Category: Nigerian Tribune

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday assured investors and development partners that every investment commitment secured during the two-day Invest Lagos Summit 3.0 would be closely monitored to ensure implementation and measurable outcomes.

Speaking at the closing session of the summit held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, the governor said the state had established a post-summit investment conversion framework designed to track, monitor and support all agreements and commitments made during the event.

According to him, the strategic agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed at the summit are not mere ceremonial documents but instruments for delivering investments, projects, jobs and shared prosperity.

‘Under our post-summit investment conversion framework, every commitment made here will be tracked, monitored and supported to ensure tangible outcomes,’ Sanwo-Olu said.

He stressed that the success of the summit would not be measured by the quality of discussions alone but by the implementation of agreements reached.

‘For us, success is measured by implementation. We govern transparently, we deliver intentionally, and we remain accountable for results,’ he added.

The governor noted that the summit had provided further evidence that Lagos remains Africa’s leading investment destination, citing the quality of discussions, partnerships forged and commitments secured from investors across the globe.

Sanwo-Olu said the event showcased a new era of sub-national competitiveness in Nigeria, aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, where states are increasingly positioning themselves as investment-ready destinations capable of driving economic growth.

He highlighted presentations by governors from Lagos, Abia, Imo, Nasarawa and Plateau states as proof that states are taking active roles in attracting capital and creating jobs.

The governor also pointed to ongoing infrastructure projects across Lagos, including the Blue and Red Rail Lines, the proposed Lekki International Airport, road networks, port modernisation and energy investments, as evidence of the state’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for business.

According to him, Lagos is strategically positioned to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), serving as a gateway connecting investors to Nigeria, Nigeria to Africa and Africa to global markets.

Sanwo-Olu further highlighted the state’s investment architecture, including plans for the Lagos International Financial Centre, ease-of-doing-business reforms, digital governance initiatives and investment facilitation mechanisms.

He said these structures were being deliberately designed to endure beyond any administration and provide confidence to investors seeking long-term opportunities in Lagos.

‘I do not recount these achievements for celebration alone. I recount them because investors invest where governments demonstrate consistency, predictability and execution capacity. That is the Lagos proposition,’ he said.

The governor assured investors that Lagos possesses a proven track record of project delivery and remains committed to strengthening institutions that support investment and economic growth.

Sanwo-Olu expressed appreciation to local and international partners, investors, business leaders and delegates for participating in the event, describing Lagos as a city already undergoing transformation and preparing for the future.

‘Lagos is not merely participating in Africa’s growth story. Lagos is helping to write it. Africa’s Business Gateway is open, and the world is welcome,’ he said.

Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State, has achieved a major milestone in its academic development following the approval of its affiliation by Nnamdi Azikiwe University to commence bachelor’s degree programmes in selected disciplines.

The landmark development was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions after the successful completion of an extensive evaluation process conducted by the university.

The affiliation proposal, championed by the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Dr Chioma Irene Awuzie, and her management team in February 2026, received approval from the Senate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University after meeting all stipulated academic and regulatory requirements.

The approval is seen as a significant achievement under the Rector’s 12-Point Agenda, particularly the pillar focused on academic reinvention and programme development, which seeks to broaden educational opportunities and enhance the institution’s academic profile.

Under the affiliation arrangement, Federal Polytechnic Oko has been granted approval to run bachelor’s degree programmes in Business Administration, Public Administration, Accountancy, Banking and Finance, Mass Communication, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Microbiology.

Speaking on the development on Tuesday, the Rector, Dr Awuzie, expressed appreciation to the management and Senate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University for the confidence reposed in the polytechnic.

She described the approval as a landmark accomplishment that underscores the institution’s commitment to delivering quality, accessible and industry-oriented higher education.

According to her, the affiliation will significantly expand opportunities for prospective students, strengthen academic excellence and reinforce Federal Polytechnic Oko’s position as a leading centre for technological, scientific and professional education in Nigeria.

‘The partnership represents another strategic step in our drive for innovation, growth, and academic transformation through collaboration with reputable higher institutions,’ she said.

The bachelor’s degree programmes are expected to commence after the completion of all outstanding regulatory and administrative processes.

A total of 30 secondary school students from various schools across Bauchi State have had their school fees for the current academic session paid by a non-governmental organisation, the Radiant Care Foundation.

The NGO also distributed starter packs for various skills and trades, including sewing machines, shoe-making machines, grinding machines, and equipment for bean cake and soya bean production.

The items were distributed on Sunday during the official unveiling of the foundation, which was established in memory of the late Dcns Abigail Bosede Bello, who died 20 years ago.

The items distributed included two sewing machines, four grinding machines, three shoe-making machines, and three business support packs, in addition to the payment of tuition fees for 30 less-privileged students.

The Executive Director of the foundation, Comfort Bello-Aliyu, revealed that the organisation was established to give back to society in honour of her late mother, Mrs Abigail Bosede Bello.

Bello-Aliyu further explained that, having acknowledged the selfless life lived by their late mother, who accommodated and supported many less-privileged people in her communities in Kogi and Bauchi states, the family established the foundation to continue her charitable legacy.

She said, ‘I am celebrating a woman who lived a compassionate life. She lived for people and was a God-fearing woman who taught me, especially, how to pray and how to live an exemplary life after Christ. My mother, as I said, was not wealthy, but she shared the little she had with others.

‘If you came to our house then, although my parents had seven children, we had almost 22 people living with us, both in the main apartment and the boys’ quarters. She loved bringing people around her, training them, and encouraging hardworking individuals because she was never lazy.’

She added, ‘You can see it in me; I took after her. When she was alive, we visited hospitals together to care for the sick. In my church, whenever a woman gave birth, she was always among the first to help care for her.

‘There was a time while we were growing up when my father’s house became like a mini guest house for pastors from all over Nigeria. Whenever they came to Bauchi, the master bedroom where my father stayed was given to them, and she took excellent care of them. She taught us to love God and to be forgiving. In fact, if my mother knew she had offended someone, she would not be able to sleep until she sought forgiveness.’

‘And she never liked to see people in distress. She always made sure she helped to resolve their worries. One thing I remember about her is waking us up every morning, gathering her children together, and praying,’ she added.

According to her, ‘One experience I can never forget was when I gave birth to my first child. He became ill and we were admitted to JUTH in Jos. You know how cold Jos can be. My mother came from the village and stayed with us. She would sit and sleep on the floor. I kept asking her to sleep on the bed while I stayed outside, but she refused.

‘There was even a time when a nurse came and said that if she was not the patient’s mother, she should leave. She still remained there. For more than 14 days, she slept on the floor. I can never forget that.’

Bello-Aliyu added, ‘The name of the organisation is the Radiant Care Foundation. For many years, we have been carrying out corporate social responsibility initiatives in her name, but today we are formally unveiling the foundation.

‘We have organised medical outreaches, visited correctional centres, and assisted inmates who only needed small amounts of money, such as N10,000 or N20,000, to secure their release. These are some of the things we have been doing in her honour.

‘We have also visited teaching hospitals several times to offset patients’ medical bills. Today, we are officially unveiling the Radiant Care Foundation, which is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, while also empowering beneficiaries in her name.’

She stated that the foundation had continued to provide business support, medical outreach services, and empowerment programmes.

‘Some hospitals will benefit from our support today. We are also empowering widows by providing grants in the form of grinding machines and sewing machines. In addition, some young people who have learnt shoe-making are receiving shoe-making machines.

‘In total, we have 31 beneficiaries in the educational category, four under business support, and six under empowerment support for widows and other vulnerable persons.’

The beneficiaries of the starter packs were mostly widows. Other beneficiaries included individuals trained by the Kairos Initiative in shoe-making, tailoring, and other vocational skills.

The Team Lead of the foundation, Comfort Bello-Aliyu, said the organisation had reached thousands of beneficiaries through its interventions in healthcare, education, and empowerment.

‘Last year, we were at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), assisting patients across various wards.

‘We have also conducted medical outreaches at the community level to screen and treat many people. We have been doing these in honour of our late mother,’ she said.

The launch and the 20th remembrance anniversary were attended by prominent clerics, including the Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Promise Nuhu Yohanna, who delivered a short exhortation urging well-to-do individuals in society to embrace philanthropy and give back to their communities.

No fewer than 74 people have been reported killed out of more than 7,000 people said to have fallen ill since early May 2026, due to a rapidly evolving surge in suspected cholera cases across Borno State, placing significant strain on health facilities and response capacity.

The disclosure was made by the international medical humanitarian organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which is supporting the Borno State Ministry of Health (MoH) to respond to the development.

MSF further disclosed that the state is seeing a high influx of patients requiring urgent treatment, with numbers increasing significantly each day since the first suspected case was reported on 1 May 2026.

As of 7 June 2026, the Borno State Ministry of Health had recorded 7,850 suspected cholera cases across 14 local government areas (LGAs) and 50 wards, and a total of 74 deaths reported both at facility and community levels.

On 7 May 2026, MSF, in collaboration with the state MoH, established a Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC) in the Ngarannam area of the state capital, Maiduguri, to support the response. Since then, admissions have increased rapidly, forcing the expansion of bed capacity from 121 to 271 beds to accommodate growing needs, with potential to expand further.

MSF also opened a new 20-bed Cholera Treatment Unit (CTU) at the Dalaram area in Maiduguri.

As of 7 June 2026, MSF had treated a total of 7,439 patients at its CTC and CTU, representing an average of 230 admissions per day, while on 5 June alone, MSF received more than 500 patients with acute watery diarrhoea, marking the highest number admitted in a single day since the response began.

‘Every day, we see more people arriving with severe watery diarrhoea and dehydration, many of whom have travelled long distances to reach care,’ said Bienfait Tombola, MSF project medical coordinator for the surge response in Maiduguri.

He added that ‘The collaboration between the Ministry of Health, MSF and other partners has enabled a rapid scale-up of several aspects of the response, but the continued increase in cases shows that more needs to be done to prevent transmission and ensure people can access care as early as possible.’

Beyond treating patients at the CTC and CTU, MSF is supporting the broader response by training healthcare workers, establishing oral rehydration points in affected areas, conducting health promotion, supporting water and sanitation including chlorination of water, and strengthening referral pathways to facilitate timely access to care.

MSF is also supporting surveillance and case management efforts.

Despite the considerable efforts already underway, the scale and speed of the surge continue to exceed current response capacity.

Acute watery diarrhoea and related waterborne diseases are preventable and treatable, and they thrive in areas with limited access to clean water, sanitation services, hygiene infrastructure and healthcare, particularly in informal settlements.

‘While treatment is essential to save lives, a cholera vaccination is foreseen to be conducted by the Ministry of Health, and this would help cut the chains of transmission,’ added Bienfait Tombola.

‘Sustainable improvements in access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene are equally critical to reducing transmission and preventing risks of continued surge in cases of waterborne diseases,’ he said.

MSF assured that it remains committed to supporting the Borno State Ministry of Health and other partners to provide lifesaving care to affected communities and strengthen the ongoing response to the surge in suspected cholera cases.

The Ngazarmu Emirate Council in Yobe has announced the passing of its emir, His Royal Highness Mai Ngazargamu, Alh. Tijjani Ibn Saleh Geidam.

He died on Monday in Egypt after a prolonged illness.

This information was shared in a statement issued by Alh. Muhammad Alamai Baba Kankare, the Waziri of Ngazargamu, was made available to news reporters on Tuesday.

The statement said, ‘the remains of the late Emir will be transported back to Nigeria for funeral rites in Damaturu, at a date and time to be announced later.

‘The Emirate council calls for prayers for the repose of the soul of this great leader, our respected traditional ruler, custodian of the rich tradition and culture of the historic Ngazargamu emirate, the statement averred.

Federal Government on Monday unveiled plans to expand the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with industry-relevant programs with a view to equip young Creators in the bid to boost employment generation in the digital and global marketplace.

strengthen the sector, the Minister announced the Ministry’s

not just to seek jobs, but to create jobs in a digital, global marketplace.

Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa disclosed this at the Creative Corner Summit 2026 held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu State.

While commending the organizers of Creative Corner 2.0 for building a platform that nurtures talent and empowers enterprise, she urged Creatives across all regions to engage with the Ministry’s interventions on training, financing, partnerships, and global market access.

The Minister praised Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah for his vision and leadership, and described the convener, Judith Okechukwu, as the personification of what every young Nigerian woman should be.

She said Creative Corner is a strategic partner for networking, mentorship, capacity building, market access, and creative incubation.

Minister Musawa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the creative economy as a driver of economic diversification, job creation, and national identity.

‘The creative economy is not just about entertainment but also about turning our potential into value, jobs, and wealth for Nigerians,’ she stated.

Speaking earlier at the event, the convener of Creative Corner 2.0, Judith Okechukwu, said the platform was established to showcase talented but overlooked creatives.

‘The event was created as a response to what creators truly need: guidance, visibility, opportunity, and community. It was designed to be a space where talent is recognized, opportunities are real, and young people are encouraged to start, stand, and grow.

‘Every big movement starts with one small idea. The dream keeping you up tonight could be the platform that changes lives tomorrow,’ Ms. Okechukwu said.

Also in attendance were the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia; award-winning Nollywood actor and humanitarian Williams Uchemba; young creatives; and other stakeholders.

Popular Nigerian relationship coach and social media influencer, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, widely known as Blessing CEO, was arraigned on Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N69.15 million fraud.

The EFCC brought the influencer before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, on a two-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.

According to the EFCC, Blessing CEO allegedly deceived Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited into paying N69.15 million after falsely claiming ownership of a property at No. 1, Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, Lagos.

The anti-graft agency said she purportedly leased the property to the company for five years, despite not being the owner.

The commission further accused her of dishonestly converting the N69.15 million for personal use, which it said amounts to stealing under Lagos State law.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel C.C. Okezie confirmed that the defendant had been served with the charges and urged the court to proceed.

The defence counsel, Nkama Nneka, argued that service had only recently been effected, but Justice Oshodi ruled that the arraignment should proceed.

Following her plea, the prosecution asked the court to set a trial date and remand the defendant in EFCC custody pending another criminal matter before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi. Justice Oshodi granted the request and ordered her remand.

The case was adjourned until July 16, 2026, for hearing of her bail application and commencement of trial.

Renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist, Tony Elumelu, has been appointed as the incoming chairman of the board of Seplat Energy, with his tenure set to begin in January 2027.

In a post shared on X on Tuesday, Elumelu expressed appreciation for the opportunity to succeed Senator Udoma Udo Udoma as board chairman, noting that he will take over the position at the start of 2027. He said he looks forward to guiding Seplat Energy into its next phase of expansion and strengthening its governance and growth strategy.

He emphasised his belief in the importance of indigenous resources in driving economic transformation across Nigeria and Africa. He also noted that the company’s operational discipline and governance culture align with his own leadership values, while acknowledging the contributions of Senator Udoma and Roger for their stewardship.

Elumelu further congratulated Mr. Okon on his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, expressing confidence that his industry experience would support the company’s next stage of development and long-term growth.

The statement reads, ‘I am honoured to succeed Senator Udoma as Chairman in January 2027 and to lead the Board through@SeplatEnergy’s next phase of growth.

‘I firmly believe in the critical role indigenous resources play in the economic transformation of Nigeria and Africa, and Seplat’s culture of execution and governance aligns strongly with my own values.

‘I thank Senator Udoma and Roger for their stewardship and look forward to delivering further value for shareholders.

‘I also congratulate Mr. Okon on his appointment as Chief Executive Officer. His deep industry experience gives me great confidence that@SeplatEnergy is well positioned for its next chapter of growth.’

The development comes months after Seplat Energy earlier announced the appointment of Tony Elumelu as a Non-Executive Director.

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Big Brother Naija Season 10 Reunion premiered on Monday night, bringing back some of the most talked-about housemates for a fresh round of confrontations, revelations, and unresolved drama.

Hosted by the ever-stylish Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, the opening episode wasted no time revisiting tensions that brewed during the reality show’s 2025 season, as former housemates faced one another and relived some of the moments that divided viewers while the show was on air.

One of the first clashes of the night involved Zita and Danboskid. During their exchange, Danboskid suggested that some of Zita’s actions after the show were influenced by her hormones, a remark that immediately drew attention from other housemates. Ebuka asked him to clarify the statement, prompting Danboskid to explain that by ‘hormones,’ he meant that Zita only reached out to him when she needed attention. After a lengthy back-and-forth, Ebuka finally declared, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, your first ship has crashed.’

The tension continued when Zita faced off with Mide over their long-running disagreements. Explaining her stance, Zita insisted she was never intimidated by Mide but had to become strategic from the outset because of the energy she perceived from her fellow housemate.

‘I did not feel intimidated. I needed to strategise immediately. With Mide, I felt some sort of energy, so I was on guard,’ she said.

Responding, Mide accused Zita of projecting her insecurities onto her and rejected allegations that she had displayed colourist tendencies in the house.

‘I felt like Zita had a lot of projections towards me. I was not condescending to her when I said, ‘Shut up.’ I never thought she would come to me and get physical. What I don’t like is that you said I was a colourist. You projected that. I never said anything like that,’ Mide stated.

Another explosive moment came during a fiery confrontation between Thelma Lawson and Big Soso. The pair exchanged sharp words as old grievances resurfaced, forcing host Ebuka to step in at intervals to maintain order and keep discussions from spiralling out of control.

However, the evening’s final showdown belonged to Doris and Kola, whose complicated relationship once again became a major talking point.

Doris accused Kola of making unflattering remarks about her, referencing a comment she claimed was directed at her during or after the show.

In response, Kola remained unapologetic.

‘But you are an Alhaji’s food,’ he fired back before adding that her eviction had made life in the house easier for him.

‘All I will say is that when she was evicted, it made the house lighter for me,’ Kola said.

With only the first episode aired, the Season 10 reunion has already delivered tears, accusations, confrontations, and unexpected revelations, leaving viewers eager to see what unfolds in the coming weeks. The reunion comes months after Imisi emerged as the winner of Big Brother Naija Season 10, clinching the grand prize.