SATURDAY 29TH JULY 2023

Afenifere Knocks President’s Economic Policies, Says Govt Insensitive

Subsidy Palliatives: NLC, TUC storm out of meeting with FG

The Pan Yoruba Socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, yesterday berated the policies of President Bola

Tinubu in the last two months in office, particularly the removal of subsidy on petrol. On the same day, the scheduled meeting between organised labour and the federal government over

fuel subsidy palliatives was stalled as officials of both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) stormed out of the venue of the meeting at the State House, Abuja, accusing the

government of insincerity.

Afenifere, in a statement, made available to Journalists in Akure by its Secretary General, Sola Ebiseni, lamented the abrupt increase in the pump prices of petrol from N537 to

N617 and beyond in inner states and the proposed distribution of N8,000 cash palliative to 12,000 households across the country.

The statement titled: "On Petrol Subsidy, Insensitive Policies and State

of Governance in Nigeria: Afenifere Speaks for the People", the group noted that they cannot afford to fold their arms or be seen to maintain

Kanu Orders Ekpa to End Sit-At-Home in South-east...

Ahead of Bayelsa, Kogi, Imo Guber Elections, INEC Demands Action Against Violence...

At Russia-Africa Summit, Shettima Says Nigeria Repositioned for Greatness

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that Nigeria is now at a new dawn to chart and reposition

its destiny for greatness going by the current measures adopted by the Bola Tinubu-led administration to diversify the economy and address emerging challenges.

Speaking yesterday at the second plenary session of the Russia-Africa Summit, holding in St. Petersburg, the Vice President said the Nigerian government is taking decisive steps

to fight crime, punish offenders, directly tackle the insurgency, and do everything necessary to secure lives and investments in the country. Highlighting the Tinubu

administration’s economic agenda, Shettima said, "We have resolved and are firmly determined to consolidate on industrialising Nigeria and diversifying its economy into sectors

that the country has a comparative advantage.

"The administration of President

Continued on page 5

ECOWAS Leaders Meet in Abuja, US, UN Back Tinubu’s Moves to Restore Democracy in Niger

Buhari expresses shock, worries about Bazoum, family France insists on reinstatement of Nigerien President General Tchiani is new leader, threatens bloodbath if foreign military intervenes

Deji Elumoye and Michael Olugbode in Abuja

In continuation of efforts to push back coupists and restore democracy in Republic of Niger, President Bola Tinubu, in his capacity as Chairman, ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, will tomorrow in Abuja host a special meeting of the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

.Also, the United States Vice President Kamala Harris and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, yesterday expressed strong support for Nigeria's efforts toward the restoration of constitutional order in Niger.

This is coming on the heels of the insistence of the French government on reinstatement of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum. Likewise, former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari said he was shocked by the coup and expressed worries about

Continued on page 5 Continued

BORDER CONTROL ON THEIR MINDS…

Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Fidelis David in Akure

ECOWAS LEADERS MEET

the safety of Bazoum and his family.

Soldiers from the Presidential Guard had on Wednesday deposed President Bazoum, thus truncating the constitutional political leadership in the West African country.

Yesterday, the soldiers named General Abdourahamane Tchiani as the new leader of the country, with Tchiani warning against any foreign military intervention.

President Tinubu had in a statement he personally signed last Wednesday condemned the coup in Niger and promised that ECOWAS and the international community would do everything to defend democracy and ensure democratic governance continues to take firm root in the sub-region.

He declared: “As the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order.”

Tinubu also sent a strong delegation on an intervention mission to engage all the parties with a view to restoring constitutional order.

President of Benin, Patrice Talon, who visited Tinubu to discuss the crisis, was directed to proceed to Niger for talks with the coupists.

IN ABUJA, US, UN BACK TINUBU’S MOVES TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY IN NIGER

The United States Vice President and the United Nations SecretaryGeneral are strongly in support of Tinubu's efforts to restore constitutional order in Niger.

The two leaders, in separate telephone conversations with President Tinubu on Thursday evening in Abuja, commended him for spearheading the peace moves.

In her telephone conversation with Tinubu, at the instance of the US authorities, Harris pledged to support democracy in Africa, including the West African sub region, and also said the U.S. would assist Nigeria in the battle against terrorism.

Responding, President Tinubu thanked Harris for the telephone call and her words of encouragement on the efforts taken so far on the economy, but added that "the developments in Niger Republic dampen spirits."

According to him, ECOWAS under his watch would do all that is necessary to restore democracy in Niger, while counting on the support of the US.

On Nigeria, President Tinubu craved for more private sector investment, urging the US to lead the way in this regard.

He said: "We had to get rid of the fuel subsidy that is laden with fraud with a few people appropriating the wealth of the country to themselves.

"We would need the US to help

push for investments that will help alleviate the effects of subsidy removal in Nigeria. We need foreign direct investment to come in.

"We have abundant gas resources in the country and not being able to fund gas pipelines to Europe and compete in that gas market is a handicap."

On climate change, the President said Nigeria would stay focused on alternate energy but pleaded for the developed nations to understand the situation in developing countries, including Africa.

The two leaders also spoke on strengthening relations between their two countries and on their shared work on global and regional issues.

In his conversation with Guterres, President Tinubu said he was doing everything possible to resolve the impasse in Niger.

While expressing the hope that the situation in Niger could still be reversed for better, he said ECOWAS would require UN's support for restoring democracy and building institutions in that country.

Guterres had earlier pledged the commitment of the UN for Tinubu's peace efforts in Niger.

France Insists on Reinstatement of Bazoum

France said yesterday that a power

grab in Niger was not definitive and that those responsible still had time to accede to international demands that the ousted president be reinstated.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the trip by French President Emmanuel Macron to Papua New Guinea, France's Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said countries in the West African ECOWAS bloc were likely to meet on Sunday with a discussion on imposing sanctions on Niger.

"If you hear me say attempted coup d'etat, it's because we don't consider that things are definitive," Colonna was quoted by French media as saying.

Colonna said Macron had spoken to Bazoum yesterday and that he was in good health and should be released as a condition of restoring constitutional order.

"President Bazoum must be restored to his constitutional functions," Colonna said.

General Tchiani Named New Leader

Soldiers involved in the military coup in Niger yesterday named General Tchiani as the new leader of the country. Tchiani swiftly warned against any foreign military intervention.

General Tchiani, head of the Presidential Guard since 2011,

AFENIFERE KNOCKS PRESIDENT’S ECONOMIC POLICIES, SAYS GOVT INSENSITIVE

silence, neutrality or ambivalence in the face of the latest body blow on the citizenry.

The statement reads: "Nigeria is currently caught in a labyrinth of inclement weather of a convoluted election process and its unwieldy outcomes, intractable security problems and the nightmarish aftermath of a sudden and harsh removal of petrol subsidy on the other. In less than six weeks, an already asphyxiating economy reeling under the crushing impact of hyperinflation, unemployment, mass hunger and poverty foisted by the gross ineptitude and incompetence that characterised the watch of eight years is looking like an episode drawn straight out of Dante’s Hell.

"Afenifere as a political group and the rallying platform for social welfarist progressive ideals inexorably committed to the greatest good of the greatest number of Nigerians cannot afford to fold its arms or be seen to maintain silence, neutrality or ambivalence in the face of this latest body blow on an already traumatised citizenry.

“Our well informed position to tarry on comments on the governance of the federation until the final determination of the true holder of the people’s mandate through on-going judicial processes, may inadvertently be taken for abandonment of our historic role as the people’s ombudsman in the political space, acquiescence in the face of rudderless ship of the state or mistaken to have joined league with those befuddled by chauvinism in laundering incompetence and nepotism or celebrations of inanities."

According to Afenifere, more Nigerians will be plunged into poverty by Tinubu’s economic policies: "The number of extremely poor Nigerians may now be compounded by the multiplier effects of peremptory removal of petrol subsidy, intractable fall of the Naira and surreptitious increase in school fees payable in Federal Government secondary and tertiary educational institutions.

“It is feared that this latest gross act of thoughtless policy implementation and its unintended consequences will further push Nigeria’s economy down the slope as Nigeria has officially overtaken India as The New Poverty Capital of the World.

"There has emerged a wide consensus that the petrol subsidy regime as it had been managed, especially in the last eight years, was becoming ruinous to the economy and could no longer be sustained. The management had been opaque, with no accountability, scant oversight and huge allowance for extreme avarice

by a few privileged officials and their private collaborators.

“NNPC was the sole importer of petrol and did indeed go into oil swap contracts with some foreign refiners in an arrangement otherwise called Direct Sales-Direct Purchase (DSDP) arrangement.

"Under this arrangement, NNPC supplied crude oil to these refiners in exchange for refined petroleum products in already pre-defined quantities. NNPC then supplied these products to Nigerians and paid itself huge amounts in the name of ‘petrol subsidy’. How the subsidy came about and how it was calculated was only known to NNPC whose finances and cash returns to Nigeria are not subject to any oversight by the government."

The group explained that while the top three presidential candidates in the last election agreed that the wasteful and corruption-infested petrol subsidy had to go, no one however, expected that the subsidy would be removed in the sudden manner it was done and, totally ignoring the impact on the people and the economy.

It states: "It is indeed a matter of grave concern that a party and its candidate which made subsidy removal a cardinal campaign issue, did not have a plan on ground to introduce the necessary countervailing palliatives simultaneously to protect the people and the economy. ‘Progressive’ governance, which they have always professed, would have put ahead of everything, the welfare of the citizens and should never be, or made to seem like, an afterthought. If the body is troubled by a tooth that has to be removed, only a quack dentist would dare to pull off the tooth without administering necessary painkillers before, and even after, the removal.

"Those whom our warped and strange constitution have put in the saddle while their legitimacy is yet subject of judicial inquiry are nonetheless expected to act expeditiously to restore hope to the weak in society and protect the economy by introducing quickly, the much-needed palliative measures. Hitting the ground running is more than a slogan or braggadocio declaration, the run must be well coordinated by competent hands available nationwide and not confined to actors whose efforts have only been exaggerated by the spatial limits of their past endeavours.

"No one today questions the need for sacrifices by citizens to restore the fiscal viability of the country. However, that sacrifice must be made by all, and in a progressive manner. Those at the leadership of

the country must lead by example. It is time we addressed the inordinate cost of governance in a very open, substantial and substantive way.

“The gargantuan waste of public funds in running a government with a multiplicity of agencies and offices of doubtful benefit to society must end. Oransaye’s Report must be updated to capture new agencies that have been added to the Federal Bureaucracy since the Report and to reflect the new compelling and urgent need to reduce the cost of governance.

"The notoriously opaque, obscene and unconscionable salaries, allowances, perks and “retirement benefits” of Executive and Legislative arms of government at all levels unbelievably more generous than remuneration of public officers in eminently wealthier nations, must immediately be brought in line with the reality of our economy and productivity. Similarly, a review of Code of Conduct and the General Service Rules must be instituted to rid the service of the mentality that has allowed the reckless abuse and leakages in the system under the false impression that the country is rich. There is no virtue in profligacy, but there is honour in prudence.

“For example, while public officers at all levels move around in endless motorcades of exotic bulletproof foreign cars and the Presidency keeps a fleet of 11 Presidential jets, much richer nations do not indulge in such frivolities and extravagance. Nigeria can no longer afford these excesses and we must put an end to them going forward."

Furthermore, Afenifere alleged that the social misery index is at an all-time high while more Nigerians are resigning themselves to hopelessness as mass poverty slowly gathers strength and heightened tensions escalate.

The group stressed that if nothing concrete was done to ameliorate the current level of hardship on the people, it may lead to massive unrest the country may not be able to contain as things spiral out of control.

"It is unfortunate, though we are not surprised, that there is nothing exciting in terms of innovation of ideas than the recycling of the huge corruption in the management of fuel subsidy regime and the oil industry characterised by manipulation of the volume of petrol imported into the country, the theft of crude oil, the massive smuggling under the noses of our Customs officers and security and intelligence personnel, the perennial and atrociously costly Turn Around Maintenance and refurbishment of moribund refineries that produce

appeared on state television saying he was the “president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland.”

The general presented the coup as a response to “the degradation of the security situation” linked to jihadist bloodshed.

A statement followed from the putschists on TV which warned of “the consequences that will flow from any foreign military intervention.”

Buhari Expresses Shock, Worries about Bazoum and family

Former President Buhari said he was deeply shocked by the latest undemocratic developments in Niger.

Buhari in a statement issued by his former spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu also raised concern about the fate of democratic system of government in the country, as well as the safety of President Bazoum and his family.

The ex-President, according to the statement, said: “As to be expected, I, just like millions of other Nigerians, am shocked by the latest turn of events in Niger Republic, our neighbour to the North. I and my family are as much concerned about these as is everyone else.

its latest press release, this coup is in total violation of the democratic principles on which the management of political power in the region is based.”

The EU reiterated its support for the action of the organisation in the sub-region and for the ongoing efforts to allow an immediate return to constitutional order.

It called for President Bazoum's security and freedom of movement to be guaranteed unconditionally, warning: “Any breach of the constitutional order will have consequences for cooperation between the EU and Niger, including the immediate suspension of all budget support. We will remain in close coordination with the ECOWAS Heads of State.”

The coup continues to prompt international concerns, and yesterday, Kenyan President William Ruto called the army takeover “a serious setback” for Africa.

“The aspirations of the people of Niger for constitutional democracy were subverted by an unconstitutional change of government,” he said in a video message.

no products.

"Nigerians expect no less than a courageous and fine-tooth- comb investigation with a view to recovering public funds and those culpable made to pay for established crimes. Nigerians must no longer be saddled with the burden of the gargantuan and wasteful funds spent on the fat emoluments of "Refinery" workers who produce nothing but are kept on obscene job packages that cost our people N70 billion per annum (by estimates published two years ago). This is the justice that Nigeria and Nigerians deserve and expect for the calls for their sacrifice.

"It is after the huge corruption in the oil industry and its management is identified and redressed, after political leaders and policymakers have implemented their own cost cutting measures to save Nigeria and its economy, that poor Nigerians may justifiably be convinced to see reason for perseverance.

“There seems a complete loss of ideas or confusion in the corruptioninfested management of "palliatives" of N500 billion for 200 million Nigerians but hugely cornered at the topmost level of governance while the people are mocked by their representatives in the Senate with the motion of ‘Let the Poor Breathe’.

“The planned disposal of the ‘palliatives’ in cash and the obvious confusion on the exact modalities of the palliatives suggest a total ignorance of the current realities and the gigantic remedial needs of the populace. Rather than pay cash that will evaporate and provide only momentary relief to a minuscule few, an effective plan ought to be put in place to provide facilities that will ameliorate the suffering of the masses right across the country in a sustainable manner.”

NLC, TUC Storm Out of Meeting with FG

The scheduled meeting between organised labour and the federal government over fuel subsidy palliatives was stalled yesterday as officials of both the NLC and the TUC stormed out of the venue of the meeting at the State House, Abuja.

The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, led his delegation to the Chief of Staff’s office, venue of the meeting of the Presidential Steering Committee on Subsidy Palliatives at about 5pm but almost immediately left the venue.

The Steering Committee meeting had met with the government delegation on Wednesday where the two parties agreed to reconvene on Friday to get brief from the three subcommittees set up to look into various demands.

“It is heartening to note that the ECOWAS, under the leadership of President Tinubu, is already dealing effectively with the matter and our hope and prayers are that the unwanted situation will be completely reversed and the safety and wellbeing of President Bazoum and his family are ensured."

EU Threatens Sanction

The European Union (EU) has condemned in the strongest terms the coup in Nigér, insisting that the events in the West African country in recent days constituted a serious attack on stability and democracy.

It also warned that any abuse of the fundamental rights of the ousted leader would meet dire consequences with suspension of support to the troubled country.

The EU, in a statement yesterday signed by the High Representative said: “As ECOWAS pointed out in

Bazoum and his family have been confined since Wednesday morning to their residence at the presidential palace located within the Guard’s military camp. He is said to be in good health and has been able to talk by telephone to other heads of state.

The Guard’s chiefs who staged the coup had won broad army support. Armed forces chief General Abdou Sidikou Issa swung his weight behind the putschists, saying it was “in order to avoid a deadly confrontation.”

France colonized Niger until the country gained independence in 1960. France and the US are two Western countries with great military presence and military bases in Niger but there are reports that Russia has been planning to stake its footprints in the country's military and political landscape.

On Thursday, citizens were seen burning buildings belonging to the ruling party with some people carrying Russian flags and chanting pro-Russian slogans.

Tinubu recognises the private sector as the engine of growth and a veritable partner in our economic agenda, and will therefore give the fullest possible support to foreign and domestic investors.

"The administration has identified key growth drivers and sectors that are very important to the diversification of the Nigerian economy, including power, transportation, infrastructure, maritime, agro-processing, mining, manufacturing, petro-chemicals, food processing and textiles etc. The Nigerian government considers these sectors as key priority areas that will drive the country’s economic agenda."

Speaking further about investment opportunities in Nigeria, Shettima said, "In view of the current geopolitical situation, we must begin to think of real time investment in addition to trading in commodities. We call on Russian companies to take advantage of the vast potentials in Nigeria, being the largest market in Africa, to invest in strategic areas and to derive maximum benefits."

On peace and security, the Vice President said, "No meaningful development can take place without peace. The Russia-Ukraine crisis is impacting all nations in different ways.

"The ongoing situation between two brotherly countries is unfortunate. Nigeria remains non-aligned in any conflict situation, but we are deeply concerned about the potential impact of the crisis on global peace and security and we call on parties to resolve the conflict through Diplomatic means as that is the best option for resolving conflicts and fostering international peace and security."

The Vice President then commended President Putin and the Russian government for convening the Summit, noting that "It is very significant to Nigeria in many respects."

According to him, "The second session of the Russia-Africa Summit is coming at a time when the administration of President Tinubu is implementing a home-grown and private sector-driven Economic Agenda that is predicated on good governance, infrastructure and human capital development, as well as business climate reforms with the expected outcomes in job creation, and poverty alleviation.

"The need, therefore, to invite private sector participation in the Nigerian economy cannot be overemphasised. Moreover, the timing of the summit is very appropriate, as it is a case of investments meeting opportunities."

Earlier in his opening remarks, President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, paid glowing tributes to the continent's founding fathers, noting their contributions to the development of the current African State.

Putin, who spoke on a wide range of areas of cooperation between both countries, including security and defence, commerce, agriculture and climate agenda, reiterated his country's commitment to the full economic transformation of the African continent.

Seventeen African Heads of State, five Vice Presidents, 10 Heads of government, and some business leaders from Russia, Africa and beyond, are attending this second edition of the Summit that is being held at St Petersburg's ExpoForum.

AT RUSSIA-AFRICA SUMMIT, SHETTIMA SAYS NIGERIA REPOSITIONED FOR GREATNESS

Ahead of Bayelsa, Kogi, Imo Guber Elections, INEC Demands Action Against Violence

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on security agencies

to take decisive action against purveyors of violence and other undemocratic activities ahead of the November 11 governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and

Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun Forward

Names of Commissioner Nominees to Lawmakers

Segun

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Ogun State

Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, have forwarded names of commissioner-nominees to their respective houses of assembly for approval.

Details of the list of proposed cabinet members transmitted to the Lagos State House of Assembly by Governor Sanwo-Olu for ratification, contained names of 39 commissioner-nominees, according to a tweet by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile.

Akosile added that 30 per cent of the commissioner-nominees are women, while others are youths, technocrats, and politicians.

Some members of the governor Sanwo-Olu’s cabinet during his first term in office made the list, while a number of others did not.

Among former cabinet members who made the list are former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso; his Budget and Economic Planning counterpart, Mr. Sam Egube; ex-Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; ex-Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Aramide Adeyooye; and his Education counterpart, Tokunbo

Wahab.

Among former cabinet members dropped by Governor Sanwo-Olu are former Commissioner of Finance, Rabiu Olowo; former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN; and ex- Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Yetunde Arobieke.

The Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, confirmed receiving Abiodun’s nominees yesterday.

According to a statement by the Clerk/Head of Legislative Service of the Ogun State’s House of Assembly, Deji Adeyemo, the Speaker received the governor’s letter dated 27th of July, 2023 requesting the confirmation of the nominees by the lawmakers.

The governor’s correspondence reads: “I write once again to congratulate Mr. Speaker for your re-election into office as Rt. Honourable Speaker of the 10th Assembly and subsequent inauguration of all members of the Honourable House. I appreciate the Honourable House for the support and cooperation enjoyed during the first term of our administration.

“In furtherance of our mission in building our dear State together, Mr. Speaker, please find attached, the list of nominees for the post of commissioners for your consideration.”

Security Operatives Apprehend another

Set of Cable Thieves at MMIA

Chinedu Eze

A combined patrol team of officers from Aviation Security’s Crime Investigation and Intelligence (CII) Unit, and the Joint Military Task Force (JMTF) of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, have arrested three persons suspected to be cable thieves around the FAAN Training School.

Two of the suspects were caught at about about 3:00p.m. yesterday where they were digging and cutting electric cables connecting the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Powerhouse (International Wing,MMA) to the Domestic Terminal (MMA), while the third suspect, who served as a link between the two other suspects and buyers at Arena Market, Oshodi was apprehended at exactly 5: 50p.m., at Hajj & Cargo Terminal following confessions made by the two other suspects.

Statement from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said on-going investigation revealed that one of the suspects was convicted and sentenced to 28 days imprisonment for a similar offence,

Imo states.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this yesterday in Abuja at the meeting of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) on the review of the 2023 general election.

Yakubu said the meeting was a combination of both regular consultative engagement and a review of the 2023 general election.

He emphasised that election is a multi-stakeholder activity, saying while INEC drives the process, a secured environment for the

conduct of peaceful elections was the responsibility of the security agencies working in partnership with the commission.

He said the synergy enabled them to overcome many of the challenges prior to the 2023 general election, including the targeted attacks on INEC offices nationwide.

The INEC Chairman stressed that the concern that the perennial insecurity in some parts of the country before the election might make the deployment of personnel and materials, and consequently

COURTESY VISIT…

the conduct of polls, impossible did not materialise.

He commended the security agencies and other members of ICCES for the largely peaceful conduct of the polls.

“As we review the conduct of the last general election, we also need to focus our attention on the forthcoming by-elections and the three off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states. Campaigns in public in the three states commenced on 14th July 2023 and will continue until Thursday 9th November

2023, that is 24 hours to the opening of polls on Saturday 11th November 2023.

“Already, there are ominous signs in the form of violent clashes between opposing political parties and candidates.

“While maintaining strict neutrality, security agencies should take decisive action against purveyors of violence and other undemocratic activities such as vote buying, attacks on election officials and disruption of the electoral process,” Yakubu noted.

sometime in April, 2022.

“The suspects are presently being interrogated by officials of FAAN AVSEC after which they will be handed over to the police for prosecution,” FAAN statement disclosed.

The arrest of these suspects indicated that security operatives have reinforced their surveillance of the airport.

Last week, Nigeria Air Force officials who were on security duty at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, apprehended one suspected cable thief while two escaped.

FAAN said the arrest was made near the entrance gate of the Nigeria Air Force perimeter fence along the Airport Road, disclosing that the suspects were sighted digging out FAAN’s underground armoured cable with digging tools, including digger, shovel and cutlass, indicating that the cables were targeted and planned to be stolen.

The agency also said that on sighting the Nigeria Air Force personnel on guards, they took to their heels.

“A guard however opened fire on them, aiming at the shoulder of Usman Musa.

L-R: Director (retired), Coronation Merchant Bank, Mr. Babatunde Dabiri; Director, Ms Evelyn Oputu; Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Banjo Adegbonhungbe; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Founder, Coronation Group, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and Head, Corporate and Investment Banking, Mr. Demole Adekoya, during a courtesy visit to the Governor by Management of Coronation Merchant Bank, at the Lagos House, Marina.

Composition of State EXCO: Why Ijaws Are Unhappy with Oborevwori

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Ijaws of Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State have demanded that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori should nominate a person of Ijaw ethnic extraction as commissioner and member of the State Executive Council because Ijaw was not included in the governor’s list of nominees from the area sent to the state legislature last week.

They said that such demand has become inevitable in the light of the fact that the Egbema-Ijaw of Warri North have been denied representation in the Delta State Executive Council since the local government area was created more than 30 years ago, despite the fact that the area comprises Ijaw and

Itsekiri ethnic groups.

This was one of the demands made at the press conference organised by the collegiate leadership of Egbema Integrity Group (EIG) and Egbema Youth Council (EYC) on the nomination of two (Itsekiri) commissioners from Warri North by Governor Oborevwori to the exclusion of the Ijaw, held in Warri.

The leaders, in a press statement signed by Francis Abulu, for the leadership of Egbema Integrity Group (EIG); Comrade City Kelvin Eferusua, President Egbema Youth Council (EYC); Mr. Ekpokeme Governor, Secretary of Egbema Youth Council (EYC), warned that the people could no longer stomach the injustice against them, which Governor Oborevwori seems bent

on continuing the unjust treatment by this attempt to shut them out.

Specifically, they demanded that the state government should “reverse the decision and appoint an Egbema Ijaw into the State Executive Council” and, secondly, it should “Convene a meeting of Egbema Leaders to resolve the impasse, whichever comes first.”

“Justice demands that if an appointment of a commissioner from Warri North should be considered, then that person must be an Ijaw. This is because since the creation of Warri North Local Government Area, it has always been Itsekiri occupying the position at the State Executive Council. Not until toward the end of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s second term in office was an Ijaw, Hon.

Joel Bisina, made commissioner for six months!

“We the Egbema people have suffered political oppression and injustice in Warri North Local Government Area for too long.

The Ijaw of Warri North have been denied the position of House of Assembly Member since 1991 when the local government council was created (inclusive of the inception of democracy in 1999) till date.

They accused the governor of giving the Itsekiri two commissioner slots in order not to offend two opposing Itsekiri groups within the PDP in Warri North, led by two party ch ieftains, while leaving the Ijaw without a nominee at all.

Ogun Cargo Airport to Commence Scheduled, Non-Scheduled Flights in 6 Weeks, Says Abiodun

Preparations are in top gear for the commencement of scheduled and non-scheduled flights at the Ogun State Cargo Airport located at Ilisan-Iperu road in the next six weeks, the state governor, Dapo Abiodun has said.

Speaking to journalists after inspecting the airport project, the governor noted that work was being intensified to have a couple of flights take off from the airport to Abuja and other parts of the country and bring

passengers to Ogun State.

He said: “Very soon, we begin to operate scheduled and nonscheduled flights here. What we are waiting for is for the terminal building to be up, but in the meantime, we are going to convert the warehouse to a temporary terminal building because that is part of the requirements of the regulatory authorities.

“I am pleased that things are going on as planned. The airport is sitting on a Special Agro-Processing Zone and it is being developed by Arise, one of our partners. They

are also proceeding with their plans. I am sure that in another six weeks, scheduled flights will begin to operate from here.”

He expressed delight with the level of work done so far, saying the runway which is the longest in Nigeria could compete with the best anywhere in the world, while the apron, where planes are parked, is currently the biggest in Nigeria.

Governor Abiodun said though many did not believe the airport could become a reality, his administration spend

every day living up to its promise, adding that multiple flights have landed and taken off from the airport after the first test flights early this year.

“About two weeks ago, the Vice President of Nigeria took off from Abuja and landed here and also took off from here and returned to Abuja amongst many other flights. But more importantly, we are progressing with our plans for this airport. Where we are standing is one of the warehouses that is being constructed and it is the first of the many warehouses here.

James Sowole in Abeokuta

James and James Sowole in Abeokuta

Wema Bank Showcases Strong Performance in Half Year 2023

Wema Bank has achieved improved performance in its unaudited results for half year ended 30th June 2023.

According to a statement from the bank yesterday, the improved performance includes gross earnings of 89.09bn, a y/y increase of 49 per cent (H1 2022: 59.59bn).

Interest Income also went up 53 per cent y/y to 76.11bn (H1 2022:49.75bn); Non-Interest Income up 32 per cent y/y to 12.98bn (H1 2022: 9.85bn); Profit before Tax (PBT) was 12.05bn a y/y increase of 97 per cent over the 6.13bn reported in H1 2022 and Profit after Tax (PAT)

increased y/y by 97 per cent to 10.48bn (5.30bn in H1 2022).

The bank grew its deposit year to date by 19 per cent as at H1 2023 to 1,392.85bn from 1,165.93bn reported in FY 2022. Loans and Advances also grew by 20 per cent to 627.01bn in H1 2023 from 521.43bn in FY, 2022.

Commenting on the result, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mr. Moruf Oseni said, “Our H1 2023 results saw significant upsides with profit before and after tax growing strongly by about 97 per cent. The management team at Wema Bank is focused on driving the execution of

I’m Directed to End Insecurity in Southeast, GOC 82 Division Tells Uzodimma

Chances of insecurity in the South-east being dealt a deadly blow became brighter, yesterday, when the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Enugu, Major Gen. Hassan Taiwo Dada, told Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State that he had been directed by his superiors to end the menace forthwith.

Major Gen. Dada who dropped the hint when he paid a working visit to Governor Uzodimma in company of his team at the New Exco Chambers Government House Owerri, however, added that the visit was to solicit the support of the government and the people to deliver on the mandate given to him.

Though he said he had assumed office two weeks ago, Major Gen. Dada told the governor that it is customary in the military for officers posted to places for their assignment to familiarise themselves with the people, hence the courtesy call.

“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has given me a marching order to end insecurity in the South-east and I hope to do just that. I am here therefore, to solicit the governor’s support and everybody’s support to improve security in Imo State and the South-east,” Major Gen. Dada said.

The GOC, who explained that he was aware of the state of insecurity in the South-east

added: “We will do all it takes to ensure that peace returns to the South-east.”

He used the opportunity to thank Governor Uzodimma for the support his government has been extending to the military, and recalled that the one week duration Army Day Celebration which took place in Imo State last year is still fresh in his mind.

In his remarks, Governor Uzodimma welcomed the GOC and his entourage and reminded him that he has in his kitty a résumé that will help to stamp out the cankerworm of insecurity in the South-east.

The governor assured him the people of Imo State in particular and South-east in general will support his mission in the course of his assignment.

The governor reminded the GOC of the cordial inter security agencies relationship that has existed in the state and urged him to ensure its sustainability in addressing the issues of criminality in the region such as banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, murder and other crimes.

He used the opportunity to remind the military high command of the negative impact of sit-at-home in the South-east, urging Major Gen. Dada and his colleagues to do all within their behest to ensure that those instigating it are brought to justice.

APC Holds NWC NEC Meeting Thursday

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has scheduled the National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings of the party to hold on August 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The new dates for the meetings were fixed following the recent resignation of the former National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdulahi Adamu and former Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

It would be recalled that the leadership of the party had postponed the caucus and NEC meetings initially scheduled to hold 10th and 11th July respectively to allow President Bola Tinubu to participate.

However, the meetings which were rescheduled to hold on 18th and 19th of July, 2023, were again postponed following the resignation of Adamu and Omisore.

our current corporate strategy. Our embrace of technology is helping us deliver seamless best in class services while offering compelling value propositions to customers. Hence, we are seeing record breaking returns across the board. Finally, we continue to see

improvements in our corporate, commercial, and retail businesses as evidenced by our strong loan growth.”

Oseni said with the improved stability in the operating environment, the banks earlier approved rights issuance will

LAYING STRONG FOUNDATION...

be commencing this 3rd quarter of 2023.

“It has been a good half year performance for Wema Bank with gross earnings growing by 49 per cent year on year and earnings per share at 163.0 kobo. In addition, our cost to income ratio

at 72.71 per cent has witnessed significant improvement from the previous period. We have also succeeded in making Wema Bank an integral part of the Fintech ecosystem in Nigeria with our ubiquitous fintech infrastructure support play,” Oseni added.

THISDAY checks revealed that Adamu and Omisore had resigned their positions based on the President’s order.

But in a notice of meetings released yesterday and signed by the acting National Secretary, Festus Fuanter, said the caucus meeting would hold at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday, while the NEC meeting would hold on Thursday at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

A party source told THISDAY that the NEC will announce the immediate past Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje, as the acting National Chairman of the party.

“The NEC will announce Ganduje as the acting National Chairman of the party at the meeting. There won’t be push back from any quarters because he’s the president’s choice,” the source said.

L-R: Deputy Director of Confucius Institute at the University of Lagos, Dr. Adetoro Olaniyi Banwo; the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Yan Yuqing,; President of CIAN, Efe Best; and Deputy Director of Confucius Institute at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Dr. Anas Elochukwu, at the inauguration ceremony of the Confucius Institute Alumni Association of Nigeria (CIAN) in Lagos… recently.

Air Peace Begins Lome Flights to Enhance Connectivity in West Africa

Chinedu Eze

Nigeria’s major carrier, Air Peace, introduced Lagos- Lome flights yesterday and said it aims to connect major destinations in West Africa.

It said it intends to deepen economic ties with Togo with the commencement of flight operations into the country.

The operation is geared towards easing air travel and bridging the connectivity gap among West African countries.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Togo, Julius Adesina, said the commencement of Air Peace flight into Lome is a product of concerted efforts by the governments of Nigeria and Togo as well as Air Peace to boost trade between the West African nations and ensure ease of movement across West Africa.

According to Adesina, aviation is an essential sector for the sub-

region’s development, particularly Nigeria and Togo to work towards a sustainable intra-African trade.

“We therefore celebrate with Air Peace Nigeria on this milestone and commends its commitment to providing smooth air transport services to Nigerians, to the Togolese, West Africans and, indeed, all Africans.

“It is most gratifying that this is happening just as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is leading the charge to make ECOWAS the best regional organisation, a potent tool for the peace, progress and prosperity of our region,” the ambassador added.

The Safety Manager, Air Peace, according to Godfrey Ogbogu, in his opening address at the launch in Lome airport, said the airline was delighted that Togo is joining their route network, making it eight regional routes in less than nine years since inception.

He said, Togo and Nigeria cur-

rently have strong socio-economic ties and both countries have collaborated on significant fronts.

Ogbogu noted that, the launch of flights by Air Peace into Lome has given credence to these ties and will foster commercial cooperation as well as deepen bilateral ties between both countries.

He added, “Nigerians come to Togo for business and other purposes and the launch of this connectivity adds fillip to this economic exchange between both countries and also advances development.

“We’re reputed for our no-cityleft-behind initiative and this is not just for domestic operations. Our no-city-left-behind drive extends to the West Coast, as we’re poised to continually interconnect key cities in the sub-region, making it easy for Africans to maximise the payoffs of air travel for the collective development of all the nations.”

The Air Peace Safety Manager also disclosed that in keeping with this corporate ambition, the airline would be launching soon, flight operations into Cotonou in Benin Republic, Abidjan in Cote d’ivoire, Congo Kinshasa and Malabo in Equatorial Guinea.

The new routes he said would happen before the end of 2023, “some of these routes will have been launched, because they’re already in the works.”

He assured that Air Peace would continue to provide best-in-class flight services driven by a customer-first orientation and hinged on strict adherence to established safety standards.

“We’re also modernising and increasing our fleet, especially with the brand new Embraer 195-E2 aircraft, to continue to give our customers a matchless experience on board- whether domestic, regional or international.

Renewed Military Operations Vanquish 59 Terrorists

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The military high command said yesterday that troops vanquished 59 terrorists and arrested 88 crime suspects including 10 kidnappers and 19 oil thieves in a renewed onslaught against non-state actors.

A statement signed by the new Director of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, said the Armed Forces of Nigeria engaged in several operations

across the six geo-political zones in a bid to tackle the security challenges confronting the nation.

It said in the course of the operations across the country, troops recovered a total number of 68 weapons and 1,364 ammunition.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria is engaged in several operations across the six geo-political zones to tackle the security challenges confronting the nation.

“As at 28 July 2003, the

military has neutralised 59 terrorists, arrested a total number of 88 criminals, 10 kidnappers, 20 gunmen and 19 suspected oil thefts. Troops have also rescued 88 kidnapped hostages,” it said.

The statement further disclosed that in the course of operations across the country, troops recovered a total number of 68 weapons and 1,364 ammunition.

“Troops recovered 26 AK47 rifles, one GPMG, one AKMS rifle, one FN rifle, four pump

action, five pistols and 19 dane guns. Also recovered are 1,083 rounds 7.62mm special, 228 rounds 7.62mm NATO, 14 rounds 5.56 x 45mm, 15 fully loaded AK47 magazines, nine rounds of 9mm ammo and the sum of N41,915.00 only and CFA 49,000.

“Others include 323,650 liters of stolen crude oil, 128,700 liters of illegally refined AGO and 4,000 liters of DPK while an estimated sum of N388,441,660.00 was denied the oil thieves,” it said.

EndSARS Protests and Accountability

The recent discovery of 103 bodies in Lagos State shreds the government’s claims about the number of casualties from the EndSARS protests. In October 2020, an unprecedented wave of protests swept across Nigeria. What began as a ripple from one man’s death at the hands of the police in Delta State, soon swelled into a tidal wave of protests calling for reforms.

At the vanguard of the protests which hit Lagos and then Abuja with the force of knots were young people, long converted to practice targets in the police game of brutality.

Their demands were simple: that the notorious Special Anti-robbery squad unit of the police force be scrapped and the police which they perceived to be corrupt reformed. There were also calls for the government to straighten its ways. Coming four years into the administration of were especially vociferous in Lagos. It was there that the Nigerian authorities chose to send a clear message.

On October 20, 2020, while protesters gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate, peacefully chanting the Nigerian anthem of soldiers and police swooped on the protesters with deadly force. The outrage over the massacre was global. The piercing report of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up may have put the number of the victims at nine, but Nigerians suspected it was much higher.

With this discovery, the biggest question is whether Lagos State government can be taken seriously on any further representation it makes on the killings that happened under its watch in 2020. As usual, it has resorted to the now familiar game of naming and blaming. First, it said the bodies were not all from the Lekki Toll Gate before blaming the families of the dead for failing to claim their dead.

Since Nigeria returned to the pristine path of democracy in 1999, the country has faced grave challenges with the rule of law, especially in the aspect of accountability and respect for life and democratic institutions.

Until 2020, the lack of accountability was for economic country must now also count her dead and account for them because despite a staggering population of 217 million people, more than half of whom live in poverty, no one can be left behind or out.

An ominous sign is that while non-state actors many of whom have proliferated all over the country remain

elusive, state actors continue to commit crimes against innocent Nigerians and go unpunished. In a country where impunity reigns supreme, with punishment for crimes only reserved for the poor, it is not surprising.

Even so the issues which underpinned the protests

as the lives of those who survived them.

The Lagos State government vigorously contested the In the build-up to the 2023 governorship election in the state, Sanwo-Olu again sought to trivialize the memories of the EndSARS victims through sophistry.

It is a question of public trust. The government may have shown courage in empaneling an inquiry, but it has itself when the panel report was released.

Now that the bodies have become public knowledge, the Lagos State government has blamed the victim’s families for abandoning them. Damages and compensation may have been doled out in the aftermath of the protests, but the horse had escaped, there must be accountability in every state where a protester was killed in October 2020.

Ike Willie-Nwobu,

Ikewilly9@gmail.com

Ghanaian MPs: Focus on Combating Witch Persecution

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches urges parliamentarians in Ghana to tackle witchcraft accusations and witch persecution, not the witch camping facilities in the region. AfAW is making this call following a report in the Ghanaian media that some parliamentarians have asked the government to abolish the witch camps, describing these facilities as an abomination. In support of this move, a parliamentarian, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said, “Such facilities deprive women of their rights to develop fully and freely, and ends depriving their children of education, good health, and proper sanitation”. Again, politicians in Ghana are mistaken; they are expending time and energy addressing a symptom, not the disease, a consequence, not the cause.

In the past decade, the government of Ghana has, on several occasions, announced plans to disband these so-called witch camps due to reports of human rights viola-

tions of persons who live there. It has been noted that the “witch camp” at Bonyase has been closed down.

Parliamentarians and the government of Ghana must be thoughtful in addressing this issue. Politicians must understand that the quest to close down these make-shift shelters for persons displaced due to witchcraft accusations and witch persecution is not the issue. The “practice” of witch camps is not the problem. Witch camp is not an abomination. It is rather a humanitarian gesture of containment and management of the problem. Witch camp is the solution, although not a perfect one. Witchcraft accusation is the real issue. The attack of suspected witches is the problem. Parliamentarians should confront and tackle this phenomenon. Witch persecution constitutes an abomination because allegations of witchcraft force suspected witches to flee their homes, and take refuge at these camps. No doubt, the living conditions at these witch camps are dire.

Many people lack the basic needs and necessities of life including access to decent shelter, food, clothing, and medical care. These witch camps are embodiments of humanitarian crises and human rights violations. But these witch camps provide alleged witches options and alternatives after being accused or banished from their communities. Without these camps, many alleged witches would be dead. So, how do these “witch camps” constitute a form of abomination? AfAW urges parliamentarians to rethink this move and focus attention on stopping witchcraft allegations in Ghana.

The MPs should take measures to combat witch persecution in the communities. They should take steps to end the banishment of alleged witches. With time, if no person were accused or banished for witchcraft, there would be no need for witch camps. These facilities would slowly disappear.

Leo Igwe directs the Advocacy for Alleged Witches, which campaigns to end witch persecution in Africa

NDDC Harps on Sustained Peace in Niger Delta

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourtexpressed the need for sustained has urged leaders of ex-agitators and stakeholders in the region to ensure that the reigning peace in investors.

Ogbuku, who made the appeal yesterday during a courtesy visit by the leaders and members of -

to achieve the reigning peace in

DROWNING PREVENTION PROGRAMME…

Google Global VP in Abuja, Gets FG’s Support for 1m Digital Jobs in Nigeria

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu yesterday declared that the federal government is ready to support global tech giant, Google Incorporated, to create one million digital jobs in Nigeria.

The President gave the assurance during the visit of Google Global Vice President, Mr. Richard Gingras, to his Abuja.

President Tinubu told his guest: “I am glad that Google is ready to partner with us. You have answered our call on digital innovation and to help our youths. You promote digital economy. We are ready to work with you on your commitment to create one million digital jobs in Nigeria.

“We will give you all the support you need to

responsibility. We have started our economic reforms, even though tortuous.”

executive that Nigeria had creative and talented young people who are ready and motivated to learn especiallyligence, stressing that the tech giant has the capabilities and tools that the young people need to excel.

On Google’s promotion of free speech, freedom of the press and democracy through its platforms, President Tinubu declared that it is in public interest that free speech and press freedom should not be impeded.

interest to continue to defend free press and free speech. We are committed to supporting a free society”.

Earlier in his address, Google Vice President told

Ogbulafor Laid to Rest Amidst Tributes by Politicians, Clerics, Other Groups

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The remains of the former National Chairman of the Prince Vincent Eze Ogbulafor, yesterday, were committed to mother earth at his home in Itaja-Obuohia, Olokoro, Umuahia

The funeral ceremony which was attended by dignitaries from all walks of life including politicians, high ranking clerics, traditional rulers and various religious and social groups commenced with a requiem Church Ahiaukwu Olokoro.

Otti, in his tributes at the solemn event traced his political journey saying that he not only led him into politics but also impacted

on his political views.

lived a good life and fought a footprints of many legacies on the sands of time.

According to Otti, it was one Ogbulafor’s legacies that inspired him to join politics and has today been added to the legacies that the late elder statesman has left behind. calling for the late politician when he was already recovering, urging the family members of the deceased, especially the wife and aged mother to bear the loss with fortitude.

Governor Otti, who disclosed that the history of his political journey cannot be complete without Prince Ogbulafor, said alive, adding that whatever is left for the living is to move forward.

President Tinubu that he was in Nigeria for West Africa Journalism Innovation Conference.

inspired by the creativity and talent of young people in Nigeria who are embracing technology and digital tools to expand access to information and promote democracy.

Gingras told President Tinubu that his organisation has deep interest in Nigeria and stands ready to support government.

capabilities of Google to Intelligence and other digital innovations that are empowering young people to become digital entrepreneurs, adding that Google subsea cable, Equiano named after Nigerian slave abolitionist future internet connectivity demands landed in Nigeria

in April 2022.

Google would help to secure Nigeria in the age of disinformation and fake news, saying his organisation seeks to continue its partnership with the Nigerian government.

“Google has deep interest in Nigeria. We want to support create one million digital jobs. We have all the tools and capabilities to make this happen. We will also help ro secure Nigeria and we have discussed that with your

“I came to Nigeria to learn. I am going back home very impressed with what I saw. You have very vibrant, creative and talented young people who are embracing innovation.

“We will continue to support your programmes to expand your digital economy,” Gingras further said.

We’ll Reclaim Encroached Lands to Address Farmers/Herders Clashes, Says Gombe Governor

Segun Awofadeji in Gombe

Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has said that his administration will leave no stone unturned to ensure all encroached cattle routes, grazing, game and forest reserves in the state are reclaimed.

The governor made this known yesterday when he inaugurated a committee to assess cattle routes, grazing, game and forest reserves in Gombe

Governor Yahaya, who attributed the current security challenges and recurrent farmers/herders clashes to years of long negligence, noted that for a lasting peace in Nigeria, strict measures must be put in place to revive the hitherto cattle routes, grazing and forest reserves in the country.

dangers to citizens’ means of livelihood and environment.

“The encroachment upon these lands has posed serious threats to their existence, threatening ecological balance and the livelihoods of both farmers and herders.”

lasting solution, the root causes of the problems must be addressed.

“In northern Nigeria today, deforestation and encroaching nomadic communities inwards, with farming communities, and jeopardising centuries of intercommunal harmony and stability.

“To address those securitydress their root causes which is environmental degradation that is fuelled by climate change and lack of compliance with extant rules and regulations across all divides.”

the region.

the ex-agitators for playing their role as critical stakeholders to enthrone peace, noting “Peace critical to attracting continuous investments in the region and such investments will create employment opportunities for the people of the region.”

“We want the world to know gone beyond street agitation; we are now involved in intellectual engagements. The time for agitation is over, this is the time a lot during the struggle for the region. This is the time to turn that struggle into development.

African Stars Reveal What Drives Success on Glo-sponsored African Voices

This week’s special edition of the Globacom-sponsored CNN African Voices Changemakers is featuring a collection of African stars telling the story of what drove them to success.

The entertainers from Nigeria, stories of their path to the top and how they have remained relevant on the entertainment scene.

The stars featuring in the edition include Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer, Phillip Kayode Moses, popularly known as Pheelz; music sensation and songwriter,

Korede Bello; award-winning Nigerian actress and director, Toyin Abraham; Ghanaian actress and director, Yvonne

Viewers get to hear snippets of what inspires some of their favourite actors and musicians as they drive through their neighbourhoods.

The African Voices Changemakers show is scheduled to air

There will be repeat broadcasts

Achonu, Labour Party Gov Candidate Storms Lagos, Vows to Rescue Imo from Insecurity, APC Misrule

The Labour Party candidate

Athan Nneji Achonu, has vowed to “rescue the state Uzodinma-All Progressives Congress, APC, misrule and gripping insecurity” that has besieged the state in recent times.

The leading governorship candidate, is visiting Lagos for the second time in a month, to canvass the support of Imo indigenous in the city.

Achonu, who was in Lagos earlier in the month is set to visit the former federal capital again today for an enlarged

stakeholders meeting, involving all Igbo residents in Lagos. The town hall meeting is Athan Nneji Achonu Campaign Council in collaboration with the organised by the Concerned group.

It is slated for Villa Park Apapa Expressway by 1.pm. The organisers have urged Imo indigenes resident in the city to turn up en masse for the weekend event and have a one-on-one interaction with Achonu.

Vee69 Boss, Others to Judge Shorty Awards

Funmi Ogundare

Achado Brown, has been selected as one of the judges for the 8th

The international award program celebrates global diversity, talent, and purpose-driven works from brands, agencies and nonprofits that make the world a better place.

not only represent a significant milestone in her career; it also serves as an important moment for Nigerian advertising and marketing professionals playing on the global stage.

“I am deeply honored to be chosen as one of the judges for

tribute my insights and celebrate exceptional talents who have made a significant impact in the world.”

international flagship awards competition honoring brands, agencies and organisations producing great content across digital and social media platforms.

The award panel comprises execs from marketing communications and branding organisations that explore digital and social media across the world.

recognition the Advertising Week Africa gives women who are outstanding leaders, visionaries, and groundbreaking executives in the advertising profession.

-

L-R: Chairman, Bridging Aquatics Nigeria, Prince Dapo Adelegan; Chief Executive, Bridging Aquatics Nigeria, Mrs. Danielle Obe; Guest Speaker, Dr. Femi Olugbile; and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Femi Osanyin-Tolu, at a Roundtable to mark the 2023 Drowning Prevention Day and sustainable Development Goals in Lagos, yesterday

PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

CROSSCULTURE…

IPOB Leader, Kanu Orders Ekpa to End All Sit-at-Home Protests in S’East

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has issued a directive to the renegade Biafra activist, Simon Ekpa to put an end to all sit-at-home protests in the South-east zone. The IPOB leader made it clear that sit-at-home which started on August 9, 2021 “is a waste of time, resources and unnecessary hardships on our people.”

This was contained in a handwritten direct order that Kanu gave to his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, to deliver to Ekpa instructing the special counsel to make it public if Ekpa failed to implement the order.

Ejimakor said “this direct order was personally handed to me by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu when I visited him on the said 24th July, 2023 at the headquarters of the Department of State Security (DSS), Abuja.”

He stated the direct order from Kanu was successfully delivered to Ekpa via WhatsApp in the early hours of July 25, 2023 but he

was yet to act on the instruction of the IPOB leader.

The order from the IPOB leader states: “Simon, this is a direct order from me. I hereby instruct you to desist from calling for any sit-at-home henceforth.

“Equally refrain from antagonising governors or persons in political positions because you are not in a position to know what they are doing on my behalf.

“I am ordering you to make a public announcement to the a direct order from me to cancel any pending sit-at-home in place at the moment.

UNICEF Seeks Implementation of PHC Under One Roof Policy in Katsina

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State to implement the Primary Health Care (PHC) Under One Roof Policy to tackle the spate of unvaccinated children in the state.

The UNICEF Chief, Kano Farah, made the appeal at the launch of the distribution of 198 motorcycles and a Hilux vehicle to routine immunisation in Katsina.

The motorcycles and the Hilux vehicle were procured under the

GAVI-funded PHC MOU Health Systems Strengthening initiative in Nigeria and donated to the state government by UNICEF.

Farah said the implementation of the policy would strengthen the state’s healthcare system and pave the way for the establishment of one-stop functional primary healthcare centres in all the 361 wards of the state.

Represented by UNICEF Health Specialist, Ms Abimbola Aman-Oloniyo, Farah explained that the state has eight local government areas with a high number of zero-dose children (unvaccinated children) that are vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases.

Global Mentorbridge Plans Key Business Event in Lagos

Global Mentorbridge, the non-governmental group that has been involved in inter-generational business knowledge sharing plans a major event in Lagos next weekend.

“I embarked on this movement to liberate our people, not to enslave them. I despise and will despise any person or entity hardship on our people.”

Kanu further made it clear to the self-styled prime minister of Biafra that “I have authorised Aloy to issue a press statement if you fail to make this announcement on your platform.”

The IPOB leader pointedly told Ekpa that he would not condone any action causing harm to the people he is seeking to liberate hence the controversial sit-at-home must end.

LCCI, NECA: Hiking Interest Rate Contradicts Tinubu’s Pledge to Evolve Credit Driven Economy

Dike Onwuamaeze

Two critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s organised private sector (OPS), the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Assembly (NECA), have described the recent hike in the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a contradiction to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s avowed commitment to make credit available to businesses and

They also stated that continued increase in MPR could be chaotic to the growth trajectory of the nation.

Tinubu promised on May 29 during his presidential inaugural address that “monetary policy needs thorough house cleaning. Interest rates need to be reduced to increase investment and consumer purchasing in ways that sustain the economy at a higher level.”

But the CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee raised its benchmark

interest rate by 25 basis points to 18.75 per cent from 18.50 per cent, the highest rate since MPR was adopted in 2006. This is also the fourth consecutive rate hike so far this year and the eighth consecutive rate hike since April 2022.

The Director General of LCCI, Dr. Chinyere Almona, said yesterday in a public statement titled ‘LCCI’s Statement on CVN’s July 2023 Interest Rate Hike’, that the asymmetric corridor could restrict credit and cap liquidity

with implications on local businesses. This is a contradiction to the new administration’s promise of a low-interest rate to lay the foundation for a robust credit economy.”

Almona noted that the headline sixth consecutive month to 22.79 per cent between January and June 2023, and is expected to rise further due to subsidy removal, exchange rate harmonisation, and the anticipated impact of the palliative distribution in the near term.

UNILAG VC Calls forCollaborations to Enhance Students’ Learning Gov Eno Constitutes State Exco With 22 Commissioners, Special Adviser

Funmi Ogundare and Rebecca Ejifoma

As University of Lagos, Faculty of Engineering Alumni Association (UNILAGFEAA), weekend, inaugurated the vertical exChancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, has called on industries to engage more with the university, and invest in the faculty, so that the students can thrive. donated by an alumnus of the university and Group Managing Director Geoplex Drillteq Limited, Wole Ogunsanya.

Speaking at the programme, Ogunsola explained that such move will ensure

that the faculty is in tune with happenings in the industry.

According to her, “we cannot do that if we don’t have engagements with our stakeholders and alumni, which is very critical. For us to stay relevant, it is clear that if we are developing our curriculum , the people we are developing that curriculum for, must be a part of that conversation. We must know what they need and the kind of skills they require.”

The VC who commissioned the project, stressed the need for every faculty to have a technical advisory board, noting that it is the only way to also add value to what is going on in the industry.

Okon Bassey in Uyo

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has constituted the State Executive Council with 23 commissioners and one Special Adviser.

At the inauguration of the State Executive Council on Thursday evening, the governor announced the creation of the Ministry of Internal Security to ensure security for the people and investors.

The new ministry was manvoluntary security groups in the state for harmonisation of operations and purposes.

Governor Eno charged members of state Exco to brace up to the new phase

of the administration and turn around the economic fortunes of the state.

He emphasised that the ARISE Agenda blueprint of his administration seeks among other things, to stimulate the rural economy and ensure a turnaround in the rural areas by way of integration and massive development.

“Let me state here very must go back and stimulate rural developments in their respective wards and local government councils. That responsibility starts with you!

“You must work with the people in your respective wards, you must let the people feel the impact of governance.

Third in a series of international business events by the organisation, Global Mentorbridge was inspired as a response to the growing need to bridge the knowledge gap between older generations of business leaders and young entrepreneurs to enable smooth cross-pollination of ideas, knowledge exchange and networking in ways that fosters the building of sustainable businesses.

With the high level of disruptions the internet of things (IoT) has brought to business, older generation of business leaders need to have a grasp of the fast changing business environment, while the younger generation can do with time tested knowledge, experiences, and know-how that has worked and continue to work for the older generation, that is basically what Global Mentorbridge is out to

achieve, so says the convener, Ms. Jane Oma, a Spain-based change management expert.

The event which comes up on the 4th and 5th of August, 2023 has a lineup of participating business leaders across generations with Prof. Olusegun Sogbesan, Maria Carolina, John Obidi and Dr. Jekwu Ozoemene as speakers. The panelists are drawn from both big and small business owners in Nigeria.

According to Oma, building bridges to link all generations of business leaders became necessary for sustainability and transfer of knowledge. She pointed that from a study covering nine years carried out by her team, “for the first time ever, there are now three generations of business leaders and corporate executives in the business environment. The ones in their 60s and 70s, the ones in their 40s and 50s and the one in their 20s and 30s, then there are the new entrants in their late teens,” she added.

PMI, Oracle Announce Collaboration to Improve Digital Project Efficiencies

Mary Nnah

Project Management Institute (PMI) and Oracle Construction and Engineering have announced a collaboration that will allow them to pool their respective capabilities to deliver thought leadership, best practices, and tools created exclusively for professionals in the construction and asset-intensive sectors.

In recent years, PMI has extended its expertise as the world’s leading resource in the project management profession to help organisations and individuals deliver complex construction projects on time, on budget, within scope, and safely.

“Oracle Construction and Engineering and PMI have a common goal: help transform the construction industry by delivering best-in-class resources to help professionals and organisations plan and build critical assets,” said Global Director of Construction & Vice President, Asia Pacific at PMI, Ben Breen.

“With our complementary areas of expertise, this collaboration means we will be able to provide professionals in the construction sector with the training and digital tools they need to successfully deliver more impactful and efficient project outcomes.”

The non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) executed between Oracle and PMI is intended to begin with the integration of Oracle resources into the existing coursework for the Construction Professional in Built Environment Projects (PMI-CP), a capstone certification which leverages best practices from the construction industry, construction industry organisations, and construction industry experts across the world.

As a top contributor to construction research initiatives, Oracle leverages industry best practices as part of its digital technology product development efforts. Their Oracle Smart Construction Platform provides the visibility and control to orchestrate project execution from pursuit through

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia and Gideon Arinze in Enugu

L-R: Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe and Chinese Cultural Attache, Lee Xuda, when Xuda paid a courtesy visit on the NCAC boss at the Nigeria Cultural House, Abuja...recently

Ferdinand Ekechukwu - 08035011394

Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

Kizz Daniel Goes on Musical Journey with New Album

Ferdinand Ekechukwu

Not resting on the huge success recorded by his monster hit single, “Buga” and the follow-up song, “Cough”, Afrobeats wonder, Kizz Daniel is set to take his fans on an extraordinarily thrilling musical journey with his upcoming album, “Maverick.”

The award-winning singer and performer, had in a recent interview, opened up on how he signed his former record label boss/ owner of G-Worldwide label as the CEO of Kizz’s label, Fly Boi Inc. Kizz who had hinted on plans for this new album as well as his label signing a new artist attracted numerous reactions from music lovers on social media with his revelation.

that he has kept hidden for some time.

“The only thing that kept coming to my mind when we were making this album was pretty much, I want to do what I know how to do, I want to make music the way I want to make music. For Maverick, It’s my expression, I think the inspiration about it just explained itself now. I want to give a piece of me that I have been hiding all this while,” he said, revealing the inspiration behind the body of work.

The album’s tracks feature infectious hooks and thought-provoking lyrics, The afro-pop star explains, “Recently, I’ve been trying a more dilute version of Vado just to appease the fans, but this time around, I just decided to go hard.”

The artiste has grown and matured throughout his thriving career, and “Maverick” serves as a testament to his artistic growth and authenticity.

Showcasing his ability to merge his artistry with diverse talents, Kizz Daniel collaborates with renowned hit makers and emerging prodigies, bringing a captivating dynamic to the album.

Daniel

The internationally acclaimed artist, fondly known as ‘Vado The Great’, has consistently pushed the boundaries of creativity in his music, and “Maverick” promises to be a magnum opus that showcases his true self-expression. In this album, Kizz

On the inspiration behind the album’s title, Kizz Daniel explains, “Maverick is just basically someone that sticks out, someone that doesn’t go with the norms, someone that goes their own way, and I have always seen myself as a maverick from the onset. I feel I’ve been shying away from embracing it, so I’ve decided to embrace it, and that is why I went for the title Maverick.”

Scheduled for release on 28th July 2023, “Maverick” delves into themes of love, growth, emotion, resilience, and introspection, inviting listeners to join Kizz Daniel on a deeply personal and mature musical journey.

“A 20-track album, “Maverick” is poised to captivate audiences with its unique and unorthodox style, combining Kizz Daniel’s signature sound with innovative beats and melodies. The album promises to be an extraordinary musical experience, one that fans have been eagerly awaiting.

‘Plan C’ Stars Nkem Owoh, Bimbo Akintola, Frank Donga

Astudios have collaborated to make history in a move considered as major as they announce conclusion of principal photography of its kind camera - the Sony Venice 2. The such as Nkem Owoh, Akin Lewis, Lizzy Jay, Bimbo Akintola, Faithia Balogun, and Uzor Arukwe.

Other stars on ‘Plan C’ include Frank Donga, Kelechi Udegbe, Bianca Ugowanne, Greg Ojeifua, Ayo Badmus, Mama No Network, Westy Baba, Lydia Lawrence Nze, Maryjane Ogu, and Alariya. ‘Plan C’ boasts of a gripping plot; it follows the story of an intending couple Tishe and Nnamdi, a naughty sister, hilarious parents from both sides and host of naughty friends who make the movie non-stop fun

Tishe’s dad owns one of Nigeria’s biggest major land speculator. If both businesses merge, theirs will be a major conglomerate.

To ensure the future of their company and cement their long-time friendship, both men resolve to force their eligible children into an arranged union. Things get awry as series of leading to an unknown end.

Consequently leaving the couple’s friends and naughty sister to join forces and hack

a near-impossible escape.

Directed by Samuel ‘Bigsam’ Olatunji, and seasoned producers led by Wale Osagie Muraina, others are Adebola Adeyela (Lizzy Jay), Bianca Ugowanne and Olukanmi Abayomi (Abazee). Yvonne Jegede, a lead cast of the movie makes part of the project team as associate producer.

Speaking on the upcoming title, ‘Bigsam’ said it’s an ambitious project, adding that “Plan C is the kind of story Nollywood would be proud of. “It’s comedy told with depth of story, technical deft, and notable performers that will grip you from the opening scene to the last.” He further revealed that “We took our time to weave it layer upon layer because the scale of the story has prompted us to have a sequel planned.”

‘Plan C’ is billed for theatrical run before debut on VOD platforms.

Next Rated Artiste, Odumodublvck

Every year, the Nigerian music space is blessed with a gifted new artistes who, through consistent releases, attracts a huge pool of listeners and dominates social media conversations. This year, everything seems to be aligning for the hip-hop artiste, Tochukwu Ojogwu popularly known as Odumodublvck, and continues to look up as be appears to be that next-rated artiste.

Since hitting mainstream with his Zlatan assisted single ‘Picanto’, the rapper, singer and songwriter, known for his stage performances and genre-blend has become one of the fastest-rising with his music adding excitement to the Hip Hop scene. The 2023 multiple Headies Awards nominee made headlines recently after Arsenal Football Club introduced their newly signed player, Declan Rice.

The football club took to twitter to share a video of Rice’s unveiling, featuring the catchy song “Declan Rice” by Odumodublvck playing

Rally Jay out With Debut EP ‘Predominance’

Rising star, Adjarho Oghenevwirhe Austin, professionally known as Rally Jay, has released his debut album titled ‘Predominance’.

The six-track afrobeats titled ‘Halle Halle’, a song which according to the artiste shares his life experience. On this track, Rally Jay combines his soft catchy sing-along lyrics with an infectious beat delivering a masterpiece tune.

Speaking more about the song and the inspiration, he said, “‘Halle Halle’ is more like a real-life experience I’ve gone through you know putting your hope in your uncle or brothers to do some special things for you and end up failing you. Little did you know these are things you have to do by yourself with the help of God by your side. I made that song to let them know I’m more than a conqueror and that led to the track name ‘Halle Halle’ meaning Hallelujah.”

Other tracks on the EP include ‘Available’, ‘Mara’, ‘Importer’ and ‘Exporter’, ‘Big Bag and ‘Foreign Vibe’”.

and I even said it on my Instagram, I said “Picanto” is going to give me the opportunity to stake my claim in the music industry and that’s what that record did. I needed Zlatan for leverage,” the NATIVE Records star recounts.

“Because coming into the industry as a hip-hop artist, you need some leverage to an extent. All I needed was like A-list, B-list artist who comes through that’d give me more leverage, for more ears to listen and when he came on it, people were convinced to even care about it. And after that, look at “Declan Rice,” it went up to number one.

On what his fans should look out for next he said, “My fans should look out for a wonderful video from the EP and a feature on a track from the EP. ‘Predominance’ by Rally Jay is out and available across all musical platforms.”

Odumodublvck

in the background in a unique and vibrant ceremony by the European football club. Such feat is even made more fascinating being that it is always exciting to see Nigerian music reaching international audiences and making a positive impression.

A look into his discography signposts the several moments his bop sound has

“My brother quizzed me one day if people were going to give attention to my style of music. But I did Mass Communication in school so I know that people don’t know what they want until you give it to them. And if you don’t carry it on your head, they will not see it. If you don’t believe in yourself, if you don’t front your craft like it’s everything you got, people are not going to believe in it.”

Kizz Daniel

Nkem Owoh, Bimbo Akintola, Faithia Balogun and Akin Lewis

Ferdinand Ekechukwu

Ferdinand Ekechukwu

Ferdinand Ekechukwu

Austin

Heineken’s Anniversary Campaign and Lessons in Sustainability

resilience and market adaptation

Studies about legendary brands have established that they all share some basic attributes. From Coca Cola to British Airways, Apple to Heineken and other iconic brands, there are unique attributes common to all. The attributes include the following; a distinct personality, strong values, delivering on promises and constantly adapting to new markets. Looking back in retrospect at Heineken and its chequered history history, it’s obvious that it has constantly maintained a distinct personality. In almost all the markets where it’s sold Heineken is in its own premium class. Like every top brand, it stands out from its competition. Since last week when its handlers rolled out a global campaign to commemorate the brand’s 150 years of existence, it’s easy to spot the fact that Heineken is unique in advertising, packaging and messaging. With top of mind positioning, the brand is the first product that comes to mind when a consumer considers its category in all markets of operation.

Perhaps another strong thing that works for Heineken is market adaptation as seen in almost all the markets. In recent times, markets change at a more rapid rate than ever before but as new products emerge, technology evolves and customers’ tastes change, Heineken and its promoters are always quick to adjust. Like other iconic brands, Heineken constantly changes approach and adapts to market dynamics but stays faithful to its core values. As positioned by its handlers, Heineken is more than just a product, it’s daily expressing a superior feeling but with the humble posture to bring happiness to all. With this, Heineken is connected with its customers as the best they can get and with other stakeholders like employees in equal rating.

Synopsis of the global campaign

Hinekken or Heniken? It is amazing that some consumers still misspell or pronounce ‘Heineken wrongly despite the fact that it has been around for the last 15 decades with a presence in over 190 countries.

For the brand, that doesn’t matter anymore, in a recent campaign it says “Who cares?“ and what it cares about now is that consumers are having good times which is in line with its brand promise. This ideal is implanted in its new global campaign as it celebrates its 150th anniversary.

The thematic campaign ‘150 Years of Good Times’ focuses on Heineken’s core message of inclusivity and diversity. The brand beams the spotlight on this in its TV commercial, where consumers from different cultures across the globe come together to celebrate good times and share cherished memories.

According to the company, the campaign is inspired by Freddy Heineken’s famous words “I don’t sell beer, I sell gezelligheid”. “Gezelligheid” translated as that feeling of good times, something that has been at the heart of the Heineken marketing strategy and the feeling it wants its consumers to experience.

Beer market growth

According to statista, globally, beer is the most consumed alcoholic beverage, accounting for approximately 60% of the total value of the alcoholic drink market.

In Nigeria, the beer market is projected to grow by 11.90% (2023-2027) resulting in a market volume of US$8.33bn in 2027.

However, the leadership of the beer market in the country is keenly contested among Nigerian Breweries, a member of Heineken Group, and other big players like Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) and others but Heineken is one of

the consumers’ favourite and it is strategically positioned as a premium brand of choice.

Thecompany’suniquebrand-buildingstrategies and innovation have made it an iconic brand. It leverages sports, sponsorship, product placement in movies and celebrity endorsement, and others to engage consumers. For example, one of its global commercials starred Daniel Craig (who plays James Bond in Skyfall in 2012) and his co-stars.

Other celebrities are Conor McGregor, UFC fighter and MMA champion; Landon Donovan, U.S. soccer; and others. In Nigeria, it has Jay Okocha as a brand ambassador and among others.

It also throws its weight behind fashion events like Lagos Fashion Week (LagosFW), supporting the growth of the industry. LagosFW is a fashion platform that drives the Nigerian and ultimately, the African fashion industry; by bringing together buyers, consumers, and the media to view the current collections of designers at a four (4) day event in the fashion capital of Lagos, Nigeria. Meanwhile, despite COVID-19, changing economies, and unstable economic policies that affected the purchasing power of Nigerian consumers, the company remained resilient even as the Nigerian business unit profit, especially in the last financial year, dropped which most businesses faced a similar fate, it continued to prioritize its consumers, putting them at the centre of its strategy.

Marking a turning point in the brand’s history, Heineken decided to evolve the way it measures

success – focusing not just on the volume of beer it sells but also the good times it delivers for its customers in all the countries it has a presence in.

Hans Essaadi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Breweries Plc, said: “As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Heineken brand, we remain committed to strengthening our presence in Nigeria and continuing our journey of fostering positive change. We look forward to building on our legacy and creating more opportunities for growth, collaboration, and shared moments of joy with Nigerians.”

Tools for Positioning

The company aligns with sports with massive global audiences as a key marketing strategy, such as the UEFA Champions League, Rugby World Cup, and Formula 1.

Recently in Nigeria, it hosted the Heineken UEFA ChampionsLeague(UCL)ViewingExperience,the event marks the climax of the football season and fans were treated to an unforgettable night filled with football, music, and excitement including enjoying cool Heineken.

Asides from the experience, it also brings the UEFA Champions’ trophy to the country and embarks on a tour with notable international and Nigerian sports personalities and music stars. Some of the international football stars who have embarked on the tour with the brand are Spanish and Real Madrid legend Carles Puyol and football legend Clarence Seedorf. Nigerian

legends, Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, and others have also been a part of the tour including music star, Davido. This stride many industry watchers said is inspiring the youth to strive for greatness while the brand is cementing its relationship with consumers.

On a fun side, a novelty match was held last year as part of the tour and Davido was handed the captain’s band, which led Team Nigeria to face UEFAAmbassadorClarenceSeedorf’sleadsquad to play in the game, which took place in Lagos.

On another note, Heineken is also the official global sponsor of the F1 race; in Nigeria, it recently hosted an exhilarating Monaco Grand Prix Watch Party in Lagos. It partnered with DStv, the official broadcast sponsor of F1 races in the country to host the event.

“Bringing the Monaco experience to Lagos was an absolute thrill for us as we were able to create opportunities for fans to immerse themselves in the excitement and thrill of Formula 1 whilst celebrating the spirit of passion, and performance. “ Sampson Oloche, Portfolio Manager, Premium Brands, NB Plc, said at the event.

Anniversary domestication

To commemorate its anniversary, at a press conference recently, Nigerian Breweries said it would host events in key cities across the country with the aim to bring consumers together for a memorable experience of music and entertainment. It also disclosed that it would launch a reward scheme to say thank you for consumers’ loyalty to the brand.

Essaadi explained that“To express our gratitude to our loyal fans and consumers in Nigeria, we will be unveiling a series of anniversary celebrations, kicking off this July 2023. These events will be a demonstration of our commitment to spreading the spirit of good times and embracing the gezelligheid lifestyle that Heineken represents!”

In the same vein, “Heineken’s 150th-anniversary celebration celebrates the fact that Heineken is called in different ways by different people,” remarked the Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Sade Morgan stated. “When you bring all that together, and all the different views, you find that they have a good time together. We bring people together, we make human connections, we have joy and have great and unforgettable good times.”

SampsonOloche,PortfolioManager–Premium, Sessionable& 0.0 Lager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, said, “In celebration of our 150th anniversary and our deep ties to Nigeria, we have exciting plans specifically designed for our Nigerian consumers.

“We will be organising events in key cities across the country, where our valued consumers can come together and experience the true essence of gezelligheid. These celebrations will showcase the vibrancy of Nigerian culture, featuring live music, entertainment, and unforgettable moments that capture the spirit of Heineken.

“But that’s not all. We are also planning massive rewards for our loyal consumers, media partners, distributors, and retailers who have been instrumental in our journey. We recognize and appreciate their unwavering support, and we want to celebrate them by offering exclusive experiences, exciting prizes, and special recognition for their contribution to our success.”

Of course, good times have changed over the 150 years of Heineken’s existence, and the brand promises to continue to evolve to ensure that consumers have good times. Recognising this and as part of the anniversary celebration, the Heineken brand has worked with academics to better understand the ingredients that are needed to deliver that feeling of “good times” in the modern day; a surprisingly under-studied human need.

As promoters of the Heineken brand unveil a global campaign to commemorate its 150 years anniversary, Raheem Akingbolu writes on the brand, its staying power and lessons to learn from its

Of course, good times have changed over the 150 years of Heineken’s existence, and the brand promises to continue to evolve to ensure that consumers have good times. Recognising this and as part of the anniversary celebration, the Heineken brand has worked with academics to better understand the ingredients that are needed to deliver that feeling of “good times” in the modern day; a surprisingly under-studied human need

Honeywell, Ecobank Saga is More Than 2 Firms Fighting

There is a low-burning, longrunning spat in corporate Nigeria that is astonishing in both its breadth and all-encompassing for its potential implications on how business is conducted in Nigeria. It involves Honeywell Group, one of the country’s biggest conglomerates with a diverse portfolio that spans agriculture, food processing, consumer products and telecommunications and Ecobank, a pan-African financial giant with operations in 33 countries. While it has seen an uptick in media attention over the last few months due to some eye-raising developments, most of the reporting and commentary has been mired in the minutiae of who wrote what and who is claiming what. It is important, however, to set out its larger implications for the capital markets, the work of the judiciary in adjudicating on big-ticket disputes and the wider economy.

A slightly lengthy but quick recap of how we got here is necessary. Three companies, Anchorage Leisures Limited, Honeywell Flour Mills and Siloam Global Services Limited borrowed from Oceanic Bank, which was subsequently acquired by Ecobank. These loans were all perform- ing (that is, being serviced) in accordance with the agreed terms. In May 2012, after Ecobank’s acquisition, Honeywell on behalf of the companies, commenced discussions to reach an agreement for full and final settlement of the indebtedness. In July of the following year, an agreement was reached that the companies will jointly pay the sum of ₦3.5 billion in full and final settlement. ₦500 million was immediately paid and a letter was written to the bank confirming the terms of the agreement. The bank responded in agreement. By early 2014, the companies had completed the payment of the agreed sum. Honeywell thereafter wrote to Ecobank confirming the completion of the payments and requested a letter of discharge, the release of the securities held against the facilities and an update of the Group’s accounts on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Credit Risk Manage- ment System (CRMS) portal. In February, Ecobank wrote to Honeywell confirming receipt of the sum and assured it would update the status of the concerned accounts on the CBN CRMS portal. As far as records show, this was and has not been done. In November 2014, following a long period of silence, Ecobank wrote seeking to introduce new conditions. That’s when the fireworks started.

In 2015, Honeywell petitioned the Bankers’ Committee, Sub-committee on Ethics & Professionalism for its intervention. The sub-committee ruled that the ₦3.5 billion agreement reached between Ecobank and Honeywell was a “full and final settlement” of Honeywell’s indebtedness to Ecobank and was valid. This was ratified by the Bankers’ Committee in June of that year. In flagrant disregard of the committee’s ruling, the bank continued to threaten the companies, even taking the extraordinary step to obtain an ex parte order effectively impacting the day-to-day operations of these entities (the order was ruled to have been wrongfully procured and the bank’s lawyers censured). The companies then asked the Federal High Court to decide whether or not they were still indebted to the bank. The final judgment in 2019 was in favour of the companies. Subsequently, Ecobank filed an appeal and won at the Court of Appeal in December 2020. The Supreme Court was always going to weigh in on this matter and in its verdict, it mystifyingly held amongst other things that the negotiations between the companies and Ecobank were inconclusive

and there was no final agreement for a payment plan therefore, the companies remain indebted to the bank. Crucially, the court was silent on the final amount of the supposed debt commitment. Attempts at resolving the impasse have stalled in part because Ecobank is now demanding an eye-watering and yet-to-be substantiated ₦13.5 billion.

Enter First Bank. Barbican Capital, registered in 2023 and controlled by Obafemi Otudeko and Foluke Oyeleye, acquired 4.8 billion shares or 13.3 per cent in First Bank’s parent company, FBN Holdings Plc. The duo are children of Mr Oba Otudeko, Chairman of Honeywell Group. However, Ecobank, through its solicitor ‘Kunle Ogunba & Associates wrote in early July 2023 to FBN Holdings asking them not to recognise the share acquisition on account of the outstanding debt. But neither Mr Otudeko personally nor the wider Honeywell Group were parties to the Supreme Court suit and so the judgement is not against either of them.

Ecobank’s unusually abrasive behaviour holds far more important implications than just trying to shake down a large conglomerate and its most important shareholder for a large pile of cash. Three are worth discussing in this piece. The first is the

hit that this long-running saga has dealt on a wider perception of our capital markets. While not a major development in the overall scheme of things: inflation, corporate earnings reports, monetary policy, credit ratings, debt sustainability and wider macroeconomic health still weigh heavily on the mind of investors, this development will certainly not have helped. After more than two decades of policymakers and market participants crow about the growing maturity of our capital markets to support wider economic developments, investors will not be thrilled to learn that the posture of Nigerian funders on credit recovery is abrasive and adversarial.

The point about effective dispute resolution naturally courses into the second lesson: the role of the judiciary in facilitating the adjudication of big-ticket disputes. The courts are responsible for interpreting and applying the law to resolve disputes. In business, this involves interpreting contracts, statutes, and regulations to determine the rights and obliga-

tions of the parties involved. Courts are to provide clarity and consistency in legal interpretation, ensuring that businesses can rely on a predictable legal framework. It is hard to make the case that in this instance, the courts have achieved that outcome. From conflicting judgements to entertaining problematic ex-parte and other procedural applications, the judiciary has helped turn this dispute into a decade-long merry-go-round.

At the core of this disagreement is not an inability to pay but ensuring what is paid is what is owed--a simple question that the courts have somehow negated to answer.

It is not without reason that corporate players in this market are huge fans of alternative dispute resolution methods such as arbitration or mediation - they are often faster, more dynamic and less contentious. In order to mitigate some of the inherent challenges associated with litigation, some countries and jurisdictions, including India, Singapore, Qatar and certain U.S. states such as Delaware, have dedicated courts to handle commercial disputes. A few Nigerian companies, mostly high-flying startups have gone as far as setting up shop in these jurisdictions in part due to the presence of these dispute resolution mechanisms. Even the now-defunct World Bank’s Doing Business reports recognise specialised commercial courts as an asset contributing to a good business climate. The practice is not foreign to Nigeria either - we have a dedicated court for labour and industrial disputes, the National Industrial Court. Last but by far not least is respect for institutions and their forward implications for doing business. In simple terms, a top institution should never engage in unfairly targeting one of its biggest clients. Former central bank governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had to come out of retirement to reaffirm that the ruling of the Bankers’ Committee--a consensus-based body comprising all Nigerian banks--remained valid. Why one of the committee’s members has chosen the arduous route of flouting established industry norms, however legitimate its concerns and lucrative the reward, is mystifying to many observers. Specifically, the conduct of its legal counsel has come in for strong criticism and was deemed sufficiently problematic that he was stripped of the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (it was subsequently restored).

Going by the fact that the legal counsel-who among other things, has set up a splinter group of legal practitioners--appears to be involved in another corporate saga amplified in part by his conduct, not much appears to have changed. The potential consequences, such as the erosion of trust, systemic risk, market distortions, legal and regulatory repercussions, and ethical implications, all make a strong case against such actions. Upholding principles of fairness, equality, and transparency should guide banking institutions’ operations to ensure the financial system’s stability and integrity while fostering a conducive environment for all clients to thrive. Put another way, a debt settlement issue should not have to be this acrimonious.

Towards assuring foreign investors, private and multilateral, that it is open for business, it is worth remembering that charity begins at home and domestic investors and captains of industry deserve some love as well. For an emerging market stepping out from almost a decade where the dominant perception is that we are a difficult place to do business, we must always remember that every move, every decision and every headline--good and unwholesome--will be closely watched, logged, assessed and digested. -

Otudeko

Ikemesit Effiong

Of course, good times have changed over the 150 years of Heineken’s existence, and the brand promises to continue to evolve to ensure that consumers have good times. Recognising this and as part of the anniversary celebration, the Heineken brand has worked with academics to better understand the ingredients that are needed to deliver that feeling of “good times” in the modern day; a surprisingly under-studied human need

Honda Offers N3m Discount as ‘Purchase Palliatives’ in Nigeria

Honda Automobile Western Africa Ltd (HAWA), the company that assembles a range of Honda cars for the Nigerian market, and intending buyers as much as N3 million discount as “purchase palliatives”.

According to the Head, Sales, Marketing & Logistics Department of HAWA, Mr. Remi Adams, the company is introducing the promo, tagged Honda Extra Awoof, in conjunction with its partner, THP Limited (The Honda Place), which is bringing into the package its nationwide network of modern showrooms and service/ maintenance centres.

The unprecedented promo, scheduled to as N3 million from the prices of the current models of the well-accessorised CR-V and the top-of-the-range Pilot.

For instance, this considerable price slash has seen the Honda CR-V Leather going for N44 million; the Honda Accord Leather down to the same tag (N44 million); and Honda Pilot now N47 million.

The hugely discounted price tags includes an unmatched service plan backed by manufacturer warranty.

Adams stated that the ‘secret’ behind HAWA being able to slash car prices at a time their competitors are upwardly adjusting theirs according to market forces, lies in targeting

TIPS OF THE WEEK

“And that is not all the cheery news in the promo, because nothing can be more exciting to a car owner in the prevailing economic crunch than labour and replacement parts, which Honda is wooing it’s teeming lovers with,” Adams said. the globally acclaimed Honda Genuine Motor Oil (HGMO) - same oil the cars leave the factory with, “and something they can’t buy from the open market.”

Manufacturer Warranty - a component of the for the same period, guarrantees peace of mind to owners.

Lanre Shittu Motors to Export LSM Vehicles From Assembly Plant

Lanre Shittu Motors has said it would in a couple of months begin the exportation of a new brand of vehicles assembled in Nigeria to other countries in Africa.

The vehicles would carry the LSM brand name to be marketed locally in other countries as some of the best products from Nigeria.

Managing Director/CEO of the company, Mr Taiwo Shittu, disclosed this in an interview with some journalists in Lagos recently.

“We have brand new vehicles coming in very soon. They would be in our brand name, LSM,” he said.

He also revealed that the company would before the end of the year, unveil electric and CNG vehicles assembled at Lanre Shittu Motors plant in Ogun State.

According to him, the LSM vehicles rollout will commence with the pickup and commercial vehicles such as small buses ‘Korope’, two ton trucks, three ton trucks, mass transit buses and electric buses.

“Gradually, we would be going into the cars and heavy duty trucks”, he stated.

The MD also noted that the project would opportunities for the masses.

He stated, “It will not only add value to Lanre Shittu Motors but to the country and the “value-added” for the country is that, we will be able to export these vehicles outside Nigeria.

“And hopefully, we will get more foreign investors coming to Nigeria. Who says the GM and other automakers cannot invest in LSM?”

The MD noted that the company would start exportation to West African countries before moving to other regions and outside Africa.

He stated, “We need indigenous companies to start doing things well and exporting their products, not just importing. Importing is costing the country a lot of money.

“We will be creating more jobs for the people with this project. We will have a lot of businesses spring up from this – battery, tyre, glass and the fabric/leather seat making companies for the vehicles in Nigeria.”

Taiwo Shittu said some investors were already talking to the company on the project, adding that they were only waiting for the policy and

Tips for Preventing Petrol Evaporation

Do you find that you’re going through your petrol quicker than you thought? It might not be something in your head. You may have an issue with petrol evaporation. While petrol evaporation is usually more of a problem in the hot summer months, it still does occur in the colder months as well, which means you will need to safeguard against it at all costs. If you want to save money at the pump now and all year-round well, here are a few things to keep in mind to avoid wasting petrol due to evaporation.

Make Sure Your Petrol Tank Cap is On and Tight: Every time you go to the pump, make sure that you secure your petrol tank cap tightly after refueling your vehicle. While it’s not the end of the world if you forget, you will likely lose some petrol if the cap isn’t tightly fastened. If your gas cap goes missing, be sure to replace it as soon as you can.

Park Your Vehicle in a Shady Area If It’s Hot Outside: As we mentioned above, petrol evaporation is more likely to occur when it’s hot outside. While most of the country is in a deep freeze right now, you can rest assured that the weather will start to heat up in a few months. When your car is parked and it’s stifling/hot outside, petrol will evaporate from the fuel tank. Although you can’t prevent evaporation completely, parking in a shadier area where the temperature is cooler can mitigate the damage.

Purchase Your Petrol in the Morning or Late Evening: A good rule of thumb is to hit the fuel pump when the sun’s not out. This again goes into the idea of heat. The temperature is at its lowest early in the morning or late in the evening, and this is the best time to purchase petrol to reduce the amount of gas evaporation.

legislation from the government.

He expressed optimism that the Bola Tinubu administration would favour investors and investment in the country.

“He re-structured Lagos as the state governor many years ago. He is a master strategist,” he stated.

He said the company planned to make it a huge success having nurtured many foreign auto brands from ground zero to the top in Nigeria.

“We made the JAC and Mack brands popular in Nigeria,” he said.

These tips will certainly help as you look for ways to save on your fueling costs. Even if you forget, the good thing is that most auto manufacturers are using fluoropolymer tubing in their automotive EVAP systems. Fluropolymer tubing has low petrol permeability. In addition to that, it’s lighter than steel tubing, which means less petrol is needed to power the vehicle. Fluropolymers are used for a wide variety of automotive applications, and this certainly includes reducing petrol evaporation

(Source:Fluorotherm)

Latest models of Honda cars

Lanre Shittu Motors assembly plant in Lagos

IMAGES

On Sunday July 23rd, 2023, the Alli-Balogun Family, Friends and Members from All Branches of the Dynasty organized a reception in remembrance of the wealthy business magnate, philanthropist and lslamic Scholar, the late Sheik Aliu Makanjuola Alli-Balogun (a.k.a Alli-Oloko), who died on July 13th, 1933 at the age of 103. In commemoration of his 90th Year Anniversary, on Thursday July 13th, 2023, Alli-Balogun Memorial Foundation was launched to consolidate and preserve his legacies and philanthropic gesture. According to the organisers, this became imperative to propagate his values namely; education, community and inter-religious relationships. The grand and colourful ceremony tagged 'It's Party Time' held at Eko Club, Surulere, Lagos had representatives from the late tycoon's descendants to the eight generation.

L-R: Great Grandsons of the deceased: Vice-Chairman, Alli-Balogun Descendants Union, Dr. Gbolahan Alli-Balogun and Chairman, Alli-Balogun Descendants Union, Otunba Adeyinka Ojora-Adejiyan

Oniereke Branch: L-R: Alhaja Wusamot Dawodu, Ms. Omolola Alli-Balogun, Alhaji Wazee Akanni Alli-Balogun and Mr. Olatunde Salako

L-R: Alhaja Hafsat Wuraola Ajenifuja and Alhaja Rabiat Adedolapo Kasumu

Adikatu Branch: L-R: Prince Toyin Modile, Mrs. Mojibola Bashua, Mrs. Sherifat Williams and Alhaji Hafiz Jenmi

Chairman, Alli-Balogun Memorial Foundation and lya Adini Alli-Oloko Wasinmi Mosque, Alhaja (Mrs.) Lateefat Yoyinsola Aderemi-Makanjuola

L-R: Great Grandchildren of the deceased, Alhaja Lola Ogunbambi, Otunba (Engr.) Olufemi Akingbade and Mrs. Timi Alaiyemola

L-R: Granddaughter of the deceased and Mogajia, Alli -Balogun Descendants, Alhaja Jemilat Oladepe Akingbade and Alhaja Mujidat Ogunfowora

R-L: Mrs Tokunbo Johnson, Alhaji Oladusun Alli-Balogun and Alhaja Muyibat Alli-Balogun

Member, Board of Trustees, Alli-Balogun Memorial Foundation and Pro-Chancellor, Summit University, Offa, Kwara State, Alhaji Rafiu Adisa Ebiti and his wife, Alhaja Adebisi Ebiti

L-R: Member, Board of Trustees, Alli-Balogun Memorial Foundation, Hon. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, Mrs. Tinuola Jabita and President Eko Club, Alhaji Razaki Amodu

Board of Trustees, Alli-Balogun Memorial Foundation, Hon. Jamiu Tolani Alli -Balogun, Otunba Adeyinka Ojora-Adejiyan, Alhaji Rafiu Adisa Ebiti, Alhaja Lola Ogunbambi, Dr. Gbolahan Alli-Balogun, and Mr. Etiko Adekunle Rasaki

L-R: Great Grandson of the deceased, Hon. Uthman Wazee, Prince Farouk Adele and Prince Teslim Akeem

L-R: Secretary, Alli-Balogun Descendants Union, Alhaja Bola Akingbade and Mrs. Laide Sowemimo-Coker

L-R: Aliu Makanjuola Alli-Balogun and Alhaji Bashir Sanda

L–R: Mrs. Bimbola Fowora and Veteran Journalist, Alhaji Tella Waheed

L-R: Mr. Ladi Johnson, Honourable Justice Olasumbo Goodluck JCA and Alhaji Disun Alli-Balogun

L-R: Members,

In a celebration mood, the Titilola Branch dancing at the event

Member, Board of Trustees, Alli-Balogun Memorial Foundation, Alhaji Adekunle Razaq Etiko and wife, Mrs. Olufunke Etiko

Alhaja Salami Mr. Yinka Daramola

POLITY

Babalola: Strike By NLC will Be Calamitous

Olaoluwakitan Babatunde

Aretired Deputy Director of the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources, Engineer Sunday Babalola, has urged the federal government and the organised labour to avert the impending strike.

He said the strike threat by the Nigeria Labour Congress, if not averted, could plunge Nigeria into deeper economic woes and more hardship for Nigerians.

Babalola said strike would further dislocate businesses and lead to unquantified financial losses and reduce Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.

He urged the FG and labour to dialogue, adding that labour should not go ahead with the strike.

Babalola also called on the FG to display fidelity to its promises to Nigerians and agreement with labour as a way of averting the strike and cushioning the hardship Nigerians have been plunged into since the removal of petrol subsidy.

Babalola, who is a former Kwara State governorship aspirant, told Nigerians that the current hardship will not be permanent.

He urged them to only spend on essential things and cut costs.

Babalola said,” We should be patient. This hike will settle itself out. When they removed the subsidy on diesel, we were buying diesel for about N1000 per litre. But right now, it has come down to N600 per litre.

“Nigerians should also be sure that whatever is happening now is temporary. It will abate. I want to assure Nigerians that hard times never last but tough people do. The hard times will, without doubt, go ahead.

“I want to advise Nigerians to cut costs from those things

that they are doing that are sincerely not necessary. For somebody you want to call and discuss something, call the person on the phone and not you must see the person. There is a saying that ‘talk is in the eye.’ You do not need to see the person before you talk. So cut unnecessary expenditure. If and do those things that are truly necessary, everything will eventually stabilise. It is better for us to go through this than for us to pretend that we are doing subsidies whereas a few are embezzling the nation’s treasure.

“The marketers should import the refined product. It is now an open system. I want to advise everybody that this thing is not one-way traffic. So many things will be affected by what we are doing now. The exchange rate will affect it, oil prices will affect it.

“The government should just be focused and do the right thing. They have the facts. They have the data. My advice will be based

Kolawole Ogunwale: Atiku An Asset to Humanity

The recent attack on former Vice President Abubakar Atiku by suspected members of Boko Haram has been described as the handiwork of people planning to eliminate him for selfish reasons.

Senator Felix Kolawole Ogunwale, Asiwaju Ilu Iragbiji, said this in a statement yesterday, expressing his disappointment in those behind the plot, because they do not know the huge stature of the former vice president of Nigeria.

Ogunwale said, “I am personally sad and cannot convey the level of my dejection, that the esteemed personality of His Excellency, Abubakar Atiku (GCON) The Wazirin Adamawa, could be a subject of unjust attack of alleged assassination by some dastardly

and evil-minded persons that allegedly paraded themselves as Boko Haram disciples.

“I want to put it out and very strongly too, to Nigerians, that Atiku is an asset to humanity. A rare treed nationalist and elder statesman, that could not hurt a fly. God forbids it, any harm to Atiku in whatever guise, would have been a great disaster to the nation, being an employer of labour, that provides means of livelihood to over five thousand people as his personal staff in various categories of his establishments, nation-wide.

“Atiku Abubakar, I posited, is a humane personality with a large heart and beautiful soul, whom a cross-section

on what we read in the newspapers and hear on the television news. But the real advice is if you have the raw data and you analyse it. Then you can give proper advice. But on the surface, they should be focused. The issue of palliative of subsidy should be totally de-emphasised because we do not have good statistics that will clearly show who is getting what. So, we will be enriching a few people.

“A few years ago, we had pensioners’ money eaten and some people who are there are still looking for a way to make money out of government. They will just raise a few people or the same set of people who will now find ways to corner the money. Even without NIN, there are fake accounts. You can see it because a lot of people are still doing 419.

“The labour should sheathe their sword because, in a turbulent environment, you cannot think of a solution. What will the government give to the workers? If you add N10,000 or N20,000 to them, how much effect will that have on the school fees? How much effect will that have on food, even water they drink? We are not creating or doing the things that will actually help the people. Even if I have ideas for business now, so many things will come to play. Where will I get the capital?

“They should think about what will help the generality of the people and not what will help 30 per cent of the people because everybody that is a salary earner today may not be more than 30 per cent of the population. What happens to the remaining 70 per cent?

Both the FG and Labour should avert this strike. They should sheathe their sword and come together and think together. How can we help the populace and not how will we put more money in our pockets that inflation and exchange rate will eat away and at the end of the day, they are virtually back to square one?

of Nigerians, overwhelmingly voted for at the February 25 presidential election and who would have provided succor to Nigerians without any attendant controversies.

“I am too sure, the Boko Haram dissidents living in the jungle, do not know the value of the person known as Atiku Abubakar, hence, the attempt to succumb to ill advice emanating from evil people to get at Atiku by all means because when people attempt to get at a godly person and they fail, they resort to evil physical attack to get at the person.

“May I implore Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and indeed all patriotic Nigerians to be on their guard 24/7 and be very watchful of the antics of heartless people living in our midst. May Allah protect Alhaj Atiku Abubakar and preserve him for the good use of Nigerians and indeed humanity to fulfill his destiny of service as ordained by God and also record success at the on-going presidential election tribunal.”

L-R: Chief Commercial Officer, Lekki Freeport Terminal, Kehinde Olubi-Neye; General Manager, Government Relations & Security, Lekki Freeport Terminal, Fubara Awantaye; Managing Director, Lekki Port, Du Ruogang ; Acting Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi; Managing Director, Lekki Freeport Terminal, Yann Magarian and Chief Operating Officer, Lekki Port, Laurence Smith during the official visit to Lekki Port, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos….yesterday

L-R: Managing Director, inq Digital Nigeria,Valentine

L-R: Wife of Assistant Provincial Pastor, Admin, Ekiti Province 8, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Olukemi Olusegun Michael; Assistant Provincial Pastor, Admin, Ekiti Province 8, Pastor Olusegun Michael; Pastor-in-Charge of RCCG, More Than Conquerors Area, Pastor David Olayemi; his wife, Pastor Oluwaseyi; and Pastor-in-Charge of Restoration Zone, Lagos Province 19, RCCG, Pastor Paul Amure, during the 13 anniversary thanksgiving of RCCG, More Than Conquerors Chapel, held at Oke-Ayo, Magboro, Ogun State,…recently

yesterday

Chime; Group Chief Executive Officer, Glad Dibetso; Executive Chairman, Andile Ngcaba; and Sales Director, Peter Evbota, at a media roundtable discussion, “Leading With Edge: The Future of Edge Solutions in Nigeria” held in Lagos…. yesterday

L-R: Founder and Convener, Teens Think, Kehinde Olesin; Veteran Nollywood Actress, Iretiola Doyle; Winner, 2023 Teens Think National Essay Competition and Student of The African Church Model College Lagos, Adenuga Adeniyi; and Chairman Advisory Board, Teens Think, Adeyemi Adeboye at the Grand Finale of the 3rd Annual Teens Think National Essay Competition in Lagos ….

Babalola

Bennett Oghifo

Victor Osimhen Will He be Tempted by Saudi Surge?

Though Premier League chief executive, Richard Masters insists he is not concerned about the rise of Saudi Arabia’s influence within the world of football, it is obvious now that each time Saudi sneezes, European football catches cold. Since Al-Nassr signed Cristiano Ronaldo, a number of high-profile players have moved to the Southwest Asian country. It therefore came as no surprise that Al-Hilal is turning attention to Napoli sensation,Victor Osimhen.Whether the Super Eagle will be tempted by Saudi dollar and join the bandwagon has left pundits with fingers crossed

After failing to lure France poster boy, Kylian Mbappé, Saudi Arabian side, Al-Hilal has turned attention to Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimen, SportMediaset informs.

Al-Hilal are set to be ready to table a large offer for Napoli and the striker, L’Equipe relays (via EuroSport).

Meanwhile, the Nigerian star is in advanced talks to extend his contract with Napoli until 2027, but the parties are having trouble agreeing to the amount of his future release clause. Aurelio De Laurentiis would gladly omit it from the contract altogether. Still, there’s optimism he’ll stay put this summer, Calciomercato informs.

However, another report has it that Osimhen is also being lured by Ligue 1 giant. Paris Saint Germaine and he is expected to earn €50m if he makes the move to French capital.

De Laurentiis expects to receive a milliondollar offer for the player and has credited PSG as the only club that can afford the Nigeria international.

After other top clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich have pulled out of negotiations for Osimhen due to Napoli owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis’ high asking price, PSG made an offer of €120m for the Nigerian which the Serie A champions have rejected.

Napoli values Osimhen at €150m and no club is currently willing to meet that asking price.

“The only club that could afford Victor Osimhen is Paris Saint-Germain,” De Laurentiis told Mediaset.

According to elfutbolero.us, if PSG buy the 24-year-old, the player could receive a salary of €50m to be the star of the team but Osimhen is not keen on a move to the Ligue 1.

Multiple sources in Italy claim Osimhen returned to Paris on Wednesday, but his trip to France doesn’t seem linked to a possible move to PSG.

La Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Corriere dello Sport claim Osimhen was spotted at Naples’ Capodichino Airport on Wednesday, boarding an AirFrance 1579 flight for Paris.

Both Italian papers claim the Nigeria international returned to the French capital to meet some of his friends on his day off. He was not accompanied by his agent Roberto Calenda who is in talks to extend the striker’s contract with the Serie A champions.

Osimhen’s current deal at the Stadio Maradona expires in June 2025 but Napoli are in a rush to extend his stay at the club. However, there is still no agreement over the striker’s new salary and a potential

release clause that may be included in his new contract with Napoli.

Osimhen has repeatedly said that he wants to continue with the Partenopei and probably wanted to confirm his commitment on Wednesday when he tweeted a picture of himself training in a Napoli kit.

Interestingly, in the vibrant city of Naples, the euphoria surrounding the star striker of Napoli, Osimhen, has reached unparalleled heights.

The enthusiasm has spread like wildfire, engulfing not only football fans but also the local zoological community.

In a touching and significant gesture, the Naples Zoo has chosen to bestow the name “Victor” upon a recently born black Jaguar, according to Tutto Napoli.

This symbolic act pays tribute to Nigeria’s football sensation, while also shedding light on the conservation needs of this endangered species.

The birth of this young Jaguar, a remarkable specimen of the Panthera onca species, is both a cause for celebration and concern for the Naples Zoo.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Panthera onca as “near threatened” (NT), indicating the constant dangers it faces in its struggle for survival, primarily due to habitat loss and other human-induced factors.

Seizing the moment, the Napoli Zoo has

taken to its social media channel to underscore the significance of this naming event. By drawing a special connection to Osimhen, the zoo aims to raise awareness about the fragility of the Jaguar’s existence and the urgent need for conservation efforts.

According to Sky Italia, Napoli and Osimhen are close to finalising a new contract after several rounds of talks with the player’s agent, Roberto Calenda. But the release clause remains a point of contention. While the club wants the figure to be around €200 million (£171m/$219m), Osimhen’s entourage wants a lower fee and a settlement could be reached at around €150m.

The Nigerian’s current contract with the Serie A champions ends in 2025 and it has been reported that he will commit at least one more season to the current deal. During the meetings with Calenda, most of the talks circled around his wages and the release clause and it is now believed that the striker is now closer than ever to signing the extension.

If Osimhen indeed signs the extension, PSG will have to look at options elsewhere. A couple of weeks earlier, Calenda had dismissed reports of potential issues over a new contract with Napoli and De Laurentiis has always been bullish in his confidence that the striker will stay at the club despite interest from some of the biggest names in Europe.

Osimhen’s 22 goals in the league this season have lifted Napoli to be among the best attacking teams in Europe.

Kenneth Omeruo Third ‘Missionary Journey’ to Turkey

After two earlier stints with Super Lig side, Kasimpasa, first in 2015/16 season before a second one in 2017/18 season, Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo returned toTurkey onTuesday for third spell after Spanish side, CD Leganes, agreed to release the Nigerian

Turkish Super Lig club

Kasımpasa on Thursday announced the signing of Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo.

The exact length and details of the financial terms of the contract have not been disclosed, but what makes this deal intriguing is that Omeruo had a lucrative offer from a Saudi Pro League club on the table.

However, he chose to turn down the attractive deal in favour of returning to the Turkish Super Lig.

The signing ceremony took place at Kasımpasa’s Turgay Ciner Sports Facilities, where Omeruo put pen to paper, committing himself to the club.

Before this, he successfully underwent a medical examination at Liv Hospital Vadi Istanbul, ensuring his fitness for the up coming season.

This will not be Omeruo’s first stint with Kasımpasa. In the past, during his time at Chelsea, he enjoyed two loan spells with the Istanbul club, racking up an impressive 54 appearances.

Moreover, he boasts a total of 79 appearances in the Turkish topflight, spread across two different clubs. Notably, 26 of those appearances were for Alanyaspor during the 2016-2017 season.

Before making this move, Omeruo was associated with Spanish La Liga 2 team CD Leganes, but they have now officially parted ways with him, despite having a year left on his contract.

Omeruo arrived Turkey on Tuesday to finalise a move from CD Leganes to Super Lig side, Kasimpasa.

As reported by Spanish outlet AS Diario fews weeks ago about the willingness of the Spanish club to part ways with the Nigerian international this summer, with the aim to rem ove him from their wage bill as he is currently among the top earners at the club.

Leganes and Kasimpasa have agreed to a deal for the transfer of the 29-year-old former Chelsea defender to move to Turkey this summer.

The completion of the transfer sees Omeruo depart from Spain after five years with the Segunda division club.

Omeruo is making a r eturn to the Turkish Super Lig club after a previous loan stint in the 2017/18 season.

Omeruo was said to have been mulling over a big-money offer from a Saudi Arabian club before his trip to Turkey.

The unnamed Saudi Arabian are in the market for a central defender and

offered him four million dollars per season in wages but the 29-year-old sensationally rejected the proposal.

Omeruo had two different loan spells with Kasımpasa during his time at Stamford Bridge, making 54 appearances in all competitions and scored one goal while registering an assist.

He initially joined Leganes on a temporary basis in August 2018 and the loan deal was made permanent the following summer.

Omeruo arrived Turkey on Tuesday after saying his goodbye to his teammates and staff of Spain’s Segunda division side, CD Leganés following his move to Turkish Super Liga club, Kasimpasa.

“Our new transfer, Kenneth Omeruo signed a contract that binds him to Kasimpasa at the signing ceremony that took place after having his medical,” the Turkish club said.

Omeruo took to social media where he wrote that he is happy to make a return to Kasimpasa: “New chapter. God’s Work. Excited to be back at Kasimpasa SK,” he said.

The 29-year-old also said an emotional goodbye to the fans of former club, Leganés where he played for five seasons, having joined from Chelsea back in the summer of 2018.

“I want to thank you for the last five years I’ve played for this great club, thank you for the love and support you gave me and the team even when we weren’t giving it.

“You deserve it, you kept coming to the stadium, spending your money and supporting us. I have to say goodbye but I’m one of you because wherever I am, I’ll be cheering for Leganés.

“And hopefully, we get what we deserve which is the promotion to La Liga. Thank you for helping me achieve my dream to play in Laliga and play against the best players.

“Thank you, CD Leganes for your support, belief and trust in me. It was a great privilege to be the captain of the team. I will follow you forever and you will be in my heart.”

The defender who played in the Nigeria U17 team and Under-20 setups, before going on trial with Belgian giants RSC Anderlecht and was snapped up by another Belgian top divi sion side, Standard de Liège.

Just as it seemed that his international career was over, Omeruo has found favor with Jose Peseiro in recent matches, with the Portuguese football tactician naming him in the starting lineup and handing him the armband for the last two competitive matches played by the national team.

Omeruo joins Turkish club Kasimpasa for a third spell

Jenkins Alumona

Naija Super 8, Foundation for Great Property

The recently concluded maiden edition of the Naija Super 8 has been hugely hailed in several quarters for helping bring Nigerian football fans back to the stadium. In spite of the successes the tournament recorded, the CEO of Flykite Productions, Jenkins Alumona, organisers of the tournament however said it was not yet Eldorado.Alumona, the man whose organisation in partnership with MultiChoice revived boxing in Nigeria told Kunle Adewale that introduction ofVAR among many other things are on the card to take Super 8 to the dream land, excepts

For a long time now European football has taken the shine off our local league, but with Naija Super 8, it has been proven that if Nigerian fans are offered good football locally under a conducive atmosphere people would turn out at the stadiums. This was exactly what Flykite Production did with the support of MultiChoice.

Asked if he was satisfied with the final outcome of the maiden edition of the Naija Super 8, the CEO of Flykite production, Jenkins Alumona said, “I won’t say I am satisfied or dissatisfied with the outcome of the Naija Super 8, however, we were able to lay the foundation for a great property. I think we scored about 70-75 per cent, but considering that our benchmark for success at Flykite is 80 per cent, we are just a bit short of our expectation.”

For Alumona, Flykite managed to organise a fairly good competition in terms of timing and adequacy of a number of factors. “I am satisfied with the involvement of the fans, especially during the semi-finals and on the final day. Some of the days during the week, the fans turnout didn’t meet our expectations but we understand that this is just the first year and people are catching on very slowly. But ultimately, on the final day we were satisfied with the fans, the way they showed their support, their solidarity for their club. However, we are dissatisfied with some of the disorderliness witnessed. Nigerians are not used to being orderly in the recent past so it was a bit difficult telling people where to sit and they obey, but as the competition progressed, we started witnessing some progress and improvement in that area. And I hope that next year we can push that even further,” he expressed.

Continuing, the Vice President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria said, “Football-wise, I think the competition scored a good 7/10, but with the teams seeing the benefits and the fans urging them on more, the standard of football will improve to our 80 per cent benchmark for success.”

Officiating in Nigerian football is something that has attracted lots of criticism until recent past and Alumona said the officiating at the Naija Super 8 was fair.

“The officiating was also fair. The referees tried. Though we saw a few bad calls, but it’s not what some people may insinuate. Sometimes, it may be down to incompetence, tiredness or human error. Human beings make mistakes, we all make mistakes, but its also an area we will improve upon next year.

We provided the referees with communication gadgets to improve the officiating. Hopefully, next year we may add VAR to reduce the errors to the barest minimum. I think we’ve started a good journey,” he noted.

Reacting to the congestion of fixtures in which some teams played two matches in two days, the member of the Nigeria Institute of Marketing said it was caused by the realignment of the Nigeria football calendar.

“It only happened because the teams in the NNL just finished their playoffs and it would be unfair to expect them to start with every other teams. It took a lot of work to rejig those fixtures to accommodate them and the clubs understood. But with our discussions with the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF), who are central to the success of the competition, we won’t witness such. We would have gotten our own date carved out in the calendar long before the competition to avoid teams playing two game in a row as witnessed in the last edition,” he assured.

Finidi Assures Enyimba will do Well

Despite Champions League Tough Draw

Enyimba of Aba Head Coach, Finidi George has reacted to the draws that placed the Peoples Elephant against Al Ahli Benghazi in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.

In an interview with Enyimbafc.net, the head coach expressed confidence in his team’s chances but also sounded wary of the quality

of the opponents.

“They are a team with a lot of experience in this CAF Championship, a very difficult side and they’ve played against Enyimba twice in the past.

“Looking at the draws, we should be able to handle it. If we prepare very well, we will not have a problem to go through. But they are an experienced side who know

how to play this tournament. They also have a very lively home crowd, so we have to be prepared.

“We are looking forward to it because it is a big task for us, but we must psyche the players and motivate them, and get them physically ready for that battle.

“I hope we get a good result in the first leg because that will put us in a good place.”

On the issue of some of the participating team coaches complaining about the timing of the competition, which they said did not give players enough time to rest, Alumona also adduced it to the country’s football calendar. “It’s still down to the calendar. When the calendar is realigned properly next year as we have received assurances from the highest level of Nigerian football that that would be done. But let’s not forget that it’s a pre-season tournament where you’re supposed to test some of your players and also rest the tied ones. Some teams actually did that. They may not have won the tournament but they saw the benefits. I know one or two club owners who called privately to thank us for this tournament because they discovered players, they tested their teams, saw where they were lapses and found ways to fill it just from this tournament.

“It’s a pre-season tournament, it’s not the league where you must win. We are happy with how far we went and we’re happy with the feedbacks we’ve gotten. As I said earlier, with the realignment of the calendar by the NFF and NPL board those things will not happen next year,” he emphasised.

On how the momentum and the ambiance witnessed in the Naija Super 8 could be transferred to the coming NPL season, Alumona said it’s not the responsibility of the organisers to bring the fans to the stadium, but rather the responsibility of the clubs.

“The organisers of the league have shown from last season that they have the capacity to do the right thing, to provide the enabling environment for success and reduce incidences of violence. Poor officiating had been reduced tremendously and I believe this season will witness further improvement. Therefore, it’s now left for the clubs to engage with their fans to watch them by good perf ormances and better engagements.” The Flykite boss noted.

One of the visions of the Naija Super 8 is bringing the fans back to the stadium and also enriching the clubs on how far the tournament achieved these two targets, Alumona is of the opinion that Naija Super 8 have to a large extent achieved these.

“The vision is the Super 8 is to engage the fans of Nigerian football, in that sense we have. We have rekindled their interest in

the game, we have rekindled their relationship with their clubs, we have reminded the clubs that their fans are central to whatever they do-their success or failure. In that sense I think we have moved some steps forward. As per enriching the clubs, that will take time. Whatever it is the clubs got is not enough for them to become suddenly rich but we have shown that this could be done and there is a part to it. Enriching the clubs is beyond just one tournament, it takes several tournaments. The league itself has to be rich enough to enrich the clubs. The tournaments are just to help solve a few problems and pay a few bills,” he clarified.

Against the clamour in some quarters that the tournament should be enlarged to accommodate more team, the Chairman, Lagos State Boxing Association said they are maintaining the status quo and that it would remain the Super 8.

Asked if the organisers would stick to the Eket Township Stadium and the Mobolaji Johnson Arena for the tournament’s playoffs and finals respectively, for the next edition of the tourney, Alumona said it’s too early to decide on that as the organisers are still doing a postmortem of the last edition.

A tournament could hardly survive without sponsors, therefore the Flykite CEO will always be appreciative of all the sponsors that threw their caps into the ring for the first edition.

“All the sponsors performed well for agreeing to be part of the maiden edition. The question is if they got what they expected from their investment. Only they can determine that and if they want to come back. We hope and beg that they come back because they are the reason for the success and we appreciate them. The success that everybody is referring to is actually of a very strong partnership between Flykite and MultiChoice-a huge giant company agreeing to partner with us in a project like this. They agreed to partner with us with GOtv Boxing which was a huge success. They also agreed to partner with us with football and we’re seeing the result. Its only partnership like this that can lift as any sport and help it progress. We are actually depending on our sponsors retuning next year to progress.”

One symbolic thing that was witnessed during the Super 8 is that at the end of every match, clubs were mandated to give their jerseys to fans, this is something the organisers say will be a tradition in subsequent tournaments.

“It’s going to stick in subsequent editions. We are so serious about it and that was why we fined two clubs that erred and next year we’re going to be even more serious about it. The Naija Super 8 is about the fans and we think we should appreciate them anytime the come to the stadium. And next year’s edition we will appreciate them more beyond giving out jerseys, we are hoping that the sponsors encouraged by what they saw this year will engage, support and appreciate them more.

After Flykite in conjunction with GOtv woke up Nigeria boxing from the dead and brought back fans to the stadium with Naija Super 8, the question put forward to Alumona was which sport would be next on the agenda for revival.

“That is not the item on the agenda now. The item is to consolidate and to drive Super 8 further down the line of success,” he expressed.

Sporting Lagos celebrate winning the maiden edition of Naija Super 8

Alumona... Flykite boss

My Dad Unhappy with My Shirtless Celebration, Says Oshoala

Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala, says her father “is not happy” about her celebration after scoring the third goal in Nigeria’s 3-2 defeat of Australia at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

The 28-year-old was brought on in the 64th minute of the game, and a little over 10 minutes later, she scored what would prove to be the decisive goal of the encounter on Thursday.

She capitalised on a defensive mix-up by the Australians.

Mackenzie Arnold, the Matildas’ goalkeeper, was out in pursuit of a longball into her goal area, but a

lapse in communication resulted in Alanna Kennedy nodding the ball past the onrushing goaltender.

Oshoala pounced on the fluff and placed the ball home into the empty net, and she became the first African to score at three different Women’s World Cup tournaments. In celebration of the goal, she yanked off her jersey as she reeled away with her teammates in pursuit.

The image of Oshoala, shirtless and clad only in a sports bra, has gone viral on social media, generating diverse reactions.

In a post on her Instagram

page yesterday, Oshoala revealed her father’s displeasure with the goal celebration.

“My dad is definitely not happy with my choice of celebration, but then again, life is a collection of moments,” the post read. Oshoala was born in Ikorodu area of Lagos, Nigeria to an ardent Muslim background.

Super Falcons’ victory over Australia sent the Nigerians to the top of group B — marginally on a superior number of goals scored by the team. Nigeria will play the Republic of Ireland in the final group game on Monday.

Milan Boss Showers Encomium on Chukwueze, Says He’s ‘Complete Winger’

AC Milan manager, Stefano Pioli says he is anticipating to work with Nigeria’s Samuel Chukwueze following the completion of the 24-year-old’s transfer to the Italian club.

Chukwueze completed a sensational move to the seventime European champions from Villarreal on five-year contract this week, following weeks of negotiations over a transfer fee between the two clubs.

The Italian giants identified the Nigerian as part of their plans for the coming seasons and saw an initial £20m bid rejected by Villarreal, before both clubs later agreed on a £28m transfer fee for the player.

He arrived as Milan’s seventh signing in this transfer window, following the arrival of Christain Pulisic, Tijjani Reijnders, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Noah Okafor, Luka Romero and Marco Sportiello, as they are working on rebuilding their squad ahead of what is expected to be another competitive season in Italy.

Chukwueze registered 13 goals and 11 assists in 50 games for Villarreal last season, and was ranked fifth with 76 successful dribbles in Europe’s top five leagues.

Speaking after their defeat to fellow italian club Juventus in a pre-season game in the United States, AC Milan manager

Atama Anza Usman: Nigerian Kid Sensation Yearning for Global Attention at Britannia Cup

By Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Nigerian starlet Atama Anza

Usman is hoping to excel at the Summer Britannia International Cup Football Tournament, which holds in Chester in the United Kingdom.

Academy in Abuja and has won several laurels presenting the academy.

The 12-year-old player, who is a student of Africa Community School (ACS), Asokoro, Abuja is an attacking midfielder.

Stefano Pioli claimed the 24-yearold has all the attributes he is looking for in a new winger and labelled the Nigerian as a “complete winger” as quoted by calciomercato.com We had spoken to each other a couple of times; we were looking for a player with these characteristics. He’s fast, technical, strong in one-on-one situations and attacks deep. He seems like a complete winger to me, Pioli said Milan could have the first taste of the Nigerian winger in action when they take on Spanish giants Barcelona in another pre-season game on the 2nd of August.

Ahead of Fury’s Showdown, Ngannou Turns to Lewis for Training

In preparation for his October 28 mega- buck boxing superfight against Tyson Fury, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou may undergo special training under the tutelage of former heavyweight boxers, Lennox Lewis to prepare him.

Ngannou disclosed the possibility of getting some elite level pros to help him step up his game.

“I think getting some advice or some training from somebody like Lennox Lewis could be good. I love his boxing style, very basic but very sharp and efficient. One-two punches, all that stuff, classic but very good.”

Unperturbed by Fury’s threat ahead of the clash, Ngannou said “He better just get ready for October 28th, because if he’s

not taking this serious, I think he might get surprised and get some regret for his life. I’m coming for all, this is my moment.”

Expressing his eagerness to help Ngannou with a few boxing tips Lewis said “When I talked to Francis Ngannou a couple of months ago about his boxing training I advised him on the importance of developing a really good jab. I am happy to support Francis and his team in their preparations for the upcoming fight with Tyson Fury in October.

I am currently in talks with Team Ngannou and I am happy to give boxing advice alongside, my old friend. Mike Tyson”.

Ngannou recently left the UFC where he was the heavyweight champion recently to enter the

The player, who hails from Nasarawa State will return to the summer football camp/Britannia Cup having been among the winning team in the UK at the Summer Football Camp in 2021and 2022 respectively.

Aside inspiring the participants, the Britannia Cup, which is an international tournament for under- age players, offers guided tours of Liverpool FC Anfield, Manchester United FC Old Trafford, and Manchester City FC Etihad Stadium for all the players.

The budding Nigeria youth, who is very comfortable on the ball is already dreaming of using the international tournament as a window to develop his skills and attract the attention of scouts that work for some of the top clubs in Europe.

Without mincing words, he said his dream is to play in the English Premier League, which is the most coveted league in the world.

He captains the U-12 age group at the Pepsi Football

Usman, who also played for FAFC in the Abuja Kids League, has scored more than eight goals this season.

His football role model is the legendary Brazilian, Ronaldinho who won two FIFA World Player of the Year awards and is the only player ever to have won a World Cup, a Copa América, a Confederations Cup, a Champions League, a Copa Libertadores and a Ballon d’Or.

A global icon of the sport, Ronaldinho was renowned for his technical skills, creativity, dribbling ability and accuracy from free-kicks, his use of tricks, feints, no-look passes and overhead kicks, as well as his ability to score and create goals. The now retired player is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

“Ronaldinho is my football role model. He inspires me and I dream to play at his level one day. He is an inspiration to me and several other young players of my age. But aside from him, I also love watching all the big clubs and their armada of stars like Christian Ronaldo, Messi, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Ansu Fati, Vini Junior

Ngannou

free agent market because of his interest in chasing boxing superfights with the likes of Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury.

Eventually, the Cameroonianborn Frenchman landed on a massive contract with the PFL, one that would guarantee him a big payday for future MMA bouts, while also leaving him free to pursue his boxing goals.

Zagg, Amstel Malta Celebrate Super Falcons’ Win against Australia

Raheem Akingbolu

Zagg, the official energy drink of the Super Falcons, and Amstel Malta, the official malt drink, have congratulated the Super Falcons on their resounding 3-2 victory against Australia in the ongoing World Cup. As partners and supporters of the team, they expressed joy in witnessing the Super Falcons’ extraordinary performance and their triumphant display of skill, passion, and determination on the global stage.

Portfolio Manager, Beyond Beer, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Olaoluwa Babalola, stated in a statement issued yesterday that the Super Falcons showcased their unwavering determination, grit, and sheer talent on the field, delivering an awe-inspiring display of football prowess that captivated fans worldwide.

“Their exceptional teamwork, skillful plays, and unwavering spirit have earned them this well-deserved triumph against a formidable opponent,” the statement said

It stated that Zagg, known for empowering individuals to achieve their peak performance, played a pivotal role in supporting the Super Falcons on their journey to success. Commenting on the win, Babalola, said “As the official energy drink of the team, we have witnessed firsthand the dedication and hard work they have put into their training and preparation for the World Cup. We take immense pride in knowing that Zagg’s energy played a part in fueling the Super Falcons’ relentless pursuit of victory and glory”.

I continue to dream and put in the extra work, I will definitely actualise my dream and become a household name like one of them” Usman said.

Usman also dreams of captaining the Super Eagles and winning laurels with the national team. But the starting point for the starlet is to represent the Nigeria’s U-17 national team, the Golden Eaglets, using the famed age-grade team, which has produced world famous stars like Nwankwo Kanu, Celestine Babayaro, Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi as a platform to attain stardom.

Winners Emerge as 18th Ademiluyi Tennis Ends at Country Club

The 18th Dr. Joseph Ademiluyi Tennis Clinic and Tournament came to a colourful end at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja at the weekend with winners emerging in seven categories.

Tesese Ahinjer won the red ball final at the expense of Zara Adegoe while Korede Ogunbunkolade emerged winner in the orange ball category, Semilore Majekodunmi and Duro Adewunmi took the girls’ and boys’ under 14 titles by beating Simi Adewunmi and Fawaz Sulaiman respectively while Terten Ahinjer defeated Blake Akpan to rule the boy’s under 16 class.

Bisola Odukoya and Adesewa Olaniyan were the queens of the under 12 and under 14 categories as the outplayed Simi Adewunmi and Su’unter Ahinjer.

14 others up and coming talents were recognised for their promising showings, The champions, who were rewarded with plaques, medals and certificates are due for a two-week training camp as part of rewards for their outstanding displays by co-sponsor, Human Manager. The camp, which is scheduled to run from August 1-15 will hold at Surulere and Ikeja.

Tennis Section chairman Babatunde Fashanu (SAN) lauded the Ademiluyi Tennis Foundation for their continuous sponsorship.

He pointed out that as a tennis tournament sponsor, how knows how challenging it is to hold tournaments yearly.

LCC President, Seyi Adewunmi, who was also a former chairman of the tennis section, commended the sponsors. He noted, among others, that some of the participants that took part in the programme are now flying high Nigeria’s flag at various junior circuits in Africa and beyond.

Calvin Bassey Joins Fulham on a Four-year Deal

Fulham have signed Nigeria defender Calvin Bassey from Ajax after the two clubs agreed a 22.5m euros (£19.3m) deal.

The 23-year-old has agreed a contract until the summer of 2027, with a club option to extend by a further year.

“I know how big of a club Fulham is, I didn’t have to think much about it,” said Bassey.

The move is subject to inter-

national clearance, which the club said it expects to receive next week.

Bassey, an Italy-born Londoner, came through the ranks at Leicester before joining Rangers in 2020.

Following a successful twoyear spell, in which he won a league title and reached the Europa League final, he moved to Ajax for an initial

23m euros (£17.2m)

He has 10 caps for Nigeria and made his Super Eagles debut in a World Cup qualifier last year.

“Calvin’s been a top target for us, so we’re all delighted that he’s committed for the long term with Fulham, and we’re looking forward to watching him progress,” said Fulham sporting director Tony Khan.

Asisat Oshoala’s shirtless celebration in Nigeria versus Australia 2023 Women’s World Cup match may not have gone well with dad

Samuel Chukwueze poses with AC Milan jersey during his unveiling by the Serie A giants

Oshiomhole on Looting by 9th Assembly Lawmakers

“In spite of the presence of security men and women, television sets, carpets, and chairs were looted by the immediate past senators and House of Representatives members.” –Senator Adams Oshiomhole accusing 9th Assembly lawmakers of robbery while leaving.

UZOR MAXIM UZOATU

GUEST COLUMNIST

The Legend of ‘Yebo Gogo Man’ Kole Omotoso

The news that came from Johannesburg, South Africa on July 19, in this year of our Lord, was heartrending: Kole Omotoso is dead! The lionized writer, Kole Omotoso, was my teacher at the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, for four years of my study there in the Dramatic Arts Department with Professor Wole Soyinka as Head of Department.

My first encounter with Kole Omotoso as a lecturer resulted to my handing over a manuscript of mine to him when he asked us, his students, if any of us had “written something, maybe a play or novel.” That manuscript of mine was accepted by Macmillan, publishers of the popular Pacesetters Series, but I kept having some arguments with the publishing house until the Nigerian economy collapsed and the novel could no longer be published. But that is another story…

Professor Bankole Ajibabi Omotoso was born in Akure in present-day Ondo State on April 21, 1943 and was educated at Oyemekan Grammar School, Akure and the prestigious King’s College, Lagos, before taking his university degree at the University of Ibadan in 1969.

He was awarded a scholarship to study for a doctorate in Arabic Literature at the University of Edinburgh and the American University in Cairo, Egypt.

He married Marguerita Rice, a native of Barbados, before returning to Nigeria to teach in the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Ibadan.

With the establishment of the Department of Dramatic Arts at the University of Ife under the headship of Soyinka, Kole Omotoso transferred his services to Ile-Ife where we met.

He was a striking presence on campus with his Volkswagen Beetle car and the Marxist predilection of his bearing. He was a prominent member of a Marxist group of intellectuals known as the Positive Review Collective that included the fiery Biodun Jeyifo, Yemi Ogunbiyi, Femi Osofisan, John Ohiorhenuan, Odia Ofeimun etc.

The intellection on the Ife campus those days was robustly radical, and the exchanges between the lecturers and the students could be high octane. There was, for instance, one hot session in class when our teacher, Kole Omotoso, and our classmate, Owei Lakemfa, disagreed on the interpretation of a book by the Marxist theoretician, Raymond Williams, which led to the abrupt end of the class!

It’s a mark of Kole Omotoso’s class that he never visited any harsh retribution upon any contrarian student for any excesses whatsoever.

Wole Soyinka summed up the class struggle of those days thusly: “They are my students. They don’t listen.”

Kole Omotoso was elected as the first secretary-general of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and later became president after the founder Chinua Achebe.

His first novel, The Edifice, was published by the esteemed Heinemann African Writers Series (AWS) in 1971. It deals with the sad disintegration of the marriage between the Nigerian overseas student, Dele, and the English girl, Daisy, when he takes her home

to Nigeria. The marriage ends and he marries another white woman. The second novel of Kole Omotoso, The Combat, published in 1972 also by Heinemann’s AWS, is a sad parable on the Nigeria-Biafra war depicting two brothers embroiled in a senseless fight.

He published a collection of short stories entitled Miracles in 1973 and initiated the experimentation in detective fiction in Nigeria through his 1974 publication of Fella’s Choice. His other books are Sacrifice, The Scales, To Borrow a Wandering Leaf, Memories of Our Recent Boom etc.

He also published two plays, namely The Curse: A One-Act Play in Four Scenes; and Shadows in the Horizon: A Play about the Combustibility of Private Property.

Kole Omotoso equally distinguished himself by authoring critical books, notably The Form of the African Novel: A Critical Essay; The Theatrical into Theatre: A Study of the Drama and Theatre of the English-Speaking Caribbean; Season of Migration to the South: Africa’s Crises Reconsidered; Achebe or Soyinka? A Study in Contrasts; and Woza Africa.

The most controversial book of Kole Omotoso is without question Just Before Dawn, a faction on the history of Nigeria published in 1988 by Spectrum Books, Ibadan under the charge of Chief Joop Berkhout. A former Nigerian Head of State threatened to sue him and his publishers. Hell was let loose in some security quarters. The most interesting development about the book’s publication for me was the war it unleashed between two of Nigeria’s most distinguished historians. Prof J.F. AdeAjayi of the then History Department of the University of Ibadan stated that he felt more history in Kole Omotoso’s Just Before Dawn

when compared with the 13-volume history of Nigeria commissioned by the General Olusegun Obasanjo government and edited by Prof Tekena Tamuno. It’s understandable that Prof Tamuno was not amused at all that his colleague, Prof Ade-Ajayi, had a greater feel of history in the admixture of fact and fiction called faction than in a proper book of History with a capital “H”.

Back in 2018, Kole Omotoso reflected on 30 years of Just Before Dawn thus: “Why faction?

This has been one of the many questions about the book. In continuous discussions about the idea of the book with the late Dele Giwa I came to the conclusion that the overall effect would be worth achieving through a style far from the so-called objective historical narrative. Dele Giwa made the case for prose style that affected the reader internally. This should not be a history book. It should be a historic book. I had hoped that he would live to approve of it. What about a sequel?

I did attempt a sequel entitled DAYBREAK!

The dark clouds had gone and all Nigerians woke up to go to work: the weaver went to his or her weaving machine. The clerk bathes and takes his biro pen and paper and on to the office. The doctor takes his bag and bedside manners and off to the hospital she goes. And so on. But I have no idea where that manuscript is. It is obvious that a sequel in the same manner of detailed narrative of wrong decisions and wrong options although aplenty would be boring to write. It would also be difficult to read. Once, in this case, is enough. How things changed for the better would have been the natural sequel to the book. And since nothing has changed for the better there is no sequel to write. Or is there?”

Kole Omotoso eventually left Nigeria following the ruckus elicited by Just Before Dawn. He briefly got himself in theatrical undertakings at Talawa Theatre Company in London. He wrote articles and reviews for West Africa magazine as demanded by the London-based magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Kaye Whiteman who was his friend.

He served as a visiting professor at the University of Stirling and was also a visiting professor at National University of Lesotho.

Kole Omotoso was professor of English at the University of Western Cape, South Africa from 1991 to 2000. He served as a professor in the Drama Department of Stellenbosch University from 2001 to 2003. He did a stint with Elizade University upon his return to Nigeria.

He was an advisor to the Big Brother Africa television show which put him in some conflict with his guru Prof Wole Soyinka. He was the patron of the Etisalat Prize for Literature from 2013 to 2016. A prominent public intellectual, he wrote the weekly column “Trouble Travels” for The Guardian on Sunday.

Kole Omotoso shook up South Africa when he started appearing all over the media as the face of the leading telecommunications giant Vodacom. He got splashed all over the television and on billboards as the “Yebo Gogo Man”.

It’s remarkable that when Kole Omotoso met Nelson Mandela, the legend described the Nigerian as “the most photographed man in South Africa.” It takes more than magic to rival the great Mandela for popularity! Incidentally, Kole Omotoso acted the role of Govan Mbeki, Mandela’s fellow prisoner on Robben Island, in the television film Mandela and de Klerk.

Even with all the fame and fortune, Kole Omotoso still retained his personable mien anytime one ran into him in the Lagos home of his bosom friend, the poet Odia Ofeimun, author of The Poet Lied. Having known him from his Great Ife Marxist days as a “ragged-trousered philanthropist” - apologies to the title of the proletarian novel of Robert Tressel - I cannot but celebrate my teacher’s revelation that if a play was being staged in London and he felt like going to watch it, he would just hop into a plane in South Africa, land in London, watch the play, and fly back to South Africa!

A noteworthy fact about Kole Omotoso is that he lived to the old age of 80 after being a sickly child who was nicknamed “Mosquito” by his naughty schoolmates. In fact, some of us in the department at Great Ife called him “Agama Lizard” – behind his back!

He was the father of three children from his first marriage – Akin the influential filmmaker, Pelayo the engineer, and Yewande the novelist and architect who designed his father’s house in the Akure bush.

Kole Omotoso later got married to Bukky after the death of Marguerita, and the marriage is blessed with the children Taiwo and Olamiposi. The renowned author is also survived by his grandchildren Alula, Itai, Paida, Kehinde and Taiye.

Novelist, playwright, scholar, critic, public intellectual, raconteur, actor, loner, teacher, multidimensional author, Kole Omotoso deserves celebration because the writer never dies.