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The Kunle Buraimoh (KB) Foundation, on Thursday, October 2, 2025, carried out its third annual back-to-school outreach as it donated exercise books and other writing materials to pupils and students across Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

A total of 1,374 students benefited from the gesture: 985 from Laaro Grammar School, Okefia; 204 from A.U.D Primary School, Sabo; and 185 from St. James Primary School, Owoope.

The initiative, according to the Foundation, aims to ease the burden on parents while promoting access to basic learning materials for children in public primary and secondary schools.

At Laaro Grammar School, where 985 students benefited, the principal, teachers, and students could not hide their excitement as they received the educational materials. They showered encomiums on the Foundation’s Chairman, Kunle Buraimoh, describing the support as timely and impactful.

Similarly, at St. James and A.U.D. Primary Schools, joy filled the air as the young pupils expressed appreciation through songs and prayers, thanking the Foundation for its continued compassion and dedication to education.

Speaking on behalf of the teaching staff, the headteachers of both primary schools commended the Foundation for its consistency and generosity in supporting the education of indigent pupils. They noted that such interventions contribute immensely to improving the learning environment and boosting pupils’ morale.

Some parents who witnessed the distribution also expressed gratitude to the Foundation, praying for the continued success of Kunle Buraimoh and his team.

Since its inception, the KB Foundation has consistently demonstrated a passion for youth empowerment and educational development through scholarships, donations, and community outreach programmes, making it one of the most consistent philanthropic organisations in Osogbo.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declined assent to two bills passed by the National Assembly.

Tinubu who disclosed this in a letter read by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, during plenary, said the two bills were ‘tainted with fundamental defects.’

The Bills include the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (Establishment) Bill 2025 and the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2025.

The President however assented to two bills, namely: The Nigeria Police Training Institute (Establishment) Bill and the Nigeria Police Trustfund (Establishment) Bill.

Also, the president nominated candidates to be considered and approved by the Senate for appointment into various federal government agencies.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, on Tuesday made her return to the National Assembly after serving a six-month suspension imposed by the Senate earlier this year.

The embattled lawmaker was seen on the floor of the upper chamber as plenary resumed following a 10-week recess, with Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin presiding over the session.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return marks the end of a controversial suspension that had sparked nationwide debate. She was suspended in March 2025 for alleged misconduct during her protest over the reassignment of her seat by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on February 20.

Following the suspension, her office was sealed off on March 6, 2025. It was recently reopened by the Deputy Director of the National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, signaling preparations for her reinstatement.

Two weeks ago, Akpoti-Uduaghan was allowed back into her office, during which she publicly criticized Akpabio, describing him as a ‘dictator.’

Rising youth coach and author Oluwabusayo Emmanuel Adeola is set to launch his new inspirational book, ‘Leveraging Teenagehood’, on October 22, 2025, in Akure, Ondo State.

The book, published by Reflections Journal Limited, seeks to empower teenagers to live purposefully, think independently, and make a meaningful impact during the most defining years of their lives.

Described by reviewers as ‘a roadmap to self-discovery, purpose, and growth,’ Leveraging Teenagehood combines Christian values, personal reflection, and practical guidance for navigating adolescence in an age marked by distraction and pressure.

In the book, Adeola, who is also the founder of Teens Connect Africa, draws deeply from his own experiences as a teenager who struggled with uncertainty, failure, and limited guidance before finding purpose through faith, mentorship, and self-discipline.

‘I made so many mistakes as a teenager,’ he writes in the introduction. ‘But I became intentional about my life and growth, and that decision changed everything. I don’t want the next generation to repeat the same mistakes.’

The book, which spans eight practical chapters, explores themes such as identity, purpose, mindset, time management, friendships, parental relationships, and mentorship.

Each section includes reflection exercises, relatable anecdotes, and faith-based wisdom designed to help young readers understand themselves and channel their energy into meaningful goals.

The work has received glowing endorsements from several youth leaders and educators across the continent.

In her foreword, Mrs. Lucy Okafor, life coach and CEO of Lucy Inspires Network, commends Adeola for producing a guide that goes beyond theory.

‘This book is not just another guide for teenagers,’ she writes. ‘It is a heartfelt call to live with clarity and conviction in a world that often encourages the opposite. Oluwabusayo writes from experience, not theory.’

Similarly, Nomawele Njongo, South Africa-based founder of the Africa Teen Authors Book Initiative, lauds the book’s cross-continental relevance, calling it ‘an essential toolkit for every young person ready to stop waiting for the future and start building it today.’

Other endorsements from educators, editors, and teen advocates describe Leveraging Teenagehood as ‘simple yet profound,’ praising its relatable storytelling and actionable advice.

Beyond writing, Adeola has spent the past few years mentoring hundreds of young people through his non-profit, Teens Connect Africa.

His programmes, such as the ‘Career Guide Campaign’ and ‘Become More initiative,’ have trained secondary school students in personal development, leadership, and purpose discovery.

His commitment to youth empowerment has earned him several recognitions, including the Young Man of Impact Award (Deimpact Network, 2022), Outstanding Leadership Award (Creative and Innovative Foundation, 2023), Epitome of Leadership Award (Noverray Initiative, 2024), and the Global Educators Award (Global Educator Foundation Nigeria, 2024).

Adeola previously co-authored The Principles of Greatness as a teenager, and his writing continues to reflect the same passion for shaping Africa’s youth narrative.

Each chapter in Leveraging Teenagehood addresses a core principle of adolescent growth. From ‘Who Are You?’, a reflection on self-identity, to ‘You Need a Mentor,’ Adeola emphasises that teenagehood is not a period to waste but to build foundations for the future.

He challenges young readers to use time wisely, choose friends intentionally, and embrace mentorship. Quoting from Proverbs, he writes, ‘Guide your heart, for from it flows the issues of life.’

Adeola also weaves in inspiring real-life stories of teenagers like Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, and Kelvin Doe, showing how young people around the world have used their early years to create lasting impact.

Grounded in Christian principles, the book underscores that true purpose and identity can only be fully understood through faith. However, its practical tone ensures its relevance beyond religious circles, making it suitable for parents, educators, and youth mentors who work with adolescents in diverse contexts.

The language is simple, direct, and motivational-perfectly suited for its teenage audience. Adeola’s use of personal testimony makes the book more than a lecture; it reads like a conversation from an older sibling who has walked the same path and returned to guide others.

Ultimately, Leveraging Teenagehood is a clarion call to a generation at risk of losing direction in a fast-changing world. It urges young people to take charge of their future now, not later.

As Adeola writes in his conclusion: ‘Teenagehood is not a waiting room for life, it is a workshop for building the future.’

With this publication, Oluwabusayo Adeola joins a growing list of young African authors redefining youth leadership, proving that influence begins long before adulthood.

The Credence Awards has named Onaolapo Alabi as the Winner of the Leadership in Digital Transformation category, recognizing his outstanding contributions to HR technology, people operations, and digital innovation in Nigeria.

The Judging Panel highlighted Onaolapo’s sustained record of delivering enterprise-wide HR technology transformations that translate people’s needs into scalable digital solutions. Over the course of his career, he has led comprehensive HRIS implementations, including BambooHR, Lattice, and Bento, overseeing data migration, validation, and integrations with internal and external systems to ensure optimisation and alignment with organisational objectives. These overhauls, together with targeted efforts to increase tool adoption, materially improved operational efficiency and enhanced workforce visibility across the organisations he served.

Judges also drew attention to Onaolapo’s measurable impact in process automation and data strategy. He automated core HR workflows such as Confirmation and Onboarding Operational Processes, introduced robust data synchronisation across Organimi, Google Sheets, and BambooHR, and delivered actionable dashboards and reports through Looker Studio to support workforce planning and talent management.

Those initiatives closed payroll leakage gaps, saving ?1.35 million annually, raised previous-employer check success rates from 37.5% to 90%, and produced clear gains in turnaround time and employee experience. His practical innovations, including the design and deployment of a virtual service agent, HR service helpdesk, and a chatbot for People Operations, reduced support queries and increased responsiveness for employees and managers.

Beyond technical delivery, the Judges recognised Onaolapo’s leadership in product management, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory compliance. He successfully translated HR requirements into technical specifications, introduced Agile practices within HR functions, and led cross-functional integrations with Product and Engineering teams to ensure timely delivery. His representation of HR in ISO audits (ISO 20001, 22301, and 9001), a payroll framework aligned with the Finance Act, and ongoing contributions to audit readiness demonstrate a disciplined approach to governance and compliance.

This award affirms Onaolapo Alabi’s professional credibility and authority as a lead in People Operations, a product-focused HR strategist, and a community-minded leader. The Credence Awards celebrate his accomplishments and look forward to the continued influence of his work in advancing HR technology, people transformation, and organisational resilience in Nigeria and beyond.

In a statement acknowledging the selection, David Ajayi, Chair of the Judging Panel, congratulated Onaolapo and praised the demonstrable, measurable outcomes that underpinned the panel’s decision, noting that the selection reflects both technical excellence and tangible benefit to organisations and their people.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written the House of Representatives for approval to implement the new external borrowing planning the 2025 appropriation act and to refinance maturing eurobond and issue debut sovereign sukuk in the international market.

The President’s letter dated 22nd September, 2025 was read at Tuesday’s plenary by Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen.

The President’s request is titled ‘request for the resolution of the National Assembly to implement new extern borrowing in the 2025 appropriation act, refinance maturing Euro bonds and issue debt sovereign sukuk in the international capital market.

He said the purpose of the letter is to seek a resolution of the House of Representatives pursuant to the provisions of Sections 21(1) and 27(1) of the Debt Management Office (Establishment, Etc.) Act, 2003 to implement the New External Borrowing of ?1,843,669,786,987.16 (equivalent of USD1,229,113,000.00 at the budget exchange rate of USD1.00/N1,500.00) in the 2025 Appropriation Act for the part-financing of the Budget Deficit.

He is also seeking a resolution to refinance the USD1,118,352,000.00 Eurobonds (7.625% USD1.118BN NOV 2025) maturing on November 21, 2025; access aggregate external capital of USD2,347,465,000.00 (USD1.229bn and USD1.118bn), through any of the fofflowing in the International Capital Market (ICM): Issuance of Eurobonds, Loan Syndications, Bridge Finance Facility from Bookrunners and Direct Borrowing from International Financial Institutions.

Also, the request is also for a resolution to issue a stand-alone debut Sovereign Sukuk of up to USD500m in the ICM with or without credit enhancement (Guarantee).

NEW EXTERNAL BORROWING AND REFINANCING

A. Implementation of New External Borrowing in the 2025 Appropriation Act

He said ‘the House of Representatives may wish to note that 2025 Appropriation Act provides for N9,276,348,934,935.79 as New Borrowings to part-finance the 2025 Budget Deficit, of which ?1,843,669,786,987.16 (equivalent of about USD1,229,113,000.00 at the Budget Exchange Rate of USD1.00/N1,500.00) is specified as New External Borrowing.

‘The House of Representatives is kindly invited to issue its Resolution allowing the Government to raise the amount through any of the following options: Issuance of Eurobonds, Bridge Finance Facility from Bookrunners, Loan Syndication and Direct Borrowing from International Financial Institutions.

On refinancing of maturing Eurobonds of USD1.118 billion, he said ‘the House of Representatives may wish to note that Eurobonds of USD1,118,352,000.00 (7.625% US$1.118BN NOV 2025) issued in the ICM on November 21, 2018, with an original tenor of 7 years, will mature on November 21, 2025.

‘The plan is to refinance the maturing Eurobonds through issuance of Eurobonds, Bridge Finance Facility from Bookrunners, Loan Syndication, or Direct Borrowing from International Financial Institutions, if necessary to avoid default. This is a standard practice in debt capital markets, including the ICM. The proposal is for the House of Representatives to issue its Resolution authorising the FGN to refinance the Eurobonds, accordingly.

He stressed that ‘based on the presentations in Paragraphs 2 and 3, the aggregate amount proposed to be raised in the ICM either through Issuance of Eurobonds, Bridge Finance Facility from Bookrunners, Loan Syndication and Direct Borrowing from International Financial Institutions or combination of the options for which Resolution of the House of Representatives is being sought is USD2,347,465,000.00.

‘Whilst exploring all the options, the plan is to focus on the Issuance of Eurobonds, and we believe that Nigeria, being a regular issuer of Eurobonds in the ICM could raise the proposed amount, subject to market conditions.

‘The House of Representatives may wish to note that because Eurobonds Issuance is a market-based transaction, the terms and conditions can only be determined at the time of the transactions, and they will be subject to prevailing market conditions.

‘The Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) and the Debt Management Office (DMO) will work with the Transaction Advisers to secure the most favourable terms and conditions.

‘Meanwhile, it is expected that the pricing of the new Eurobonds will reflect the Yields on Nigeria’s Eurobonds trading in the ICM at the time of Issuance, while Tenors will be guided by investors’ preferences, price and the DMO’s liability management strategy.

On the issuance of a stand alone 500 million dollars debut sovereign sukuk, the President said ‘the House of Representatives is invited to issue its Resolution authorising the Issuance of a stand-alone debut Sovereign Sukuk of up to USD500m in the ICM

He said ‘the FGN has recorded considerable success in the Issuance of Sukuk in the domestic capital market for the development of critical infrastructure projects across the country. Between September 2017 and May 2025, the DMO has raised N1,392.557 trillion through Sukuk in the domestic capital market to fund critical road infrastructure projects.

‘There is the need to pool resources from external sources to complement domestic issuance to help bridge infrastructure funding gaps; and,

‘It is imperative to open new sources of funding for the FGN, and thereby diversify investor base, as well as deepen the FGN Securities market.

‘The proposal is for the House of Representatives to approve the issuance of a stand-alone debut Sovereign Sukuk with or without credit enhancement (Guarantee) from the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group.

*The Policy Premium for the Guarantee proposed by ICIEC is 3.5% of Issue Amount per annum. If the credit enhancement from ICIEC is taken for the proposed Sukuk Issuance, 25% of the Issue Proceeds may be used to repay relatively more expensive debt obligations of the FGN, and the balance will be used to finance the development of pre-identified infrastructure projects’.

President Tinubu also said that ‘based on the foregoing, I respectfully request the House of Representatives to pass a resolution to raise external capital in the sum of USD2,347,465,000.00 comprised of New External Borrowing in the 2025 Appropriation Act (USD1,229,113,000.00) and refinancing of maturing Eurobonds (USD1,118,352,000.00), through any of the following option(s): Issuance of Eurobonds, Bridge Finance Facility from Bookrunners, Loan Syndication and Direct Borrowing from International Financial Institutions.

‘To issue a debut stand-alone Sovereign Sukuk of up to USD500 million, with or without credit enhancement from the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit’.

The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, has resigned.

He was appointed in August 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Nnaji resigned following some allegations against him.

He resigned on Monday in a letter thanking the President for allowing him to serve Nigeria.

Special Adviser to President Tinubu Bayo Onanuga confirmed the development in a statement, saying the President has accepted the resignation.

According to Onanuga: ‘Nnaji said he has been a target of blackmail by political opponents.

‘President Tinubu thanked him for his service and wished him well in future endeavours.’

The Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, has warned candidates seeking internship placements at the institution to desist from paying anyone for assistance, stressing that the process is entirely free.

Prof. Ize-Iyamu gave the warning while addressing about 1,500 candidates attending the internship interview exercise at the University of Benin CBT centres.

She assured the candidates of fairness and transparency in the selection process, urging them to focus on excellence as the only criterion for securing placement in the hospital.

According to her, only candidates who perform exceptionally well during the interview would be shortlisted for selection and placement.

Prof. Ize-Iyamu further cautioned against any form of malpractice or backdoor dealings, emphasizing that ‘there is no favoritism or special list for candidates.’

‘This interview is to ensure that only the best is shortlisted. Connections will not be used. Do not give anyone money to help you secure placement .

‘We have observers from the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Character Commission both from Benin and Abuja. We have an official from the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to monitor the exercise. Do your best, and I wish you good luck.’Ize-Iyamu said.

Representative of the Federal Ministry of Health, Kayode Oke, lauded the hospital for the hitch free exercise.

Edo State Director Federal Character Commission (FCC) , Barr. Simon Ehigie, said the exercise was in line with approved guidelines and in compliance with the Federal Character Principle.

He noted that candidates seeking placement were drawn from across all the 36 states of the federation, stressing that ‘ the FCC would not sacrifice merit on the alter of balancing.’

The Federal Government has disclosed plans to refinance Nigeria’s expensive debt portfolio as part of ongoing efforts to reduce the nation’s debt service costs and overall cost of borrowing.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, made this known on Tuesday at the 55th Annual Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) held in Abuja.

Edun explained that the decision to refinance the country’s high-cost debt was driven by the sharp rise in debt service obligations in recent years.

According to him, ‘Debt service costs have surged: Treasury bill rates rose from 8% in 2023 to nearly 24 percent, and external debt service almost tripled from budgeted N2.7 trillion to N6.7 trillion in 2024.’

Refinancing expensive debts involves replacing high-interest loans with new, lower-interest facilities aimed at easing the pressure on government finances, freeing up resources for developmental spending, and improving the country’s fiscal sustainability.

The move is consistent with the government’s medium-term growth strategy, which seeks to build a productive economy anchored on private sector investment, openness, and efficiency.

According to Edun: ‘Our growth strategy is centered on productive capital formation through increased private investment. We are working to achieve output growth of 7.0 percent GDP by 2027/2028, thus enabling the removal of millions of our citizens from poverty.’

He added that the Tinubu administration is determined to transition the Nigerian economy into one driven by competition and innovation, with government acting as a facilitator rather than a dominant player. ‘We are transitioning to an economy anchored on openness, competition, and efficiency, where the private sector is the engine of growth, and government efficiently plays its role as foreseer and enabler,’ he stated.

Edun disclosed that the Federal Government is also making substantial investments in the digital economy to unlock new opportunities for the country’s predominantly young population. He noted that over 65 percent of Nigerians are under the age of 35, presenting a unique demographic advantage that must be harnessed through technology and innovation.

‘We are making bold investments in the digital economy. Through Project Bridge, a $2 billion Public-Private Partnership project supported by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, we are expanding fibre optic coverage by 90,000 km, building on the existing 35,000 km network,’ the Minister said.

‘Our goal is 70 percent nationwide internet penetration, reaching all LGAs and wards. This initiative addresses digital infrastructure gaps and promotes inclusion, especially for women and youth, paving the way for a tech-driven future,’ he added.

Speaking on government finances, Edun stated that Nigeria’s fiscal position has recorded significant improvement in the last two years, noting that revenue has grown by over 70 percent in nominal terms. He attributed the increase to key reforms implemented under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including the liberalization of the foreign exchange and fuel markets, and the automation of revenue collection systems.

‘The demand for development remains high as we strive to improve upon output growth and significantly enhance productivity. In part, this will be achieved by raising our infrastructure stock from its current level of less than 40 percent of output towards the global benchmark of 75 percent,’ Edun noted.

He said the government is deploying a range of innovative measures to mobilize domestic resources to meet development financing needs, particularly in a global environment constrained by limited liquidity. Among these initiatives, he mentioned formalizing the large informal sector-particularly in real estate and agriculture-as revealed by the recent rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP figures.

The minister also mentioned the expansion of the tax base through the new Tax Reform Act, which harmonizes tax processes and reduces multiple taxation to enhance productivity. ‘We are also working to strengthen digital revenue collection platforms,’ he added.

According to him, the government is also leveraging ‘asset financialization by optimizing the federal government’s balance sheets,’ with the expectation that subnational governments will adopt similar strategies to improve fiscal efficiency and revenue performance.

On social protection, Edun said the administration is expanding and strengthening its social investment programmes to reach more Nigerians in need. ‘This is being achieved through enhanced digital identification systems, ensuring that support reaches those who need it most, efficiently and transparently,’ he said.

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