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Koro Ibo, Oladejo and Lagos APC search for ransom.

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By LANRE ADEWOLE.  Let’s start with the lighthearted.  Last Thursday, I found myself in a “political” space with the Director General of the Bola Tinubu/Kadri Obafemi Hamzat Campaign Council of the Lagos chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.  Penultimate Friday, I had seen him on the big screen at the inauguration of the campaign council and dismissed the slim-fit image of his appearance as just some fancy digital enhancement, known among tech guys as filter, especially when what looked like a bulge on his biceps was projected, in the equally tight-fitting top he was wearing.  In my mind, there was no way “Koro Ibo” (his political sobriquet which means Koro the vote or Koro the vote harvester), after being around for this long, would remain the boyish-appearing fellow projected on television.  Last Thursday proved me wrong and right. Yes, Koro (the compressed form of his surname) has truly been around long enough, both...

Climate: Sanwo-Olu takes Lagos to UN, seeks stronger partnerships, finance

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 Climate: Sanwo-Olu takes Lagos to UN, seeks stronger partnerships, finance     Lagos State Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu  ​‌‌​⁠‌​‍⁠⁠‌⁠‍​⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌​   Climate By Aderonke Ojediran Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has called for stronger partnerships and greater access to affordable, long-term finance for states, regions and subnational governments to accelerate climate action.   Sanwo-Olu made the call while addressing heads of state and government at the United Nations High-level Meeting on Climate Action and the Just Transition during the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. This is according to a statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Climate Change, Mrs Titi Oshodi. The governor addressed the meeting as a representative of the Under2 Coalition, a global community of state and regional governments committed to ambitious climate action.   The meeting, opened by UN Secretary-General AntĂłnio Guterres and President Recep Tayyip ...

Ayinla foundation seeks support for disadvantaged children, distributes educational materials

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      Ayinla Foundation ​‌‌​⁠‌​‍⁠   Support By Aderonke Ojediran  The Founder of Olalekan Ayinla Foundation, Mr Olalekan Ayinla, has urged well-meaning Nigerians to support all the tiers of government in  improving the welfare of less privileged children.   Ayinla made the call during the foundation’s distribution of educational materials to more than 1,000 pupils in public schools within Ikeja Federal Constituency of Lagos State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the foundation distributed the materials under its back-to-school programme. The materials include schoolbags, shoes, writing materials and uniforms for students with tattered uniforms.   Ayinla said that government alone could not meet the needs of all vulnerable children. He said that there was the need for individuals, corporate organisations and non-governmental organisations to complement government’s efforts.   NAN reports that  the foundation on Friday v...

Over 1,000 pupils benefit from Ayinla Foundation’s back-to-school initiative

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Over 1,000 pupils in eight public primary schools in Ikeja Federal Constituency, Lagos, have benefited from the distribution of back-to-school materials by the Olalekan Ayinla Foundation. The materials, comprising school uniforms, bags, notebooks, writing materials, sandals and other educational items, were distributed to support pupils as the 2026/2027 academic session begins. The beneficiary schools are Adeniyi Jones Primary School, Tokunbo Ali Primary School, Sogunle Primary School, Onigbogbo Primary School, St. Peters Primary School, Opebi Primary School, Estate Primary School and Oke-Ira Primary School, Ogba. The initiative, approved by the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), provides 60 sets of back-to-school materials to pupils in each of the eight selected schools. Mr Olalekan Ayinla, Founder of the foundation, said the initiative was designed to ease the financial burden on parents and encourage children to remain committed to their education. “The motive is...

Ayinla distributes school materials to 480 pupils in Lagos

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The Olalekan Ayinla Foundation welcome back to school initiative at Oke-Ira Primary School Schools By Aderonke Ojediran Lagos, Sept. 24, 2026 (NAN) Mr Olalekan Ayinla, Founder, Olalekan Ayinla Foundation, on Thursday distributed back-to-school materials to 480 pupils in eight public primary schools under the Ikeja Local Government Education Authority. Ayinla disclosed this on Thursday during the distribution of the materials to the eight selected schools in Ikeja. According to him, the foundation’s intervention in public primary schools is aimed at easing the financial burden of parents and to encourage pupils to remain committed to their education. He said that the initiative, which was approved by the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), provided educational materials such as school bags, books, stationery, uniforms and sandals. The selected schools include: Adeniyi Jones Primary School, Tokunbo Ali Primary School, Sogunle Primary School and Onigbogbo Primary Scho...

PhD @28, Original Japada; what a slogan!

  By LANRE ADEWOLE  For multiple reasons, my preference will always be for suave people, particularly, men. The root of the adjective, is in the Latin word suavis; meaning being sweet or agreeable.  In borrowing the word, English Language expanded the meaning, to mean being polite, confident, charming and slick in mannerism, often with a burnished style.  Synonyms common to the adjective, include; sophisticated, debonair, urbane, polished and smooth.  Is there anything around suave, that doesn’t define Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, current Lagos Lieutenant Governor and the ruling party’s candidate for the February 6, 2027 governorship election?  An addition from my end to the synonym list, would be the generally perception of him as humility personified, though I hold the opinion at the pleasure of secondary sources relating very closely with him.  He has also been variously decorated as being adroit and a friend who has worked closely with him for decades, (a...

Hajj 2027: Private Operators demand probe over 5,000 slots allegedly diverted

A few concerned private travel operators have called on President Bola Tinubu to order an independent investigation into the allocation of Hajj 2027 slots to Nigerian tour operators. The group, alleged that 5,000 of the 15,000 seats originally allocated to private operators were diverted to two newly introduced companies linked to Kano and Adamawa States. The operators said the development had created serious questions about transparency, fairness and the integrity of Nigeria’s Hajj administration, particularly after more than 500 licensed Hajj operators nationwide were left to share the remaining 10,000 slots. The group demands are as followed revelations from engagements involving representatives of Nigerian tour operators, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and officials of the Saudi Hajj Ministry concerning the distribution of Hajj 2027 slots. According to a detailed account of the engagements, the Saudi Hajj Ministry had initially agreed to an allocation of 25,000 se...