Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Reactions have continued to trail the death of former Governor of Kwara, Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, who died at the age of 84.

Fondly called ‘C.O.’ by admirers, the late elder statesman was not only a politician of repute but also a scholar, teacher, and democrat who devoted his life to public service and the pursuit of justice.

Born on February 24, 1941, in Igbaja, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara, Adebayo was the second of four children of Pa Joel Adebayo of Oke Onigbin and Mama Rebecca Diyun Adebayo (née Owolabi of Igbesi).

From an early age, his brilliance and discipline stood out.

He began his education at All Saints Anglican School, Oke-Onigbin, between 1948 and 1955, and proceeded to Provincial Secondary School, Ilorin, where he obtained his Cambridge O-Level Certificate in 1961.

His academic excellence earned him admission into Government College, Zaria (now Barewa College), for his A-Levels, which he completed in 1963.

His strong academic record later secured him a place at the Nigerian College of Arts and Science, affiliated with the University of London (now Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria), where he earned a B.A. (Hons) in English in 1967.

During his teaching practice at the Ilorin Teachers College, he met his future wife, Chief (Mrs.) Elizabeth Funmilayo Adebayo.

Driven by an insatiable quest for knowledge, he proceeded to the University of Legon, Ghana, where he obtained a master’s degree in English in 1969.

Upon his return to Nigeria, Adebayo taught briefly at St. Paul’s College, Zaria, before joining the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) as a lecturer.

When the Kwara Government established the College of Technology in 1973, he returned home as one of its pioneer lecturers and later became Head of the English Department.

His integrity and competence soon drew attention, leading to his appointment as Commissioner for Education by the then Military Governor of Kwara State, late Col. Ibrahim Taiwo.

He later served as Commissioner for Information, Economic Development, and Acting Commissioner for Youth and Sports, where he supervised the construction of the Kwara State Stadium Complex.

Although he resigned from the cabinet in 1978 to pursue a Ph.D., fate redirected his path.

With the return to civilian rule in 1979, Igbomina leaders persuaded him to contest the Kwara South Senatorial seat under the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

Initially hesitant, he later accepted, viewing politics as another avenue for service.

He won the election and represented his constituency with distinction until 1983.

When the 1983 elections approached, Adebayo was encouraged to contest for the governorship of Kwara State.

He emerged as the UPN candidate after a keenly contested primary and defeated the incumbent, Gov. Adamu Attah of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

His tenure as governor was brief; barely three months before the military coup of December 31, 1983; but impactful.

He focused on educational reforms, establishing Government Day Secondary Schools and abolishing the unpopular shift system in public schools, in line with the UPN’s free education policy.

Following his death, tributes have continued to pour in for the late elder statesman.

It will be recalled that President Bola Tinubu mourned the passing of Adebayo, describing him as a true patriot whose life embodied integrity, courage and devotion to public service.

In a statement, the President expressed sadness over the death of the 84-year-old, noting that ‘C.O., as he was fondly called, was a strong voice and a leading light in Nigeria’s political firmament’.

Tinubu praised Adebayo’s steadfastness in the face of military dictatorship, saying he was among the few who ‘cast aside every comfort and stood firmly in defence of democracy and the ideals of justice, fairness and equity.

‘Chief Adebayo spent several years in exile in Canada, a period that tested his resilience and commitment to his beliefs. I worked closely with him during our years in exile.

‘He demonstrated rare courage, integrity, and perseverance during these difficult times’, the President said.

Also, Prof. Hassan Salihu, President of the Nigerian Political Science Association, described Adebayo as ‘a good governor that Kwara State was denied as a result of the 1983 coup which aborted his administration’.

He noted his meticulousness and passion for the state’s development.

Similarly, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, a former member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, said, ‘His three months as governor were so impactful.

‘He created all the Government Day Secondary Schools in the state, a legacy that still stands today’.

Following the coup, Adebayo remained steadfast in his democratic ideals.

When the June 12, 1993 presidential election was annulled, he became one of the founding members of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which fought for the restoration of democracy.

His integrity was again tested under Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime when he declined a ministerial offer.

Persecuted for his stance, he was detained in Calabar in 1995 and narrowly escaped re-arrest in 1996, leading to a three-year exile across Africa before he found refuge in Canada.

He documented his ordeal in his autobiography, ‘Running for Dear Life’.

Upon his return after Gen. Abacha’s death in 1998, Adebayo resumed his advocacy for good governance.

In 2003, under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, he was appointed Minister of Communications.

There, he spearheaded reforms that liberalised the telecommunications sector, privatised NITEL, and expanded GSM networks; paving the way for Nigeria’s communication revolution.

Kwara Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, described the late Adebayo as ‘a patriot, statesman, and progressive who devoted his life to good causes’.

In a statement, the Governor said the former governor’s leadership and democratic ideals earned him national admiration, adding that he left behind a legacy of integrity and service.

Similarly, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, described him as ‘an administrator par excellence,’ commending his contributions to state development during his brief but memorable tenure.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole (SAN), also paid tribute, recalling Adebayo’s service as a lecturer at the University of Ife, the Kwara State College of Technology, and as Commissioner for Education in the 1970s.

He noted that Adebayo’s support for the University of Ilorin in its early years helped strengthen the institution’s foundation.

Alhaji Mustapha Ishowo, the State Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), remembered him as ‘a kind-hearted teacher and grammarian who believed in communal harmony’.

Also, Prof. Wale Sulaiman, APC chieftain and Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun, lauded his ‘selfless progressive spirit’ and called him ‘a rare statesman who saw politics as a call to serve.’

Adebayo’s devotion to family and faith was equally profound.

He was married to Chief (Mrs.) Elizabeth Funmilayo Adebayo, who stood firmly by him through every stage of his life.

Their marriage was blessed with six children and 14 grandchildren.

A devout Anglican, he served as Life Patron of the Ilorin First ECWA Choir and was active in Christian fellowship from his youth.

Beyond politics and public service, Adebayo loved sports.

As a young man, he played hockey and football and served as Head Boy at Provincial Secondary School, Ilorin, in 1961.

Adebayo’s life was defined by integrity, courage, and conviction.

From the classroom to the Senate, from the governor’s office to exile, and finally to the federal cabinet, he remained a model of selfless leadership.

As tributes continue to pour in, one truth endures; Chief Adebayo lived and led with purpose.

As Adebayo’s remains are committed to mother earth this weekend, his life stands as a lasting testament to the power of principle, education, and service to humanity.

Shareholders and boards of Unity Bank Plc and Providus Bank Limited have approved the merger of the two banks, the most critical decisions in the consummation of the business combination. The approval of the scheme of merger paves the way for the conclusion of the merger, with subsequent decisions becoming matters of regulatory compliance and timing.

After the initial discussions and agreements, the banks had sought the preliminary approvals of the regulators, chiefly the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). With no objection and a major show of support in stabilisation facility by the apex bank, the bank had approached the Federal High Court for an order convening an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders for the purpose of consideration of the scheme of merger- the proposal detailing the basis, valuation, process and prospects of the business combination.

The court-ordered extraordinary general meeting is generally regarded as the most crucial stage of any material transaction- acquisition, merger, divestment, reinvestment, dissolution and all those transactions that shape the form and shape of a corporate entity. While there is a tendency to expect approval given the extensive consultative nature of such transaction, nothing is cast in stone on the direction of the decision. There have been many instances where highly promoted recommendations that had received ‘no objection’ clearance from regulators were totally rejected or modified at the court-ordered meeting. It is the prerogative of the shareholders to make the final decisions on the affairs of their company.

Basics of the merger

At the court-ordered meetings, shareholders of Unity Bank and Providus Bank voted in favour of the scheme of merger as presented, empowering the directors to proceed with the final consummation of the merger.

Under the scheme, all shareholders of Unity Bank shall be paid N3.18 for every share held in the bank in accordance with the terms stipulated in the scheme, or be allotted 18 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each in Providus Bank Limited in exchange for every 17 ordinary shares of Unity Bank.

Shareholders approved the merger of all the assets, liabilities and undertakings, including real properties, and intellectual property rights of Unity Bank with that of Providus Bank Limited.

Consequent upon this, the entire share capital of Unity Bank shall be cancelled and the bank would be dissolved without winding up. The certificate of incorporation of Providus Bank Limited shall be the certificate of incorporation of emergent post-merger Providus Bank.

The business combination was well received by nearly all stakeholders. For instance, at the meeting of shareholders of Unity Bank, 295 shareholders participated and deliberated on all items in the Scheme of Merger. Of these, 293 shareholders representing 99.32 per cent of total shareholding or N4.4 billion in value voted in favour of the resolutions, while two shareholders representing 0.68 per cent voted against. Earlier, the CBN had backed the business combination deal with a N700 billion lifeline loan to recapitalise the combined entity.

Chairman, Unity Bank Plc, Hafiz Mohammed Bashir, underlined the full approval of the scheme as a major trust in the future of the emergent bank.

According to him, the approval by the shareholders was a strong vote of confidence in the merger and what it represents for the future.

He said: ‘By joining forces with Providus Bank, we are creating a stronger, more competitive, and more resilient institution that will deliver long-term value to our customers, shareholders, and the Nigerian economy.’

A vote of confidence

Analysts believed the business combination- between Providus Bank, a nimble new generation bank and Unity Bank- an expansive retail bank, signals more than a merger; but a bold step in higher possibilities and what the future holds for the banking industry.

The enlarged institution will combine Providus Bank’s strengths in innovation, digital banking, and customer-centric services with Unity Bank’s extensive national branch network. The post-merger bank will be positioned to serve households, small and medium enterprises, corporates, and government institutions more effectively.

The new entity will commence operations with some 230 branches nationwide, giving it one of the most expansive physical networks in the industry. It will also launch with a strong capital adequacy ratio, ensuring competitiveness under Nigeria’s evolving banking reforms. Unity Bank, which commenced operations in January 2006 following the merger of nine banks, is rated within 10 largest banks by business locations. It particularly has strengths in agribusinesses and small and medium enterprises. Providus Bank, the post-merger emergent bank, began operations in June 2017 and has made reputation as a bank with strong information technology infrastructure and digital channels. The choice of the bank as the post-emergent entity underscored its reputation and competitive strengths.

For both banks, the merger signals stability, renews optimism, and sends a reassuring message to stakeholders that value preservation remains a top priority.

For Unity Bank, the deal comes as a lifeline, providing an opportunity to overcome years of structural and balance sheet challenges that had weighed heavily on its operations. For Providus Bank, it is a chance to scale further, expand reach, and leverage synergies that will position the combined entity as a force to reckon with in Nigeria’s fast-evolving banking space. Together, both banks have an opportunity to chart a new course defined by innovation, efficiency, and trust, setting a standard for future industry consolidations.

Beyond the immediate financial benefits, the Providus-Unity deal represents a test of the industry’s ability to inspire confidence. By prioritising transparency, safeguarding shareholder interests, and building a culture of accountability, the new entity is expected to play a central role in deepening financial inclusion and restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s banking system. The success of this merger could well determine how future business combinations are perceived-not merely as survival strategies, but as platforms for lasting value creation.

In a joint statement, both banks expressed deep appreciation to the CBN for its foresight, determination and steadfast support of a stronger financial system. They noted that the regulator’s backing of this transaction underscores its commitment to resilience, stability, and customer confidence.

‘This regulatory support is not only shaping healthier banks, but also inspiring the confidence of businesses, investors, and everyday Nigerians that our financial system is ready to serve as a cornerstone for sustainable growth,’ the statement noted.

In affirming this merger, the statement said, shareholders have helped to reinforce the confidence that underpins economic stability.

‘It is a statement that Nigerian banks are prepared to adapt, consolidate, and grow in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s vision of a stronger and more resilient financial system-and ultimately, its aspiration to support Nigeria’s transition into a trillion-dollar economy,’ the statement noted.

According to the banks, the enlarged bank would provide the backbone for businesses to thrive and communities to prosper.

The partners pointed out that the merger, when completed, would secure jobs, protect livelihoods, and create new opportunities within a bigger, stronger, and future-oriented institution.

They said: ‘The success of this merger rests not only on systems and balance sheets but on people-and their contribution will be safeguarded and celebrated.

‘This historic transaction is not simply about numbers; it is about confidence in the Nigeria financial system. By combining Providus Bank and Unity Bank, we are creating an institution of scale and substance- that will give confidence to customers, strength to the financial system and create opportunity for our people’.

In addition, the merger ushers in a new chapter – a bank that is bigger in ambition, broader in reach, and stronger in capacity. It will embody the values of innovation, empathetic relationship management, customer focus, and integrity.

With enhanced technology platforms, deeper capital strength, and a commitment to customer service, the enlarged bank will stand as both a guardian of stability and a catalyst for growth in Nigeria’s journey toward a trillion-dollar economy.

Competitive advantages

Market analysts said the choice of Providus Bank as the post-emergent entity was for ease of integration and competitive advantages. Providus Bank already has reputation for the broad spectrum of high-end banking services. The bank is rated as an innovative ?nancial institution that provides personal, private, corporate, commercial and digital banking products and solutions. Providus Bank’s competitive advantage in private, institutional, business and personal banking is driven by the philosophy to create support and value for Institutions, agencies, SMEs AND high networth individuals (HNIs).

Beyond its reputation in corporate banking and edge in the oil and gas sector, the bank’s business development strategy also focuses on developing expertise and collaborating to improve the non-oil sector, including agriculture, mining, hospitality, e-commerce, and art and entertainment among others.

In less than 10 years, Providus Bank has emerged as one of the fastest-growing financial institutions in the country. With the merger, Providus Bank aims to transform from a niche player into a national bank, leveraging Unity Bank’s over 211-branch network spread across all 36 states and the FCT. The move aligns with Providus Bank’s broader strategy to deepen its retail presence and diversify its customer base. Additionally, Providus Bank would significantly benefit from scale in retail banking as it would expand its footprint from a largely digital operation to a full-fledged national player.

Providus Bank plans to integrate its technology stack into Unity Bank’s branch network, enhancing service delivery and cost efficiency. The bank believes the combined entity will unlock new value across its retail, SME, and digital channels.

Read Also: Akpabio urges youths not to despair about Nigeria

Analysts said there were values for all stakeholders in the merger. For shareholders, the merger unlocks immediate and future gains. It provides exciting exit points for shareholders that may wish to monetise their holdings and retains significant value for post-merger shareholders. For the directors, the business combination provides a seamless negotiated window of engagement. For the customers, the post-merger entity provides bigger opportunities for endless possibilities.

For employees, the new entity holds promises for greater fulfilment. Providus Bank was recently named one of the best workplaces in banking in 2025 by the Great Place to Work (GPTW), a global leader in workplace culture. The recognition highlighted the bank’s efforts to create an environment where employees feel supported, engaged and motivated.

According to GPTW, the award was based largely on staff feedback, which has become an increasingly important measure of how organisations are adapting to shifting workforce expectations.

Managing Director, Providus Bank, Walter Akpani, said staff welfare is at the heart of the bank’s strategy.

‘Our people are at the very heart of what we do. This recognition is a tribute to their hard work, creativity and dedication,’ Akpani said.

Merger and shape of what to come

Banks have up till March 31, 2026 to beef up their minimum capital base to the new standard set by the apex bank.

Managing Partner, Biodun Adedipe and Associates, Dr. Biodun Adedipe, said the next few months would be a defining period for most banks.

He said:’ I think the recapitalisation is progressing well but the process will become more intense towards the end of 2025 and more so in first quarter of 2026 towards the deadline.

‘Banks that can’t make the minimum amount for their current authorisation will seek mergers and acquisitions deals, and possible license downgrade. I don’t see any liquidation this time around, unlike at the end of the 2004-2005 recapitalisation exercise’. Most analysts agreed with Adedipe’s perspective.

The CBN, in its progress report, confirmed that 14 banks have met the required minimum capital for their business categories. Many banks are still raising funds from the investing public. As Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc (Sterling HoldCo) is rounding off capital raising for recapitalisation of its flagship Sterling Bank and non-interest The Alternative Bank, FCMB Group is seeking N160 billion in the final phase of its well-received recapitalisation programme. The public and private offer markets are expected to be busy in the weeks ahead, but so also is the room for mergers and acquisitions.

The apex bank had in March 2024 released its circular on review of minimum capital requirement for commercial, merchant and non-interest banks. The apex bank increased the new minimum capital for commercial banks with international affiliations, otherwise known as mega banks, to N500 billion; commercial banks with national authorisation, N200 billion and commercial banks with regional license, N50 billion.

Others included merchant banks, N50 billion; non-interest banks with national license, N20 billion and non-interest banks with regional license will now have N10 billion minimum capital. The 24-month timeline for compliance ends on March 31, 2026.

With each passing week, former president Goodluck Jonathan seems doubly sure no constitutional obstacle stands in his way of running for the presidency a second time. His opponents may regret his firm stance, but they stand on very flimsy ground to think that anything bars him from contesting in 2027 should he choose to run. Dr Jonathan is not new to the impediments strewn across his path, some of them purporting to be constitutional. In 2012, the effort to bar him from running began in earnest. First sworn in on May 6, 2010 to complete the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s tenure, he had gone on to win the 2011 election, and soon began making sheep’s eye at the 2015 presidential election. It was the attempt to stop him that triggered a cavalcade of legal cases begun in 2012. All the three cases brought against him to date have, however, been decided in his favour.

All the suits aimed to abort Dr Jonathan’s re-election plans. The first case, filed in 2012 at the High court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) before Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, was decided in his favour. The judge had no hesitation whatsoever in ruling that nothing barred the then president from contesting in 2015. Dissatisfied, the appellant, Cyriacus Njoku, appealed. In March 2015, shortly before the election of that year, the Court of Appeal held that nothing barred Dr Jonathan from contesting. They gave their reason, and it seemed so incontrovertible that it settled the case once and for all. But the furore that accompanied the case, not to say the constitutional lacuna many legal experts said they noticed, led to a constitutional amendment that took effect in 2018. Embodied in Section 137(3), the alteration indicates that ‘A person who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as President, shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.’

The alteration was expressed in very simple and accessible language, admitting of no ambiguity. But against a litigious Nigerian, even the simplest expression acquires new and convoluted meaning. In 2022, when it seemed a clearly nostalgic Dr Jonathan would not take no for an answer and seemed determined to run again, the litigious duo of Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham headed to the courts to see whether they could bar him from the 2023 poll. Filed at the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, the judge, Isa Hamma Dashen, in May 2022, held that the constitution did not disqualify Dr Jonathan, and that if he had won in 2015, he would have been sworn into office anyway, with no one the wiser. Anchoring his decision on the inability of the amendment to take retroactive effect, the judge concluded that Sec 137(3) ‘cannot apply retrospectively, except the Legislature, in clear terms, expressly stated their intention for it to be so.’

Here is the crux of the matter. When the legislature made the alteration to the constitution to take care of peculiar circumstances and puzzles, the kind that hamstrung Dr Jonathan’s ascension in 2010, they never imagined that he would try to return on a later day, say in 2023 or 2027. They were unable to anticipate that Dr Jonathan is one of those unique politicians who never let bad enough alone. More accurately, power mongers and political schemers have continued to badger the former president with tantalising prospects of returning to office. Every time they seduce him, he falls. The United States constitution, on the other hand, made term limits beguilingly easy to comprehend and adhere to when the 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951. Just one sentence, and the job was done. It says in Section 1: ‘No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.’ Had the Nigerian constitutional alteration indicated a time period for the ‘acting’ president, say one year or two, there would have been no court case.

But court case or not, the fact is that Dr Jonathan is not constitutionally barred from contesting in 2027. The All Progressives Congress (APC) should discountenance that supposition and reconcile with reality. It should not waste time and money on any litigation, for any court case might instead canonise a man who has no sense for liturgy of any kind. What will stop the former president from contesting in 2027 are history and his personality. History, because other than massive adoption by a sitting government, such as happened to ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, no former Nigerian ruler has made it back to the State House; not Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in 2011, and not Gen. Yakubu Gowon in 1993. Secondly, his personality is one of his chief liabilities. Dr Jonathan was neither extraordinary during his five years in office nor decisive and assertive as great leaders should be. He has remained averse to risk-taking and uncomfortable with visioning. He has seemed to hone these last behavioural defects since he left office in 2015, given the way he has run from pillar to post seeking a party to unanimously adopt him. He has egregiously flirted with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) being built with former vice president Atiku Abubakar’s money. And he has dallianced with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which he abandoned shortly after he left office, citing betrayal and other reasons.

The constitution will not stop Dr Jonathan, and indeed cannot, no matter how liberally the relevant sections of the constitution are interpreted. The Nigerian judiciary may not exactly be the darling of the masses, but three judgements in a row in favour of Dr Jonathan should not be discounted. The constitution is on his side. On the contrary, he is his greatest liability: his personality, his records, his stark inability to read the signs of the times, his constant overrating of self, and his even more baffling underestimation of his opponents and all other forces poised to doom his candidacy should he find a platform to indulge his lackluster politics. As mired in controversy and lethargy as the PDP is, one of its weaknesses is not stupidity and wastefulness. Notwithstanding its desperation to find a formula to beat the ruling party, the leading opposition party will think twice before giving their ticket to Dr Jonathan, assuming he is capable of the genuine absolution his years of political truancy demand of him.

Lions Club International District 404B2 Nigeria in partnership with Arogi Trauma Care Foundation midweek commemorated this year’s World Mental Health Day with a programme titled: Mental Health Awareness Program, with the theme: Understanding Depression and Anxiety Disorders: Breaking the Silence.

The event, held at Ologba of Ogba Palace Square, Ogba, Lagos, featured enlightenment talks on conditions of depression and anxiety disorders delivered by experts like Dr. Adedeji Adesanya, Program Director, Arogi Trauma Care Foundation and Ms Nurat Olanrewaju Ajetunmobi, Assistant Director, Nursing Services, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

The event also featured medical screening and consultation, with the participants, mostly residents of the community, getting opportunities of free blood sugar and blood pressure tests alongside free medication, where necessary.

Declaring the event open, District Governor, Lion Oluwakemi Eribake, who led top members of the district’s lions to the event, underlined the importance of the day’s programme, when she said ‘Mental health is as important as physical health, and must never be underestimated or undermined, as this could be dangerous.’

Eribake would later explain that the club ‘chose the topic: Understanding Depression and Anxiety Disorders: Breaking the Silence, because we found out that so many people are going into depression, maybe because of the economy, family affairs and others; and this is really affecting the communities. This is why our international president is making sure that Lions Clubs all over the whole world take part in this programme. It is one of our core areas of focus. Lions Club International is observing the Mental Health and Wellness Week, starting from 4th to 10th of October.’

She said Ogba community was chosen for the programme because of its history of partnering with the club, and the hospitality of the monarch.

The Ologba of Ogba, Oba (Surv) Abdul Latif Oladimeji Egbeyemi accompanied by his amiable Olori, who led members of the community to attend the programme, commended the district governor and the entire members of Lions Club District 404b2 Nigeria for again choosing their community for such a laudable programme. He urged his people to take full advantage of the programme.

Mrs Ajetumobi who delivered a simplified talk on Depression and Anxiety, differentiated between exogenous. Exogenous and Endogenous types of depression – the first being prompted by external causes, while the endogenous is caused by internal or familial causes.

She urged anyone who suspects symptoms to take immediate action, as delay, like in other ailments, could be dangerous.

Dr Adesanya dwelled more on insomnia and how to combat it. He admonished the people to never shy away from mental health as a topic because it is the most important part of wellness.

‘Everybody has their shortcomings, so talking about it or coming out with your case does not mean you are worse than your neighbour.

Most importantly, both speakers explained that depression or anxiety is not and does not translate to madness.

Former Ondo State First Lady, Dr. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has declared her intention to re-contest the Imo East Senatorial District seat in the upcoming elections.

Addressing newsmen in Owerri, Imo State, she emphasised the need for robust and effective representation for the people of Owerri Zone.

The widow of the late Governor Akeredolu lamented the perceived ineffective representation of the zone at the National Assembly, describing the current senator and members of the House of Representatives from the zone as ‘benchwarmers’.

Dr. Anyanwu-Akeredolu who contested the primaries in 2023 under the All Progressives Congress (APC), stated that the zone deserved more than mere gestures, citing the need for meaningful empowerment, unlike what she described as ‘wheelbarrow and sewing machine’ empowerment.

She commended Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduagha for providing genuine empowerment to her constituents in Kogi Central District.

The former First Lady highlighted her efforts in providing motorcycles and stipends to operatives of a vigilante group in her hometown, Emeabiam Community, and attracting a police station to the area to curb insecurity.

Despite challenges following her husband’s passing, Dr. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu remains steadfast, pledging to tirelessly serve the people of Owerri Zone.

She expressed her concerns about the lack of government presence in her community particularly lack of accessible roads, attributing it to lack of capable representatives.

British-Nigerian multidisciplinary artist, Adaeze Adinnu has proposed a set date for Black History celebration in Islington Borough.

She made the call during a recent visit to Mayor Jason Jackson at the historic Islington Town Hall, London.

The occasion marked the presentation of a bespoke portrait painting created by Adaeze in honour of the Mayor – a work that has been widely acclaimed as one of the finest ever showcased within the Town Hall’s walls.

Mayor Jackson received the artist with warmth and admiration, praising the portrait’s emotional depth and cultural resonance.

The artwork has since been selected to join the official portrait collection of past mayors of Islington Borough, solidifying its place in the borough’s civic and artistic heritage.

Adaeze Adinnu becomes the first UK based Nigerian female artist to have her painting of a Mayor of Islington permanently on display at the Islington town hall.

During the meeting with the Mayor, Adaeze presented a proposal for the Borough to designate October 9th as a dedicated day to celebrate Black History in Islington, using art as a bridge for unity, inclusion, and cross-cultural dialogue.

The initiative, which aligns with the UK-wide Black History Month commemorations, aims to establish an annual art-focused event that brings together local and international creatives – showcasing diverse forms of artistic expression such as painting, sculpture, fashion, performance, and storytelling.

‘Art has the power to unite communities, inspire understanding, and honour every person who contributes to the British story,’ said Adaeze Adinnu.

‘This celebration isn’t just about people of colour – it’s for everyone who has shaped and continues to shape our cultural fabric. I believe Islington can lead by example, using art to remind us that diversity is our shared strength.’

Mayor Jackson expressed strong support for the proposal, confirming plans to discuss it with the Borough’s cultural leadership.

‘What Adaeze is proposing is tangible and transformative,’ said Mayor Jason Jackson. ‘Islington has always been proud of its diversity and creative spirit. This initiative adds a powerful new dimension to how we celebrate that.’

Adinnu and the Mayor also discussed future opportunities for collaboration, including youth art workshops, creative residencies and mental well-being programmes that integrate art as a form of social expression.

The Mayor, known for his progressive community-building agenda, acknowledged the importance of such initiatives in strengthening the borough’s sense of identity.

‘It’s not every day you receive a portrait of such calibre,’ the Mayor remarked. ‘This meeting reflects the power of art to shape civic memory and community connection.’

Adaeze Adinnu is a British-Nigerian multidisciplinary artist, Founder and CEO of Fabloz Artistry and a member of the British Art Network (BAN).

A graduate of the University of Northampton, Adinnu’s art combines realism, symbolism, and emotional depth to explore identity, resilience, femininity, and social transformation.

Her works have been showcased in prestigious exhibitions across the UK, US, and Nigeria, including The Holy Art Gallery (London), Mitochondria Gallery (Houston), Redwood Art Group (Dallas), and Rele Gallery (Lagos).

She has also received awards and recognition from UNESCO and the Commonwealth London, where her paintings were displayed.

Through Fabloz Artistry, Adinnu continues to empower emerging talents – especially women in the creative industry – and advocate for art as a force for social dialogue, cultural empowerment, and collective healing.

The proposed event would feature local and international artists, showcasing creative expressions – from painting and sculpture to performance and traditional attire – as a way of shaping and promoting the borough’s cultural landscape.

Mayor Jackson welcomed the proposal, promising to advance it through the council’s cultural programmes.

‘Art has the power to bring people together,’ Adinnu said. ‘My vision is to see Islington become a home for creative expression – a community where diversity, heritage, and shared stories are honoured through art.’

The Mayor praised Adinnu’s contribution and commitment to community engagement, further expressing interest in future collaborations, including youth art workshops and creative dialogues within the borough.

Adinnu’s visit underscores her growing global influence as an artist whose works and initiatives inspire social transformation. Her portrait for Mayor Jackson joins a lineage of her high-profile works.

Through her artistry, Adaeze continues to champion inclusion, creativity, and cultural pride – reminding the world that art is not just seen, but felt – and through it, communities find their voice.

News Central has been honoured with the AEMA Black Prize in New York, USA, in recognition of its unwavering commitment to truthful journalism and its efforts in empowering young audiences with accurate and unbiased news.

The award was received by News Central’s Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, Kayode Akintemi, alongside Director of Commercial and Communications, Rosemary Egabor-Afolahan.

This accolade underscores the station’s dedication to high-quality reporting and its significant impact on shaping informed and engaged communities globally.

Receiving this award marks a significant milestone in News Central’s journey to uphold journalistic integrity and provide a reliable source of news that educates, inspires, and empowers, particularly among youth audiences worldwide.

Speaking on the achievement, Mr Akintemi expressed pride in the recognition, noting that the award affirms News Central’s mission of fearlessly reporting what matters most. Mrs Egabor-Afolahan added that the honour is a testament to the hard work of the entire News Central team and their passion for engaging and empowering audiences, especially the younger generation.

News Central continues to set the standard for excellence in media, driving positive change through credible storytelling and impactful public discourse. With this milestone, News Central continues to strengthen its role as a leading pan-African news platform, committed to providing incisive, comprehensive, and impactful journalism.

The story of Mamman Jiya Vatsa is one that has refused to be bottled up or suppressed; ever since his tragic execution in March 1986 over an alleged involvement in an intended coup against the military government of his bosom friend , General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. Vatsa in his allocutus after receiving the sentencing by the trial military tribunal said emphatically that ‘This is not going to be my final hour , I have God’s promise on that.’ As a published poet of many volumes, his works outlived him. As someone who worked assiduously in the military to infuse poetic sensibility in soldiers and military men across all ranks and file, many in that sector have kept the flag flying. Vatsa in his active cultivation of the literary community during his time, the peak of it which was a huge bequeath of an expansive plot of land as the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory for the building of a writers’ village in Abuja, had certainly ensured without knowing, his living beyond any man-made final hour. Today, four decades after that thoughtful donation, a sprawling complex sits on that land bearing grandly the name ‘ Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village ‘ in Mpape, Maitama Extension , Abuja, owned exclusively by the Association of Nigerian Authors(ANA) .

The Association of Nigerian Authors(ANA) in commemoration of the undying creative spirit of the soldier-poet, in appreciation of his benevolence to the Association and in its advocacy for the redress and pardon by the Nigerian State of a man killed over a trumped-up charge , has commissioned a stage play on his story to be performed at its forthcoming 44th International Convention. The play is being handled by Mallam Denja Abdullahi, a past president of the Association , who has also focussed on Abuja like Vatsa in his poetic oeuvre, particularly in his collection, Abuja Nunyi(This is Abuja). Denja has vast experience as a playwright and theatre director, renowned for his widely performed play Death and the King’s Grey Hair , which was also a finalist at the Nigeria Prize for Literature Prize in 2018. Recently , Denja Abdullahi was celebrated at the August 2025 ANA Abuja Special Reading for the embrace of poetry and theatre in many of his works. At that event , Denja latest play Chants in a Cemetery was premiered to great acclaim and reviews.

The playwright Denja Abdullahi modelled the title of the play( after extensive research into the Vatsa story, reading and re-evaluation of textual of Vatsa’s famous poetic volume and digital materials and personal interviews of strategic persons connected to the subject matter) after Vatsa’s Tori For Geti Bow Leg and Other Pidgin Poems(1981). The ANA’s play on Vatsa is called Tori Don Geti Bow Leg . The play chronicles the inspiring, evocative , tragic and complex story of Major-General Mamman Vatsa. The play explores the intersection of arts, courage , sacrifice, valour, patriotism, and the acceptance of destiny as reflected in the life and times of a man who stood boldly at the confluence of literature and martial service to the nation. Vatsa’s story ,as indicated by the playwright, is one that has all the elements of drama and its sub-genres, as you can find the comic, the tragic, the satiric and even the melodramatic in the evolution of his life from birth, through his growing up to wield the gun and the pen, to his unfortunate demise in a most controversial circumstance. The playwright has woven the intricacies of this chequered life into a play interrogating what may have happened to a man who wielded the gun and the pen at the same time. The play is therefore expected to see the fusion of military drills with poetic declamations and the performance of military patriotism alongside the manoeuvring for power. Through compelling dialogue couched on the wing of poetry, evocative music and movement, the play captures Vatsa ‘s poetic essence, his passion for the arts and interrogates artistically the circumstances that led to his unforgettable place in Nigerian history.

The crew to bring this artistic vision to life on real-time stage is being led by Oko Owi Ocho -Afrika , a theatre director , who has become adept at adapting Denja’s poetry volumes for the stage over the years. He was on hand to adapt two of Denja Abdullahi’s poetry volumes successfully for the stage in 2021, Mairogo and Abuja Nunyi and directed another less known play of his Truce With the Devil in 2022; all performed between Makurdi and Abuja. This time around, he is working with an experienced and much- sought after theatre director Jibrin Ahmed , who is the consultant director for the present project. Jibrin Ahmed was the assistant director to Denja Abdullahi when he directed Ola Awakan’s Tafawa Balewa in January 2025 in Abuja. These crop of tested directors alongside other members of the technical crew are presently in camp with a cast made up of mainly graduated students of theatre arts of Nasarawa State University, Keffi; working towards delivering a unique theatre experience for the audience at the forthcoming ANA 44th International Convention. Part of the unique experiences the crew promised the audience at the production is bringing on stage characters in the persons of Wole Soyinka, J.P. Clark , Chinua Achebe and others who were all part of the Vatsa story. The crew are well aware that Mamman Vatsa as Minister for the FCT was the first to host a modern professional theatre production in the city when he invited the UNN troupe led by Prof. Ossie Enekwe to perform Ngugi Wa Thiongo’s The Trial of Dedan Kimathi in the then fledgling Abuja. The crew and cast are poised to re-enact lives and history in the performance of Tori Don Geti Bow Leg.

Commenting on the forthcoming play, the President of ANA, Dr Usman Oladipo Akanbi , described it as ‘a tribute not only to Mamman Vatsa’s enduring legacy but also to the collective dream that birthed the Writers’ Village. He emphasised that the performance will reaffirm the Association’s commitment to keeping the memory of its benefactor alive through creative expressions that blend history and art. He stated that part of the dream Vatsa had in mind for donating the land to ANA for the building of the Writers’ Village, which he clearly stated in his speech in 1985, was recently realized when six writers selected across Nigeria completed a four- week full boarded residency in September 2025 at the Ken Saro Wiwa International Writers’ Residency inside the Mamman Vatsa Writers Village . He called on all to be present in the evening of the 31st October, 2025, during the 44th International Convention of ANA, at the auditorium of the Chinua Achebe International Conference Centre at the Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village, to come experience an evening of reflection, artistry, and cultural enlightenment ; encapsulating a fitting tribute to the man whose vision built the foundation for writers’ dream across the nation.

There has been a lot of public commentaries on the state of the Nigerian economy in the last 28 months, from the sublime to the outrightly ridiculous.

Indeed almost as soon as President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 29 2023 and made his ‘subsidy is gone’ announcement, it looked like all hell was let loose in the aftermath of the decision.

Presidential candidates who described fuel subsidy as ‘criminality’ on the campaign trail and vowed to stop it ‘immediately’ suddenly became the lead choristers of the public recriminations.

it was at a time that prices of goods and services literally went through the roof in reaction to the inevitable rise in fuel price and things became tougher for the average Nigerian, and not surprisingly, we began to hear words like ‘hunger in the land’. And trust politicians, they swooped in to capitalize on the public outrage.

But any unbiased and well-read Nigerian should have known that the cost-of-living crisis was an expected reaction to the shock therapy of removing a scheme that had been institutionalized in the country for decades.

Ironically, some of the opposition figures who were leading the charge against the President and his reforms were also praising another President in a different clime, Javier Milei, who was experimenting with tougher reforms in Argentina.

Now, twenty eight months down the line, those politicians are still holding on to their position.They are refusing to acknowledge what sovereign credit rating agencies, international bodies like the World Bank, as well as global investors and renowned economists have been saying, all in the name of politics.

Few months ago, the Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was in Nigeria and after a courtesy call on the President told the media that the Tinubu administration ‘has to be given the credit for the stability of the economy’. She added that President Tinubu’s economic reforms ‘have delivered much-needed stability’ and ‘have been in the right direction’.

But what we saw from naysayers in the political space was a rat race to interpret what the notable economist said, in a bid to water down comments that put a lie to what they have been putting in the media space.

Only recently, Mr Adebayo Ogunlesi, the founder of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and a leading executive of Blackrock, a global investment firm with assets in excess of $12 trillion across the world, expressed the willingness of his company to extend its footprints to Nigeria.

Speaking after his latest meeting with President Tinubu, Ogunlesi was emphatic that Nigeria is now an exciting place to be for investors, adding that Blackrock would be interested in investing in energy (LNG plants) and the aviation sector as well as in the ports especially as one of his companies has investments in ports in Benin and Togo, but none in Nigeria.

It should be of interest to Nigerians that Ogunlesi pointed out that his investment plans were fired by the series of Tinubu reforms including the removal of fuel subsidy, a liberalised foreign exchange market and the overhaul of outdated tax laws, which according to him have resulted in ‘fundamental transformation’ of the economy.

So when President Tinubu said in his Independence Day broadcast that the worst was over after 28 months of stabilizing the economy, this was the point he was making.

Conversely, there are people in the public space who insist that the same reforms are a disincentive for investments and investors, and a blight on economic growth. One of them, Peter Obi, a former Presidential candidate who is angling for another shot at the Presidency, painted a bleak picture of the economy that was clearly at odds with that of Adebayo Ogunlesi.

This now takes us to the title of this piece, ‘whose report on the economy shall we believe?’ As much as it looks and sounds like a rhetorical question, it is clearly food for thought for Nigerians.

Would our people believe a global investment icon with a track record who is keen on putting funds into the economy or a politician who has opted for selling gloom and despair as a political strategy?

It is actually easy to see when politicians, especially those in the opposition play politics, so the onus is on Nigerians to call them out for who they are.

The week that just concluded was another testament to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s relentless devotion to duty. From Sunday through Saturday, the President was engaged in matters that touch directly on the heartbeat of the nation – governance, justice, and security. Yet, even within this packed schedule, Thursday stood out in golden relief. It was the day the President convened not one, but two of the country’s most sacred constitutional gatherings – the National Council of State and the Police Council – in a stretch of national decision-making that reaffirmed his government’s seriousness about security, justice reform, and institutional renewal.

For any observer of Nigerian governance, these meetings are not routine. They happen only at critical junctures when the nation must take decisive steps to secure its stability and define its direction. Thursday, therefore, was a moment of convergence – a day when the President summoned the combined wisdom of Nigeria’s elder statesmen, governors, and institutional leaders to deliberate on matters that would shape the country’s future.

Presiding over the Council of State, President Tinubu sought counsel and consensus on issues fundamental to Nigeria’s democratic survival: the appointment of a new Chairman for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the exercise of presidential mercy, and the approval of national honours. Each agenda item reflected a balance between law, justice, and humanity – three cardinal points of the President’s political compass.

After due consideration, the Council unanimously approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), a scholar and legal luminary of unimpeachable integrity, as the next INEC Chairman. The choice of Amupitan, the first nominee for the position from Kogi State, was hailed across the board, including from quarters where the media had expected sharp criticisms, as a symbol of merit over partisanship, a reinforcement of Tinubu’s promise to protect the independence and credibility of Nigeria’s electoral body.

In the President’s own description, Amupitan represents ‘a bridge between the classroom and the courtroom, a man who understands both the letter and the spirit of the law’. That endorsement captures the essence of Tinubu’s broader reform ethos: to rebuild institutions on the strength of competence and integrity rather than convenience or political loyalty.

The Council’s backing of Amupitan’s nomination, which will now proceed to the Senate for confirmation, was both historic and symbolic. It reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s deliberate return to meritocratic appointments in sensitive institutions, especially one as pivotal as INEC, where credibility underpins the entire democratic edifice.

If the INEC decision projected a commitment to fairness and institutional strength, the Council’s consideration of presidential pardons highlighted another facet of Tinubu’s leadership; compassion. Acting on the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, the President approved 175 pardons, including posthumous clemency for nationalist Herbert Macaulay and the poet-soldier Major-General Mamman Vatsa.

Equally significant was the formal pardon of the Ogoni Nine – Ken Saro-Wiwa and his compatriots – whose 1995 executions remain one of Nigeria’s darkest historical chapters. Tinubu’s decision to close that wound was deeply symbolic; it was not merely an act of forgiveness but of national healing.

The President also extended clemency to 82 inmates, commuted seven death sentences to life imprisonment, and reduced the sentences of 65 others. In all, the exercise served both moral and practical ends; decongesting correctional facilities while advancing the cause of restorative justice.

The same session saw the approval of 959 national honours, including posthumous recognitions for the Ogoni activists, as well as awards to icons of journalism, technology, sports, and global philanthropy. From Bill Gates to Uncle Sam Amuka-Pemu, and from the Super Falcons to D’Tigresses, the honourees reflected the administration’s expansive view of service, one that values humanitarian and intellectual contributions alongside political or economic achievement.

The conferment also carried a subtler message: President Tinubu’s determination to reposition Nigeria’s honours system as a credible national institution, no longer reserved for the well-connected but for the truly deserving. From his first year in office, he had indicated the focus on restoring integrity to every process that carries the seal of the Federal Republic. Thursday’s endorsements showed that promise being fulfilled in earnest.

If the Council of State meeting embodied reflection and restoration, the Police Council meeting that followed represented reform and reinvention. It was here that the President’s longstanding interest in overhauling Nigeria’s internal security system came fully into view.

The Council approved major proposals to strengthen the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) – the institution responsible for funding training, welfare, logistics, and modernization in the police force. Specifically, it endorsed the repeal and re-enactment of the NPTF Act, removing its six-year lifespan clause and transforming it into a permanent statutory agency.

More importantly, the Council approved an increase in the Fund’s revenue allocation from 0.5 percent to 1 percent of the Federation Account, with a provision for future upward review to 2 percent. The goal, according to Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, is to guarantee sustainable financing for training, technology, and welfare, the three pillars of modern policing.

President Tinubu’s message was unmistakable: a nation that desires peace must invest in its protectors. The President’s own reform blueprint for policing, from equipment modernisation to digital crime management, has been clear since his days as Lagos State Governor, when he pioneered the Lagos Security Trust Fund. Thursday’s decisions now elevate that vision to the national stage.

In what seemed like perfect coordination, news also broke that President Tinubu had earlier, in the last few days, signed into law the Nigeria Police Training Institutions (Establishment) Bill, 2024, a landmark legislation that legally anchors 48 police academies and training schools across the six geopolitical zones.

The new law is a decisive leap in the professionalisation of Nigeria’s law enforcement architecture. It categorises the institutions into Police Colleges, Police Tactical Schools, Police Technical Training Schools, and other specialised centres, from the Counter-Terrorism Unit in Nonwa-Tai, Rivers, to the K9 and Marine Training Schools in Jos and Bayelsa, respectively.

For a country long plagued by fragmented police training and inconsistent standards, the new Act provides a unified framework for capacity building, ethics, and continuous education. It institutionalises what President Tinubu has often called ‘the culture of competence’, ensuring that every officer, from constable to commissioner, receives structured and modern training aligned with global best practices.

By signing the Act and strengthening the Trust Fund, the President effectively closed the loop on two of the most critical weaknesses in Nigeria’s security system: poor training and chronic underfunding. These twin interventions, executed within the same week, show a reformist resolve that is both strategic and sustained.

Beyond the specifics of appointments, pardons, and reforms, the symbolism of Thursday’s twin meetings was profound. Bringing together past leaders like Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, alongside the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, four former Chief Justices, and state governors, the Council of State meeting was a rare assembly of Nigeria’s institutional memory.

That President Tinubu chose to convene such an august body at a time of national reflection underscores his instinct for timing and consensus. It was a moment to draw from collective wisdom and project unity of purpose, two resources that Nigeria needs more than ever in this phase of reconstruction.

Similarly, the Police Council’s deliberations, anchored in data, law, and fiscal prudence, revealed a methodical leader, not one given to rhetoric. Tinubu’s governance style was once again on display: combining big-picture vision with administrative precision, ensuring that every decision fits into a coherent national reform mosaic.

The events of Thursday added another chapter to President Tinubu’s ongoing chronicle of statecraft. His administration has often been defined by its balancing act, between reform and relief, compassion and discipline, politics and principle. Yet, if there was ever a day that encapsulated his governing philosophy, it was Thursday, October 9, 2025: a day of leadership that fused law, mercy, and security into one seamless narrative of nation-building.

From the posthumous pardon of heroes to the institutionalisation of police professionalism, the President’s message was clear – that leadership must heal, build, and protect all at once. That is the essence of his Renewed Hope Agenda: a leadership of empathy anchored on results.

If Thursday was the summit of statecraft, the rest of the week supplied the steady cadence that gives governance its heartbeat. On Sunday, President Tinubu opened with gratitude and institutional memory, hailing former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.), at 60. It was more than a birthday message; it was an affirmation of service and sacrifice to those who held the line when insurgency threatened the Republic. Honouring courage is how a nation teaches the next generation what it values.

By Monday, the President was back in Abuja after a ten-day working visit to Lagos that doubled as an investment roadshow and policy clinic. Meetings with capital allocators like Bayo Ogunlesi and Hakeem Belo-Osagie underscored a simple thesis: private capital follows clarity, and this Presidency intends to provide it. His audience with IMO Secretary-General, Arsenio Dominguez, flanked by the Blue Economy team, carried the same through-line: unlock trade corridors, formalise the maritime economy, and move Nigerian logistics from potential to competitiveness. The day also carried a personal note as the President celebrated Dr. Dele Alake at 69-saluting a long partnership now powering reforms to reposition solid minerals as a sovereign revenue pillar.

On Tuesday, statecraft met sobriety. The President formally acknowledged Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s exit after two full terms at INEC, conferring a national honour to mark a decade of democratic stewardship. In the same spirit of institutional hygiene, he accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Nnaji from cabinet amid certificate controversies-a reminder that public trust is the coin of the realm and that this administration will let due process breathe.

Thursday’s solemnity also embraced the nation’s conscience as the President mourned Dr. Christopher Kolade, calling him an ‘intellectual treasure’, a phrase equal parts tribute and instruction. He also extended warm felicitations to Hajia Bola Shagaya at 66 and to Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, recognising impact where it is measurable: classrooms built, schools upgraded, outcomes improved.

Closing the loop, Friday spotlighted youth enterprise without borders: Interface Africa’s £1.5m triumph at the NextGen Innovation Challenge-a win for solar finance, small business resilience, and Nigeria’s innovation brand. And as the curtain fell on Saturday, the President saluted former Vice President Namadi Sambo on his turbaning as Sardaunan Zazzau-a cultural investiture that dignifies service and stitches community to country.

A Nation in Steady Hands

As Nigeria continues its march toward becoming a model modern nation, the decisions of last week will likely be remembered as pivotal. The convening of the Council of State and the Police Council on the same day was no coincidence; it was deliberate choreography, the President’s way of aligning justice, security, and governance under one national purpose.

With the INEC leadership question settled, the Police reforms institutionalised, and historical wrongs corrected through presidential mercy, Nigeria ends this week on a note of stability and moral renewal.

In a world where many nations struggle to balance strength with compassion, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Thursday meetings offered a rare example of both; the firm hand of reform and the soft heart of humanity.

For a nation rebuilding its confidence and institutions, that combination may well be its greatest hope.