UNCOMMON RECOGNITION: Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun Gifts Car, House to Nigeria’s Best Teacher

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

“State and federal authorities jointly honour Solanke Francis Taiwo in Abeokuta, underscoring the strategic role of teacher motivation and education reform in Nigeria’s human capital development agenda.”

In a move that has sharply refocused national attention on education excellence, Dapo Abiodun has formally rewarded Mr. Solanke Francis Taiwo, a primary school teacher from Ansa-Ur-Deen Main School I, Kemta Lawa, Abeokuta, with a brand-new car and a two-bedroom house following his emergence as Nigeria’s Overall Best Primary School Teacher for the 2025/2026 academic session. The presentation occurred at the Governor’s Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta on 20 February 2026, witnessed by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology and senior ministry officials.

Mr. Solanke’s achievement was first nationally recognised earlier this year at the National Teachers’ Summit in Abuja, where he received a ₦50 million cash award for his outstanding dedication and measurable impact in the classroom.

Governor Abiodun clarified that while the bungalow is being provided under the Ogun State Housing Scheme, the car gift was donated by the Federal Government as part of its broader national recognition of exceptional educators. The governor used the occasion not just to celebrate Solanke’s personal excellence, but to showcase what he described as the tangible outcomes of focused policy and sustained investment in education.

Speaking on the reforms driving this achievement, Prof. Abayomi Arigbagbu, the state’s Education Commissioner, tied the success to the Ogun State Education Revitalisation Agenda; a multi-pillar programme that prioritises curriculum enhancement, improved school management, teacher welfare, infrastructure upgrades, digital learning and professional development. “When you implement policies consistently and efficiently, you will continue to record results,” Arigbagbu said, pointing to back-to-back national accolades for Ogun teachers as evidence of meaningful sector transformation.

Experts in education policy have long emphasised the strategic importance of recognition and reward in strengthening teacher motivation and retention. As educational researcher Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond noted, “Sustained improvements in learning outcomes require environments where teachers are both valued and empowered.” While Nigeria grapples with challenges in schooling quality and teacher support, recognitions of this nature symbolise a positive paradigm shift when carefully institutionalised.

Critically, this development also underscores the often-neglected intersection between governance and human capital development; where targeted incentives can elevate the profession’s status and potentially improve learner outcomes. State authorities in Ogun have argued that such incentives are part of a broader ecosystem approach to education reform.

Mr. Solanke, in his remarks, urged fellow educators to view his recognition as a call to persist in uplifting teaching standards. “I promise to continue giving my best to make Ogun State proud,” he said, reflecting a deep professional commitment that goes beyond personal accolades.

In a climate where education systems across Africa seek scalable models of reform, the province’s spotlight on teacher excellence resonates beyond Ogun’s borders, offering a compelling case study of policy, performance and public affirmation converging for societal benefit.

Wisdom of a Mature Believer: Don’t Judge What You Don’t Know — Dr. Chris Okafor

“To provoke mercy, keep sowing mercy.”

Mercy is often defined as compassion shown to someone who deserves punishment. It is the conscious decision to forgive when one has the power to condemn.

This formed the core of the message delivered by the Generational Prophet of God, Christopher Okafor, during the Grace Nation Glorious Sunday Service held at the international headquarters of Grace Nation Worldwide in Ojodu Berger, Lagos, Nigeria.
The Act and Power of Mercy
Preaching on the topic “The Act and Power of Mercy,”

Dr. Okafor emphasized that mercy is the believer’s escape from judgment. Referencing Psalm 136:1–20, he explained that mercy does not appear randomly; it is activated by deliberate spiritual actions and attitudes.
According to him, many people forfeit divine privileges because they are quick to judge.

A mature believer, he warned, must resist rushing to conclusions. In some cases, what appears to be clear evidence may not reflect the full truth.
“Don’t judge what you do not fully understand,” he cautioned, stressing that premature judgment can shut the door to mercy.

What Provokes Mercy?

Dr. Okafor outlined key spiritual principles that activate divine mercy:

Prayer

Prayer in deep and sincere dimensions attracts mercy. At the throne of grace, God considers the petitions of those who remain committed to Him. Even when a believer falls short, consistent prayer and kingdom partnership can move God to show mercy.

Total Repentance

Acknowledging wrongdoing and genuinely turning away from it provokes mercy. When a person presents their case before God with sincere repentance, divine compassion is released.

Sowing Mercy

Mercy operates like a seed. What a person sows is what they reap. Showing compassion, forgiveness, and kindness to others creates a harvest of mercy in return.

Unjust Hatred

Dr. Okafor also noted that when individuals are hated without cause, God may respond with mercy and divine elevation. What others fail to see in a person, God recognizes.

Conclusion

In closing, the Generational Prophet reiterated that mercy is both a principle and a harvest.

“To provoke mercy,” he declared, “keep sowing mercy.”
The service was marked by strong prophetic manifestations, including testimonies of deliverance, miracles, healings, restoration, and solutions to diverse challenges presented before God.

The Glorious Sunday Service concluded with a special thanksgiving celebration by members born in the month of February.

Sunday Adeyemi writes from Lagos

NOVO Announces Spring 2026 Launch: The World’s First Diamond-Backed Digital Currency and Wealth Platform Devoted to Feeding Africa

February 2026 — NOVO, an emerging global leader in diamond manufacturing, crypto‑banking, and ethical wealth management, today announced the upcoming Spring 2026 launch of NOVO Coin, the world’s first digital currency fully backed by certified, lab‑grown, cut, and polished diamonds stored in secure vaults in Singapore and Switzerland.

Designed for stability, transparency, and humanitarian impact, NOVO represents a new class of asset‑backed digital currency engineered to serve both global markets and vulnerable economies facing inflation, currency instability, and limited access to banking.

A Currency With a Mission: Feeding a Continent.

In a groundbreaking commitment, NOVO has pledged 50% of all corporate profits to support nonprofit micro‑finance organizations across Africa that specialize in food production, farming, fishing, and sustainable agriculture.

This initiative aims to:

Expand access to affordable capital for small and mid‑scale food producers

Strengthen local food systems and reduce dependency on imports

Dramatically lower grocery prices across African markets

Build long‑term economic resilience for millions of families

NOVO’s leadership believes that empowering Africa’s farmers and food‑producing cooperatives is the fastest path to stabilizing regional economies — and ultimately driving down global food prices.

Diamond‑Backed Stability for a Volatile World
Unlike speculative tokens or inflation‑prone fiat currencies, every NOVO Coin is backed by real, verifiable diamond reserves, manufactured through advanced laboratory processes and held in audited international vaults.

This structure provides:

Intrinsic value tied to a globally recognized commodity

Transparency through third‑party reserve verification

Security via geographically diversified vaults

Long‑term price stability for users and institutional partners

NOVO’s diamond‑reserve system is designed to offer a safe, durable alternative for nations and communities seeking protection from currency devaluation.

A Full‑Spectrum Financial Ecosystem
Beyond the currency itself, NOVO is launching a vertically integrated platform that includes:

Diamond manufacturing and certification

Crypto‑banking and digital asset management

Wealth management and life‑insurance services

Humanitarian micro‑finance distribution channels

This unified ecosystem positions NOVO as one of the first fintech institutions to combine commodity‑backed digital currency with large‑scale social impact.

A New Era of Ethical Finance
“NOVO was built on a simple belief: a currency should serve the people who use it,” said the organization’s founder. “By backing NOVO with diamonds and dedicating half of our profits to African food producers, we are proving that financial innovation and humanitarian responsibility can — and must — coexist.”

Spring 2026: A Global Debut
NOVO Coin will be available to the public in Spring 2026, with early institutional partnerships already underway across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.

For more information. Here is the organizations website TOPOFTHEPYRAMID.org