Distinct Media

  The Yoruba Tennis Club has unveiled a four-day Centenary Cultural Week as part of activities marking the 100th anniversary of the prestigious club, with a series of events designed to celebrate Yoruba heritage, tradition, culture and the enduring bond of brotherhood among members. The programme, announced by the Brand, Media and Communication Sub-Committee of the club, is expected to provide a platform for members to reconnect with the cultural values and traditions that have shaped the institution over the past century. The cultural week will commence on Sunday, August 23, 2026, with the Abalabi Dance, while the  second day of the programme, scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, will feature a Cultural Colloquium, with Professor Peter Fatomilola of the Department of Dramatic Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, as Guest Speaker. The Traditional Day Celebration will follow on Friday, August 28. The Royal Father of the Day is the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadeb...

  The Olofin Adimula Culture and Traditions Foundation has commended former Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for pioneering the declaration of August 20 as a work-free day in recognition of Isese Day. The foundation also praised the governors of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States for declaring Thursday, August 20, 2026, a work-free day to commemorate this year’s Isese Day celebration. In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Convener, Comrade Akinpelu Adesina, the foundation called on the remaining South-West governors to follow suit by officially recognising August 20 as a public holiday dedicated to celebrating Yoruba culture and traditional religion. Adesina, who is also the Atayese Olosun of Ibadanland, said Aregbesola deserved recognition as the first governor to declare a public holiday for the celebration of Yoruba traditional religion and culture during his tenure as Osun State Governor. He described Isese Day as an important occasion for celebrating the rich...

  The Deputy Chief Whip of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Yusuf Oladeni Adebisi, has reaffirmed his commitment to the growth and success of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), urging members and supporters of the party to remain steadfast, united and committed to the political movement. Hon. Adebisi gave the assurance during his visit to the Allied Peoples Movement local government meeting in Ibadan Southwest Local Government, where contestants for various elective positions within the local government and other party stakeholders gathered to deliberate on the progress of the party. The lawmaker’s arrival at the meeting venue was greeted with excitement and a large crowd of supporters from his constituency, who welcomed him with funfair, solidarity songs and enthusiastic cheers. Party members and supporters also took turns to shower encomiums on the lawmaker, applauding his accessibility, commitment to grassroots development and continued support for his people. Speaking at t...

  The Centre for Public Accountability and Social Well-Being has raised the alarm over what it described as repeated attacks, alleged intimidation and destruction of property belonging to the Ojaekomo Family of Sapata Village, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State. The organisation, speaking on behalf of the Ojaekomo Family and its development partner, Shaffykay & Co. Property Limited, alleged that the incidents were being orchestrated by one Bashiru Fakorede and his associates in connection with a parcel of land said to have been allocated to the family by the Lagos State Government. During a press conference held in Lagos on Wednesday, the group said the situation had escalated in the past week despite an earlier warning issued at a press conference on August 10. According to the organisation, members of the Ojaekomo Family and Shaffykay were allegedly arrested and detained on what it described as trumped-up allegations, including claims relating to possession of firea...

  By oluwaseyi fadoro  The Ijo Orunmila Adulawo has commended the Lagos and Ogun State Governments for recognising and promoting Yoruba cultural heritage through the observance of the 2026 Isese Day celebration. In a statement signed by the Olori Oluwo and Spiritual Head of Ijo Orunmila Adulawo Worldwide, Chief Ifagbemi Ifajobi, and made available to journalists in Lagos, the organisation described the recognition of Isese Day as a significant step towards preserving the indigenous values, traditions and cultural identity of the Yoruba people. The organisation noted that the celebration would provide an opportunity for younger generations to reconnect with their ancestral heritage and appreciate its continued relevance in contemporary society. It said the decision by the two states to acknowledge the occasion reflected a growing appreciation of Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage, while highlighting the role of traditional institutions in promoting peaceful coexistence, moral ...

  Photo caption: L-R: Team Lead, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Fidelity Bank Plc, Victoria Abuka; Fidelity Food Bank Partner, Rev. Fr. Michael Domingo; Cathedral Administrator, Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Itesi, Adatan, Abeokuta, Rev. Fr. Dominic Olagbaju; and Branch    As part of its efforts to alleviate hunger and support livelihoods across Nigeria, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has donated more than 2,000 food packs to residents in Abeokuta, Ogun State, through its Fidelity Food Bank Initiative. The distribution exercise, held at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Cathedral, Itesi, Adatan, Abeokuta is a part of the bank's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme focused on supporting vulnerable populations and expanding access to essential food supplies. Speaking at the event, Folaranmi Jemirin, Regional Bank Head, South West 1, Fidelity Bank Plc, disclosed that the bank has distributed over 300,000 foo...

  By oluwaseyi fadoro  Prophet Godwin Ikuru, founder of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry, has been described by his supporters as a “seer of our generation” following his earlier prophecy concerning Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State. The cleric had reportedly spoken about Governor Adeleke’s political fortunes in 2022, and attention has once again been drawn to the prophecy amid renewed political developments in the state in 2026. Supporters of Prophet Ikuru said the development has strengthened their confidence in his prophetic ministry, describing his earlier declaration as evidence of his spiritual insight and foresight. According to them, the fact that the prophet has again spoken about Governor Adeleke in 2026 has generated renewed interest in his previous pronouncements. “Prophet Godwin Ikuru indeed remains a seer in our generation,” his supporters said, praising what they described as his consistency and courage in making prophetic declarations. The development has al...

  By oluwaseyi fadoro  Alhaji Saadu, Coordinating Chairman of Arewa SouthWest Nigeria, has expressed confidence in the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming Osun State governorship election. Speaking on the party’s prospects, Saadu urged APC members, supporters and other eligible citizens to turn out in large numbers to exercise their civic responsibility by voting for the APC, which he described as the winning party. He called on party members to remain united, peaceful and committed throughout the electoral process, stressing the need for a credible, peaceful and orderly election. On security, Saadu acknowledged that although there may be isolated cases of misconduct among security personnel, the majority of officers remain committed to protecting lives and property. He therefore appealed to security agencies to remain impartial and professional in their dealings with all stakeholders, while ensuring adequate protection for voters and maintaining ...

  The Oyo State Civil Service Senior Staff Club has thrown its weight behind the governorship ambition of the All People’s Movement (APM) candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, ahead of the 2027 general elections. The club made this known on Saturday during a get-together programme tagged “Heart to Heart Conversation” with the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde, and the APM governorship candidate at the Ayodele Adigun Club Pavilion, Total Garden, Ibadan. Speaking at the event, Professor Babatunde said the gathering was aimed at providing an avenue to identify areas of concern, share ideas, ask questions, express opinions and discuss ways of building a stronger, more efficient and people-centred Civil Service. He said the achievements recorded by the present administration in the State led by Governor Seyi Makinde had created a solid foundation for continuity, noting that, such achievements would pave the way for the emergence of Adekanmbi in the 2027 gover...

  The Peace, Progress and Unity Global Initiative (PPUGI) has called on men to prioritise their mental health, speak openly about their struggles and seek support whenever necessary. The call was made on Saturday during the 2026 Men’s Mental Health Awareness Walk organised by PPUGI in Lagos, with the theme, “Providing Direction and Support — Breaking the Silence.” The awareness walk commenced at the Secretariat of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and ended at Allen Avenue Junction, Ikeja. Speaking during the event, the Founder and Director of PPUGI and Farida Charity Foundation, Ambassador (Dr.) Farida Ahmed, said the initiative was designed to challenge the societal expectation that men must always appear strong, regardless of the emotional and psychological challenges they may be facing. Ahmed, who described herself as a West African ECOWAS Youth Ambassador and Global Peace Ambassador, said PPUGI had been promoting men’s mental health awareness for the past seven ...

  The Founder and General Overseer of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry, Prophet Godwin Ikuru, has said his earlier prophecy concerning Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has come to pass. Prophet Ikuru had, while speaking on the political developments in Osun State ahead of the governorship election, declared his support for Adeleke, saying he had received divine instruction to “release power in the air” for people to stand by the governor. According to the cleric, his call for support for Adeleke was not motivated by personal interest but by what he described as divine direction. “God told me to release power in the air for people to stand by Adeleke. That is God’s direction, and I stand by God’s direction,” Ikuru said. Following the outcome of the election, the prophet said the development had vindicated his earlier declaration and reaffirmed his belief that the prediction was guided by divine revelation. He maintained that his position was based solely on what he believed God h...

  The Founder and General Overseer of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry, Lagos, Prophet Godwin Ikuru, has urged the people of Osun State to stand firmly behind Governor Ademola Adeleke, saying he received divine direction to encourage support for the governor. Prophet Ikuru, while speaking on the political developments in the state, said he had been instructed by God to “release power in the air” for people to stand by Adeleke. According to the cleric, his call for support for the governor was based on what he described as divine direction rather than personal interest. “God told me to release power in the air for people to stand by Adeleke. That is God’s direction, and I stand by God’s direction,” Ikuru said. He urged the people to remain peaceful and allow the democratic process to take its course, stressing that his position was based on his claimed spiritual revelation. The prophet’s statement comes amid heightened political activities in Osun State ahead of the forthcoming govern...

  By oluwaseyi fadoro  The New Era Foundation for Yoruba Festival and Culture Intervention has invited members of the public to the 2026 Olokun Festival, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, at Debojo Beach, Eleko, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. President of OPC New Era, Comrade Rasak Arogundade, disclosed this while speaking on preparations for the annual cultural festival, saying the event would feature a wide range of activities and attract prominent personalities from across the country. According to Arogundade, the Guest Lecturer at the festival will be the Oyo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Wasiu Olatunbosun. He also announced that Oba Olayemi Luman Arowolo (Arole Oguntimileyin I, Gbadewolu of Araromi Kingdom) will serve as the Royal Father of the Day, while Oba Babatunde Akanni Sonala (Ilufemiloye I), Olu of Makogi Kingdom, will be the Royal Guest of Honour. Arogundade further disclosed that the Iyalode Oodua OPC New Era, Chief Mrs Olabosipo Olasei...

  Lagos, Nigeria — August 10, 2026: A new ranking by CFA Society Nigeria has identified Access as the country's largest employer of CFA candidates, highlighting the Group's growing influence in developing the next generation of investment and finance professionals and reinforcing its position as one of Africa's leading builders of financial services talent. Published as part of CFA Society Nigeria's Where Nigeria's Finance Professionals Work series in a national daily, the rankings show that Access employs 82 CFA candidates, more than twice the number recorded by the next-ranked institution and the highest of any organisation in Nigeria's financial services industry. The Group also ranked second among employers of CFA charterholders, reflecting its ability not only to attract experienced professionals but also to develop future leaders equipped with globally recognised expertise. The distinction extends beyond workforce statistics. It offers a window into how le...

  By oluwaseyi fadoro  Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commissioned the Agege Fresh Food Hub at Pen Cinema, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to strengthening food security and improving the distribution of food across the state. The facility, situated on a 7,000-square-metre site in Agege, is designed to provide a modern and organised platform for the trading, storage and distribution of fresh food. The hub boasts a 4,000-square-metre trading floor with capacity for approximately 350 to 400 traders, an 800-metric-tonne dry storage facility and about 300 metric tonnes of cold storage capacity. It also features a purpose-built seafood section, parking facilities for approximately 80 to 90 vehicles and 10 electric vehicle charging points. The Agege Fresh Food Hub brings together farmers, aggregators, bulk dealers, commissioned agents, retailers, institutional buyers and consumers on a structured platform aimed at improving efficiency across the food su...

  By oluwaseyi fadoro  Lagos State University (LASU) is set to graduate a total of 20,604 students at its 29th and 30th Combined Convocation Ceremonies for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions. The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Distinguished Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, disclosed this on Wednesday at a press conference held at the Senate Chamber of the Babatunde Raji Fashola Senate Building, LASU Main Campus, Ojo. The Vice-Chancellor described the combined convocation as a historic milestone for the institution and particularly significant for her, as it would be the final convocation ceremony she would preside over as Vice-Chancellor after five years in office. According to her, the university will graduate students across diploma, first-degree and higher-degree programmes, with 2024/2025 producing 947 diploma graduates and 7,621 first-degree graduates. For the 2025/2026 academic session, she said 44 students graduated from diploma progra...

  The Big Brother Naija Season 11 housemates facing possible eviction this week are Tram, Barry, Goddessa, Yusuf, Temi Nkem, Sultex, Abi, Araga, Flora, Nomy, Ricky, Kamsy, Sheba, Oyin, Keivo, Gerad and Bells. The 17 housemates emerged from this week’s nomination process, which saw the housemates vote to save three of their fellow housemates from possible eviction. Conspiracy Hour Ahead of the nomination process, Biggie announced Conspiracy Hour, giving the housemates the opportunity to rally together, discuss their thoughts and share who they would like to save ahead of the nominations. This was followed by the nomination process, where the housemates were asked to save three of their fellow housemates from possible eviction. Chimsom Chuka, the Most Influential Player of the Week, Neche, the Head of House, and Nomy, the Benchwarmer, were exempt from the process. Cassi, Bluethopia and Gerad were initially saved by their fellow housemates. However, as Head of House, Neche had the pow...

  A blockbuster week of sporting action awaits DStv and GOtv subscribers, with the decisive stages of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), UEFA Super Cup, FA Community Shield and Trophée des Champions among the major attractions. Football takes centre stage as WAFCON reaches its business end in Morocco, with the semi-finals scheduled for Wednesday. Defending champions Nigeria will not be involved after the Super Falcons were eliminated by Cameroon in the quarter-finals, losing 1-0. Their exit means a new champion will be crowned when the tournament concludes on Sunday. The first semi-final will see Algeria face Malawi on Wednesday before hosts Morocco take on Cameroon at 21:00 WAT, later in the day. Both matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport. The third-place play-off is scheduled for Saturday, with the final taking place in Rabat on Sunday at 20:00 WAT. European silverware will also be at stake on Wednesday when Paris Saint-Germain face Aston Villa in the UEFA Super C...

  By oluwaseyi fadoro  The Directorate of Christian Affairs of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Lagos State has appointed coordinators and senatorial leaders across the state’s local government areas and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to mobilise support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Hamzat and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the forthcoming elections. Speaking at the event, the Director of Christian Affairs of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Dr Sam Ogedengbe, said the appointments were aimed at strengthening the organisation’s grassroots mobilisation efforts across  Lagos State. Ogedengbe explained that the newly appointed coordinators would work at the ward and church levels, engaging Christian communities and sensitising them about the achievements of President Tinubu and the need to support his administration for a second term. He also urged the coordinators to mobilise support for Deputy...

Volume and Value LAGOS, NIGERIA – August 11, 2026 — The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System  (NIBSS) Plc, Nigeria's foremost payments infrastructure provider, has commenced the rollout of the National Payment Stack (NPS), a sovereign, ISO 20022 compliant digital  infrastructure designed to succeed legacy NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) system and  modernize Nigeria’s financial ecosystem. Unifying payments, identity, and data onto a  single intelligent rail, the multi-currency architecture bridges transaction processing and  payment intelligence while establishing robust cross-border capabilities. Initial operational metrics highlight rapid commercial adoption, with the NPS platform  already recording 26.55 million transactions valued at ₦1.4 trillion across 48 participating  institutions. First Bank of Nigeria leads the industry in total transaction volume, while  Fidelity Bank holds the lead in overall transaction value. Other key early adopters dri...

  In the corridors where money and power meet, integrity is not a soft virtue to be admired from a distance. It is the hardest risk control an institution owns, and the one asset that outlives us. By Eyitayo Quadri | Chief Risk Officer, Union Bank of Nigeria Much of my working life is spent thinking about what can go wrong and/or how it can be done better in a safe way. That is the quiet vocation of a risk officer: to sit in the room where decisions are made, to ask the unpopular question, to imagine the failure before it arrives and to price the danger no one else wants to name. Over the years, that work has taught me a humbling truth. The largest risks a financial institution faces are rarely the ones on the spreadsheet. They do not live in the market data or the credit models. They live in character, in the integrity, or the absence of it, of the people who hold power. It is a theme as old as commerce itself, and I want to borrow a very old story to make the point. It comes from...