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Behold the new Olubadan-elect

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4 years ago

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Senator Lekan Balogun, the Olubadan elect
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Ten of the 11 members of the Olubadan-in-Council on Wednesday endorsed the nomination of Senator Lekan Balogun as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The Council also denied that a legal tussle could scupper the succession to the Olubadan throne.

Here are things to know about the new Olubadan-elect of Ibadanland, the 79-year-old Dr Lekan Balogun

After his primary school education, young Lekan was enrolled at CAC Modern School, Anlugbua.

Then he was staying with one of his brothers, Late Hamzat Adewale Balogun, who was a civil servant but was studying privately for the General Certificate of Education, Ordinary Level (GCE O’L). He was also subscribing to Rapid Result College in the UK to enhance his performance in the examination.

But Lekan was secretly reading his brother’s correspondence which became very helpful to him when he wrote his qualifying test which was like ‘G4’ at the time.

While in the second year of the three-year modern school programme, Lekan sat for the Qualifying Examination and passed.

Therefore, he left school without completing the programme.

For his undergraduate programme, he enjoyed university scholarship while his post-graduate studies were sponsored by the Social Science Research Council. He returned to Nigeria and took up an appointment with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

He travelled to the UK where he studied for his O and A levels certificates while doing a part-time job to sustain himself- all under 18 years of age.

A highly cerebral student, gaining admission into the university was not a problem for him. In fact, he had the task of choosing from many offers after which he settled for Brunel University.

He left the university in 1973 with a Masters degree in Administration and Economics.

He holds a Doctorate, Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Public Administration; Public and Social Administration and Economics from Columbus International University, Brunel University and Manchester University all in the United Kingdom.

He was once a Research Fellow with the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; a Director with Triumph Newspaper, Kano; Editor of the monthly Magazine – “The Nigerian Pathfinder” as well as Management Consultant for Multinational Organizations such as Leyland, Exiat Battery and Nigerian Breweries.

He’s a renowned technocrat, author and philanthropist.

Senator Lekan Balogun sits on the Board of several companies with interests in Oil and Gas, Distributive Trade, Management Consulting, Mechanized Farming and Export of non-oil items as well as Travels and Tourism.

Erstwhile Administrator/Head, Industrial Relations, Recruitment and Scholarships, Planning and Development at Shell Petroleum Development Company.

He was a former Presidential Aspirant on the platform of SDP.

Senator Balogun was also a Gubernatorial Candidate for the PDP in Oyo State in the present political dispensation and a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the Fourth Republic.

He was chairman Senate Committee on National Planning and was a member to many Senate committees such as Appropriations, Security and Intelligence, Police Affairs and Defence (Army).

He has written and published widely. Many of his publications include but not limited to; A Review of Nigeria’s 4 years’ Development Plan, 1970-1974; Nigeria: Social Justice or Doom; Power for Sale: published in ; Arrogance of Power; Nigeria.

He had a stint with the Lamberth Local Government Social Services Department where he worked for one and a half years after which his academic inclination took the better of him and he enrolled for his PhD.

Lekan’s outstanding academic performance did not go unnoticed.

· In 1973, he resumed as a research fellow at ABU Centre for Social and Economic Research.

He also had the option of working as a lecturer at the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University but he chose ABU instead because of the desire to relate with other people away from his birth place and to know their cultures and traditions.

Young and energetic, it did not take him long to tender his resignation letter at ABU Having been employed as a positive research fellow to write papers for the government and highlight how well it was doing instead of normative research whereby he would be engaged in writing what government ought to do, he felt the idea of “ praise singing” government’s programmes negated his ideological principle which is of the progressive-leaning.

He later took up an appointment with Shell British Petroleum Company where he had a very flourishing career and got promoted almost every year until he became the Head of Recruitment.

This bright prospect notwithstanding, Lekan didn’t stay too long in the company. Again, his ideological conviction was being challenged. His job, he thought, was not in consonance with his beliefs.

He was no longer comfortable with a situation whereby as a member of management, he was saying ‘no’ to most of the workers’ demands and using his intellectual prowess to deny workers of what he considered to be their rights.

In a book: The Portrait of an Activist, a biography of Lekan Balogun, it was recorded that “by working against Nigerian workers, those he was supposed to be championing their cause was simply against his conscience and not minding the prospects of his reaching the zenith in the company, he abruptly called it quits. ”

In the UK, he developed the white-black consciousness which crystallised into activism and the struggle for human rights.

To give vent to his passion, he joined the leftist Marxist movement. Thus, he not only rejected the racist tendencies of the White but racism – whether it was black or white because he was aware that though everyone in his country was black, yet some black people were oppressors of their fellow blacks.

He plunged into the murky waters of politics in 1978 when he joined the PRP of late Aminu Kano.
· His charisma, honesty and gallantry soon saw him climbing the political ladder with ease and grace that eventually accorded him the respect and recognition of the political overlords of Oyo State.

Within a short period, he had made his mark as an astute politician, activist and champion of downtrodden masses. He later became the gubernatorial candidate of one of the major political parties in the country, the Nigerian People’s Party (NPP) of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.

The military coup of December 1983 kept him and other political giants in the cooler for 16 years. He later re-emerged on the political scene with his election as a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1999.

As Senator Lekan Balogun rose in politics, he continued to rise in the traditional hierarchy of Ibadanland, culminating in his present position as the Olubadan elect of Ibadanland.

His younger brother, Senator Kola Balogun is the Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial district.

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Senate Confirms Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance

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4 days ago

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March 11, 2026

By

Taiwo Oyedele
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The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the nomination of Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance following his screening before the upper legislative chamber.

Oyedele, a tax expert and former chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, was approved after lawmakers expressed confidence in his competence and professional experience. He is expected to replace Doris Uzoka-Anite in the role.

During the screening, Oyedele said his nomination offered him an opportunity to serve the country, noting that he had built his career in the private sector before advising the federal government on fiscal reforms.

He highlighted his experience at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he served as Africa tax and policy leader with responsibility for more than 20 countries, adding that his work on international tax policy and economic reforms across more than 180 countries had prepared him to contribute to Nigeria’s economic transformation.

Oyedele also referenced his work as chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, noting that the committee had developed several reform initiatives, including four major tax reform laws recently passed by the National Assembly to modernise Nigeria’s fiscal framework and improve revenue generation.

He further emphasised the need for realistic budgeting, improved cash management and fiscal discipline, noting that delays in payments to contractors increase project costs and undermine trust in government, while reforms in tariff structures could encourage local manufacturing, create jobs and reduce reliance on imports.

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Tinubu Approves Posting of 65 Ambassadors, Sends Fani Kayode to Germany

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1 week ago

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March 6, 2026

By

President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the posting of 65 ambassadors-designate to various countries and international missions, comprising 31 career diplomats and 34 non-career envoys.

The ambassadors were earlier confirmed by the Nigerian Senate in December.

According to a statement issued by the State House, the postings cover diplomatic missions across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas, and the United Nations.

Among the non-career ambassadors, former presidential aide Reno Omokri was posted to Mexico City, Mexico, while former Minister of Health Isaac Folorunso Adewole will serve as Nigeria’s envoy to Canada.

Former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau was posted to China, while businessman and former senator Jimoh Ibrahim was designated as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Also among the nominees are former Lagos State deputy governor Olufemi Pedro, who will head Nigeria’s mission in Australia, and former intelligence chief Ayodele Oke, who has been posted to France.

Other non-career envoys include Femi Fani-Kayode to Germany, Fatima Florence Ajimobi to Austria, and Nora Ladi Daduut to South Korea.

In the career category, several seasoned diplomats were assigned to key missions, including Amb. Mohammed Mahmud Lele to Algeria, Amb. Abdussalam Habu Zayyad to Senegal, Amb. Haidara Mohammed Idris to the Netherlands, and Amb. Ibrahim Danlami to Kenya.

The statement noted that the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Nigeria) has already received agrément from the United Kingdom for Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu, who will serve as High Commissioner.

France has also granted agrément for Ambassador Ayodele Oke as Nigeria’s envoy to Paris.

According to the presidency, the ministry has communicated the nominations of the other 62 envoys to their respective host countries and requested agrément in line with diplomatic protocol.

President Tinubu also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately commence the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and High Commissioners ahead of their deployment.

 

POSTINGS OF NON-CAREER AMBASSADORS / HIGH COMMISSIONERS

S/N NAME                        MISSION APPROVED

1.   SENATOR GRACE BENT: LOME-TOGO

2.   SEN. ITA ENANG: SOUTH AFRICA

3.   IKPEAZU VICTOR: SPAIN

4.   NKECHI LINDA UFOCHUKWU: TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL

5.   MAHMUD YAKUBU: QATAR

6.   PAUL OGA ADIKWU: THE VATICAN CITY HOLY SEE

7.   VICE ADMIRAL IBOK-ETE EKWE IBAS: THE PHILIPPINES

8.   MR. RENO OMOKRI: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

9.   HON. (ENGR.) ABASI BRAIMAH (FMHR): BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

10.   MRS. ERELU ANGELA ADEBAYO: PORTUGAL

11.   BARR. OLUMILUA OLUWAYIMIKA AYOTUNWA: TOKYO, JAPAN

12.   RT. HON. UGWUANYI IFEANYI LAWRENCE: ATHENS, GREECE

13.   BARR. CHIOMA PRISCILLA OHAKIM: WARSAW, POLAND

14.   AMINU DALHATU: UNITED KINGDOM, UK

15.   LT. GEN  ABDULRAHMAN BELLO DAMBAZAU: BEIJING, CHINA

16.   HON. TASIU MUSA MAIGARI: GAMBIA

17.   OLUFEMI PEDRO: AUSTRALIA

18.   BARR. MUHAMMED UBANDOMA ALIYU: ARGENTINA

19.   LATEEF KAYODE ARE: USA

20.   AMB. JOSEPH SOLA IJI: RUSSIA

21.   SEN. JIMOH IBRAHIM: UN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE

22.   FEMI FANI KAYODE: GERMANY

23.   PROF. ISAAK FOLORUNSO ADEWOLE: OTTAWA, CANADA

24.   AJIMOBI FATIMA FLORENCE (F): AUSTRIA

25.   MRS. LOLA AKANDE (F): SWEDEN

26.   AYODELE OKE:  FRANCE

27.   YAKUBU N. GAMBO: SAUDI ARABIA

28.   SENATOR PROF. NORA LADI DADUUT: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

29.   BARR. ONUEZE CHUKWUJIKA JOE OKOCHA SAN: DUBLIN

30.   DR. KULU HARUNA ABUBAKAR: TUNIS, TUNISIA

31.   RT. HON. JERRY SAMUEL MANWE: PORT OF SPAIN, T&T

POSTINGS OF CAREER AMBASSADORS / HIGH COMMISSIONERS LIST

S/N NAME MISSION APPROVED

1. AMB. NWABIOLA EZENWA CHUKWUMEKA: COTE D’IV/OIRE

2. BESTO MAIMUNA IBRAHIM: NIAMEY-NIGER

3. MONICA OKWUCHUKWU ENEBECHI: SAO TOME, STP

4. AMB. MOHAMMED MAHMUD LELE: ALGIERS-ALGERIA

5. ENDONI SYNDOPH PAEBI: OUAGADOUGOU-BURKINA FASO

6. AHMED MOHAMMED MONGUNO: CAIRO EGYPT

7. AMB.JANE ADAMS (NEE OKON) MICHAEL (F): KINGSTON-JAMAICA

8. AMB. CLARK-OMERU ALEXANDRA (F): LUSAKA-ZAMBIA

9. CHIMA GEOGGREY LIOMA DAVID: BAMAKO-MALI

10. AMB. ODUMAH YVONNE EHINOSEN: MALABO –E/GUINEA

11. AMB WASA SEGUN IGE: BEIRUT, LEBANON

12. RUBEN ABIMBOLA SAMUEL (F): ROME, ITALY

13. AMB.ONAGA OGECHUKWU KINGSLEY: MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE

14. AMB.MAGAJI UMAR: KINSASHA, DR CONGO

15. AMB.MUHAMMAD SAIDU DAHIRU: NEW DELHI-INDIA

16. AMB. ABDUSSALAM HABU ZAYYAD: DAKAR-SENEGAL

17. AMB SHEHU ILU BARDE: ACCRA GHANA

18. AMB.AMINU NASIR: ETHIOPIA

19. ABUBAKAR MUSA MUSA: N’DJAMENA, CHAD

20. AMB. HAIDARA MOHAMMED IDRIS: THE HAGUE-NETHERLANDS

21. AMB.BAKO ADAMU UMAR: RABAT-MOROCCO

22. AMB. SULU GAMBARI OLATUNJI AHMED: MALAYSIA

23. AMB.ROMATA MOHAMMED OMOBOLANLE (F): TANZANIA

24. AMB. SHAGA JOHN SHAMAH: BOTSWANA

25. SALAU, HAMZA MOHAMMED: TEHRAN, IRAN

26. AMB.IBRAHIM DANLAMI: KENYA

27. IBRAHIM ADEOLA MOPELOLA (F): COTONOU-BENIN

28. AMB.AYENI ADEBAYO EMMANUEL: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

29. AMB.AKANDE WAHAB ADEKOLA: BERNE-SWITZERLAND

30. AMB. AREWA (NEE ADEDOKUN) ESTHER (F): WINDHOEK-NAMIBIA

31. AMB.GERGADI JOSEPH JOHN: LIBREVILLE-GABON

32. AMB. LUTHER OGBOMODE AYO-KALATA (F): SIERRA LEONE

33. DANLADI YAKUBU NYAKU : KHARTOUM-SUDAN

34. BELLO DOGON-DAJI HALIRU: BANGKOK, THAILAND

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Tinubu Orders Suspension of Cashless Payment System at Nigerian Airports

Published

2 weeks ago

on

March 4, 2026

By

President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate suspension of the cashless payment system recently introduced at airports across the country.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this on Wednesday, March 4, while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

According to Keyamo, the President ordered that the system be reviewed to ensure it operates efficiently without causing inconvenience to travellers.

“He directed that we go back to the drawing board, suspend the present system, and perfect a system that will work perfectly without putting unnecessary pressure on citizens,” the minister said.

Keyamo added that the review may involve collaboration with the private sector to develop a more seamless payment framework. In the interim, a hybrid system will be adopted, allowing travellers with payment cards to continue using them, while cash payments will also be accepted.

The cashless payment system was introduced this week by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria at the Lagos and Abuja airports. However, its rollout led to long queues and delays, prompting the President’s intervention.

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