Five Nigerians in public service have been honoured with the Integrity Icon Nigeria (IIN) award for their integrity by Accountability Lab Nigeria.
The awardees are: Chief Superintendent of Police, Mathias Nuhu (Akwa-lbom Police Command, Safer Highway Patrol), and Mrs Oluwashola Shobayo of the Lagos State Office of Internal Audit).
Others are: Col. I.A Manga of the Nigerian Army, FCT; Mr Kumafan Dzaan of the Benue State Bureau of Statistics BSBS and Mrs Ann Ejulle Itodo of Government Senior Secondary School Apo, Abuja.
The award, now in its 9th edition, celebrates ethical public servants whose work demonstrated honesty, professionalism, and impact.
Speaking during the summit yesterday in Abuja, Executive Director of Accountability Lab Nigeria, Mr. Odeh Friday said that promoting integrity in public service was essential to rebuilding trust and strengthening Nigeria’s system of governance.
He said that the initiative is designed to celebrate ethical public servants whose work demonstrated honesty, professionalism, and impact.
Friday said the programme is implemented in partnership with the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
He added that it is aimed at shifting accountability away from fear and punishment, towards incentives, norms, and results.
“Today is about recognition with purpose; What we choose to celebrate in our society defines who we are, what our public institutions become, and the kind of society we want,” he said.
Friday noted that recent surveys revealed that when integrity is ignored, ethical public servants become isolated, but when named and famed, it becomes a standard others aspire to meet.
“We identify public servants whose choices under pressure produced evident outcomes for citizens, and we make those choices visible by telling their stories,” he added.
Also speaking, Assistant Inspector General of Police (rtd), Mrs Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison said that Nigeria must entrench ethical leadership, fairness and measurable performance standards across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
She said that this must be done in order to reverse declining public trust and institutional inefficiency.
Ibifuro-Harrison explained that in spite of several policy reforms, Nigeria’s public sector continued to struggle with bureaucracy, weak institutions and a legacy of systemic challenges which dates back to decades.
She listed key challenges affecting service delivery, to include outdated processes, limited digital infrastructure, weak enforcement of policies, politicisation and low morale among civil servants.
Ibifuro-Harrison noted that the civil service was not lacking in dedicated officers but in systems that recognise and reward excellence, integrity and ethical conduct.
She, however, harped on the need for recognition to go beyond annual ceremonies to a sustained system that provides platforms and support for ethical officers.
Director-General of BPSR, Dasuki Arabi commended Accountability Lab Nigeria and its partners for sustaining one of the country’s most credible citizen-focused accountability platforms.
He noted that the Integrity Icon campaign had grown into a movement which identifies and celebrates exemplary public servants.
Mr Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Gov. Dapo Abiodun, says the state is constructing quality roads that will stand the test of time.
Akinmade told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta on Saturday that roads completed by the current administration were built with quality materials and handled by professional contractors.
“The state has the longest and largest network of federal roads in terms of kilometres.
“The present administration has constructed both federal and state roads with the support of the federal government and is delivering remarkable, sustainable results for the state’s infrastructure network,” he said.
He said federal roads in Ogun had endured years of poor maintenance spanning more than two and a half decades.
He noted that the rehabilitation of the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway and some other federals roads was impeded by bureaucratic challenges during the last administration.
“During the Buhari administration, efforts to rehabilitate the Lagos‑Abeokuta expressway were hampered by bureaucratic obstacles, but the current administration has restored the project and expects it to be completed to about 74 km of double‑lane road by mid‑next year.
“The state government has constructed over 1,500 km of road across Ogun and several new projects are already in the pipeline,” Akinmade said.
He stressed that no previous government in the state had addressed road infrastructure with the level of commitment, scale, and intensity demonstrated by the Abiodun administration.
“What makes his position unique is that he did not neglect federal or state roads when he came on board.
“Stakeholders from every local government met with the governor, who asked them to identify the roads most important to their communities. From that day to today, that strategy still works,” he noted.
According to the special adviser, the administration inherited several abandoned and dilapidated road projects but has taken deliberate steps to revive, complete, and upgrade many of them as part of its broader infrastructure renewal drive.
He added the administration would also explore the construction of link roads to improve connectivity, ease the daily commute for residents, and eliminate tolls on existing highways, ensuring a more efficient and cost-effective transportation network for the people.
He assured that as the rains have subsided, construction activities on projects affected by heavy downpours would proceed without interruption.
The organisation made the declaration at the 8th edition of the Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards (GFIIA), held in commemoration of the 2025 International Human Rights Day with the theme, “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.”
Chairman of HEDA Resource Centre, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, described the awards as a moral compass that continues to remind the nation of the values exemplified by the late legal icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, including courage in the face of oppression, unwavering integrity and a lifelong commitment to justice and human rights.
Suraju noted that the 2025 edition was significant as it aligns with the global theme of the International Human Rights Day, stressing that at a time of growing inequality, civic repression and widening social divisions, the defence of human rights and accountability has become more urgent than ever.
He said the awards celebrate Nigerians who continue to resist corruption and uphold transparency, adding that the stories of the honourees demonstrate that integrity remains possible, powerful and impactful, even in challenging times.
The HEDA chairman also announced a new partnership with the Gani Fawehinmi Students’ Chambers, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, which co-hosted the event.
According to him, the collaboration reflects the belief that building a culture of integrity must begin with mentorship, youth engagement and early inspiration.
Suraju commended the MacArthur Foundation, nominees, awardees, civil society partners and members of the media for their sustained support for the GFIIA.
“As we honour these exceptional Nigerians, we must remember that integrity is not just a virtue but the foundation for national transformation,” he said, urging Nigerians to stand for what is right, defend human dignity and work towards a future defined by fairness, justice and opportunity.
At the event, Dr Mrs Lola Odeyale Ayo-Fashida emerged winner of the Outstanding Integrity Award category, while Barrister Olumide Kayode-Omosebi and Mr Offiong Charles Ikpeme were named first and second runners-up respectively.
In the Valuable Whistle Blower category, Pastor Nicholas Evaritus won the award, with Builder Kunle Awoodu as first runner-up.
For the Outstanding Impact Award category, Hajiya Aishatu A’yan Guru Nahuce was announced as winner, while Mary Ngozi Kekwaaru and Dayyabu Bala Gezawa emerged first and second runners-up respectively. Yetunde Abimbola-Alebiosu won the Nigerians in Diaspora Integrity Ambassador Award.
Speaking after the event, the founder and executive director of The Gnosis Help Initiative and first runner-up in the Outstanding Integrity Award category, Olumide Kayode-Omosebi, commended HEDA for the recognition, describing it as a major encouragement for decades of humanitarian work carried out without financial reward.
He said the award was motivating, noting that for about 25 years, his organisation had provided support to beneficiaries without collecting money, adding that public recognition of such efforts was both inspiring and encouraging.
Amid persistent weather fluctuations and a decline in food production that has driven up food prices, stakeholders in climate, agriculture and technology are advancing new ideas aimed at stabilising food systems and ensuring reliable food supply.
Speaking at the forum, the moderator, Blessing Allen-Adebayo, said the discussions were central to Africa’s development, food systems and collective resilience to climate change.
She noted that her work with communities across Nigeria and other parts of Africa had shown how the outcome of a single farming season could determine whether households thrive or struggle, underscoring the urgency of building resilient and sustainable food systems.
“I’ve listened to extension workers describe how difficult it has become to keep pace of the weather patterns that keep changing and have stood where market prices swing so sharply immediately after a flood and it has been difficult for them to survive through this season.
“Many of these stories used to sound like isolated shocks, but today they have become a part of our wider continental pattern because Africa is warming faster than the global average.”
Mr Fidelis Ekom also narrated that Africa is standing at a critical intersection where climate disruption is no longer a distant risk, but a daily lived reality. He decried the fate of farmers across Africa
“Farmers are losing their crops to our unpredictable rainfall. Communities are being displaced by flooding and climate shocks continue to undermine production systems, market stability, and household resilience in many regions.
“Across the continent, We are witnessing the rise of a new generation of innovators, agri-tech developers, climate scientists, extension agents, data analysts, youth-led enterprises, and community champions, working tirelessly to transform African agriculture from risk-prone to resilient, from vulnerable to viable.”
According to Ekom, “As climate changes or change the rules of agriculture, We, too, must rewrite the rules of how we design policies, deploy technology, and support farmers, especially the women and youth, who remain the backbone of our food systems.”
On Climate risks management, Nkemjika Onuoha, warned that, “ if we fail to act, if we do nothing, climate induced disruptions could reduce crop yields by up to 20%. In Nigeria alone, flood, drought, extreme weather conditions is already costing us between $9 and $10 billion annually.
Onuoha further stated that more than 26.5 million Nigerians are projected this year alone to face acute food insecurity. A trend that seems very worrisome.
“The current systems that we have not enough to sustain basic food access. Without adaptation, we risk losing 6 to 30% of our GDP by 2025. And that’s something close to $400 billion.
Onuoha pointed, “climate smart and adaptive seed varieties, improved water management and water harvesting systems, IoT enabled monitoring systems, artificial intelligence for early warning systems and disease detection, and precision farm management.”
Other experts say what we need is not just about producing more food, but it’s about producing more food with smarter, more connected systems of storage, logistics and market access.
Ignorance, cultural, spiritual beliefs spread resistance to children’s vaccination
Nigeria’s record as country with highest challenge of zero dose children globally sparks concerns
Vaccination helps safeguard children’s health all over the world. But over the years, the lifesaving invention has continued to experience disturbing resistance not just among rural populace but also among urban dwellers who avoid it like a plague. Nigeria, with 2.2 million cases is home to the largest number of zero-dose children in the world, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The federal and state governments may need to embark on aggressive mobilization and sensitization, including introducing some incentives as Kano State is said to have started, to encourage more parents to present their children for vaccination. INNOCENT DURU reports.
Trouble broke out in Seme area of Lagos State during the week when health officials visited some schools in the area to administer vaccines to the pupils.
From the gates of the various schools, the health workers got more than they bargained for. They were seriously quizzed and angrily turned back.
“The schools didn’t allow them to give any vaccines to the pupils because they feared that if anything should go wrong, it is the school that the parents will hold responsible,” a resident who gave his name simply as Michael said.
“The schools said if they want to give vaccines to the children, they should go to their houses to do that with the consent of their parents and not in the schools which risk serious penalties and possible closure if anything goes wrong,” he added.
There are palpable fears among some people in the community that vaccines could trigger health crises for their children in future. Chief among the fears is that vaccines are formulated to reduce the population of Nigeria by affecting the people’s reproductive abilities.
Unfortunately, people who choose not to vaccinate their children also put others at risk should such children fall ill.
Local government authorities in Seme got wind of the treatment meted out to the health officials, stepped in and thus saved the pupils from possible health crises in the future.
An official of the local government Olumide Julius, while confirming the development, blamed it on poor communication to the concerned schools.
His words: “Some schools turned back health workers giving out vaccines because they claimed that they were not officially informed about it by the authorities.
“The matter was reported to me and I had to go there and address the schools and encourage them to take it. The schools promised to allow the children to take the vaccines the following day if they should come and they did that. ”
He said the schools feared that being located in the border community, anybody might come and administer anything.
“The problem is not really from the schools. It was the parents who advised them not to allow their children to take vaccines. When the information got to me, I told the schools to volunteer the contact details of such parents so that I could call and speak with them. I did just that and they agreed that their children should take the vaccines.”
He observed that some of the vaccine resistant parents are from the north and “they just settled here in Zongo part of Seme. They were said to have previously attacked teachers for allowing their children to be given vaccines. They resisted it because they didn’t want anything that would cause havoc. Part of their fears is that the vaccines will not allow them to have more children in the future and that some of them may not be able to have children again. They feared that there was plan to reduce the population of Africa.
I gave them the assurance that no evil will befall their children after taking the vaccines and they agreed,” the official said.
To prevent a reoccurrence, he said: We are planning a meeting with the northern communities, and the concerned schools. We will do a jingle in Hausa language, and Egun language. Some people from Benin Republic come here for business and when their children come here they send them to school. The Beninoise who come to Nigeria do say that the vaccines in Nigeria is different from the one in Benin Republic. They always claim that the one in Benin Republic is the original and the ones given in Nigeria is fake. That is their mentality. By the time we explain to them, their mind set will change.
But the fear of vaccines is not confined to Seme and other rural parts of Lagos State.
It is a general challenge across the state and the records show that the state has one of the highest cases of zero dose children.
For instance, Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA), according to the United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF), had over 35,000 zero-dose children in 2021, the highest number of any LGA in Nigeria.
“Kosofe, had nearly 17,000 zero-dose children in 2021. It also had around 17,162 partially immunized children, the second highest number for an LGA in Lagos State,” UNICEF said.
Zero-dose children are those who are without any routine vaccination or are lacking the first dose of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis–containing vaccine. Based on global estimates from the World Health Organization/United Nations Children’s Fund in 2022, Nigeria has the highest number of zero-dose children, with 2.3 million unvaccinated.
Before now, Permanent Secretary Lagos State Primary Health Board, Dr Ibrahim Akinwumi Mustapha had told our correspondent how some of their vaccinators were beaten and harassed in some communities.
“Like you rightly noted, before now, around early and mid-November, the schools, community members even beat our vaccinators. The schools shut their doors against us. Community members rejected us vehemently in the early days, but now it is getting better to the extent that some schools are the ones calling us to come and vaccinate their pupils. The rejection is going down and we are vaccinating more now, but it is still not what we want.”
Dr. Ibrahim noted that the state government was spending a lot on vaccines, adding: “It is not just the state government; the federal government and their partners, like WHO and UNICEF, are spending a lot to ensure that our people get the vaccine.”
He could not put a figure to the amount spent on the vaccine, but be said it was “a huge sum.”
The challenge is not different in parts of Bayelsa State where parents also shield their children from taking vaccines.
Although, it appears that more parents are now disposed to having their children be vaccinated, Noel Ikonikumo, the head of fishermen in Sangana area of the South south state said: “many people had unpleasant experiences taking vaccines in the past.
“In the past, vaccines were given in the form of injection. That caused serious health crises for many people. Some in my village even had challenges walking.
“Now that they have modernized it and are administering it orally, many people still have fears that it can cause a health crisis for them.
“You know this is a rural setting. Some still don’t allow their children to take it but sometimes, the health workers meet the children on the way and administer the vaccines to them without waiting for the approval of their parents.”
75 percent of Bauchi IDP camp not vaccinated
Online search shows that North West and North East states have the highest percentages of zero-dose children.
This much was confirmed when our correspondent reached out to the camp of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Tirwun area of Bauchi Local Government.
The Chairman of the IDPs, Buba Musa Sheu said 75 percent of the children are not vaccinated.
“We are about 66,921. Children are about 20,000. About 75 percent of our children don’t have access to the vaccines,” he said.
Explaining why such a high figure of children are not vaccinated, Buba said: “We don’t always see people giving vaccines. Everybody wants the children to take the vaccine but the problem is that we are not seeing the people that are giving it.”
He regretted that “our children are always having measles, diarrhea and other challenges just like in other places in Nigeria. We have children dying but we don’t know the causes.”
Ruling out resistance from any member of the community, he said: “If they (health officials) come to me and inform me that they want to give vaccines to our children, I will gather my people and tell them well ahead and everybody will be available for it.”
Since health workers don’t come to their area, Buba said he often advises his people to go and get vaccines but “you can only advise but can never force anybody. Many of our people don’t have money to go to hospital or to go and get the vaccines. Everybody is running away from that because of the financial implications. We don’t have money. If we have the money or even have means of livelihood, our people will go for it. Prevention is better than cure.”
Spiritual, cultural angles to vaccine resistance
As a country with high spiritual and cultural attachment, checks showed that many people resist vaccines because of their belief. Joy, a teacher in a faith based school, says the authorities of the school do not allow the pupils to take any form of vaccination.
She said: “The vaccinators don’t come to our school because we don’t allow them to give vaccines to our children. They have tried coming a couple of times but when the authorities said no, they stopped coming.
“The management must have their reason for doing that, but I don’t know why it’s against it. I do allow my children to take it. Even when I see them passing, I take my children to them for vaccination. They will only not take it within the school premises where it is seen as a taboo.”
A respondent, who gave her name as Abigail, spiritualised the whole issue, saying: “polio or whatever health problems that come with vaccines will never be the portion of my children. How many children in villages take all these vaccines? I pray that education will not put us in trouble, because most of the things we are apprehensive about don’t worry villagers.
“Go and take statistics of people in the villages and see how many of them take these vaccines. Once you eat healthily and maintain good hygiene, sicknesses will be far from you. That is my belief and practice.
“I won’t allow my children to take what I don’t know about and then regret it. Let them go with their vaseline or is it vaccine you call it.”
At Ikija, a rural community in Oluyole Local Government Area, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the residents are not keen on vaccines.
During a recent visit to the community by our correspondent, it was found that water taken from a river popularly called Omi Eridu serves as their vaccines. They strongly believe that the water is potent against every kind of ailment.
The river in question is tucked deep inside the community and almost covered by water hyacinth. Residents scoop water from a small portion of the river spared by water hyacinth, using a partly broken calabash dropped on the grass at the bank of the river.
“What is vaccine?” the abore (traditional priest), Musibau Adekambi, asked disdainfully as he led our correspondent to the river, accompanied by the chief hunter of the community and a young girl said to be a devotee of the river.
“We don’t take vaccines here in Ikija. Going to hospital is not our way of life. The water from the river is our vaccine. People are coming for treatment and they are receiving healing after using it,” he said gleefully as he scooped and drank from the river.
“We use the water from the river to treat all kinds of sickness, including COVID-19. If you come here with COVID-19, you will be healed. It is not by our power but by the power that was used to found this community together with the powers of the deities and the river.
“Go round the village and you will not find any sick person. The river will never allow any strange sickness to enter the community. Even if the person contracted the sickness elsewhere, once he enters here, it will not spread to any member of the community. We would rather heal him of the sickness he came with.
“Even strangers who came to reside here have had all their sicknesses in their bodies cured.”
How women are motivated to present children for vaccination in Kano- Nursing mother
A Kano based nursing mother told our correspondent that the number of people turning up for vaccination of their children is on the rise in the state.
The nursing mother who gave her name simply as Mrs Tao said the improvement is as a result of monetary rewards given to women who go to hospitals to vaccinate their children.
She said: “Unlike in the south where immunization is very common, here, it is a challenge. People will tell you that they don’t have transport fares to go to the hospital. Some will say that if they give immunization to their children, it will cause health problems for them.
“Now government has made it easy for the people. They support women coming for immunization. For the first week, they give N1,000. The more you go, the more the money you get increases. By the 14th week, they will give you N6,000. This happens in federal government hospitals and state hospitals too. I am not sure of private hospitals.”
Sharing her personal experience, she said: “when I took my baby to the hospital for BCG recently, they gave me N1,000. I was even surprised. To get that, you will go through some processes like obtaining a card, taking photograph and thumb printing.
“My sister has collected all the available money remaining that of the 14th month which is N6,000. After taking the vaccine, they will give you the money instantly. There is a card they will give you when coming to the hospital. Even if you don’t come with it, they will still give you the money to encourage you to come next time.”
Continuing, she said: “If you give birth in a registered health care facility, they will trace you to your house, vaccinate the child and give you the money.
“I remember when my neighbour did not go for immunization, they traced her to the house. They waited outside till she returned from school to immunize her child and give her the money. This works perfectly here in Kano and everybody is aware of it.”
Nigeria has world’s highest number of zero-dose children – UNICEF
Last May, UNICEF said that Nigeria had the highest global burden of zero-dose (ZD) children with Borno and Yobe States accounting for a disproportionate number of these unvaccinated children.
Speaking during a one-day media dialogue in Damaturu to mark the 2025 World Immunisation Day, UNICEF Health Officer, Bashir Elegbede, highlighted the critical gaps in immunisation coverage across Nigeria’s North-East.
He said: “the under-one population in Nigeria is estimated at 8.7 million, with 2.1 million of them (24 per cent) classified as ZD children. This highlights that Nigeria bears the highest global burden of ZD children. Reducing the number of zero-dose children—those who have not received any routine vaccination—is crucial for improving public health outcomes in Nigeria.”
Elegbede said that around 400,000 children, aged one and above, have not received any form of vaccination across the North-East region. He attributed the high number of ZD children to factors including conflict, climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic, hard-to-reach areas, pastoral communities, urban outskirts, slums, and regions grappling with systemic health challenges.
He warned that unvaccinated children are significantly more vulnerable to life-threatening diseases.
“Children not immunised have been seen to have a relatively high risk of being infected and succumbing to vaccine-preventable diseases like polio, measles, meningitis, yellow fever, and viral hepatitis, among others,” Elegbede stated.
The global target, according to him, is to reduce the number of ZD children by 25 percent this year and by 50 percent by 2030.
He stressed the importance of vaccines as a foundational health measure.
“Across the world, millions of lives have been saved by vaccines. Globally, sadly, Nigeria has the highest burden of ZD children. A number estimated to be 2.1 million as of 2023,” he said.
“With Borno and Yobe States having a disproportionate number of these children. UNICEF, alongside stakeholders in the health sector, has continued to work with the government to reduce the number of ZD children through improvement of routine immunisation coverage and approaches that strengthen the health systems across Nigeria.”
….gets honorary Doctorate in Business Administration
Group Chief Executive Officer of Wakanow, Bayo Adedeji, has urged Nigerian graduates to uphold excellence and discipline as they begin their careers.
He made the call on Friday, November 28, after receiving an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration during Madonna University’s 23rd Convocation in Elele, Rivers State.
The ceremony, led by the Chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Emmanuel Edeh, also honoured Dr. Chuka Nwachukwu. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chris Anyanwu, while presenting the awardees, noted that the institution recognised Adedeji based on his achievements in business leadership and contributions to society.
Adedeji announced a ₦500,000 annual prize for each of the three best graduating students—totalling ₦1.5 million yearly—to encourage academic excellence.
Addressing the 1,800 graduating students, including 120 First Class holders, he advised them to approach every endeavour with commitment. “Whatever you do, touch excellence,” he said, urging them to remain steadfast in the values gained during their studies.
The convocation lecture was delivered by the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zach Adelabu Adedeji.
In a brief interview after the event, the Wakanow CEO said African youths must reject the notion that excellence is foreign, stressing that the continent has the potential to innovate and compete globally.
He also spoke on the growing role of technology in the travel and tourism sector and noted its relevance in addressing national security challenges.
Adedeji’s honorary award added to his professional milestones, coming after his leadership role in the expansion of Wakanow into multiple regions.
Ibadan-based publisher, Mr. Idris Alimi, has said that 2025 stands out as the most challenging year for entrepreneurs in Nigeria, attributing the difficulties to government policies, foreign exchange instability, and rising inflation.
Alimi, the Chief Executive Officer of Max African Publishers Limited, spoke on Thursday during the company’s end-of-year celebration in Ibadan.
The event featured awards, gifts, and car presentations to outstanding staff and was attended by several dignitaries, including Supol Ayodele Ayiti, Managing Director of Orbits Homes and Properties; Otunba Araro of Araromi; Hon. Oladimeji Obisesan, Branch Manager of First Bank, Yemetu Ibadan; Dr. Adegbenle Adedeji, father of the CEO; Alhaji Ismail Alimi; Mrs. Suliyat Alimi, wife of the CEO; and Director of Finance, Legacy Starts of Ibadan, Mr. Safiu Adekunle.
Speaking with journalists, Alimi said many business owners struggled through the year due to high production costs, unpredictable government decisions, and cash flow constraints.
“This year has been very challenging for entrepreneurs because of inflation, government policies, and cash flow issues. Many of the policies are not favourable to those of us in the publishing industry,” he said.
He explained that the rising cost of materials, diesel, and overheads placed immense pressure on businesses.
“In January, I kept wondering how we would cope. When you think of salaries, production costs, and other expenses, you realise it is only God helping us,” he added.
Alimi said the celebration was organised to appreciate and motivate staff for their dedication during the difficult year. “We are trying to encourage our staff so they can put in more effort in the near future,” he said.
In his remarks, Supol Ayodele Ayiti advised workers and Nigerians to remain security-conscious. “Many things are happening in the country. Always observe and be conscious of your environment,” he warned.
The gathering was attended by staff, family members, associates, friends, and residents of neighbouring streets in Oke Ado and Ososami, where the company operates.
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Olufemi Ajadi, has met councillors, pledging to build on the developmental strides of Governor Seyi Makinde.
Speaking at Iseyin City Hall, Iseyin where members of Oyo State Councillors Forum met, he said his aspiration to govern Oyo State was driven by a commitment to protect and deepen Makinde’s governance reforms as well as strengthen grassroots participation in decision-making.
He said: “I am here because you are the closest leaders to the people. Governor Makinde has done well, and Oyo State cannot afford to hand over this progress to the wrong person. This is why I say I represent ‘Omituntun 3.0’ — continuity of good governance.”
The gathering brought together councillors from the 33 local governments, marking the first time, according to participants, a governorship aspirant would engage Councillors Forum at such a level. The forum has 351 members, with three confirmed dead.
Ajadi, who identified himself as ‘a son of the soil’, is the son of Ibadan business magnate, Chief Bode Amoo and hails from Ward 8, Osengere, Egbeda Local Government.
Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria will tomorrow inaugurate the Board of Trustees of its newly-created Ansar-Ud-Deen Foundation. The event will take place at La Scala Restaurant, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
The society described the inauguration as an important step in strengthening its long history of faith-based service, education and community development.
For more than 100 years, Ansar-Ud-Deen has promoted Islamic knowledge, moral values and social support across communities. The foundation is expected to help organise and expand these efforts in a more structured and sustainable way.
According to the President of the society, Prince Mosediq Kazeem, SAN, the foundation would focus on major areas such as education, health care, youth empowerment and community development.
He said it would operate based on Qur’anic principles of charity, fairness and compassion.
Kazeem said: “The Board of Trustees will be made up of respected men and women, who have shown integrity, vision and dedication to service.’’
He said the foundation would act as a permanent endowment to support key projects of the society.”
One of its main responsibilities will be the renovation and maintenance of Ansar-Ud-Deen mosques nationwide.
“Our mosques must be accommodating and welcoming. We must be proud of any Ansar-Ud-Deen mosque we visit,” he said.
Other areas of focus include improving the infrastructure of Ansar-Ud-Deen schools, supporting Summit University, Offa, and funding social welfare and empowerment programmes for Muslims and the larger community.
The foundation will also handle investments and donations on behalf of the society, ensuring resources are well managed, transparently reported and invested in halal and ethical ventures that provide long-term benefits.
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has appointed a female visually-challenged lawyer identified as Kindness Idahosa.
She was appointed as a Law Officer in the Ministry of Justice.
Her appointment, according to Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okpebholo, Ebojele Patrick, underscored the administration’s commitment to inclusion, equal opportunity and genuine empowerment of persons with disabilities.
The statement said the state was intentional about creating pathways for talented and hardworking citizens, regardless of their physical limitations.
It said Idahosa’s journey reflected resilience and an uncommon triumph over adversity.
Idahosa was diagnosed with Hereditary Sensory Neuropathy, a debilitating spinal condition, which forced her to drop out of school in JSS 3 and remained at home for 13 years.
The Network for the Advancement of People with Visible Disabilities intervened in her predicament and sponsored her education.
She studied Law at the University of Benin where she graduated with a Second Class Upper Division in 2023 and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School in 2024 before she was called to the Nigerian Bar in September 2025.
Ebojele said Okpebholo’s approval of her employment remained a strong example of his administration’s commitment to fairness, inclusion and practical support for Edo citizens striving against the odds.
