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Fountain of Life Senior Pastor Odukoya dies at 67

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The Senior Pastor of Fountain of Life Church at Ilupeju in Lagos, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, has died at the age of 67.

Odukoya was said to have died on Monday, August 7, in the United States of America (U.S.A).

The church confirmed his demise on its official Facebook page.

In its Facebook post, the church said: “The Fountain of Life Church Family, in total submission to the will of God Almighty, announces the passing unto greater glory of our father, teacher, a great servant of the Most High God, Pastor Daniel Taiwo Odukoya, Founding Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, who passed unto glory on August 7, 2023 in the U.S.A.

“We are in total submission to you, Lord. We thank the Lord for the gift of a greater leader.”

President Bola Tinubu yesterday expressed sadness over the demise of the preacher.

A statement last night by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, reads: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu shares in the pain of loss with the family, friends and congregants of the Fountain of Life Church, over the passing of the Senior Pastor, Taiwo Odukoya, 67. 

“President Tinubu sends his heartfelt condolences to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and associates of the highly revered religious leader, whose teaching, outreach and good work expanded the frontiers of charitable endeavour with particular respect to the education and health sectors.

“The President notes the worthy contributions of Pastor Odukoya to the development of the country, supporting the weak and vulnerable while providing a platform for many to realise their dreams through the teaching of the word of faith.” 

There were facts yesterday about how the popular preacher died.

The Nation gathered that the late Odukoya had health issues triggered mainly by personal tragedies.

A source close to the family said: “He really didn’t get over the losses he suffered. He tried to be strong but there is a limit to what a man can take.”

Odukoya, fondly called Pastor Taiwo, lost his wife, Bimbo, in the Sosoliso plane crash in 2005. He remarried and then lost his second wife, Nomthi, to cancer in 2021. In that same year, he lost his twin sister, Kehinde, at the age of 65.

Despite these tragedies, he continued to preach the gospel before his death.

Another source close to the church said: “If Pastor Bimbo’s death was shattering, Pastor Nomthi’s demise was a technical knockout. It knocked Pastor (Odukoya) down and out. He was inconsolable. He was very bothered about what people would say.

“It left him totally lifeless. There was nothing we could tell him. It took something deep out of him and some of us became afraid for him.”

When The Nation visited the church yesterday for the reactions of its members, most of the respondents said the pastor might have died of loneliness.

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Masobe Books to Publish Groundbreaking Essay Collection by Dr. Dakuku Peterside on Nigeria

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Masobe Books, a leading publisher of Nigerian literature, today announced the upcoming release of a highly anticipated essay collection by Dr. Dakuku Peterside, a prominent figure in Nigerian public life.

The collection, which is titled: Beneath the Surface: Essays on Nigeria’s Chequered Journey, a powerful new work by renowned columnist and public policy expert, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

Dr. Peterside, known for his contributions to policy, economics, and thought leadership, has compiled a series of essays exploring a range of critical issues facing the nation.

The collection is expected to delve into topics such as governance, economic development, social justice, national unity, security challenges, the future of democracy, and the role of youth.

“We are incredibly excited to be publishing Dr. Peterside’s work,” said [Name and Title of a Masobe Books representative, ideally the publisher].

“His deep understanding of Nigeria, combined with his clear and articulate writing style, makes this collection essential reading for anyone interested in the country’s present and future.”

Masobe Books anticipates that the collection will appeal to a broad audience, including policymakers, academics, students, and the general public.

Slated for publication in October 2025 under the publisher’s Makere imprint, the book promises to spark critical conversations about Nigeria’s past, present, and future.

Further details, including the title of the collection and planned promotional events, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Dr. Dakuku Peterside has a distinguished career, having served as a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), a former member of the House of Representatives.

He is widely respected for his expertise and contributions to national discourse.

The essay collection offers a panoramic exploration of Nigeria’s complex landscape—its economy, governance, youth energy, leadership challenges, and international standing.

Described as a “360-degree perspective” on the country’s evolving narrative, the book digs deep into the nation’s layered experiences and contradictions.

The book has already received high praise from thought leaders. Renowned Kenyan scholar, Professor P.L.O. Lumumba, hailed it as “a manual that every conscientious person in authority should read.”

Bishop Matthew Kukah called it “a window for future exploration of the options for a new Nigeria,” while Prof. Kyari Mohammed declared it “a must read for policy makers, academics and the general reader.”

Masobe Books has announced plans for formal launch events in Lagos and Abuja to accompany the book’s international and local release.

This marks Dr. Peterside’s third major publication, following Strategic Turnaround and Leading in a Storm.

For inquiries and updates, the public is encouraged to contact Theresa Ominiabohs at Masobe Books or visit www.masobebooks.com.

The publisher can also be followed on Instagram and Twitter via @masobebooksng.

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MTN, Airtel, IHS Towers Rev up FG’s 3MTT programme by N5bn

“This kind of collaboration is what drives our vision of building a future-ready workforce and positioning Nigeria as a net exporter of technical talent,” said Tijani.

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Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, said that MTN Nigeria made a cumulative N3 billion contribution to support the federal government’s 3MTT programme.

3MTT is an acronym for 3 Million Technical Talent, a bold initiative and a critical component of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda which is aimed at developing a local pool of technical talent for the country and the global tech ecosystem.

Tijani also disclosed that previously, the Airtel Africa Foundation had contributed N1 billion to support the same programme, while infrastructure service provider, IHS Tower, has entered an agreement worth another N1 billion with the Ministry to build learning communities across the nation for the 3MTT programme.

“This kind of collaboration is what drives our vision of building a future-ready workforce and positioning Nigeria as a net exporter of technical talent,” said Tijani.

He explained:” The tech talent will be trained in cohorts. The program started with 30, 000 Nigerians, which was one percent of the 3 million target, while another 270,000 were later selected for the second cohort to bring the number to 10 percent.

The 3 Million Tech Talent will be trained in areas of speciality including: Digital Marketing, Project Management Software, Cloud Platforms Navigation, Data Analysis and Visualisation, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), CRM Management, Accounting Software, Graphics Design and UX/UI Design, among others.

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BREAKING: Many feared dead in Lagos building collapse

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A three-storey building today collapsed on Lagos Island, injuring some occupants while yet to be determined number of persons are under the rubbles.

The building located on Asesi Lane around the Adeniji Adele Road went down suddenly early today.

“Four persons have been rescued from the rubble so far. They have been taken to hospital,” Lagos State Information Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso said in a Facebook post.

Emergency responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), among others, have since gotten to the incident scene.

Developing story…

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