Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Evanna Empowerment Initiative (EEI) has concluded a two-day drive across Lagos, Owerri, Abuja, and Abeokuta, providing bakers with essential baking materials to support their craft.

The over 100 bakers who took part received margarine, cake icing, sugar, and a range of other baking supplies, provided over the drive.

The event formed part of EEI’s continued work training and supporting bakers and small enterprise owners across Lagos.

For EEI, it is an extension of the mission of putting real materials into the hands of bakers already doing the work, not a one-off gesture.

Founder/Executive Director, Evanna Empowerment Initiative, Grace Ilesanmi, described the drive as a direct extension of her own path into baking, and a practical investment in the futures of the bakers who took part.

On the initiative, she said, ‘Baking is what brought me here, but teaching others to bake is what keeps me here. When we put real materials directly into a baker’s hands, we’re investing in a skill they’ll carry for the rest of their working life.’

EEI’s baking and confectionery classes run free yearly from February to October, to anyone aged 15 and older.

In October, EEI will welcome its next cohort of students for hands-on training in bread, pastries, small chops, and other baking skills.

Ilesanmi will also host Ogba Bakers Connect, a meet-and-greet bringing together bakers from across Lagos with established names in the industry to share practical insights from their own kitchens.

Grace Ilesanmi will also host Ogba Bakers Connect, a meet-and-greet bringing together bakers from across Lagos with established names in the industry to share practical insights from their own kitchens.

Excitement is building across Ibadan as music lovers, entertainment buffs, and members of the city’s high society eagerly await the much-anticipated ‘Fola Homecoming Concert,’ scheduled to take place at the Agodi Gardens, Ibadan, on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

For the event, Fola is not returning alone. The Ibadan-born music star is expected to storm the city with some of his superstar friends, including Zlatan, Ayo Maff and Mayorkun, among other music stars.

The heavyweight artistes’ appearance has further heightened anticipation, with fans already looking forward to seeing the stars share the stage in Ibadan.

The buzz around the event has already begun to spread across the city, with young people and entertainment enthusiasts making plans to be part of the highly anticipated homecoming. Social media has also been abuzz with conversations about the concert, further heightening expectations ahead of the big day.

Adding to the excitement is the support of Hon. Stanley Olajide Odidiomo, who recently endorsed the concert and purchased 500 tickets for youths in Ibadan, giving hundreds of young people the opportunity to attend the show.

Odidiomo, who expressed his excitement about Fola’s return to Ibadan, said he would be glad to welcome the artiste home, and his gesture has been widely welcomed by young entertainment lovers in the city.

Beyond the music, the event is expected to attract celebrities, business personalities, socialites and other prominent guests, making it one of the major talking points on Ibadan’s social calendar this weekend.

Big Brother Naija Season 11 housemate Barry has emerged as the final Head of House for the ‘Show Ya Sef’ edition.

Barry clinched the title on Monday, taking over from Keivo, who won the challenge in week nine.

Earlier, Barry had won the Head of House challenge in week eight, a victory that automatically earned him the Ultimate Veto Power for the season.

The win comes as the show heads into its final days, with the grand finale set for October 4.

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has urged Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Southeast Zone, to deepen its participation in politics and support government efforts to strengthen security, peace and development across the region.

He spoke when he received the Chairman and delegation of the Southeast CAN at the New Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Owerri, at the weekend.

The governor described the church and government as partners in nation-building, stressing the need for closer collaboration between both institutions to address challenges confronting the society.

He encouraged Christians to take an active part in politics, saying: ‘If you really want all this, why would you not be part of Nigerian politics? When the righteous is in power, the people rejoice.’

Uzodimma urged CAN to educate and mobilise its members on their civic responsibilities, noting that democracy is ‘government of the people, by the people and for the people.’

He assured the delegation of his administration’s continued commitment to security and development, expressing confidence that greater cooperation between the government and the church would produce better results.

The governor called for unity among Christians and advised them to use their influence to promote peace, stability and development in the society.

He pledged to build the Southeast headquarters of CAN in Imo State.

Southeast CAN leadership had hailed Uzodimma for his support for the church and Christian activities across the region.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the Chairman of Southeast CAN, Rev. Echez Divine Echez, said the visit was to appreciate the governor for his contributions to the church, including sponsoring Christian leaders and members to religious programmes and supporting CAN activities.

The high point of the event was the presentation of the Golden Jubilee wrapper and uniform to Governor Uzodimma by the CAN leadership.

Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru; Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmos Iwu; and members of Imo State Expanded Executive Council were among those present.

Nigeria has indicated that its support for the next United Nations Secretary-General will be guided by equity, justice and fairness, with particular consideration for a candidate who supports Africa’s demand for greater representation in global decision-making institutions.

Vice President Kashim Shettima stated this in New York during a meeting with Costa Rica’s candidate for the UN’s top job, Rebeca Grynspan, shortly before returning to Nigeria after leading the country’s delegation to the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

Costa Rica formally nominated Grynspan on March 3, 2026, as one of the candidates seeking to succeed António Guterres as UN Secretary-General.

According to a statement on Monday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said Nigeria would also consider candidates’ commitment to Africa’s aspirations, multilateralism and reform of the global governance architecture.

The Vice President said he would recommend considering Grynspan’s candidature based on Nigeria’s relationship with Latin America, gender inclusion, and other factors.

‘Thank you for seeking Nigeria’s perspective on your candidature for the United Nations Secretary-General. Nigeria and Costa Rica share a common historical background connecting both countries and their regions.

‘We also have a cordial relationship with Latin America, and we do not wish to jeopardise it. Beyond our historical ties and relations rests our interest in conflict prevention, multilateralism, and the peace of our nations’, Shettima said.

He renewed Nigeria’s argument for reform of the global governance architecture, saying the international system had changed significantly between 1945 and 2026 without adequately reflecting Africa’s place and population in major decision-making institutions.

Grynspan, a former Vice President of Costa Rica and experienced UN official, told Shettima that she was seeking Nigeria’s support and was prepared to pursue reforms demanded by developing countries, particularly those in the Global South.

Her candidature and participation in the formal UN selection process have been confirmed by the United Nations.

‘Coming from the Global South, I represent the interests and demands of the region. I also have a soft spot for Africa. I know the continent and its aspirations’, she was quoted as saying.

Grynspan said her agenda would prioritise peace and pledged support for Africa’s longstanding demand for permanent representation on the UN Security Council.

Her campaign platform has also emphasised reform of the UN system, including greater accountability, geographically equitable appointments and stronger partnerships between the organisation, member states and regional institutions.

Meanwhile, Nigeria and the Netherlands have agreed to deepen cooperation on financial inclusion, particularly initiatives targeted at women and vulnerable groups.

The agreement emerged from a separate bilateral meeting between Shettima and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands in New York.

Shettima welcomed the Netherlands’ offer to deploy its expertise and experience in financial health to support Nigeria’s financial inclusion programmes, saying expanded access to financial services was directly connected to education, security and poverty reduction.

He cited the Federal Government’s conditional cash transfer programme and interventions in agriculture among measures being deployed to broaden economic opportunities, adding that Nigeria’s growing fintech industry was also playing an important role in bringing financially excluded citizens into the formal system.

Defending the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Shettima said they became inevitable because of the condition of the economy inherited by the government in 2023.

Queen Máxima, who also serves as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health, according to the State House statement, commended Nigeria’s recent economic growth and pledged Dutch support by sharing expertise in insurance, credit guarantees and data generation.

She said improving financial health would strengthen citizens’ resilience, protect investments and broaden access to insurance, while urging private-sector operators to regard the financial wellbeing of their customers as an important factor in their own long-term growth.

Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, was also quoted as saying that, alongside existing insurance and pension policies, recent measures announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria would improve the availability and cost of credit.

He said the administration’s financial inclusion drive ultimately aimed to expand opportunities for poor and vulnerable Nigerians and improve their living standards.

An accomplished Endocrinologist, Administrator and Entrepreneur, Dr. Sonny Kuku, has urged members of Yoruba Tennis Club (YTC) to preserve the club’s heritage, values and tradition of service as the institution begins its second century.

Olorogun Kuku, Special Guest of Honour at the club’s Centenary Gala and Awards Night,

who spoke in Lagos, described the club’s 100-year journey as a testament to the vision, courage and foresight of its founders, who established an indigenous social institution at a time Nigerians faced exclusion from some colonial-era exclusive clubs.

He recalled that YTC was founded on September 15, 1926, when 25 young Nigerians came together to create a platform for fellowship, excellence and community.

‘They did not just form a club; they created a space where Nigerians could build their own institution of excellence,’ Kuku said.

He noted that from its modest beginning, YTC had evolved into an institution with an important place in the social and historical development of Lagos and Nigeria, providing a meeting point for Nigerians who distinguished themselves in politics, business, industry and public service.

Kuku hailed the organisers of the centenary programme for using seminars, lectures, cultural activities and exhibitions to celebrate the club’s history, while positioning it for future.

He advised current members to ensure the values that sustained the club for a century were preserved and transmitted to future generations.

‘We must preserve our roots and invent a future that carries everyone along,’ he said, stressing the importance of service, respect, integrity and community.

YTC Chairman, Chief Olawumi Gasper, said the centenary was not merely a celebration of survival, but also a call to strengthen the institution for generations yet unborn.

He said the club stood today because previous generations made sacrifices, enjoining present members to preserve the founding ideals and ensure YTC remained relevant and distinguished.

‘We stand today because others stood before us. We enjoy the privileges of this club because others made sacrifices before we arrived. And one day, another generation will stand where we stand today,’ he said.

He expressed appreciation to Dr. Kuku, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, Vice Patron and Trustee, Dr. Abayomi Finnih, other trustees, elders, members and friends for their contributions.

The gala also featured awards to individuals and organisations for their contributions to the club. Recipients included City People Magazine, Bisi Olatilo Show, BOS, Arise TV News, Eweso Online, Nigerian Breweries, LASRAB, Chief Adebutu Kessington, Chief Rasaq Okoya, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former Governor Babatunde Fashola and the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu heads for Lagos tomorrow at the end of his working vacation in Europe. He was in England and France.

The president will be in Lagos to attend Independence Day anniversary.

The Presidency confirmed last night that due to a ‘slight adjustment’ in plans, the President will now arrive in the country tomorrow instead of the weekend as announced on September 21 by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.

It dismissed insinuations of ill-health, saying the President is hale and hearty.

In Lagos, the President is billed to attend premier of a documentary on Bashorun MKO Abiola, winner of the 1993 Presidential election, who was not sworn in due to the annulment of the poll by the Military Government of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

The event is due to take place on Independence Day at the Wole Soyinka National Arts Theatre in Iganmu.

The President will also address Nigerians to mark the October 1 National Day.

Tinubu left Abuja on August 30 to begin the working vacation.

After spending about a week in London, the President proceeded to Paris, France, where he combined his vacation with a number of engagements.

The Presidency said he remained in touch with officials at home and continued to direct affairs of government during the period.

Among his engagements in Paris were meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré, whose media and digital interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.

His discussions with Bolloré centred on expanded investments in Nigeria’s creative and digital economy.

The President was also in Paris last Thursday when the Ogun State Government signed Memoranda of Understanding with global ports and logistics operator DP World for the development of the Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone and the Gateway Deep Seaport.

The President, Onanuga said, will return to Abuja after the independence day activities in Lagos.

The Nigerian Navy has announced the eligibility requirements for its 2026 Batch 39 Basic Training School recruitment, with applications scheduled to open on October 2 and close on October 31, 2026.

The service said applicants must meet prescribed age, educational, physical and medical conditions, warning that ‘Only a single valid application is permitted; multiple online applications shall be disqualified.’

Here are the requirements:

* Must be a citizen of Nigeria by birth.

* Must possess a National Identification Number (NIN).

* 18 – 22 years by 31 December 2025 for applicants with SSCE, GCE, NECO, NABTEB.

* 18 – 26 years by 31 December 2025 for applicants with NCE, OND, Registered Nurse/Midwife qualifications, Drivers/Mechanics, and Sportsmen/Sportswomen.

* Should not be less than 1.69 meters for males and 1.65 meters for females.

* Must be single.

* Applicants must be medically, physically, and psychologically fit. Those with physical disability and tattoos are not eligible to apply.

* Must be free from any previous criminal conviction by a court of law.

* Academic certificates (WAEC/NECO/NABTEB/GCE) must not be older than 6 years from the date of application.

Here are the steps to complete your Application:

Step 1: Open the Official Navy Portal at https://joinnigeriannavy.navy.mil.ng/

Step 2: Register a New Candidate Profile with your active email.

Step 3: Authenticate Your NIN Record and confirm name spellings.

Step 4: Choose Your Enlistment Category (Category A for secondary school leavers, Category B for tradesmen/technicians).

Step 5: Upload Credentials and Passport. Ensure your image is clear and under 100KB in standard JPG/PNG format.

Step 6: Review, Submit, and Print Slips (Summary Slip, Guarantor Endorsement, and Parent Consent Form).

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has said he was misled when he previously defended former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi against claims that his administration left debts and other financial obligations behind.

Okonkwo, who served as Obi’s spokesman during the 2023 presidential campaign, said he could no longer repeat some of the claims he made in defence of the former governor following fresh disclosures by the Anambra State Government.

He made the remarks on Sunday Politics, a programme on Television Continental (TVC).

Okonkwo, who is now spokesman for the presidential campaign council of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 election, said he was willing to change his position whenever new facts emerged.

‘You know me, I’m a very passionate person in whatever I believe in. Let me tell you because I was misled,’ he said.

He recalled that during the 2023 election campaign, he told Nigerians that Obi left no debt, unpaid salaries, pensions, or gratuities when he left office.

‘There was a time I told Nigerians that Peter Obi was not owing anything, did not leave any debt, he was not owing any salary. No gratuity. No pension. And I said, go and verify.

‘I’m not a man that stands on my own misunderstanding. When I see the facts, I agree.’

According to Okonkwo, the Anambra State Government subsequently claimed that the Obi administration obtained eight loans and that workers at the state-owned water corporation were owed salaries and arrears.

‘The fact is, the Anambra State Government said he borrowed eight loans. The fact is that Anambra State said that at the water corporation, he owed workers all their salaries and arrears. I cannot say the same thing that I said about Peter Obi in 2023,’ he said.

The comments come amid an ongoing dispute between Obi and the Anambra State Government over the state’s debt profile and financial obligations allegedly inherited from previous administrations.

The controversy followed a statement by the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Izuchukwu Okafor, that Anambra was still servicing loans obtained by previous administrations, including those of Obi and former Governor Willie Obiano.

Obi subsequently rejected the claim, maintaining that he left office without outstanding debts.

He also said his administration did not owe salaries, pensions or contractors when he handed over power and that he left N2.1 billion in an ecological fund for the state.

The state government, however, disputed the claims, saying Obi left $123.77 million in debt when he left office. It also said it had no evidence of the ecological fund cited by the former governor.

The government later released documents relating to N363.38 million in salary arrears which it said were inherited from the Obi administration.

Okonkwo also referred to his earlier defence of Obi’s family following claims about the cost of a wristwatch allegedly worn by a son of President Bola Tinubu.

‘There was a time they figured out that Tinubu’s son was wearing a watch worth up to N135 million,’ he said.

‘I went on television and said nobody from Peter Obi’s family could ever wear such a thing while people are dying in poverty. I staked my reputation on it. Can I still say that today?’

Explaining his shift in approach ahead of the 2027 election, Okonkwo said his scrutiny of Obi would differ from his role in the previous presidential election.

‘That’s why I said in 2023 I campaigned for them as the examination in chief. In 2027, it’s going to be a cross-examination,’ he said.

Obi was governor of Anambra State from March 2006 to March 2014, although his first tenure was interrupted by impeachment in November 2006. He returned to office after a court overturned the impeachment and handed over to Obiano on March 17, 2014.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, has declared that the party is strategically positioned to win all the major elective positions in the state in the 2027 general elections.

He said the party was set to win the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and House of Assembly elections in Oyo State, and charged party members to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the polls.

He spoke on Monday at the inauguration of Local Government Campaign Managers for the BSA/Adedeji team at the APC Campaign Office, Dandaru, Mokola area, Ibadan.

The APC governorship candidate said the newly inaugurated Campaign Managers had a crucial role to play in translating the party’s political structures into effective grassroots mobilisation across the state.

He charged them to consolidate the party’s structures in their respective local government areas, wards and communities, while reaching out to party members, supporters and other stakeholders.

Alli said, ‘We are strategically positioned to win the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and House of Assembly elections in Oyo State in 2027.

‘But victory requires hard work at the grassroots. We must go to the people, engage them and strengthen our structures across the state.

‘Our Local Government Campaign Managers have a major responsibility to ensure that the APC is firmly rooted in every local government, ward and community.’

He urged them to regard their appointments as a call to service, stressing that sustained engagement with the grassroots would be central to the party’s campaign strategy.

Alli also called for unity and teamwork among APC leaders and members, saying the party’s electoral objective could only be achieved through effective coordination and collective effort.

‘This is not about individuals. It is about the party and our collective responsibility to build a stronger APC in Oyo State,’ he said.

He urged the managers to remain focused and committed to their assignments, while ensuring that the party’s message and programmes reached the grassroots.

The Director-General of the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO), Prince Yemi Aderibigbe, said earlier in his address that the inauguration marked another step in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 elections.

He expressed confidence in the party’s organisational capacity and urged members to work together to consolidate its structures ahead of the elections.