Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Nigeria’s quest for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains on a knife edge despite edging past Lesotho 2-1 on Friday – a result that keeps their qualification hopes alive but far from certain as the decisive Group C fixtures loom.

The Super Eagles were tested by a resilient Lesotho side, with captain William Troost-Ekong and debutant Akor Adams scoring to secure three crucial points.

However, the result made little impact on Nigeria’s position in the standings. They remain third in the group – one point behind South Africa and three adrift of leaders Benin Republic – making Tuesday’s clash against the Cheetahs a must-win encounter.

What Nigeria need to qualify for the 2026 World Cup

1. Beat Benin Republic by at least two goals

The Super Eagles must deliver a commanding performance when they face Benin Republic on Tuesday, October 14. Only a victory by two or more goals will give them a realistic chance of finishing top, with goal difference likely to decide the group’s outcome.

2. If South Africa slip against Rwanda

Nigeria’s fate does not rest solely in their hands. For Finidi George’s men to seal automatic qualification, South Africa must either draw or lose to Rwanda in their final fixture. A win for the Bafana Bafana would end Nigeria’s chances.

With only group winners guaranteed a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup and the four best runners-up advancing to the playoffs, every goal and point now carries immense weight.

Friday’s hard-fought win in Lesotho has reignited belief, but the Super Eagles will need precision, determination, and a bit of luck to return to football’s biggest stage after missing out on Qatar 2022.

The Katsina State Police Command has announced that it successfully foiled several banditry attacks, recovered a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), fabricated firearms, and arrested 168 suspects across the state.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, disclosed this during a press briefing in Katsina while presenting the Command’s achievements for the month of September on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.

According to him, the Command adopted multiple security strategies and worked tirelessly to safeguard lives and property across the state.

Highlighting the successes recorded, Aliyu said the police arrested 12 suspected armed robbers, 5 murder and culpable homicide suspects, and 14 suspected illicit drug dealers, among others.

‘The Command foiled several bandit attacks, neutralising five suspected armed bandits and rescuing over 80 kidnapped victims within the period under review,’ he stated.

Recovered exhibits, he said, included 1,298 rounds of live ammunition, four cartridges, one GPMG, two AK-47 rifles, and a large quantity of suspected vandalised electric cables, among other items.

Aliyu commended the Katsina State Government and residents for their continued support, collaboration, and assistance in maintaining peace and order.

He also appealed to the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or via the Command’s emergency contact lines to sustain the ongoing fight against crime and insecurity in the state.

Tension is rising in Bembe, a community in Ayedade Local Government Area of Osun State, following alleged moves to annex the town to Ikire in neighbouring Irewole Local Government Area.

The traditional head of Bembe, Chief Abas Omojare, alongside community leaders Chief Oderemi Kazeem, Adewuyi Okunlade, and Gafaru Alansi, raised the alarm in a petition through their counsel, Barrister Zakariyau Apo, addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone XI.

The petition, a copy of which was made available to The Nation, accused some individuals from Ikire of making attempts to incorporate Bembe into their town, describing the move as illegal and provocative.

According to the petitioners, their forefathers are the original landowners of Bembe and have peacefully managed the community ‘from time immemorial.’

They explained that portions of land in Bembe were, in the past, granted to the ancestors of one Maita and other settlers from Ikire for farming and residential purposes on tenancy and permissive occupation terms-not ownership.

‘The said partition was never a grant of ownership but merely for occupation, farming, and residential purposes. The grantees were expected to respect the overlordship of our clients’ family and community as the customary landowners,’ the petition read.

However, the petitioners alleged that in recent times, Maita and his associates have begun challenging the authority of Bembe’s traditional rulers, recruiting Ikire indigenes living in Bembe to undermine the community’s peace and leadership.

‘They have made inciting and provocative statements, claiming ownership of Bembe land and issuing threats to drive away the lawful and indigenous people of the community,’ the petition added.

The petitioners lamented that the development has created tension, disrupted peace, and instilled fear among residents.

‘This reckless behaviour has already sparked tension in the community, and if not urgently checked, it may degenerate into loss of lives and destruction of property in Bembe,’ they warned.

They urged the AIG to intervene swiftly and call the suspects in order to prevent a potential communal clash between indigenes of Bembe and settlers from Ikire.

Philanthropist and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Abdulkareem Shittu, has disbursed ?7.5 million to residents of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency during the second edition of his foundation’s empowerment programme.

The event, organised through the Abdulkareem Shittu Foundation, drew a large crowd as beneficiaries received business grants and direct cash support.

Thirty small business owners received ?250,000 each to expand their enterprises, while about 1,000 participants were given ?5,000. Shittu also distributed food items to all attendees and donated 30 chairs to APC ward offices to strengthen grassroots political activities.

Grateful beneficiaries praised Shittu’s commitment to uplifting the community, describing the initiative as timely and impactful.

‘This is a lifeline at a time I needed it most,’ said one of the beneficiaries, Abidemi Ajumobi.

The Director-General of the Abdulkareem Shittu Foundation, Muhammed Hassan, commended Shittu’s personal sacrifices in funding the scheme and assured residents that more empowerment initiatives would follow in the coming months.

Ike Ibeabuchi answers FaceTime with his nose pressed up against the phone screen. His trademark mustache nestles on his top lip and a questionable internet connection buffers his responses. He sits on a bed, in Abuja, Nigeria, with his energetic niece punching and biting him, playfully, as he speaks.

‘Which fight?’ he begins, in response to the agreed purpose of the call. I reiterate that he is due to fight British veteran Danny Williams on Aug. 23, but he’s quick to rebuff this and offers up an attempted clarification.

‘[Danny] Williams had to pull out,’ he continues. ‘But we have already got a new opponent: Idris Afinni. He is a big puncher, he’s won his last few fights by knockout.’

‘I ran 10 miles this morning. If I can do this, then I can box,’ he interjects, almost telegraphing my next question surrounding the legitimacy of this return. ‘I have never been this energetic in my life. I train twice a day and it’s not a problem at all. I still believe I am at the very top – nobody ever took me off the top.’

It’s there the penny drops. Ibeabuchi speaks like an active fighter. He’s well and truly under the spell of the fight game and considers himself still in the heavyweight mix, rather than a disgraced veteran who hasn’t seen the inside of a professional ring since the release of Sony’s Playstation 2 around the turn of the century. Instead of a legacy character to unlock, the Nigerian considers himself on the front cover; the reason you would purchase a boxing game. But we know too well that in reality, you don’t play boxing.

‘I want a title shot,’ he continues. ‘I look at the heavyweight picture like this: Myself, [Oleksandr] Usyk and [Moses] Itauma,’ he says. ‘But nobody wants to fight me.

‘I have called out [Tyson] Fury multiple times, but he has always said that I need to have a comeback fight first and get a ranking, and then these big fights can happen. So that’s exactly what I am doing.’

‘I have been sparring,’ he continues. He sends over a video of him working on the heavy bag with some loaded left hooks, and points me to the direction of a sparring session with 31-year-old current Nigerian heavyweight Efe Ajagba (20-1-1, 14 KOs). ‘Sparring is sparring,’ he says, still parroting the phrases of an active fighter. ‘I was on top for most of it,’ he claims, ‘but we were only able to complete four rounds. I wasn’t allowed to go any further.’

That leads to the question of why, and who was looking out for the safety of Ibeabuchi. But delving into the inner workings of his return are met with hostility. ‘I don’t want to disclose that information,’ he says in response to a question regarding his trainer for the fight. It is an ‘internal matter’ that isn’t privy to journalists’ questions. Has he been tested and cleared to fight by a governing body? ‘That is not a question for a journalist to be asking,’ he replies. ‘It is invasive coming from you.’

From Glory to Gory

In 1997, Ibeabuchi beat the previously unbeaten David Tua for the WBC International title in a fight that launched him into the spotlight of boxing’s heavyweight division. Shortly after this 17th win of his professional career, the problems outside the ring started.

Ibeabuchi was involved in a disturbing incident where he abducted the 15-year-old son of a former girlfriend and intentionally crashed his car into a concrete pillar on a Texas highway. The boy sustained serious injuries and was left permanently impaired. Ibeabuchi pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and was sentenced to 120 days in jail, also paying a $500,000 civil settlement. Authorities determined the crash was a suicide attempt.

During this time, Ibeabuchi began adopting the persona of ‘The President,’ insisting those around him refer to him by the title. According to former HBO Sports executive Lou DiBella, Ibeabuchi would retreat into this alter ego, often behaving erratically and unpredictably. Promoter Cedric Kushner recounted a dinner meeting where Ibeabuchi drove a carving knife into the table, shouting, ‘They knew it! The belts belong to me! Why don’t they just give them back?’

In July 1999, three months after his last fight – a fifth-round TKO of Chris Byrd – Ibeabuchi was arrested in Las Vegas after an alleged sexual assault at The Mirage. A 21-year-old escort claimed that Ibeabuchi attacked her after refusing to pay up front. He barricaded himself in a bathroom, and police used pepper spray under the door to extract him.

The incident led prosecutors to reopen a prior sexual assault case against Ibeabuchi from eight months earlier. While under house arrest, two more similar accusations surfaced, this time from Arizona. Ibeabuchi was deemed mentally unfit to stand trial and was committed to a psychiatric facility, where doctors diagnosed him with bipolar disorder. A judge ordered him to be medicated.

After two and a half years, he was found competent and entered an Alford plea – maintaining innocence while acknowledging sufficient evidence to convict. Ibeabuchi received a sentence of two to 10 years for battery with intent, and three to 20 years for attempted sexual assault, served consecutively.

From Ring To Cage

‘A lot of people respected me in prison,’ Ibeabuchi claims.

‘I was never threatened or anything, and didn’t get into any fights. I wasn’t allowed to. I guess what I learned was that I was a tougher person than I thought and that I can make it in my own way – but above all, I don’t have to solicit prostitution in my life ever again.’

Asked if he regrets his actions. He replies that ‘soliciting prostitution was legal in parts of Nevada, but not in Las Vegas or Clark County,’ and that he ‘regretted negligence of the situation but not the morality.’

Further attempts at clarifying some of the finer details of Saturday’s fight date are met by Ibeabuchi ceasing contact and blocking my number.

Fight week in Lagos, Nigeria. Ibeabuchi said: ‘I’m glad to be back,’ he tells the camera. ‘To show my home country what I have become despite the absence. I’m so grateful that I can come back to Nigeria and I am thankful for the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control for giving me this opportunity.’

Ibeabuchi is seen posing with fans outside of Lagos airport. He raises his fist, obliging to one of the sport’s unwritten rituals.

Wilson Aboyehimoe and Tobe Agbakoba, Ibeabuchi’s boxing coach and fitness coach, respectively, are then given short segments to promote their charge. Both Aboyehimoe and Agbakoba sing the praises of Ibeabuchi and are unequivocal in their belief that he returns with a win.

The fight has come and gone and the bottom-line is that Ibeabuchi is back in the boxing ring after 26 years with a third-round technical knockout victory over Idris Afinni in Lagos on Saturday, August 23, 2025.

The undefeated former heavyweight contender, now 52, is looking to fight Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight champion.

With each passing week, former president Goodluck Jonathan seems doubly sure no constitutional obstacle stands in his way of running for the presidency a second time. His opponents may regret his firm stance, but they stand on very flimsy ground to think that anything bars him from contesting in 2027 should he choose to run. Dr Jonathan is not new to the impediments strewn across his path, some of them purporting to be constitutional. In 2012, the effort to bar him from running began in earnest. First sworn in on May 6, 2010 to complete the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s tenure, he had gone on to win the 2011 election, and soon began making sheep’s eye at the 2015 presidential election. It was the attempt to stop him that triggered a cavalcade of legal cases begun in 2012. All the three cases brought against him to date have, however, been decided in his favour.

All the suits aimed to abort Dr Jonathan’s re-election plans. The first case, filed in 2012 at the High court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) before Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, was decided in his favour. The judge had no hesitation whatsoever in ruling that nothing barred the then president from contesting in 2015. Dissatisfied, the appellant, Cyriacus Njoku, appealed. In March 2015, shortly before the election of that year, the Court of Appeal held that nothing barred Dr Jonathan from contesting. They gave their reason, and it seemed so incontrovertible that it settled the case once and for all. But the furore that accompanied the case, not to say the constitutional lacuna many legal experts said they noticed, led to a constitutional amendment that took effect in 2018. Embodied in Section 137(3), the alteration indicates that ‘A person who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as President, shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.’

The alteration was expressed in very simple and accessible language, admitting of no ambiguity. But against a litigious Nigerian, even the simplest expression acquires new and convoluted meaning. In 2022, when it seemed a clearly nostalgic Dr Jonathan would not take no for an answer and seemed determined to run again, the litigious duo of Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham headed to the courts to see whether they could bar him from the 2023 poll. Filed at the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, the judge, Isa Hamma Dashen, in May 2022, held that the constitution did not disqualify Dr Jonathan, and that if he had won in 2015, he would have been sworn into office anyway, with no one the wiser. Anchoring his decision on the inability of the amendment to take retroactive effect, the judge concluded that Sec 137(3) ‘cannot apply retrospectively, except the Legislature, in clear terms, expressly stated their intention for it to be so.’

Here is the crux of the matter. When the legislature made the alteration to the constitution to take care of peculiar circumstances and puzzles, the kind that hamstrung Dr Jonathan’s ascension in 2010, they never imagined that he would try to return on a later day, say in 2023 or 2027. They were unable to anticipate that Dr Jonathan is one of those unique politicians who never let bad enough alone. More accurately, power mongers and political schemers have continued to badger the former president with tantalising prospects of returning to office. Every time they seduce him, he falls. The United States constitution, on the other hand, made term limits beguilingly easy to comprehend and adhere to when the 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951. Just one sentence, and the job was done. It says in Section 1: ‘No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.’ Had the Nigerian constitutional alteration indicated a time period for the ‘acting’ president, say one year or two, there would have been no court case.

But court case or not, the fact is that Dr Jonathan is not constitutionally barred from contesting in 2027. The All Progressives Congress (APC) should discountenance that supposition and reconcile with reality. It should not waste time and money on any litigation, for any court case might instead canonise a man who has no sense for liturgy of any kind. What will stop the former president from contesting in 2027 are history and his personality. History, because other than massive adoption by a sitting government, such as happened to ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, no former Nigerian ruler has made it back to the State House; not Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in 2011, and not Gen. Yakubu Gowon in 1993. Secondly, his personality is one of his chief liabilities. Dr Jonathan was neither extraordinary during his five years in office nor decisive and assertive as great leaders should be. He has remained averse to risk-taking and uncomfortable with visioning. He has seemed to hone these last behavioural defects since he left office in 2015, given the way he has run from pillar to post seeking a party to unanimously adopt him. He has egregiously flirted with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) being built with former vice president Atiku Abubakar’s money. And he has dallianced with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which he abandoned shortly after he left office, citing betrayal and other reasons.

The constitution will not stop Dr Jonathan, and indeed cannot, no matter how liberally the relevant sections of the constitution are interpreted. The Nigerian judiciary may not exactly be the darling of the masses, but three judgements in a row in favour of Dr Jonathan should not be discounted. The constitution is on his side. On the contrary, he is his greatest liability: his personality, his records, his stark inability to read the signs of the times, his constant overrating of self, and his even more baffling underestimation of his opponents and all other forces poised to doom his candidacy should he find a platform to indulge his lackluster politics. As mired in controversy and lethargy as the PDP is, one of its weaknesses is not stupidity and wastefulness. Notwithstanding its desperation to find a formula to beat the ruling party, the leading opposition party will think twice before giving their ticket to Dr Jonathan, assuming he is capable of the genuine absolution his years of political truancy demand of him.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has pledged to strengthen collaboration with the International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) Inc. and engage other credible private investors to unlock Nigeria’s vast blue economy potential and position the country as a leading maritime hub in Africa.

Oyetola said the partnership with ICTSI is rooted in the company’s significant investments and contributions to Nigeria’s maritime development, as well as the need to sustain a business-friendly environment that fosters private sector participation and innovation across the industry.

The Minister made this commitment when a high-level delegation from ICTSI paid a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.

The visit formed part of ongoing efforts to deepen collaboration between the Federal Government and private investors in advancing Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy agenda.

The ICTSI delegation, led by Farouk Adamu Aliyu, Chairman of ICTSI Nigeria, included Hans Ole Madsen, Vice President of ICTSI; Nicolo Scannavini, Managing Director of Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT); and Chidi Nzerem, a Director of the company.

Discussions during the meeting focused on current operations at OMT and explored strategies for future expansion, operational efficiency, and alignment with the Federal Government’s vision for a dynamic and sustainable blue economy.

Oyetola commended ICTSI for its investments and contributions to Nigeria’s maritime growth, emphasising the Ministry’s readiness to sustain a business-friendly environment that encourages private sector participation and innovation across the sector.

‘Our goal is to make Nigeria’s ports globally competitive by ensuring efficiency, transparency, and sustainability,’ the Minister said.

His offices, Oyetola added, ‘ will continue to work with credible private investors like ICTSI to unlock the immense potential of our blue economy and position Nigeria as a major maritime hub in Africa.’

Since commencing operations in 2021, ICTSI’s Onne Multipurpose Terminal has played a transformative role in boosting cargo throughput and reducing vessel turnaround time at the Onne Port Complex in Rivers State.

The terminal, designed to handle a diverse range of cargo – including containers, break bulk, project and heavy-lift, and roll-on/roll-off cargo – features a 1,000-metre heavy-lift quay, 45 hectares of yard area, modern warehousing, and four new Gottwald mobile harbour cranes, among other state-of-the-art equipment.

In June 2025, OMT made history when it received the Kota Oasis, a Singaporean-flagged, LNG-powered container ship – the first of its kind to berth in West Africa.

The vessel’s arrival, operated by Pacific International Lines (PIL), marked a milestone in the region’s shift toward environmentally sustainable shipping and underscored OMT’s commitment to green port operations.

Beyond its operational achievements, OMT has demonstrated strong corporate social responsibility (CSR) leadership in its host communities, particularly in Ogu and surrounding areas.

The company has executed several community-focused initiatives, including a Safe Water Scheme, youth empowerment programmes, and vocational training projects aimed at promoting local development and social inclusion.

As one of Nigeria’s key logistics and cargo-handling hubs, Onne Multipurpose Terminal continues to strengthen its position as a vital gateway for maritime trade and logistics in West Africa.

Through strategic partnerships, technological advancement, and community engagement, OMT remains a driving force in supporting Nigeria’s maritime economy and fostering sustainable growth.

The people of Eposo came together in unity and celebration to mark this year’s Eposo Day with the commissioning of a new Community Health Centre, generously donated by Aare Kola Oyefeso in loving memory of his late wife, Chief Mrs. Omolara Oyefeso.

The Health Centre, a vital addition to the community’s infrastructure, was officially commissioned by Sir Dr. Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu CFR, a revered statesman and philanthropist, as part of activities marking his landmark 90th birthday anniversary, which will be celebrated on October 24, 2025.

In his remarks, Aare Kola Oyefeso congratulated the people of Eposo and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to honour his wife’s legacy through a project that directly meets the healthcare needs of the community.

‘This Health Centre stands not just as a memorial, but as a beacon of hope and progress for Eposo,’ Aare Oyefeso said. ‘It is my hope that it will serve generations to come, improving access to healthcare and enhancing the well-being of our people.’

The event, which formed a highlight of the Eposo Day celebrations, brought together community leaders, dignitaries, and residents in an atmosphere of shared pride and optimism.

In his address, Sir Dr. Kesington Adebutu praised the initiative and reaffirmed his commitment to community development, particularly in rural health and education.

His participation added deeper meaning to the ceremony as it coincides with his milestone 90th birthday celebration.

The new Health Centre is expected to provide essential medical services, including maternal and child care, treatment of common illnesses, and health education-reducing the need for residents to travel long distances for medical attention.

As Eposo continues to advance, the donation stands as a testament to the enduring values of legacy, service, and collective progress.

The community expressed profound appreciation to Aare Kola Oyefeso and Sir Dr. Kesington Adebutu for their generosity and lasting impact on Eposo’s development.

The moment was a good moment. At once the whole complex stood still. It stood still not only for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but for the whole nation, Nigeria. The National Theatre, now christened The Wole Soyinka Centre for Creative Art, came alive to its fullest bloom. It was a day to remember, a day to witness that the Theatre has resurrected from its slumber. The mainbowl was packed to full capacity. The house and stage lights glittered on endlessly. The airconditioners seemed to have gone crazy, tearing deep into the skins and bloods of all as people shivered and begged for mercy.

The hall came on in full swing. Artists were in their best moods, in glittering attires that suited the occasion. Visitors and stakeholders held on to the dictates of the night. It was time to dance, time to display cultures. It was time when artists, young, old, male, female, painters, dancers, singers, comedians, creators, writers, journalists, all, came together to jolly in the beautiful euphoria of a recreated centre for the creative art.

The President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu sat quietly in company of his wife, Senator Oluremi. His face glowed with joy. His countenance could not hide his amazement at the new looks of the National Theatre. Also in place was Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President. With them were Tajudeen Abass, Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives who also came in company of his deputy, Benjamin Kalu. In the house was Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu of Lagos State. And with the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, the roll call was almost complete. Also present was Olayemi Cardoso, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria.

But then there was Professor Wole Soyinka, the epitome of the creative world, first African Nobel Laureate in Literature. The man whose name has come to dominate the National Theatre and occupied the night to the full. All the big artists were present to witness this new rebirth of a national monument that almost went into extinction if not for the prompt intervention of Buhari and Bola Tinubu who ensured that the Bankers Committee went into action with dispatch. So for close to four years, the Centre went under heavy renovation, with series of patch ups and innovations here and there. As the works were going on, the entire arts community, the creative nerves of Nigeria waited with unbridled patience. The National Troupe of Nigeria, indeed the apex dance hub of the nation expected the turn-around maintenance to come through in a jiffy. And that was why on the night of this epoch-making reopening the Troupe dazzled to precision. The National Troupe under the able leadership of Hajja Kaltume Bulama Gana thrilled as if dance would never end. It was good. It was glamourous, quite spectacular. The whole edifice stood still as soon as their entrance was announced.

The level of acclaim as soon as Dr. Nzekwu, one of the anchors of the programme mentioned the name of the Troupe showed that in the corridors of power, the Troupe rings a bell. Stage by stage, the Troupe presented different dances, cultural displays that stunned and impressed the people. The hall suddenly came alive. The stage lights came on fully to shine on the fleeting feet of the dancers, the sonorous voices of the singers and the heavy hands of the drummers who pelted away in joyous mood, with accurate precision and rendition.

Bulama sat up front, eyes happily glued onto the stage as she smiled and exchanged pleasantries with fellow directors and artists. In truth, the Troupe opened with dances from the south south parts of Nigeria. The rhythms of the songs flowed easily with the colours of Nigerian flag. Remember this show was on October 1, Nigeria’s 65th Independent anniversary and the whole nation was agog with happiness. So, the boldness of the dancers, the deliberate displays of colours, the masquerading nature of the masquerades, the glowing of the different colourful costumes, all made up to show a Troupe that was well prepared to dazzle to no end.

The dance of elegance from Edo State depicted the rich culture of the Benin kingdom. The grace was deliberate, the ease and measured dance steps with red beads on their necks and hand fans made of woods, brought to light, once more, the historic nature of the Benin cultural ensemble. Trust the Troupe. They danced with renewed hope and reinvigorated aplomb; after all they had waited for close to four years for that moment.

From Edo State, the Troupe moved to the more interiors of the Niger Delta, this time recapturing the elegant dance style of the Itshekiri people. The dance came with songs in the Itshekiri dialect, showing the magnificent nature of the palace dance where tradition is upheld. The Itshekiri are naturally rooted in idioms and wise sayings that the dances dwelt on all that. Then came dances from the core Efik and Ibibio domains. The Ekpe tradition which is sacrosanct quickly resurfaced. This thrilled the audience to no end. The Ekpe is synonymous with the Ibibio and the Efik of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States of Nigeria respectively.

It was not so much as the dances. It was more of the vigour, the heavy energy that dancers brought into the displays that kept people endlessly enwrapped. The songs brought hope to the people. It was a way to use culture to entertain, to reunite a nation. The songs hinged on hope; they emphasised the immediate need to celebrate peace and love as a people. The presence of the masquerades in their best costumes brought beauty and nature and near innocence closer to the people. The audience clapped, relaxed, laughed and showed acclaim, appreciation and respect.

The dances from the West and the North proved to be the climax. But not yet. The dances of love, courtship, harvest and abundance depicted the richness in all spheres in Nigeria. With the implements and props and costumes in place, the Troupe took the whole nation back in time. Culture is a bridge, it brings back memories; it also rebuilds the nature of broken hopes. Culture is not just dynamic, it gears up for a better tomorrow. The dances elaborated these features so much so that Eugenia Abu and Henry Nzekwu, the two anchors of the programme could not old back their admiration. As usual the sensational movements occasioned by the Yoruba dancers evoked love, romance and appeasement. The ones from the north hovered around crops and the dominance of the male over the female. But all pointed to the family as the core of the society.

In all, the Igbo dance came with an accelerated energy, an energy long bottled up. The whole arena became recharged as the flute (oja) went far into the air with the tone of vehemence. The dancers gyrated, the flutist mesmerized as the stage lights flickered into full bloom. Indeed the night was coming on with vigour reminding all that this is the centre of entertainment, the hub of the creative economy and the creative world, where drama, dance, all sorts of the art rule and predominate.

The stages of dances were brought to a close with the stylish appearance of a masquerade. An artiste sitting close to me in the hall just exclaimed – ‘this shows the fullness of Nigeria’. Truly that masquerade did not only come with an arousing ancestral presence, it showed how deeply the night had impacted on the people. As the stage gradually blossomed to see a new creative centre of the nation, Gerald Eze of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, tore into the stage with his brand of stage craft of folkloric songs and demonstration that also stole the night. In all, it was a night to remember and all guests – big, small, initiated and uninitiated got enough baptism of what artists can do with their creative mien and talents. The National Troupe will, like someone whispered to me on our way out, always show itself even in the most uncomfortable environment or situation. The Nigerian dance project runs in their blood.

But it is all kudos to Bulama and her team. Bulama loves what she does. She has put herself into it. Here is a visual artist who now loves masquerades more than masqueraders themselves. An artist who loves to reinvent dance in the mold of Ogunde. Bulama now has keen ears for all sorts of musical drums almost same way her brushes serenade strokes on the canvass. In her we can see the total justification of why the National Troupe of Nigeria and the National Theatre are two in one, established for the same purpose for the creative economy. Same edict, same act of faith for performances, the two establishments must always complement each other for the more profound need to prosper the creatives in Nigeria and beyond.

And in the process ensure that the different cultural properties and elements of the larger society are kept ever afloat, active and functional. Essentially National Troupe has made it clear and unambiguous that culture is a unifier and that the current leadership is in conformity with these positive tenets.

The Chancellor of Covenant University, Dr. David O. Oyedepo, has charged Nigerian youths to take responsibility for their destinies through discipline, godly living, integrity, and capacity building.

He gave the charge yesterday at the 20th Convocation Ceremony of the 2025 Graduating Class, tagged ‘The 20th Release of Eagles,’ held at the university chapel in Ota, Ogun State.

A total of 1,646 students graduated, including 1,413 undergraduates and 233 postgraduates across various disciplines. Of these, 357 bagged First Class honours, 841 Second Class Upper, 410 Second Class Lower, and 38 Third Class. At the postgraduate level, the university awarded 45 PhDs, 148 MSc, 18 MEng, 3 MA, and 19 MBA degrees.

Miss Duru Chidera Emmanuella from the Department of Computer Engineering emerged as the Best Graduating Student with a 4.97 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), while Sanmi Rilwan Oluwademilade, a graduate of Industrial Mathematics, also distinguished himself with a 4.99 CGPA in an earlier academic session.

The event attracted prominent dignitaries, including university chancellors, diplomats, government representatives, traditional rulers, and parents of the graduating students.

In his convocation address titled ‘Golden Rules for a Life of Meaning and Relevance,’ Dr. Oyedepo emphasized the power of personal choices and godly discipline in shaping a successful destiny.

He said ‘Not making a choice is a choice. If you fail, it’s your fault, and if you succeed, it’s your fault. You may first appear mad before you emerge as a celebrity like Paul in Acts 26:24. You may be branded a fanatic like Joseph, or seem unreasonable like Isaac, but in the end, sacrifice and integrity always produce stars.’

Oyedepo listed six key life principles for graduates, a choice to go the extra mile, pursue God as a lifestyle, build faith, uphold integrity, develop capacity, and embrace discipline.

‘There is no star without a scar, and the scar of every star is sacrifice, integrity defines value; nothing devalues a man like lack of character. Capacity must be cultivated, it cannot be imparted,’ he declared.

He explained that Covenant University’s success rests on helping students build solid spiritual and moral foundations through its signature programmes. The Total Man Concept (TMC), Entrepreneurial Development Studies (EDS), Towards a Total Graduate (TTG), and Diploma in Leadership Development (DLD).

‘The life span of every building depends on its foundation,’ he said. ‘At Covenant, we are helping students build lives anchored on character, positive attitude, and discipline. Only positive thinkers become great builders.’

Reaffirming the institution’s vision, Oyedepo said the university is committed to raising a new generation of African leaders through education rooted in godliness, knowledge, and integrity.

In his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Timothy Anake, described education as ‘the passport to the future,’ quoting Malcolm X.

‘Our mission has never been to merely confer degrees,’ he said. ‘It is to produce graduates who are intellectually capable, spiritually grounded, ethically sound, and socially relevant.’

In her goodwill message, the Chairperson of the Student Council, Miss Chidera Emmanuella Duru, representing the graduating class, thanked parents, staff, and colleagues for their support and resilience through challenging academic years.

‘We have endured online semesters, post-pandemic restructuring, Wi-Fi droughts, and countless late nights,’ she said. ‘But through it all, we learned perseverance, faith, and excellence. We are not just graduates – we are solutions.’