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The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Osun State chapter, has accused the reinstated All Progressives Congress (APC) local government executives of attempting to induce workers to resume duties despite ongoing council leadership disputes.

NULGE President Nathaniel Ogungbagbe, speaking on Friday at the Ministry of Local Government, Abere, insisted that no worker would resume on Monday until all legal issues surrounding the control tussle between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are resolved.

The Nation recalls that following the reinstatement of the APC executives, the FG withheld allocations since February 2025, releasing them only in September to council accounts managed by the APC chairmen. This prompted a faction of workers to vow to resume duties.

Ogungbagbe, however, alleged that the move is an APC strategy to destabilise their struggle and disrupt peace in the state. He added that the faction’s leader, Comrade Adekunle Adedayo, was disgruntled after losing a union presidential election in March.

He boasted that ‘I can tell you for a fact that our members will not resume their duty post on Monday. Any worker who resumes, APC, induced them to do so.

‘Governor Ademola Adeleke is performing excellently well for all civil servants and pensioners in the State. Despite these, the bunch of integrates are hell-bent on destroying the peace.

‘We are appealing to all educative and well-informed esteemed members not to harken to the call to resume duty. We are not going to force anyone not to join them, but I am sure that our members won’t join the resumption.’

The Impact Investors Foundation (IIF), a platform for unlocking impact capital, has unveiled a blueprint to drive gender equity and social inclusion, aiming to mobilise a cumulative $8 billion in inclusive capital over the next decade.

The ‘Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) Roadmap 2025-2035’ was officially launched at the third Gender Impact Investment Summit (GIIS) in Lagos, themed ‘Investing in Equity: Advancing Gender-Led Solutions for Inclusive Development.’

Developed in collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Nigeria, the 10-year strategic plan seeks to embed inclusive investment practices deeply within the Nigerian economy. The GESI Roadmap sets clear, data-driven targets, including the launch of 40 inclusive financial products for women, youth, and People with Disabilities (PwDs); the integration of GESI principles by 90% of General Partners; and the mobilization of $1.5 billion in domestic capital pools. Furthermore, it aims for the enactment of 20 new policy and regulatory instruments to support this transformative agenda.

The launch introduced the Nigeria Inclusive Capital Commitment 2035 campaign, a call to action designed to galvanize governments, capital providers, and financial intermediaries toward achieving these ambitious goals. ‘This GESI Roadmap is not just a plan; it’s a blueprint for a significant shift in Nigeria’s economy. The scale of the targets underscores our profound commitment to a future where no one is left behind. This incredibly exciting moment sets a powerful, decade-long course to democratize capital and transform our investment landscape for women, youth, and People with Disabilities (PwDs),’ the Chief Executive,the Impact Investors Foundation, Etemore Glover stated. She maintained that the urgency for the initiative is underscored by recent data highlighting significant financing gaps. According to PwC’s Head of ESG, Sustainability and Climate Change, Marilyn Obaisa-Osula,a study found that ‘between 2020 and 2024, only 20 percent of venture capital funding was received by female-led startups in Nigeria.’ She said the GESI Roadmap seeks to directly address this imbalance.

In her keynote address, the Chief Executive, 2X Global, a global industry body for gender lens investing, Jessica Espinoza, cited a World Economic Forum study which noted that ‘advancing women’s employment could add $12 trillion to global gross domestic product (GDP).’ She also referenced research from the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and Boston Consulting Group, which estimated that global GDP could increase by as much as $5 trillion if women participated in entrepreneurship at the same rate as men. ‘Progress is strategic, not accidental, which is why the GESI roadmap is a critical blueprint for Nigeria’s future,’ Espinoza stressed.

Echoing this sentiment, the Sarkin Kano, His Highness Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II CON, called for a new national policy to significantly increase the representation of women on boards and in the management of public companies. ‘This will ensure equity and give a voice to redirect policies formation as they affect women,’ he stated, arguing that female underrepresentation ‘hinders progress and limits the nation’s ability to tap into its full potential.’

Chairman of the Impact Investors Foundation, Frank Aigbogun, emphasised the Summit’s transition from advocacy to action. ‘Building on those foundations of policy advocacy and innovative models, we now stand at a crucial turning point.This year’s theme signals our collective resolve to move decisively from aspiration to accountability. Today is truly historic because we are not simply holding another summit; we are launching the Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) Roadmap,’ he said.

He continued, ‘The targets we have set underscore the urgency of this challenge and the scale of our ambition: we aim to mobilize $8 billion in cumulative gender-inclusive capital, with $1.5 billion coming directly from domestic capital pools, and achieve a 90% integration of GESI principles among general partners. This framework is our commitment to ensure that capital is not exclusive, but truly inclusive.’

In a practical step to drive immediate investment, the summit included a dedicated ‘deal room,’ where investment-ready, women-led and women-owned businesses directly connected with capital providers, including impact investors and fund managers.

The GESI Roadmap was developed with vital support from distinguished institutions and organisations, including PwC Nigeria, GIZ, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the Ministry of Youth Development, and the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) Fund. The launch reaffirms the Impact Investors Foundation’s dedication to establishing actionable interventions that build a gender-inclusive economy, driving both prosperity and social impact in Nigeria.

The Federal High Court sitting in Warri has ordered the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to maintain the status quo in the ongoing legal dispute over the enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy.

The order was given Friday in Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025, filed by lawyer, John Aikpokpo-Martins, against the IGP and the NPF.

NBA Publicity Secretary Bridget Edokwe said the court specifically directed the police to respect judicial processes and refrain from any action that could undermine the pending case.

Nigeria’s creative scene witnessed a landmark moment on October 1 as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially inaugurated the newly refurbished National Theatre, now renamed the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, during the country’s 65th Independence Anniversary celebrations.

The event was a grand convergence of Nigeria’s political, financial, and cultural elite, as the curtains rose on an entertainment hub set to reshape the nation’s creative economy.

A vision of cultural renewal

Speaking at the ceremony, President Tinubu underscored the symbolic importance of rechristening the iconic building after Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Literature.

‘You are one of the greatest assets of the world, the continent, and the country,’ the President said, addressing Professor Wole Soyinka directly. ‘It couldn’t have been anything else. So I say it has to be Wole Soyinka Center. This has broken the monotony of military marching parades. Today is an evening well spent.’ The President also used the occasion to call on Nigerians to believe in their country and change the narrative about the nation:

‘Stop talking about Nigeria in the negative tone. We are a country of proud people. If you had a bad dream, forget it. This country will succeed. Please, lift Nigeria. Believe in Nigeria. Put Nigeria first,’ he urged.

He pledged to contribute personally to an endowment fund to ensure the Centre remains vibrant:

‘It’s not a bad thing for us to use this opportunity to create jobs, maintenance, accessibility, and commitment. This place will not go derelict again.’

Lagos reclaims creative heartbeat

For Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the reopening marked more than the restoration of a building, it was the revival of a national icon with deep ties to Lagos’ cultural history.

‘We gather not only to witness the commissioning of a renovated edifice or to celebrate the rebirth of a national icon,’ Sanwo-Olu declared. ‘This landmark is more than concrete and steel. It is the foundation upon which identity, unity, and progress are built.’

He recalled the theatre’s pivotal role in FESTAC ’77, when Lagos hosted one of the most iconic gatherings of Black and African artists from across the world.

‘FESTAC 77 gave us the National Theatre, and the National Theatre in turn gave us FESTAC 77,’ he said. ‘That spirit lives here today.

The Governor noted Lagos State’s contribution to the renovation project, including a dedicated Blue Line Metro stop and additional land to develop a ‘world-class creative hub’ around the Centre.

Public-Private Partnership as a Creative Catalyst

Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso highlighted the project as proof of what can happen when the public and private sectors align behind a shared vision.

‘What began as an ambitious vision to reimagine an aging monument as a world-class creative hub has today become a stunning reality,’ Cardoso said.

He noted that the Bankers’ Committee committed approximately N68 billion to the project, not merely as corporate social responsibility but as a ‘deliberate investment in Nigeria’s cultural future.’

‘This project stands as proof that when the public and private sectors unite behind a shared national purpose, there is no limit to what Nigeria can achieve,’ he added.

Cardoso also lauded President Tinubu’s role in transforming the renovation into a ‘symbol of national renewal’ by directing that the Centre be ready for this Independence Day celebration.

Wole Soyinka’s mixed feelings and lasting legacy

In a moving speech laced with humour and candour, Professor Wole Soyinka reflected on his initial reluctance to have his name attached to a public monument, having often criticized such practices in the past.

‘I accepted this honour with mixed feelings,’ Soyinka admitted. ‘I’m notorious for having criticised so many appropriations of public monuments by past leaders. By the time I thought it over again, no, I mustn’t forget. somebody has to carry the can.’

He also recalled the theatre’s decrepit state years earlier and how he once jokingly advised Lagos officials to ‘plant bombs and blow it up’ because it was ‘irredeemable.’

‘These bankers have got together to make me eat my words. If eating one’s words produces a morsel like this, then it’s a very tasty set of words,’ he quipped to applause.

Soyinka ended on a heartfelt note, thanking all involved in the project:

‘This building owes me. but today, I thank you for doing what I considered impossible. This Centre will inspire generations of artists to follow the example of truth, courage, and creativity.’

A new era for Nigerian creativity

With world-class audio-visual technology, upgraded performance spaces, rehearsal rooms, an African literature library, and seamless integration with the Lagos Blue Line Rail, the Wole Soyinka Centre positions itself as a premier destination for global-standard performances and cultural events.

Mrs. Tola Akerele, the National Theatre’s General Manager/CEO, described the reopening as ‘a foundation for building a globally competitive creative economy’ and emphasized the need for systems and programs to transform the facility into ‘sustainable opportunity’ for young creatives.

‘When you build capacity in the creative sector, you create jobs, empower young people, and position Nigeria to compete globally,’ she said.

As Nigeria looks to diversify its economy, this revitalized landmark stands as both a tribute to the past and a bold bet on the future, a stage not just for performances, but for a national narrative of resilience, innovation, and cultural pride.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Saturday, October 4, travel to Jos, Plateau State, to attend the funeral prayers of Nana Lydia Yilwatda Goshwe, mother of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nantewe Yilwatda Goshwe.

According to a statement on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President will also use the occasion to engage with religious leaders across the North at the headquarters of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Jos.

‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Lagos on Saturday, October 4, for Jos, Plateau State capital, to attend the funeral prayers in honour of Nana Lydia Yilwatda Goshwe, mother of the APC National Chairman, Professor Nantewe Yilwatda Goshwe.

‘The President will later address Church Leaders across the North at the headquarters of the COCIN Church in Jos,’ the statement reads..

Tinubu is scheduled to return to Lagos later on the same day after the engagements in Jos.

Days after announcing a novel ?494 million Locker Room Bonus sponsorship for the Nigeria National League (NNL), Africa’s leading gaming and entertainment brand, BetPawa, at a colourful event in Lagos on Wednesday unveiled Afro-pop star Tekno as its new brand ambassador.

The unveiling highlights betPawa’s strategy of blending football, music and culture to connect with young Nigerians. Tekno, one of the country’s most celebrated hit-makers, now becomes the face of Africa’s ‘home of big winners,’ carrying a message that extends beyond gaming into lifestyle and inspiration.

‘Tekno represents everything betPawa stands for – energy, creativity, and breaking boundaries,’ said Borah Omary Ndanyungu, Head of Local Marketing and CSR at betPawa. ‘His music inspires millions, just as football does. This announcement comes on the heels of our ?494m investment in Nigerian football through the Locker Room Bonus. For us, it’s about rewarding performance on the pitch and creating unforgettable experiences off it.’

Tekno, known for chart-topping singles like Pana and Skeletun, welcomed the partnership: ‘I’ve always been about pushing limits, from the studio to the stage. That’s why betPawa felt like family. The odds, the pay-outs, the innovation – it’s a game-changer. And you know me, I’m here for winners only,’ he said.

Recall that the Locker Room Bonus initiative, launched in Abuja earlier this month, guarantees ?56,000 direct mobile-money payments to 20 players and three technical staff from every winning NNL team – ?1,288,000 in total per match. With 292 games scheduled, over ?369m will go directly to players and staff this season. Another ?100m will support league operations, while ?8.1m is reserved for end-of-season awards.

For the NNL, the deal is about more than cash; it represents professionalism and transparency. Club officials have already been trained on the Locker Room Bonus platform, which digitises line-up verification and automates payments, ensuring instant rewards for players.

The unveiling of Tekno signals that betPawa is embedding itself in Nigerian culture. From its 1,250% sports win bonus – the highest in Africa – to its exclusive 1M x multiplier on JetX crash games, the company is positioning itself as the ‘home of big winners.’

But the brand says its mission goes beyond business. ‘Across Africa, we’ve shown our commitment to grassroots development. Whether through Locker Room Bonuses or supporting local leagues, our focus is on empowering players and fans,’ Borah added.

Interestingly, at the Abuja launch, stakeholders urged betPawa to extend support to women’s football and basketball, areas where the company already invests in other African markets. The brand’s track record shows inclusivity, ensuring equal rewards for men’s and women’s leagues where it operates.

By investing in both sport and culture, betPawa is shaping a new model of corporate sponsorship in Nigeria – one that fuels ambition on the pitch, drives creativity in music, and empowers communities.

As Tekno prepares to release new music and the NNL gears up for its November kick-off, the synergy of football and Afro-pop promises to keep Nigeria buzzing. For betPawa, this is just the beginning of a bigger story.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Nigeria can only defeat the Boko Haram insurgency when both the political and security leadership begin to think beyond the available narrative about the sect.

He added that documenting the experiences of those affected can help the country understand the issue and develop effective strategies to address it.

Obasanjo made this known while speaking as the chairman of the occasion at the public presentation of ‘Scars’, a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, in Abuja, on Friday.

He said, ‘When in 2011, after Boko Haram had attacked the UN office here in Abuja, I went to Maiduguri to find out if there was Boko Haram, and what it was? Who were they? What are their objectives? What do they want? How can we satisfy them? And I found out, yes, there was Boko Haram. I found they were not really aiming for anything political or anything seriously religious. But people who were looking for a better life, and any other thing attached to that, are a better life for them.

‘Have we understood that? If we have, have we taken the steps that we should take? If we have, why is it that after 15 years, Boko Haram is now gradually becoming part of our lives? Should we accept that? If we do not accept it, what should we do? How much do we know?’

‘Even from the other side, and from this side, have we been active enough? Have we been proactive enough? I think we have to ask ourselves the necessary questions to be able to deal with this . something that is now becoming a monster within our country.’

The former president noted that while Nigeria has faced various security challenges since independence, Boko Haram stands out for persisting for over 15 years without resolution, largely due to a lack of proper understanding of the group.

He noted that General Irabor’s book examines the past to identify factors that could be hindering progress in the present and future, praising the courage of the author to say things as they were.

Obasanjo said, ‘I believe that is what you have tried to do in your book. There is normally the tendency of ‘don’t talk about it’, let’s leave it. And I believe that we will get out of that culture.

‘The history and life of any nation has the good, the bad, and the ugly. What is important is to look at it and to think about it. And when we have to find solutions, we may even look beyond what we can see. Let us think beyond what is available. And I think that is what you have done here.

‘I will urge and appeal to those who have things to say about this particular issue of Boko Haram to say it. We don’t even know where Boko Haram stops and banditry starts, and kidnapping begins. They are all mixed together.

‘And by the time we go, even those who have been on the other side, who have been part of a supporter of Boko Haram, for whatever Boko Haram is, let them write, let them speak up, and that way, we will be able to find solutions to these ugly problems,’ he added.

Bayelsa State Chapter of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has scored Governor Douye Diri high on performance, saying he ranks above his predecessors in infrastructural development.

IPAC, in a statement by its state Chair, Simeon Imomotimi, and Secretary, Pastor Peace Oruama, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence and 29th anniversary of Bayelsa creation, they said Diri had performed well in office.

The statement said: ‘Without mincing words, Senator Douye Diri, in our assessment, stands tall and unmatched among the persons that have administered the state to this point in terms of infrastructural development.’

IPAC noted that Diri was most outstanding in road network, social services, health, transportation, sports, health among others.

On road network, IPAC said the governor had done well to connect all the communities in the state listing Glory Land Drive phases two and three: the bridge at Imgbi junction linking Glory Land Drive; new Yenagoa city, Airport Road; AIT/Igbogene outer ring road; Onuebum/Otuoke road; expansion of Etegwe/Amassoma road: Prosco road and Ogu/Akaba/Okodi road, among others, as the governor’s interventions.

The statement said: ‘Senator Diri’s most outstanding achievement in road construction is the completion of earlier sections and furthering of new sections of three senatorial roads, namely Ekeremor/Agge road; Nembe/Brass and Angiama/Oporoma road with the bridge at Angiama near completion with spurs to Otuan, Enewari and other communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government’.

IPAC further lauded Diri for uplifting education in Bayelsa through employment of young Bayelsa graduates to fill up vacant positions in post-primary school board as classroom teachers; building and upgrading of school facilities, establishment of technical colleges to promote vocational skills and accreditation of new courses and programmes in the higher institutions.

The council insisted the governor had done well in health by encouraging primary health care services; establishing health a centre in each ward; referral hospitals in each local government and posting doctors to reside in rural areas.

On social services and sports, IPAC said: ‘Other indices for measuring Diri’s performance is provision of social amenities and services for Bayelsans.

‘Such lofty social amenities and services provided by Governor Diri include the modern gas turbine at Elebele, which is near completion; the first governor to Implement the local government reforms by voting out funds and clearing gratuities and pensions arears owed local government retirees.

‘Similar payment and clearance of outstanding gratuities and pensions arrears have also been effected.

‘We commend the governor for the construction of the Olympic standard stadium at Igbogene and placing Bayelsa in the front burner of sports through support of our sports men and women.

‘IPAC lauds Diri for a job well done in delivering dividends of democracy to the people.

‘However, like Oliver Twist, we appeal to His Excellency to do more by providing portable drinking water for Bayesans mostly those resident in Yenagoa and the LGA headquarters.

‘It also our further plea for His Excellency to also build units of low cost houses at Yenagoa and the LGA headquarters to accommodate the rapidly increasing urban and rural population in the state

‘This notwithstanding, we assure His Excellency of our full cooperation realising that it is only through our collective partnering that the dreams of turning our state into an Eldorado will be achieved.’

Veteran Nollywood actress, Bukky Wright, has celebrated her son, Eniola, as he tied the knot with his international partner.

Wright expressed her gratitude and joy in a heartfelt Instagram post, thanking Allah for sparing her life to witness the milestone.

‘This is the day that the Lord has made!! I rejoiced and was glad with so much gratitude to Allah for sparing my life to see my baby boy get married and start his life with his wife. I have seen the beginning of your life till date, I will not see your end insha Allah,’ she wrote.

She also prayed for the couple’s marriage to be blessed and filled with happiness.

‘Almighty Allah will make this union one made from heaven. He will continue to be with your family and by His grace you will never lack anything good in life. As you start the journey into real life with your wife you will not know sorrow. Thanks for making me a proud mother. I can go on and on but I will stop here for now. I love you guys.’

Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC – Edo North) has criticized the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for shutting down government-owned oil organizations over its trade dispute with Dangote Refinery.

Speaking on ‘The Morning Show’ on Arise News Television on Friday, the former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president said the action was misplaced and should not have been escalated to the level of crippling the oil sector.

PENGASSAN had ordered members to withdraw their services following the alleged dismissal of about 800 workers by Dangote Refinery, leading to the closure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) offices in Abuja on Monday.

The move triggered fuel scarcity across the country as queues resurfaced at petrol stations.

Oshiomhole, however, maintained that while workers’ rights must be respected, shutting down critical oil agencies in solidarity with a small group of employees was an overreach.

Oshiomhole said, ‘What I’m not sure is right is the ease with which Ferguson resorted to escalating the manner to secondary level, what we call the secondary solidarity, to a point of shutting down the oil sector. I think that, in seeking to protect a particular set of workers, you do not then risk the job of several other workers.’

Oshiomhole averred that before a labour union can call for a national strike, there must have been an argument or a fight with the government over an issue that affects all Nigerians.

‘I don’t have any proof, but my experience is that, before you shut the gate of NNPCL, there has to be a fight. So when I saw NNPCL’s gate effortlessly closed, all the other companies, government-owned oil companies, without any effort. I’m like, if this were private employers, would they allow their companies to close without any resistance. I do not think so. So, why is everybody seemingly so helpless that we are at the mercy of anyone?’ he said.

Oshiomhole argued that labour unions’ operations are regulated by the law, adding that before union leaders can go to the extent of shutting down the economy, the workers must see a valid reason to support their call.

‘Before you take those measures, you are ready for a fight. And the workers for them to follow must see the linkage between their well-being and what is at stake,’ he said.