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THE Dean of Student Affairs at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Festus Adeosun, has urged students to go beyond academic certificates and embrace entrepreneurship as a pathway to self-reliance and national development.

Prof. Adeosun, a former Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS), gave the charge during the YouWin Enterprise Education programme for tertiary institutions, held at the College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM) Auditorium.

He observed that while a university degree remained valuable, the knowledge, skills, and experiences gained during campus life were the true determinants of future success.

‘The current realities of youth unemployment in Nigeria demand creativity, resilience, and innovation. Students must look beyond certificates and embrace entrepreneurial opportunities that would position them as job creators rather than job seekers,’ Adeosun stated.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, reaffirmed FUNAAB’s commitment to nurturing students beyond academics, stressing that the institution was determined to prepare them for self-reliance in today’s competitive economy.

He commended the choice of FUNAAB as host of the programme, describing it as a timely platform to empower students with practical entrepreneurial skills.

Giving an insight into the programme, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr Lampo Ibrahim, explained that YouWin Connect was a youth-focused initiative designed to support small businesses and foster entrepreneurship nationwide.

He noted that the scheme, which also extends to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps and other tertiary institutions, was created to provide Nigerian youths with access to funding and business development opportunities.

According to him, the core aim of YouWin Connect is to inspire young people to develop business ideas, grow them into sustainable enterprises, and reduce dependence on formal employment. He advised students to take advantage of the initiative and build ventures that would secure their future and contribute to national economic growth.

Highlighting practical pathways to business funding, Ibrahim identified four major sources available to aspiring entrepreneurs as friends and family, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government agencies, and the private sector.

He underscored the role of NGOs in complementing the government’s efforts to reduce unemployment and urged students to uphold integrity and accountability in the use of funds secured through such programmes.

Referencing the Federal Government’s publication, Successful Nigerian Entrepreneurs, Ibrahim noted that financial struggles were often not due to lack of formal education but poor financial literacy. He, therefore, encouraged students to embrace entrepreneurial training and prudent financial management as essential life skills.

One, was the brief socializing with the free-spirit Osun governor, Jackson Adeleke. The president, as seen in the video was bantering with the PDP governor, blocked by Osun APC from joining the President in the ruling party in the spirit of the southern coalition being coupled by the Nigerian leader, to smoothen his reelection. In what was obviously a friendly poke, the President while shooting for a handshake, quipped ‘ijonko o’ (how is dancing), an unveiled reference to the governor’s penchant for regular display of his dancing dexterity, despite his size, which makes his usual energetic ‘moonwalk’ a rich spectacle. Not one to let such affability go to waste, he, while bowing to take the President’s offered handshake, replied with unmissable flourish; ‘ijowadaada sir’ (dancing is great sir). That brief exchange should reinforce to Osun APC stalwarts that their leader in Abuja has a soft spot for the one they don’t want in Osun. May God help the state opposition if Jackson moonwalks over them to re-election next year. That would be the political end of many current leaders of Osun APC. To stand a chance of proving to their Abuja leader whose body language has shown that he would prefer the incumbent Osun governor as a member of the Progressive Governors (like Delta, Akwa-Ibom and likely Rivers), Osun APC leaders must get the nomination right by going for the aspirant with consolidated voting base like the incumbent. Until Borno State caught up with Osun days back, as the highest-netting in fishing new voters, Adeleke’s Osun West was topping nationally, an undeniable proof of his get-out-the-vote groundwork.

It shows a man who is ready.

Kano, another huge-voting state is mirroring Osun, though its political climate isn’t yet as crystal. President Tinubu no doubt, covets the vote-sweeping influence of former governor and NNPP lord, Rabiu Kwankwaso who was also at the Ibadan event and whose attempt at drawing the attention of the Nigerian leader also created another Tinubu moment. A viral video showed the President security team initially bouncing him off the periphery of the President’s perimeter as he (Tinubu) arrived the Mapo Hall venue but before he could be roughened up, the President signalled he should be allowed access to him.

By any measure and every standard, Kwankwaso is a heavy-hitter in Nigerian political firmament and holds joint-record with AyodeleFayose and KayodeFayemi, both of Ekiti State, of non-consecutive gubernatorial second term. He is also the 2023 presidential candidate with the largest votes from a state; his Kano State, creaming almost a million votes at a go. He had been minister of defence and currently governs Kano, the largest voting state of 2023 poll, through his son in-law, incumbent Governor Abba Yusuf. So there is no way the Kano strongman is unknown to the President security team and in many public fora, Tinubu, before and when he came into office, had acknowledged Kwankwaso a friend. So what went wrong? It is in public domain that Kwankwaso is open to a return to APC, potentially to help re-elect his friend and possibly position himself for an enhanced 2031 run when power is expected to return to the North. President also wanted him. But there is AbdullahiGanduje alongside other Kano APC big men in the middle, like Osun APC leaders, reportedly standing against having their former leader and his hand-held governor back in the fold, where Governor Yusuf will become the de jure leader, and his father in-law; Kwankwaso, the de facto leader.

Unlike Osun where the President reportedly agreed that Adeleke and APC leaders should first test might in next year gubernatorial poll to know who should lead his coalition in the state ahead of 2027, Tinubu, according to his orbit had done a lot to assure Kwankwaso of his commitment to their partnership if he returns to the APC fold for him, including having to painfully pinch Ganduje. But the Kwankwasiyya leader has been allegedly irresolute, constantly shifting his conditions to meet before decamping. Weeks back he went public in the media space with his desire and conditions, with the President reportedly souring on him and deciding to look elsewhere for solutions to his Kano deficits, notably the 2023 gap of 419,938 votes between him in second place and Rabiu in the lead.

When security begin to bounce someone who used to have access to their principal, words must have definitely gone around and about. The Ibadan scenario looks like using the right hand to pull a naughty child’s ear and using the left to rub the back of his head. Did RMK get the message?

Then there was the BAO snub at the Ibadan airport where attending governors formed a beeline to welcome the Nigerian leader. Pray, why is the President resorting to public snub and its attendant opprobrium to manifest his discontent towards his allegedly errant party governors, especially those of Yoruba extraction?. First it was the Lagos man, Babajide Sanwoolu who the President refused to acknowledge and greet during the controversial commissioning of a portion of Lagos-Calabar highway on May 30 this year. The President is from Lagos and was governor of the state like Sanwoolu between 1999 and 2007. By standing up to then-President Olusegun Obasanjo of then-ruling PDP, he gave the governor’s seat character, elan and respect. Though they later made whatever was between them up eight days after through the intervention of the nebulous GAC, the incumbent had been served as they say. It’s doubtful if a swashbuckling Governor Tinubu of his time and term in Lagos would have peacefully resolved such public shaming with any president whether of his party or from the opposition.

BAO, arrayed from his names, is the political sobriquet of the 57-year-old Ekiti governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji. Married to a professor, the governor has been practically what anyone aspiring at Ekiti level could be, including serving as the secretary of the Falegan committee that made the creation of the state possible. It is just fitting that he leads the state he helped create. He should also be allowed to lead as he deems right and if found wanting, his reelection fate should be left for Ekiti electorate to determine. Period.

Before the Ibadan debacle, I had heard from power corridors in Abuja things weren’t well between the Governor and the President who is also the national leader of their party. While BAO has been variously judged average and even below average in governance delivery, his problem with Abuja was said to be mainly political and just like the Sanwoolu situation, the President gave a public confirmation to the behind-the-curtain muttering that Oyebanji is no longer a ‘son’ in whom he is well pleased. At the airport reception, the President walked past him as if he didn’t exist despite his three-piece white agbada ensemble, standing at the head of the line of other governors and dignitaries. The security just moved in-between them as the President looked away and straight, unlike the Kwankwaso case later when the Nigerian leader rescued the Kano fellow from his security who appeared to be following strict orders.

Oyebanji’s alleged sins are mainly political and the constitution covers freedom of association. If President Tinubu as APC national leader thinks Oyebanji is derailing from the vision of the party, there are better ways of reining him in or keeping him out permanently without resorting to embarrassing his person, for fleeting political power. Yes I know people can bone (naija street lingo for snub) offending beloved, as a way of expressing disavowal so they come bearing repentance and desiring forgiveness but even for Trump the ruffler, there are acts that won’t be presidential. Add to the fact the President is a Yoruba elder who shouldn’t be handling the proverbial festival like a teen (agbakinseoro bi ewe).

Like President Tinubu, the two governors, publicly humiliated over if I heard right, alleged acts that he himself would endorse as survival politics in his days in the thick, wild forest of politics, are Yoruba. While he is definitely older than both, respect should be reciprocal. And I ask, is it only South West APC governors that are overreaching in the President’s estimation? Will the President treat Northern APC governors this way regardless of political sin? Did ordinary palace guards of a Northern emir not break down doors in utter disregard for established protocol to let their lord into an event where the President was already seated? Whoever sells his own short will pay heavily for outsiders.

If the public smackdowns are the President’s way of settling scores especially with governors who he would not be able to monitor directly on election day, then he risks a situation Yoruba will describe as bottling the crimson inside while spitting out bright saliva. It is dangerous when people play along. If you see my hand you can’t see my mind situation. Whenever I see Governor Sim smiling the President into superlatives. a Yoruba adage is always jumping at me; ‘onikun lo mero’. Won’t interpret.

When you need to make others feel small for you to feel big, it is the highest manifestation of inner weakness. Dishing to others what you can’t take is against divine rule of do unto others as you want others do to you. Why publicly disgracing someone who has come to honour you?

The latest presidential humiliation is two too many. If the President is this way in the public, how toxic can things get with him in private when displeased, considering how he has been making grown men feel very small in full glare because he wanted everybody on board his re-election plans. The tortoise in-laws, even when rightly wronged, will always carry the shame of doing too much to shame their offending son-in-law. Haba! Kilode!

Billionaire Tesla and X owner, Elon Musk, has set in motion plans for Grokipedia, an AI-powered knowledge platform aimed at challenging Wikipedia by bringing ‘unlimited access to truth’ and removing bias, restriction, or hidden agendas.

Musk announced that Version 0.1 beta of Grokipedia will be published in approximately two weeks time.

The vision for Grokipedia, as described by a post by amXFreeze on X (formerly Twitter) and retweeted by Musk, is bold. ‘Grokipedia is going to be the world’s biggest, most accurate knowledge source, for humans and AI with no limits on use.

‘With Grok, Grokipedia aims for maximum truth through first principles and physics. It replaces partially masked evidences of how legacy media operates, rewriting with complete accurate context that cuts through the BS. this will combat the evil organizations and the evil minds that operating under the hood and who’ve poisoned minds for decades with endless fake news and distorted narratives through legacy media and Wikipedia, causing immense harm to young minds and manipulated the world long enough,’ it reads in parts.

Meanwhile, Tribune Online reports that Grok is X’s built-in AI assistant developed by Elon Musk’s xAI. Unlike generic bots, Grok’s wired into the platform itself, which means that by tagging it @grok with a prompt on X, it can answer trending questions, transcribe video tweets, draft witty tweets, and even provide sarcastic comebacks.

However, Grokipedia will, according to Musk, use heavy inference compute to assimilate sources like Wikipedia and other reference materials, then evaluate statements as true, partially true, false, or missing. It will subsequently rewrite those entries to remove inaccuracies, correct half-truths, and fill in missing context.

Musk described the project as one built on first principles and physics, free from editorial agendas. In his words, Grokipedia is being ‘built solely for the truth. free from bias or hidden agendas.’

The billionaire X owner has previously voiced frustration with Wikipedia’s perceived partiality and influence, accusing it of ideological bias, especially from a conservative perspective, and decrying its role in shaping AI training data.

Musk, on January 21, after the site updated its page on him to include a reference to the much-debated stiff-armed salute he made at a Trump inaugural event, posted on X that ‘since legacy media propaganda is considered a ‘valid’ source by Wikipedia, it naturally simply becomes an extension of legacy media propaganda!’

He urged people not to donate to the site: ‘Defund Wikipedia until balance is restored!’ according to The New Yorker.

On the technical side, in June, Musk has also indicated that the Grok engine will not only correct errors but retrain itself on the improved corpus. ‘We will use Grok 3.5 to rewrite the entire corpus of human knowledge, adding missing information and deleting errors. Then retrain on that.’

It remains unclear how the public will participate, whether through open editing, review, or appeals, or how Grokipedia will manage disputes or conflicting perspectives.

Previous projects like Conservapedia have had limited success largely because of editorial control and acceptance challenges.

All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Barrister Akeem Agbaje, says the call for power shift in 2027 can only succeed if there is an agreed rotational arrangement among all zones in the state.

Agbaje stated this while speaking on the Political Circuit programme on Fresh FM 105.9, Ibadan.

He said that while the demand for power shift to other zones was legitimate, it would require planning and broad consultations to achieve.

‘We need to be realistic about this agitation and I have always looked at it from two perspectives. The first one is that everybody, every zone, is entitled to contest to be governor. And I am not aware of any provision of the Constitution that prevents anybody from any zone of the state from aspiring or to contest.

‘The second perspective is that people think that because Ibadan has the number, that is why we take advantage to perpetuate ourselves in the governorship position and lord it over every other zone.

‘I think historically, that is not correct. Ibadan had been one of the largest populated cities since the thirties. Ibadan had been the regional capital since the thirties. And Ibadan did not get a meaning post until 1979, and that post was the Chief Judge. Every other post, despite the population of Ibadan, was occupied by people from other zones.

‘The governor was from Osun; deputy was from Osun. SSG, Head of Service were from Osun. Opposition Leader was from Ogbomoso. Ibadan only got Chief Judge, and being Chief Judge was based on seniority. So, the conception that Ibadan dominates because of its population is not historically correct. Ibadan had always had the population.

‘But in 1983, the consciousness came with ‘Omo wa ni e je o se’. But Ibadan did not just say ‘Omo wa ni e je o se’; they worked diligently, assiduously towards it until it was achieved. So, my take is that everybody; every zone is entitled to be governor of Oyo state.

‘There must be a defined approach to it. You can’t say, oh, we are entitled, we are entitled. You have to develop a process. The zone with the clearest agitation is Oke Ogun. And I tell them, though they don’t like it, that you have 10 local governments; Ogbomoso has 3 local governments. But Ogbomoso has presented senator for you consecutively. So, there has to be a conscious, deliberate effort by Oke Ogun zone to achieve this beautiful goal of presenting somebody that can win to become governor of Oyo state. They all have to work together. Ibadan alone has not presented a candidate. Ibadan works with other zones. So, we all have to work together.

‘But the easiest solution for me, is to let us have a rotational policy which will give everybody sense of belonging. But I think it is too early, not because I am an aspirant. It involves a lot of work. Ibadan worked very hard to become governor in 1983. Osun was dominating us, but we worked at it and to the glory of God, we got it,’ he said.

Agbaje also spoke on why the APC lost the 2023 governorship election and the recent House of Representatives by-election in Ibadan North, blaming the outcome on decisions made at the party’s national level.

He said, ‘Oyo APC lost the recent House of Representatives by-election to the PDP because, the leadership at Abuja imposed a candidate who was not a choice of the party in the state, on the party. For me, Abuja is our problem. Whatever data, whatever parameter they used, they feel they could impose candidate on us and win the election. I have told all that care that it can never happen in Oyo state. I can’t think of any other state that people will vote today in favour of a party, and two weeks later, violently vote against that same party. And Abuja still refuses to realize that we are different and we will always be different.

‘They came and imposed a candidate, and they thought they would win that election. Oyo state people have seen that message in 2019. They have seen the same message in 2023. So, Abuja has to learn that they should leave us alone to pick our own candidate. If we pick a candidate by ourselves, we know how we will make the candidate win the election.’

Youths from the Irekari axis comprising Idoani, Idogun, Imeri, and Afo communities in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State on Saturday staged a peaceful protest to express their frustration over the deplorable condition of roads and other decaying infrastructure in the area.

The protest, which began on Thursday, has continued for days as the demonstrators vowed to remain on the streets both day and night until government authorities address their grievances.

Armed with placards bearing various inscriptions such as ‘Fix Our Roads Now,’ ‘We Deserve Better,’ ‘No Development, No Peace,’ and ‘Irekari is Part of Ondo State,’ the protesters lamented years of neglect by successive governments despite their contributions to the state’s economy.

They condemned the alleged exclusion of the Irekari Local Council Development Area (LCDA) from the recently announced Operation Emergency Road Construction programme of the Ondo State Government.

While appealing to both the federal and state governments to urgently rehabilitate and reconstruct the roads to revive economic activities and safeguard lives, leaders of the protesting youths specifically called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to remember the axis in his developmental plans.

The youths also accused a marble company operating in Afo of worsening the condition of the roads through the movement of heavy-duty trucks. They urged the government to channel part of the taxes and royalties collected from the firm into road rehabilitation projects.

Beyond the issue of roads, the protesters decried the lack of electricity supply, dysfunctional health facilities, and the inactivity of the local magistrate court all of which they attributed to the poor road network discouraging workers and service providers from staying in the area.

They noted that good road infrastructure is essential for socio-economic development, as it facilitates the movement of goods and people, but lamented that Irekari communities have been largely cut off.

They pointed out that the two main access roads the Ipele-Idoani-Isua Federal Road and the Oba-Ikun-Afo-Idoani Road have deteriorated over the years, leaving commuters, including students and parents of the Federal Government College, Idoani, and the Navy Secondary School, Imeri, in excruciating pain.

They maintained that the worsening road conditions have crippled economic activities in the axis, as neither the state nor the federal government has responded to the community’s repeated pleas for intervention. Years of neglect, they said, have left the once-thriving communities as shadows of their former selves.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, one of the youth leaders, Mr. Sunday Akinsehinwa, said residents of the four Irekari communities have suffered untold hardship due to the poor state of the roads linking their towns to other parts of the state.

He added that economic activities have almost been crippled, while access to healthcare and education has become a daily struggle.

According to him, indigenes of the communities have resorted to self-help by contributing money to carry out remedial works, particularly on the Ipele-Idoani-Isua road, but their efforts have proven inadequate given the extent of the damage.

The ongoing protest, according to him, was triggered by the continued silence of the state government, especially Governor Aiyedatiwa, who had previously passed through the same route during a campaign visit to Idoani in October last year.

They also recalled that Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami travelled through the dilapidated Oba-Ikun-Afo-Idoani road earlier this year to attend an event in the area.

While appealing to the Federal and Ondo State Governments to urgently rehabilitate and reconstruct the roads to protect lives and revive economic activities in the LCDA, leaders of the protesting youths specifically appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to remember the axis.

‘For many years, we have been abandoned. The roads from Idoani to Idogun and from Imeri to Afo are completely impassable. Farmers cannot take their produce to the market, and commercial drivers are avoiding our routes because of the terrible condition of the roads,’ he said.

Another protester, Miss Tinuola Adeoye, decried the lack of basic amenities in the area, including potable water, electricity, and functional healthcare centres.

She urged the state government to intervene urgently, saying the communities feel cut off from the rest of the state. ‘We are not asking for too much. We only want good roads, light, and schools that work. Our people are hardworking, but the neglect is killing our motivation,’ she said.

The protesters called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to visit the area and see firsthand the level of infrastructural decay, urging his administration to include the Irekari axis in ongoing rural development and road rehabilitation programmes across the state.

Meanwhile, efforts to get a reaction from the Ondo State Ministry of Works were unsuccessful as of press time, but a senior official who spoke off the record said the government was aware of the situation and that plans were underway to rehabilitate some critical roads in the Ose axis.

Responding to the development, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, said the state government was committed to addressing the situation as a matter of urgency once the rainy season subsides.

Ajanaku explained that the Irekari axis was discussed at the last State Executive Council meeting under the Operation Emergency Road Construction programme and expressed optimism that rehabilitation would soon commence on the Idoani, Idogun, Imeri, and Afo roads.

He added that both the federal and state roads serving the area had already been brought to the government’s attention and assured residents that the affected roads would soon receive attention.

However, the protesting youths remain sceptical, citing previous unfulfilled promises by successive administrations. They vowed to sustain their protest until tangible action is taken to address their demands.

Since her return from rehab, the delectable ex-wife of 2Face Idibia, Annie, appears to have found her rhythm again.

At a time when her former husband is battling controversy over his aborted London show, Annie chose a different path, one that speaks volumes without saying a word.

The actress took to Instagram to share a short video of herself grooving to music, exuding confidence and joy.

For many of her followers, it was a quiet but striking response to the noise surrounding 2Face’s latest troubles.

While social media has been abuzz with allegations, denials, and heated debates about why the London performance was postponed, Annie seemed intent on distancing herself from the chaos.

Her clip, filled with smiles and carefree vibes, sent a subtle message: she is moving on with her life and paying little attention to the storm.

The post drew warm reactions from fans who applauded her strength and praised her for refusing to be dragged into her ex’s current travails.

Others, however, were quick to link the timing of her video to 2Face’s controversy, suggesting it was a pointed way of showing that she has fully embraced life after their separation.

Annie, who has often been at the center of headlines due to her turbulent relationship with the singer, seems determined to chart a new course for herself.

Her latest post may not mention 2Face directly, but its timing and tone have been interpreted as her own way of reclaiming the narrative.

As a follow-up to earlier visits by a delegation of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) towards establishing facilities to encourage the study of Science, Technical, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and skills development in public schools across the state, a team from the Agency has arrived the state to facilitate take-off of programme.

The Executive Chairman, Benue State Universal Basic Education Board( SUBEB), Dr. Grace Adagba, who conducted the delegation around selected pilot schools for the initiative to carry out research and survey, explained that the intervention was made possible through goodwill from the Agency which she said had identified the drastic revolution being implemented in basic education schools by the Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration.

The SUBEB boss, according to a press statement by the board’s information officer, Emmanuella Akese, stated that the intervention which is targeted at improving learning environment in schools as well as facilitating STEM and vocational education, with particular focus on the girl child would further complement efforts by the government to reposition basic education schools.

Adagba thanked Governor Alia for his sustained support for the board and his vision to change the narrative of public schools and thanked the Japan International Cooperation Agency for the intervention.

The Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr. Margaret Adamu in her remarks acknowledged the SUBEB chairman for resilience in attracting foreign investment in the education sector for the overall growth and development of the younger generation.

She assured the foreign donors of government’s commitment of providing the enabling environment for partnership and thanked the delegation for the willingness to invest in Benue’s education sector.

Consultant for the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Kenji Kawazoe who led the team of architects for the research and survey works said they were in the state for environmental assessment of the selected schools for determination of the appropriate facilities according to the needs of the beneficiaries.

The Programme Coordinator, Education and long-term training Programme for JICA, Stephen Nwanya emphasized that the grant aid project was interested in contributing to the growth of basic education with particular focus on Infrastructural design and construction, equipment support in ICT and vocational training to encourage STEM education.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency delegation team visited St Theresa ‘s Primary School Makurdi for the survey mission and is expected to travel to Otukpo to carry out research and survey at St Francis Primary School, Otukpo.

The schools are the selected pilot schools for the takeoff of the intervention programme.

High Chief Stanley Obodoagwu, the visionary CEO of Akwaamaka Music, officially unveiled his new, expansive music, photography, and content creation studio on Tuesday, September 30.

Situated in the bustling heart of Festac Town, Lagos, the grand opening drew a distinguished crowd of Nollywood celebrities, industry professionals, and media.

The launch event was a vibrant affair, attended by notable figures, including veteran actors Chinedu Ikedieze, Uche Elendu, and Grace Ama. Guests enjoyed a festive atmosphere complete with exquisite refreshments as they celebrated the landmark occasion.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the new venture, High Chief Obodoagwu highlighted a gap in the local industry. ‘I have visited various studios across Lagos and observed a noticeable lack of internationally competitive standards,’ he stated. ‘My decision to launch Akwaamaka Studio stems from a commitment to elevate the industry. We are creating a multipurpose hub designed to meet the holistic needs of the entertainment sector-serving filmmakers, music producers, recording artists, content creators, and individuals seeking world-class facilities. This is the best studio in Nigeria. I can bet that.’

The studio is poised to become a central creative engine for the entertainment community. The event also featured a captivating performance by one of Akwaamaka Music’s rising stars, Spenta (real name Kingsley Ifeanyi Adaoje), who entertained the audience with tracks from his latest EP, Roll My Dice.

Veteran actor Chinedu Ikedieze praised the initiative, stating, ‘What High Chief Obodoagwu has done with Akwaamaka Studio is commendable. It’s a huge step toward professionalizing our industry’s infrastructure and providing a standard that our talent truly deserves. They have virtually everything here, you can shoot an entire movie in one location. The quality, the design, the nature-themed sets. it’s out of this world. Akwaamaka brought nature to life, and for filmmakers, this is going to cut costs significantly.’

Supporting this sentiment, actress Uche Elendu added, ‘This new studio is exactly what Festac and the wider Lagos creative community needed. It is a one-stop-shop for high-quality production, and I believe it will be instrumental in fostering the next wave of creative talent.’

About Akwaamaka Music

Akwaamaka Music is a record label and entertainment company founded by High Chief Stanley Obodoagwu, dedicated to discovering, developing, and promoting exceptional talent across Africa. With the launch of Akwaamaka Studio, the company expands its commitment to providing world-class infrastructure for the entire creative community.

Solomon Ewanehi is the Group Chief Executive Officer, Solewant Group, In this interview, he shared his life story with SEGUN KASALI.

What were the circumstances surrounding your birth?

Oh, quite funny! I was told my father saw someone called Solomon and that person was wealthy. He loved that and decided to name me Solomon after the person. My growing up was also interesting.

Quite interesting. I give thanks to God. I also want to appreciate my late father, who was always there. He was a retired soldier, businessman and a complete disciplinarian. He always prioritised education, and ensured whatever we did then revolved around it. He ensured that we all went to school. As a matter of fact, I came from a family where everyone is a lecturer. But, in my own case, I got a lecturing job, got into the university environment, but learnt some lessons after my Youth Service.

What lessons?

I had worked for some time before I went back for a second degree. When I got in there eventually, my elder brother said ‘follow your heart.’ He schooled at the University of Manchester. He did his PhD and all of that in the United Kingdom. He was already relating with some business people in Canada. He taught me how to do business in coating, an area not for everyone. Coating is the last finishing line of any project. So, when I shared that story with him, he now told me to look at how to go back to business. That was how I started all over. Everything you see about Solewant, today, I started from the scratch, as the founder and GMD of the company.

With the success you have made out of your career, coupled with educational background, would it be apt to describe you as brilliant from childhood?

Going to school was okay and nice. I like challenges. I like to see that anything you are doing, you give it your best shot. When it has to do with the issue of academics, I take it very serious. I’ll say I was the type that took my academics very seriously when in school.

What was your ambition, growing up?

What I wanted to study is Engineering and that is actually what I am doing now. I felt I needed to do what was tasking, proffering solutions, trying to look at industries and ensuring that things are not just the way they are.

But, what fueled that decision?

What informed it was my father. He was a businessman par excellence. He was always discussing with multinational companies. He brought a lot of businesses. We followed him all through that period. Having done that, I felt that there was the need for me to say this was what I wanted, too. But, it is also interesting to note that I did not eventually study Engineering.

Really?

Yes. I studied Economics and Statistics.

Why the switch?

The switch was necessitated by the fact that it was something that I needed but Engineering was not able to cover in terms of the broader view of what business is all about. Business is not about one aspect of a discipline. When I also started, there was a time we were like: can we look at the aspect of Accounting? But, it wasn’t giving a broader perspective. But, Economics will give you a general overview of what you want to look at in terms of every bit of business you are talking about such as numbers, looking at the outcome of a business, ROI, and Savings. Savings is of two types; it is either you have the money and you have it in your bank or you have the money and you are investing it into business. So, those were the things that got me into Economics and Statistics. I am happy that I studied not just the Statistics but also the econometrics or measurement aspect of it. This was what I did in my first degree at the Old Bendel State University. The second degree was Rivers State University of Science and Technology. As I speak with you, I am still a student.

Do you have unforgettable memories?

While building our first factory, we got to a stage that I had to call the consultant to the hotels and tell him at this level I cannot continue. I asked him: ‘Is there anything we need to give up?’ He looked at me and said ‘What are the challenges?’ I told him it appeared that we were stuck and we needed to stop the investment. The back-story surrounding that investment is that we came into the coating plant project, where Nigerians have never done business like that before. We went into it because we had huge potential and we felt that Nigerians were importing that kind of solution into the country, and the multinationals rendering such service were just few. After carrying out a thorough feasibility study, and before we engaged a consultant, we also gave it to top three universities to help us look at what we wanted to do after we had discussed it with Federal Ministry of Environment. Some resource persons from the University of Port Harcourt, University of Maiduguri and University of Nsukka were nominated for us. These resource persons submitted action documents to us. We looked at them and it was very clear the direction we were going and we started the building of the factory. Halfway the line, the company and the financial partner started having the issue of exchange rate (Naira to USD) and this period was when the foreign exchange crisis was not something anyone predicted. When we started, the value to naira was N158 to a dollar and it eventually went to N520 by the time we completed the factory in 2016. You can imagine the amount of money that we incurred in terms of cost. But, to God be the Glory, we have what we have today.

How did you meet your wife?

I met her in my school while undertaking my Master’s degree. I met her when she was in her 300 level. I saw her coming from a distance and something told me this is my wife. So, I approached her and she walked to me. Eventually, we became close friends.

And what was the attraction?

Discipline and calmness. She is also intelligent.

What would you love to be remembered for ?

I want to be remembered as someone who of course loved giving back to the society and someone who, of course, loved institutions. If we run integrity-driven institutions, we will be able to do great things, and people will start doing things, looking at broader perspectives.

But, how have you been giving back?

Everyone close to me knows that I am nothing other than God has brought me to where I am today. As a matter of fact, he has shown me mercy at several levels. I cannot stop giving thanks to God for the little that I have. He is always there at every point of my life and he has shown mercy not only to me but to the entire Solewant workforce and we will continue to appreciate God for his awesomeness. As you are aware, Solewant is 25. And, a child who is 25 is already an adult. For those who have been there for us, we want to thank them.

What advice would you have for 25-year-olds?

They need to understand that there is always a reason for people to look at them and say you have contributed this and so you have a future. So, institution-driven future is important. They need to run organisations that are governance-based. They also need to be very disciplined. For you to be prepared for the future, you need to understand that you need to receive a lot of trainings. I did my first business with a multinational company, Coca-Cola and I was to supply Line Pipes and pipe fittings. And I really cannot figure out how I got that purchase order contract. But, I took the materials to the plant but they were all rejected. That was when I started facing serious challenges. So, I went down with that kind of transaction. So, I went back home thinking about what to do next and that paid off because I was able to clean up that error that I made in business. It is always what I use in teaching the younger ones at Solewant.

What is that thing you don’t like about people?

Dishonesty. A lot of people say things they cannot do and not always being fair to nature.

Every October 5, classrooms, communities and countries around the globe pause to honour the people who shape the minds and morals of every generation: teachers.

World Teachers’ Day is more than just a date on the calendar; it is a reminder that without teachers, no society can grow, no nation can thrive, and no dream can truly take flight.

As the world celebrates World Teachers’ Day 2025, themed ‘Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession,’ here are five interesting things to know about this important global celebration and why it matters more than ever.

1. Commemorates a Historic 1966 Agreement

World Teachers’ Day marks the anniversary of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, a groundbreaking document that established international standards for teachers’ rights, responsibilities, recruitment and training.

That recommendation was the first to recognise teaching as a profession essential to social progress and human development. It set the stage for the modern understanding that teachers deserve not just respect, but strong institutional support to do their work effectively.

2. Officially Established by UNESCO in 1994

Although the 1966 agreement was the inspiration, the first official World Teachers’ Day was celebrated in 1994, following a declaration by UNESCO and its partners.

The goal was simple yet profound: to draw the world’s attention to teachers’ vital roles in shaping minds, building nations and driving development. Since then, every year’s celebration has grown into a global campaign for better teacher welfare and recognition.

3. Unique Yearly Theme

Every World Teachers’ Day is guided by a theme that reflects a pressing issue or aspiration in global education.

In 2025, the theme ‘Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession’ emphasises teamwork, mutual learning and the power of educators working together.

Past themes have focused on topics like teacher leadership, digital innovation and rebuilding education systems after crises, underscoring that teaching is both an art and a shared responsibility.

4. Global Celebration, but No Uniform Date

While October 5 is internationally recognized as World Teachers’ Day, several countries have chosen their own dates to honour educators, often tied to historical or cultural milestones.

For example: India celebrates on September 5, the birthday of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a philosopher and former President. Also, in Australia, as the day usually falls during school holidays, Australian states and territories celebrate on the last Friday of October each year instead.This variety highlights the universal respect for teachers, regardless of borders or calendars.

5. Attention to Teachers’ Challenges and Calls for Action

World Teachers’ Day is not only about celebration; it is also a wake-up call. Each year, UNESCO and education advocates use the day to highlight persistent challenges facing teachers worldwide like shortages of qualified educators, poor working conditions, limited access to professional training and low pay and job insecurity

UNESCO’s 2025 materials stress that ‘teachers are essential for achieving global education goals’ but warn that many still lack the resources and recognition they deserve. The day serves as both a thank-you and a reminder: teachers need more than applause; they need action.