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  • Brazil/Nigeria: Wole Soyinka, Tinubu, Lula renew ancestral bonds

    Brazil/Nigeria: Wole Soyinka, Tinubu, Lula renew ancestral bonds

    An historic encounter between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Professor Wole Soyinka has renewed the ancestral bonds that exist between Brazil and Nigeria.

    In a world often marked by division, this rare moment shine bright as timeless reminders of

    The two countries’ shared humanity, heritage, and destiny.

    In the last days of August Nigeria’s President Tinubu and Brazil’s President Lula welcomed the Nobel Laureate and the coordinators of the Heritage Voyage of Return (HVR) Project, Ajoyemi Osunleye and Carolina Morais, to a historic gathering that symbolized unity between Brazil and Nigeria.

    This visit marked President Tinubu’s third trip to Brazil in just nine months, underscoring the importance he places on strengthening cultural and ancestral ties between the two nations.

    The highlight of the trip was Prof. Soyinka’s scheduled formal presentation before the Brazilian parliament in the Federal District. Yet, it was the quiet, unscripted moments before and after that event which became the true heartbeats of history.

    After a grueling 36-hour journey beset by travel complications, Prof. Soyinka arrived visibly weary for a presidential lunch hosted by Presidents Tinubu and Lula. Seated at his reserved table, the Nobel Laurette’s frailty did not go unnoticed.

    As Soyinka rose to greet the presidents before excusing himself, President Tinubu immediately stood up, offering his own seat to the literary icon with the warm Yoruba words: “Egbon, e jor e wa joko si ibi bayi” meaning ‘Elder brother, please come and sit here.’

    Though Prof. Soyinka politely declined, choosing instead to return to his hotel for rest, the gesture did not go unnoticed. President Tinubu’s act of humility, offering comfort to Nigeria’s cultural elder, left a lasting impression not only on those present but most especially on President Lula of Brazil.

    Barely an hour after Soyinka’s departure, President Lula requested a private audience with him and the HVR team. In a deeply moving exchange at Lula’s honorary office, the Brazilian leader reflected on the profound symbolism of Tinubu’s gesture. “I could not stop thinking about the respect your President showed you,” Lula confessed, emphasizing how rare and powerful it was to witness a head of state defer to a cultural elder in such a personal way. “I was fascinated. What an honor.”

    Lula then asked Soyinka his age. Upon hearing the confirmation that he was 91 years old, the Brazilian President leaned forward, gently touching foreheads with the Nobel Laureate, a symbolic act of reverence and spiritual communion. With visible emotion, Lula whispered: “The grace on you, I ask it upon myself.”

    This intimate gesture encapsulated not only a personal prayer for longevity, Lula expressed his dream to live to 120 years, but also a recognition that men like Soyinka embody blessings beyond their nations, radiating inspiration to humanity itself.

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    The encounter reawakened a deeper truth: that Brazil and Nigeria are bound not just by diplomacy but by ancestry.

    Millions of Afro-Brazilians trace their heritage to Nigeria and see its President as their leader too. The Heritage Voyage of Return (HVR) Project, championed by Ajoyemi Osunleye and Carolina Morais, Co-Founders at The African Pride, was conceived to leverage these ancestral ties, using culture, art, and shared history to build real bridges of understanding and spiritual reconnection with Africa. HVR involves a planned sea trip for Afro-descendants in Brazil, The

    Americas and Caribbeans back to Africa.

    “Brazil will support this.” President Lula, visibly moved, pledged his support to advancing the HVR Project, affirming his country’s commitment to celebrating the shared heritage that unites the two nations.

    Shortly after his private audience with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka joined Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor, Yemi Cardoso, who is an Afro-Brazilian descendant for a warm reception hosted by Gabriel Magna Pereira da Cruz, President of the Education and Culture Commission at the Legislative Chamber of the Federal District in Brasilia.

    Representing President Tinubu, Governor Cardoso formally presented the Heritage Voyage of Return (HVR) Project to the Brazilian Parliament. In his address, Cardoso highlighted the shared heritage of both nations and the unique opportunity for renewed collaboration.

    “The commitment between the leadership of President Lula and President Tinubu is unprecedented,” Cardoso declared. “Both leaders are aligned in vision, and we can already see the immense possibilities for cooperation between our countries.”

    He went further to reflect on the enduring historical and cultural bonds between Nigeria and Brazil, particularly through Lagos, which hosts a strong Brazilian-descendant community.

    “In Lagos, we have vibrant Brazilian communities made up of descendants of Africans who returned from Brazil after the era of slavery. These communities have preserved elements of Brazilian culture from cuisine like ‘akara’ to festivals, carnivals, and even architecture. The Brazilian Quarters on Lagos Island remain a living museum of cultural and architectural heritage.”

    Cardoso emphasized that such connections should form the foundation for a stronger bilateral relationship: “If we cannot seize this opportunity for collaboration now, then we have ourselves to blame. Our shared heritage must be transformed into pathways for cultural diplomacy, creative economy growth, heritage tourism, and education. This is not only an opportunity but a responsibility.”

    The session also highlighted the ongoing success of Yoruba studies in Brazil and the celebration of Afro-Brazilian festivals in Nigeria, as living examples of the cultural exchange that continues to bind the two nations.

    Other prominent members of the Nigerian delegation included Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), and Otunba Ajiboye, head of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO). Their presence underscored the significance Nigeria attaches to cultural diplomacy and its determination to strengthen ties with Brazil at both governmental and community levels.

    The Honorable Monsoon of the Legislative Chamber of the Federal District” honors bestowed on Prof. Soyinka and Governor Cardoso, received in the name of President Tinubu, symbolized not just recognition of history, but also a bold step toward a future where shared heritage becomes the foundation of renewed global partnerships.

  • Tinubu sincere, requires our support, says Obono-Obla 

    Tinubu sincere, requires our support, says Obono-Obla 

    Former presidential aide and founding member of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Okoi Obono-Obla, has called for a public support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying he is sincere and dedicated to tackling current challenges. 

    Obono-Obla spoke after being part of a CPC delegation that visited Tinubu at the State House. 

    He hailed the president’s personal and leadership qualities, referring to him as “passionate, sincere, and resolute in his commitment to lifting the country out of its current challenges.”

    Read Also: Tinubu hosts North-East govs, hails regional recovery efforts

    Obono-Obla commended Tinubu’s intellectual capacity, adding that the President is “sharp witted, articulate, and well informed.”

    He directly appealed to the members of the public, to give the President their unwavering support.

    He called on critics to be fair, constructive and avoid being harsh and insulting inisisting that crirticisms should be measured and purposeful.

  • Tinubu’s cash transfer shows care for poor, says Adamawa coordinator

    Tinubu’s cash transfer shows care for poor, says Adamawa coordinator

    The Adamawa State Coordinator of the Social Investment Programme, Mrs. Mary Yuwadi, has described President Bola Tinubu’s free cash transfer initiative as clear evidence of his commitment to the poor and vulnerable in Nigeria.

    Speaking in Yola on Thursday during an interactive session with stakeholders at the Women Development Centre, Yuwadi explained that Tinubu expanded the programme from five million to 15 million beneficiaries to reach more needy Nigerians.

    She disclosed that over 199,000 residents of Adamawa State have already benefited from the initiative, with each recipient receiving a total of ₦75,000 in three tranches of ₦25,000.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Tinubu departs Abuja for 10-day working vacation in Europe

    “Lives have been transformed through this programme. The beneficiaries appreciate the gesture, small as it may seem to the more affluent Nigerians, because for many of them, it is the first time they are receiving such an amount, and they often put it to meaningful use,” Yuwadi said.

    Also speaking, the Training and Communication Officer of the Adamawa State Cash Transfer Unit, Patience John, noted that the initiative is helping to build resilience among Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens and reduce extreme poverty.

    She stressed that the federal government is committed to social protection, adding that transparent targeting mechanisms are in place to ensure the programme reaches its intended beneficiaries.

  • Tinubu hosts North-East govs, hails regional recovery efforts

    Tinubu hosts North-East govs, hails regional recovery efforts

    President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday received governors from the North-East at the State House, Abuja, where he commended their contributions to development and recovery efforts in the region.

    Speaking during the meeting, Tinubu acknowledged the progress made despite prevailing challenges, noting that displaced citizens were gradually returning to their homes.

    Tinubu said, “We have seen developments, in the face of all challenges. I have seen your efforts and I hope you have seen mine too. In the short run of two years, we can beat our chest—the economy has turned right, many of you are already settling back the displaced citizens and returning them to their normal residence.

    “Politics apart, we can work with the legislature to eliminate political concerns from state police and make it indigenous to the community. That will provide an additional buffer for safety and effectiveness.

    Read Also: Tinubu seeks federal lawmakers’ backing on state police

    “Whichever way it is, I am not distracted. I am solidly focused on what lies ahead. Politics will happen at its time, but working together, as we have been doing, is the way to build the Nigeria of our dreams.

     “Working together the way we have been is the way to go to build the Nigeria of our dreams. There’s no way politics will not interfere once in a while. It is for us to embrace the heart of winning, and from that heart we know the superior thinkers and doers. Our political party will prove itself eventually.”

  • BREAKING: Tinubu departs Abuja for 10-day working vacation in Europe

    BREAKING: Tinubu departs Abuja for 10-day working vacation in Europe

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will today depart Abuja to commence a 10-day working vacation in Europe, the State House has announced.

    A statement issued by his special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the President will spend the period between France and the United Kingdom before returning to the country. 

    The trip forms part of his 2025 annual leave.

    The departure comes on the back of a busy schedule for the Nigerian leader, marked by key economic reforms, new policy directives, and diplomatic outreach.

    Only this week, Tinubu highlighted unprecedented growth in non-oil revenues that has powered Nigeria’s strongest fiscal performance in recent history. 

    Government figures for January–August 2025 show collections hitting N20.59 trillion, a 40.5% increase over the same period last year, underscoring the impact of reforms aimed at widening the tax net and digitising compliance.

    On Wednesday, the President also directed the implementation of mandatory health insurance across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, insisting that while government workers must be covered under the National Health Insurance Authority, businesses should not be unduly constrained as the Act is enforced.

    Beyond domestic policy, Tinubu has been active on the international stage. 

    In August, his state visit to Brazil delivered agreements in aviation, trade, and science, as well as discussions to facilitate the return of Petrobras, the South American oil giant, to Nigeria’s energy sector. 

    The visit also paved the way for the launch of direct Lagos–São Paulo flights by Air Peace.

    Before the State Visit to Brazil, he was in Yokohama, Japan, to participate in the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), another global collaboration focused outing.

    Read Also: Tinubu seeks federal lawmakers’ backing on state police

    Earlier in late June and early July, the President toured Saint Lucia and Brazil in a diplomatic push to deepen South–South cooperation, while also using global platforms to position Nigeria as a credible and respected partner.

    The Financial Times recently described his reform drive as “shock therapy” designed to stabilise the economy and restore confidence among investors. 

    In the same vein, international agencies have noted growing global respect for Nigeria’s economic direction.

    Tinubu’s latest trip, although designated as a vacation, is expected to combine rest with working engagements in Europe, continuing a pattern of using foreign visits to consolidate domestic reforms and attract international support.

  • Tinubu seeks federal lawmakers’ backing on state police

    Tinubu seeks federal lawmakers’ backing on state police

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday expressed his administration’s readiness to work with the National Assembly leadership to dismantle political and bureaucratic bottlenecks stalling the operationalisation of state police.

    Speaking at the State House, Abuja, during a meeting with members of the Northeast Governors Forum led by Borno State Governor Prof Zulum, the President said the time had come for a clear, collective path towards community-based policing that reflects the peculiar needs of different regions.

    “I have been looking at the security situation more carefully. I have seen the Civilian JTF react to the security challenges, finding so many creative ways to protect neighbourhoods and communities around you, and that provoked my thinking about state police again.

    “Politics apart, we can discuss with the National Assembly leadership to really look at a critical path to that again, see how we can eliminate or douse political alliances from state police that will be indigenous to the community and provide the additional safety buffer and effectiveness in the area. We have to look at it collectively together.”

    READ ALSO: Tinubu seeks NASS backing to fast-track State Police

    The President stressed that while political concerns will always surface around the issue, they must not be allowed to derail urgent security reforms.

    He said his government was committed to ensuring that the proposed structure would be insulated from partisanship and designed purely to strengthen safety across communities.

    Tinubu also vowed not to allow partisan politics or early campaign distractions to shift his focus from national priorities.

    “In the political environment we are being drawn into early political activities from our rival political parties but whichever way it is, I am not detracted. I am solidly focused, laser focused on what is ahead,” he told the governors.

    He said the gains already being recorded in the Northeast – including improved security, resettlement of displaced persons, rising school enrolment, and new housing projects – were proof that collaborative governance works.

    The president urged the governors to sustain their commitment to development and security while assuring them of continued federal support.

    “In the short run of two years, we can beat our chest, the economy has turned round. Many of you are already sending back displaced citizens, the housing programme you embarked upon in Borno and collectively seen how displaced people are returning to their normal residences and having a roof over their head,” the President noted.

    Tinubu further highlighted agricultural mechanisation as a priority, disclosing plans to establish training and maintenance centres in all zones of the country to drive food sovereignty.

    He also commended Yobe State for producing outstanding students despite the region’s challenges, describing it as a sign of resilience and progress.

    The president concluded thanked the governors for their dedication, saying the combined efforts of federal and state governments were laying the foundation for a safer and more prosperous Nigeria.

    Zulum, who spoke for the governors, urged the president to prioritise the completion of 17 strategic roads across the region and resume oil exploration in the Kolmani and Lake Chad Basins.

  • The Tinubu phenomenon: Lessons in political durability

    The Tinubu phenomenon: Lessons in political durability

    By Muhammad Musa-Gombe

    In a Fourth Republic littered with fallen giants and broken alliances, Bola Ahmed Tinubu stands out not just for surviving, but for building Nigeria’s most enduring political machine.  In recent weeks, I stumbled on a thought-provoking article lamenting the North’s decline, how a region so rich in people and resources could still be weighed down by poor leadership and self-sabotage. It struck me that while the Arewa endlessly debates its failures, one man from the Southwest has against many odds, built and sustained a formidable political machine for over two decades. That man is Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Tinubu’s story as I see it is not just political history it is a study in structure, loyalty, and resilience. In a Fourth Republic where many political “giants” rose and fell quickly, Tinubu has been the constant, more like the builder whose network has outlived terms, quarrels, and federal pressure.

    When Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, Tinubu emerged as one of six governors elected under the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the South-West. By 2003, five of his colleague-governors, had lost their states to the PDP tsunami. Only Lagos stood firm.

    Alone, Tinubu carried the burden of opposition, consolidating his base and re-engineering his political family. That survival instinct became the seed of what is now Nigeria’s most enduring political structure.

    Recall his tenure as governor was not without battles. When the Lagos State government created 37 new Local Council Development Areas in 2003, President Olusegun Obasanjo’s federal government retaliated by withholding local government funds for nearly five years. Many expected Lagos to collapse. Instead, Tinubu turned the crisis into reform. He pushed for aggressive tax reforms, professionalized revenue collection, and made Lagos less dependent on federal allocations. Salaries were paid, projects continued, and the standoff only strengthened his image as a fighter who would not bow.

    Unlike many of his colleagues who fell out with their chosen successors, Tinubu cultivated a culture of loyalty and continuity. He invested in young aides and technocrats, lawyers, accountants, engineers, media strategists many of whom have since become governors, ministers, or national leaders. His former attorney-general, for example, rose to become vice president; his former Chief of Staff, a two-term governor; others became federal ministers and party leaders. It is this continuity that has kept his political machinery alive when others’ collapsed after leaving office.

    Tinubu’s genius was not just in defending Lagos, but in widening his circle. He midwifed the transition of AD into AC, later ACN, and eventually into the All Progressives Congress (APC), which merged in 2013 to challenge the PDP. Two years later, the APC made history by defeating an incumbent president—an achievement unthinkable without the discipline and negotiation Tinubu brought to the table.

    The Lagos succession tells its own story. In 2007, Tinubu handed over to Babatunde Fashola, his Chief of Staff, who expanded on his reforms. In 2015 came Akinwunmi Ambode, who after one term was replaced by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, following a push by party elders. The lesson is simple: in Tinubu’s world, loyalty and alignment matter more than sentiment. Candidates are chosen not just to win elections but to sustain the structure.

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    Of course, Tinubu’s style has not escaped criticism. Many Nigerians see his dominance as “godfatherism” that stifles internal democracy. Questions have been raised about revenue transparency in Lagos and the blurred lines between politics and business. During the #EndSARS protests, anger at the system was partly directed at him. Yet, despite the controversies, his political structure has never collapsed. If anything, crises have tested and refined it.

    In 2023, Tinubu finally became what he had long prepared for: President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The kingmaker became king. But the presidency is a different battlefield; Nigeria is not Lagos. Consensus is harder, legitimacy is contested, and the expectations of 200 million citizens are far weightier than those of one state. Already, tough economic reforms have tested his popularity. The question now is whether the habits of political survival, tight structure, loyalty, negotiation can translate into effective national governance.

    So why tell this story against the backdrop of northern lamentations? Because there are lessons. Tinubu’s rise was not luck; it was structure, investment in people, and the courage to confront adversity. The North, with its vast resources and numbers, cannot continue to excuse failure. Leadership is not about lamentation; it is about building, planning, and sustaining. Tinubu built a machine in Lagos that survived federal hostility, opposition landslides, and internal betrayals. Arewa, with all its advantages, should reflect: why has it failed to produce such enduring structures?

    Tinubu is not flawless, and he might not be universally loved. But his political story is a phenomenon worth studying. In a democracy where many fade after one term, he has remained relevant for a quarter of a century. That endurance is no accident. It is proof that leadership, when matched with vision and structure, can outlast storms. Nigeria needs more of that resilience, and the North if it truly seeks renaissance must learn the same discipline.

    •Gombe, a media practitioner writes from Abuja.

  • Tinubu to inaugurate 6,000MT lithium plant in Nasarawa

    Tinubu to inaugurate 6,000MT lithium plant in Nasarawa

    President Bola Tinubu is set to visit Nasarawa State to commission a newly completed 6,000-metric-ton lithium processing plant built by Chinese investors.

    Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State who announced this to reporters at the State House on Wednesday after a closed-door meeting with the President, said the project marks a major boost for Nigeria’s mineral value chain.

    The new facility, located in Nasarawa Local Government Area, is twice the size of the 3,000MT capacity plant launched in 2023.

    Although he did not give a specific date, the governor disclosed that the commissioning will take place shortly after the President returns from a two-week trip to France scheduled to begin later this week.

    “They promised to build a bigger one, and they have just concluded building it. It is ready for commissioning. Mr. President assured me that on his return from his short vacation, he will come to Nasarawa to commission the project,” Sule said.

    READ ALSO: Tinubu seeks NASS backing to fast-track State Police

    The development underscores Nasarawa’s emergence as a key hub in Nigeria’s growing lithium sector.

    Lithium, essential for electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems, has drawn significant foreign investor interest amid the global shift to clean energy.

    Sule noted that the project is the result of strong investor confidence in the state’s mineral resources.

    “Last year, we commissioned a 3,000-metric-ton capacity lithium processing plant in Nasarawa Local Government. During that time, another set of investors, excited by the quality and volume of our deposits, committed to building something bigger. They have now fulfilled that promise,” he explained.

    The Federal Government has in recent years pushed for more value-added investments in solid minerals.

    In May, it disclosed plans to commission at least two Chinese-backed lithium processing plants in 2025 as part of its strategy to curb raw mineral exports and strengthen domestic refining capacity.

    Officials say the Nasarawa plant is among several projects backed by China-based companies following exploratory surveys confirming commercial-grade deposits in the state.

    The Ministry of Solid Minerals has also hinted at restricting lithium exports to encourage in-country processing, mirroring policies in Indonesia’s nickel industry and Zimbabwe’s lithium sector.

    Governor Sule tied the state’s expanding industrial capacity to reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, including fuel subsidy removal and naira unification, which have boosted revenue for infrastructure development.

    “With the huge improvement we have seen, we are able to proceed without borrowing. Instead of going to the banks, we are utilising the improved resources we now have,” the governor said.

    Earlier this year, President Tinubu declared Nigeria’s ambition to position itself as a regional hub for lithium-ion battery and solar panel manufacturing, citing the nation’s abundant mineral wealth and the surging global demand for clean energy technology.

    The Federal Government has also launched a mining police unit to clamp down on illegal mining, particularly in the north-central region, where artisanal operations have proliferated.

  • Igbo leader hails Tinubu, Wike over achievements

    Igbo leader hails Tinubu, Wike over achievements

    The Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State and Chairman of UOO Nwachukwu Holdings, Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike for their outstanding performance in the last two years.

    He promised his unalloyed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his services to the country.

    Nwachukwu also promised his support for Wike’s activities and praised the President for his achievements.

    The Eze Ndigbo described President Tinubu as a leader with an untiring commitment to the development and progress of Nigeria.

    He lauded the President’s visionary leadership and dedication to the welfare of Nigerians, noting that his leadership has brought hope and renewed optimism to the country.

    READ ALSO: Tinubu seeks NASS backing to fast-track State Police

    The businessman noted that Wike’s transportation initiatives have set a new standard for the development and progress of the FCT.

    In a statement yesterday, he said: “Wike’s transportation initiatives in the FCT are achievements never experienced before and a testament to his visionary leadership and commitment to progress.

    “We urge him to continue his good works as we have confidence in his ability to deliver more outstanding results.”

    Nwachukwu described Wike as a beacon of progress, whose presence is always accompanied by positive signs of development and progress.

  • Tinubu okays new governing councils for Kano, Zaria Federal varsities of education

    Tinubu okays new governing councils for Kano, Zaria Federal varsities of education

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved new appointments to the governing councils and leadership of two recently upgraded universities of education.

    The appointments underscore his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the President named Abdurrazaq Abubakar Nakore, an engineer, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano.

    He also appointed Prof. Abdullahi Tukur Kodage as the Vice Chancellor of the institution.

    Nakore, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, previously served as Executive Secretary of the Rural Electricity Board in Jigawa State, bringing into the role extensive administrative and technical experience.

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    Prof. Kodage, a seasoned academic, will lead the university’s academic and administrative development.

    At the Federal University of Education, Zaria, Kaduna State, President Tinubu appointed Prof. Yahaya Isa Bunkure as the Vice Chancellor.

    A renowned scholar of science education, Bunkure is currently the Vice Chancellor of Saadatu Rimi University of Education, Kano, and is widely respected in academic circles.

    Both universities were among four Colleges of Education upgraded to full-fledged universities between 2022 and 2023, in line with the federal policy to expand access to quality tertiary education.

    Under the laws establishing the institutions, pro-chancellors serve a four-year tenure, while vice chancellors hold office for five years.

    The latest appointments are expected to boost leadership stability and academic growth in the institutions as they consolidate their transition into fully operational universities.