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Category: People & Politics

  • ‘Tribute to my dad at 65’

    ‘Tribute to my dad at 65’

    By Samuel Moyosore Ekundayo

    If I were to describe my dad using just three words, they would be intentional, resilient, and exemplary.

    My dad is one of the clearest expressions of leadership I have ever known. Not leadership by title or position, but leadership by example. The kind that is lived passionately, consistently, and convincingly. Everything about him is deliberate. You see it in the decisions he makes, the standards he keeps, the people he nurtures, and the organisations he leads. You can tell he is a man consciously building a legacy, not for applause, but for impact. He leads with depth, conviction, and care, and that example has shaped the man I am today.

    My dad, Dr. JMO Ekundayo, has taught me many things, but a few stand out as truly life defining.

    One of the most profound lessons he taught me was a lifestyle of giving. My dad is known for generosity, not as an occasional act, but as a way of life. From a very young age, I watched both my dad and mum give sacrificially, even in seasons when we ourselves had little. I witnessed them give away our Mercedes Benz without having a replacement. I saw them open our home to accommodate people while we were struggling to survive ourselves. I often say there is nothing my dad cannot give. Sometimes I joke that he could give away his eyes before realising he needs them to see. That is how deeply generosity is woven into his being. This lifestyle of giving has rubbed off on me, and today I find myself intentionally emulating the example he modelled long before I understood its power.

    Another thing my dad imparted to me was the love of reading. He is an avid reader, deeply passionate about books. His personal library is filled with volumes that reflect curiosity, faith, and wisdom. Over the years, I have shamelessly “borrowed” many books from his shelves, and even till today, he continues to give me books and recommend what I should read. The last time he visited me in New Zealand, he still arrived bearing books.

    There are two books he gave me that I will never forget.

    The first was when I was eight years old. The book was titled:  “I Saw Heaven” by Robert Liardon. While I may not have received a literal revelation of heaven from that book, I received something far more transformative, a revelation of who God is. That book awakened in me a deep hunger for intimacy with God, a desire that has fuelled my love for Him to this very day. That seed planted in childhood still bears fruit, and for that, I will always be grateful.

    The second book was: “In Pursuit of Purpose” by Dr Myles Munroe, given to me during my teenage years. That book marked a turning point in my life. It introduced me to the truth that life is intentional, that man has purpose, and that I was not an accident or a mistake. It showed me that God was deliberate about my existence. At the time, neither my dad nor I knew that my life’s calling would be to help others discover their purpose. Today, that book has become like a second Bible to me. It laid the foundation for what I now do, helping thousands of people find purpose and maximise their God given potential.

    My dad also taught me how to write. He is an avid writer and has authored several books himself. Today, by the grace of God, I am the author of fourteen books, and I trace that grace back to having an exemplary leader who modelled discipline, consistency, and devotion to words put into writing.

    He also taught me how to preach. Watching him handle the Word of God shaped and sharpened my own preaching style. Even the way I mark my Bible, pen in hand like an old-fashioned preacher, I learned from my dad. These are quiet imprints that last a lifetime.

    Beyond these lessons, there were decisive decisions my dad made that altered the trajectory of my life. One of such came when I turned eighteen. One day, he invited me into his room and we sat together on his bed. He looked at me and said, “You are now a grown man. From today, I want our relationship to change. I want you to be my confidant and my friend.” He told me he would begin to share things with me that he had never shared before and that he wanted my input. That moment redefined how I saw myself. It told me that my father believed in me. That affirmation marked me deeply, and it is a moment I hope to replicate with my own sons someday.

    Another defining aspect of my dad’s leadership has been his spiritual sensitivity. There are moments where his prophetic insight redirected my destiny. One of those moments was around my marriage. I was already convinced I had heard from God about my wife, but I will never forget the day my dad confirmed it. He told me he had seen a dream of visiting us in New Zealand, which at the time we did not live in. In the dream, he saw my wife and I holding a baby boy. That confirmation sealed what God had already spoken to my heart. Truly, every matter is established by confirmation.

    Another moment came during my PhD journey. At the time, I was considering the United States and Canada. Then my dad received a strong spiritual inclination that New Zealand was where I should go. Around that period, one of his friends called him unexpectedly from a number beginning with plus sixty-four, which we later discovered was New Zealand. God used that moment to confirm direction. I remain deeply grateful for a father with such spiritual discernment.

    During one of the lowest points of my PhD, when termination was looming, I shared a troubling dream with my dad. I saw myself in a helicopter with a man of God, the helicopter crashed, but we emerged unscathed. While I could not interpret it, my dad did. He told me the PhD would crash, but I would come out unharmed and still fulfil God’s purpose in New Zealand. At the time, everything around me contradicted that word. Yet today, I stand as living proof of its fulfilment. The PhD crashed, God made another way, I completed my PhD research study in another university – Auckland University of Technology. Counting, this is now my seventeenth year in New Zealand, preaching the gospel and walking in purpose.

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    The most decisive legacy shaping decision my dad ever made, however, was one that changed the destiny of our entire family. Between 2004 and 2006, life was extremely tough. We lived in Ikota, Lekki Phase 2, Lagos, in a one-bedroom flat that we had to modify just to survive. It was a seeming slum settlement tucked within the wealthy Lekki corridor of Lagos. My dad and I dug the soak away pit ourselves. We dug the well for water. Our door was broken for days. I saw sacrifice, pain, and perseverance up close.

    In the midst of that hardship, my dad sought God for a way forward. He received an insight to travel to Asia, to Singapore. We partly borrowed money to make the journey possible. For months after he left, we were still sending him money. Things were not working. Until God gave him another instruction, to put mission first. He commenced the African Service at Cornerstone Community Church, Katong, Singapore.

    That vision was received with favour. The service grew, lives were touched, and one day the senior leadership asked him a simple question, “John, what is one thing we can do for you?”

    He could have asked for anything. But instead, he asked that they bring his family, his wife and four children. The church paid for our tickets, and in April 2006, we arrived in Singapore together. That single decision rewrote our family’s story.

    Someone once said that inheritance is what you leave behind, but legacy is who you leave behind. That decision is living legacy. It is a story I have told my children and will continue to tell them, just as one generation tells the next.

    As I write this today, I am seventeen years in New Zealand, and God has been faithful. I celebrated my 40th natal anniversary in 2025. I am married. The marriage produces two grandsons for Grandpa JMO Ekundayo. He loves all his children; and also his precious five grandchildren in New Zealand, United Kingdom and Nigeria.

    Dad, on your 65th birthday, I honour you. I celebrate you. I am grateful for your intentionality, your faith, resilience, your generosity, and your exemplary leadership. Not in a million years would I ask for another father. We may not have had much growing up, but because I had you, I felt like we had everything.

    Thank you, Daddy.

    God bless you.

    Happy 65th Birthday.

    •Samuel Moyosore Ekundayo, PhD (Business Information Systems) (aka “Purpose Preacher”) sent in this piece from Auckland New Zealand and can be reached via: samuelekundayo.com/contact

  • ‘My transformation from OAU dropout to UNILAG First Class graduate’

    ‘My transformation from OAU dropout to UNILAG First Class graduate’

    Elizabeth Abisola Akano’s life story is a proof that determination pays. Advised to withdraw from Obafemi Awolowo University on account of poor grades, she eventually graduated from the University of Lagos with First Class Honours degree and a CGPA of 4.91. She tells GBENGA ADERANTI her story of trials, despondency and triumph.

    What was life like at Obafemi Awolowo University?

    I would say it was an experience. I enjoyed it for the most part because everything was different from what I was used to. The experience became sour when my main reason for being there was not going well. From my very first semester there, I carried over about three courses, and they were really heavy (3 and 4 units), and even the other courses were Es. What kept me at 1.0 were my practical courses, which were 1-unit courses and were As. The results went downhill from there. By the end of my 100-level, I had about five carryovers. My CGPA sank before it got a chance to rise.

    I tried to make it work in my 200-level and retook the courses I carried over, but the damage had been done. I had gone below 1.0 in two consecutive semesters (100 level second semester and 200 level first semester), so I was advised to withdraw. I tried to cross into the Economics Department at that point, but I was told my CGPA was too low to cross to any department. At that time, I knew there was no point staying, so I called home and told them I was done.

    Why did you initially opt to read Biochemistry at OAU?

    I didn’t pick the course. It was given to me. The course I picked was Pharmacy, but I was given Biochemistry because I didn’t meet the cut-off for Pharmacy. I accepted the offer with a plan to cross to Pharmacy after my 100 level. It didn’t happen because I failed in Biochemistry.

    What was your life ambition?

    My life ambition was to become a Pharmacist. That had been my plan since I entered science class in SS1. I just loved the idea of being a Pharmacist. I wanted to be in the health profession, and I knew I couldn’t handle Medicine or Nursing. Pharmacy was the next best thing at that time.

    At what point did you leave OAU?

    I left when I saw that there was no point staying. I had gone below 1.0, and my portal status was saying withdrawal. I was tired of fighting and deceiving myself. I had heard stories of people who stayed back after being told to withdraw and coming out with nothing to show for it because they couldn’t tell anyone at home. I did not want to be one of them. It was better to face the shame of going home than to be stuck and not moving forward. My parents knew I was trying to change departments. They didn’t know it had gotten so bad until I called to say that I was done.

    When you were advised to withdraw from OAU, how did you feel? What was the first thing that came to your mind?

    I was so sad and pained. I had a plan for my life. I wanted to be done with school at 20/21. The first thing on my mind was how am I going to tell Daddy and Mummy? I lived comfortably in school. I had my own room, self-contained, that they rented for me because of the experiences of my elder siblings. They spent money that they could have used for other things just so that I could have an education comfortably. I was too ashamed to tell them that after everything, I was leaving school with nothing.

    You started failing in the first semester, which you described as weird. What could have been responsible for that?

    Looking back now, I think I overestimated my abilities, and I was overconfident. I felt it was business as usual. I never had to over-read to pass an exam. I did the minimum, and I was able to pass. I was a bright student. I was well above average in my secondary school. I didn’t know myself; I just had an idea of who I was, and I ran with it. I didn’t understand that I was in a class with a lot of above-average students who were better than me and understood concepts better.

    I was a timid girl who found it difficult to ask questions because I didn’t want to be seen as not knowing. It was a very bad way of thinking, but I didn’t know better. It really affected me, and when I finally sought help, it was too late.

    Would you describe your exit as an act of God? If not, how would you explain it?

    It was definitely an act of God. I was fighting a lost battle from my very first semester. I had to leave that situation for me to see the bigger picture for my life. I was in the wrong course and not in the right atmosphere where I could thrive. God created a way to take me out of it, and with a lesson. I wasn’t meant to be struggling academically and barely finishing school. He knows my end from the beginning. I was meant to be on top academically. God made it happen. At that point in time, it felt like punishment. Over the years, I understood why it had to happen. I needed realignment.

    What were your parents’ reactions when they discovered that you would not continue at OAU?

    My parents had similar but very unique reactions, and that was because of their personalities. My father was a softie when it came to his children. On that Sunday night, I called my immediate sister, Olamide, in tears to tell her that I was done and she should help me relay it to my parents because I was too afraid to tell them directly. My father called me barely five minutes later, begging me to stop crying. It was around the time students were committing suicide, so his initial worry was that I shouldn’t hurt myself. He was so scared that he was telling me to sleep at my neighbour’s place that night. I told him I was fine. It took a lot of convincing to get him to drop the call. I saw my father in Ife the following morning. He took me to my department. He met who he could meet and then took me to my room. We packed some clothes, and we went to Lagos.

    My mum’s reaction was a mix of care, worry and disappointment. I understood because she had high hopes. She told me that I would just have to try again. In the meantime, she paid for baking school and provided everything I needed so that I wouldn’t be at home, thinking. My parents didn’t like the idea of being idle. You must be learning something at any point in time. I opened my baking business at that time, BiziCakery.

    What were the initial challenges you faced when you left OAU?

    The very first was shame. I didn’t know what to tell people if they asked. Everyone in my neighbourhood knew I was in school, so how would I explain being at home for close to a year? I just said I took a leave of absence to learn baking when they asked. That reduced the questions, and I was able to move from that. I spent my days indoors except when I had to go to baking school. I couldn’t tell my colleagues in school because I was too ashamed. Another challenge was proving to my parents that I wasn’t a lost cause. I could still make something out of my life.

    Did you feel like committing suicide at the time of your travail?

    One thing I am grateful for is that the thought of suicide never crossed my mind. I heard stories about students committing suicide, and I knew it wasn’t an option at all. No matter the emotional turmoil I was going through, I knew I wanted to live my life to the fullest, so ending it wasn’t on my mind.

    How did you manage to summon enough courage to write UTME?

    As I mentioned before, I have a very supportive family. My father personally took me to the library to read before I started tutorials in September, 2018. I attended Rise-up tutorials, and I learnt a lot about myself during that period. Luckily for me, I didn’t need to write another WAEC because I did Economics and Geography. I only needed to learn Government for my JAMB. My mum taught Government as she is a teacher, so it was very easy for me to read and understand the subject.

    I have always been good at Maths, English and Economics, but I entered the tutorial as someone who knew nothing, just so I could learn. I did tutorials and still read at the centre till 7 pm before making my way home. I left no stone unturned and read as if my life depended on it, and it worked. I scored 290 in my UTME and went on to score 25 out of 30 in my post UTME.

    How did your friends within and outside the school react when they discovered that you were asked to withdraw?

    I didn’t tell them immediately because I was fighting a lot of battles internally, and I was also ashamed. When I told them, the popular opinion was “why didn’t you say anything earlier?” They were very apologetic and sad on my behalf. They were supportive and checked on me every now and then. I still talk to a number of my friends in OAU to this day, so we haven’t lost contact.

    Why did you opt to study Economics Education?

    I took my time to look at my strengths. I discovered that the social sciences came easily to me, and I could relate with it better. I knew I was mentally done with sciences because there is no course that I wouldn’t have to do Chemistry and Physics which were the courses I failed in OAU. I did my research and I wasn’t bad at Mathematics. I would have done Pure Economics, but I realised that I would have to do Accounting, which I have never done in my life, and learning it at that point in time was going to be a lot for me as I was learning Government too. My parents advised me to go for Education instead because of the opportunities. I can major in either Economics or the Education aspect for my Masters so I took their advice and went for Economics Education.

    To what extent did your experience at the OAU help you at the University of Lagos?

    I had experience with higher institutions when I entered UNILAG because of my OAU experience, so nothing shocked me. I believe I had an edge in my class because of that. OAU had a way of teaching resilience in the face of struggle, and I took that into UNILAG. When my classmates complained about how difficult a thing was, I would just smile because I had seen something similar before and I knew how to pace myself to solve it. I understood how the system worked, and I used it to my advantage.

    What would you tell other students who are currently facing the same challenges you faced at OAU?

    There is so much I want to say. Failure is not the end of the world. People have failed, and people will still fail. It doesn’t mean you are dumb or a dullard. You haven’t just had an understanding of who you are and your abilities. It is okay to take a step back and reassess yourself. Don’t ever give in to the thought of not being brilliant. You might just be taking the wrong course. You failed academically, but that doesn’t mean you failed in life.

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    SEEK HELP. Don’t keep quiet. If you are failing, don’t wait before you ask for assistance. Never be too shy to ask your classmates for help; that’s why you are not schooling in solitude. Ask questions early and don’t be afraid to leave. You might feel terrible, but it is better than being stuck and not moving forward. It would seem like you are moving backward but you aren’t; you are just taking a step back to realign yourself, and you would be the better for it.

    Most importantly, have a relationship with God. He helped me through the dark time. God doesn’t need you for anything, but you need Him for everything.

    What did you do differently at the University of Lagos that you did not do while at the OAU?

    The very first thing I did was to stop keeping quiet and ask questions. Part of what affected me in OAU was that I was too timid to talk to people and ask for assistance. I was just in my little bubble. I got to know myself first and the type of learner I am. I got to know that I understand things better visually and also by writing things out. I also got to know that I learn better when I start at the beginning of any topic and work my way to the complex parts. So I read better and smarter. I didn’t study daily, but I made sure that when I did, I learnt something. I also did a lot of tutoring because I realised that things stuck more when I taught my peers.

     What was the culture shock you experienced at UNILAG?

    The first shock was how small UNILAG premises were, compared to OAU. Another shock was that I got to see my advisers and lecturers more often than I was used to. They were always willing to listen. I had an adviser in OAU, but I wasn’t in tune enough to figure out who they were, as I didn’t see them during my orientation. I also didn’t have anything to do in my department in my first few semesters at OAU, so I couldn’t meet them.

    Another shock was that UNILAG had so many programmes and opportunities for students to grow beyond academics. I got to be a part of so many trainings and student-led initiatives.

    How has the change in course and varsity changed your ambition?

    It has changed so much. From a Biochemist who never was to an Educator and Economist. I want to make an impact in the education space because I know my story isn’t meant for me alone. I changed my mindset, and I am the better for it. I derive joy from educating, and I know I have a calling in education. I don’t want other people to go through what I did. What happened to me would have been avoided if I had someone take a second look at me and ask me the right questions so that I could discover myself.

    Tell me something you are not likely to forget in a hurry at the OAU and UNILAG.

    The feeling of failure in OAU and the feeling of victory in UNILAG that I felt, and the lesson from that, is what I will not forget in a hurry. I learnt a life lesson and the role of realignment when things get bad. I also learnt that with humility, you can learn anything and from anyone.

    Your regrets?

    My regrets are not knowing myself before entering OAU, and I wish I had finished school younger. But with the outcome I have, the regrets have been overshadowed. I learnt during this journey, and I can’t buy it anywhere.

    Do you still want to pursue a career in education?

    And yes, I definitely want to pursue a career in education. As I said before, my story is not meant for me alone. There are lessons to draw from it. I want to build a career around making sure that other students don’t have to go through what I went through, and discover themselves early.

  • Nigeria needs leadership reforms, reconciliation asrestitution for 1966 errors– Retired AVM Ifemeje

    Nigeria needs leadership reforms, reconciliation asrestitution for 1966 errors– Retired AVM Ifemeje

    • Says nation must rise above religious, tribal sentiments

    The DikeOha 1 of Uga Kingdom, Air Vice-Marshal John Chris Ifemeje (rtd), is a seasoned military strategist and national security thinker whose career spans decades of distinguished service at the highest levels of Nigeria’s armed forces. Known for his commitment to discipline, institutional integrity and accountable leadership, he represents a generation of senior officers shaped by both operational command and strategic governance.

    His career culminated in his appointment as Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, Nigeria’s premier institution for training junior and senior operational level officers and other ranks in the military operational command and staff responsibilities.

    In this interview, AVM John Chris Ifemeje (rtd.) argues that the 1966 coup (15th January and 29th July 1966), were not accidents of history but the outcome of leadership breakdown and institutional failure, with both the civilian and military drawing decades of command and strategic experience for leadership reforms as Nigeria’s only viable path to healing and renewal. He spoke with KALU OKORONKWO. Excerpts…

    Recently, you participated in the inaugural conference of the Forum for National Reconciliation and Restoration. What does national reconciliation mean to you, and why do you think Nigeria needs it now?

    Nigeria has experienced numerous crises—religious, political, ethnic among others—without adequately addressing their root causes. A divided nation cannot move forward. You cannot expect Nigeria to truly belong to the comity of nations when citizens distrust and resent one another, unable to agree on common national issues.

    Many of these divisions stem from unresolved historical grievances, particularly the events surrounding the January 15, 1966 coup. Some parts of the country perceived that the actions of those young military officers represented an ethnic betrayal. While mistakes were made, we cannot continue to live permanently in the past. What we need now is renewed understanding, trust, forgiveness, and belief in one another. Unfortunately, that singular event triggered a chain reaction such as the July 29, 1966 counter-coup, the widespread killing of Easterners, and eventually the civil war, during which between two and three million people died. Conflicts often escalate in this way. We see similar patterns globally. When violence is unleashed, retaliation follows, and innocent people suffer endlessly.

    If the January 1966 crisis had been properly managed and if the leadership at that time had adhered strictly to the rule of law, pacified aggrieved parties and acted responsibly, Nigeria might never have experienced a civil war. Sadly, leadership failures compounded the problem. Today, we are still grappling with the same leadership deficiencies because we have never honestly examined where the cancer began. No country can grow when citizens lack patriotism; when they go abroad only to denigrate their own nation. That is why we initiated the concept of National Reconciliation and Restoration to heal old wounds and restore Nigeria to the promising path it was on before January 15, 1966.

    At that time, the regions were thriving. The East was a global agricultural powerhouse, driven by palm oil. The West led in cocoa production and pioneered radio and television broadcasting in Africa. The North built institutions like Ahmadu Bello University through proceeds from groundnut pyramids and agriculture. Can we say the same today? Sadly, no. Restoration can only come through reconciliation. That is the purpose of this forum. When Dr. Okechukwu presented the idea to me, I immediately agreed because it aligned with what I had long been thinking. What we held recently was a planning conference to begin that journey.

    Your explanation suggests that Nigeria’s unity depends on resolving deep-rooted issues. Can you specify the cultural or structural challenges that must be addressed?

    God created us without consulting us on where we would be born, North, South, East, or West or what religion we would practice. Yet today, we use ethnicity and religion as weapons to destroy ourselves. There is nothing inherently wrong with religion; the problem lies in how it is practised. Religious bigotry must be rejected. If leadership choices are based on religion, then leadership itself has failed.

    Culturally, mutual respect is essential. Wherever you reside, respect the culture of the host community. As the saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. If I live in Ghana, I must respect Ghanaian culture. If others live among my people, they must respect ours. Disrespect breeds suspicion, tension, and conflict.

    All religions practised in Nigeria—Christianity, Islam, and traditional religions—teach moral discipline and good values. The problem arises when religious leaders manipulate followers for economic gain, poisoning minds to build influence and wealth. That is not the teaching of Prophet Muhammad or Jesus Christ. People should never kill one another in the name of religion. These are the fundamental issues we must confront.

    How could the Forum for National Reconciliation and Restoration practically influence governance, especially in engaging government and shaping policies?

    We have already begun engaging traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders nationwide. The forum enjoys broad grassroots support. The next critical step is engaging political leaders, because they control policy implementation and resources.

    Strong governance requires strong, independent institutions. You cannot claim to practice democracy when the arms of government are weak or constantly interfered with. If government embraces reconciliation, it can awaken the conscience of political leaders.

    For example, the National Assembly should prioritise policies that benefit ordinary Nigerians. Before passing laws, lawmakers must ask: how will this affect the poor man on the street? Governance must not burden the masses.

    Reconciliation leads to restoration. Citizens must be central to policy decisions; not an afterthought. Otherwise, our efforts become mere social media noise. When citizens are enlightened, they can identify and reject bad leadership.

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    Good leadership should never be based on religion, ethnicity, or sentiment. Whether Muslim-Muslim, Christian-Christian, or mixed tickets, what matters is competence, integrity, and results. In the 21st century, Nigeria must rise above tribal psychology.

    In discussing reconciliation, we must also confront insecurity. As a senior military officer, how do you assess Nigeria’s current security architecture? What in your opinion is working and what is broken?

    Security is everyone’s responsibility, not just the military’s. Insurgency thrives when it gains local support and often by exploiting religion or grievances. Without local backing or political sponsorship, insurgency collapses.

    Our armed forces are well-trained and capable. The problem is not competence; it is leadership direction. In a democracy, soldiers act on political directives. They cannot move without clear authorization. Body language from political leaders matters.

    Intelligence gathering is another major challenge, not because intelligence is lacking, but because it is poorly utilised. Agencies like the DSS are excellent at intelligence collection. I have worked with them, and their information is often accurate. The failure lies in ignoring or delaying action.There is no war won without intelligence. Too often, we adopt a fire-brigade approach, responding only after the damage has been done.

    Border security is another weakness. Even technologically advanced countries fence and monitor their borders. Nigeria’s porous borders enable insurgents to retreat, regroup, and return. Border fencing, surveillance drones, satellites, and controlled entry points are achievable solutions.

    We also must address morale. Soldiers observe how political leaders live. If leaders enjoy luxury while troops suffer hardship, motivation collapses. Soldiers must be properly paid, equipped, and respected. In countries like the United States, soldiers are publicly honored. We must do better in Nigeria.

    Beyond security, does the military have other roles in national development?

    Absolutely! In disasters, the military provides immediate relief. Retired officers can also contribute immensely to intelligence gathering at the grassroots. In countries like the Philippines, retired soldiers serve as community-based intelligence assets. Here, we retire trained personnel and abandon them. That is wasteful. They can still serve the nation.

    The military can also contribute to agriculture and economic development. In Bangladesh, the military runs large-scale fisheries, mushroom farming, and exports agricultural products. Why can’t we convert ungoverned spaces like Sambisa Forest into agricultural zones? Security and development must go hand in hand.

    Many believe the Igbo are losing relevance in national affairs. As an Igbo leader, what must be done?

    The Igbo must learn to listen to informed leadership. Too many people speak confidently without accurate information and refuse guidance. We must organise politically and respect leadership. Governors responsible for security are insulted instead of supported, even when they possess critical intelligence. This attitude undermines progress.

    Historically, the Igbo were organised and respected, especially during the First Republic under leaders like Nnamdi Azikiwe. Today, disunity weakens us. Youth disrespect for elders has grown, traditional institutions are compromised, and even religious institutions have lost moral authority. Religious leaders must preach responsibility, productivity and truth, not encourage idleness or crime. Leadership is the key. Reconciliation will only succeed if people are carried along from the grassroots upward.

    Since retiring from the military, you have been active in civic engagement. What inspired this transition?

    I believe in objective analysis, not sentiments. Even in service, I was deeply involved in civil-military relations and governance. I served as military assistant to a governor, attended executive and security council meetings and managed civil crises.

    Military officers are not isolated from governance. Many of us have managed civil affairs at strategic levels. Retirement does not mean irrelevance. Society still benefits from our experience. That is why I engage in politics, not for personal gain, but to contribute to building visionary leadership and solving societal problems.

    You were recently honoured with the Sir Ahmadu Bello Leadership Award. What does this recognition mean to you?

    Sir Ahmadu Bello was a leader for all without religious or ethnic discrimination. I admire that model of leadership. The award reassures me that integrity and fairness are noticed, even when you are unaware. Throughout my service, I never favoured tribe or religion. Merit always came first. Leadership must be just. Mentorship, fairness and patriotism are values I tried to instill in those I trained. That recognition is deeply humbling.

    Finally, what message would you leave for Nigerians on peace, unity, and shared destiny?

    When Nigerians go abroad, they unite proudly as Nigerians. Why can’t we replicate that unity at home? Our national motto is Peace and Progress. Without peace, progress is impossible. We must respect one another’s cultures and religions, uphold the rule of law and reject injustice. Injustice breeds bitterness, and bitterness breeds conflict.

    Nigeria is rich in resources, yet poverty persists because we are divided and disorganised. Unity will empower citizens to hold leaders accountable. Let us embrace reconciliation, peace and patriotism for the sake of our children and the future of this nation.

  • Olusola Joseph, RCCG LP80’s PICP, bags doctorate

    Olusola Joseph, RCCG LP80’s PICP, bags doctorate

    For Dr. Olusola Joseph, Pastor-in-Charge of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 80, Thursday, January 22, 2026, would long linger in memory as the day an academic journey of several years came to a climax with the conferment on him of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at the 45th convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos.

    The achievement was all the more gratifying for the senior RCCG pastor given that he crossed the finishing line when several peers who started with him on the same journey dropped out through the years given competing demands for their time and attention.

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    A few days earlier on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the Marriot Hotel, Ikeja, Joseph received the Best DBA Thesis Award (Third Prize) from the Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade T. Ogunsola and the Executive Director of ULBS, Prof Mike Adebamowo in recognition of his commendable doctoral thesis titled “Succession Planning a n d Sustainability of Family-Owned Businesses in Selected Indigenous Firms in Southwest, Nigeria.”

    •The Awardee, Dr Olusola Joseph, 2nd from left, receiving the Best DBA Thesis Award (Third Prize) from the Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade T. Ogunsola, left, and the Executive Director of ULBS, Prof Mike Adebamowo, right. Second from right is Mrs Abiola Joseph.

    The award was presented in acknowledgement of the quality, relevance, and scholarly contribution of his research to professional practice and academic advancement.

    Joseph, a former banker, has extensive work experience in human resources. The one-time Executive Secretary/CEO of The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (FCIPM), as well as two-time Director of the institute.

  • Tunde Popoola: Man behind Nigeria’s credit reporting system

    Tunde Popoola: Man behind Nigeria’s credit reporting system

    By Bola Joseph

    There are builders who construct edifices, and then there are visionaries who design systems that transform entire nations. Dr. Tunde Popoola belongs to the latter category, a rare breed of leader who saw what others couldn’t see: that Nigeria’s economic potential was locked behind walls of information asymmetry, and that the key to unlocking prosperity for millions lay in creating a credit infrastructure where none existed. He witnessed how banks struggled with information asymmetry, how customers played institutions against each other, and how the absence of reliable credit information stifled lending and economic growth.

    As the founding Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CRC Credit Bureau Limited, he didn’t just build a company; he engineered a fundamental shift in how Nigeria’s financial system operates, turning the abstract concept of “credit history” into a tangible tool for economic empowerment that now touches over 100 million lives.

    On his birthday today, we celebrate a highly accomplished economist, banker, and business leader with over 30 years of experience spanning banking, public-sector and financial infrastructure building in Nigeria.

    ‘Tunde holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, two Master’s degrees in Economics and Banking & Finance from the University of Lagos, and a Ph.D. in Finance from Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. He also attended advanced executive education programmes at Lagos Business School, Wharton, Harvard, IMD Switzerland, Cambridge and Kellogg, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

    He is widely respected within Nigeria’s professional and business community, holding fellowships and memberships across key institutions in accounting, banking, taxation, management, risk, governance, and capital markets. These affiliations reflect both the depth of his expertise and his long-standing commitment to professional excellence and ethical leadership. He also established Savannah Business School, focused on finance, leadership, and enterprise development, and has personally mentored and guided several businesses to sustainable growth across education, travel, and leadership development.

    His leadership extends to corporate governance, having served, and continuing to serve, as Chairman or Independent Non-Executive Director on the boards of several companies across technology, finance, education and media. He is also a highly sought-after speaker, researcher, and thought leader in economics, finance, credit reporting, business management, and sustainability.

    Professionally, Dr. Popoola built a successful career in banking, rising to Chief Finance Officer and General Manager of a publicly listed bank, before serving as the pioneer Chief Executive Officer of the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) from 2005 to 2008, an FCT Administration initiative supported by DFID to drive entrepreneurship and SME development.

    During his tenure, he successfully transformed AEA from a conceptual initiative into a functional institution with measurable impact, launching flagship programmes that promoted youth entrepreneurship, SME capacity building, and private-sector engagement across the FCT.

    His leadership delivered notable outcomes during this period, AEA introduced Entrepreneurs’ Clubs in secondary schools across the FCT, using the Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) curriculum.

    One of the standout successes was Junior Secondary School, Jikwoyi, which went on to represent Nigeria at the global SAGE World Cup in Odessa, Ukraine, returning home with the trophy and making history for both Nigeria and Africa, the creation of annual SME conferences and business plan competitions, and the development of platforms that supported SME visibility, networking, and business growth. He also designed entrepreneurship programmes for NYSC members, enabling many to launch their own businesses.

    In recognition of his impact, Dr. Popoola received a special ministerial commendation in 2007 and was subsequently appointed to the AEA Board in his personal recognition and served from 2008 to 2015. This experience strengthened his understanding of SME financing gaps and entrepreneurship development, providing critical insights that later shaped his leadership in addressing Nigeria’s credit information and financial inclusion challenges.

    In 2008, when Dr. Popoola assumed leadership of CRC Credit Bureau Limited, established by a consortium of ten leading financial institutions in partnership with Dun & Bradstreet, he stepped into uncharted territory. Credit bureaus were foreign to most Nigerians. The infrastructure didn’t exist. Skeptics questioned whether such a system could work in Nigeria.

    In 2011, he led the Managing Directors of the other two credit bureaus in Nigeria to meet with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria trying to address the challenge of absence of unique identification in Nigeria. Under the auspices of the Credit Bureau Association of Nigeria (CBAN), they made a presentation to the Bankers’ Committee on February 14, 2012 titled “Credit Bureaus and Nigerian Banks: Partnering for Growth,” which advocated for a unique identification system. The Bankers’ Committee adopted a resolution that led to the introduction of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) in Nigeria, a foundational infrastructure that has since become indispensable to Nigeria’s financial system. He also took active part in the discussion of the bill that led to the enactment of the National Credit Reporting Act of 2017. As the interim Chairman of Africa Credit Information Sharing Association (ACISA), he is championing deepening credit reporting in Africa and promoting cross-border credit information sharing.

    Under Dr. Popoola’s leadership, CRC has consistently refused to settle for the status quo, driving continuous innovation across Nigeria’s credit ecosystem. He has championed the development and launch of fifteen distinct products and services, including CRC Score, Nigeria’s first indigenous credit scoring system developed in collaboration with FICO.

    CRC also introduced the 360-Degree Customer View, which provides comprehensive customer profiling by integrating alternative data sources and behavioural insights, as well as API integrations that enable real-time access to credit information and seamless lending workflows.

    In 2022, CRC underwent a strategic evolution with the establishment of CRC Data and Analytics Limited (CDAL), transitioning into a group structure and expanding its offerings beyond traditional credit reporting into comprehensive data and analytics solutions.

    In addition, the CRC Financial Education Centre (CFEC) has trained thousands of professionals and individuals in credit risk management, data analytics, and financial literacy, strengthening industry capacity and consumer awareness. Through international partnerships, CRC has also enhanced its technical capabilities and global alignment, enabling the adoption of world-class standards and best practices across Nigeria’s credit infrastructure. These innovations reflect Dr. Popoola’s understanding that access to credit must be accompanied by technology, education, and continuous adaptation to market needs.

    Under Tunde’s leadership, CRC has garnered numerous accolades: Best Loan Application Service Provider (2014), Best Credit Bureau of the Year (2018 and 2019), and awards by Capital Finance International (CFI.co) as the Best Credit Bureau in Nigeria for six consecutive years (2020-2025). The award panel once asserted: “CRC is the largest credit reporting agency in Nigeria, responsible for over 95% of the nation’s recorded credit data from commercial banks, non-bank institutions, utility companies and retailers. This impressive market share is the result of a well-designed organisational structure, fine-tuned processes, and highly principled governance.” Forbes Africa Magazine’s 2023/2024 Edition featured CRC for its pivotal role in advancing financial inclusion.

    Beyond these leadership roles, Dr. Popoola’s impact has continued to earn him wide-ranging national and continental recognition. He holds several other awards and recognitions especially for his role in entrepreneurship, business management, finance, and youth empowerment. These include Ambassador for Peace and the Nigerian winner of the 1st Pan African Prize for Entrepreneurial Teachers in 2007. He is a proud recipient of special Ministerial recognition and commendation for his innovation and promotion of youth enterprise in the FCT. He was named the Credit Bureau CEO of the year in 2018.

    In 2023, he was conferred with the Sir Ahmadu Bello platinum award of excellence as an icon of societal development by the National Association of Northern Nigerian Students (NANNS). He was named the most astute MD/CEO of the year in 2025 for business innovation and tactical management. He has served multiple terms as Chairman of the Credit Bureau Association of Nigeria (2015, 2018, 2021) and Chairman of the Lagos and District Society of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (2007-2009).

    Dr. Popoola is involved in a lot of community service. He has been the National President of Sepeteri Community since 2001. He founded Tomeb Foundation for Youth Development and Sustainability with interest in education, entrepreneurship, leadership and sustainability.

    Tomeb Foundation has granted scholarships to several brilliant indigent secondary school students and students in tertiary institutions since 2012. The Foundation also studied and presented reports on Entrepreneurship and Youth Entrepreneurship in Nigeria (2013 – 2025) under the auspices of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). He has helped to establish and guide many businesses to sustainable profit and growth.

    He is frequently invited to speak, present, and contribute research on entrepreneurship, credit reporting, finance, and economics, reflecting his strong reputation and influence across these fields.

    When Tunde started CRC, his personal vision was clear: “To facilitate consumer lending and the economy in Nigeria.” Nearly two decades later, he reflects: “We are not yet there… but we have been able to change lending practices. Before the credit bureaus, there was little lending to small businesses and consumers. They had no records. Today, many banks have SME desks because we have been able to provide the data that gives the banks an ability to do their credit analysis and to minimise risk of default.”

     His legacy lives in reduced loan defaults that strengthened Nigeria’s banking system, improved Ease of Doing Business rankings, and countless stories of entrepreneurs, families, and young professionals who accessed opportunities previously beyond reach, all made possible by the infrastructure he built.

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    At a time when many would rest on accumulated achievements, Dr. Popoola remains focused on what lies ahead. He envisions Nigeria reaching credit penetration levels comparable to developed economies. He sees every Nigerian, regardless of social and economic status, having the opportunity to build credit history and access financial resources to pursue their dreams.

    Under his continued leadership, CRC is expanding product offerings, deepening analytical capabilities, and exploring AI and machine learning to enhance credit assessment. The group structure positions the organisation to play an even broader role in Nigeria’s data economy, with potential to benefit other African nations facing similar challenges.

    For all his professional demands, Dr. Popoola remains grounded in family and faith, values that guide how he conducts business and treats people. He is known for his humility and genuine commitment to developing others. At CRC, he has built a culture of excellence, innovation, and integrity that attracts and retains top talent. His mentorship of young professionals and entrepreneurs reflects a deep commitment to building human capital.

    Tunde is a committed family man whose personal life reflects the same values that define his leadership – faith, care and purpose. For him, the family is a constant source of grounding and strength, providing the clarity and renewal that enable him to lead with empathy, balance, and conviction.

    As he marks another year, Dr. Popoola can look with satisfaction on a career that has changed Nigeria for the better. The credit bureau he pioneered has become indispensable infrastructure. The innovations he championed have enabled millions to access opportunities. The team he built continues to drive excellence. The standards he set continue to elevate the industry.

    But the work is far from finished. There are still millions without credit histories to bring into the system, innovations to develop, and a vision of full financial inclusion to realise.

    Today, we celebrate Dr. Tunde Popoola, not only for what has been achieved, but for what continues to unfold. Happy Birthday to a leader whose work proves that when vision meets courage, institutions are born, and nations move forward.

  • My prison experience blessing in disguise – Genesis

    My prison experience blessing in disguise – Genesis

    Prophet Israel Oladele is the Shepherd- In- Charge of the Celestial Church of Christ Genesis Global. He is also an honorary distinguished member of the Centre for Democratic Governance in Africa. In this interview with GBENGA ADERANTI, he opens up on his life, battles, relationships with the National Chairman of the National Road Transport Workers Union (NURTW), Musiliu Akinsanya a.k.a. MC Oluomo, iconic Fuji artistes Wasiu Ayinde and Alabi Wasiu (Pasuma),  the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland Otunba Gani Adams and Pastor Matthew Asihmolowo. Excerpts: 

    At what point did you decide to answer God’s call?

    That happened about two decades ago. Before then, I was squatting in a Celestial Church, Paradise Parish. I was born into Islam, and I grew up in the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), off Brown Street, Oshodi, Lagos. That was where my parents gave their lives to Christ. Since then, I have been known as a church boy. I played instruments in the church. Until then, we had never played instruments in my family. But, you know, it was the gift of God.

    Why is it that many people tend to have negative perception of white garment churches?

    What brought me to the Celestial Church is what really affects this country and the whole world, which is religion. God is not a God of any religion. Christianity is not a religion but a way of life. Islam is not a religion; it is a way of life. Before I came into Celestial Church, the perception we had about the church was that Celestial Church was a barbaric church; that they were into rituals. But all these are lies, big lies. I believe that it was what those who brought Pentecostalism were using to preach their own gospel, relegating what has been given to other people.

    God raised Orimolade, S.B. Oshoffa, Apostle Ayodele Babalola, just as God raised Elijah, Elisha, Paul, and Peter. But the thing that made people look at white garment churches in a negative way actually connects to the white garment. When anybody wears a white garment, and they see him carrying a calabash, they say he is a Cele person. If anybody wears a white garment and he is carrying a chicken, they say he is a Cele person or a Cherubim person.

    You have to appreciate the fact that though those people were not educated, they were spiritually endowed. You can never undermine the place of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not belong to any church.

    It is very unusual to see someone from a CAC background becoming a Celestial prophet. How did your parents react to this audacious ‘switch’?

    The thing that led me to Celestial Church was love. You know in other churches you have to change clothes every Sunday, but I was born without a silver spoon in my mouth. My parents were so poor that my mother wore the same clothes for four years.

    When we moved from Christ Apostolic Church, we moved to Alagbado and started attending a church in front of my father’s house, where he built a six-room bungalow. We had to change clothes every Sunday. It got to a point where my father said we had to stop going to the place, because he had no clothes to change. There, anytime you wanted to give an offering, you would dance around the offering basket before dropping the offering, but my mum had no money to drop. My mum would just dance around the offering basket with empty hands.

    Meanwhile, we were living on my father’s small farm. He planted cassava in all the abandoned buildings in the area. After harvest, we would take them to the market and sell them.

    Things changed when one of the church members mocked my mum. She said in pidgin that my mum was always the first person to get to church, and the last person to leave the church, yet she was the poorest. It was the truth.

    Anybody reading this might have experienced this before. I remember that I wore one pair of jeans trousers for four or five years. I was a major labourer. Where we are now, I served some of the landlords. My mum did not understand what the person said because she didn’t understand English. But I heard and I felt bad.

    In that church, they had deacons and deaconesses. They would have to pledge and pay a levy, but we had no money to give. Anytime our pastor was preaching, he would be condemning those who were not giving in his sermons. This pained my dad a lot. If he had the money, he would have paid. If my mum had the money, she would have been supporting. My father happened to be a very voracious reader when it comes to the Bible. He had nothing to do but plant and read the Bible.

    Anytime the pastor was preaching, he would just divert to giving, that the more you gave, the more beautiful your house in heaven would be. The more you gave, that was the more money they would use to build your house in heaven. My father would say, no, that is a lie, that is not what the Bible says, and he stopped going to church.

    After my mum was insulted, I walked down the street and I saw some people gathered, wearing white, gisting. I was inquisitive. I felt this is what they call Cele.  I thought inside me that these were the people called ritualists. I wanted to know if they were really ritualists. I sat with them, they embraced me. They cooked and we ate. Mind you, it wasn’t because of the food, it was because of the love.

    I’m a man who wants everybody around me to be happy. It has been my nature. That was how my mother trained us. Remember that we were Muslims. I felt unlike the former one that would condemn you. I said this man (Cele pastor) did not drive me away; he did not rebuke me for not wearing the sutana (celestial white garment). He now asked if I would like to join the service on the second day, I said no problem, and they gave me a sutana without paying. Even when I was going, they gave me N10.00 as thank you for worshipping with us. I just decided that instead of going to a church where we would be changing clothes, let me go to a place where I did not have to change clothes. Everybody wears white, nobody knows who is rich. That was how I joined the Celestial church.

    Meanwhile, the mockery of my parents continued in my former church at Alagbado. The war started when they discovered that I had joined Cele. Any sermon like this, they would be preaching about a prodigal son, condemning me. It was worse because I was the first born while my mother was a deaconess and my father was a deacon. It was like how can you have a child that you cannot control, and also attend a church where they don’t know God.

    That was how I stopped going home and started sleeping in the church.

    While staying in the church, I started fasting, you know, fasting was part of my life. In my family, we were fasting, even if you had a headache, we would fast or drink water. But joining Cele made me realise that some of the things they were talking about were not true. Of course, some people would wear that garment and perpetrate evil, which will make people conclude that the Celestial man did it.

    While living in that church, God later gave me the spirit of prophecy. He started using me for the church and to the glory of God, from one place to the other, from one plot of land, God has brought us this far.

    You are considered a controversial person in certain quarters. You had an encounter with one of your members, which later led to your incarceration. There are many versions of that story. What actually happened?

    I don’t want to go back into it again, because I have talked and talked about it. You know why? Because if I go back to it again, the news will be watered by the time the movie comes out.

    And some artistes will pick the better part of it, and act before my movie comes out.

    What was supposed to dry me multiplied me. That is how to confirm God. What was supposed to erase me raised me. Romans 8:28 says ‘Everything worketh together for good for those that love God and are called according to his purpose.’

    How can you be trusted when you have not been tested by God? Let any man of God come out in the world, in Nigeria, who has gone through that and survived it. Apostle Babalola was the first person to go to prison, and he spent six months there. He didn’t steal, he didn’t kill. How can you call yourself a soldier who wants to get a promotion without facing trials? If you are not ready to face the music of life, you can never become the choir master. It was a good one. I’m very happy that many things came out of it.

    The accuser was a weapon for my advancement. The situation was to refine me. That was a refiner fire. Why would I blame anyone? I didn’t die in it, the church multiplied. How can you be in confinement and the church is growing? Even there, God used me to deliver many people; about 30 of them or more.

    The day they took me to court in 2009, I was kidnapped. I will advise people now that if police come for their arrest, tell them to go to the nearest police station first and report the case before they go. I would have been killed then. I was studying, wearing ordinary boxers, and that was how they took me to court. You think I’m not pained, I am pained. I can forgive, I will never forget. As we were going, they said call anybody you want to call because you are not going to Panti, you are going to court. Who does that? Everything had been arranged.

    One of the things that came out of it was a law firm that showed interest in the case…

    There were lots of good lawyers that I never met before who showed interest in the case. How will you know that God is with you when a trial comes, and God starts raising people for you who did not even know you at all? One of the leading preachers, whom I never met before, surprisingly came into the matter. Many people are behind the scenes. People started bringing money; I said it was not money. The land they said I didn’t buy, it is still there now. I can’t take you to the place. I won’t build it. Till tomorrow, it is still there.

    The accuser was a weapon for advancement. The situation was to refine me; that was a refiner’s fire. Why would I blame anyone? Instead of that, the church multiplied. How can you be in confinement, and the church is growing? In there, God used me to deliver so many people, about 30 of them. There was a person whose leg was about to be amputated. I facilitated his treatment, and he is walking now. Will that one forget me in life? Will he not see it that my problem was his own solution?

    I understand that you have a foundation called Israel Oladele Foundation. To what extent has it achieved its objectives?

    Nobody is bankrolling me. If I make a little money now, I will think about it. Because of what I had been through, I was a bus conductor for many years. I slept in the market for many years. I hawked bread for many years. I hawked oranges for many years. I don’t force people to pay tithe. Those that are paying tithe, I preach the gospel.  I don’t force it. The little tithes coming, we use it to pay widows in the church. The ones that collects the least collects N25,000. My mother is a widow, and she is not part of it.

    I have people that I’m praying for, I have people that I’m not praying for that love me and have become my friend. People like Seyi Vodi, creative people, people who appreciate humanity and ingenuity. Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, if he wanted to charge he would have charged N20 million. He said he wanted to come to our church, and he performed at the altar. All the songs that he sang were Christian songs. I can send you the video.

    I was the one who gave the Aare Ona Kakanfo prophecy some years back, but I didn’t know the meaning of Aare Ona Kakanfo. I was just with him, and I said ‘I’m seeing a seat for you sir in Yorubaland. That seat is a seat you think you can never get to, and will make you the greatest among the Yoruba people. Three years after, he called me on the phone and said his name had been shortlisted among the people to be considered for the post of Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland. I told him he would come tops. He said if I became the Aare Ona Kakanfo, no matter his position, he would come to our church. I would roll on the floor to glorify God.

    This was someone people described as fetish. Come to your church and roll on the floor; does that not mean the person knows God?

    He said he wanted to support the church. I said I don’t need your money, sir. He said no, he must do it. I said he could use the money to buy sutana. 80 percent of our members are from Pentecostal right now, because we preach, we do marriage seminars, we do conferences. I preach precept upon precept. This month we are teaching on new dimensions.

    Celestial church is regarded as a church where you have the highest number of beautiful women. How have you been managing?

    You are very correct because do you know what white colour does? No matter how ugly you are, if you wear white, the purity of that colour brings out your beauty.

    Are you not distracted by these beautiful women?

    How can I be distracted?

    Do you sometimes face temptations?

    Temptations will come, but discipline will overrule them. When you came, you saw me with my wife here. Apart from that, what is my size? What is my height? How can I marry two wives or three wives? It is not that I’m perfect. I’m not Jesus. But discipline has enabled me to overcome temptations. My mum is still a CAC member. Till today, she doesn’t use earrings, but all my sisters are with me.

    You were accused by an actress…

    There was a lady that lied against me. She is an actress. I have never seen her in my life.

    She said I did something to her. Police arrested her and took her case to the Federal High Court.

     She said she told me and said that there was a house she wanted to sell, and that the person who would help her sell it would have to sleep with her first. She would pay 10 million naira, and after that, they would help her sell the house.

    You have many books on your shelf. How voracious are you when it comes to reading?

    I don’t go out; my books are my friends. Those books were written by many people. Imagine how many friends I would have had if they were human beings. Friends will betray me, but my books will not betray me. This is half of what I have. These are my investments. If I travel, I use half of what I have to buy books. If I tell people that I didn’t attend any university, they won’t believe me. I went to the University of Adversity, Faculty of Problems, and Department of Troubles. Instead of me complaining and blaming my parents, I took to studying.

    Who are the people you look up to in Christianity?

    My coach is Bishop T.D Jakes. I go to his church for seminars and conferences. I buy tickets from here.My spiritual father, who taught me how to pray very well, is Pastor Wole Oladiyun of CLAM. My spiritual father is Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo. That is why I’m following his path in real estate; the only man who has taken me to his room with my wife. He is a genuine man of God.

    What is your goal in life?

    My goal is to have many schools, not many churches. I’m not praying to be the head of the Celestial Church. I’m not praying to be the head of any church. I’m only playing my part. I don’t want to have many branches. I want to have many free schools instead of churches.

    Some people would ask me how we are going to finance the school. I would ask them how are we financing the church? It is the same money they contribute in church we will use to pay teachers. When people are well educated, they will be revelated; when they are revelated, they will be educated. Instead of me having 30 branches, let me have 30 schools. Whoever wants to partner with me should come with transparency. It will be well audited.

    I understand that you have a football academy or is it a club?

    Yes, we have a football Club. We use this to support people. They went to Manchester, where they won a competition. I didn’t take a dime from anybody, or visa racketeering. I have since returned their passports to them.

    The good thing about this is that some of them are with different clubs over there. I didn’t collect a dime from them. That is my concept about church: to support, assist and impact lives.

    Do you belong to any of the associations of Christian bodies?

    I’m a Celestian. We are under the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). We have a pastor, our head Pastor Emmanuel S.B. Oshoffa is the person I report to. I’m just a servant leader. My level is even the smallest. My own goal is to think about how we are going to have our farm, celestial farm, celestial estate, instead of collecting money from our members, not planning for them on how to build houses.

    How receptive are the conservative Cele leaders to the reforms you are introducing?

    I wasn’t born into the Celestial Church; So many celestial people fought me. Some of them have never been here before. I’m in mufti while you are interviewing me. Sme of them will have to wear their sutana before they talk to you, but that is not me. I read the Bible. I study. When they started waging war, I was doing my own thing.

    In the Celestial Church, they said they don’t use red, so I fought them. Look at this wristwatch, Richard Mille. A footballer bought it, and dashed me. I know how much it cost. You now preach that I’m wearing red, I fight them. What is the colour of the blood? Red. What is the colour of the blood of Jesus? Red. They say Celestians don’t use black things. What is the colour of our speaker? Black.

    There are things I will preach that won’t augur well with them. Like in our church here, we don’t spray money during our harvest while others spray money. We don’t do this because we don’t want anybody to feel less. We don’t have special chairs for any special person.

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    During our harvest, the National President of the NURTW Musiliu Akinsanya a.k.a. MC Oluomo came. Many prominent people came. If you start calling them one by one, and they start spraying money, how will the people who do not have money feel? Whom do we impress?

    There are so many things we don’t do. They will say ah, Genesis is not Cele o, he is not part of us. But when they see me they can’t ignore me; they embrace me. You won’t ignore the truth. You won’t ignore the word. You won’t ignore the proof. Only a fool will doubt the proof. I have had a series of problems with some Cele leaders.

    I’m currently building a church in Isheri. If you don’t want to wear sutana, you can go there and worship.

    Will this not get you into bigger trouble?

    Another name for success is controversy. Tell me the name of the church of Jesus Christ. He said upon this mountain I will build my church, and the gate of hell shall not prevail over. What are we preaching? The gospel, not church.

    You have been associated with a lot of celebrities. Many people would say you are a man of God, you should keep away from worldly things…

    I told you that Jesus is my mentor. Jesus was also asked these questions. When they asked Jesus why are you eating with sinners? He said he did not come for those who were clean, who were not sinners; he said he came for those who were sinners. Why did he go to Zacchaeus’ house? Was Zacchaeus a born-again Christian? Peter was a tax collector. So, that has answered it.

    They are very close to me because they have seen the result, to the glory of God, according to the way God has called me.

    MC came from Oshodi; I’m from Oshodi, too. Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde came by himself to come and praise God in our church. Was that not a plus? 70 per cent of Wasiu Ayinde’s boys are Celestial boys. They are Christians; they are the ones playing music. I was one of the instrumentalists. I have never played for him before, but I was playing music for some of the artistes. They can’t remember me again.

    You were invited to preach in an Islamic programme. What was the experience like?

    Of course, the Imams were there, and when I finished talking, I was motivated. I didn’t quote many bible verses. I spoke about character, I spoke about goodwill, I spoke about thinking outside the box, I spoke about mentality for multiplication. As I was praying, I said so, so things will happen in Jesus’ name, and they all said amen, in Jesus’ name.

    When I was done, I said shout Allah Akbar 21 times, and they were shouting Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar; over two thousand people, and they started falling under the anointing. Wisdom is a principal thing, get it and get understanding. And I was wearing my sutana. That is God for you. God does not have a colour.

    So when they were falling under the anointing, the Imam had no choice but to say, ‘Genesis, if one is not careful, you can make someone become a Christian.’ I said I was not preaching religion. What is the meaning of Allah Akbar? God is good.

  • Kemi Adeosun: My resignation as Finance Minister not admission of wrongdoing

    Kemi Adeosun: My resignation as Finance Minister not admission of wrongdoing

    •Says powerful enemies used NYSC certificate row to get rid of her

    Former Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has given her most detailed account of the circumstances that led to her resignation from President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet in September 2018.

    She said the decision was taken to safeguard the integrity of the Office of the Minister of Finance and to allow her to defend her name through the courts.

    Adeosun spoke on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, where she addressed the controversy surrounding her exemption from the National Youth Service Corps and the political consequences that followed.

    According to her, stepping aside was a conscious choice rooted in principle rather than an acknowledgement of fault.

    She explained that remaining in office while pursuing legal action against the government would have placed both her and the institution she represented in an untenable position.

    “People kept asking why did I resign? That no one resigns as minister of finance as I did,” she said. “I still think it was the right thing for me to do.”

    She described the moment as one that demanded clarity of values, insisting that the responsibilities of the finance portfolio could not be reconciled with the personal task of clearing her name. “My resignation is a matter of principle and not an admission of wrongdoing. It was a step to protect the Office of the Minister of Finance and defend my reputation,” Adeosun said. “I can’t be attending local and international meetings as minister of finance, and also appearing in a court in a case of integrity and reputation.”

    The former minister added that the idea of suing the government while serving as a senior cabinet member was inappropriate. “I knew I would need to go to court to clear my name, and doing so was not compatible with being Minister of Finance representing Nigeria at the highest level,” she said.

    Adeosun recalled personally informing President Buhari of her decision. “I went to see Mr President, and I said, ‘Mr. President, I need to go. I need to go to court because I have to clear my name,” she recounted. According to her, the President agreed with the course of action and supported her decision to seek legal redress. “These names are leased from our children and our grandchildren. You don’t destroy your name because you want to stay as minister,” she added.

    In July 2021, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Adeosun was ineligible to participate in the NYSC scheme. The court held that under the 1979 Constitution, which was in force at the time of her graduation, she was not a Nigerian citizen either when she graduated or when she turned 30, the age threshold for the scheme.

    Adeosun graduated from the University of East London in 1989 at the age of 22. Justice Taiwo Taiwo, who presided over the case, ruled that the constitution did not require her to present an NYSC certificate or any academic certificate as a condition for ministerial appointment. The court further held that her appointment as Minister of Finance was neither illegal nor unconstitutional despite the absence of an NYSC certificate.

    The suit, filed in March 2021 by the law firm of Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), on her behalf, also addressed the issue of citizenship. The court ruled that because the 1979 Constitution did not recognise dual citizenship, Adeosun could not be considered eligible for the NYSC scheme at the time. By the time Nigeria’s laws permitted her citizenship status to revert, the court noted, she was already well above the age limit for participation.

    Beyond the legal and political controversy, Adeosun used the interview to reflect on policy debates, particularly the issue of fuel subsidy removal and the current tax reforms. She maintained that the policy of fuel subsidy was unsustainable and widely understood as such within the government.

    “There was no minister who did not know that subsidy was killing us,” she said, pointing to the distortions created by subsidised fuel prices and Nigeria’s porous borders. “We had consumption figures of about 65 million litres per day with only about 10 million cars. It was not possible.”

    She argued that subsidy payments drained resources that could have been deployed for development. “Money spent on subsidy is money you can spend on roads, education or health,” Adeosun said, while cautioning that reforms must be accompanied by long-term solutions to cushion citizens. “You need structural solutions, not just palliatives, to help people absorb policy changes.”

    On tax reform, Adeosun spoke candidly about the resistance finance ministers often face. “When you’re Minister of Finance, the word ‘no’ becomes your watchword,” she said. “If your finance minister is loved by everybody, they’re probably not doing much of a job.”

    She defended initiatives such as the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme, which sought to bring wealthy individuals and large corporations into the tax net, and praised the current administration for advancing data harmonisation across government agencies.

    “I was excited when I saw moves to harmonise data,” she said. “We’ve had TIN, NIN, BVN—too many numbers. Once you harmonise data, it becomes very difficult to hide.”

    According to her, integrated data systems, combined with technology, make it easier to identify those benefiting from public resources without meeting their tax obligations. “Once you have data, and with AI, you can see very quickly who is not playing the game fairly,” she said.

    Adeosun also touched on insecurity, describing it as a deeply rooted problem that requires sustained effort. She recounted a traumatic personal experience during her tenure, when her home was invaded, and she was robbed at knifepoint. “It was extremely scary,” she said. “I never slept in that house again.”

    Despite such experiences, she expressed cautious optimism about current efforts to address the crisis. “Insecurity didn’t start overnight, and it won’t end overnight,” she said. “But what matters is that there is now a clear will to tackle it.”

    Away from public office, Adeosun has focused on social impact through DashMe Stores, a charity initiative she founded in 2021. She revealed that the organisation has raised more than ₦500m to support vulnerable people and orphanages across the country.

    “We started in 2021 with one store. We’re now on our fifth store and expanding,” she said. DashMe currently operates one outlet in Abuja and three in Lagos, with a fifth scheduled to open in Abeokuta next month. Plans are also underway for expansion to Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory.

    She explained that the model relies on local partnerships in areas where her team cannot be physically present. “In each of those places, we rely on partners to work with us, and we’re seeing no shortage of people willing to get involved. They like what we’re doing. They like helping,” she said.

    Adeosun stressed that DashMe operates strictly as a not-for-profit venture. “Cumulatively, we’ve raised over ₦500m from our stores and partnerships, and that is exactly how much has gone out,” she said. “I don’t get paid. The only people who are paid are the shop staff. Everything else goes back into helping people.”

    According to her, the organisation has built about four orphanages from scratch, refurbished several others and taken over abandoned projects, including one that had been left unfinished for more than four decades. “Children’s lives are unstable enough without landlords issuing quit notices,” she said. “They deserve to be in their own homes.”

    She also spoke of setbacks, including the vandalisation of an orphanage under construction shortly before Christmas. “It was painful, especially because it was pointless,” she said. “But we’ll soldier on and complete the project.”

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    On poverty, Adeosun argued that the challenge is global rather than uniquely Nigerian. “Every country has a metric for classifying poverty,” she said, noting that large populations naturally produce high absolute numbers. “Because of our numbers, there will always be a core of poverty that remains.”

    She insisted that the true measure of progress lies in social mobility. “What matters is whether people are able to move from poverty into the middle or lower-middle class,” Adeosun said. “The worst kind of poverty is generational poverty, where generation after generation remains poor with no social mobility.”

    Education and enterprise, she said, remain the fastest routes out of deprivation, often creating ripple effects as individuals support extended families and communities.

    Adeosun concluded with a broader reflection on citizenship and governance, arguing that societal progress often begins outside government. “Government never starts anything. People start, and the government takes it over,” she said, recalling how many social institutions in other countries began as citizen-led initiatives.

    Recounting an experience where DashMe offered to refurbish a state-run orphanage, only for officials to promise action themselves, she added, “It’s the people that lead the government. One of our challenges in Nigeria is that we expect the government to lead the people. It should be the other way around.”

  • Fatima Aliyu Proving the power of partnership in governance

    Fatima Aliyu Proving the power of partnership in governance

    By Emmanuel Ado

    In Sokoto State, Dr. Fatima Aliyu, wife of Governor Ahmed Aliyu and First Lady, has shown that governance is most effective when built on teamwork. Through supportive leadership grounded in empathy and public service, she exemplifies how strong partnerships can reinforce policy outcomes and bring government closer to the people. Through her dedication and hard work, Dr. Fatima has emerged as a quiet, supportive and influential force in her husband’s administration.

    In many respects, Fatima Aliyu’s approach echoes a proud historical legacy. She is following in the footsteps of Nana Asma’u, the celebrated daughter of Shehu Usmanu Danfodiyo, who played a transformative role in advancing education, women’s learning, and social reform in the Sokoto Caliphate. Like Nana Asma’u who used knowledge, moral authority, and community engagement to uplift society, Fatima Aliyu has deployed soft power and social advocacy to strengthen governance and expand opportunity, particularly for women and girls.

    Even in the United States of America, where the role of the President’s spouse, though not defined by law,  has however over the years become a powerful platform that has positively impacted  various programmes that address critical social issues. Eleanor Roosevelt, for instance, transformed the role by championing human rights, education, and women’s welfare, proving that influence can extend beyond ceremonial duties. Similarly, in Nigeria, Maryam Babangida used her position as First Lady to elevate the welfare of rural women and children through the Better Life for Rural Women programme, demonstrating how advocacy and public engagement can reinforce government priorities.

    Fatima Aliyu, is no doubt on a firm ground building on the foundation laid by these notable women.

    It is a fact that when such power is exercised with purpose, such roles like that of Fatima Aliyu complements formal governance by advancing policy implementation and fostering social acceptance. Fatima Aliyu’s   activities reflect this keen understanding. Her activism does not seek to rival executive authority; rather, it reinforces the policies of her husband particularly in areas where key government policies need the buy-in of women to succeed. Her effort in getting the people to embrace these policies can’t be denied.

    Often described as the wife of the Sokoto State Governor or simply as the First Lady, Fatima Aliyu has chosen a path defined by substance rather than flamboyance. Her various engagements consistently focus on social welfare, maternal and child health, women’s inclusion, youth development, and support for vulnerable populations. These are far from peripheral concerns; they form the social foundations upon which the administration’s broader development agenda is built.

    For instance, one of the defining priorities of Governor Aliyu’s administration is the revitalization of education, particularly at the basic and secondary levels. From the rehabilitation of schools to renewed emphasis on enrolment and learning outcomes, education has been framed as both a developmental and moral imperative. Fatima Aliyu’s vigorous outreach to parents, women’s associations, and community leaders reinforces this agenda at the grassroots. By engaging mothers on the importance of girl-child education and providing financial support for schooling, she helps address the social barriers that the provision of infrastructure alone cannot resolve. In this sense, her activism functions as a social multiplier for government investment.

    Her commitment to girl-child education is  reflected in her oversight of the disbursement of cash support to 41,821 female students under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project. The intervention, implemented as a Conditional Cash Transfer programme, is aimed at advancing girl-child education in Sokoto State by reducing financial barriers and encouraging school retention. Speaking on the initiative, Fatima Aliyu underscored its broader societal value, noting that “By educating girls, AGILE is helping to build a more just and prosperous society.”

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    In the same vein, Governor Aliyu’s administration’s emphasis on improved primary healthcare and maternal health is strongly reinforced by Fatima Aliyu’s consistent advocacy. Sokoto State, like many states in the North, continues to grapple with challenges related to maternal mortality, child nutrition, and access to basic health services. While government-led efforts to upgrade healthcare facilities and expand access are essential, their success depends largely on community participation. Through health sensitization engagements that promote antenatal care, immunization, and preventive health practices, Fatima Aliyu has strengthened these initiatives with cultural sensitivity and personal engagement. Her role underscores a critical truth that healthcare outcomes improve when effective persuasion is incorporated into public policy.

    Governor Aliyu’s emphasis on social welfare and poverty alleviation also finds resonance in her public work. From engagement with widows and low-income families to advocacy for support for displaced or economically vulnerable communities, Fatima Aliyu amplifies the administration’s concern for social protection. While government interventions may take the form of relief materials, empowerment schemes, or targeted assistance, her involvement adds a human dimension that strengthens public confidence in such efforts. She signals that governance is attentive not only to economic indicators, but also to the dignity of the people.

    The focus on women’s empowerment is particularly noteworthy. Women play a crucial role in household and community well-being, and investing in their development yields far-reaching benefits. According to a report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), empowering women economically leads to improved health, education, and social outcomes for entire families. By prioritising women’s skills acquisition and entrepreneurship, Sokoto State under Ahmed Aliyu is therefore not just fostering inclusive growth, but also strengthening social stability. Fatima Aliyu’s advocacy in this area reinforces the administration’s understanding that sustainable development must be gender-responsive.

    Youth development is another area where Fatima Aliyu’s invaluable contribution is evident. With unemployment and social dislocation posing security risks to the stability of the society, the Sokoto State Government has emphasized skills acquisition and economic inclusion as part of its development strategy. Fatima Aliyu’s interactions with the young people,  particularly in discussions around skills acquisition, self-reliance, and community responsibility reinforce these priorities. By lending her voice to conversations about taking advantage of available opportunities, she has helped frame youth development as a shared societal responsibility rather than a task for the government alone.

    While security remains the responsibility of formal state institutions, it is also shaped by important social dynamics. The administration’s efforts to improve security through collaboration with traditional leaders and community structures have benefited from trust at the local level. Fatima Aliyu’s respectful engagement with these structures, especially women leaders and community influencers, has contributed greatly to the improved stability. In communities where informal networks matter deeply, such engagement is not incidental; it is strategic.

    What distinguishes Fatima Aliyu’s approach is her understanding of the power of soft power. She operates without executive authority, yet her influence lies in accessibility, cultural fluency, and moral persuasion. By listening to community concerns and amplifying them through appropriate channels, she creates feedback loops that have enriched governance. In doing so, she complements the governor’s emphasis on inclusive governance.

    Fatima Aliyu’s role reflects a deeper philosophy of spousal partnership in public life. Rather than existing as a symbolic presence at official functions, she has wisely chosen to function as a partner on purpose by reinforcing the administration’s development priorities through social engagement. This partnership is not about visibility for its own sake; it is about alignment. Governor Aliyu deserves credit for recognising her value and deliberately empowering her to contribute to the effective governance of the state.

    Importantly, Fatima Aliyu’s activism is marked by cultural sensitivity. In a society where tradition and religion play a major role in shaping public norms, progress must be negotiated rather than imposed. Her engagements respect existing structures while subtly expanding the civic space for women, much in the tradition of Nana Asma’u, demonstrating that women’s participation in public life is deeply rooted in history.

    As Sokoto State navigates the complexities of socio- economic development, Fatima Aliyu continues to prove that partnership in governance, when grounded in public service and aligned with the general good, remains one of leadership’s most powerful assets. Through compassion, advocacy, and quiet effectiveness, she stands as a modern embodiment of a timeless truth: that societies progress fastest when women are empowered to lead, serve, and inspire.

  • Kikelomo Akinluyi: One year after, the beat goes on

    Kikelomo Akinluyi: One year after, the beat goes on

    For Kikelomo Christiana Akinluyi, it was a life well spent. As at the time she passed on to eternal glory on April 1, 2024 at age 60, this Ikere Ekiti born fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), had almost completed the cycle. A former General Manager (Controls) at Ibile Holdings, an investment company of the Lagos State Government, Akinluyi, excelled in everything she laid her hands on while in this part of the divide.

    At Ibile Holdings, she was regarded as a torchbearer because she inspired her team to work towards the targeted goal of the organisation. When she left the company in 2013 and established her own enterprise – Blue Ribon Events & Hall – many people thought she would slow down, but they were all proved wrong. Indeed, it was here her leadership and managerial attributes became more pronounced. Till her last day in office, Mrs. Akinluyi gave her workers and clients the best they could get.

    But to the late Kikelomo’s family and friends, especially her darling husband, Mr. Olaoluwa Akinluyi, also a Chartered Accountant, the best of the late compassionate woman, was the time and resources she dedicated in lifting others and bringing smiles into the faces of many people who encountered her. This explains why the husband rallied members of his immediate family, friends, and a few colleagues of his late wife to conceptualize Kikelomo Christianah Akinluyi Charity Foundation (Kaycee Foundation) immediately Mrs. Akinluyi was buried.

    In line with the biblical record of honoring the memory of loved ones, even after their death, as demonstrated by David while mourning Saul and Jonathan, and Jeremiah who composed laments for King Josiah, Laolu Akinluyi believes that Kaycee Foundation would enable him and those that believe in what his late wife stood for, to sustain her good spirit through lifting others and keeping hopes alive.

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    As part of the activities being put in place to immortalise and continue with the various humanitarian gestures of Mrs. Akinluyi, the foundation was recently inaugurated to provide relief and support programmes for members of the public.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the foundation in Aramoko Ekiti, Mr. Akinluyi announced that a N250 million endowment fund has been earmarked for the foundation. He further stated that the foundation would provide relief and support for residents of Aramoko-Ekiti community and other members of the public.

    He explained that the foundation was established to immortalise Mrs. Akinluyi, to preserve her values, compassion, and humanitarian spirit.

    The Chartered Accountant, an indigene of Aramoko-Ekiti, said that the KAYCEE Foundation was a memorial project and not a springboard for political ambitions.

    Akinluyi explained that the foundation’s interventions would focus on four pillars including health, education, feeding and economic empowerment with the aim of supporting students, youths, the aged, widows and other vulnerable groups in the town.

    As part of its first humanitarian gestures, the Foundation had earlier installed hand-pump boreholes in five primary schools across Aramoko and distributed 250 packs of 25kg food items to 250 widows and aged women.

    Reflecting on the journey leading to the establishment of the NGO, he revealed that the idea had been conceived 15 years ago, a joint initiative between him and his wife but following her demise, the family resolved to transform it into a memorial foundation.

    He added that the N250m endowment fund would generate about N50 million annually through interest and dividends, which would be dedicated to the running of the foundation’s programmes as well as administrative operations.

    The Bishop of the Anglican Church, Ekiti West Diocese, Rt. Rev. Cornelius Oludare Adagbada described the project as a rare gesture that would bring relief to many households.

    Earlier, the chairman of the event and childhood friend of the late entrepreneur, Dr. Janet Agbaje had called on friends, former schoolmates, and former colleagues of her late friend to support the Akinluyi family in achieving the objectives of the foundation. “I want us all to rise up and give Kaycee Foundation the attention it deserves because were she to be alive, Kikelomo would do more for friends and even acquaintances,” Agbaje stated.

    Also, at the event, a book of Tributes, ‘HeartPrint’, edited by Akin Oluwadare Jnr, a banker and leadership coach, was unveiled. In the foreword of the book, Tawakalitu Adeyinka Yusuf, a bosom friend of late Kikelomo, aptly described KC Foundation as a testament to her friend’s enduring legacy. May the beautiful soul of Mrs. Akinluyi continues to rest in peace.

    •Adetifa writes from Aramoko-Ekiti

  • Oborevwori’s wife fetes market women, urges them to intensify PVCs sensitisation

    Oborevwori’s wife fetes market women, urges them to intensify PVCs sensitisation

    The wife of the Governor of Delta State, Her Excellency Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, has hosted the 2025 End-of-Year Banquet for market women drawn from various markets across the state.

    Speaking at the third edition of the annual banquet, Deaconess Oborevwori expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to once again celebrate with market women, whom she described as the backbone of local commerce and critical drivers of Delta State’s economy.

    Items presented by Deaconess Oborevwori to the 250 market women delegation, including their leader, comprised 251 bags of rice, 251 sets of kitchen utensils, and cash support to assist their families during the festive season.

    She explained that the initiative, which commenced in 2023, was conceived to recognise and uplift market women who are often overlooked despite their vital role in sustaining families and driving grassroots economic activities.

    Highlighting specific outcomes of the programme, the Delta State First Lady disclosed that 250 market women benefited from the 2025 banquet, with participants drawn from all 25 local government areas of the state, representing 10 beneficiaries from each local government.

    Deaconess Oborevwori further underscored her administration’s commitment to empowering market women through initiatives such as the International Women’s Day trade fairs held over the past two years. She noted that the most recent trade fair showcased the skills of market women across the state in the packaging and preservation of indigenous produce for export, demonstrating the potential of local markets to become major drivers of economic growth in a rapidly evolving global economy.

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    Commending the resilience of the women, she acknowledged the challenges they face in managing businesses while simultaneously raising families, describing them as a true reflection of the strength and perseverance of womanhood.

    Reassuring the traders of sustained government support, Deaconess Oborevwori said the MORE Agenda of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration fully accommodates the interests of market women.

    She cited the Widows Empowerment Scheme, which benefited over 10,000 widows earlier in the year—many of whom are market women, as evidence of the administration’s commitment to inclusive economic empowerment.

    The First Lady also lauded the Coordinator of the Market Women Association, Mrs Kate Onah, and her team for their efforts in coordinating market activities across the state.

    She urged the association to intensify sensitisation on the importance of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), encouraging traders to actively participate in governance.

    She emphasised that the banquet was designed as a moment of celebration and appreciation rather than lengthy speeches, adding that food, drinks and take-home tokens were provided for all participants as a gesture of gratitude.

    Deaconess Oborevwori assured the market women that the end-of-year banquet had come to stay and encouraged them to remain intentional in their businesses and relationships with customers.

    Speaking on behalf of the market women, the President of the Market Women Association in Delta State, Chief Kate Onah, commended the sustained recognition of market women over the past two years by the Governor’s wife.

    She pledged their continued support for the implementation of the MORE Agenda and promised to mobilise women across the state to register for their PVCs ahead of the 2027 general elections.