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JUST IN: Kogi: Governor Ododo Swears-in 18 Commissioners, Says I Will Lead By Example

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You must be reminded that we are neither the best nor the most deserving of the over four million Kogites


The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo on Wednesday sworn in Folashade Arike Ayoade as the Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Ali Bello as his Chief of Staff and five other aides.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Ismaila Isah, said “while acknowledging the support his administration has received from the people of the state, Governor Ododo promised to lead by example by putting ensuring a culture of service, probity, transparency and accountability in service to the people of the state.”

He also said that the people of the state expects a better performance from the new administration, adding that “a system of performance evaluation has been put in place to track and measure the impact of the government on the lives of the people at every point in the tenure of the administration.”

The Governor administered the oath of office on the SSG while the oath of office was administered on the Commissioners and senior aides by the State Solicitor General, Justice Falilat Yusuf.

Ododo charged the new appointees to be fair to everyone in the discharge of their responsibilities while offering their best services to the administration.

He said that the appointees were chosen on the basis of their enviable track record and they are therefore expected to demonstrate commitment by being worthy representatives of the people of the state.

“As you assume office in your various ministries, departments and agencies of the Kogi State government, you must be reminded that we are neither the best nor the most deserving of the over four million Kogites that are equally very eminently qualified”, he said.

Ododo enjoined the appointees to work in the interest of all Kogites without discrimination in whatever guise or form, stressing that they must be dedicated, committed and do right to all manner of people in the course of their service to the state.

He called on the new appointees to work as a team to deliver on the mandate of the people for consolidation and continuity under the new administration.

Responding on behalf of the new appointees, the SSG thanked Governor Ododo for the confidence reposed in her and other appointees and promised not to disappoint the governor and the people of Kogi State.

The new commissioners and their portfolios are Muizideen Yunus Abdallah (Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice); Muhammed Ihiezu Abdulmutalib (Rural Development and Energy); Momodu Salami Ozigi Deedat (Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs); ⁠Dr. Adams Abdulziz (Health); Fatima Momoh (Women Affairs); Abanika Taiye (Housing and Urban Development); Muhammed Yusuf (Works); Hajiya Rabiyetu Okute (Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation) and Timothy Ojoma (Agriculture and Food Security).

Others Commissioners are Asiwaju Ashiru Idris (Finance, Budget and Economic Planning); Bashir Muhammed Abubakar (Solid Minerals and Natural Resources); Sunday Faleke (Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations); Kingsley Fanwo (Information and Communication); Farouk Danladi (Water Resources); Joseph Olwasegun (Environment and Ecological Management); Wemi Jones (Education); Anyebe Aridaojo (Youth and Sports); and
Muhammed Mukhtar Shaibu (Commerce and Industry)

The senior aides sworn in along with the Commissioners are Air Commodore Jerry Omodara (rtd, State Security Adviser); Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege (Auditor-General for Local Government;
Alhaji Suleiman Ibrahim (Director-General of Protocol in Government House); ⁠Ismaila Isah (Special Adviser, Media); and Oladele John Nihi (Chief Press Secretary).

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JUST IN: President Tinubu set to return to Nigeria after Saint Lucia, Brazil trip

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President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria on Saturday (today) two weeks after his two-nation visit to Saint Lucia and Brazil.

The President’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga announced this in a post on his official X handle.

Recall that Tinubu departed Abuja for Saint Lucia and Brazil on Saturday, June 28, 2025.

The President paid a state visit to Saint Lucia as part of efforts to deepen Nigeria’s engagement with Caribbean nations and strengthen South-South cooperation.

Tinubu on July 4th departed Saint Lucia for Brazil where he attend the 2025 BRICS Summit, held July 6-7, 2025.

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CBN And Bank of Industry Partner With CEAN To Stabilise Nigeria’s Creative Sector Post-COVID

For more than a decade, CEAN has played a vital role in connecting Nigeria’s informal creative workforce to structured policy, funding, and formal economic opportunities.

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September 12, 2022, Lagos, Nigeria

In a bold and strategic move to rescue Nigeria’s creative industries from the lingering economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bank of Industry (BOI) partnered with the Creative Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (CEAN) to design and implement a nationwide intervention targeting vulnerable creative businesses.

The collaboration, launched in mid-2022, marks a milestone in the recognition of Nigeria’s creative economy as a critical pillar of national development—and affirms CEAN’s position as a trusted stakeholder in industry policy and infrastructure development.

Responding to a Sector in Crisis

The partnership was galvanized by CEAN’s early post-pandemic white paper, “Creating Through Crisis: The Future of Nigerian Creativity Post-COVID.

It presented compelling data and policy recommendations that influenced federal strategy.

While other sectors received initial support under the government’s economic recovery plans, it was CEAN’s persistent advocacy and detailed sector mapping that brought national attention to the creative industries’ urgent needs.

CEAN’s nationwide rollout had seen the training of over 2,000 creative entrepreneurs, advisory support to more than 500 micro-businesses, and the establishment of regional Creative Recovery Hubs in Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu.

“From day one of the pandemic, we understood that Nigeria’s cultural workforce—millions strong—was at risk of collapse,” said Adebowale Ewedemi, CEAN founding executive and veteran media entrepreneur.

“We didn’t just lobby for change; we brought the tools, the structure, and the roadmap,” said Ewedemi.

From Blueprint to Implementation

The result was a landmark intervention program backed by BOI and regulated by CBN, with CEAN serving as the official implementation partner.

The program delivers targeted support to struggling sub-sectors including independent film, performance art, fashion, radio, music, design, and digital content production.

Highlights of the program include:

• Access to low-interest working capital for creative entrepreneurs

• Training grants and accelerator programs for skill development

• Support for studio and performance infrastructure

• Technical assistance for digital transformation and business retooling.

CEAN’s nationwide rollout had seen the training of over 2,000 creative entrepreneurs, advisory support to more than 500 micro-businesses, and the establishment of regional Creative Recovery Hubs in Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu.

Sustained Leadership in Nigeria’s Creative Economy

This intervention is only the latest in CEAN’s long record of national impact. During the peak of the COVID-19 lockdowns, the association served as a frontline support system—offering emergency relief, transitioning training programs online, and shaping portions of the Federal Government’s Survival Fund.

For more than a decade, CEAN has played a vital role in connecting Nigeria’s informal creative workforce to structured policy, funding, and formal economic opportunities.

Through this work, the association—under Ewedemi’s leadership—has consistently introduced original models, innovative frameworks, and institutional partnerships that define sustainable creative sector governance in Africa.

Architects of a New Creative Economy

This partnership with CBN and BOI reflects a broader understanding that Nigeria’s future is tied to the creative ingenuity of its people—and that long-term development requires strategic institutions with deep insight, trust, and capacity.

“We’re proud to move beyond advocacy into implementation. This is not a moment—it’s a movement. We are helping to reshape the creative industry into a nationally recognized economic force, ”said Ewedemi.

As the creative sector continues to recover and rebuild, CEAN remains committed to ensuring that no artist, content creator, or cultural innovator is left behind.

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President Tinubu congratulates Governor Okpebholo on Supreme Court Victory

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Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State on the affirmation of his election by the Supreme Court.

The Edo State governorship election took place in September 2024, and Governor Okpebholo was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Supreme Court, as the final arbiter, upheld the election of the governor today.

According to the press statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), President Tinubu encourages Governor Okpebholo to be magnanimous in victory and rally the citizens of Edo across divides towards a singular vision of advancing the state’s development.

The President advises that now that the governor has cleared the legal hurdles, it is time for him to accelerate the delivery of exceptional services and good governance to the people of Edo State, which he has already begun to do.

President Tinubu also congratulates the leadership and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State and calls for cohesion and dedication in effectively discharging the mandate given by the people.

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