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The National Council of State has approved the nomination of Joash Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, from the North-Central as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Bayo Onanuga, Presidential Spokesman, on Thursday, said President Bola Tinubu presented Amupitan as the nominee to fill the vacant position, following Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s exit. Yakubu served from 2015 till October 2025.

President Tinubu told the council that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical.

Council members unanimously supported the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo describing Amupitan as a man of integrity.

In compliance with the constitution, President Tinubu will now send Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening.

Amupitan, 58, from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA in Kogi State, is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Plateau. He is also an alumnus of the university.

He specialises in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance and Privatisation Law. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014.

According to Onanuga, Amupitan was born on April 25, 1967.

He noted that Amupitan, had after completing primary and secondary education, attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, from 1982 to 1984, and the University of Jos from 1984 to 1987. He was called to the bar in 1988. He earned an LLM at UNIJOS in 1993 and a PhD in 2007, amid an academic career that began in 1989, following his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation in Bauchi from 1988 to 1989.

Currently, he serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, a position he holds in conjunction with being the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.

Among the academic positions he has held at UNIJOS are: Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012-2014); Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014); and Head of Public Law (2006-2008). Outside of academics, Amupitan serves as a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, a member of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, and a member of the Council of Legal Education (2008-2014), among other roles. He was a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja(1996-2004).

Amupitan is the author of many books on law, such as Corporate Governance: Models and Principles(2008); Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008); Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria(2013), Principles of Company Law(2013) and an Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014).

He is married and has four children.

The National Council of State on Thursday, approved the appointment of Aminu Yusuf as chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC).

The Council also approved 1% deductions from the federation account for the Police Trust Fund and clemency for 175 prisoners, under the Prerogative of Mercy.

The presidential prerogative of mercy, enshrined in Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), empowers the President to grant pardons, reprieves, or commute sentences.

It is typically exercised after careful consideration of the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, which assesses factors such as age, ill health, good behaviour, or cases of miscarriage of justice.

Thursday’s endorsement by the Council of State, comprising former Heads of State, state governors, and other statutory members, is expected to pave the way for the formal release or re-sentencing of the affected inmates in the coming weeks.

The Council at their meeting, took key decisions on national appointments, approving Joash Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Aminu Yusuf as Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), following recommendations by President Tinubu.

Out of the 175 beneficiaries, 82 inmates were granted presidential pardon, 65 had their sentences reduced, while seven death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.

The approvals were given by the National Council of State and the Police Council at their meetings held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja

Governors Hope Uzodimma, chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC) Governors Forum and Uba Sani of Kaduna State disclosed these while briefing State House Journalists, after the meetings.

Uzodinma described Amupitan’s nomination as a constitutional responsibility diligently discharged by the President.

He said the appointment received unanimous endorsement, with speakers hailing the nominee as ‘a serious-minded scholar, a man of integrity, tested and trusted, who has never participated in partisan politics.’

The Council also ratified the appointment of Tonga Bularafa as Federal Commissioner representing Yobe State at the NPC.

The meeting was attended by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, state governors, and other statutory members of the Council.

BusinessDay gathered that the current 0.5% deductions from the federation account became inadequate to fund the Police Trust Fund (PTF), thus, the President appealed to the Council to approve 1% of the Federation Account for the PTF. The National Council of State attended by former Presidents Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalam Abubakar virtually, as well as Governors, also approved the national honours conferred on about 800 persons by President Bola Tinubu, in exercise of his powers under the Prerogative of Mercy.

It was gathered that about 5000 persons were screened for the 2024/2025 national honours awards, out of which only 800 were approved.

Under the Prerogative of Mercy, clemency for 175 prisoner were unanimously approved based on the recommendation of Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

The Council approved the repeal and reenactment of the Nigerian Police Trust Fund (NPTF) Establishment Act, 2019, to ensure sustainable funding and long-term planning for police operations across the country.

Ibrahim Gaidam, minister of police affairs, explained that the Fund, created in 2019 with a renewable lifespan of six years, was designed to provide dedicated financial resources for training, retraining, logistics, equipment, infrastructure, and modernisation of the Nigeria Police Force.

The Nigeria Police Trust Fund was established by the federal government in 2019 to support the training and re-training of police personnel.

The fund also provide financial resources to enhance police equipment, logistics, and infrastructure, support modernisation of the Police through investments in technology, vehicles, communications, and crime-fighting tools and improve welfare and morale of Police personnel.

The body also promotes accountability, transparency, and governance, enhance crime prevention and public safety, strengthen capacity for emergency response and disaster management

The organisation which also foster public-spirited philanthropy and private sector engagement, channel contributions from individuals, corporations, and civil society into Police enhancement programmes.

The organisation is however often financially handicap in its efforts to sustain operations during budgetary constraints.

He revealed that the sunset clause of six years in the current Act limits the lifespan of the NPTF and impedes long-time planning thereby constraining sustainable Police Reform.

To address this, the Council approved the removal of the sunset clause, effectively transitioning the Trust Fund into a permanent agency.

‘The deduction of 0.5% from the Federation Account needs upward to 1% of the Federation Account.

‘Council is hereby requested to approve the repeal and re-enactment of the NPTF Establishment Act 2025 in order to remove the sunset clause and transition it to an Agency; approve 1% deduction from the Federation Account; and direct the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice to input all the approvals of the Council in the proposed Executive Bill.’

Fidelity Bank Plc, has announced its readiness to begin the disbursement of funds under the National Credit Guarantee Company (NCGC) N5 billion Credit Intervention Scheme.

The initiative is designed to expand access to finance for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), as well as businesses owned by women and youths across Nigeria.

Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, managing director and chief executive officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, made this known during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the bank and NCGC.

According to Onyeali-Ikpe, the partnership with NCGC represents a significant step in the bank’s ongoing efforts to enhance financial inclusion and stimulate economic growth through increased access to credit.

‘This guarantee will enable us to further expand financing opportunities for those who need it most, while strengthening our capacity to support businesses across key sectors of the Nigerian economy,’ she said.

The facility will cover critical sectors including food processing, secondary agriculture (such as fish and poultry processing), fashion, green energy, light manufacturing, the agricultural value chain (feed mills and equipment fabrication), export-oriented businesses, and education.

Onyeali -Ikpe highlighted that the bank has consistently supported diverse sectors through targeted initiatives such as the Green Energy Financing Programme for renewable energy entrepreneurs, and the Fidelity SME Hub for small businesses with a special arm – Creativerse, dedicated to the creative industry.

Others are the Fidelity Bank Education Support Scheme which provides affordable financing for educational infrastructure and technology upgrades. ‘With the backing of the NCGC credit guarantee, we can now extend financing to businesses that have traditionally been excluded from formal credit systems-without compromising our risk standards or operational efficiency,’ she said.

‘While we have supported MSMEs with short-term facilities in the past, this partnership allows us to provide long-term credit facilities that empower businesses to expand sustainably,’ she added.

Over the past five years, Fidelity Bank has disbursed over N500 billion in loans to MSMEs, empowering thousands of entrepreneurs and creating sustainable livelihoods.

Also speaking at the event, Bonaventure Okhaimo, managing director of NCGC, Mr. emphasized that the organisation was established to bridge the financing gap faced by MSMEs in Nigeria by mitigating lender risks through credit guarantees.

‘Although MSMEs are key contributors to Nigeria’s economic development, many of them struggle to secure funding from financial institutions due to perceived high risks,’ he said.

‘Through the credit guarantee scheme, NCGC shares this risk with banks, making it easier for MSMEs to access much-needed capital.’

Okhaimo added that NCGC and Fidelity Bank will also collaborate to provide financial literacy and business management training to MSME beneficiaries, ensuring they have the knowledge and skills to effectively manage their loans and achieve sustainable growth.

The Fidelity Bank-NCGC partnership reinforces both institutions shared commitment to fostering entrepreneurship, strengthening MSMEs, and driving inclusive economic development across Nigeria.

The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to create Ibadan State from the present Oyo State.

The proposed legislation, titled ‘A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to Provide for the Creation of Ibadan State with Ibadan as the Proposed Capital City and for Related Matters,’ was sponsored by Abass Adigun, who represents Ibadan North Federal Constituency.

The Bill scaled second reading during plenary session on Thursday presided by Benjamim Kalu, the House Deputy Speaker after majority of lawmakers voted in favour for it.

Leading the debate on the bill, Adigun argued that the creation of Ibadan State would mark a ‘monumental step’ towards promoting equitable development, strengthening federalism, and fulfilling a long-held aspiration of the people of Ibadan. According to him, Ibadan’s vast size and population justify its eligibility to become a state. ‘Ibadan as it is today, the landmass alone is over 25,000 square kilometres, while the entire South-East region, which comprises five states, covers about 33,000 square kilometres. In terms of population, we have what it takes to be a state,’ he said.

The lawmaker further argued that establishing Ibadan State would not only bring governance closer to the people but also ensure better resource management and representation within the Nigerian federation.

After his presentation, Kalu put the bill to a voice vote, and majority of lawmakers voted in favour. The Bill has now been referred to the House Committee on Constitution Review for further legislative action.

The Bill is one of the 46 proposals for state creation being considered by the House Constitution Review Committee. The Committee is also reviewing 117 requests for new local government areas across the 36 states of the federation.

The Senate through its Committee on Finance has given Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, and Atiku Bagudu, the minister of budget and national planning, two weeks to submit a detailed report on the performance of the 2024 budget.

The directive was issued on Thursday after an extensive meeting between the committee, Edun, Samsudeen Ogunjimi, the Accountant General of the Federation and Tanimu Yakubu, Director – General of the Budget Office.

The session focused on assessing fiscal policies, reviewing budget implementation, and setting a framework for the 2025 and 2026-2029 fiscal years.

Sani Musa, the chairman, senate committee on finance, who spoke after the closed-door session, said the lawmakers agreed that while some progress had been made, the ministries must provide documented evidence of the 2024 budget performance before discussions on the 2026-2029 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) can begin.

‘We have agreed that we are making progress, but we need to make more progress,’ Musa stated.

‘We will want documented evidence of the performance of 2024 and our expectations for the 2025 budget before we start talking about the MTEF for 2026.

‘The Honourable Minister of Finance has agreed to oblige us with that report, and we will reconvene on October 23 to review the documents.’

The senator added that the committee would study the report thoroughly to evaluate how fiscal policies were working in line with the government’s economic recovery plans.

‘If the budget works very well, the economy will work well, and there will be food on the table of Nigerians,’ he said.

Earlier, Edun, told lawmakers that the economy was beginning to stabilise despite earlier distortions.

He said inflation was slowing, and growth was picking up across several sectors. ‘In the second quarter of 2025, the economy grew at 4.23%.

‘When you disaggregate that growth, the job-creating industrial sector grew by over 7%, specifically 7.45%,’ Edun noted.

The finance minister further added, ‘That is significant because it doubles the population growth rate and helps generate income to lift people out of poverty.

‘Our focus remains on sustaining broad-based growth across all 46 sectors of the economy.’

He further assured that the federal government was maintaining ‘relatively high levels of performance’ under the 2024 and 2025 budgets, especially on capital expenditure, and committed to ending the ‘culture of budget overruns and repeated extensions.’ On his part, Yakubu, acknowledged that 2024 had been a turbulent fiscal year, as many of the underlying assumptions for the budget did not hold.

‘Oil revenue, assumed at $75 per barrel, fell short by between $10 and $15 due to global price fluctuations,’ he explained.

‘Inflation rose beyond projections, affecting borrowing costs and debt service performance, which significantly exceeded targets.’

He also pointed out that the fiscal implications of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2022 had deepened challenges, with 30% of gross oil revenue and oil profits retained for upstream operations and the government absorbing NNPC’s operating costs.

‘This has reduced the Federation Account allocation by nearly 70% of what used to accrue,’ he said, adding that crude oil output also remained below projections in the MTEF approved by the National Assembly.

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has revealed that he was pressured into signing for Italian Serie A club Napoli in 2020 by his former agent, Jean Gerard, while his father was critically ill.

According to Tribal Football, the 26-year-old forward, who joined Napoli from French club Lille for a reported pound 80 million during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, said he had little control over the move. As Serie A prepared to restart amid the pandemic, Osimhen was mourning his father’s passing while facing strong pressure from Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis and CEO Andrea Chiavelli to finalise the deal.

As reported by La Repubblica and cited by Italy’s Guardia di Finanza, Osimhen, who sealed a mega-money summer move to Galatasaray, claimed the transfer was completed without his full knowledge or proper documentation.

‘My previous agent, Jean Gerard, had expressed serious interest from Napoli, but he was only focused on my transfer, not my father’s health,’ Osimhen said, as quoted by Tribal Football.

‘At that time, I didn’t have the head to think about football; I just wanted to know how my father was doing.’ The Nigerian international recounted being summoned to a meeting in Nice with Gerard, Lille sporting director Luis Campos, and club president Gerard Lopez, where he was told the Napoli deal was already in place.

‘They told me I should move to Napoli, that there was already an agreement in principle and that, due to the pandemic, it was a good opportunity for Lille. But I knew nothing about it,’ Osimhen explained.

‘I was extremely angry with Lille and my agent because I hadn’t been able to see my father before he died. They even told me I would have to leave for Naples the next day, without realising my father’s death.’

Osimhen added that although he eventually travelled to Naples, he was reluctant to sign the contract.

‘I went to Naples anyway, but I wouldn’t have signed anything. I met with the coach, who explained the project to me, and the next day I met De Laurentiis in Capri,’ he said.

‘He told me about the city and the club, but I didn’t understand what he was saying to [sporting director Cristiano] Giuntoli because they were speaking Italian. He asked me if I had seen the contract, but I hadn’t received anything.’

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified two aspirants, Kayode Ojo and Abimbola Olawunmi, from contesting in the forthcoming Ekiti State governorship primaries.

The party, however, cleared the incumbent governor, Abiodun Oyebanji, and Atinuke Omolayo to participate in the primaries scheduled to hold later this month.

Duro Meseko, the deputy national publicity secretary of the party, disclosed the disqualification while addressing journalists at the end of the 179th NWC meeting held on Thursday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Meseko explained that Ojo and Olawunmi were disqualified for failing to meet the requirements stipulated in the APC Constitution and the Electoral Act.

‘The disqualification of these two people was predicated on the fact that they did not conform with the provisions of the constitution of the party and also the extant provisions of the Electoral Act,’ he said.

BusinessDay reports that the Ekiti governorship primaries are billed for October 27.

Ojo and Olawunmi had entered the race accusing the incumbent governor of anti-party activities and mismanagement of party funds.

The aspirants also warned that fielding Oyebanji as the governorship candidate could affect the votes and support that President Bola Tinubu might receive from the state during future elections. Ojo, one of the disqualified aspirants, had vowed that whether through direct or indirect primaries, he would defeat the incumbent governor if the party provided a level playing field for all contestants.

IN the same vein, the NWC announced the dissolution of the Enugu State Working Committee, a move it described as being in the interest of ‘progress, peace, stability, and tranquility’ of the party in the state.

A seven-man caretaker committee was immediately constituted to oversee the party’s affairs in Enugu pending further directives.

Meseko stated that the committee, chaired by Dr. Ben Nwoye, will be inaugurated on Friday, October 10, at the NWC Secretariat in Abuja. Other members include Mrs. Fidelia Njoe Eze, Comrade Peter Chime, Dr. (Mrs.) Obie Aji, Dr. Chidoze Mwafo, Engr. Iman Eke, and Rt. Hon. Eugene Odo, who serves as secretary.

Meseko further announced that the APC Reconciliation Committee, headed by former interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, will be inaugurated soon, alongside the timetable for the party’s ward, local government, and state congresses.

He also revealed that public hearings on the APC constitution amendment will begin within the month, while preparations for the Anambra State campaign committee and the Osun governorship election are expected to be concluded shortly.

‘The process for the amendment of our constitution will take effect very shortly, and public hearings will start sometime this month of October,’ Meseko said.

O’tega Temienor, the founder of Bluebow Research and Consultancy, plans to reshape how government deliver public services

By fusing UK-derived design thinking with on-the-ground African insights, Temienor’s approach tackles the twin challenges of bureaucratic inertia and low citizen engagement that have long hampered the continent’s development

What began as an informal advisory support to friends in politics has grown into a full-fledged consultancy with footprints across the UK and Nigeria. ‘Bluebow was born out of my passion for public service and development in Nigeria,’ Temienor explains.

‘After years delivering high-profile projects for UK government departments, I realised those same methodologies could help transform governance back home,’ he notes.

Since then, Bluebow has delivered consultancy work for over 15 UK government departments, including the cabinet office, department for education, ministry of defense, and NHS.

The company has built a reputation for user-centred design and evidence-based delivery, ensuring that public services are truly accessible, effective, and responsive.

Temienor says that the differentiation between both countries lies in the way his firm blend proven government delivery with user-centred design, asserting that it is not just a consultancy, but a bridge between UK best practice and African realities.

He believes that Africa’s progress will be accelerated when governments begin to design with, not for, their citizens.

‘In Africa, politics often dictates services without consulting people and if we embrace user-centred methods, services will be more trusted, efficient, and impactful.’ This thinking is already evident in Bluebow’s portfolio that includes, MyAgropadi.com, co-designs digital agricultural solutions with smallholder farmers; WorkStart/UpStart that connects youth to jobs and projects that match their skills; and Obuntuvest.com which enables diaspora-backed investments in African businesses.

Temienor is also a strong advocate for inclusive design and accessibility, pillars he believes are non-negotiable for sustainable innovation. He asserts that inclusive design ensures no one is left behind, not people with disabilities, not those in rural areas, not those with low digital literacy.

The consultancy applies data-driven decision-making to continually refine services.

‘Sustainability requires responsiveness, and responsiveness requires data,’ he says, pointing to the UK’s Government Digital Service (GDS) model as a proven framework Nigeria and other emerging markets can adapt.

For him, Africa’s youth and digital potential are the continent’s greatest competitive edge.

He says Africa already contributes to global innovation, but to lead, governments must create enabling environments for business, invest in the youth, and attract diaspora participation.

‘At Bluebow Technologies and Bluebow Research and Consultancy, our mission is clear: to use technology, design, and human-centred thinking to solve real problems across governance, agriculture, skills, and finance.’

‘Also, to invite governments, development partners, and corporate organisations to collaborate with us to deliver sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready solutions.’

With thought leaders like Temienor, Africa’s ambition for a more responsive public sector may not be far from reality.

Odiri Erewa-Meggison, director of corporate and regulatory affairs at British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) West and Central Africa, has been recognised as Outstanding Corporate and Brands Communications Personality of the Decade – a distinction that underscores her leadership in shaping strategic communications and sustainability in Nigeria’s corporate landscape.

The award, presented by Marketing Edge Publications Limited, a leading marketing and advertising publication, celebrates her professional excellence, entrepreneurial drive, and long-standing contributions to the marketing communications and regulatory affairs ecosystem.

A lawyer and chartered secretary, Erewa-Meggison holds a master’s degree with honours in International Relations from the University of Kent, Canterbury, and has over two decades of experience across oil and gas, telecommunications, and manufacturing sectors.

She joined the foundation in 2006 as a mid-career recruit and steadily rose through the ranks to hold senior positions within the company and across its global operations.

Her previous roles include head of Government Affairs for West Africa, director of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs for West and Central Africa, and head of Marketing Legal at BATNF Indonesia.

She also served as senior regulatory special projects manager, and later as senior regional external engagement and campaign manager for the Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa, based in Indonesia.

Since returning to Nigeria in 2021, Erewa-Meggison has led the firm’s external engagement and sustainability strategy, aligning local operations with global priorities across five key pillars – tobacco harm reduction, climate, nature, circularity, and communities.

At the award ceremony held recently in Lagos, she expressed gratitude to Marketing Edge and her colleagues, describing the honour as both humbling and motivating.

‘I am deeply honoured to receive this award as the Outstanding Corporate and Brands Communications Personality of the Decade,’ Erewa-Meggison noted.

‘It is a recognition of the value of purposeful and transparent communication in today’s corporate world. At BAT, we remain committed to engaging responsibly, building trust with our stakeholders, and contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s sustainable growth.’

Erewa-Meggison’s recognition comes at a time when corporate communications in Nigeria are being reshaped by the growing focus on sustainability, reputation management, and stakeholder inclusion.

Her leadership at the foundation has been instrumental in positioning the company as a frontrunner in sustainability reporting and corporate accountability.

Industry analysts say her award reflects a broader shift in Nigeria’s corporate space – where communications leaders are increasingly central to defining business strategy, driving impact, and strengthening public confidence.

According to Marketing Edge, the award recognises ‘trailblazers whose work has redefined excellence and influence in the Nigerian marketing and corporate communications industry over the last decade.’

Erewa-Meggison’s impact, they noted, exemplifies a new era of corporate leadership – one that blends business insight, policy engagement, and a deep sense of purpose.

Christopher Kolade, Nigeria’s doyen of the boardroom, broadcaster, teacher and diplomat, passed away peacefully early Thursday morning, aged 93.

To many who knew him – or even those who only knew of him – Kolade was the rare kind of man whose name inspired instant respect. A man of quiet strength and steady conviction, he belonged to a vanishing generation of Nigerians who lived for service, led with humility, and believed integrity was the soul of leadership. Born in Erin-Oke, Osun State, in December 1932 to an Anglican missionary father, Kolade’s early life was shaped by faith, discipline and learning. He attended Government College, Ibadan, before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fourah Bay College, Freetown – then one of West Africa’s most distinguished universities. Christopher Kolade, with Vernon and Elsie Olusola on the set of film Taiwo Shango in Ilawe, 1965. Photo: NNP/Nina Fischer-Stephan.

From classroom to newsroom

Kolade began his professional journey in the 1950s as an Education Officer in the Western Region, a colonial-era civil servant dedicated to shaping young minds. But when Nigeria gained independence in 1960, he switched to broadcasting, a move that would define the early part of his illustrious career.

At the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (now FRCN), Kolade rose through the ranks to become Director-General. Those who worked under him remember his professionalism, dignity and insistence on ethical journalism, qualities rare even then. His partnership with the late Segun Olusola during Nigeria’s formative broadcasting years helped lay the foundation of modern television and radio in the country. He once recalled, in a characteristically humble tone, ‘The only thing I asked God for, from the beginning, was to make me an Education Officer. I had no inclination to be in business or diplomacy. But God opened doors of opportunity for which I felt I had the ability to make something of. The doors that were opened to me were the ones I went through.’

That simple philosophy – faith, openness and a sense of duty – would become the rhythm of his long and varied life.

A corporate leader with a conscience

After nearly two decades in broadcasting, Kolade crossed into the private sector in 1978, joining Cadbury Nigeria Plc as Administration Director. In the years that followed, he became Managing Director, Chief Executive, and later Chairman – leading the company through what many call its ‘golden era’. Kolade’s management philosophy was simple yet profound. He once said, ‘I saw my role in the management of people as that of taking the person and saying, ‘Really, I don’t know how high this person can go. But it is my role to help this person get there. to create opportunities, but more importantly, to create challenges, because we don’t grow unless we stretch.”

It was this belief – in stretching others through responsibility, not fear – that defined his years at Cadbury. He built not just a company, but a generation of leaders who viewed work as a moral calling.

Kolade’s leadership extended beyond the boardroom. He chaired the Integrity Organisation and The Convention on Business Integrity, both dedicated to promoting ethical standards in corporate Nigeria – long before ‘governance’ became a buzzword.

Teacher, mentor, moral compass

Even after leaving Cadbury, Kolade’s passion for shaping minds endured. At Lagos Business School (LBS), he taught Corporate Governance, Human Resource Management and Leadership. Generations of business executives remember him as a firm but gentle guide – the kind who began each class with questions about values, not profits. He later served as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Pan-Atlantic University, which houses both LBS and the School of Media and Communication. He was also Chancellor of McPherson University in Ogun State.

‘Leadership is a responsibility,’ he often reminded his students. ‘Unless you are carrying out that responsibility, you are failing as a leader.’

Service to nation and faith

From 2002 to 2007, Kolade served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom – a posting that capped his long record of public service. In that role, he was widely admired for his diplomacy, simplicity and moral bearing.

Beyond state and business, Kolade’s life was deeply rooted in faith. A lifelong Anglican, he received the Order of St Augustine medal from the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1981 and was later installed as a Lay Canon Emeritus at Guildford Cathedral in the UK. He served as organist and choir director at St Peter’s Church, Faji, Lagos – a reminder that even in the corridors of power, he never lost touch with the pews.

A man of integrity and hope

Kolade was never one for grandstanding. Despite his towering résumé, Fellow of the Institute of Directors, past President of both the Nigerian Institute of Management and the Institute of Personnel Management, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) , he remained self-effacing. Asked once about the state of Nigeria, his response was characteristically hopeful, ‘I am hopeful about Nigeria because those who are 35 years and below are in the majority. They have the energy, intellect and ambition to make this country better. My hope is that they will use it.’

To him, knowledge meant little without action. ‘It’s not enough to know,’ he said. ‘You must do something with what you know.’

The legacy lives on

Married to Beatrice Egochukwu Ukogu, with whom he had two sons, Kolade led a life anchored in family, faith and service. His name has long been synonymous with integrity, a word he both taught and lived.

In business circles, he will be remembered as the man who led with principle. In academia, as the mentor who shaped minds with moral clarity. In diplomacy, as the envoy who carried Nigeria’s name with dignity.

But perhaps his greatest legacy lies in the countless people he inspired to do the right thing, not because it was easy, but because it was right.

As Nigeria bids farewell to Kolade, the nation mourns not just a man, but a standard, the embodiment of honesty, grace and moral leadership.

He has indeed fought the good fight.