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SAMPLE 1: ‘About two days ago, the Internet has been awashed with news of ex-Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, who verbally assaulted a Daily Trust journalist, Charlse Eyor'(Verbal assault: Fela’s daughter reacts to outburst of FFK against Daily Trust journalist, Charlse, Opera News, 26 August, 2020)

I draw attention to the form awashed occurring in the structure, ‘the Internet has been awashed with news’. Let us note that the word is in the past participle form, a fact attested by the final -ed that characterizes regular past/past participle forms in English. It is difficult to fault a reported sentence that appropriately inflects the verbs, converting them to their past/past participle forms.

However, the trouble here is that the word awash is not a verb but an adjective, and, as we well know, adjectives are never inflected for past or past participle. Some writers often commit the injurious blunder of adding the morpheme -ed to awash, thus giving the misleading impression that it is a verb.

Meaning to exist or be available in large numbers or to be numerous, the word awash is typically used as follows: (1) The streets were awash with posters advertising the new film. (2) The newspapers were awash with stories of the Governor’s sexual escapades in the US. (3) During the era of the oil boom, the country was awash with naira. (4) At this time of the year, the markets are usually awash with fruits. (5) Five weeks on, the country is still awash with unsavoury rumours about the president’s health. (6) American newspapers were awash with the reports of the police’s murder of an innocent African-American. 7) Soon Nigerian landscape will be awash with the posters of politicians seeking elective posts.

What we have learnt today is that the word awash is not a verb but an adjective and, as an adjective, it is anomalous to add -ed to it i.e. to convert it to a past form or a past participle. The error must have emanated from the erroneous analogy that sees the word in terms of the verb wash. Unmistakably a verb, the word wash can be correctly inflected for the past tense and past participle both of which happen to be washed: (1) I have washed my clothes. (2) The erosion washed away all the sands intended for the construction of a new building. (3) Having washed the floor and the walls, the new tenants seemed ready to move into the apartment. (4) The boy washed his hands thoroughly before eating. (5) The driver has washed the car. (6) She washes the plates every morning. (7) What are you doing? I am washing my clothes.

Yes, as the sentences above demonstrate, we have the following forms of wash: washes, washing, washed. It is remarkable that such forms do not exist in the case of awash, which, as we have emphasized, is an adjective.

Sample 2: ‘Adams Oshiomole is the formal Governor of Edo State; he is also the formal president of the Nigerian Labour Congress, but fortunately for the formal Governor, he was able to find a woman who helped him to heal his wound.'(5 years after Oshiomole got married to a foreign lady.Opera News, 24 August, 2020)

The word formal occurs three times in the excerpt as follows: ‘formal Governor’; ‘formal president’; and, again, ‘formal Governor.’ In each of those three appearances, the word formal has been confused with former. In other words, the word former should replace formal in each of those contexts. There is a difference between formal and former, a difference often blurred in the Nigerian perception by poor pronunciation.

Next, we illustrate the difference in meaning and usage between former(ly) and formal(ly). Now read the following sentences: 1) It was surprising that a former chairman of our party could be so shameless as to join another party. 2) He earns much more salary here than he did in his former employment. 3) Disciplined and respectable as he seems, he has had two former wives. 4) Former students of the institution are holding meetings on the possibility of giving it a facelift. 5) In former times, Sanitary Inspectors had some of the powers reserved exclusively today for the police. 6) I ran into a former classmate who introduced me to the new business. 7) Two former governors are being prosecuted for embezzlement and related corrupt practices. 8) It is interesting listening to the testimonies of the former armed robber, now an evangelist. 9) One of the guests is a former beauty queen. 10) One of the governors is a former labour leader. 11) The clinic was formerly housed in an old property belonging to the Local Government. 12) The school formerly belonged to a Christian Mission. 13) The young man was formerly working with an expatriate firm. 14) Our rates of pay were formerly higher than those of the civil servants. 15) It was formerly thought that the earth was flat. 16) Mathematics was formerly regarded as an arts subject. 17) The Nigerian economy formerly ranked among the strongest in the third world countries. 18) The English language formerly belonged exclusively to the British Isles. 19) The nursing profession was formerly associated with women only. 20) Twins were formerly believed to be demons or gods unfit to live with humans.

The word formal(ly) has do with official situations or conditions or behaviour. Now read the following sentences: 1) It is now time to formally welcome our guests. 2) The former leaders have not formally handed over to the new leaders. 3) The President formally announced the dissolution of the council yesterday. 4) The formal inauguration of the 8th Senate was characterized by controversy. 5) The occasion was declared open formally by the Vice Chancellor. 6) Formal education in modern times is synonymous with western education. 7) Before any other thing, we must have formal introduction. 8) Nobody can occupy a position like that without formal training. 9) The case will be presented formally today. 10) To be admitted into the hall, you have to be formally dressed. 11) Jokes of that nature should not be cracked on formal occasions. 12) A formal meeting is being arranged between the new Senate President and the President of the Federal Republic. 13) A letter has been written formally appointing him as MD. 14) Since the meeting has not adjourned formally, nobody should leave. 15) The chairman formally assumed duty last Wednesday. 16) The Matriculation day is the day new students are formally admitted into the university system. 17) The so-called engagement is the occasion the future groom’s parents formally request the future bride’s parents to release their daughter to them. 18) Retirement marks the retiree’s formal disengagement from service. 19) This is not an occasion for formal, boring speeches but for celebration and jollity. 20) The book will be formally presented to the public before the end of the year.

‘A man’s cheerful heart gives him strength when he is sick. You can’t keep going if you have a broken spirit.’ Proverbs 18.14.

‘The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.’ Psalm 34.18

Last time we began looking at negative emotions. We have seen that the human mind has the capacity to receive, process information which in turn has the capacity of control.

‘Your genes don’t control your life as much as your mind and thoughts do.’ Carmen Jacob

Proverbs 23.7 says as a man thinks in his heart so is he.

You must, therefore, not be ignorant, careless, negligent, or nonchalant about negative emotions because they are real and dangerous.

Dangers of negative emotions

1. They steal your joy – you lose enthusiasm and happiness.

2. Negative emotions, if not properly handled, usually results in the loss of peace which manifest in anxiety, worry, nervousness and mental stress.

3. It lowers and eventually destroys your morale and of those around you.

4. Creates disinterest in your job/the people and you begin to hate your job, people and yourself.

5. Mental health issues

6. Affects your self esteem. Negative emotions can lead to self doubt.

7. Discontent and dissatisfaction.

How to handle negative emotions.

a) Understand that it is common to man and everyone is prone to negative emotions. Do not allow the presence of negative emotions to isolate you from people. Everyone, one time or the other gets into the net of negative emotions.

‘There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.’ 1 Corinthians 10:13.

‘Be sober be vigilant because your adversary as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in faith knowing that the same affliction are accomplished (experienced by) your brethren that are in the world.’ 1 Peter 5.8-9.

Negative emotion is prone to happen to everyone.

‘Negative emotions are a natural part of being human. They can provide important information that helps us understand that something’s wrong. But when these feelings become persistent and overwhelming, they can become a problem that affects our mental and physical well-being. Negative emotions are unpleasant and disruptive emotional reactions. Examples of negative emotions include sadness, fear, anger, or jealousy. These feelings aren’t just unpleasant; they also make it hard to function in your normal daily life, and they interfere with your ability to accomplish goals. It is important to note that no emotion, including a negative one, is inherently bad. It’s perfectly normal to feel these things in certain contexts or situations. These emotions become problematic when they are persistent and interfere with your ability to live your life normally.’ Verywellmind.com

b) Acknowledge you have negative emotions.

– Don’t deny it. Don’t justify it.

– Admit it. You cannot solve a problem you don’t admit so identify and recognise there is a problem.

Bishop Taiwo Adelakun, the presiding Bishop of Victory International Church, has urged Christians to cultivate a habit of praising God and engaging in selfless service for His work to deepen their personal and spiritual wealth.

He made this statement during the dedication of a new church, His Pavilion Christian Centre, located in the Dizengoff Area of Kolapo Isola Estate in Ibadan. In his sermon, Bishop Adelakun emphasized that true wealth is manifested through praising God, serving God, and serving humanity selflessly. He pointed out that Christians who lack a spirit of generosity towards God and others miss the vital path to achieving economic progress.

Earlier, Reverend Niyi Dahunsi, the Lead Pastor of His Pavilion Christian Centre (HPCC), expressed that the church’s completion within one year was miraculous and filled with testimonies, thus earning it the name Miracle Land. He affirmed that his life is dedicated to helping both men and women thrive in their faith.

Reverend Dahunsi, who also serves as the Deputy Director of Programmes at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in Ibadan, expressed his gratitude to God for fulfilling His promises. He noted that the event was particularly special as it coincided with his birthday, marking a personal double celebration.

The church dedication featured special song renditions, thanksgiving, a birthday cake cutting, and special prayers for Reverend Dahunsi, his family, and the church.

A young man who pranked people on the streets of Paris, France, by pretending to inject them with syringes has been sentenced to six months in prison, the country’s media reported..

Amine Mojito, whose real name is Ilan M., became a viral sensation after he started posting social media clips wherein he spoofed injecting bystanders with an empty syringe around Paris, during a time when genuine fear of such attacks was at an all-time high.

After being accused of ‘violence with a weapon not resulting in work incapacity,’ he defended himself by claiming that he never intended to hurt people, and that he only copied the prank from other countries in order to promote himself on the social media.

However, prosecutors showed that some of his victims were so traumatised by the prank that they had to be hospitalised for mental health assessments.

‘I had had the very bad idea of performing these tricks by mimicking what I had seen on the internet, in Spain and in Portugal,’ Ilan M. told the court.

‘I didn’t think it could hurt people. That was my mistake, I didn’t think of others, I thought of myself,’ he added.

Prosecutors confirmed that no actual injection took place during the pranks, as the 27-year-old man had kept the syringe cap on, but they also alleged that Ilan’s pranks, whether intentional or unintentional, were intended to encourage attacks on strangers.

The prosecutors added that he had also traumatised many of the victims, one of whom described the experience of believing they had been infected with a virus as ‘a nightmare’.

Despite Mojito’s lawyer asking the court for clemency towards her client, the judge viewed the influencer’s actions as having contributed to a climate of fear, even though few of his pranks were actually reported to the police.

As a result, he was sentenced to 12 months in prison, of which six months shall be served in custody, and the rest suspended.

Sunday Tribune columnist, a modern-day philosopher in his own right, Festus Adedayo, had in his offering on August 24, 2025, asked this question: ‘Is Emilokan audacity or incantation ritual?’ In that essay, he also went ahead to dissect the possibility of the words of candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 electioneering campaign carrying more than the ordinary effects. He actually suspected that the Emilokan declaration by Tinubu may not be ordinary words and that ‘a sprinkle of scholars’ believed that the Abeokuta, Ogun State, outburst of the then APC presidential hopeful might have carried some talismanic effects that possibly propelled him to the nation’s presidency.

Whatever it was, we have also heard that a political strategy once deployed loses its surprise element and can only be replicated among some sleeping dudes. In Ibadan, Oyo State, one politician is trying to rewrite that long-held belief, and his name is Adebayo Adelabu, Nigeria’s Minister of Power. Last week, the minister found himself before the elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saki, Oyo North Senatorial District, where he announced himself as the crown prince for the Oyo State governorship seat in 2027. He told the gathering of his party’s leaders that he had paid his dues and that, having contested in 2019 and 2023 against the incumbent Governor Seyi Makinde, it was his turn (Emilokan) to rule the state in 2027.

It is possible that Adelabu had read Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, especially Mark Anthony’s conclusion that ‘Ambition should be made of sterner stuff,’ and thus decided to adopt Tinubu’s incantation/audacious declaration of ‘Emilokan’. Going by my previous encounter with Adelabu sometime ago at the Ibadan airport, when he wrongly accused me of targeting him, I should have just left him to his wits. But my late father would say that the truth would not bar you from telling it, no matter how bitter. And then, the man is occupying a public office, he is open to scrutiny from like and unlike quarters; add that to the fact that he is seeking to run Oyo State, which is not only my state of origin, but a place I have also committed time and energy in recent years. He thus deserves to be told the naked truth, whether it is palatable to his ears or not. If the truth must be told, Adelabu’s declaration in Oke-Ogun is nothing but a misadventure. First, it was an affront to the nation’s electoral law, which forbids the start of a campaign before the electoral commission blows the whistle. You can talk about it in parables and set up structures, but an open declaration for office should not take place before the time set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

That aside, his declaration insults the mentality of the Oyo State people and their capability to choose who is fit to govern them. As if there is a turn-by-turn gubernatorial list which has been compiled by some forces he is privy to. And what is the foundation of his Emilokan mantra? That he has been defeated twice by the incumbent governor, whose term of office would terminate on May 28, 2027. I think that’s a poor reading of Asiwaju Tinubu’s Emilokan chant/ declaration. Tinubu’s Emilokan outburst was for me, more than what Adedayo narrowed it to-incantation ritual or audacity- it was borne out of deep political frustrations the man was faced with at the time. A sort of protest against the perceived ingratitude of the then establishment, to a man who practically did all that was possible to wake the late President Muhammadu Buhari up from deep political slumber. Adelabu said he had lost the election twice against Seyi Makinde, and so when he comes the third time, he should be simply crowned by the people. That’s a strange calculation, whether you are applying mathematical theorems or accounting procedures. The people of Oyo State and most of Yorubaland have their ways around politics. You just have to find ways to connect with them. The people of Oyo State, particularly, are averse to this thing they Yoruba call Ajele. It means that you must have a way of being in their reckoning, for positive reasons in times past; otherwise, you remain on the fringes of power till God knows when.

But in seeking to plagiarise Tinubu, Adelabu failed to x-ray all that culminated in Asiwaju’s Abeokuta outburst? Is he privy to the 2010/2011 political maneuverings of the acclaimed progressive politicians who were seeking out Buhari as an anchor? Is he aware that the late President Buhari had signed off after he was defeated by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 and wept openly on national television while saying goodbye to Nigeria’s politics? Is he aware that Tinubu provided close to 70 per cent of the election funds that brought Buhari into office in 2015? Is he also aware that the same Tinubu was almost named the running mate to Buhari in 2015 but had to be forced to eat the humble pie by forces that enlisted the services of a former Nigerian President, who told him to ‘perish the thought’? Is he equally aware that the same Tinubu was not given the privilege to nominate a single minister into Buhari’s cabinet and that he had to embark on what looked like a self-exile in one West African country, when the government he installed was about to turn the heat on him? Was he told that the same Tinubu had to do whatever it took to warm himself into reckoning in the APC and into the hearts of the then reigning cabal to enable him to contest the 2023 election? If a man had fought all those battles and many other silent ones, is it not enough to provoke an outburst when he started seeing signals that the opportunity to present himself for public office is slipping off? So, there is no correlation between the Abeokuta Emilokan declaration and the entitlement mentality of Minister Adelabu.

But Adelabu’s Saki declaration may be a sort of repeat of the derisive scenes Professor Wole Soyinka painted in his famous work Ibadan: The Penkelemes years, a Memoir (1946-1965), a book in which the Nobel Laureate applied faction as a style, to paint a vivid picture of the politics of Chief Adegoke Adelabu, the minister’s grandfather. According to the book, the older Adelabu had been accused of mismanaging some funds that belonged to the Ibadan local council, but rather than mount a fierce defence, the politician simply drove his newly acquired car to the centre of Ibadan, Dugbe at the time, opened the doors widely and told his supporters to have a feel and see why he was the target of opposition’s attacks. That action, as recorded in Ibadan: The Penkelemes years, led to the song: Maako wo wana/Igunnu lo ni Tapa/Tapa loniigunnu/ Maako wo wana. His supporters were merely telling him that he should feel free to spend their money anyhow he liked because it was their own. You can be sure that even at this age, such a scene would draw pity and laughter at the same time.

But beyond jokes, contesting elections or winning a governorship seat goes beyond the age of the contest. In this clime, we have seen former Vice President Atiku Abubakar contesting for the presidency since 1993. He had been on the ballot in 2007, 2019, and 2023. He lost on each occasion. We also read the story of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, who failed many electoral contests and in almost all endeavours before finally getting the presidency. Rather than placing the hope of his gubernatorial contest on the Saki version of Emilokan, I believe that Adelabu, as I once advised in a statement, should know how to market his politics. He was given a glorious chance to shine in a badly mismanaged sector when President Tinubu made him the Minister of Power. His ambition, and that of any other minister or public office holders, who aspire to any other positions, should be based on the scorecard they have amassed on the current beat.

Rather than chorusing the Emilokan chant, Adelabu should be telling the people of Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Oke-Ogun, and Ibarapa how he has removed their towns and villages from the blinding darkness they had suffered in the hands of NEPA, PHCN, which they are still suffering in the hands of the Disco. He should be telling them how he intends to remove the apartheid policy he inflicted on Nigeria via the electricity BAND policy, and how he intends to make electricity supply available to all indigenes and residents of the state, as well as all Nigerians, regardless of their status in the society. If his contest is based on a verifiable performance chart, rather than an unbecoming entitlement mentality, many may wish to consider his quest. But a campaign that offers no developmental objective for the electorate, and is already marred by controversy among the youths over a N12 million largesse, deserves some rethink.

Every year, on October 10, the World Health Organization (WHO) selects a theme that calls global attention to a pressing aspect of mental well-being. This year’s theme, ‘Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies,’ could not have come at a more fitting time.

Across continents, people are living through crises that test both the body and the mind wars that drive families from their homes, floods that wash away livelihoods, economic downturns that drain hope, and epidemics that isolate entire communities. When catastrophe strikes, the first response is often physical: save lives, provide food, rebuild shelters. But the deeper wounds of those etched in the mind are the ones that rarely make the news.

WHO’s theme reminds us that mental health is not a luxury to be considered after survival; it is part of survival itself. Emotional care must walk hand in hand with medical aid, because healing is incomplete when only the body recovers.

In every disaster, there are two emergencies: the visible one that cameras capture, and the invisible one that lingers inside people. Long after the floodwaters recede or the gunfire fades, survivors often live with nightmares, panic, anxiety, and guilt. The world moves on, but their minds remain stuck in the moment of loss.

Think of the displaced mother who wakes up at every sound, still hearing the echo of chaos. The child who stopped speaking after witnessing violence. The first responder who has seen more pain than anyone should. These are not rare experiences they are the quiet epidemics that follow in the footsteps of every catastrophe.

When mental health services are absent in emergencies, trauma becomes a silent inheritance passed from one generation to another. A nation may rebuild its roads and hospitals, but without tending to the emotional rubble, its people remain internally displaced.

In Nigeria, we have seen our share of emergencies, floods that uproot entire communities, banditry and communal clashes that displace families, and economic instability that creates a daily state of mental emergency. In all these, psychological care is often an afterthought, if considered at all.

Relief efforts are mobilized quickly for food and temporary housing, but few include mental health professionals. Survivors of crisis are expected to simply be ‘strong.’ Yet, unprocessed trauma does not disappear through silence; it grows roots. Many Nigerians carry these unseen burdens, the teacher who lost her school to flooding but still teaches displaced children under a tree, the father who hides his tears after his business was burned, the nurse who must comfort others while her own heart trembles.

In moments of catastrophe, mental health services should be as available as food, water, and medical care. Yet access remains painfully limited. Nigeria still faces a severe shortage of mental health professionals, and in emergencies, psychological services are rarely integrated into response plans.

Many believe therapy or counselling is only for those with mental illness or for the weak. But the truth is, every human being under pressure needs emotional support, especially in times of chaos.

When WHO speaks of access, it is calling for a world where trauma care and psychological first aid are built into emergency responses, where relief teams include not only doctors and engineers, but also psychologists, counsellors, and trained volunteers. Because a healed mind rebuilds faster.

While we advocate for policies and services, we must also remember that compassion itself is a form of mental health support. You do not need to be a psychologist to help someone heal. Sometimes, being present is the therapy.

When you listen without judgment, you create a bridge between pain and hope. When you check on a friend who has withdrawn, you remind them that they still matter. When you let someone cry without rushing to fix it, you become part of their recovery process.

To truly honor this year’s theme, Nigeria must begin to treat mental health as part of national emergency planning. Policymakers should ensure that every disaster response unit includes trained mental health personnel. Hospitals and community clinics must have accessible counselling points. Schools should teach children emotional literacy how to name and navigate their feelings.

We also need public awareness that normalizes seeking help. When mental health care becomes as routine as physical check-ups, stigma will fade. We must build a culture where emotional well-being is seen not as weakness, but as wisdom.

As the world reflects on World Mental Health Day 2025, let us remember that rebuilding lives goes beyond replacing what was destroyed. Healing must include the quiet restoration of the human spirit.

In every catastrophe, the most enduring structures we must rebuild are not the bridges or the buildings, but the minds and hearts that hold a society together. When we make mental health care accessible in every crisis, we do more than save lives, we safeguard humanity.

Because when the world shakes, minds tremble too. But with care, compassion, and access to help, they can find their balance again.

THE African Social Enterprise Workshop (ASEW) has successfully hosted the 7th edition of its Sustaining Impact Summit convening over 500 of social innovators, thought leaders, and practitioners to exchange insights on building resourceful selves, societies, and networks.

The ASEW is a leading platform dedicated to supporting social entrepreneurs and innovators across Africa through learning, collaboration, and recognition.

The initiative focuses on strengthening resourceful and resilient communities by equipping social innovators with tools to create sustainable social impact.

The two-day summit featured dynamic panel discussions where the founder of ASEW and the Director of the Sustaining Impact Summit, Adeyemi Adelekan, highlighted that ‘Relying solely on external funding makes social enterprises vulnerable.’

He noted that sustainability comes from resourcefulness, adaptability, and building on what communities already have.

The keynote speakers, Debbi Brock and Sophie Bacq, led conversations on resilience, accountability, and sustainability in the social enterprise space.

Panelists from across the continent emphasised the importance of leveraging local resources, building coalitions, fostering creativity, and collaborating across ecosystems to drive community-owned impact.

‘Social entrepreneurs need to be engaged and involved in the decisions that affect them, including policies that shape their work,’ said Sophie Bacq, underscoring the need for inclusive governance.

Speakers highlighted how African entrepreneurs can shift from a consumer to a producer mindset, embrace design thinking, and use peer mentorship, creativity, and indigenous knowledge as powerful tools for lasting change.

Also, Amandine Robin said ‘Most startups fail because they spend their time solving problems nobody cares about. Successful solutions begin with empathy and a deep understanding of community needs.’

The event also featured the Impact Prize Awards, celebrating outstanding African social entrepreneurs driving change in their communities.

Dignitaries from various sectors are expected to attend the grand finale of the First Baptist Church’s 170th anniversary celebration, scheduled for November 2.

The chairperson of the 170th anniversary planning committee, Mrs Bimpe Adejunmobi-Apatira, briefed the newsmen in Lagos last Thursday.

She said: ‘The church has extended invitations to several notable individuals, including the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde; former LCCI President, Mr. Olawale Cole; and Chairman of Skymit, Mr. Tayo Ayeni, among others.’

She outlined the series of events planned for the celebration, which includes a family legacy celebration and a women’s choir event that has already taken place. Upcoming events include a youth choir festival, leading up to the church’s annual harvest, and the grand finale on November 2, 2025.

Originally founded on Broad Street in Lagos 170 years ago, the church has established twenty-three congregations both within and outside Nigeria. The church is involved in various mission areas, such as the Bassa Home Mission Field in Niger, Missionary Purse Ministries, Foreign Missions, the Cross River Mission Field, and the Togo Mission Field.

The Lead Pastor at the Baptist Church on Broad Street, Reverend (Dr) Julius Ayodele Oluwole, emphasized the spiritual purpose of celebrating the church’s 170th anniversary.

He stated, ‘This celebration allows us to reflect on the efforts of the founding fathers of the church, the impact they made, and the difference the church has made in the lives of its members and society as a whole.’

The cleric added that the event would showcase the church’s history and encourage the current generation to engage in evangelism, particularly targeting youth to help increase membership.

HRH Ambassador Ossai Ifeanyi will be present on October 15 and 16, 2025, in Washington, D.C., at Semafor’s World Economy Summit Fall Edition. Semafor-sponsored conference is hosted under the theme ‘Shaping the next era of stability and growth’ and is expected to bring together top world leaders, policymakers, industry experts, and academics to discuss current economic upheaval and policy response.

The two-day conference comes on the heels of ongoing inflationary pressure fears, geopolitical risk, and rapid technological change. The organizers of the conference have referred to the event as a platform for resilience, innovation, and institutional reform discourse in the midst of a chaotic global environment. The agenda is set to feature a series of panels and discussions with important speakers from finance, trade, and development circles.

Ambassador Ifeanyi is set to provide his contribution amidst strategic discussions addressing Africa’s international finance and governance. His contribution, according to reports, will address matters related to financing arrangements of African economies, terms of international investment, and African regional priorities in the international rulemaking institutions. Observers say the agenda for the summit is poised to place on the front burner policy issues and market plans with a focus on bolstering stability as well as inclusive growth.

Among the issues that are likely to be debated include debt sustainability, climate-related financial risks, and capital flows into emerging economies. No individual panel lineups have been publicly decided, but the event is described as having high-level panels, bilateral meetings, and networking opportunities that can influence policy debate among participating authorities and market participants.

Ossai Ifeanyi’s engagement is part of a broader pattern of involvement in international diplomacy and development channels. He is described as a diplomat and entrepreneur with roles linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the Institute for Economics and Peace, focusing on connections between global institutions and regional development in Africa and the Global South.

Organizers of the summit have not released a clear agenda for the participation of Ambassador Ifeanyi or the extent of bilateral interactions with particular institutions or officials.

Properties worth millions of naira have been lost to separate fire incidents that ravaged a residential building and a shopping complex in Ogbomoso and Ibadan respectively at the weekend.

Six rooms and three shops were destroyed in a fire that occurred in a residential building at the Oke-Elerin area of Ogbomoso.

Properties and other valuables worth millions of naira were lost in the incident, though no casualty was recorded.

Similarly, a shopping complex at the Bibilari area of Bashorun in Ibadan was gutted by fire, but only one of the twelve shops in the complex was affected.

It was gathered that the prompt response of personnel from the State Fire Service prevented the fire from spreading to other shops.

There was also no record of loss of life.

The two incidents were confirmed by the Special Adviser on Fire Reform and Chairman, Fire Services Agency, Hon. Dr Moroof Adebayo Akinwande.

He urged traders across the state to be conscious of fire risks and emphasised the importance of having and learning the correct use of fire extinguishers in their shops to help prevent small fires from escalating.