management and community to develop a strong maintenance culture.

‘This facility should be treated as if it were our own personal property. We must protect it, maintain it and ensure that it remains in good condition,’ he said.

He warned that allowing the facility to deteriorate could discourage the donors from undertaking further interventions, while maintaining it would demonstrate appreciation for their generosity.

The Head Teacher of Islamic Mission Primary School 1, Mr Abdulrasheed Agbaje, expressed appreciation to the IDU New Jersey Chapter for providing the school with a safer and more conducive learning environment.

Agbaje described the intervention as an investment in human capital development and the educational future of the pupils.

He assured the donors that the facility would be properly maintained and used for the purpose for which it was provided.

Also, Mr Ibrahim Bello, who represented the Union, joined other speakers in commending the donors and stakeholders for making the project possible.

On his part, the community representative, Mr Akintunde Tajudeen, appreciated the IDU for undertaking the project in the community.

Tajudeen promised that the community would protect the renovated classrooms and ensure that they remained in good condition, assuring the donors that they would not regret investing in the school.

The commissioning attracted members of the IDU, government representatives, education officials, school management, teachers, pupils, community leaders and other stakeholders.

The Arewa Think Tank has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the recovery of about N1.233 trillion and the securing of 10,872 convictions in corruption and financial crime cases within the past 34 months.

Convener of the group, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, described the figures as an indication that the Tinubu administration was making progress in its fight against corruption and financial crimes.

Yakubu said the latest record presented by the EFCC showed that the administration’s anti-corruption campaign was yielding tangible results despite resistance from those involved in corrupt practices and illicit activities.

‘While the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fighting corruption, corruption was also fighting back. But President Tinubu has overpowered corruption,’ Yakubu said.

He commended the President and the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, for their commitment to the anti-corruption campaign and urged them to sustain the momentum until corruption was substantially eliminated from the country.

‘We are saying big kudos to Mr. President and the Chairman of EFCC. They should keep the good fight going until corruption is totally wiped out of our dear country, Nigeria,’ he said.

Yakubu’s comments followed the presentation of a stewardship report by Olukoyede in Abuja, covering the commission’s activities from October 2023 to July 2026.

According to the EFCC chairman, the commission recovered assets and cash valued at about N1.233 trillion between October 2023 and June 2026.

The recoveries also included $684.48 million, £373,905.78 and pound 9.34 million, as well as funds recovered in other currencies.

The commission, he added, secured 10,872 convictions within the period, while more than 40 personnel were dismissed over corruption and financial malpractice.

Olukoyede further disclosed that about N288.1 billion in federal and state tax revenue was recovered through enforcement of existing tax obligations and measures aimed at strengthening government revenue mobilisation.

He said the recoveries comprised N173.2 billion in federal tax revenue and N114.9 billion attributed to state internal revenue services.

The EFCC chairman stressed that the funds represented existing obligations recovered through enforcement rather than new taxes imposed on individuals and businesses.

He added that approximately N257.2 billion was recovered for federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

On foreign exchange enforcement, Olukoyede said the commission recorded 234 cases involving unlicensed bureaux de change, with 73 convictions secured during the period.

He explained that the enforcement was aimed at supporting the regulatory reforms of the Central Bank of Nigeria and promoting a more formal, transparent and compliant retail foreign exchange market.

‘The overarching objective is to support a more formal, transparent, and compliant retail foreign-exchange market and close channels vulnerable to illicit finance, speculation and round-tripping,’ he said.

Yakubu, however, urged the Federal Government and the EFCC to remain relentless in the anti-corruption campaign, stressing that sustained enforcement, recovery of stolen assets and institutional reforms were necessary to strengthen the Nigerian economy and restore public confidence in government institutions.

He said the Arewa Think Tank would continue to support initiatives aimed at strengthening institutions and promoting accountability, transparency and good governance in the country.

Yakubu also commended Olukoyede for dismissing more than 40 staff members over alleged corruption and financial malpractice in the last three years.

He described the action as a bold demonstration of leadership, discipline and commitment to accountability, stressing that the anti-graft agency must lead by example in the fight against corruption.

Gasket Entertainment has officially signed fast-rising Nigerian artiste, Chiemerie Udochukwu Motivation, marking a new chapter in the 23-year-old musician’s burgeoning career.

The signing is expected to provide Chiemerie with a wider platform to showcase his talent and further establish himself in the Nigerian music industry.

Born and raised in Anambra State, Chiemerie attended Austin John Primary and Secondary School in Onitsha-Ogkpoko, where his passion for music began to develop.

He started his music journey in 2016, driven by a passion for creativity and a desire to build a career as a recording artist.

In 2022, one of his uncles took him to Lagos to pursue music professionally and expose his talent to a wider audience.

While living in Ajah, Lagos State, Chiemerie continued to hone his craft through freestyle performances and recordings.

His breakthrough came when a fellow artist and friend, Spider Rider, recorded one of his freestyle performances and posted it on TikTok.

The performance reportedly caught the attention of Gasket Entertainment, which discovered Chiemerie through the social media platform.

Impressed by his talent, energy and potential, the label subsequently reached out to him and offered him an opportunity to join its roster.

With his official signing, Chiemerie is set to begin a new phase of his career, with Gasket Entertainment expected to support his artistic development, musical projects and wider exposure.

The emerging artiste is also expected to draw from his experiences and Anambra roots as he works towards establishing himself as a distinctive voice in the Nigerian music scene.

His journey from freestyle performances in Lagos to securing a record deal highlights the growing influence of social media platforms such as TikTok in providing emerging Nigerian artistes with opportunities to attract industry attention.

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has said he will review the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) policy and introduce debt forgiveness for qualifying Nigerian students if elected president in 2027.

Atiku’s position was disclosed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, in a statement on Tuesday evening while responding to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s post on X.

Shaibu said Atiku’s proposed review would be aimed at ensuring that Nigerian students do not leave school burdened by education loans.

He argued that reducing the cost of education should take priority over using loans to help students cope with rising expenses.

‘His approach will reduce the underlying cost of education and, after review, provide forgiveness for qualifying student debts so that young Nigerians can graduate with hope rather than repayment burdens. Education should open doors, not mortgage the future’, said Shaibu.

He also rejected Tinubu’s use of NELFUND as a defence of the administration’s education policies, arguing that loans should not be presented as evidence that education has become more affordable.

‘Celebrating NELFUND as proof that education has become affordable under your government is like setting school fees on fire and then boasting that you lent students a bucket of water. What exactly is the wisdom in presiding over dramatic increases in school fees in some institutions, only to turn around and celebrate loans as the solution?’, he queried.

Shaibu described the policy approach as ‘witchcraft economics,’ arguing that government should not increase the financial pressure on students and subsequently offer loans as a remedy.

‘You make education more expensive, lend students money to survive the increase, and then demand applause for the rescue. That is not affordability. It is witchcraft economics: create the burden with one hand, offer debt with the other, and demand applause for the intervention.’

According to him, Atiku has already reviewed the existing student-loan framework and believes young Nigerians should not be forced to begin their working lives with education-related debts.

Shaibu maintained that the distinction between a loan and a scholarship should remain clear, saying the success of an education policy should instead be measured by whether families can afford to keep their children in school without resorting to borrowing.

He said the Federal Government should not ‘parade the loan itself as evidence that the system is working’ when the rising cost of education has placed additional pressure on ordinary families.

The former vice president’s aide also accused the presidency of attempting to create fear among students and workers over Atiku’s proposal to reduce energy costs through an intervention involving Nigerian crude supplied for domestic refining.

‘If your government has the arithmetic, Bola, publish it. Show Nigerians, line by line, how a transparently budgeted subsidy tied to Nigerian crude and domestic refining suddenly empties NELFUND or workers’ pay packets’, he demanded.

Shaibu said Atiku’s energy proposal would instead seek to ease the cost of living by making salaries stretch further and reducing transportation expenses.

‘Reduce the cost of energy so that salaries buy more. Reduce transport costs so that less of a worker’s wage disappears merely getting to work. You cannot make life painfully expensive, push students towards debt to survive the consequences, and then frighten those same students that cheaper fuel will take their loans away’, he declared.

WHEN Governor Monday Okpebholo took office in November 2024, his inaugural messaging centered on five pillars: Security, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Agriculture, and Education. To those familiar with Edo’s history, this framing carried particular significance. It was not a vague promise to ‘transform’ the state through undefined initiatives. Rather, it represented a systematic acknowledgment of where Edo’s governance had failed most consistently over the previous three decades. Security came first, not by accident. Okpebholo recognized that no coherent development agenda is possible in an environment where citizens experience genuine fear. The administration moved quickly on several fronts. It pursued legislation establishing special criminal courts and state police mechanisms – interventions that had been discussed but not implemented by previous administrations. It launched coordinated operations against cultism, particularly in the Benin metropolis where organized crime networks had entrenched themselves over years. The visible deployment of security personnel, and the integration of community policing approaches signaled that this was not performative rhetoric but sustained operational commitment.

What distinguishes this approach from previous security initiatives is its apparent resistance to cyclical abandonment. Past administrations had launched security crackdowns that faded after news cycles moved on. Okpebholo’s administration committed itself to treating security not as a campaign promise but as foundational infrastructure for development – which, strategically, it is. Healthcare emerged as a second pillar with more enrollment in the Edo State Health Insurance Scheme (EdoHIS), a system designed to expand access to basic healthcare across income levels. This addresses a fundamental reality: Edo’s healthcare crisis has never primarily been about the absence of facilities, but about their inaccessibility to ordinary residents due to cost. The scheme represented acknowledgment that building world-class tertiary hospitals means little if the majority of the population cannot afford entry. This is the kind of systematic thinking that had been absent from much previous Edo governance.

Infrastructure, the third pillar, captured perhaps the most visible of the administration’s early initiatives. The Ramat Park Flyover – that long-delayed symbol of unfulfilled Edo ambition – finally moved from planning documents to active construction. Road rehabilitation projects launched across multiple local government areas. Drainage works commenced in Benin City’s flood-prone neighborhoods. What matters here is not merely that infrastructure projects were undertaken – multiple administrations had attempted this – but that they were conceived as part of a coherent urban development strategy rather than as scattered interventions. The fourth pillar, Natural Resources and Agriculture, represents an attempt to diversify Edo’s revenue base in a manner that had been discussed but never systematically pursued. This pillar encompasses efforts to develop the state’s forestry resources, to create value chains around agricultural production, and to position Edo as a contributor to national food security and export agriculture. Early initiatives included distribution of agricultural equipment to farming communities, technical support for smallholder farmers, and strategic planning around commodity production. Whether this translates into sustained rural development and poverty reduction – rather than another cycle of agricultural promises – remains to be seen, but the conceptual framework represents genuine departure from previous approaches.

Education, the fifth pillar, acknowledges that no state escapes poverty through infrastructure alone. Edo’s future depends on the quality of human capital it produces and retains. Early administration actions included increased teacher recruitment, salary adjustments to improve retention, and infrastructure investment in schools. The administration has also pursued alignment with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, securing projects and resources that benefit Edo’s educational institutions. What merits careful observation is whether these five pillars represent a strategic framework that will guide decision-making across electoral cycles, or whether they will devolve into campaign rhetoric that proves disconnected from budgetary allocation and institutional practice. History suggests caution. Edo governance has demonstrated the capacity to adopt ambitious frameworks while failing to sustain them. The true test of this administration’s commitment emerges not in the first year or two – when enthusiasm and available resources typically allow for visible progress – but in years three, four, and beyond, when competing priorities emerge and political attention naturally wanes.

Several factors distinguish this moment from previous transitions, however. First, the five-pillar framework appears grounded in realistic assessment of what Edo’s development requires, rather than in mythmaking about the state’s role or destiny. There is less performative triumphalism and more pragmatic problem-solving. Second, the administration has moved to document federal government support and resource flows in a manner that creates accountability and institutional memory – critical elements that previous administrations neglected. The compilation of Renewed Hope Agenda projects benefiting Edo State, for instance, prevents the kind of knowledge loss that occurred with previous transitions. Third, there is apparent recognition that Edo’s transformation cannot be imposed from above but requires engagement with stakeholders – diaspora communities, business leaders, traditional authorities, and ordinary residents. The diaspora engagement initiative (‘SHINE Beyond Borders’), for instance, suggests awareness that Edo’s most educated and successful citizens, many of whom live abroad, represent an untapped resource for development, network, and advocacy.

As Edo State moves through its fourth decade, the fundamental question remains unresolved: can an administration resist the temptation toward cyclical abandonment that has characterized the state’s governance history? Can it sustain attention to long-term building even when political pressure points toward short-term spectacle? The Okpebholo administration’s five-pillar framework suggests an administration capable of systematic thinking. Whether it translates into systematic execution across multiple electoral cycles – and that is what genuine transformation requires – is the question that will define Edo’s next chapter. The next few years will be instructive. Not because extraordinary progress is possible in that timeframe, but because they will reveal whether this administration possesses the discipline and institutional commitment to resist the patterns that have repeatedly disappointed Edo’s residents over the past 35 years.

His appointment marks a new chapter in the administration of the university library and reflects his professional growth and years of experience in academic librarianship and university administration.

According to a press release by the Head, Information, Protocol and Public Relations of the university, Mr. Avilah Sam-Aliyu, made available to Tribune Online, the new University Librarian, who assumed office immediately, joined Bowen University in 2011 as Librarian II.

The statement said that during his first tenure at Bowen, Olajide rose from Librarian II to Senior Librarian and served as Coordinator of the Medical Library at Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH).

He left the university in 2019 and continued to build his career in academic librarianship and university administration.

His professional journey subsequently took him to Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan, where he served as University Librarian and provided strategic leadership in library administration, resource management, planning, accreditation and digital learning initiatives.

Before his latest appointment, Olajide had obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Library and Information Science from the University of Ilorin in 2023.

He also holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies from the University of Ibadan and a Bachelor of Technology degree in Pure and Applied Chemistry from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).

The statement said Olajide had also developed competencies in data analytics, Python, SQL and Power BI, alongside advanced training in blockchain and digital communication.

His scholarly output includes more than 30 publications in academic journals, with an active presence on platforms including Google Scholar, ResearchGate and ORCID.

As University Librarian, Olajide is expected to provide leadership for the administration and management of the university library and its branches, while supporting teaching, learning, research and knowledge creation across the institution.

His experience in digital information management and scholarly development is also expected to support the continued transformation of the library into a more technology-driven, accessible and user-centred academic resource centre.

The university community has welcomed Olajide into his new role, expressing confidence that his experience, expertise and commitment to service will contribute to the continued growth and development of Bowen University.