The Nation Newspaper

Category: Society

  • Oba Lawal leaves seclusion

    Oba Lawal leaves seclusion

    TIME has come for Oba Gbolahan Lawal to fully act in his capacity as a royal father. Since his installation as Oniru of Iruland in June by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, he has been in seclusion as required by the tradition.

    Starting today he is free to leave the palace and honour events. But for COVID-19, a big celebration was meant to take place to celebrate the coronation and Iwuye ceremony – a landmark for a newly-crowned king.

    Read Also: Why Kollington shuns big birthday celebrations

    A palace source stated: “There will be a little celebration on Saturday to inform fellow Obas and the public that he can now attend events having been in isolation for three months after his coronation as the new Oniru. It is meant to be a ceremonial event but due to the pandemic, there is no plan to have a big party.”

  • Another laurel for Herbert Wigwe

    Another laurel for Herbert Wigwe

    By Oladapo Sofowora

    Without mincing words, Herbert Wigwe is well respected when it comes to finance and banking related issues. He does not need to prove to his critics right as the astronomic rise of the bank he heads is a validation of his wizardry and distinct business acumen.

    The Accounting graduate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has remained outstanding in his dealings. At the just-concluded 2020 African Banker Awards, the philanthropist and his bank were recognised as the winner of the ‘Agriculture Deal of the Year’ and ‘African Banker of the Year’ categories. He was awarded for his unflinching support for President Buhari’s Agricultural sustainability goal, food security, and increment in rice production projection. Access Bank also aided Olam Agro company to develop its rice operation production capacity in Nigeria, therefore, establishing employment and investment.

    After taking over from his closest ally and business partner, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank in 2014, many doubted his competence to succeed. Unperturbed Wigwe, embedded with self-belief, doggedness, the sincerity of purpose, resourcefulness, and brilliancy, redefined and remodeled the fortune of the bank by repositioning it as one of the strongest financial institutions in Nigeria and by extension Africa.

    To further show his dexterity as a boardroom guru and a skilled business negotiator, he led one of the biggest acquisitions and bank mergers in history. Under his watch, he acquired and merged Access Bank with now-defunct Diamond Bank. Therefore, placing Access bank as one of the top 5 biggest banks in Nigeria with numerous branches littered across the country, boasting of branches in Cameroon, Zambia, and Kenya.

    During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the dandy banker galvanized the private sector to support the Federal Government of Nigeria in its fight against the spread of the deadly virus.

  • Oba Adedotun finally collects staff of office

    Oba Adedotun finally collects staff of office

    Olushola Victor

     

    LAST year Oba Adeotun Odusanya emerged as the new Olu of Odusenlu, after succeeding Oba Shafi Agbolade Sule, who reigned for 19 years. But for some reason, he had to wait still Thursday before he got his staff of office.

    In a  ceremony held at Odusenlu Alaro Town Hall, Ijebu Ode, Ogun, and attended by top Yoruba traditional rulers, Governor Dapo of Ogun State, who was ably represented by one of his commissioners, presented the Oba his staff of office.

    While Oba Odusanya was presented to the Council of Ijebu Obas last year, the Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona prayed for peace and prosperity for the people of Odosenlu and advised them to give the new Olu of Odosenlu, the necessary support.

    Odusanya’s predecessor, Oba Sule died last year January. Before ascending the throne, the late Oba had held his own in the world of banking, finance and management.

  • Kitan Akande counts his losses

    Kitan Akande counts his losses

    Olushola Victor

     

    THE lockdown and the effect of COVID-19 is something this present generation has never witnessed; and no one prays the world gets hit by this kind of disaster again.

    One of the people still counting their losses is top music promoter, Kitan Akande, who had to cancel 10 concerts in East Africa – DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya – due to the pandemic.

    But despite the loss, according to him, when everything gets back to normal, there will be a massive demand for Nigerian Music because a lot of artistes have gone back to the drawing board to re-strategize and some have been releasing EPs as well as Albums.

    Akande stated: “Travel Restrictions and bans due to the Covid 19 have really affected a lot of promotions and touring for various Nigerian artistes in East Africa. I will categorically tell you that at the beginning of this year, I planned 12 concerts In East Africa and 10 got cancelled due to the Global crisis we are currently going through.

    “We can only hope and pray that things get back to normal sooner than we expect as countries are beginning to find a lasting solution to the pandemic.

    “Nigerian Music during these times have still found a way to maintain that momentum through the use of the internet and other streaming and publishing platforms.”

  • Big plans for Otunba Onabanjo at 70

    Big plans for Otunba Onabanjo at 70

    Olushola Victor

     

     

    ON Monday, top businessman, Otunba Alex Onabanjo, will clock 70 and there are already plans to give him a celebration to remember.

    To mark the special day, friends and associates will be hosting a Webinar themed, “Nigerian Socio-Economic Development, Post Covid-19: The Role Of Private Sector” tomorrow.  The keynote speaker is a former Vice Chancellor, Tai Solarin University of Education, Prof. Yemisi Obilade, while the moderator will be Prof. Kayode Oyesiku, who is also a former Vice Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education.

    Popularly called Alex O by his close friends, Onabanjo will also present an academic staff building at the Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic Ijebu Igbo, built and donated by him to mark his birthday. There will be a church service at his residence on Monday, August 31, and he will be hosted by professors on September 1 at his residence in Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.

  • Olufisayomi’s love for music

    Olufisayomi’s love for music

    Olushola Victor

     

    AT the age of fourteen and in high school, Owoseni Olufisayomi formed a music crew with his colleagues and they always entertained the school environment and their locality.

    Following his childhood experience, he knew music was what he wanted to do. As a teenager, he was already writing his own music and performing at various events in Sango-Ota, Ogun State where he was brought up.

    At some point, Olufisayomi, who is putting finishing touches to his album, moved to Johannesburg, South Africa and released his first single, “Catch Feelings.”  The song made the top 5 in South Africa and he also received an award at African Social Entertainment Awards (ASEA) as the Best Hip-Hop Act in 2019.

    Olufisayomi signed a record deal with Atom Records World Wide in Johannesburg and released a single titled, ”In My Life” in 2020. His album, Zamani Of Our Time (ZOOT), according to him, will make a big impact in Africa.

  • Sad days as Folarin-Coker buries dad

    Sad days as Folarin-Coker buries dad

    Olushola Victor

     

    YESTERDAY, Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Commission (NTDC), and former Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, buried his father, Chief Nathaniel Folarin Coker.

    Though the late Coker who passed on in his sleep August 12, died a fulfilled man at 97, his passing is still an irreplaceable loss to his children, especially NTDC DG who always ran to him for advice.

    These are indeed sad times for the former commissioner, who only recently lost a father-in-law figure, Chief Bode Akindele, the father of his ex-wife, Folake.

    While the service of songs for late Chief Coker was held on Thursday, August 27, the funeral service took place the next day. Due to social distancing, the celebration of life wasn’t as loud as one would have expected for a man who had given so much to the church, humanity and Lagos state.

    For more associates and friends to experience the last moments of the elder statesman, both the wake keep service and final burial ceremony were streamed live on Facebook, YouTube and Zoom.

    The late Chief, who was an outstanding athlete, retired as the Pioneer Permanent Secretary of Lagos State.

  • Murray-Bruce remembers wife

    Murray-Bruce remembers wife

    Olushola Victor

     

    DEATH does have a way of creating a vacuum in the lives of those who lose loved ones.

    Founder of Silverbird Group, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, is still battling with the vacuum created by the death of his wife, Evelyn.

    Recall that the wife died in March after a prolonged battle with cancer. When Murray-Bruce announced her passage, it even came as a shock to the public as the family fought the battle silently.

    In a post on social media, the former senator representing Bayelsa East shared a love-up picture with his wife, captioning: “I celebrate my dear wife, Evelyn Murray-Bruce. She would have been 67-year-old. Even though she is not with us again, I wish her happy birthday. I miss her.”

  • Ajibola Bisiriyu’s wondrous taste

    Ajibola Bisiriyu’s wondrous taste

    By Oladapo Sofowora

     

    Ajibola Bisiriyu was quietly doing his thing as a seasoned construction and business mogul until he obeyed the call to serve his people by contesting for the bid to represent Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 1 at the Lagos House of Assembly. For some personal reasons best known to the smooth-talking money bag, he withdrew from the race. While sources say Bisiriyu’s decision to quit the race was necessitated by the need to give more attention to his business, others say he merely tested the waters with his dropped aspiration. It seems the decision is gradually paying off for him as Jibs’ Direct Construction company recently partnered with Brains and Hammers for synergy and partnership that will deliver quality, affordable and luxury homes at a giveaway price to Lagosians.

    Despite his numerous projects currently under construction on Lagos Mainland and Island, sources averred that Jibs’ soon-to-be-completed Antilia mini-estate inside the highbrow Oniru Estate is an eye-popping heaven-on-earth. According to sources, “the mini-estate will conveniently boast of all the luxurious housewares you can never imagine. The most attractive and juicy part of the condominium is an uninterrupted power supply system, central water treatment and sewage system, a cinema house, main and private lounge, swimming pool, and the well-equipped gymnasium.”

    A U.K trained building engineer, Jibs has continued to sharpen and harness his skills when it comes to construction. Jibs is the Chief Executive and Managing Director of Direct Construction company.

  • Barr. Bola Tinubu’s new role

    Barr. Bola Tinubu’s new role

    By Oladapo Sofowora

     

    For a fact, Barr. Bola Tinubu, the darling wife of Jubril Adewale Tinubu, a super-rich, and successful oil tycoon, is still her usual self despite her privileged position in society. She is rarely seen at most high profile society parties, just as she also shy away from publicity as much as possible. A successful corporate lawyer, she is known for child advocacy after developing a strong passion for helping sexually abused children. In pursuit of this noble quest, the mother of five established the first free children’s helpline in Nigeria under her Cece Yara Foundation.

    Positioned to help in the prevention of child sexual abuse in Nigeria, the foundation opened the Cece Yara Child Advocacy Centre, a state-of-the-art forensic suite for children who have experienced sexual abuse, in Lagos. Perhaps, the foregoing explains her recent appointment in Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration as the Chairman, Governing Council for the Office of the Public Defender, OPD, in Lagos.

    The OPD was established 20 years ago by Bola Ahmed Tinubu to provide legal aid and to safeguard the fundamental human rights of vulnerable persons, disadvantaged groups, and indigent residents of Lagos State. Her appointment has been applauded by many who believe it was well deserved, given her commitment to the cause of the abused female members of the society.

    Many will recall that her fight for humanity earned her recognition in the BBC’s 100 Women of 2018 – the list which celebrated 100 inspiring and influential women ranging from age 15 to 94 from around the world, including leaders, trailblazers, and everyday heroes from over 60 countries.