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Comrade Femi Awogboro, an aide to the immediate past Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has dismissed reports that his principal has withdrawn from the 2027 governorship race.

Awogboro said Adelabu had neither withdrawn his aspiration nor conceded the alleged injustice arising from the recently concluded APC governorship primary in the state.

Reports had circulated in the media claiming that the former minister had abandoned his governorship ambition.

However, in a statement, Awogboro described the reports as misleading, stressing that Adelabu had not announced, suggested or implied any decision to withdraw from the race.

He said, ‘At no point has Chief Adebayo Adelabu announced, suggested or implied any decision to abandon his aspiration to govern Oyo State.

‘Chief Adelabu remains firmly committed to his governorship ambition and has not conceded the injustice arising from the recently concluded governorship primary process.’

Awogboro urged members of the public and supporters of the former minister to disregard the reports, describing them as inaccurate and lacking any basis in fact.

He said, ‘Our attention has been drawn to a mischievous and misleading interpretation by some sections of the media of the recent Press Statement issued by Chief Adebayo Adelabu, suggesting that he has withdrawn from the race for the governorship of Oyo State.

‘For the avoidance of doubt, what that the statement clearly conveyed was his appeal to his loyalists, supporters and other concerned party members to remain calm, peaceful and dignified, and to refrain from abusive, aggressive or confrontational agitation while awaiting appropriate steps from the national leadership of the party to address the errors, unfairness and injustice associated with aspects of the primary process.

‘Chief Adelabu’s decision to counsel restraint is borne out of his commitment to the unity, stability and progress of the All Progressives Congress (APC). It should therefore not be misconstrued as weakness, surrender, withdrawal or acceptance of what he and his supporters consider an unjust outcome.

‘Indeed, he has taken encouragement from the open acknowledgement by the National Chairman of the party that there were errors and injustices in certain aspects of the primary election process in Oyo State. It is therefore reasonable to expect that the national leadership will take the necessary steps to address such concerns and ensure a fair and credible process of reconciliation among the aggrieved aspirants, their supporters and other stakeholders.

‘As loyalists and supporters of Chief Adebayo Adelabu, we remain hopeful and resolute. We have confidence in God and in the wisdom of the national leadership of our great party to do what is right, just and honourable in the overall interest of the APC.’

Awogboro urged media organisations and other platforms currently circulating reports suggesting that Chief Adelabu has withdrawn from the governorship race to immediately retract, correct or clarify such reports.

‘The decision to remain calm and allow the party’s leadership the opportunity to address genuine concerns must not be deliberately or carelessly misrepresented as withdrawal from the contest.

‘As our elders wisely say, ‘?m? ?ba kì í jagun bí ?rú’ a prince does not fight like a slave’, Chief Adelabu has consistently reminded his supporters that, even in the face of provocation and perceived injustice, our conduct must reflect our dignity, values, upbringing and standing. We have therefore chosen the path of restraint, without resorting to further aggressive agitation or confrontation, while keeping our hope alive that the national leadership of our party will take the honourable and appropriate steps necessary to correct the identified errors and injustices.

‘This approach is not only in the best interest of justice and reconciliation; it is also essential to restoring confidence, reducing tension within the party and strengthening the unity and cohesion required for the APC to secure a resounding and overwhelming victory in Oyo State in the 2027 general elections.’

Atletico Madrid’s Board of Directors unanimously backed the club’s stance on Argentina forward Julian Alvarez, ruling out any talks with Barcelona and saying ?there was ‘zero consideration’ of a transfer to the Catalan club.

The statement came day after Barca president Joan Laporta said the Spanish champions were interested in signing Alvarez amid speculation over the 26-year-old’s future.

Alvarez, who helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup, has come ?under fire from Atletico fans after reports linking him with a move ?to Barca. He was booed warming up and after coming on ?in Atletico’s 2-2 home draw with Villarreal on Sunday.

During the 2026 World Cup, Alvarez ?said he had spoken to the Madrid club about a possible transfer to ‘fulfil my ?dream’.

‘Atletico de Madrid is open to standard transfer market negotiations when conducted in a professional, ethical and respectful manner,’ Atletico’s Board of Directors said in Thursday’s statement.

‘We fully stand behind the ?club’s previously communicated position that FC Barcelona failed to meet these requirements and, ?as a result, there will not be any negotiation and there is zero consideration of an ?transfer to Barcelona.’

Atletico had said on Wednesday there was a zero percent chance of selling Alvarez to Barca, adding: ‘This situation isn’t about money, it’s about dignity.’

Laporta, however, said Barcelona’s interest and offer for Alvarez would remain until the transfer window closes ?should Atletico decide to ?sell. He also ?said Barca had met the standards required in its dealings over the Argentine.

Spanish media have also linked Alvarez with a move ?to Premier League champions Arsenal.

Since joining Atletico from Manchester City ?in 2024 ?on a six-year contract, Alvarez has scored 49 goals and provided 17 assists in 107 appearances.

‘Atletico de Madrid trust that our player will understand the decision and will ?remain?focused on helping the club achieve its goals, just ?as he has done during the two seasons he has been defending our colours,’ Atletico said in ?the statement.

A foremost Islamic organisation, Jama-at-ul Islamiyya of Nigeria, has unveiled a massive school project at the 12th Triennial National Conference held at its mosque’s hall in Magodo, Lagos.

Its President, Alhaji Hashim Oyekan, an engineer, said the school project was conceived as part of the organisation’s long-term vision of using education to transform society and prepare future generations for leadership.

He said the project was designed to mobilise support for the development of the group’s schools and provide accessible, high-quality modern education heavily grounded in Islamic values.

The initiative, he said, would help equip young Nigerians to lead with both competence and conscience.

‘Education remains the most powerful tool for social transformation and moral elevation,’ Oyekan said.

He appealed to distinguished guests, donors and members of Jama-at-ul Islamiyya to support the project, describing contributions to it as an investment in a legacy that would continue to benefit generations to come.

Speaking on the conference, Alhaji Oyekan said it was taking place at a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s history, with the country facing complex socio-political and security challenges.

He said religious organisations could not remain indifferent to the plight of society, stressing that they had a responsibility to contribute to national development and the search for solutions to insecurity and instability.

Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), who delivered a keynote address, called for a radical approach to tackling insecurity in the country.

Fashola said Nigeria must restore respect for law and order, strengthen law enforcement institutions and address the values shaping citizens’ conduct.

According to him, restoration of law and order should be the first radical step towards achieving stability, urging Nigerians to collectively commit to building a society where nobody was above the law.

The former Lagos State Governor stressed that the principle should apply irrespective of political affiliation, religion or ethnicity, while urging citizens to examine the values they were passing to younger generations.

The guest speaker/Chief Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Ahmad, identified family, social and economic factors as some of the issues responsible for confusion and decay in society.

Represented by Sheikh Abdurrahman Adangba, Sheikh Ahmad, said those issues must be addressed to restore sanity to the society.

He described the mosque as the House of Allah and a place where Muslims should gather not only for worship but also to deliberate on their collective future and contribute to the development of society.

Sheikh Ahmad stressed the importance of knowledge, wisdom, justice and effective mosque leadership in achieving the desired transformation.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mourned the death of the General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, describing him as a strong voice of the workers’ movement who devoted his professional life to advancing workers’ rights, welfare and dignity.

The President also extended his condolences to the NLC, its affiliate unions, the legal profession and the family of the veteran trade unionist, who died on Thursday.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said Ugboaja’s contributions to constructive engagements between organised labour, government authorities and employers would be remembered.

He described the late NLC General Secretary as a veteran trade unionist and legal practitioner who brought legal knowledge, strategic insight and administrative competence to the labour movement.

‘Comrade Ugboaja, who died on Thursday, devoted his professional life to advancing the rights, welfare and dignity of workers.

‘As a veteran trade unionist and a legal practitioner, he brought to the labour movement a rare combination of legal knowledge, strategic insight, administrative competence and an unwavering commitment to justice’, the President said.

Tinubu recalled the responsibilities Ugboaja shouldered as General Secretary of the NLC, particularly in coordinating the affairs of organised labour and providing strategic direction to the movement and its affiliate unions during critical periods.

According to the President, the late labour leader also played an important role in building consensus among workers and their representatives.

‘As General Secretary, he carried enormous responsibility, coordinating the affairs and providing strategic direction for the operations of the labour movement and its affiliate unions at critical moments.

‘He helped to forge a common purpose among workers and their representatives’, Tinubu said.

The President also acknowledged Ugboaja’s central role in negotiations involving organised labour, the government and employers, saying his background as a lawyer and his understanding of industrial relations proved invaluable during such engagements.

He said the late unionist’s contributions to constructive engagements with government authorities and employers would continue to be cherished.

Tinubu prayed for God’s comfort for Ugboaja’s family, the labour community and others mourning his death, urging them to draw consolation from the life of service he lived.

‘May his soul rest in perfect peace,’ the President said.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has rejected the claim of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) blaming the energy supply constraints to the alleged tripping of transmission lines supplying Abuja from Shiroro Transmission Substation.

According to a press statement TCN management issued from Abuja, the reduction was a result of low generation on the grid and not in any way a TCN line tripping.

The management said, ‘The attention of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has been drawn to a publication by Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) dated 26/8/26, informing its customers of prevailing electricity supply constraints and , in part, attributing the reduction in its power allocation to the alleged tripping of transmission lines supplying Abuja from Shiroro Transmission Substation.

‘AEDC attributed the reduction in its power allocation from approximately 641MW to 314MW, to the alleged tripping of transmission lines supplying Abuja from the Shiroro Transmission Substation.

‘TCN wishes to state that this claim is inaccurate and misleading, as the reduction was a result of low generation on the grid and not in any way a TCN line tripping.’

The statement further noted that contrary to the information contained in AEDC’s publication, all 330kV transmission lines within Abuja Region are currently in circuit, and no such tripping of the 330kV transmission lines supplying Abuja axis, as alleged by AEDC, has occurred.

Continuing, the management said, TCN therefore wishes to clarify that the reported reduction in AEDC’s allocation and the resultant load shedding across its feeders cannot be attributed to the alleged tripping of TCN’s 330kV transmission lines within the Abuja Region.

We reiterate the importance of accurate and clear information dissemination.,

‘The Transmission Company of Nigeria remains committed to efficiently transmitting available bulk electricity across the nation and maintaining the stability, reliability, and integrity of the nation’s transmission grid.’

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has honoured the Commanders of ECOWAS Monitoring Group, otherwise known as ECOMOG, for restoring peace and unity in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau.

The commission also honoured two Nigerian journalists, who were killed in Liberia by forces loyal to Charles Taylor. Liberia was engulfed in war between 1990 and 1997. Sierra Leone went on fire between 1997 and 2000.

Guinea Bissau had its share in 1999.

The award is coming over two decades after peace had been restored in the three countries.

They were honoured yesterday in Abuja at the unveiling of the book: ‘Fighting bushfires: ECOWAS and peacemaking in West Africa – The experience and learning curves’.

The book, which was a documentation of events of the wars in the three countries, was put together by Prof. Amadu Sesay.

Those honoured were: Lt. Gen. Arnold Quainoo, Maj. Gen. Tunji Olurin, Maj. Gen. Joshua N. Dogonyaro, Maj. Gen. Rufus M. Kupolati, Maj. Gen. J. Ishaya Bakut, Maj. Gen. John Shagaya, Maj. Gen. John Mark Inienger, Maj. Gen. Victor Samuel Leonard Malu, Maj. Gen. Timothy M. Shelpidi, Maj. Gen. Felix Agho Mujakperuo, Brig-Gen Lamin Mangasouba, Gen. Cheick Oumar Diarra, Gen. Seth Obeng and Brig-Gen Maxwell Khobe

The two Nigerian journalists were Kreed Imodibie of Guardian Newspaper and Tayo Awotusin of the Champion Newspaper.

Also honoured is the veteran freelance journalist, Lindsay Barret and Ben Asante of Ghana.

They were given the Symbolic Peace of the Rose Award.

Speaking at the occasion, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, disclosed that he lost ten of his course mates from the Nigerian Defence Academy to the Liberia war.

He, therefore, said to ensure that such sacrifices and others are not allowed to be in vain, the region and the continent at large should unite and not allow Africa to fall in war again.

He said: ‘And I can tell you, I finished from Nigerian Defence Academy 1991. And that’s when we started going to Liberia.

‘I lost 10 of my coursemates in Liberia. Ten of them. One of them particularly from Akwa Ibom, but then Cross River, finished his course, came back to the barracks, and the barracks was empty because his seniors had all moved to Liberia.

And so he said, ‘What am I doing here when everybody is there fighting?’

And they said, ‘No, you are young officers, stay here.’ He said, ‘No, I can’t be here when those guys are fighting.’

‘And he left. A year later he was killed.

‘Those are the sacrifices that have been made, and that will continue to be made. And I want us to really have to understand that a lot of people are putting in their lives for us to survive, for us to live.’

He added: ‘And so what we owe them is to make sure that we unite, and not allow Africa to fall.

‘Other than that, they will not achieve what they died for.’

Gen Musa also expressed happiness that ECOWAS has remained the symbol of unity in Africa. ‘And like a typical example to others that things can be done differently. And standing here, I’m really quite privileged and honoured.’

He also countered the narratives about the roles played by the foreign powers in the wars, especially in Sierra Leone where they were credited to have restored peace.

According to him, the story was far from the truth. He said ECOMOG and not any foreign power restored peace in Liberia and Sierra.

He said: ‘If you go to the internet, you see their story that they were the ones that liberated Sierra Leone and Liberia. And so when I watched that video, I asked: ‘Where did you write it?’ You don’t have an analytical reference.’

He, therefore, commended the ECOWAS Commission for the book, saying: ‘So, this is where it is very important that we have something and we must write the story of our region, otherwise others will write it. And which is very, very critical to all of us.

‘These publications are important because they do more than record history. They provide opportunities for us to reflect on what we have done, what worked, where our intentions are and how we can be better.

‘Nobody ever imagined ECOWAS was going to succeed. Nobody. But even without the experience and everything, we went in, fought through, and we were able to come out successfully.

‘For an organisation that has carried the major responsibility for peace and security in West Africa, this institutional memory is extremely valuable.’

Speaking on the need for peace in the subregion, Musa said: ‘Nigeria has always understood that the security of our country is closely connected to the stability of our neighbours.’

This, he said, explained why Nigeria has consistently contributed troops, resources, and political support to the community’s efforts to prevent and manage conflict in the region.

‘We have done so because we recognise that instability does not respect borders. When conflict persists in one country, its effects can be felt through displaced populations, disrupted trade, organised crime, and other forms of insecurity across neighbouring states. And I’m sure we can attest to that with what’s happening in Sahel, affecting West Africa.

‘The experiences captured in this publication also remind us that military force, while sometimes necessary, is only one part of the response to insecurity. And we have said it over and over, especially in Nigeria, that the kinetic and non-kinetic must go hand in hand. The kinetic is just about 30% of the solution, 70% rests with non-kinetic.’

He also added ‘The experience of The Gambia, for example, demonstrates what can be achieved when regional diplomacy, collective resolve, and a clear commitment to constitutional order come together.

‘At the same time, the experience of Mali reminds us of the importance of honest reflection. We must be willing to examine our responses to crises, identify where we fell short, and ensure that those lessons inform future decisions.

‘This is not about assigning blame. It is about building a stronger and more effective community.

‘These reflections are particularly relevant as ECOWAS marks its 50th anniversary.

’50 years of regional cooperation is a significant achievement, but it should also be an opportunity to look ahead.’

He noted that peace and security remain essential to that vision of ECOWAS founding fathers.

‘As we go forward, we must, therefore, strengthen our ability to prevent conflicts before they escalate, respond effectively when crises occur, and support countries in rebuilding peace and constitutional stability,’ he stated.

He also warned that on no account should an army allow asymmetric warfare to take root in their country, because it’s a very difficult situation.

He stressed: ‘In the past, conventional warfare was between states. Asymmetric warfare is within. The enemy is within, and that makes it very, very difficult to deal with.

‘So, it’s important for countries not facing it, please don’t allow it to take root. Nip it in the bud as quickly as possible. And they have steps to do that.’

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command has arrested three suspects for alleged illegal mining of sharp sand at Obia­ja River NEAR Nnobi-Ideani Junction-Uke Road in Idemili South Local Govern­ment Area.

State Commandant, Maku Olatunde, who made this known in a statement, said the arrest was made by operatives of the command’s Mines and Steel Development Unit, in collaboration with the Federal Mines Officer in the state.

He said the command’s determination to curb unregulated mining and protect mineral resources from exploitation by unlicensed operators led to the raid of Mmiri Obiaja popularly known as Mmiri Mgbo Obiaja Nnobi in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

He listed the suspects as Patrick Anpue, 45, of Umuagu Village Nnobi in Idemili South Local Government Area, Chidubem Ugammadu, 44, of Urumkpu Village, Umuoji in Idemili South Local Government Area and Chukwuma Igwe, 47, of Umuanocha Village, Awka-Etiti in Idemili North Local Government Area.

Maku, who noted that the operation underscored the command’s efforts to clamp down on unregulated mining, listed the exhibits recovered from the suspects to include two tippers with registration numbers XA 653 GBZ and GDD 423 XB, six shovels and one wheelbarrow.

Hesaid the suspects had confessed to the crime.

He warned individuals and groups engaged in illegal sand mining or related activities in violation of environmental laws to desist or fac the law.

Miss World Nigeria 2026, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, has won the Top Model for Africa title at the ongoing Miss World competition in Vietnam.

Her victory on Thursday secured her an automatic place in the Top 40 quarterfinals of the 2026 Miss World pageant.

Karibi-George finished ahead of contestants from Equatorial Guinea, Botswana, Kenya, and South Africa during the Top Model competition held as part of Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest XVII, themed ‘Soul of Heritage’.

The Miss World Organisation announced the results on Instagram, confirming continental winners for Africa, Americas and Caribbean, Europe, and Asia and Oceania.

The Dominican Republic, France, and Vietnam won the titles for their respective regions.

‘Congratulations to our four Continental Top Model winners, who have officially secured their places in the Top 40 quarterfinals of Miss World 2026.

‘Americas and Caribbean: Dominican Republic; Africa: Nigeria; Europe: France; Asia and Oceania: Vietnam.

‘One winner from each continent earned a coveted place in the Top 40 after standing out during the Top Model competition at Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest XVII: ‘Soul of Heritage.’

‘But the competition isn’t over yet: one of these four continental winners will be named the overall Top Model winner and earn a direct place in the Top 20!’, the organisers wrote on Instagram.

The Top 40 will consist of 10 contestants from each continent.

The remaining slots will be filled through other Miss World fast-track challenges including People’s Choice, Beauty With a Purpose, Head-to-Head, and Multimedia.

Karibi-George had earlier competed in the Head-to-Head Challenge, where she reached the African finals.

South Africa’s Romanda Hombir won the continental round and also secured a Top 40 spot.

The 26-year-old from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026 on June 6 at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos.

She represented Bayelsa State and succeeded Joy Mojisola Raimi, who reached the Top 20 at the previous edition.

A communications professional and associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Karibi-George founded Beyond Labels, an initiative focused on inclusion and empowerment for children with special needs.

She was also crowned Miss Africa International 2024 in Accra, Ghana, before winning the national title.

The Lagos State Government has called on abattoir and slaughterhouse operators to adopt sustainable waste management practices and explore opportunities to convert slaughtering by-products into economic resources.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Gaji Tajudeen, made the call at a one-day workshop for abattoir operators held at ABIS Farmers Market, Ajah, Lagos.

Themed ‘Red to Green: From Waste Disposal to Resource Recovery,’ the workshop focused on sustainable waste management, public health protection and opportunities to create value from waste generated through slaughtering and meat-processing activities.

Tajudeen, represented by the Director, Public Sanitation Utility, Rahman Fagbolade, said abattoirs and slaughterhouses play an important role in the state’s food production system, support livelihoods and contribute to economic activities.

However, he noted that slaughtering activities generate various forms of waste, including blood, paunch and rumen contents, bones, horns, hooves, faecal matter and wastewater.

According to him, poor management of such waste could result in environmental pollution, poor sanitation, blocked drainage channels, offensive odours and public health risks.

He said the state government would continue to ensure that abattoirs and slaughterhouses operate in line with established environmental and sanitation standards.

Tajudeen added that enforcement alone was not sufficient to achieve sustainable compliance, stressing the need for continuous engagement, education and capacity building among operators.

He said the workshop was organised to shift attention from conventional waste disposal to resource recovery and waste-to-wealth opportunities.

The Permanent Secretary said blood, paunch and rumen contents, wastewater and faecal matter could be processed to produce biogas and organic fertiliser, while bones, horns and hooves could be processed for further value addition.

He said proper segregation, processing and management of abattoir waste could create opportunities for enterprise development, job creation and additional income while supporting the development of a circular economy.

Tajudeen identified regulation, education, innovation and collaboration as key to achieving sustainable waste management in the abattoir sector.

He urged operators to see compliance with environmental standards not only as a regulatory requirement but also as a way to protect public health, improve consumer confidence and sustain their businesses.

He also encouraged young people, farmers and other stakeholders to explore emerging opportunities in resource recovery and waste-to-wealth initiatives.

Tajudeen said achieving a cleaner and healthier Lagos required the collective efforts of government, businesses, communities and individuals.

In his lecture, titled ‘From By-products to Business: Unlocking the Economic Value of Bones, Horns, Hooves and Other Abattoir By-products,’ the guest lecturer, Mr Muyiwa Semowo, urged operators to adopt innovative methods of turning abattoir waste into economic opportunities.

Semowo said abattoir by-products could be processed into useful materials for industries including agriculture, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and animal feed.

He stressed the importance of proper segregation, handling and processing of the materials to improve their quality and market value.

According to him, adopting a circular economy approach would help reduce environmental pollution and improve sanitation while creating businesses, generating employment and increasing operators’ income.

The Muslim Engineers Association (TMEA) has clarified that it is not a rival to the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) or the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).

The body described itself instead as a faith-based professional body established to promote ethical engineering practice, leadership and service to humanity.

The clarification was made by the Pioneer National President of TMEA, Gbadegesin Muftah Osuolale, during the formal inauguration of the association’s Pioneer National Executive Council at the LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

Inaugurated alongside Osuolale were Deputy President, Tajudeen Kolade Ibrahim; Vice President, Kamorudeen Adebisi; General Secretary, Zaid Jagun; Treasurer, Al-Ameen Ahmadu; Financial Secretary, Adeniran-Bakare Silifat Mobisayo; Publicity Secretary, Ahmed Ayinla; Assistant Secretary, Ademuyiwa Tijani; and Welfare Secretary, Fatimoh Opeloyeru.

Speaking at the ceremony, held under the theme, ‘Engineering Excellence, Ethical Leadership and Service to Humanity Through Islamic Values,’ Osuolale said the association was established to complement, rather than compete with, existing statutory and professional engineering institutions.

He explained that TMEA’s position was comparable to faith-based professional associations that operate alongside mainstream professional bodies, citing the Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN) as an example.

‘TMEA is neither a rival nor an affiliate of the Nigerian Society of Engineers or COREN. We are a faith-based professional body, just as the Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria exists alongside the Nigerian Bar Association,’ he said.

Osuolale said the association’s central objective was to bring Islamic ethical principles into professional practice and encourage engineers to see their responsibilities as both professional and moral obligations.

‘Our faith and our profession were never meant to exist in separate rooms,’ he said. ‘Engineering gives us the knowledge to solve problems; Islam gives us the moral compass to use that knowledge responsibly.’

He added that engineering decisions often carry significant consequences for society, stressing that engineers must therefore place integrity, public safety and accountability above personal or commercial interests.

The inauguration marked the culmination of an eight-year evolution that began in 2018 as an informal WhatsApp group of engineers in Ikeja. The initiative expanded in 2024 under an Interim Management Committee and subsequently developed into a nationwide professional fellowship.

Osuolale, who has over 35 years of experience in civil engineering, public infrastructure, private development and professional services, is the founder and Managing Director of Enphma Nigeria Limited. He holds a B.Sc. from the University of Ibadan and an M.Sc. from the University of Lagos.

His previous public and professional engagements include serving as Supervisor for Works at Ikeja Local Government, Board Member of the Osun State Water Corporation and President of the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP).

He assured members that competence and talent would not be marginalised under his administration, while urging young engineers to recognise integrity and character as being as important as technical competence.

Rector of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, represented by the institution’s Deputy Rector (Academics), Dr. Ismail Badmus, enjoined the gathering to be mindful of the ethical implications of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.

Dr. Abdul warned that the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, automation and data analytics could create new risks if not matched with appropriate ethical safeguards.

‘A flawed line of code could affect millions of people, while a biased algorithm could discriminate against entire categories of citizens in employment, credit and security screening,’ he warned.

According to him, engineers must be willing to reject unsafe projects even when doing so could result in financial or career consequences.

‘AI can assist engineers, but it cannot replace their ethical responsibility. Treat generative AI like a highly capable but occasionally inaccurate junior colleague: use it to accelerate work, but never surrender professional judgement,’ he said.

The transition to the new executive council was formally conducted by the outgoing Chairman of the Interim Management Committee, Engr. M.B. Odetokun, who recalled the process of transforming TMEA from an informal initiative into a constitutionally guided national body.

Odetokun urged the new leadership to sustain transparency, unity and accountability as the association expands.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Kamoru Adebisi, also expressed appreciation to members, partners and delegates whose contributions helped bring the inauguration to fruition.

Olowu of Owu Kingdom Oba Saka Matemilola, urged the new leadership to contribute meaningfully to addressing Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges.

Oba Matemilola enjoined the engineers to stand firmly against corruption and invest in mentoring young professionals who would take over the profession in the future.