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The Innovative Media Partners Cooperative Multipurpose Society (IMPCMS) has mourned its pioneer President, Mr Dotun Oladipo, who died on Tuesday in Lagos.

IMPCMS described Oladipo’s death as a huge loss to Nigeria’s media industry.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oladipo, 56, died suddenly after taking ill at his office.

He was the Founder and Publisher of The Eagle Online.as well as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Premium Eagle Media Ltd.

He also served as President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) from 2017 to 2021 and remained an Emeritus President of the guild.

In a statement yesterday , the Secretary of IMPCMS, Mr Nkanu Egbe, said Oladipo led the cooperative with dedication and vision, contributing significantly to media collaboration and professional development.

Egbe said Oladipo’s contributions would leave an enduring legacy that would continue to guide the operations of the organisation.

He said Oladipo was instrumental to the establishment of IMPCMS to promote collaboration, training and investment among Nigerian media professionals.

Egbe said that Oladipo’s journalism career spanned nearly three decades, during which he worked with some leading Nigerian newspapers, including Newswatch, Punch, Nigerian Tribune, Nigerian Compass and The Sun.

Egbe noted that Oladipo rose to become Punch’s Politics Editor before venturing into digital publishing and establishing The Eagle Online.

He condoled with Oladipo’s widow , children and other family members, management and staff members of The Eagle Online and Premium Eagle Media Ltd., and his colleagues across the media industry.

Former Nigeria internationals Segun Odegbami and Peterside Idah have reacted to the resignation of Ibrahim Musa Gusau as President of the Nigeria Football Federation, with both calling for a change in the administration of Nigerian football.

Odegbami believes Gusau’s resignation has removed one of the major obstacles to reforming the country’s football administration.

The former Super Eagles captain said the voluntary exit could also reduce concerns about possible FIFA sanctions arising from external interference in the affairs of the federation.

‘His resignation removes the whole issue of FIFA ban, FIFA ban, and now provides the opportunity for us to clean up whatever it is that we are complaining about,’ Odegbami said to Brila FM.

He believes the development provides an opportunity for Nigerian football stakeholders to address longstanding concerns surrounding the administration of the game.

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peterside Idah, meanwhile, has gone a step further by declaring that he should take over as the ‘authentic president’ of the NFF.

Idah, who contested the NFF presidential election, argued that his position in the contest makes him next in line following Gusau’s resignation.

His claim is expected to add another dimension to discussions over the immediate leadership and constitutional process within the NFF following the departure of Gusau and members of his Executive Committee.

Gospel artiste Gaise Baba has criticised The Headies for what he described as the marginalisation of faith-based music, calling for gospel songs to be judged in mainstream categories based on quality and impact.

In an open letter to the organisers dated August 28, 2026, the singer reflected on his experience as a nominee and questioned the awards’ structure.

Gaise Baba, who identifies as a leading voice in Afrogospel, said he has been active in the Nigerian music industry for over 15 years and has the right to speak on the direction of the awards.

He said, ‘As a faith-based artiste, or gospel as it is more commonly called, I have always had an outlook of not being limited in expression or restricted to only religious gatherings; I will engage across the length and breadth of the industry within which I play, in this case, the Music Industry.’

He stated that faith-based artistes should not be limited to religious spaces and should engage fully across the music industry.

He argued that music should be categorised by craft, not content.

According to him, a rap record remains a rap record regardless of whether it addresses money, fame, sex, or faith, and that elements like songwriting, delivery and flow determine the genre.

He said, ‘A rap record is a rap record. It does not stop being rap because of what the artiste chose to rap about. Whether the record is about money, fame, sex, debauchery, or faith, the craft, pen game, cadence, delivery, and the flow are what make it a rap record, not the subject matter.’

He said restricting gospel songs to inspirational categories removes them from conversations they deserve to be part of.

‘A rap song with gospel content, considered only within ‘gospel’ or ‘inspirational’ categories and never as ‘rap’, is being quietly removed from a conversation it has every right to be part of,’ he added.

The 18th Headies is scheduled for October 25, 2026, in Toronto, Canada, with nominees across 35 categories.

Afrobeats stars dominate most of the major categories this year.

Gaise Baba acknowledged the introduction of the Inspirational category in 2022 as a positive step, but expressed disappointment over the last edition.

He was nominated in the category, featuring Tope Alabi, alongside Anendlessocean, Mercy Chinwo, Dunsin Oyekan and Limoblaze.

He said his team attended all pre-award activities, yet the category was not presented on stage.

He described the omission as a disregard for the nominated creatives, and noted that other categories were also left out despite a ceremony that ran over five hours.

He said, ‘The Inspirational category wasn’t the only one left uncalled; the same disregard applies to every other category affected. Thirty categories can be called on a night that stretched beyond five hours.’

He urged organisers to ensure every announced category gets stage recognition.

He further questioned the double standard in how songs are judged, asking why records centred on sexual themes could compete for artistic recognition while faith-based songs are confined to one category.

He asked, ‘If a song that explores sexual desire and the objectification of a woman’s body is celebrated for its artistic value and allowed full sway in the industry’s ocean, why should the one on faith be restricted to an aquarium?’

The singer also challenged stakeholders to consider the cultural impact of gospel songs, citing Favour and No Turning Back II as examples.

He asked how many songs in the current year had matched their reach across Nigeria and beyond.

He asked, ‘How many records released in the current year under review have had a greater ‘cultural impact’, across the length and breadth of this country and maybe even beyond, than FAVOR or NO TURNING BACK II?’

For the 2026 edition, Gaise Baba and Lawrence Oyor’s No Turning Back 2 is nominated for Best Inspirational Single, competing with Sunmisola Agbebi, Lawrence Oyor, Sinach, EmmaOMG and Mercy Chinwo.

The United States said it in Wednesday disrupted a Chinese hacking operation responsible for break-ins and attempts on the Justice Department, NASA, the Federal Reserve, the Senate, and other sensitive government agencies.

In a statement, the Justice Department said it had seized domains used by two hacking platforms, dubbed QScan and QTRouter, which it said had been used as part of the campaign.

An affidavit, identified the U.S. Department of Energy, Department of Health ?and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, and four unnamed companies in the U.S. and South Korea as being among the hackers’ ?victims.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said in an email that while they were not familiar with the specifics mentioned in the DOJ statement, the ‘Chinese government firmly opposes and combats all forms of cyber attacks in accordance with the law.’

The U.S. uses ?cybersecurity issues to ‘smear or discredit China,’ the spokesperson said, and China ‘opposes the U.S. overstretching the concept of national security and using it as a pretext to impose ?discriminatory restrictions on Chinese companies and will firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.’

The Justice Department said the platforms were run by a China-based firm, the Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Company, whose clients it said included China’s civilian intelligence agency, the Ministry of State Security, and its military, the People’s Liberation Army.

Nanjing Xinjiuwei did not immediately ?respond to a request for comment outside normal business hours.

The affidavit said the hackers used tools they developed to compromise critical ?infrastructure and other sensitive networks in the U.S. and worldwide since at least 2018.

The affidavit said that not all their attempts to gain access were successful.

The hackers unsuccessfully attempted gain ?access to NASA networks in August 2019 by targeting a virtual private network vulnerability.

In September 2024, the hackers carried out intrusions at three unnamed Energy Department laboratories, the NIH, an unnamed HHS agency, and a U.S. security device manufacturer, according to the affidavit.

A joint cybersecurity advisory, opens new tab issued by the FBI, NSA and U.S. Cyber Command’s Cyber National Mission Force detailed multiple hacking efforts over the years. These included successful data theft from unnamed defense contractors, financial institutions and universities in ?May 2024.

The hackers also scanned ?for vulnerabilities and made unsuccessful attempts ?to access networks of the U.S. Senate and a U.S. hospital in March 2026.

A NASA spokesperson said the agency does not comment on specific incidents, and the Department of Health and Human Services referred questions to the DOJ. ?The DOJ did not respond to a request for additional detail.

Chinese-linked hacking campaigns have compromised a string of ?sensitive U.S. government and ?private networks in recent years. In March, the FBI notified Congress that hackers had penetrated certain agency networks related to people under FBI investigation, with public reporting later attributing the compromise to China. Chinese-linked hackers have also been tied to a compromise of certain U.S. House of Representatives committee networks, as well as multiple major telecommunications ?companies in ?recent years.

Experts who follow Chinese cyber activity say private contractors routinely carry out high-profile intrusions ?on behalf of various Chinese government agencies.

‘Over the last decade, the number of companies offering niche offensive services has exploded,’ said Dakota Cary, a China analyst with cybersecurity company SentinelOne.

Filmmaker Ose Oyamendan’s documentary ‘MKO’ is set for its Nigerian premiere on October 1, 2026. The documentary is billed to bring renewed attention to the life, political struggle and controversial death of businessman and June 12 presidential election winner Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.

The 108-minute documentary had its world premiere at Sheffield DocFest 2026 in the United Kingdom and examines the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Abiola’s subsequent detention and the circumstances surrounding his death in custody in 1998.

Oyamendan, who was a young journalist with Weekend Concord during the June 12 crisis, draws on archival material and interviews with prominent figures connected to the events. Those interviewed include former military rulers Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former electoral chief Humphrey Nwosu, Abiola’s running mate Baba Gana Kingibe, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, members of the Abiola family, journalists and diplomats.

A major focus of the film is the unresolved circumstances surrounding Abiola’s death on July 7, 1998, while he was meeting a US delegation. The documentary examines competing accounts of what happened shortly before his collapse and death, including questions surrounding the tea he was served. Oyamendan has said the film investigates the circumstances without presenting an unsupported verdict on the cause of death.

The October 1 premiere coincides with Nigeria’s Independence Day, placing the story of June 12, democracy and military rule within the broader history of Nigeria’s political development.

Oyamendan has described the project as more than a film about Abiola, presenting it as an examination of Nigeria’s unfinished democratic story and the consequences of the annulment of the June 12 election.

Political differences temporarily gave way to friendship and cultural unity in Eruwa, Ibarapaland, as leaders across party lines gathered to honour distinguished sons and daughters of the community.

The gathering, held as part of activities marking the first coronation anniversary of the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola, saw members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Allied People’s Movement (APM) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) share the same platform and join in traditional dancing.

Politicians and other stakeholders who would ordinarily face each other during election campaigns exchanged pleasantries and celebrated together, highlighting the enduring ties of community and shared heritage beyond political affiliations.

Among those honoured at the ceremony were Dr Olusola Ayandele, popularly known as Eruobodo, and his wife, Dr Folayimika Ayandele, as well as Chief Adewale Atanda, popularly known as Alase, and his wife.

The Eleruwa conferred on Ayandele the title of Aare Bobagunwa of Ibarapaland, while his wife was installed as Yeye Aare Bobagunwa of Ibarapaland.

Atanda was also honoured as Otunba of Ibarapaland, with his wife receiving the title of Yeye Otunba.

For the Ayandeles, the recognition came days after they received chieftaincy titles from the Onidere of Idere, Oba Kingsley Onikola, who conferred on them the titles of Asiwaju and Yeye Asiwaju of Idere.

The latest honours further recognised the couple’s contributions to their communities’ development and placed them among individuals acknowledged by traditional institutions across Ibarapaland.

The ceremony attracted traditional rulers from across the region, including the Olu of Igboora, Oba Jimoh Titiloye; Olu-Aso of Iberekodo land, Oba Adedamola Badmus; and the Onidere of Idere, Oba Kingsley Onikola.

Other dignitaries included the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adebo Ogundoyin; former Deputy Governor and Oyo State APC Chairman, Chief Moses Adeyemo; APM governorship candidate, Abimbola Adekanmbi; former Oyo State APC Chairman, Alhaji Olayide Abas; and Executive Director, South West Development Commission, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle.

Also present were Alhaja Bose Adedibu, members of the Oyo State APC executive, prominent APM and PDP chieftains, captains of industry, community leaders and other guests.

As the celebration continued, politicians from different parties were seen dancing together, underscoring how political competition can coexist with mutual respect and a commitment to developing their shared homeland.

Performing the conferment of the titles, Oba Adegbola said the honours formed part of activities marking his first year on the throne and provided an opportunity to celebrate individuals whose contributions and accomplishments had brought pride to Eruwa and Ibarapaland.

In his remarks, Ogundoyin congratulated the newly installed chiefs, describing their recognition as a testament to their contributions to the people’s development and well-being.

The Speaker stressed that traditional titles were not merely ornaments or symbols of social prestige, but carried significant responsibilities to the people and communities they represented.

He commended Oba Adegbola for dedicating part of his first coronation anniversary to recognising and celebrating distinguished sons and daughters of Ibarapaland, describing the initiative as a demonstration of the monarch’s commitment to unity, cultural preservation and community development.

Ogundoyin urged the newly installed chiefs to see their elevation as a renewed call to service, noting that the titles should inspire them to contribute even more meaningfully to the growth, peace and prosperity of Ibarapaland.

He also prayed for continued wisdom, strength and a peaceful reign for the Eleruwa, while urging the people of Eruwa and the wider Ibarapaland to continue supporting initiatives that promote unity and preserve the rich cultural heritage of the people.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sworn in Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF).

The President administered the oath of office to Enitan yesterday at the State House, Abuja, a week after announcing his appointment as successor to Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack.

President Tinubu on August 21 received the new Head of Service and his predecessor at the State House as part of preparations for a seamless transition in the leadership of the federal civil service.

After the ceremony, Enitan pledged to make the federal civil service more innovative, productive, professional and responsive to the needs of Nigerians.

He said: ‘My task is very simple and it is just to make the Federal Civil Service more innovative, more productive and more professional, as well as to be more responsive to the yearnings of Nigerians, where the civil service as a body translates government policies, programmes and projects into concrete results, and that is what the service under me will focus on.’

The new HoCSF said his leadership would prioritise effective implementation of government policies while consolidating on the reforms and initiatives of his predecessor.

‘We will make sure government policies are properly implemented, and we will continue from where my predecessor stopped so that we take the Service to the next level and win back the trust and the hearts of Nigerians,’ Enitan said.

He promised not to abandon existing initiatives or attempt to start the reform process afresh, but would strengthen the system to improve efficiency and productivity.

‘I am not going to re-invent the wheel, no. I will rather lubricate the wheel so that it can deliver efficiently and more productively, so that I can fulfil the aspirations and expectations of Nigerians’, he said.

Enitan also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for finding him worthy to lead the federal civil service and thanked Nigerians for the confidence reposed in him.

Some participants at the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt have decried poor organisation, inadequate welfare arrangements and uncomfortable venues, saying the event fell short of last year’s edition in Enugu.

The conference, themed ‘Beyond Limits,’ is holding in its final days amid complaints about a decline in the intellectual quality of some activities.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Dr Monday Onyekachi Ubani, in an interim assessment, described the conference as ‘lacklustre, uninspiring and, in several respects, deeply disappointing.’ He praised last year’s Enugu conference for its organisation, traffic management and hospitality, saying positive reports from that edition had drawn a large turnout to Port Harcourt, especially among younger lawyers.

He faulted the quality of conference materials, particularly the conference bag, saying it did not reflect the ‘dignity, class and intellectual character’ expected of Africa’s largest gathering of lawyers. He also questioned the choice of some invited personalities, arguing that popularity and social media visibility should not take precedence over intellectual pedigree, professional accomplishment and scholarship. ‘Entertainment has its place, but it must never replace intellectual substance,’ he said.

Other participants echoed concerns over welfare and feeding. A video circulating among lawyers showed participants struggling to access meals at a food distribution point, sparking reactions online, though it did not establish that meals were generally unavailable.

The NBA had earlier said registered physical attendees were entitled to lunch on each of the three conference days, with digital meal tickets introduced for access to food stations.

Ubani said lunch arrangements were not sufficiently centralised, tea-break venues were poorly organised, and some halls used during the first two days were hot and unsuitable for serious engagement. ‘These may appear to be minor details to some people, but they are not,’ he said, arguing that a participant contending with heat, hunger and congestion could not fully concentrate on proceedings.

The experience has also revived concerns about Nigeria’s inadequate convention infrastructure. Ubani said an annual conference attracting tens of thousands of lawyers, more than 18,000 of whom had registered as of April, should not continue to depend on facilities not designed for gatherings of such magnitude. He called for investment in purpose-built convention centres accommodating at least 25,000 people, with adequate halls, air-conditioning, parking, security, sanitation, exhibition spaces, restaurants, reliable electricity and transportation.

Describing his assessment as interim, with the remaining days still capable of redeeming the conference, Ubani urged the NBA to improve planning, strengthen logistics and select guests more carefully. ‘We must plan better. We must organise better. We must select our guests with greater care. We must prioritise intellectual substance over unnecessary spectacle,’ he said.

Federal Government yesterday launched the building of 241 housing units sited on 33.3 hectares in Osogbo, Osun State capital.

The government, through the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), equally announced the completion of 300 units at Bwari, Abuja, which is ready for inauguration.

Speaking during the turning of sod at East Bypass, Osogbo, the Managing Director of FHA, Oyetunde Ojo, said the project would be executed through Public Private Partnership (PPP) to encourage innovation and efficiency in a bid to meet standards.

Ojo, represented by the Executive Director of Estate Services, Nya-Etok Ezekiel, an architect, said the project was a partnership with Summit Group Ltd.

He said the development would feature a mixed-use layout comprising residential units, commercial spaces and recreational centres designed to serve families, workers and entrepreneurs.

‘By combining living, working and leisure environments, we aim to foster vibrant, safe and self-sustaining communities,’ he said.

The FHA MD acknowledged the deficit in housing sector, saying ‘in a bid to bridge the gap, the agency embraced PPP, which exemplifies the shared-risk, shared-value approach that produces faster delivery, higher quality outcomes and greater value for citizens and investors.’

Ojo added that the agency was driven by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to be bold, accountable and results-driven in tackling the nation’s housing challenges.

Highlighting recent nationwide efforts, Ojo said the agency broke ground on a partnership project in Ogun State on May 13, 2026 and launched Renewed Hope Estate in Umuahia, Abia State, on April 11, 2026, saying similar initiatives have been carried out in Akwa Ibom and Kaduna states.

The FHA boss assured the public of the authority’s commitment to responsible development that respected local needs, created jobs and boosted economic growth.

The Managing Director of Summit Group Limited, Otunba Olalere Olabode, said: ‘We are going to build 241 units in various sizes on the 33.3 hectares of land here.’

The General Manager of PPP and Zonal Coordinator of FHA, Peter Okpanachi, an architect, said the project would feature commercial and institutional zones, a clinic, a police station, religious sites and a central sewage system; positioning it as one of the best estates in Osogbo.

The Executive Director of Projects Implementation, Remi Omowaye, an engineer, said the development would meet necessary requirements to stand out as a premier destination in the state.

International Exhibition giant, Propak West Africa is set to bring together local and international exhibitors, manufacturers and industry professionals for one of West Africa’s premier manufacturing and packaging exhibitions, serving the packaging, plastics, print, labelling and food processing sectors.

At the event, which holds at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, from September 8 to 10, Propak West Africa would also provide a platform where global innovation, technical expertise and business opportunities converge to support sustainability, strengthen regional manufacturing and connect local industry with world-class technologies and solutions.

In a statement, Mark Anderson, Portfolio Director, Montgomery Group Africa, organisers of the show, said: ‘Propak West Africa has established itself as one of West Africa’s leading manufacturing and packaging events because it delivers real business value for visitors,’

He said visitors would have the opportunity to explore the latest machinery, materials and technologies, compare solutions firsthand, and engage with technical specialists and industry experts. Complementing the exhibition is a conference for production and packaging professionals will deliver expert insights into the trends, innovations and operational strategies shaping the future of manufacturing and packaging.

Leading local and regional exhibitors are Beta Glass Nigeria, SBA Nigeria, PET Associates and Bristol Scientific while the international exhibitors expected are Windmöller and Hölscher; Reifenhäuser Blown Film; the Piovan Group; Nissei ASB Africa; Clearpack Group; Snetor and Vinmar International, among others.

Propak West Africa is supported by Food and Beverage Alliance; Recyclers Aassociation of Nigeria; Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN); Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology; Consumer Advocacy for Food Safety and Nutrition Initiative; Advertisers Association of Nigeria; African Packaging Organisation and Advanced Institute of Packaging Professionals Nigeria.

In addition, the participation of Girls Who Print Africa reflects the industry’s focus on inclusion, skills development and the advancement of women across the print and packaging sectors. Girls Who Print Africa is the premier regional network for women in the print, packaging, and graphic communications industry and focuses on mentorship, skills development, resource sharing, and professional development. Propak West Africa will also partner with Girls Who Print Africa to host the maiden edition of the Women in Print and Packaging session on the first day of the Propak West Africa Summit. This will bring together industry leaders and professionals to discuss opportunities, challenges, and pathways for advancing women’s participation and leadership within the sector.