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The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited, Alhaji Abubakar Lawal, has called on Nigerians to take full responsibility for rebuilding the nation across all sectors, including sports, education and the economy.

Speaking during an interactive session on the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) development in Lagos, Lawal emphasized that national progress will only be achieved when Nigerians commit to improving their country rather than depending on external help.

According to him, the transformational Nigerian Football Fund (TNFF) an initiative managed by GTI is not only aimed at reviving Nigerian football but also at building national pride and economic sustainability through sports investment.

‘ If we do not stand up for Nigeria, who will? Nobody will help us build this country. It is our collective responsibility as Nigerians, regardless of age, tribe or status,’ Lawal stated matter-of-factly.

He lamented the poor state of infrastructure and investment across major sectors, describing it as a reflection of national complacency. He urged Nigerians, particularly those in the media, to use their platforms to re-educate, reorient, and inspire citizens toward nation building.

He continued: ‘You are the voices of the voiceless,’ he said. ‘ If we all make minimal efforts individually, sub nationally, or nationally we can rebuild this country. But when people steal from Nigeria and invest abroad, it’s a shame. No foreigner is coming to build our future for us.’

Lawal also challenged the elite class, questioning the long term legacy of wealth without social impact.

‘There are people far richer than us, but without impact. In two generations, who will remember them? We must think about what our lives will count for,’ he said.

The investment expert further highlighted the economic potential of football, describing it as a National asset with the capacity to generate multi billion naira value if properly harnessed/Utilized.

‘When we started, the asset value was near zero,’ he said. ‘Today, with the TNFF, we have seen remarkable growth.

‘ Some value it at one or two million dollars already. This shows that with consistent effort, the football economy can thrive.’

Lawal appealed to both individuals and corporations to invest in the TNFF, stressing that no investment means no expectation. He noted that GTI has shouldered much of the financial burden so far, but sustained progress requires wider participation from the private sector.

He also drew attention to challenges facing education and health sectors, noting that Nigeria’s development issues extend beyond sports.

‘It’s not just football. Lecturers are going on strike because they’re being owed billions. Health workers are leaving the country. What’s happening to us as a people?’ he asked.

Calling for a change of mind-set, Lawal reiterated that patriotism should drive national progress.

‘We all love Nigeria in different ways, but love without action means nothing. Let’s believe in this country and run the race together. I am over sixty, but I’m not tired. I’ll keep doing my bit what about you?’

Lawal concluded by reaffirming GTI’s commitment to the NPFL and the TNFF, describing the football sector as a symbol of hope for Nigeria’s rebirth.

‘If we at GTI don’t stand up for Nigerian football, who will? We are Nigerians, and no one from outside will do it for us. Let’s take the tasks upon us and baton with togetherness, we are going to win,’ he stated confidently.

The Senior Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on North Central Community Engagement, Dr Abiodun Essiet, has called for urgent action to strengthen social cohesion among Nigeria’s ethnic, cultural, and religious groups, noting that unity remains crucial to lasting peace and national prosperity.

She said the intervention has become necessary in view of persistent communal tensions and security challenges, especially in parts of the North Central, which continue to impede development and social stability.

Dr Essiet made the remarks in Benue State at a Community Workshop and the inauguration of Community-Based Peace Structures, organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central) in partnership with the International Communities Organisation (ICO) and the North Central Development Commission.

The event brought together community leaders, traditional rulers, farmers’ groups, representatives of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), and women and youth groups from all 23 local government areas of Benue State.

She described the initiative as a major step in advancing peacebuilding, fostering inclusiveness, and strengthening mutual understanding among Nigeria’s diverse communities.

‘A peaceful and prosperous Nigeria is achievable in unity. This event represents a key step toward strengthening collaboration among communities, deepening social cohesion, and sustaining peace through inclusive engagement,’ she said.

Recalling that her office had earlier launched the Presidential Community Engagement Peace Initiative (PCEPI), she stressed that it demonstrates President Tinubu’s commitment to building safer communities and ensuring citizens play central roles in peacebuilding.

She explained that the ongoing project, Promoting Community Peace and Strengthening Social Cohesion in North Central Nigeria, is part of Nigeria’s broader efforts to implement the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations in partnership with the International Communities Organisation (ICO).

The first phase, held in Abuja on September 9, brought together stakeholders from across the North Central region to analyse security challenges, conduct SWOT analyses, and identify community-driven solutions.

The outcome, she said informed the creation of new community-based peace structures inaugurated in Benue State, adding that the structures will complement security agencies and support the Benue State Commission for Peace and Reconciliation through intelligence gathering, early warning systems, and dialogue mechanisms.

Urging all Nigerians to unite behind the goal of national peace and shared progress, she said, ‘Building social cohesion is not a one-off event; it demands patience, inclusiveness, and collective commitment.

‘Let us seize this moment to work together, not as separate communities, but as one united people determined to build a peaceful and prosperous Benue State, and by extension, a stronger Nigeria,’ she said.

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, represented by his deputy, Sam Ode, commended the initiative as a timely step toward consolidating peace and security in the state.

He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting the president’s peace agenda through collaboration and community participation, noting that peace remains central to good governance and development.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Benue Chapter, Mr. Vitalis Neji, described peace as key to achieving sustainable development and pledged the support of local government chairmen to ensure the success of the programme.

The Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Pastor Ernest Atoji, also lauded the organisers, saying that enduring peace is crucial for farmers to return safely to their fields and sustain food production.

Traditional rulers and other stakeholders at the event pledged their commitment to work together in promoting harmony and inclusive development across communities in Benue and beyond.

Director General, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, has reaffirmed the association’s commitment to partnering with the federal government and stakeholders in implementing migration reforms that will engender dignity and economic growth.

Oyerinde stated this during the Stakeholders’ Sensitization Workshop on Expatriate Quota Reform, New Visa Regime and Post-Amnesty Programme in Kano.

According to him, the association remains committed to fostering an economy where law, enterprise, and opportunity coexist.

He noted that the association is open to collaborating with stakeholders to transform the post-amnesty process into a model of structured inclusion, turning compliance into confidence and sustainable development for Nigeria and the wider African continent.

He disclosed further that the post-amnesty programme intersects meaningfully with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by allowing for more unrestricted movement of goods, services, and persons across Africa.

He said: ‘Nigeria, the continent’s largest economy, must lead by example, demonstrating that lawful mobility and economic opportunity can coexist within a secure and predictable policy environment.

For the private sector, the post-amnesty programme is both timely and necessary. It ensures employers operate within clear legal parameters, protects enterprises from liability, and enhances workforce integrity. It also contributes to enterprise sustainability by aligning workforce planning with national immigration frameworks. NECA stands ready to collaborate with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in providing continuous engagement, capacity-building, and advocacy to ensure that this policy achieves its intended goals’.

Applauding the foresight of the Honourable Minister of Interior and the diligence of the NIS Comptroller-General in driving the reform agenda with balance and purpose, he stated that the post-amnesty programme convened by the Ministry demonstrates that migration can be managed in a way that protects national interest, promotes human dignity, and strengthens economic growth.

He said: ‘I must commend the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, whose visionary leadership continues to redefine the administration of internal security and migration in Nigeria. His results-driven approach has positioned the ministry as a model of reform and accountability. I also want to acknowledge the steady and pragmatic leadership of the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, mmis, fsm, whose commitment to operational excellence and humane enforcement is giving new credibility to the Nigeria Immigration Service,’ he said.

He described the ministry’s ambitious reforms, including the post-amnesty enforcement sensitisation, as a reflection of the federal government’s determination to move towards global realities and practices with fairness, clarity, and firmness.

‘We align with the ministry’s and NIS’s various initiatives because we are convinced that they are not punitive but restorative. It offers foreign nationals who may have fallen out of compliance with immigration regulations a lawful path to regularisation, reinforcing Nigeria’s sovereignty and adherence to the rule of law. This is what effective migration governance looks like, firm on standards yet humane in execution,’ he said.

He stressed that when governed by clear rules and strong institutions, migration remains a source of national strength. He also emphasised the need for regularisation of the process to help create visibility within the system, enabling the government to plan better, employers to comply confidently, and migrants to contribute productively.

Advancing the economic benefits of migration, he noted that properly documented people are more likely to work lawfully, pay taxes, and participate in the formal economy, thus enhancing social cohesion and reducing vulnerabilities linked to irregular status.

He explained that some of the bold steps taken by the Ministry on migration align totally with international labour and migration standards and conventions of. By anchoring the sensitisation process on such principles, the NIS is positioning Nigeria as a regional example of humane and structured migration management.

‘Globally, countries that have implemented similar regularisation exercises, such as Spain, Portugal, and Argentina, have recorded tangible socio-economic benefits, from improved labour compliance to expanded tax bases and better national security outcomes. Nigeria’s post-amnesty programme has that same potential. He said that effective implementation can strengthen border management, support legitimate business operations, and enhance the country’s reputation as a rule-governed destination for investment and skilled migration,’ he said.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday decorated the Service chiefs with their new ranks, giving them an order to ”flush out” terrorists and other non-state actors in all zones of the country.

”It is time to defeat the enemies. Clear them off; clear them out. ‘Nigerians need results, not excuses,’ the President told them.

Tinubu gave them tips on how they could effortlessly achieve the task. ”Be pre-emptive, innovative and courageous,” he challenged them.

The President said even with the ‘recent emergence of new armed groups,” Nigeria can no longer allow the insecurity that began to worsen in 2009 to continue.

”We are in a hurry to celebrate peace, ” he said, describing security as an essential element without which everything is rendered meaningless.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Olufemi Oluyede became a four-star general while the Service chiefs were elevated to three-star generals. The Chief of Defence Intelligence also became a three-star general.

Upgraded are: Gen. Oluyede; Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu (Chief of Army Staff); Air Marshall Kevin Aneke (Chief of Air Staff) and Vice-Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff) and Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Undiendeye (Chief of Defence Intelligence)

The President received assurances from Gen. Oluyede, who spoke on behalf of others, of the military’s readiness to deliver on the task, defend the Constitution and protect the nation’s democracy.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Akpabio, House of Representatives’ Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, witnessed the ceremony.

Other top government functionaries at the event, held at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, were Defence Minister Abubakar Badaru; National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin; Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu; Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) Chairman AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara); Governors Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Umar Namadi (Jigawa) and senior military officers.

President Tinubu said for the war against insecurity to become a thing of the past, the military must change its direction by deploying technology and superior joint planning to ‘defeat the enemies.’

‘I charge you also to be innovative, pre-emptive, and courageous. Let’s stay ahead of those who seek to threaten our peace, freedom and stability. Let us deploy technology where necessary. We cannot allow the crisis that began in 2009 to persist any longer. It is time to defeat the enemies,’ he said.

Tinubu said the ceremony ‘is beyond symbolism of decoration,’ describing it as ‘the beginning of our renewed effort to ensure the peace and security of all Nigerians.’

Stressing the essence of peace in driving development, the President said: ‘There cannot be sufficient development if this fundamental aspect of human need is unmet. Our people and our nation must remain secure to enjoy the benefit of governance and democracy.’

While saluting the military’s sacrifices and past gains, Tinubu warned that threats are mutating, with the ‘recent emergence of new armed groups in the troublesome areas of Northcentral, Northwest, and parts of the South.’

He directed the military high command to be decisive and proactive: ‘We must not allow these new threats to fester. Let us smash the new snakes right in the head.’

The President hailed troops for reclaiming once-occupied territories: ‘In dark times, when terrorists and armed marauders held significant portions of our land, that time is over. You. rose to the challenge and reclaimed those occupied territories, ”thank you for the rescue mission. Those areas previously under siege have been rescued, countless kidnapped citizens [freed], and you have significantly diminished the capacity of the terror groups.’

Tinubu paid tribute to fallen heroes and thanked their families, assuring them that their ‘sacrifices will not be in vain.’

He also appreciated the spouses and families of the newly decorated officers, ‘my deepest thanks and gratitude to you all on behalf of this grateful nation. The security is improving; the sacrifices you make will not be in vain.’

Calling for tighter inter-service and inter-agency coordination, the President directed them to ‘work together, compare notes, exchange information effectively and follow up proactively.” He added that they must ”work with other security agencies and defeat this enemy once and for all.”

CDS Oluyede: we’ll defend Nigeria’s democracy

The military has promised not only to defend democracy but also to intensify efforts to secure the country.

”We pledge our loyalty to Mr. President, and we will continue to support our flourishing democracy,” said CDS Oluyede shortly after taking over the mantle of leadership from his predecessor, Gen. Christopher Musa, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

Gen. Oluyede also assured Nigerians that the military would rid Nigeria of all forms of criminality and make our nation safer so that socio-economic endeavours can flourish.”

Thanking Nigerians for ”the support they have given the Armed Forces,” he said: ”I expect that they give us more so we can make Nigeria safer.’

Oluyede added that the military, under his leadership, would be guided by the core principles of professionalism, collaboration, discipline, innovation, and accountability, while fostering stronger synergy among the services and defence agencies.

The CDS noted that the complex and evolving nature of threats confronting our nation demanded that we remain vigilant, innovative, and united.

‘My leadership will, therefore, be guided by the principles of professionalism, discipline, innovation, and accountability,’ he said

Oluyede pledged to enhance intelligence-driven operations and deepen collaboration with other security and law enforcement agencies, emphasising that their objective of restoring and sustaining peace, stability, and national cohesion in every part of our country remained incontestable.

‘Equally important is the welfare of our officers and men, which remains central to operational effectiveness,’ he said.

Immediate past CDS, Gen.Musa, described his tenure as challenging yet rewarding.

Gen. Musa lauded the media for being dependable in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the country.

COAS promises deployment of new strategies

At the Army Headquarters, also in Abuja, the new COAS, Lt.-Gen. Shaibu promised decisive action to curb insecurity in the country.

Gen. Shaibu described the security situation, which has led to the displacement of some Nigerians, as unacceptable.

‘We obviously live in tough times, but I do not doubt that we are tough people too.

‘I am aware of the developing situation in some parts of our country, which has put law-abiding citizens in economic hardship, fear and displacement. These situations are not acceptable and need my urgent attention,’ he said after taking over.

‘How maritime security will be strengthened’

CNS, Vice Admiral Abbas, pledged to intensify the fight against crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other maritime crimes undermining Nigeria’s economy.

. ‘I am not unaware that our maritime environment remains threatened by a scourge of crude oil theft, sea robbery, illegal bunkering, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and drug trafficking,” he said after assuming his new office at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja.

The Naval chief said he would enhance fleet capability through aggressive fleet renewal and increased deployment of technology, prioritise personnel training and welfare, and deepen collaboration with other security agencies.

Describing his appointment as a privilege, Vice Admiral Abbas vowed to discharge his duties with dedication, integrity and loyalty.

Improvement in security imminent, CAS assures Nigerians

CAS Air Marshall Aneke vowed to leave no stone unturned to bring about swift improvement in the nation’s security.

Aneke, who is the 23rd Chief of the Air Staff, took over from his predecessor, Air Marshall Hasan Abubaker, during a brief ceremony at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters

The CAS described his appointment as a call to duty, pledging his loyalty to President Tinubu and a commitment to prioritise the welfare of officers, airmen and airwomen of the Air Force.

‘I also pledge my loyalty and that of the Nigerian Air Force officers, airmen and airwomen to the government and people of Nigeria as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution,’ Air Marshall Aneke said.

He appealed to the National Assembly to continue its collaboration with the Air Force, describing legislative backing as vital to the success of ongoing security operations.

President Bola Tinubu is expected to send a delegation to the ancient town of Ikenne-Remo in Ogun State as it hosts Ereke Day 2025 tomorrow. This year promises to be a celebration of heritage, youth empowerment, and community progress.

Also expected are Governor Dapo Abiodun, prominent traditional rulers, business leaders, and illustrious indigenes from home and abroad.

Dignitaries, cultural icons, and visitors from Nigeria and the diaspora are also expected.

Organised by Ikenne Development Association (IDA), this edition’s theme is ‘Unity in Culture, Strength in Heritage’. It will celebrate the town’s rich traditions, creative enterprise, and influence as a cultural and tourism hub in Southwest.

The presence of a president- ial delegation, according to the organisers, underscores Federal Government’s commitment to promoting grassroots cultural heritage and community development.

It also reflects ‘a historic recognition of Ereke’s place in Nigeria’s cultural evolution.’ The week-long festivities will feature a cultural parade, art and craft exhibition, youth marathon, football tournament, and Miss Ereke Cultural Pageant, which honours intelligence, grace, and women empowerment. The festival will climax with a grand cultural night and awards ceremony, bringing together attendees in a celebration of unity and progress.

Beyond the displays, Ereke Day has become a platform for economic empowerment, with artisans, traders, and small businesses benefiting from influx of visitors. Hotels, transport operators, and vendors often record a rise in activity.

Olufemi Allen, president of IDA, said this edition is ‘a new dawn for cultural tourism in Ogun.’ ‘Ereke Day is more than a festival; it is a symbol of our shared identity and progress,’ he said.

‘With the support of both state and federal institutions, we are showcasing how culture can drive unity and development.’

Established in 1976 by the Ikenne Development Association, Ereke Day has become a cultural emblem for the Remo people, symbolizing unity, tradition, and progressive community development. Over four decades later, it continues to inspire pride in heritage while driving the town’s transformation through cultural tourism, entrepreneurship, and education.

Mr Akisanmi’s art is what happens when reverence meets rebellion, reverence for nature, rebellion against convention. He doesn’t wrestle wood into obedience; he listens until it tells him what it wants to become. And in that listening, the miraculous happens, a stump becomes a storyteller, a discarded log becomes a lesson in endurance.The Talking Clock: Time as a Native Tongue

One of the most striking works from Rezuna’s collection is a rustic wall clock carved from raw wood, its uneven edges proudly preserved. The surface bears Yoruba numerals – Ejìlá, Èsán, Éfà – like an ode to ancestry. It’s not just a clock; it’s a reclamation of time itself.In a world where imported perfection often erases local memory, this piece insists that even time should speak our language. The natural fissures and knots across its face resemble continents, a quiet reminder that African time, with its patience and rhythm, is as sacred as the wood it’s carved from.

The Light that Listens: Another standout creation, a floor lamp entwined with rope and crowned by woven shades , turns illumination into intimacy.The lamps lean toward each other like elders sharing secrets. The interplay of bark, rope, and woven fiber creates a symphony of materials, an ecosystem of texture.

It’s hard to tell where nature ends and design begins; the entire form feels as if the forest itself decided to glow for a while. Mr Seun calls such pieces ‘functional sermons,’ and indeed, they preach a gospel of craftsmanship that honors origin and purpose in equal measure.

The Table that Testifies: Then there’s the live-edge table engraved with scripture: ‘He prepares a table before me.’ The grain swirls like ripples of prayer, the polish gleams like morning devotion. Here, craftsmanship becomes communion.

Each curve and imperfection is left intact, not hidden beneath resin, but celebrated. The inscription isn’t decoration; it’s a declaration. In this, Seun reveals his deepest creative thesis: that beauty is not opposed to faith, beauty is faith, carved and sanded into form.Wood as Memory, Metal as Modernity

Rezuna’s minimalist stools and dining sets, crafted from wood and steel, show another dimension of Akisanmi’s design intelligence. Sleek, functional, and unapologetically modern, they balance the organic with the industrial, proof that African design doesn’t have to mimic anyone; it only needs to remember itself.The slender steel frames serve as visual metaphors for resilience, light, strong, enduring, while the wood slabs above them pulse with warmth and personality.In these juxtapositions, Seun captures the rhythm of the continent: ancient and forward-looking all at once.

The Puzzle of Creation: Even in something as simple as the Rezuna Puzzle, a jigsaw bearing spiritual inscriptions, Mr Akisanmi invites participation. He turns art into dialogue. You assemble rather than merely admire. The puzzle turns into a metaphor because creativity is the process of putting faith, perseverance, and imperfection together until something meaningful is revealed.

The Gospel According to Wood

At Rezuna Craft Africa, Seun Akisanmi and his group are constructing a renaissance rather than just a workshop. Mr. Seun restores the craft’s dignity in an industry that is frequently overshadowed by imported furniture and fads. His works discuss sacred utility, patience, and sustainability. They serve as a reminder that design can be modest and transcendent, local and infinite.Every piece bears the imprint of a narrative that is human, purposeful, and timeless rather than mass-produced. Through his eyes, the African home becomes a gallery, the everyday object becomes art, and the familiar becomes profound.

As the forthcoming Lagos Women Run further gathers momentum, plans are in top gear to make the EXPO of the project special.

Programme Lead and Coordinating Partner of the Lagos EXPO, Sidikat Folami, is excited about the prospects of the forthcoming event changing the lives of many participants.

Folami revealed that three key resource persons are expected at the EXPO event billed to start on Tuesday November 4 in Lagos at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

They are Mrs Titilayo Oshodi, from the Office of climate change circular Economy (OCCE). She will speak on Eco Circulate Waste Valorization while Dr. Oluwafemi Bakare of the Lagos Recyclers Association will train women on practical ways to start a recycling business.

Also, Abiola Alabi, the Susty Teacher is expected to train participants on sustainable farming and composting.

The various issues to be addressed are Entrepreneurship, Financial Management and Sustainable Living, Waste-to-Wealth Vocational Skills, Sustainable Fashion, Beauty and Personal Care, Arts and Crafts Women’s Health, Wellness and Mental Well-being.

The EXPO is a five-in-one event comprising kits collection, empowerment programme, lecture series, ECO circulate activation and women’s Exhibition and Market Access.

‘We expect an overall audience of over 1,000 women participating across all segments of the event. Beyond the training sessions, participants will enjoy exciting incentives and rewards, including vouchers and prize money for over 40 outstanding women, as well as other recognitions for punctuality, participation, and innovation. Women will also benefit from the waste valorization initiative, earning instant rewards by exchanging recyclables for cash or in-kind rewards like food items,’ Folami added.

The 10th edition of the Lagos Women Run is scheduled to take place on Saturday November 8 with the flag off slated for Tafawa Balewa Square.

A new report by the Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) has revealed that none of the five leading contenders in the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025, has presented a costed or comprehensive manifesto detailing how they intend to implement their campaign promises if elected.

The report, titled ADEHUN – Pre-Election Accountability Report, was unveiled in Abuja under the Electoral Accountability Tool (EAT) of the Policy Accountability Lab (PAL).

Executive Director of PLSI, Olusegun Elemo, who presented the findings, said the manifestos released so far by the five major political parties-the All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and African Democratic Congress (ADC)-were ‘largely rhetorical and devoid of implementation frameworks.’

Elemo noted that some candidates in the race had not published manifestos at all, while others merely made broad promises without clear strategies or financial projections for achieving them.

‘This pre-election accountability report, produced under the ADEHUN Electoral Accountability Tool (EAT), presents an evidence-based analysis of campaign commitments made by candidates contesting the 2025 Anambra State governorship election,’ Elemo explained.

‘For this election, none of the five major contenders published a costed or comprehensive manifesto. Consequently, the ADEHUN scorecard relied on verified campaign statements, public interviews, and party policy materials.’

According to him, the absence of detailed, costed manifestos highlights a recurring problem in Nigeria’s political space-what he described as the country’s ‘promise-policy gap.’

‘We have a situation where candidates are just making promises, but the implementation details-the how-are missing,’ he said. ‘Costing helps determine how much money is needed to implement specific projects within the first year in office. Those details are not available in any of the manifestos we assessed.’

The PLSI Executive Director said the report aims to promote transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s electoral process by encouraging political candidates to clearly outline, cost, and publish their governance plans.

‘This report is expected to put candidates in future elections on their toes-to be more transparent, provide accessible information, and give voters the resources to make informed decisions and hold elected officials accountable post-election,’ he added.

The PLSI report also noted that the incumbent governor and APGA candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, led other contenders in the clarity of his policy communication and emphasis on participatory and inclusive governance.

However, it emphasised that even Soludo’s manifesto, while more detailed than others, lacked adequate costing and measurable performance indicators.

‘This analysis underscores the urgent need to institutionalise manifesto publication and pre-election accountability across Nigeria’s political system,’ the report concluded.

Kwara State Government says it has trained no fewer than 5,604 students of public secondary schools between 2024 and 2025 in digital technology.

The beneficiaries were drawn from 50 public secondary schools across the state.

The state said it engaged over 120 instructors, including National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, digital volunteers and ICT teachers during the period.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq restated his administration’s commitment to empowering young techies and transforming the state into a hub of technological innovations.

The governor expressed satisfaction about the rising interest and success of young ‘Kwarans’ in the tech space – a trend again seen at the just concluded Kwara coding and digital literacy programme, tagged Kwara futures exhibition 2025.

The digital programme was organised by the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Innovation, Kayode Ishola.

The theme was: ‘Kwara Futures: Empowering a digitally ready generation.’

The governor said the government was determined to put Kwara on the global map by creating seamless pathways for collaboration from international tech accelerators to cross-border funding opportunities.

Community leader, Otunba Babatunde Alatise, has declared his interest in the Awujale of Ijebuland stool, promising to empower the youth and strengthen community development if chosen as king.

Speaking during a visit to the Bubiade royal family house, Alatise said his desire to lead is inspired by service, inclusion, and need to give Ijebuland’s young people a stronger voice.

‘My interest is not only for peace and progress,’ he said. ‘I will bring business opportunities to the people of Ijebu land.’

A Fellow of Chartered Institute of Administrators and member of Nigerian Society of Engineers, Alatise has built a career in mining, property and agriculture. He leads Tuntise Investments, Yemlat Farms, Tuntise Properties, and others.

He said he would promote skill training, youth mentorship, and enterprise support for small businesses. He promised to ensure that companies in Ijebuland sign community agreements to support education, infrastructure and social projects.

‘If I am selected as Awujale, I will make mining companies sign the agreement to further develop Ijebu land,’ he said.

Speaking to reporters on Alatise’s declaration, Chief Rasheed Adenuga, a community elder, praised his commitment to youth empowerment and community progress. ‘With his background and his heart for the people, Otunba Alatise has what it takes to inspire youths, attract development and unite Ijebuland under purposeful leadership,’ he said.

Abdul Barry Bojela, Oloriebi of Bojela family, also expressed confidence in the choice. ‘From our deliberations, I’m pleased with the person we’re presenting,’ he said.

Supporters describe Alatise as a new-generation leader with strong traditional roots and modern vision. His consultations continue with royal families, elders, and youth groups.