Landmark

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident involving members of the Kano State contingent who were returning home after participating in the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) held in Ogun State. A bus conveying the athletes was said to have been involved in a crash about 50 kilometres from Kano after passing through Kaduna State, claiming the lives of 20 athletes. Abiodun, in a statement issued in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Saturday, said the incident had left him completely traumatized, especially given that the athletes were vibrant young people who were looking forward to a warm reception from their fans and families after proudly donning the colours of Kano State at the just-concluded Gateway Games 2024, and who had a bright future ahead of them. Expressing condolences to the government and people of Kano State over the incident, Abiodun prayed for the repose of the souls of the athletes, saying that they w...

A Prosecution Witness with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Alvan Grumnaan, has narrated how an aide to the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, received a total sum of $17.1 million over a three-year period. Grumnaan is the Head of Special Duty 77 (Special Operations Team) who claimed to have investigated the defendants for alleged abuse of office as well as $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud preferred against Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile. Led in evidence-in-chief by the EFCC Prosecution Counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Grumnaan told Justice Rahman Oshodi at the resumed hearing of the high-profile case that the agency had earlier received several intelligence reports against Emefiele while in office and bordering on allegations of abuse of office, demanding and receiving gratification, procurement fraud, as well as living above his means. The lead investigator further said his team uncovered “credible intelli...

KCB Group PLC (KCB Group) and Access Bank PLC (Access Bank) have completed the sale of National Bank of Kenya Limited (NBK) to Access Bank Plc, marking the conclusion of a transaction that began in March 2024. This follows the receipt of all regulatory approvals customary for a transaction of this nature. As a result, NBK, where KCB Group had 100% ownership, is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Access Bank Plc. NBK and Access Bank Kenya will continue to operate independently, pending the completion of all integration processes. The acquisition is a pivotal step in Access Bank’s expansion strategy in East Africa. The combined entity will significantly enhance Access Bank’s presence in Kenya, strengthening the bank’s presence in the region. This move will allow Access Bank to offer an even more robust suite of banking services, catering to the evolving needs of individuals and businesses across Kenya. Commenting on the completion of the transaction, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/Ch...

A prominent Islamic organisation in Zamfara has strongly condemned the events that characterised the celebration of Governor Dauda Lawal’s second year in office. In a statement released to journalists in Gusau on Friday, the Zamfara Ulama Defence Forum (ZUDF) expressed deep concern over what it termed “an orchestrated reintroduction of vices” into a state widely known for its commitment to Islamic law and traditional values. According to the group, the anniversary event held in the state capital, featured musical performances accompanied by skimpily dressed female dancers, and the open consumption of alcoholic beverages — acts considered unacceptable under Islamic law and cultural norms in Zamfara. The president of the group, Sheikh Bashir Mu’azu Marafa, said the scenes that unfolded at the celebration were “unthinkable” in a state that pioneered the implementation of Sharia law in Nigeria. “It is both unfortunate and shameful that on the second-term anniversary of a sitting governor i...

The trial of Mallam Ahmed Kuru, a former managing director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), over alleged fraud amounting to N76 billion and $31.5 million, has been adjourned until June 4, 2025, by Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos. Kuru is standing trial alongside Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, Managing Director of Arik Air; Kamilu Omokide, Receiver Manager of Arik Air; Union Bank Nigeria Plc; and Super Bravo Limited. The defendants face a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, and abuse of office in connection with the alleged financial misdeeds. At the resumed proceedings on Wednesday, the second prosecution witness, Austine Obigwe, a former Group Executive Director of Union Bank Plc, testified that in 2011, two years after he exited Union Bank, Arik Air owed his consultancy firm, Staal, a sum of $2.3 million. “I am not interested in collecting it. I wrote it off when I discovered that Arik Air started having challeng...

As part of its commitment to promoting a healthier and more resilient banking workforce, the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB) is organizing a special Aerobics Fitness Session on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at the Lagoon Front of the Eko Atlantic City. The session is open to all bankers and marketing communication professionals within the industry and will feature a lineup of fun and energizing activities aimed at boosting physical and mental wellbeing. With stress levels and burnout on the rise in high-pressure sectors like banking, ACAMB is taking, as it has done over the years, proactive steps to encourage lifestyle habits that support overall wellness and productivity. Participants will begin the morning with a body warm-up and short walk to get their energy flowing, followed by an exciting dance aerobics session designed to elevate heart rates and lift spirits. The day will continue with interactive fitness games that promote movement and team bonding, and will...

Two distraught Lagos PDP members from Ifako-Ijaiye chapter reeled out some kind of troubling messages few days ago.  Someone who calls herself Yetunde Babatope cried out on the run-up to the facade - our cheap, laughable lies and foolishly undisguised public deception - that we packaged in the name of primary elections to pick our party's councillorship and chairmanship candidates for the upcoming July 12 local council elections. The other person, one Olamide Olatunji, squealed after the sordid act had been done.  You may have to go and look for the posts made by citizens Yetunde and Olamide and read them dispassionately for you to understand the frustration behind their thoughts. Let me help you with a snippet of Yetunde and Olamide's lamentations. They both addressed their concerns to our leader, Chief Olabode George.  You might not have met or never knew Yetunde and Olamide in the Lagos PDP, just as I can't remember anyone by those names. But the issue really is not ab...

Union Bank of Nigeria, through UnionCares, an arm of its Corporate, Sustainability and Innovation Initiative, recently sponsored the Ajofa Special Education Foundation for the Deaf Mathematics Competition held at the Wesley School for the Hearing Impaired at Surulere Lagos, Nigeria, with the theme “Impacting Deaf Students and Life with Mathematics in Nigeria.” The Mathematics Competition had in attendance representatives from Union Bank, the Lagos State Education Board, Principals of Schools, and teachers. Ten competitors, drawn from different schools within and outside the deaf community in Lagos, participated in the programme.  The competition, a collaboration between Union Bank and the Ajofa Foundation, aimed to close the gap in inclusive education by creating opportunities for learners with hearing impairments to showcase their academic abilities and intellectual potential.  Speaking about the event, Olufunmilola Aluko, the Chief Brand and Marketing Officer at Union Bank o...

Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke,  has congratulated his Ogun State counterpart and Chairman of Southern Governors' Forum, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on his 65th birthday, describing him as a leader of immense importance. Honouring Abiodun's exemplary life of service, Adeleke acknowledged his bold vision for growth and enviable sense for excellence, adding that  Governor Abiodun's remarkable leadership has engendered unprecedented progress for his state and the citizenry at large. Adeleke, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, further commended Prince Abiodun for his political sagacity in conflict management, thereby entrenching sustainable peace and tranquility in the state with resultant advancement in critical sectors of the state's economy. He added that Governor Abiodun's distinct attributes of inclusive governance and non-violent culture have endeared him to numerous admirers across party lines. "A hearty cheers to a ...

Leading African financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, is set to hold the 3rd edition of its flagship market access platform, the Fidelity International Trade and Creative Connect (FITCC) Expo from September 18 to 20, 2025, at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park, Georgia, USA. In a strategic move to deepen diaspora and transatlantic business linkages, Fidelity Bank is partnering with Amplify Africa, the organizers of AFRICON, the leading African diaspora business and culture summit in the United States. This collaboration brings together two powerful platforms committed to bridging African enterprise with global opportunity. “Since 2022, when we hosted the maiden edition, FITCC has evolved beyond a platform for promoting Nigeria’s non-oil exports to become a veritable showcase of the immense value Nigeria has to offer the global market. "As part of our commitment to developing platforms that promote economic growth, creativity, and sustainable trade both within Nigeria an...

General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (middle), flanked by students and representative of the Managing Director, eTranzact International By Grace Alegba The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, eTranzact International, Niyi Toluwalope has joined critical stakeholders to highlight the importance of education, community involvement and initiatives to protect Lagos environment and coastal economy. According to a statement on Thursday in Lagos by the firm’s media unit, the stakeholders spoke during an event sponsored by eTranzact and aimed at promoting Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), organised the event and was tagged, `2025 Inter Tertiary Institutions Environmental Summi.’ The event also featured a debate competition by students of some tertiary institutions in Lagos with the topic, “Plastic Pollution and the Challenges of Just Transition in a Developing Economy: Lagos as a Case Study.” The spon...

A United Kingdom-based philanthropist, Chief (Mrs) Dorcas Adeyinka has sued the Nigerian Police over alleged abuse of her fundamental human rights. The application is contained in an originating summon dated May 26, 2025, filed on her behalf by a prominent Lagos lawyer and the matter is being heard by Justice Lewis Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos State. ACP Muyiwa Adejobi (Force Public Relations Officer) is the 1st Respondent in the matter,  Tope Saint Williams Blackamoor is the 2nd Respondent, CP National Police Force Cyber Center is the 3rd Respondent, the 4th Respondent is the Nigerian Police Force, while the Inspector General of Police is the 5th Respondent. The prayers of the counsels include a declaration that the "unlawful arrest, threats of arrest, detention between July 29 and August 18, 2024, threats, intimidation, harassment and coordinated media attack against the Applicant by the 1st Respondent in collision with private individuals constitute a gross violatio...

As the 2024 edition of the Gateway Games draws to a spectacular close today, excitement is reaching fever pitch as legendary Fuji maestro King Wasiu Ayinde is set to thrill fans at the grand finale, alongside a lineup of other top-tier performers. The event, scheduled to take place at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Kuto in Abeokuta, promises an unforgettable night of music, culture, and celebration, marking the end of a thrilling multi-sport competition that brought together athletes from across Nigeria and beyond. The Gateway Games have been hailed as one of the most successful sporting events in the country, promoting youth development, unity, and grassroots talent discovery. The closing ceremony will serve as a fitting climax to the festival of sports, honouring the achievements of participating athletes and showcasing Ogun State’s rich cultural heritage.

Mrs Rachel Akhuetie, newly appointed, Non-Executive Director, Parallex Bank Ltd and member of the bank’s Board of Directors   By Grace Alegba   Parallex Bank Ltd. has appointed Mrs Rachel Akhuetie, a seasoned executive with over 24 years of multi-sector experience, as Non-Executive Director and Board member.   The appointment was confirmed on Tuesday in a statement by the bank’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Ademola Adeshola.   Akhuetie is currently Executive Director, Finance, Commercial and Services at SunTrust Atlantic Energies Ltd, where she has held leadership roles since 2003.   She brings a wealth of expertise in finance, oil and gas, corporate governance, strategic innovation, and banking to the Parallex Bank Board.   A Harvard Business School-trained executive, she is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.   Her career includes significant contributions to joint venture coordination, stakeholder engagement, ...

Two distraught Lagos PDP members from Ifako-Ijaiye chapter reeled out some kind of troubling messages few days ago.  Someone who calls herself Yetunde Babatope cried out on the run-up to the facade - our cheap, laughable lies and foolishly undisguised public deception - that we packaged in the name of primary elections to pick our party's councillorship and chairmanship candidates for the upcoming July 12 local council elections. The other person, one Olamide Olatunji, squealed after the sordid act had been done.  You may have to go and look for the posts made by citizens Yetunde and Olamide and read them dispassionately for you to understand the frustration behind their thoughts. Let me help you with a snippet of Yetunde and Olamide's lamentations. They both addressed their concerns to our leader, Chief Olabode George.  You might not have met or never knew Yetunde and Olamide in the Lagos PDP, just as I can't remember anyone by those names. But the issue really is not ab...

For its outstanding financial performance and strategic growth, Fidelity Bank Plc, a leading tier-one financial institution, has been honoured with the Most Improved Commercial Bank of the Year award at the inaugural Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards. Organized by Nigeria’s premier financial media platform, Nairametrics, the awards were launched to recognize individuals, institutions, and policy reforms that have significantly shaped Nigeria’s capital markets. The initiative seeks to spotlight excellence in areas such as regulatory leadership, corporate governance, investment performance, and financial innovation. “This award is a testament to the tremendous work we are doing at Fidelity Bank—not only in delivering superior service to our customers, but also in driving economic growth and creating sustainable value for all stakeholders,” said an elated Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc. “We are deeply grateful for this re...

Two years after Dauda Lawal took the reins as governor of Zamfara State, a civil society group in the northwest has described his administration as a “monumental failure,” accusing him of squandering the billions received from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) with no visible development to show for it. The group, Zamfara Progressive Coalition (ZAC), in a statement signed by its president, Alhaji Ibrahim Dan-Azumi, said the people of Zamfara are worse off than they were in 2023 when Lawal assumed office. The group said despite receiving billions in FAAC allocations within two years, the governor has “chosen pageantry over performance,” spending more time in Abuja than in the state he was elected to govern. “It is heartbreaking that two years after the election of Dauda Lawal, Zamfara remains a state defined by hunger, fear, and neglect. Billions have come in, but not one major road, hospital, or school has been built or rehabilitated. The people have been abandoned,” t...

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended heartfelt congratulations to Prince Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State and Chairman of the Southern Governors' Forum, on his 65th birthday and the 6th anniversary of his administration on May 29. In a tribute, President Tinubu commended Governor Abiodun's exemplary leadership in Ogun State and described his six-year tenure as a model of progress, defined by remarkable strides in infrastructure, education, youth empowerment, agriculture, food security, and social development. President Tinubu noted that through transparent and inclusive governance, Ogun State, under Abiodun's watch, has emerged as a beacon of stability and innovation, a leading destination for investment, and a state with steadily growing internal revenue. "Your unwavering commitment to public service and the advancement of our great nation remains a pillar of strength in our collective pursuit of national renewal and prosperity," the President said in his...

By Kayode Akinmade  TODAY, to the glory of Almighty God, the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun (MFR, CON) is 65, and exactly six years in office as the fifth democratically elected Governor. The road has been rough but grace has made the difference, so let the drums release great rhythms and let the music play on in praise of, the God of all creation the One who daily loads us with benefits. In all ramifications, Dapo Abiodun’s story exemplifies that of the proverbial man people said could not build a hut, but who has now built a giant edifice. A child of destiny born in 1960 when Nigeria obtained independence, and specifically on May 29, a day now set aside to mark freedom from military rule and signpost freedom and liberty, Dapo Abiodun is a change agent whose story is intertwined with Nigeria and Ogun State’s destiny.  He was elected in 2019, but that wasn’t the first time he had aspired to occupy the Oke Mosan Governor’s Office. In 2002, he and Chief Gbenga Daniel c...

Team Ogun's star athlete, Aderonke Akanbi, has etched her name in the record books after a breathtaking performance in the 3000 metre steeplechase event at the National Sports Festival tagged “Gateway Games 2024”. Akanbi obliterated the previous festival record of 11:07, clocking an astonishing 10:28.04, securing her place as Nigeria’s newest athletics sensation.   The victory comes hot on the heels of another gold-winning feat, as she triumphed in the 1500m women’s final, making it two gold medals for the Ogun-based runner.  Her dominance on the track has solidified her status as one of the standout performers of the festival.   With this record-breaking run, Akanbi not only brings pride to Team Ogun but also sets the tone for future competitions, proving that Nigerian athletes continue to push boundaries and set new standards in the world of sports.

The Ogun State Government has described as regrettable the protest staged by some athletes representing the state at the ongoing National Sports Festival over delayed allowances. In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, the government expressed its disappointment, stating that the protest was inconsistent with the values and objectives the state upholds. He noted that the athletes acted out of impatience, as all necessary arrangements had been concluded for the payment of their allowances on Tuesday. “Governor Dapo Abiodun remains deeply sensitive and committed to the welfare of all participants at the festival. There is no circumstance under which he would allow Ogun athletes to suffer or be neglected. “The protest earlier today by a few athletes is not only unfortunate but also uncalled for. It stands in stark contrast to the immense success the state has recorded in hosting the festival—from the grand opening ceremony ...

In a thoughtful demonstration of support and encouragement, Moruf Oseni, the MD/CEO of Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank, most innovative and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has donated his ONE DAY salary for 27 May , to Chiderije Mbah, a 12-year-old child who emerged winner in the Wema Bank 1-day MD/CEO initiative for Children’s Day.  The Wema Bank 1-day MD/CEO initiative was launched by the Bank on 21May, 2025, calling on Nigerian children to showcase their potential for leadership and career success in the banking industry, by uploading video submissions where they share their ideal role in the bank and why they deserve to win. Among dozens of entries received, 12-year-old Chiderije Mbah’s entry sparked outstanding recommendations for his embodiment of the role of MD/CEO, leading to his emergence as winner and an exclusive opportunity to become Wema Bank’s MD/CEO for Children’s Day.  From his grand reception at the Bank’s Head Office Facility i...