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Former Nigerian international, Dimeji Lawal, has cautioned the Super Eagles not to get carried away by FIFA’s sanction against South Africa, stressing that the real challenge lies in their capability to win their remaining qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin.

The world soccer ruling body, FIFA, on Monday docked South Africa three points and overturned their previous 2-0 victory over Lesotho after fielding ineligible midfielder Teboho Mokoena in a preliminary qualifier on March 21, 2025. The disciplinary ruling awarded Lesotho a 3-0 win, while South Africa was fined CHF 10,000. Mokoena also received a formal warning from football’s governing body.

Speaking on the development, Lawal acknowledged the significance of the ruling but insisted that Nigeria’s qualification hopes depend on the Super Eagles’ performances in their last two fixtures.

‘I don’t get excited about the sanction of South Africa because one thing is to get three points taken away from South Africa. Another thing is for us to be able to win our remaining games,’ Lawal posited. ‘The bottom line is: can we win the last two games?

‘That’s the question and this is the crucial part of it. I’m not so excited about removing South Africa’s points. What I am looking forward to is how we can prepare ourselves in a manner that we can win the next two games.’

Lawal, who represented Nigeria at both youth and senior levels before moving abroad to play in Spain, Belgium, and South Africa, emphasized that FIFA’s decision was expected given their long-standing stance on player eligibility.

‘They won’t bend their rules at that level. They will not like to undermine their own regulations. So for sure when South Africa made that mistake, I knew they were going to forfeit the three points and three goals,’ he added.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Wednesday advised the federal government to urgently tackle insecurity.

CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, in his 65th independence anniversary message, also pleaded for a united, peaceful, and prosperous nation.

Okoh recalled the resilience of Nigerians who have endured civil war, years of instability, and recurring economic and social crises.

He said, despite these difficulties, people have shown remarkable courage and faith, sustaining hope in the promise of a better Nigeria.

Okoh, in a statement, said, ‘The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) joins all citizens in celebrating the 65th anniversary of our nation’s independence. This milestone offers us the opportunity to reflect with gratitude to Almighty God on how far we have come, to recognise the challenges we still face.

‘We acknowledge the undeniable progress recorded in education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, telecommunications, and other sectors over the decades. From a handful of schools and institutions at independence, our country today boasts thousands, producing generations of young men and women who continue to shape the nation’s future.

‘Yet, we must also be honest about the unfinished business of nation-building. Economic reforms, while necessary, have brought temporary hardship for millions. The rising cost of living, food insecurity, unemployment, and inflation continue to weigh heavily on households. True progress must be measured not only by statistics but by the food on every table, the security of every community, and the opportunities available to every child’.

Okoh prayed to God to grant our leaders the wisdom, courage, and strength to drive the reforms to a point where Nigerians will rejoice.

‘And may He protect them from sycophants who do not mean well for our nation.

‘Security remains an urgent concern. Terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and communal conflicts have caused deep pain and displacement. While strides have been made in restoring safety, more still needs to be done to guarantee the protection of lives and property. CAN urges sustained collaboration between security agencies, communities, and faith-based organisations to consolidate peace across the country.

‘We also recognise that young people are Nigeria’s greatest asset. Their energy, creativity, and determination hold the key to a better tomorrow. Yet, the persistent brain drain, where many of our brightest minds leave for opportunities abroad, remains a critical challenge’, he added.

The CAN boss said Nigeria must create the enabling environment that encourages its citizens, especially the youth, to stay, thrive, and contribute meaningfully to national development.

Okoh said, ‘Investment in education, innovation, and youth empowerment must remain a national priority, ensuring that no young Nigerian is left behind.

‘As a faith community, CAN believes that the challenges we face can be overcome with collective sacrifice, patriotism, and trust in God. We therefore call on all Nigerians, leaders and citizens alike to rise above ethnic, religious, and political divides, and to work together for the common good.

‘On this anniversary, let us renew our commitment to justice, equity, and good governance. Let us embrace hard work, pay our taxes faithfully, support local production, and show love to one another as one people under God.

‘The dawn of a new Nigeria is possible. With God’s help and our shared determination, we shall build a nation where peace, prosperity, and unity flourish for generations to come’.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has said that more governors from the opposition parties were putting finishing touches in preparation to join President Bola Tinubu in the ruling party, just as he noted that Nigerians were already seeing the positive outcomes of the Tinubu-led administration.

Akpabio stated this on Tuesday in his goodwill message at the launch of a book, titled: ‘Ten Years of Impactful Leadership of the APC Administration in Nigeria,’ written by Governor Hope Uzodimma and commissioning of projects by President Bola Tinubu in Owerri, Imo State.

Akpabio, according to a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, said, ‘Mr President, with what you have done in the last two years, get ready to receive more governors from the opposition parties. As I speak, there are several governors in Nigeria today who are ready to be received by you.’

He stated further that Nigerians were beginning to see the positive outcomes of President Bola Tinubu, and they are saying it.

‘The students, farmers, and businessmen are all speaking on the various reforms you have brought into governance, which are now yielding results, in the overall interest and benefit of the people.

‘If we say it, they will accuse us of rubber-stamping your achievements, but the beneficiaries are the ones talking about what you have done.

‘I believe strongly in development and progress. I thank Governor Uzodimma for deciding to put history in writing, in his 10 years of impactful leadership of the APC administration in Nigeria.

‘If you don’t tell your story, others will tell it for you. Progressiveness is not in words; it is in action. The quality of works done by the Governor is of high quality, and the people of Imo State must be very, very excited,’ the Senate President said.

Speaking further, he stressed that as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State 18 years ago, he was already a progressive based on the projects he executed.

Akpabio congratulated his host and the National leadership of the party for the achievements of the party in the last 10 years.’

As Nigeria marked its 65th Independence anniversary on Wednesday, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabir Masari, senior special assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on political and other matters, called on citizens to embrace unity and faith in the nation’s future.

In a statement, Masari expressed ‘unalloyed joy’ over how far Nigeria has come despite its diversity and challenges. He invoked the symbolism of the ‘broom principle’ to stress the importance of togetherness.

‘A strand of broom is easily broken, but a bunch of brooms is hardly broken. The important thing is that we are better and stronger together,’ he said, urging Nigerians to contribute positively towards the dreams of the nation’s founding fathers.

Masari praised President Tinubu’s leadership, describing the Renewed Hope Agenda as transformative.

‘Our faith in a collective Nigeria where everyone’s future is assured should remain unshaken, more so as the leadership of the country under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown strong capacity and commitment to returning the country to a path of progress with the Renewed Hope Agenda that is working beyond belief,’ he said.

He pointed to what he described as more inclusive governance, with development projects and appointments spread across political zones. ‘This is a time that all Nigerians are being carried along. so the spirit of divisiveness should die a natural death,’ Masari declared.

Highlighting improvements in education, security, infrastructure, health, finance, and the economy, Masari asserted that Tinubu’s administration had ‘brought back the coaches of our national derailment back on track.’

He encouraged citizens to rally behind government efforts to accelerate growth and catch up with developed nations.

Warning against political distractions, Masari urged Nigerians to remain steadfast. ‘Every scheme to draw us back by any political consideration should not only be thwarted but resisted,’ he said, before assuring that better days lie ahead.

‘Happy Independence Anniversary to all Nigerians,’ he concluded.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called on President Bola Tinubu and other political leaders to respect the rule of law and uphold judicial processes as Nigeria marks its 65th Independence anniversary.

In his Independence Day message, conveyed through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke congratulated Nigerians and stressed the need for genuine national reforms that would entrench true federalism.

He described the occasion as a crucial moment to evaluate the health of the nation’s constitutional democracy, the rule of law, and the delivery of good governance.

The governor further urged leaders to safeguard the foundation of national governance by ensuring strict compliance with the constitution and unwavering respect for the rule of law.

He said, ‘We have made progress, but we can move faster and better. We have recorded a lot of progress, but we should continue to protect the foundation of our national existence, the constitution and its interpretation by a truly independent judiciary.

‘We must, in totality, ensure compliance with the rule of law, not the rule of thumb. Judicial process must be respected as it is the only legitimate vehicle to regulate relationships among players in the democratic space and among Nigerians at large.’

He described democracy as rule-based, noting that Nigerian democracy will progress faster and good governance will be better delivered when democratic structures are allowed to function without unlawful interference.

‘I felicitate with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians at large. I task the political class to strive towards true federalism. Federating units must be strengthened within the context of more devolution of powers and resources.

‘Nigeria must run truly as a federation where the tiers of government operate with clear regulations as provided by the constitution and moderated by the rule of law. This will fast-track development at all levels of governance.

‘I urge Osun people to remain law-abiding, calm, and peaceful as the state government is deploying democratic tools to advance and protect the interests of the state within the federation and within the context of the rule of law. We must resist the temptation to take the law into our hands.

‘On this occasion of the 65th Independence anniversary, I congratulate Nigerians, at home and abroad. We look forward to more national and subnational improvement as democratic governance progresses’, the governor noted.

A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON), Nigerian Interfaith Forum (NIF), National Coalition for Market Men, Women and Artisans (NACOMWA), and Petroleum Consumers’ Protection Alliance (PCPA) have called on the federal government to support the Dangote Refinery and petrochemicals against ongoing attacks by ‘oil cartel.’

The organisations that for decades, Nigerians have been held hostage by a cartel that thrived on import dependency, round-tripping, subsidy scams, and artificial scarcity.

The organisations condemned recent actions of Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), and the ill-timed strike threats by Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) that disrupted activities at the oil company.

COCSON’s President, Ibrahim Suleiman; NIF’s National Chairman, Mathew Ayodele; NACOMWA’s National President, Boma Agbede, and PCPA’s Chairman, Yusuf Danladi, charged President Bola Tinubu to hold the unions responsible if there is a breakdown of law and order in the country.

The organisations noted that DAPPMAN has chosen to undermine the Dangote Refinery and petrochemical and other indigenous refining initiatives because they fear competition, transparency, and efficiency.

According to them, DAPPMAN’s opposition to Dangote Refinery’s emergence as a major force in local refining is not about policy or about patriotism but about preserving their stranglehold over Nigerians.

‘Their agenda is to keep fuel importation alive, so they can continue profiteering at the expense of ordinary citizens who are already battered by poverty, unemployment, and inflation,’ they said

‘We declare our unwavering support for the Dangote Refinery and other indigenous refineries as the path to energy security, job creation, and economic sovereignty.

‘We demand that the government stand firm with the Dangote Refinery and accelerate policies that will break the cartel’s stranglehold once and for all,’ they added.

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing women’s economic participation, saying deliberate investment in women is key to inclusive growth and prosperity.

Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Hamzat, spoke at the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA)’s flagship conference, WAPA Connect 2025.

According to him, the recently launched Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy Roadmap was designed to dismantle barriers that limit women and girls from contributing fully to the economy.

‘WAPA Connect Conference is our flagship 2025 event, uniting government officials, civil society, private sector partners, and everyday women across Lagos. This year’s theme underscores our strong commitment to making policies practical and impactful, ensuring measurable outcomes for women’s empowerment. We believe that investing in women is not just an act of charity-it is a matter of economics, justice, and prosperity. A society cannot really thrive if it leaves half of its population behind,’ he said.

Sanwo-Olu explained that the roadmap, developed from real-life experiences of Lagos women across sectors, would expand opportunities in entrepreneurship, agriculture, skill acquisition, the traditional labour market and emerging industries.

He added that the state was prioritising partnerships with women-led organisations and private sectors to ensure measurable results, while improving data collection to guide targeted interventions.

Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Bolaji Dada, described the programme as a platform that enables women from all backgrounds to connect, network and explore opportunities.

She said this year’s theme serves as a reminder that empowering women benefits families, businesses and the wider economy.

Highlighting the ministry’s achievements, Mrs Dada said 28,913 students had graduated from the state’s 19 free skills acquisition centres since the inception of the administration, while 17,213 beneficiaries received equipment under the Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI).

She added that 18,241 women were trained under the Life Skills and Economic Empowerment Programme (LEEP), 5,494 benefitted from agricultural programmes in Badagry, while more than 5,500 widows received cash grants and empowerment packages.

According to her, over 28,000 sanitary pads have been distributed to schoolgirls under the menstrual hygiene programme, while the ministry’s Purple Project provides shelters, psychosocial counselling and legal aid for survivors of gender-based violence across the 57 councils.

She said the initiatives have strengthened food security and created employment opportunities across the state.

The commissioner commended the state government’s continuous support and stressed that WAPA’s achievements reflect Sanwo-Olu’s vision of placing women at the heart of development.

Wife of the governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs. Funmi Omotoso, also commended the commissioner for sustaining the conference and placing women at the centre of its agenda.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) announced on Wednesday that it would begin nationwide enforcement against persons who overstayed in the country in violations of visa amnesty granted by the government.

The expiration of the Federal Government’s three-month visa amnesty programme begins on October 1, 2025.

The crackdown targets foreign nationals who failed to regularise their immigration status during the grace period.

A statement by the spokesman of the NIS, Akinsola Akinlabi, warned that offenders would face fines, deportation, or lifetime entry bans.

‘With the expiration of the amnesty period, effective October 1, 2025, enforcement actions will commence nationwide against foreign nationals who have overstayed their visa or violated their entry conditions,’ Akinlabi said.

The enforcement covers a wide category of foreigners, including those with expired Visa on Arrival (VoA), expired single- and multiple-entry short visit or business visas, as well as holders of expired Comprehensive Expatriate Residence Permit and Automated Cards (CERPAC).

According to the NIS, foreigners who have overstayed by less than three months risk removal, a $15 daily fine, or a two-year entry ban.

Those who have overstayed between three months and one year face removal, a $15 daily fine, or a five-year entry ban. Overstayers of one year and above face removal, a 10-year entry ban, or a permanent ban from Nigeria.

The Service said the measures are aimed at safeguarding national security and ensuring lawful migration.

‘The Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to enforcing the law, protecting national interests, and promoting transparency and efficiency across all immigration processes,’ Akinlabi said.

Afrobeats pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti didn’t just play music; he lived it. Fela is revered for creating the Afrobeat sound, drawing from diverse Afro-musical inspirations and genres. But, it wasn’t just about the beats – Fela’s lyrics, forged in Pidgin English, were often scathing critiques of corruption, oppression, and colonialism. He used his music as a weapon and his stage as a battleground.

Recently, Fela was inducted into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame for his classic 1976 album, Zombie. He is the first Nigerian artiste to receive the honour. The Recording Academy, organisers of the Grammy Awards, announced the inclusion in this year’s Hall of Fame selections.

The Zombie album merited the honour for the late Afrobeat icon and his family as part of the nominated works released for the past 25 years, not recent musical works.

It was released in Nigeria under Coconut Records in 1976 and in the UK by Creole Records in 1977. The classic album is now in the league of other notable musical works that earned the Grammy Hall of Fame induction. Other albums from Jay-Z, Michael Jackson, Santana, and Cat Stevens have since been included in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Fela’s presence and his legacy has been honoured continuously over the years through contemporary showcases and exhibitions from Lagos to London, Germany, Brazil, France, Egypt and other countries.

This time around, Fela Anikulapo Kuti: Afrobeat Rebellion comes home. It will open in Lagos at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in October, bringing the acclaimed retrospective home in an expanded, community-driven format that merges art exhibition with performances, film, workshops, and children’s programming.

At the press conference held recently, the organisers disclosed that the exhibition which is free and open to the general public, will kick off on October 12th and ends on December 28th in Lagos.

It had in attendance: Laurent Favier, Consul General of the French Embassy; Emmanuelle Harang, Cultural Attaché of the French Embassy; The Kuti Family consisting Yeni Kuti, Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, Made Kuti; Papa Omotayo, Creative Director, AWCA; Onoshiokhue Ako, AWCA Project Lead; Seun Alli, Curator, JCAA; Omoboye Odu, Ecobank representative.

Designed as an immersive journey through Fela’s life, music, and radical ideas, the exhibition layers archival objects, photography, soundscapes, and media installations that reconstruct spaces from Kalakuta to the Afrika Shrine-alongside an interactive global map of influence and furthers its programming to include a weekly ‘Legacy Programmes’ calendar (talks, live music, studio sessions, cinema, children activities)

This edition adds to the rich history of Fela exhibitions in Lagos, standing out for its unprecedented scale and ambition: it is the first to combine the curatorial depth of an internationally acclaimed European retrospective with the authenticity of a Lagos reimagining. More than an exhibition, it is a 12-week cultural programme designed to immerse audiences across generations and place Lagos at the centre of Afrobeats global story.

First staged at the Philharmonie de Paris in 2022, the exhibition was hailed as ‘a revolutionary tribute’ (Euronews), ‘an echo of Fela’s unrelenting voice against oppression’ (Radio France), and ‘a reminder that his Afrobeat remains as urgent as ever’ (Slate).

At the heart of Afrobeat Rebellion is a multi-room, archive-led experience that traces Fela’s musical and political trajectory through objects, photographs, film, and sound. Visitors move from early years to Lagos life, Kalakuta Republic, and the Afrika Shrine, with interactive spaces that connect his work to global movements

Speaking on why the exhibition will hold in Lagos, Seun Alli, Exhibition Curator, Founder JCAA said: ‘Too often, Fela is reduced to a handful of catchphrases and uninformed stories – Zombie, Water No Get Enemy, the Kalakuta fire, marrying 27 women, or even the unfounded claim that he performed on stage in his underwear.

‘Curating Afrobeat Rebellion in Lagos is a deliberate refusal of this flattening. It aims to reposition Fela not merely as a musician or rebel, but as a public intellectual whose music and philosophy are deeply intertwined with Africa’s social, political, and intellectual histories.

‘His work was never just style or spectacle; it was a catalyst of revolt and hope, the soundtrack for those living under oppression, corruption, and the daily failures of power.

‘Nearly three decades after his passing, it remains a profound mystery how Abami Eda’s philosophy continues to resonate so powerfully across all facets of our shared human experience.’

According to Laurent Favier, Consul-General of the French Embassy in Lagos, he said: ‘Supporting the Afrobeat Rebellion in Lagos reflects our belief that culture is a bridge. It is a logical and welcome follow-up to the successful exhibition in Paris.

‘This project is both a celebration of Franco- Nigerian collaboration and a cultural gift, honoring Fiela’s legacy – who was very appreciated in France while deepening the dialogue between our two nations.’

Favier said France was honoured to support a high-quality tribute to Fela.

‘France has always been a heartland for Fela Kuti, supporting not only his music but also his activism. In the 1980s, he struck a chord with the times and fascinated the French press, which was the first to talk about the ‘Fela phenomenon’

‘These ties continue with his talented family; Femi, Seun, Made, and others,’ Favier said.

He explained that the exhibition was originally conceived by the Philharmonie de Paris – Cité de la Musique in 2022 and curated by French and Nigerian experts. According to him, the Paris edition drew wide acclaim, attracting 60,000 visitors within a month.

‘It was a true exercise in collective and intercultural intelligence, which enriched this Lagos edition. With more archives, resources and the strong involvement of the Kuti family, the experience promises to be even more dynamic.’ he said.

For Kuti Family, they unanimously agreed that their father’s legacy has travelled the world, but Lagos was always its heartbeat.

‘Afrobeat Rebellion brings things unseen, his music, and everything Fela stood for to his people in Lagos. Not just to remember Fela, but to inspire a new generation to use art as resistance and freedom,’ the family said.

Fela’s son, Femi Kuti, appreciated the organisers for honouring his father.

‘We are glad that Fela is still recognised, appreciated, and honoured. As the years went by, people still understood what he stood for,’ he said.

According to the organisers, the exhibition highlights are as follows: ‘Opening Night – Sun, Oct 12: First viewing + performances featuring Ezra Collective and Seun Kuti; The Exhibition (Afrobeat Rebellion) – Archival rooms spanning Fela’s Early Years, Lagos Life, Kalakuta Republic, Afrika Shrine, Library and Jukebox, Life on Tour, Legacy, Mapping Fela.

‘Legacy Programmes – Weekly live music, The Talks panels, Kalakuta Cinema, Studio Sessions, Young Rebels Corner (6-15), workshops, and city-facing activations.’

Beyond the exhibition walls, Afrobeat Rebellion will unfold as a living festival of culture: ‘The Talks – a 10-topic series on Fela’s ideas and impact with leading voices from Yeni Kuti to Prof. Oyeronke Oyewumi, Femi Falana, Ade Bantu, Minna Salami, and Kadaria Ahmed, exploring themes such as The Unfiltered Fela, Afrobeat In The Making, Fela’s musical evolution, and much more.

‘Live Music – Opening night with Ezra Collective and Seun Kuti, to performances by Femi and Made Kuti, and collaborations with contemporary artists and industry players, and producers like Sodi Marciszewer, Chike, A, YKB, and Vaedar, the sound of Afrobeat will be celebrated and reinterpreted.

‘Kalakuta Cinema – A 6-week film series featuring classics like Music Is a Weapon, The Lost Okoroshi, Mami Wata, Timbuktu, and Finding Fela. Screenings will take place in relaxed communal spaces and traditional settings every other Sunday; Book reading with Karatu – book titles include: Kalakuta Republic (Chimurenga) + select speeches, Dis Fela Sef! By Benson Idonije, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, and Arrest the Music by Tejumola Olaniyan –

‘Young Rebels’ Corner – An interactive creative space for children aged 6-15 with activities like the Rebel Scrapbook, Jam Station, and Anikulapo Design Workshop. Every child leaves with a Rebel Name and ID card, a symbolic passport into the world of protest and creativity.

The workshops and interactive programmes will feature: ‘Manifesto: The Weapon of the Future (a zine-making writing workshop); Òrò Abamì Spoken Word Competition; Dance of Resistance (movement workshops led by The Mud Art Company)

Together, these programmes make Afrobeat Rebellion not just an exhibition, but an immersive cultural season for Lagos and the world.

According to Onoshiokhue Ako, Project Lead, Culture Producer, AWCA, the exhibition seeks to create a cohesive experience that resonates across generations.

Ako appreciated the Kuti family for their invaluable support and contributions to the project.

‘For us, Afrobeat Rebellion is more than an exhibition. It is a living season of culture. We designed it to bridge generations: from the children creating in the Young Rebels’ Corner to the elders who remember Fela firsthand, and everyone in between.

‘Our programmes are grounded yet far-reaching, and Lagos deserves nothing less than a homecoming of this magnitude.

‘We thank the Philharmonie de Paris for their deep reverence for Fela’s music. They pioneered this significant cultural exhibition, which has now expanded into what we have here.

‘To Ecobank, our host and home for three months, we are grateful. You stand as a true African centre, a home and a symbol of the continent’s cultural and economic ambition,’ she said.

Fela wasn’t just a musician; he was a force of nature, a revolutionary, and a voice for the voiceless. No doubt, the impact of Fela who died on August 2, 1997 at the age of 58 would continue to reverberate globally.

Organizers of the African Quality Achievement Awards (AQAA) have honoured Entourage Integrated Trust Limited as Africa’s Best Quality Financial Institution of the Decade, recognizing its customer-focused approach, steady growth, and transparent operations.

The award, presented in Lagos by the Africa Quality Congress, celebrates the company’s ten-year record of delivering financial services and loans to petty traders, SMEs, civil servants, and professionals nationwide.

Operating in 29 states, Entourage Integrated Trust serves over 150,000 customers, offering products ranging from daily microloans for market women to multi-million-naira financing for businesses. Its model combines grassroots engagement with digital platforms to drive financial inclusion.

Accepting the award, the company’s Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Seyi Asagun, described the recognition as a testament to the trust and confidence customers continue to place in the institution.

‘This award is not just a recognition of our institution, but of the thousands of businesses and individuals who trust us daily. At Entourage, we believe that access to finance is the lifeline of growth, and this reinforces our commitment to delivering impactful financial solutions across Nigeria and Africa,’ he said.

The AQAA, held annually, celebrates excellence in leadership, innovation, and service delivery across Africa’s industries. Organizers said Entourage’s ethical lending practices and sustained expansion distinguished it from peers in the financial sector.

As the firm prepares to extend its footprint to all 36 states and transform into a microfinance bank, the award further cements its position as one of the leading players shaping Africa’s financial services landscape.