Business
Discovering an emerging location: As New Industries Berth Along Abeokuta – Sagamu – Interchange Corridor, Think Pelican Ecostay Apartments Now By Babatunde Adeyemo
Discovering an emerging location: As New Industries Berth Along Abeokuta – Sagamu – Interchange Corridor, Think Pelican Ecostay Apartments Now
By Babatunde Adeyemo
A new economic hub is emerging in Ogun, the Gateway State. It is happening along the corridor of Kobape – Siun – Sagamu interchange road. Multinational companies are springing up steadily on that stretch as investors continue to reckon Ogun State as their destination of choice.
The fact is well known that the Abeokuta- Sagamu Interchange road is the ceremonial route to the Gateway state capital, Ibara, Kuto, MKO Abiola Stadium, Oke Mosan, Laderin, Kobape, Siun to Sagamu interchange, which inturn, links the Lagos-Ibadan- Sagamu expressway, Ondo, Benin-Ore and by extension, the northern and South -Eastern parts of Nigeria.
On Tuesday, January 9, the Minister of Industry,Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite and the Governor of Ogun State, Prince(Dr) Dapo Abiodun commissioned two new factories and extension of the Tropical General Investment Group (TGI), at the Sagamu Inter-change, Ogun State.
This 36 – kilometre corridor also hosts one of the vast government acquired lands, guided jealousy by the Ogun State Government, which according to the government’s Master Plan, the area is designed to be the emerging Dubai of Nigeria as it is expected and have began to harbour big industries, sky scrappers and the best of modern housing schemes.
It makes sense to project that with these industries being located along that stretch, it will trigger economic growth,throw up many job opportunities which will naturally drag people to gravitate towards the area.
This have began has multiple factories are established within 36 kilometres interchange corridor. such as the unfolding scenario will create increased demand for workers and managers. Other businesses such as real estate development then follow the factories to meet the pressing housing needs of the workers and foregn expertraits. This creates even more jobs and more demand for housing on this corridor withe almost 95 % of Government acquired lands.
Interestingly, one of the few modern estates around the 36 kilometre stretch Sagamu – Interchange corridor and free from government acquired lands is the Pelican Brief Estate, Pelican’s Ecostay apartments and the Pelican”s Greenish acres farm Estate, amongst other state government owned estates too. The corridor also hosts the largest brewery in West African, and some existing multinational companies. The Ogun State Agro Cargo Airport is just a few distance away from the axis.
The Pelican’s ranges of products on the This 36 – kilometre Siun-Kobape- Interchange corridor were conceived to be an eco – friendly setting, a serene ambience where men and nature would align to promote ‘good health and longevity,’ and away from the congestion of the Abeokuta metropolis.
The essence is to make Pelican’s Ecostay Apartments a zero carbon emission human habitation, a tourist attraction with special built lounge, recreation areas, special built club and a Gymn centre for the comfort of the calibre of clients that had keyed into the concept.
Interestingly, Pelican Brief Estate and Pelican Ecostay apartments have a FULL government approved layout. It has its own Master plan which provides for Green Areas and at the same time, an eco-friendly place called Pelican Ecostay apartments. It is conceived to offer comfort and healthy living. Already, about N10million naira have been earmarked for buying plants and tree seedlings in phases. The concept is that a seedling will be put in each plot and compound so that in the next two or three years, one can always have a serene ambience and zero carbon emission because in the estate. There will be no home power generator in any apartment. It is going to be 100% eco – friendly in compliance with ecostay, eco – friendly concept.
in it bid to also compliment the Ogun State’s Government’s efforts on lighting up the Interchange corridor, the management Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited have also earmarked a whooping sum of (#20m) twenty million naira to provide an industrial solar street lighting for over for kilometres of link roads, connecting there housing projects on the corridor, admist a strategic collaboration with the Ogun State police command for a possible siting of a police station.
The estate is not a product of happenstance. On the contrary, it was deliberately sited at that particular spot in Masa Kobape area of Abeokuta to give investors peace of mind, it is a place where man and nature will align to promote good health, and longevity and away from the congestion of Abeokuta metropolis. This is why it has become increasingly important that those who cherish a good health -promoting environment should key into the estates now and not delay any further.
One stricken feature about it is its proximity to strategic to key economic indicators in the state and neighbouring states. It is 45 minutes drive from Ikeja, Lagos and less than 20 minutes from Abeokuta’s Prof Wole Soyinka Train station . It is all encompassing and truly an emergence tourist attraction. The estate will host special built lounge, recreation areas, special built club and a Gymn centre. All these have been specified in the Master Plan of Ecostay apartments and the same is being extended to the Pelican Brief estate
Efforts are being regularly to make the setting as natural as possible. There is a Camel and some friendly birds in the estate. The Camel will enhance the movement of tourists.
The estate is well approved by the relevant government authority. The beauty of government approved layout estates is that in every layout of government approved estate, there is a portion mapped out for green areas, recreation, hospitals, worshipcenters and schools, it is compulsory and you can’t use that portion for any other purpose. Before government approved a layout, you must have a green area, you must have a place for recreation, you must have commercial area so that nobody goes building shops in front of his apartment to sell groundnut or coconut. Such will never happen in Pelican Brief or Pelican Ecostay Apartments because there is purposefully vouched out facility space for that. There is a commercial zone. There is going to be a 5 – storey building corporate headquarters there. One floor will house Oko Opo Foundation. One floor will be for the supervision of the estate.
The last floor will be for the second passion of the promoter, which is broadcasting as plans are underway to have a Radio Station because there is going to be a convergence of bundle of knowledge there. One is referring to Nigerians who have excelled in many endeavours and they want to retire to the place. The broadcasting station will tap into their wealth of experience by bringing them to handle one or two live programmes in the envisaged Radio Station. It is going to be the knowledge base of Ogun State, the tourist attraction and future of Ogun State. What else can ask for in an estate. This is definitely the time to think and invest in Pelican Brief Estate Pelican’s Ecostay Apartments and Pelican Green Acres Farm Estate at Kobape.
Business
WFA APPOINTS GLOBAL BRAND EXECUTIVES TO EXPANDED LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE
WFA APPOINTS GLOBAL BRAND EXECUTIVES TO EXPANDED LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE
STOCKHOLM — The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) has announced the appointment of senior executives from leading global brands to its Executive Committee, in a move aimed at strengthening its global influence and industry coordination.
The appointments were unveiled during the WFA Global Marketer Week held in Stockholm.
The new members, drawn from top multinational corporations, include executives from Driscoll’s, Haleon, IKEA and Nissan. They join an already influential body comprising marketing and corporate affairs leaders from major companies such as Best Buy, Danone, Diageo, Grab, Kenvue and Tata Group.
Also joining the Executive Committee are representatives of key advertiser bodies, including Josh Faulks, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Association of National Advertisers; Simon Michaelides, Director General of the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers; and O’tega Ogra, Vice President of the Advertisers Association of Nigeria and Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Digital Communications, Engagement and New Media Strategy.
WFA President David Wheldon and Deputy President Philip Myers of Ferrero will continue in their roles, alongside all regional vice presidents.
The newly appointed members are:
Jiunn Shih, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Driscoll’s
Silas-Lewis Meilus, Global Head of Media Operations, Haleon
Joel Renkema, Global Head of Insights, IKEA
José Román, Corporate Executive, Global Sales and Marketing, Nissan
Josh Faulks, CEO, AANA
Simon Michaelides, Director General, ISBA
O’tega Ogra, Vice President, ADVAN
Industry observers say the expanded committee reflects WFA’s commitment to deeper global collaboration and stronger representation across regions and sectors within the marketing and advertising ecosystem.
Business
FORENSIC INVESTIGATION REVEALS FABRICATED X ACCOUNT TARGETING INEC CHAIRMAN – CPS
FORENSIC INVESTIGATION REVEALS FABRICATED X ACCOUNT TARGETING INEC CHAIRMAN – CPS
The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Adedayo Oketola, has said that a purported X (formerly Twitter) account attributed to the Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, is fake and part of a coordinated disinformation campaign.
In a public statement issued on Monday in Abuja, Mr. Oketola disclosed that a comprehensive, multi-layered forensic investigation conducted by independent cybersecurity experts has conclusively established that the INEC Chairman does not operate any personal X account.
He said, “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) , committed to a full forensic investigation, commissioned an independent forensic cybersecurity expert, who conducted a multi-layered forensic and digital investigation using X platform data, internet archive records, OSINT tools, identity forensics and cross-platform analysis.”
Oketola stressed that all posts, replies, and screenshots linking him to the handle @joashamupitan are fraudulent, forensically unverifiable, and technically impossible.
The controversy began on April 10, 2026, when viral social media posts alleged that the Chairman made a partisan comment — “Victory is sure” — in response to another user, supported by screenshots and purported digital records.
However, the CPS said the forensic investigation uncovered clear evidence of fabrication and impersonation, highlighting the following key findings:
· No Digital Linkage: There is no connection between the disputed X account and Prof. Amupitan’s verified email addresses or phone numbers, as multiple recovery and verification attempts failed to establish any link.
· False BVN/OPay Claims: Data used to suggest ownership of the account only confirms identity and does not establish control of any social media handle, making such claims a logical fallacy.
· Timestamp Manipulation: The alleged reply “Victory is sure” was posted 13 minutes before the original tweet it responded to—an occurrence that is technically impossible and definitive proof of fabrication.
· No Historical Record: Searches on the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine showed zero evidence of the account or its alleged activity prior to April 2026.
· Non-Existence on X Platform: Live checks confirmed that the alleged reply does not exist and has never existed on the platform.
· Account Renaming Pattern: On the same day the screenshots went viral, the account was renamed @sundayvibe00, set to private, and labelled a “parody account,” indicating deliberate impersonation and damage control.
· Coordinated Multi-Platform Impersonation: At least seven fake accounts across Facebook and Instagram using the Chairman’s identity were identified, pointing to a sustained disinformation effort.
“The forensic evidence is comprehensive, multi-sourced, and unambiguous. The posts attributed to Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan on X are fabricated. The account is a clear case of impersonation,” Mr. Oketola said.
Quoting one of the independent investigators, he described the development as “a coordinated digital impersonation and disinformation campaign,” warning that advances in artificial intelligence had made it easier to fabricate misleading content.
He urged the public to avoid sharing unverified information, noting that “the fact that content goes viral does not make it authentic,” and called on media organisations to prioritise accuracy over speed.
Mr. Oketola said the independent forensic report had been referred to the law enforcement agencies for necessary action. He also appealed to law enforcement agencies to investigate the origin of the fake account and prosecute those responsible under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act.
He said, “Media organisations, in particular, have a duty to apply strict forensic verification standards to social media posts and screenshots before publishing them, especially when such content implicates public officials or carries serious consequences for public trust and institutional credibility. Accuracy, not speed, must guide reporting in matters of this nature.”
He reiterated that all official communications from INEC are disseminated exclusively through its verified platforms, including its website (www.inecnigeria.org), verified X account (@inecnigeria), official Facebook page, online news portal (www.inecnews.com), formal press statements from its headquarters in Abuja, and official media briefings. Any account purporting to represent the INEC Chairman in a personal capacity, he said, should be treated as fraudulent unless formally verified by the Commission.
Business
How FirstBank is investing in Its People and Building Future Leaders
How FirstBank is investing in Its People and Building Future Leaders
For an average 9-5er, having a job isn’t enough. You want a career that grows with you, gives you stability, and opens doors to bigger opportunities. People everywhere are looking for workplaces that don’t just pay salaries but actually invest in their staff, helping them learn, lead, and succeed.
That’s exactly what FirstBank is doing. The Bank is building a future where every employee has the opportunity to grow, lead, and thrive. Through its human capital management and development agenda, FirstBank is creating numerous pathways for staff to transform their careers and become tomorrow’s leaders.
Conversion Programme: Turning Opportunities Into Careers
Needless to say that there is no desire for the 9-5er to remain in a temporary role when they can secure a full-time career. With FirstBank’s Conversion Programme, eligible non-core employees who have served for at least one year can transition into permanent positions. This initiative ensures that hardworking staff are rewarded with stability, growth, and the chance to contribute more meaningfully to the Bank’s success.
Leadership Programmes: Grooming the Next Generation
FirstBank has designed three flagship programmes to identify and nurture high-potential talents:
- FirstBank Management Associate Programme (FMAP): A 24-month fast-track initiative that grooms future middle managers. Upon completion, participants are promoted to Assistant Manager grade, regardless of their previous grade.
- Leadership Acceleration Programme (LAP): Focused on preparing internal middle-management talents for leadership responsibilities, ensuring the Bank’s succession pipeline remains strong.
- Senior Management Development Programme (SMDP): A programme for senior managers who are proven leaders in their functions and critical to the Bank’s succession plan.
These programmes are not just training—they are career accelerators, designed to put staff on the fast lane to leadership.
FirstAcademy: Learning With Global Standards
Backing these initiatives is FirstAcademy, FirstBank’s corporate university, accredited by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
Staff also benefit from partnerships with institutions like Rome Business School and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), gaining access to world-class training—often at discounted rates
A Workplace That Values People
FirstBank’s parent company, First HoldCo PLC, was named second in the Best Workplaces in Financial Services in Nigeria. The Bank remains firmly committed to responsible employment practices, ensuring that all colleagues are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.
The Future Is Human
With these initiatives, FirstBank is showing that its greatest investment is its people. By empowering staff through various growth opportunities, the Bank is not just building a workforce, it is cultivating leaders who will shape the future of banking in Nigeria and beyond.
-
news4 months agoWHO REALLY OWNS MONIEPOINT? The $290 Million Deal That Sold Nigeria’s Top Fintech to Foreign Interests
-
celebrity radar - gossips3 months agoDr. Chris Okafor Returns with Power and Fire of the Spirit -Mounts Grace Nation Altar with Fresh Anointing and Restoration Grace on February 1, 2026
-
celebrity radar - gossips6 months agoEnd of an Era: Nigeria Mourns Evangelist Dr. Uma Ukpai, 80
-
celebrity radar - gossips4 months agoProphet Kingsley Aitafo Releases 2026 Prophecy: ‘Nigeria Will Rise, but the World Must Prepare for Turbulence’









