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Managing Director of Daylight Microfinance Bank, Princess Adeola Ladigbolu-Ilozobhie, has been conferred with a honorary doctorate in Management by London Bridge Business School, United Kingdom.

The conferment took place in Accra, Ghana, where she was also inducted as a Distinguished Fellow of Africa Institute of Public Administration.

The degree was presented on behalf of Vice President, Middle East and Africa at London Bridge Business School, Prof. Mahesh Pillai, by Dr. Deodaté Adenutsi, programme coordinator for Ghana.

Organisers said Mrs Ladigbolu-Ilozobhie was deserving of the dual honours because of her ‘impactful contribution to management despite her strong roots in banking.’

They praised her ‘efforts in mentoring young people in banking and management,’ which, they noted, have continued to inspire a new generation of professionals.

The honouree, one of the children of Emeritus Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, leads Lagos-based Daylight Microfinance Bank, a subsidiary of NNPC Staff Cooperative.

Her citation highlighted her career journey, starting from United Bank for Africa in 1990, to her leadership roles in Blue Ridge Microfinance Bank, Personal Trust Microfinance Bank, and now Daylight. It also underscored her reputation as a result-oriented and decisive leader with success in market identification, strategic repositioning, and operational efficiency for billion-naira portfolios.

Beyond her professional record, she was also recognised for her contributions to industry associations.

She was a one time Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Microfinance Banks, Lagos chapter, immediate past Treasurer of the South-West Zone, a member of the Association of Professional Women Bankers, and an alumna of the School of Africa Microfinance in Kenya.

Mattresses, pillows, and other sleep products manufacturer Mouka Limited has unveiled the Mouka Comfort Garden, the first structure of its kind in Nigeria, thus spotlighting the link between quality sleep and wellness.

Located on Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, the Comfort Garden features a striking glass-enclosed bedroom setup, designed to captivate motorists and passersby while reimagining the meaning of rest, comfort, and healthy living.

The Comfort Garden marks another milestone in Mouka’s six-decade legacy of innovation, blending artistry, lifestyle, and health advocacy into a visually arresting public installation.

Whether stuck in traffic or strolling by, Lagosians are offered a daily reminder to slow down, recharge, and value sleep as a necessity rather than a luxury.

At the centre of the Comfort Garden is Mouka’s flagship Royal Luxury Pillow Top Mattress, an opulent, multi-layered innovation designed with memory foam, high-performance springs, and premium fibre to deliver a five-star sleep experience.

Unveiling the structure in Lagos, over the weekend, Mouka’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Dimeji Osingunwa, underscored the brand’s mission to elevate the quality of life of Nigerians through better sleep.

He said: ‘In a country where the average adult sleeps fewer hours than recommended, this structure is our way of reminding Nigerians to prioritise sleep for good health, better productivity, and improved quality of life

‘We want Lagosians and Nigerians at large, to pause, reflect, and remember that no matter how fast life moves, everyone deserves to rest, and to rest well on a Mouka.’

Also present at the launch was Mouka’s brand ambassador and legendary actress, Sola Sobowale, popularly known as the ‘King of Boys.’

She hailed the initiative as ‘a bold and beautiful reminder that true luxury begins with how well we rest.’

Taking a tour of the installation, Sobowale affirmed her personal belief in the power of good rest: ‘As someone whose career demands both mental and physical energy, I understand how vital sleep is.

‘Mouka has always stood for quality, and this Comfort Garden is a bold and creative statement that says: your body deserves good rest, and rest deserves the luxury of Mouka. I’m proud to be part of this journey.’

In his closing remarks, Osingunwa noted: ‘As you drive past Oregun and catch a glimpse of this installation, we hope it makes you smile, reflect, and, most importantly. go home inspired to take your sleep health seriously.’

Founded in 1959, Mouka is now part of the Dolidol International Group, and the brand continues to push boundaries in delivering comfort, innovation, and value across Africa and beyond.

Stakeholders have expressed grave concern over the crisis between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical, warning that the effect could cripple the nation.

According to stakeholders, the trade dispute has put Nigeria’s ambition of becoming Africa’s refining hub to test.

They warned that a prolonged dispute could push up fuel prices, strain households and businesses, and discourage local and foreign investors.

They, however, called for a final resolution to avoid such industrial disputes from escalating into a national emergency.

Also, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) expressed grave concern over the action by PENGASSAN, warning that the action amounts to self-help and tantamount to sabotage capable of derailing the country’s fragile economic recovery.

In a statement in Lagos, the Director-General of NECA, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, emphasised that a conflict is an inevitable feature of the labour ecosystem, and Nigeria has statutory and institutional frameworks to address any, including the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) and National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).

‘Any action capable of discouraging investment, undermining enterprises sustainability, or harming the workers that the unions claim to protect will be counter-productive. While trade unions have the legitimate right to embark on industrial action, such rights must be exercised responsibly and within the bounds of the law.

‘It is unacceptable for any union to conscript or coerce those not interested in its action or disrupt the operations of legitimate businesses not party to the dispute. Treating institutions of labour administration with disdain and resorting to self-help is not only absurd but also against all known Conventions and Recommendations. When employers or workers are aggrieved, there are institutions created to adjudicate or arbitrate in such matters. Nigeria’s recovering economy cannot be sacrificed on the altar of actions and pronouncements that are alien to global and local industrial relations practice,’ he said.

He noted that uninformed and disruptive actions that could jeopardise the nation’s economic survival are neither envisaged nor acceptable in global labour practice.

He said: ‘NECA will not be a passive onlooker as the foundation of Nigeria’s labour ecosystem is trampled upon. While we acknowledge the right to strike, such rights cannot infringe on the rights of others or threaten the survival of enterprises.’

Citing international labour instruments, including ILO Conventions 87 and 98, Oyerinde reaffirmed NECA’s commitment to upholding global labour standards, decent work and responsible business conduct, while not negotiating employers’ rights to manage their enterprises and investments within the ambit of the law.

He stressed that the protection afforded to union officials under international conventions does not extend to sabotage, coercion, or actions that undermine legitimate businesses or threaten national security.

Oyerinde called on the Minister of Labour and Employment to stop the wanton and wilful denigration of the industrial relations system.

He said: ‘With Nigeria sending one of the highest delegations to the ILO conference annually, it is curious that basic industrial relations principles, Conventions, and Recommendations remain poorly applied.’

He called for a resolution through lawful and constructive channels, warning that failure to act decisively could have far-reaching consequences for economic sustainability, job creation and preservation, investment attraction and promotion and national development.

Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf, said shutting down the oil and gas sector could cripple the nation, describing it as ‘the lifeblood of the economy’ in terms of energy, foreign exchange, and revenue.

He warned against risking national stability for the interests of a few workers, calling PENGASSAN’s action unjustifiable.

‘What about those who have invested? What about consumers and other investors in the value chain? Their interests matter too. The union should not be this selfish, inflicting such pain and disruption on the economy,’ he said.

Yusuf estimated the economic losses at billions of naira.

‘You shut down and disrupt the entire process. By the time you resume, you must start over. The same goes for power stations, which depend on gas. This kind of impunity must not continue just because some people have power over strategic sectors,’ he said.

Prof. Chiwuike Uba, a Development econo­mist as well as Governance, and Public Financial Manage­ment (PFM) expert, said the dispute is not merely an industrial rela­tions issue; it poses significant risks to economic stability, energy security, governance credibility, and the well-being of millions of Ni­gerians.

He said: ‘This crisis is a litmus test of Nigeria’s gover­nance capacity. It examines whether legitimate worker rights and corporate governance can be reconciled with the public interest in essential services.

‘Fiscal authority and social policy must be de­ployed quickly, transparently, and effectively to protect the most vulnerable.

‘At the same time, public institutions must up­hold the rule of law while preventing a narrow industrial dispute from escalating into a national emergency.

‘How Nigeria responds will signal its ability to govern strategic sectors responsibly, protect cit­izens, and maintain credibility in domestic and international markets.’

He said globally, countries with large-scale refining infrastructure, such as India and the U.S., treat disruptions in national refineries as strategic emergencies, often mobilising contingency im­ports, stock releases, and immediate negotiations with unions.

He said the government’s handling of the Dangote crisis would thus be watched not only domestically but by investors and development partners assess­ing institutional reliability.

Also, a lawyer and expert on labour matters, Paul Omoijiade, said Dangote could not prevent his employees from joining the unions.

Noting that the capitalists could not do anything without labour, which is one of the four factors of production, he warned against the implications of trampling on the right of workers to unionise.

Also, a development economist at Governance Professional, Prof. Chiwuike Uba, called for immediate action, noting that industrial disputes should not escalate into a national emergency.

He urged that a neutral tripartite framework, including the Ministry of Labour, NNPCL, Dangote management, PENGASSAN, and an independent arbiter, should negotiate a suspension of supply disruptions while contested dismissals are reviewed.

According to him, contingency supply measures must avert scarcity, including transparent releases of strategic stocks and emergency imports.

Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho has said that the centrality of Abuja coupled with its rich agro-allied potential is germane to strengthening NPA’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to continuously grow non-oil revenue by connecting local value producers in the non-oil value chain to identified international clusters of demand for their goods.

According to him, the position of Abuja as the centre of the country is strategic to the NPA’s renewed trade facilitation focus that places a high premium on port-hinterland connectivity, which Abuja’s centrality accentuates, presents a seamless linkage with the comparative advantages inherent in all regions of the federation that can be harnessed to sustain growth in the volume and value of Nigeria’s exports.

He said NPA, as Nigeria’s foremost trade facilitation platform, is always proud to be associated with the noble cause the Abuja International Trade Fair represents, especially seeing that trade remains the most veritable tool for actualizing most of Nigeria’s economic aspirations.

He used the opportunity of the ‘NPA Special Day’ to invite the entire trading and investing public to explore the tailor-made simplified export processes and other vistas of opportunity present at the Nigerian Ports Authority.’

According to him:’as some of us are aware, in our bid to contribute to the strengthening of the domestic economy through the promotion of balance of trade we established the Export Process Terminal (EPTs) to simplify the hitherto burdensome process of exporting Nigerian goods.’

Dantsoho explained that the EPTs were conceptualised to serve as a one-stop-shop for cargo consolidation, stuffing, documentation, packaging, certification and onward shipment through electronic call-up to the Ports in quick turnaround time thus eliminating the duplications and bureaucratic overlaps that previously rendered Nigerian exports uncompetitive in the international marketplace.

He said to facilitate the port-hinterland connectivity and create pathways for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to play in the export value chain; the EPTs have been structured to have a seamless handshake with the Domestic Export Warehouses (DEWs) in synergy with the Nigerian Exports Promotion Council (NEPC) as well as the Inland Dry Ports.

‘To align with the economic stabilization resolve of the Federal Government and the theme of the year’s fair ‘Sustainability: Consumption, Incentives and Taxation’ we are unifying our various operational channels into a singular transaction gateway known as the Ports Community System (PCS) which lays the groundwork for the implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) which sustainably eliminates all forms of opacity and attendant delays associated with undue human interference,’ he stated.

Dantsoho added that the NSW is the global best practice for delivering the greatest value with the greatest ease by connecting all stakeholders in the trade value chain for seamless interaction at the push of a button, saying NPA has put measures in place to link value creators in the remotest part of the hinterland with the farthest clusters of demand anywhere on the globe.

He assured the stakeholder that the doors of NPA are always open for partnerships even beyond the trade fair, urging them to visit the NPA’s fully interactive online real time website www.nigerianports.gov.ng to access our growth offerings.

Nigeria’s longest-running law reporting publication, the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports (NWLR), has assured Nigerians that the publication has remained consistent with the vision and focus of its founder, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN).

Established on October 1, 1985, by Chief Fawehinmi, the NWLR has remained consistent for four decades, making it the longest consecutive weekly law report in Nigeria and across Africa.

Addressing reporters yesterday at the Nigerian Law Publication House in Ikeja, the Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee and Editor of the NWLR, Mr. Oluwole Kehinde, said the publication has stayed true to the vision of its founder.

‘Chief Fawehinmi dreamt that the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports would continue even after his demise, and since September 5, 2009, that dream has been sustained,’ Kehinde said.

To mark the milestone, a public lecture will hold on October 9, with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, chairing the event, while a former Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), will deliver the keynote address.

The lecture, with the theme: Safeguarding the Legacy of Law Reporting and Embracing the Future in a Technological Era, will examine the role of law reporting in judicial history while charting a path forward in the digital age.

The NWLR has undergone a lot of transformation. Before independence, colonial courts issued official law reports, while private initiatives such as the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (1964-1977) struggled with sustainability.

By the late 1970s, access to Supreme Court judgments was limited to a privileged few. Fawehinmi petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Chief Justice over the practice, which led to a historic 1984 declaration that Supreme Court judgments are public property.

This paved the way for the birth of the NWLR the following year.

Since then, the NWLR has been published uninterrupted for 40 years and has earned recognition beyond Nigeria, especially across Commonwealth countries that practice common law.

In 2019, the report went online, broadening access for legal practitioners, academics, and the general public worldwide.

Kehinde said the publication’s focus is to preserve Nigeria’s legal heritage while embracing innovation in an increasingly technological era.

The board of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has appointed Mr. Chukwuma Nwokocha as the substantive Group Chief Executive of the group. The appointment took effect yesterday, after the receipt of all required regulatory approvals.

Nwokocha’s appointment followed the completion of Dr Adekunle Adedeji’s tenure as Acting Chief Executive, during which time the board undertook a formal appointment process in accordance with regulatory requirements.

However, Adedeji will continue in his role as Executive Director and Chief Finance and Value Management Officer of the company.

Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs Sola David-Borha, said the board was delighted with Nwokocha’s appointment, highlighting his strong track record in board governance, financial oversight, strategic transformation as well as regulatory engagement.

She also extended the board’s deep appreciation to Adedeji for his exemplary leadership and dedication; and for steering the affairs of the company and group during the transition period.

She said: ‘It is worthy of mention that under Dr Adedeji’s leadership, the group recorded its best financial performance since inception. The group also successfully completed its rights issue programme which ensured that its banking subsidiary met the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recapitalisation requirements ahead of the 31 March 2026 deadline’.

Nwokocha is a seasoned banking executive and chartered accountant with over three decades of leadership experience across Africa.

He has held several Chief Executive and Board-level roles in leading financial institutions including Chief Executive, Standard Bank, SA; (the Mozambican subsidiary of the Standard Bank Group), driving strategic growth, governance, and operational excellence. His expertise spans retail and corporate banking, as well as mergers and acquisitions.

The Board is confident that Mr. Nwokocha’s leadership would be instrumental in driving the growth strategy of Stanbic IBTC Group into the future.

The Federal Government has promised to complete the ongoing Abuja-Keffi road rehabilitation by December 2026.

The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, gave the assurance while inspecting the Maraba-Nyanyan section site yesterday.

He said the project, which started in December 2023, spans 43.6 kilometres from the Keffi-bound section, with 41 kilometres completed up to Binda, representing 50 per cent progress.

The project, being executed by China Harbour Engineering Company Limited under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme and funded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), was awarded on April 19, 2023, started on December 20, 2023, and was initially scheduled for completion in May 2026.

Goronyo described the Abuja-Keffi dual carriageway as one of the busiest routes into the Federal Capital Territory FCT), as it serves thousands of commuters daily.

The minister noted that the major challenge facing the project is the Abuja-bound section, particularly a three-kilometre stretch of the road that is prone to flooding.

‘A lot of people coming from the Keffi-Nyanya axis experience serious difficulty crossing into Abuja city. We immediately directed the contractor to put in palliative measures and create a route to ease movement,’ he said.

According to him, work on the section will be carried out mainly at night to reduce traffic disruptions.

‘The contractor must fully mobilise to site. We are not happy with the suffering commuters face daily on this arterial road. It is a key corridor for civil servants and residents, and people must have ease of movement,’ Goronyo said.

The minister, who was accompanied by ministry officials and representatives of the contracting firm, said the government would ensure strict monitoring of the project to guarantee its timely completion.

‘We don’t want to see this problem persist. The contractor must finish within the stipulated period,’ Goronyo added.

The Project Manager of China Harbour Engineering Company, the contractor handling the project, Dong Hong, assured the minister that the firm remained committed to meeting the deadline.

‘We have the confidence to finish this project on time with the highest quality. Much of the work is now being done at night to meet the schedule,’ he said.

Lagos, the Centre of Excellence, would ne bursting at its seams tomorrow, October 4, by playing host to the grand finale of the biggest 7-aside football competition at the Showtime Arena, Lekki.

Abuja’s Energy FC-known for their imperious form-will battle it out against Lagos’ own Snowlions FC in what promises to be one of the most electrifying encounters in the tournament’s history. While Energy FC will be hoping to return the trophy to Abuja, the Snowlions are determined to defend their turf in front of a passionate home crowd.

Adding extra spice to the event, some of Nigeria’s top music stars-Zlatan Ibile, Mayorkun, L.A.X, Ibroking, and Blaqbonez-will headline a novelty celebrity match promoting unity and peace.

Dignitaries expected at the finals include Mr. Adeboye Adeyinka (SSA Grassroots Sports Development), Chief Adaralegbe Akintayo (Chairman, TPumpy Concept), Hon. Nasir Ja’oji (SSA President on Citizenship and Leadership), Mr. Dami Orimoloye (SSA Sports to Governor Sanwo-Olu), Ayo Amusan (Country Manager, Puma NG) and other special guests from MTN, DevonKings, Moremonee and Nigerian Breweries.

The event will be a vibrant mix of football, music, and entertainment, with both male and female celebrity matches scheduled to thrill fans before the grand finale.

This year’s showdown marks only the second time in seven years the national final will be staged in Lagos. The last time, at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Abuja’s 12Strong FC defeated Warri’s Obodo Starlights under the floodlights.

Certainly, all eyes would be Lekki, where no question would be asked when defending champions Energy FC stake their claim against the ambitious Snowlions on their home soil with the kick-off slated for 3:00pm prompt.

Kelechi Iheanacho was available for the duration of Celtic’s Europa League tie with SC Braga of Portugal but he couldn’t do much as his Scottish side were beaten 2-0 at home.

Celtic had begun the group stage with a 1-1 draw with Red Star Belgrade a fortnight ago but Braga proved to be too hot for them.

Iheanacho scored in the first game with Red Star Belgrade but he failed to hit target.

In another game, Fenerbahce beat OGC Nice 2-1 with the Super Eagles attacker, Terem Moffi entering the fray in the 59th minute

Also, Super Eagles striker, Cyriel Dessers was not listed for Panathinaikos in their 2-1 home loss to Go Ahead Eagles.

Dessers played the final 20 minutes of their last 4-1 away win at Young Boys but he was not listed for the game because of an ankle complaint.

Georgian Cup’s serial winners, El-Amin polo team , will be targeting a grandeur 30th celebration of high-goal polo dominance during the eagerly anticipated 2025 Kaduna International Polo Tournament expected to hold later this month.

El-Amin Patron who doubles as the President of Kaduna Polo Club, Mohammad Babangida, earlier in the year declared that the 2025 edition of the Kaduna International Polo Tournament will be the best organized in years with more teams and exciting games on a re-laid pitch at the Murtala Square venue for the grand fiesta.

Though details on the epoch celebration are still sketchy, the team’s long-standing history of success and dominance in the sport, including winning the Georgian Cup and sponsoring various tournaments, suggests that a significant and glamorous event awaits everyone.

Babangida hinted that Kaduna Polo Club will put lots of preparation into the polo tournament to ensure that it is unique in the history of the club, adding that the Ahmadu Yakubu Club House will be agog throughout the ten days duration of the tournament.

‘It’s a new beginning for Kaduna Polo Club, it’s a new leadership, we have been elected for about a year plus and we have been working, renovating the pitch and putting the facilities in the best shape,’ Babangida noted. ‘We want to host a unique tournament to showcase the pitch, we want to bring back the glory days of the premier club, Kaduna Polo Club and the most prestigious trophy in Africa, the Georgian Cup.’

He added: ‘We hope to host a special tournament that will celebrate milestones of the ‘game of kings’ in Kaduna and indeed across the country. We are banking on the goodwill of everyone, our sponsors and partners to support us to make this tournament thrilling and memorable.’

Regarded as Nigeria’s most successful and dominant high-goal power house in polo, El-Amin has won numerous tournaments and trophies both nationally and internationally. They hold the record for winning the prestigious Georgian Cup a record 15 times.

Individually, the El-Amin patron, Babangida, has won the Georgian Cup for a record 16 times. He won it 15 times with El-Amin and once with Kaduna Kakuri in the year 2000.

The Kaduna Polo boss and his El- Amin stars are also the first and only African team to have participated in the Dubai Gold Cup series and the Al-Habtoor Cup Challenge in Dubai.

Babangida has also played a significant role in Nigerian polo, even captaining the Nigerian Polo Eagles to the Federation of International Polo World Cup tournament in Malaysia in 2011 and the Nations Cup of polo in South Africa.

Kaduna remained the home of the glittering Georgian Trophy which was contested for in Nigeria by high-goal teams way back in 1919. Other major prizes that would be carted home by the winners during the upcoming 2025 Kaduna polo festival include the Emir of Katsina Cup, Imani Cup and El Amin Cup.

First Vice President Kaduna Polo Club General Kapeh Kazir who superintends preparation for international event alongside the Tournament Manager Malam Atiku Abubakar Saleh, said the tourney will be the best organized in recent times to make up for the club’s inability to host the fiesta last year due to African Horse Sickness {AHS}

He listed other top laurels that would be at stake during the prestigious polo festival to include Isa Kaita, Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina Cup, Sardauna Cup, Kere Ahmed Cup, Shehu Kangiwa Cup, Musa Yar’Adua Cup, Dangote Cup and Beginners Cup and among others.

‘We are in high spirits preparing for the 2025 Kaduna International Polo Tournament. Right now, Kaduna Polo Club is ready as we are expecting lots of new selected cups because there are lots of sponsors that have shown interest in sponsoring our tournament,’ the amiable Kapeh assured.