The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Gunmen murder Anambra community leader

    Gunmen murder Anambra community leader

    From Elekwachi Chinedum, Onitsha

    Two persons have been assassinated by gunmen in Ogidi community in Idemili North local government area of Anambra state.

    The deceased, President-General of the community and one other yet to be identified were killed Friday night at the community’s school field.

    The Nation gathered that the murder victim recently lost his mother.

    Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the incident, saying the murder might not be unconnected to recent capture and killing of a known notorious cultist within the community.

    He said police operatives had taken over the scene of the incident while investigations had commenced.

    He added that efforts were on to arrest the perpetrators, calling for calm and cooperation among residents.

    Read Also: Nigeria’s economy: What is to be done?

    According to Ikenga, “Anambra State Police Command regrets the murder of the President General of the Ogidi community and one other person.

    “The incident, which occurred in the evening of 6th February 2026 at the School Field, Ogidi, is allegedly linked to the recent capture and killing of a known notorious cultist within the community.

    “Following the report, police operatives swiftly took over the scene of the incident and commenced investigations.

    “The Command is currently working with eyewitness accounts and other available intelligence to identify and arrest the perpetrators,

    “The Anambra State Police assures members of the public that all efforts are being intensified to bring those responsible to justice.”

  • Kwara massacre belies end of Mamuda/JNIM terrorists

    Kwara massacre belies end of Mamuda/JNIM terrorists

    In August 2025, National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu enthused about the capture of Ansaru terror leaders, Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda), as signifying the end of Mamuda terror masterminds in Nigeria. As he put it: “Abu Bara’a was the self-styled Emir of ANSARU and coordinator of various terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria. He was also the mastermind of several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to finance terrorism over the years. The second was Mallam Mamuda, Abu Bara’s proclaimed Chief of Staff and Deputy. He was the leader of the so-called ‘Mahmudawa’ cell hiding out in and around the Kainji National Park, straddling Niger and Kwara States up to Benin Republic. Mamuda trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, specialising in weapons handling and IED fabrication.”

    Mr Ribadu continued: “These two men have been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years. They jointly spearheaded multiple attacks on civilians, security forces, and critical infrastructure. Their operations include the 2022 Kuje prison break, the attack on the Niger Republic uranium facility, the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp in Katsina, and the May 1, 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba (Magajin Garin Daura). They were also behind the abduction of the Emir of Wawa, and they maintain active links with terrorist groups across the Maghreb, particularly in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.”

    The exultation has proved to be short-lived. Barely six months later, the same group, having replenished and rebranded itself as a Boko Haram affiliate and produced vicious successors as well as rearmed its foot soldiers, has attacked Kwara State again and massacred dozens of people in Woro community of Kaiama local government area. Casualty estimates range from over 75 to over 170. The scale of the slaughter has shocked not only Nigerians but the rest of the world. The Kaiama attack was, however, not the first in the Borgu area of the state, and despite the continuing arrest of terror leaders, it may not be the last. Far beyond the discouraging scale of last week’s killings, and beyond the episodic and desultory response by Nigeria’s security agencies, it is time for a comprehensive review of the country’s security paradigm. The existing one, this column continues to argue, is simply not working. Whether in Kebbi, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger, Plateau, and now Kwara, the response to terrorist attacks has been chaotic and ineffective, achieving occasional triumphs, but in general unable to stanch the flow of blood in those theatres.

    A security paradigm review is sorely needed, for the mere act of arresting or neutralising terror leaders in the Northwest, Northeast and now North Central has become an insufficient deterrence. Here are a few suggestions: (1) Nigeria must refuse to resign to the fatalism of accepting terror attacks as a way of life. It implies embracing, like Pakistan, Somalia, and DR Congo, the idea that the problem is insurmountable. (2) While the country rapidly expands military recruitment, it must recognize that it will never have enough troops to deploy to trouble spots. So, it needs winning strategies. (3) But it is time the country and its government realise that Nigeria is at war, and the country must be put on a war footing. It is futile thinking a few deployments here and there will be enough to pacify trouble spots that began in the Northeast, has spread to the Northwest, is now effectively in the North Central, and appears set, with probing attacks already taking place, to spread to the Southwest. (4) The new security paradigm must be firmly anchored on the right military doctrine that produces strategies, tactics and principles to guide how Nigeria battles and counters centrifugal forces encircling the country and gnawing away at its central nervous system.

    Specifically and tactically, while the security paradigm must encompass all other threats, including providing for hybrid warfare, it clearly knows that the terror attacks on Nigeria have been largely asymmetric. This requires Nigeria to also be highly innovative, mobile, and equipped with diverse platforms. Consequently, among other measures, it is urgent to do the following. (1) The threat areas must be saturated with surveillance and intelligence gathering to locate and neutralise terror cells, regardless of the inhospitable terrains involved. (2) Divide the attacked states into operational sectors for monitoring and action, and equip troops with the most modern and secure communications gadgets to alert intervention forces. (3) Create rapid deployment intervention forces capable of deploying forces quickly and in all terrains and in all weather in response to alerts from forces near the epicenters of attacks. (4) Assign local commanders to the various sectors for close monitoring and control, reconnaissance patrols, initial interdictions, and capacity to link up with nearby sector commands for cordon, search, and elimination of enemy forces. And (5) enshrine the doctrine of hunting attackers down until they are eliminated, not repel, secure the release of abducted people, or keep attackers at bay. The best form of defence is always attack.

    Read Also: Press freedom, intelligence power, and Nigeria’s democratic signal to West Africa

    President Bola Tinubu has responded to the attacks by ordering the deployment of a battalion of troops in the Kaiama area. But what is the size of the battalion? The Woro community recalled a previous deployment of 15 soldiers who were eventually withdrawn after an attack by the Mamuda/JNIM terrorists. The beleaguered community fears that local informants and collaborators might have aided the attackers and compromised the safety of the entire area. Why would there be no collaborators where terrorism has festered for too long? Indeed, the confidence rebuilding that must be done and the infrastructure needed to combat Ansaru will be much bigger than whatever had been mustered in the past or the current desultory approach. The president must get the security agencies to come together and plan a final assault. Enough of the pussyfooting. It is time to take the battle to the terrorists, as is being done in the Northeast, after many years of dithering and hand-wringing. Delay can be fatal to the country’s existence.

    Importantly too, it is time the military reappraised their tactics. It is not enough to foil terrorist attacks, especially when the attacks target communities, or rescue abducted victims; they must, in addition to developing intelligence on enemy movements and camps, urgently develop the capacity to isolate the enemy and conduct large-scale encircling operations against them until they are choked and destroyed. Yes, there may continue to be a few collaborators and infiltrators, but these must also be ferreted out and terminated. Everyone in Kaiama Knows where the terrorists camp in the Borgu Reserve and Kainji National Park areas are located. Nigeria’s security agents can’t claim ignorance of those locations, especially after the Woro community passed on the threat messages sent by the terrorists. The massacre in Kaiama is inexcusable. It is time to do something about Mamuda/JNIM terror groups, whether they are affiliated to Boko Haram or Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb. There is no reason to allow the terrorists stay in those locations for much longer, not to talk of planning the next set of attacks, except compromisers have hollowed out the security services and are calling the shots. Hopefully, Nigeria’s military top brass and Defence ministry officials will visit the massacre scenes and be prodded into finally addressing the country’s intelligence failures and slow response time, both of which are costly and unpardonable.     

  • PDP: Wike gets upper hand again

    PDP: Wike gets upper hand again

    Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, has an uncanny ability to stay on the right side of the law in nearly all his litigations within and against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Unlike his opponents in the party, many of whom are not lawyers, his law education appears to confer some advantages on him. On January 30, a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan voided the party’s November 15-16, 2025 national convention held in Ibadan. In the judgement, Justice Uche Agomoh held that last year’s convention was conducted in disobedience to two court orders, insisting that factional national chairman Tanimu Turaki’s effort to secure legitimacy for both the convention and the executives produced by the convention was an exercise in futility. Justice Agomoh was of course referring to the October 31, 2025 decision by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja halting the convention, and the November 14, 2025 decision by Justice Peter Lifu ordering the suspension of the convention in a case brought by former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido complaining against exclusion.

    The Seyi Makinde-led PDP inanely conducted the convention citing a November 4, 2025 ex-parte order issued by an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan and presided over by Justice Ladiran Akintola. By early November, the dispute over the convention had virtually resolved itself through the two Federal High Court judgements, but the Makinde faction had spent too much to make a U-turn of fail to clutch at a straw by procuring the ex-parte order. But responding to the faction’s adamantine resolve to hold the convention, Mr Wike had sarcastically retorted that the intransigent party members were on a jamboree. The former Rivers governor, it turned out, was right, regardless of the causticity of his remarks. While the Makinde faction still continues to talk tough, Mr Turaki has sensibly headed to the Court of Appeal to see whether his faction could secure legitimacy. He won’t get his wish. Mr Wike, like him or hate his guts, has woven a tight web around the legal neophytes of the Makinde faction, so tight they can’t even wriggle. They are already suffocating, in contrast to the tough jurisprudential talk by the Forum of PDP chairmen who assert their determination to forge ahead notwithstanding court judgements.

    Last Thursday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rubbed it in on the Makinde faction by proceeding to recognise the Wike faction. At the quarterly meeting between the Commission and leaders of political parties, Caretaker Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed and Caretaker National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, both of the Wike faction, were invited. Shutting out the Makinde faction executives may not sound the death knell to their leadership of the party, especially considering that they had lodged an appeal, but legal experts are not optimistic about a reversal of fortune for them. Leading PDP chieftains anticipated this conundrum long before the November 2025 dates for the convention were fixed. All warnings, however, fell on deaf ears. Now, with the neutering of the convention and the enthronement of the Wike faction in the PDP saddle, estranged PDP leaders will either have to swallow their pride and begin to deal and negotiate with Mr Wike or abandon the party altogether. It is not certain what kind of suicide they might opt for.

    What is beyond controversy, however, is that because of his legal fleetness, Mr Wike has regained a party that former vice president Atiku Abubakar and his cohorts tried to snatch, after first leaving it for dead in 2019. To regain control of the opposition party, the FCT minister had played his politics right by declining to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that made him a minister, staying the course knowing full well that Alhaji Atiku and his crowd were feckless and inattentive, and lending the party character, style and purpose. Party chieftains like Bode George may find Mr Wike somewhat objectionable, and former senate president and Kwara governor Bukola Saraki may be unnerved by the FCT minister’s mannerisms; but both of them, and perhaps many more, recognise that Mr Wike’s doggedness, combativeness, and charisma were best suited to help the party survive the blitz that swept over it in the past few years.

    Many times this column had advised the PDP to rebuild and reform and prepare itself for the 2031 polls, but the urgency of regaining power in the short run had always transcended the sensibleness of reclaiming its leading position in the medium to long run. It was that urgency, plus the indecipherable desire of Mr Makinde to run for the presidency in 2027, that led to the serial blunders of the past few months. Mr Wike, despite his flaws, not to talk of the collapse of his ambition in the 2023 elections, suspected that getting the PDP to root for 2027 was a far-fetched proposition. He had labored to stay in the PDP against his better judgement when Alhaji Atiku took the presidential ticket, but once the chance of a southerner winning the presidency arose in late 2022 and early 2023, his instincts led him to offer support to another candidate across party divides. He seems to believe that abandoning the self-sustaining logic that took a southerner to the presidency would be fatal to everything he stands for. If he appears to treacherously keep the PDP in subjection, it is less because he loathed his party than because he senses that it would be dangerous to fiddle with the logic that propelled Bola Tinubu to the presidency.

    Read Also: Summit targets $500m investment in Nigeria

    In the months ahead, Mr Wike will continue to bask in the legal euphoria his court victory has rightly gifted his faction. His faction will win over many state chairmen who had backed the Makinde faction because they initially thought it was impossible for the pendulum to swing in any other direction. The Wike faction has set a timetable for the PDP national convention; it will follow it scrupulously, probably with a few amendments. They know it is inconceivable for the courts to backpedal, and they know that even if the other stray PDP faithful were to return home, they would be incapable or agile enough to upset the Wike apple cart. The Wike faction will consequently produce the next PDP executives. But whether the executives and party members will be united enough to queue behind his ginger straddle on the national scene or not is hard to fathom. For the many elected lawmakers and the few governors left in the party, some of whom are too galled by the politics of desperation of Alhaji Atiku’s African Democratic Congress (ADC), it will be a relief to finally reclaim the PDP, get their election forms properly and legally signed, and compete for offices, particularly at the lower levels.

    The survival of the PDP is not really in doubt. It will bounce back after 2027, and will probably give a good account of itself before and during the 2031 elections. If Mr Wike survives the Rivers scare personified by the flighty Siminalayi Fubara, and if he continues to play his politics calculatingly and with less agitation and hysteria, he will not only hold on to Rivers, he will continue to find significant relevance in the Tinubu cabinet, where he is a performer, and will ultimately offer PDP the leadership it badly desires in the years ahead. While he is growing into a fairly endowed political tactician, his triumphs have so far seemed entirely fortuitous. To hone his political skills, and to continue to matter in the PDP in Rivers and nationally, he will have to eschew the impulsiveness and naivety that propel his choices, whether of succession at the state and party levels or his options at the national level. He has successfully encircled his remaining enemies in the PDP, after first indirectly getting rid of his more unappeasable foes. If his image is not to be sullied, and if his influence is to last for as long as he dreams, he must now find value in making more friends than enemies, being less brash and imperious, and developing the immense capacity to tolerate dissenters as much as his brittle image can sustain. But in all, Mr Wike has so much to be grateful for, for no politician in these parts and in recent years has so consummately run with the hare and hunted with the hounds.

  • Shina Peller donates ₦5m for Kishi Education Trust Fund

    Shina Peller donates ₦5m for Kishi Education Trust Fund

    The Ayedero of Yorubaland Hon Shina Peller has donated N5m to the Kisi Education Trust Fund.

    He announced the donation during the annual Kisi Day celebrations on Saturday.  

    The event, which served as a major cultural and developmental milestone for the community, attracted prominent indigenes, traditional leaders and residents of the Oyo town.

    Addressing the gathering, Peller emphasised the critical role that education plays in the advancement of any society. 

    He noted the Trust Fund serves as a vital tool for ensuring that the youth of Kisi have access to quality learning opportunities and financial support for their academic pursuits.

    The Kisi Education Trust Fund was established to bridge the gap in educational infrastructure and provide scholarships for brilliant but underprivileged students within the community. 

    Peller’s ₦5 million contribution is expected to provide an immediate impetus for several ongoing projects spearheaded by the fund.

    Kisi Day is an annual festival celebrated by the people of Kisi (the headquarters of the Irepo Local Government Area). 

    It is a day dedicated to celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the town, discussing developmental challenges and solutions and raising funds for community-led initiatives.

    Read Also: Press freedom, intelligence power, and Nigeria’s democratic signal to West Africa

    Moreover, the annual event is aimed at strengthening the bonds between Kisi indigenes at home and in the diaspora.

    Peller, a former member of the House of Representatives representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency, attended the event not just as a statesman, but as a “son of the soil.” 

    His mother, Alhaja Silifatu Peller, hails from Kisi, a connection the former lawmaker frequently cites as a source of his commitment to the town’s progress.

     Peller said: “Education is the bedrock of any meaningful development. My mother’s roots are here, and my heart remains with the people of Kisi. 

    “We must ensure that the next generation of Kisi indigenes are equipped with the knowledge and skills to compete globally. This donation is an investment in that future.”

    The fund’s leadership expressed deep gratitude, noting that the contribution would significantly assist in:scholarship schemes such as providing tuition assistance for high-achieving students from low-income families, rehabilitating aging classrooms and providing modern learning materials to local schools and others. 

    The Iba of Kisi, HRM Oba Masoud Aweda Oyekola Lawal (Arowoduye II), with the Kisi Progressive Union (KPU), praised the gesture as a “shining example of patriotism.” 

  • Kwara Terror Attack: Southern Governors’ Forum commiserates with Kwara govt, calls for prosecution of perpetrators

    Kwara Terror Attack: Southern Governors’ Forum commiserates with Kwara govt, calls for prosecution of perpetrators

    The Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has commiserated with the government and people of Kwara State over the deadly terrorist attacks that claimed at least 162 lives in the villages of Woro and Nuku.

    In a statement issued in Abeokuta on Saturday, Abiodun expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing it as a tragic and unfortunate act in which innocent and law-abiding citizens were brutally murdered while going about their lawful activities.

    The governor condemned the reported targeting of residents who allegedly refused to adopt Sharia law, noting that homes and shops were burnt while several people were kidnapped by the attackers, who are believed to be affiliated with Boko Haram.

    He described the act as most horrendous, stressing that Nigeria remains a secular state that respects freedom of religion.

    Read Also:Press freedom, intelligence power, and Nigeria’s democratic signal to West Africa

    Abiodun called on law enforcement agencies to track down the perpetrators and ensure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, insisting that Nigerians deserve to live without fear of senseless violence.

    He said, “On behalf of myself and my colleagues in the Southern Governors’ Forum, I express our deepest condolences over the dastardly terror attack in Kwara State, in which jihadists murdered innocent people in cold blood.

    “This is senseless violence that must be nipped in the bud. We urge the security agencies to intensify their operations against the perpetrators of this terrible incident and bring them to book.

    “They must never get away with this. They must be hunted down and dealt with severely.

    “We commiserate with His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq, and the people of Kwara State over this tragic incident.

    “We hope justice will be served while the security agencies do everything within their power to ensure that the slaughter of innocent citizens comes to an end.”

  • Lookman opens account in Atletico’s Copa rout

    Lookman opens account in Atletico’s Copa rout

    Ademola Lookman kick-started his Atletico Madrid career in spectacular fashion, scoring on his debut during yesterday’s 5-0 thrashing of Real Betis.

    The Copa del Rey quarter-final, held in Seville, saw the Nigerian international immediately repay the club’s faith. Signed just this past Monday from Atalanta in a €40 million deal, Lookman justified the investment in his very first outing. He netted Atletico’s third goal as the visitors raced to a dominant 3-0 first-half lead against their La Liga rivals.

    David Hancko opened the scoring for Atletico, heading home in the 12th  minute. Continuing their total dominance, the Rojiblancos doubled their lead at the half-hour mark when Giuliano Simeone rifled a right-footed shot into the net.

    Read Also: Morocco 2025: NFF backs  Chelle to achieve future greater things with Eagles

    Lookman, who remained in the thick of the action throughout, found his moment in the 37th  minute. He powered home a right-footed strike to the delight of the travelling fans, marking his first goal for the club.

    Atletico refused to let up after the break. Antoine Griezmann and Thiago Almada added further goals in the 62nd  and 83rd  minutes, respectively, to complete the 5-0 scoreline.

    Lookman’s move to Madrid is already being hailed as one of the most significant transfers by an African player in this January window. Notably, the 28-year-old has made history as the first Nigerian to play in the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, and now La Liga.

    “I’m coming to another top league, in a top country, with a new language. I’m very excited about it,” Lookman said upon his arrival. “It’s a blessing to be at such a massive club.”

    With a debut goal under his belt, Lookman appears ready to conquer Spanish football.

  • FCC Boss targets national unity through strategic NFF partnership

    FCC Boss targets national unity through strategic NFF partnership

    The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hon. Hulayat Ayo Omidiran, has underscored the vital role of institutional partnerships in fostering equity and national unity—specifically within the sports sector.

    Speaking during a courtesy visit from Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau yesterday, Hon. Omidiran emphasized that the FCC’s mandate of fairness and transparency extends to all 700+ MDAs, including sports bodies.

    While appreciating the NFF delegation, Hon. Omidiran reaffirmed the Commission’s constitutional mandate over Nigeria’s public sector institutions and stressed the need to uphold federal character principles even within sports administration.

    “The Federal Character Commission supervises and monitors over 700 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies across the country. Institutions connected to sports administration are not exempt from the principles of equity, fairness, and national balance,” she said, in company of Hon. Halima Ahmadu Jabiru, Commissioner representing Nasarawa State.

    “Our collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation will advance our vision of ensuring that opportunities in governance and sports are inclusive, transparent, and representative of Nigeria’s diversity. We will also leverage the unifying power of football to bring Nigerians closer together,” she added.

    Read Also: Morocco 2025:  NFF launches NAIJA 4 THE WIN campaign for Super Eagles

    “Strengthening engagement between regulatory institutions and sporting bodies is key to reinforcing accountability, fairness in appointments, and balanced national representation,” said the former Nigeria Women Football League chairman and Omidiran Babes proprietor.

    NFF President Gusau, accompanied by high-ranking officials including First Vice President  Felix Anyansi-Agwu and Secretary General Dr. Sanusi Mohammed, congratulated Omidiran on her appointment. He praised her legacy as a pioneer in women’s football and reaffirmed the NFF’s commitment to working with the FCC to ensure balanced development within Nigerian football structures.

     “We are here to congratulate Hon. Omidiran on her new appointment and to pay a solidarity visit to her as a long-time, high-ranking member of the Nigerian football family,” Gusau said. “The Nigeria Football Federation recognises the critical role of the Federal Character Commission in promoting fairness and national unity. We look forward to strengthening collaboration that supports balanced development within our football structures,” he added.

    The NFF delegation also had in attendance Board Member and NLO chairman Hon. Silas Agara, Director of Competitions Ms. Ruth David, Director of Finance and Administration Mr. Rajan Zaka and other NFF staff.

  • Valencia Coach backs  Sadiq  Umar despite Copa exit

    Valencia Coach backs  Sadiq  Umar despite Copa exit

    Valencia head coach Carlos Corberán has refused to blame Super Eagles striker Sadiq Umar for his side’s Copa del Rey exit following a 2–1 home defeat to Athletic Bilbao.

    Valencia were knocked out of the competition after a dramatic encounter at the Mestalla, where Sadiq found himself at the centre of attention, scoring at both ends in a game that proved decisive.

    Read Also: Morocco 2025:  NFF launches NAIJA 4 THE WIN campaign for Super Eagles

    Despite the Nigerian forward’s unfortunate own goal, Corberán was quick to defend his player, insisting the incident should not overshadow his overall contribution.

    The Valencia boss noted that own goals are part of football and praised Sadiq’s work rate and commitment, stressing that no player intentionally puts himself in such a situation.

    Corberán’s comments underline the club’s continued support for Sadiq, who has remained a hardworking presence since his arrival, despite the disappointment of the cup exit.

  • Kun Khalifat FC rescinds decision  to withdraw from   NPFL

    Kun Khalifat FC rescinds decision  to withdraw from   NPFL

    Kun Khalifat FC have reversed their decision to withdraw from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and will resume participation with immediate effect following fresh talks with league officials.

    The Owerri-based club had announced their withdrawal on Wednesday over what they described as excessive and non-transparent sanctions but confirmed their return less than 24 hours later after “positive discussions” with the League Management Board.

    Read Also: 16th Round: NFF agree to pay Super Eagles $30,000 each

    In a statement released on yesterday, the club said it was ready to put the dispute behind them and focus fully on football, while appreciating the league’s willingness to engage constructively.

    Earlier, Kun Khalifat had criticised the NPFL’s disciplinary process, insisting they provided valid reasons for failing to honour a fixture and accusing the league of bias and lack of transparency.

    Following their return, the club will resume competitive action this weekend, hosting Shooting Stars of Ibadan at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri on Sunday, February 8.

  • Peggy Onwu  bows out as Ikoyi Lady Captain 

    Peggy Onwu  bows out as Ikoyi Lady Captain 

    Lady Captain of the Ladies Subsection of Ikoyi Club 1938, Peggy Onwu, has concluded her tenure as the 2025–2026 golfing year draws to a close, capping what members described as an impactful administration driven by environmental sustainability, youth development and increased women’s participation in golf under her ‘Go Beyond’ theme.

    Speaking at the end-of-year tournament tagged ‘Peggy’s Final’, held recently at the club, Onwu said the event symbolised a fitting conclusion to a year defined by progress and purposeful engagement within and beyond the golfing community.

    “It has been another brilliant day and we are extremely grateful. We had good weather and great company. Today marks the end of this golfing year, and it has been a year of going beyond just playing golf,” she said.

    Onwu noted that her administration placed strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and climate change awareness, introducing eco-friendly initiatives around the golf course and in neighbouring communities.

    According to her, golfers typically spend three to four hours on the course and require hydration, which often results in plastic waste. To tackle this, the Ladies Subsection installed waste receptacles across the course to promote cleanliness and responsible waste disposal.

    She added that the environmental advocacy extended beyond the club through climate sensitisation campaigns and tree-planting exercises in nearby schools.

     “We visited schools around us, carried out climate awareness programmes and encouraged each child to plant and adopt a tree. The idea is that they will return in the future and be inspired by the environment they helped nurture,” she said.

    Onwu also highlighted efforts to boost members’ financial literacy through enlightenment sessions on tax reforms and digital banking, noting that the initiative improved members’ understanding of safe and efficient financial transactions.

    A major milestone of her tenure, she said, was the hosting of the 50th  Ladies Open tournament at Ikoyi Club 1938, which attracted participants from 12 countries.

    “It was a landmark event and a beautiful celebration of 50 years of ladies’ participation in the tournament,” she said.

    Looking ahead, Onwu disclosed plans to sustain youth development through the establishment of a golf training academy for girls aged five to 18, stressing that the sport plays a vital role in mental development, focus, strategy and confidence building.

     “We want young girls to grow into confident individuals who can make independent decisions and compete globally. Golf is a complete developmental tool that builds both physical fitness and mental strength,” she added.

    Read Also: 16th Round: NFF agree to pay Super Eagles $30,000 each

    A member of the club, Aditya Raj, commended Onwu’s leadership, describing her as one of the most impactful Lady Captains in the club’s history.

     “This tournament celebrating Peggy’s finale is always special. She has done extremely well and inspired many golfers,” he said.

    Raj emphasised the need to encourage young people to embrace golf, noting that the club’s central location in Lagos makes it accessible to aspiring players.

     “We encourage children, especially during school holidays, to take advantage of the facilities here. With professional coaches available, starting early helps them develop into excellent players,” he added.

    Also speaking, former Lady Captain, Dr. (Mrs.) Angela Adegboyega, described Onwu’s tenure as transformational and forward-looking, noting that her initiatives elevated performance and strengthened camaraderie among members.

     “She encouraged members to go beyond their limits and introduced programmes such as inviting international professional golfers to enhance performance. Her environmental initiative also significantly reduced plastic pollution within the club,” Adegboyega said.

    She further praised Onwu’s commitment to youth development, recalling her role in organising national children’s golf tournaments that boosted awareness and participation among young players.

    “Introducing sports like golf at an early age supports academic growth, career development and personal discipline. Peggy has made remarkable contributions to youth participation in golf,” she said.

    Members unanimously described Onwu’s tenure as one that deepened sports development, promoted environmental responsibility and strengthened community engagement, leaving a lasting legacy within the Ladies Subsection of Ikoyi Club 1938.