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FASHOLA BRINGS THE LAGOS IMPACT TO THE CENTRE- EMEKA ODIKPO

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11 years ago

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Politics is not a game for the feint of heart. This truism has been reiterated in various shapes and forms. American politics is one of the most brutal. Nobody comes out of it with his reputation intact. Your political adversaries will pound at your name until it reeks of filth. Barack Obama confessed that he usually hides the Newspapers from his Children, because he hates their reaction when they read the hate filled diatribes against their father.  Nigerian politics has swiftly descended into a chasm where hate and filth are routinely hurled at people on the other side of the political divide. This has led to a situation where even though we have had more than 100 State Governors since 1999, not one single one of them is considered by our internet warriors of hate as being good enough for the highest office of the land.

 

Babatunde Raji Fashola was Governor of Lagos State from 2007 to 2015. The Chance to evaluate his performance by residents of Lagos came up in 2011. That election offered a clear window into his evaluation by the people of Lagos. The Peoples Democratic Party’s nomination of an opponent for him for the election turned into a non-event. This is apropos of the fact that no heavy weight in the then Federal Ruling party wanted the nomination. Musiliu Obanikoro did not bother to vie for the nomination, neither did the ebullient Jimi Agbaje. The only reason these Gentlemen did not want the poisoned chalice of an opportunity to run against Fashola was because they knew that the performance of the Governor was stellar and any contest against him was futile.

 

Fashola’s impact on Lagos despite all attempts by revanchists to change history has been phenomenal. In evaluating Fashola, you do not discuss tarring of roads, because he did this in their thousands of Kilometres, rather you discuss the reinvention of the multi modal means of transportation in Lagos. The reality of the Mass Transit Light rail lines steadily emerging and innumerable flyovers that are being constructed from Okokomaiko to CMS has been the defining issue for experts on modern city reconstruction. The construction of the first Cable Stayed bridge in West Africa from Ikoyi to Lekki brought a refreshing dimension to the idea of governmental vision and delivery of a beautiful and well designed project. The reinvention of water-ways transportation of Lagos clearly showed the trappings of counter-intuitive thinking. The sudden change of Lagos from a city of dirty dingy bus parks, such as Oshodi, Ojota and others to a city with beautiful gardens was the result of detailed planning and decisive actions. The ongoing constructions at the Eko Atlantic City that has created tens of thousands of construction jobs and is billed to eventually create a whole new city from the formerly flood ridden bar beach remain the stuff of legends.

 

 

 

 

It is impossible to capture a significant part of the works by Fashola in a short essay, therefore I will suspend the discourse for another day. The poser here is actually how the Fashola impact can be transferred to the National level. The onus will of course rest on the President and the role he decides to assign to the vision driven Fashola. Even more important will be a decision by the President to give this particular Minister some creative space. Any role that does not admit of counter-intuitive thinking and application will be a no-no for him.  Most of the problems we have in Nigeria emanate from the poor quality of thinking by our leaders. Every leader, even the most ridiculed, actually had an ambition to be hugely successful. The catch is that leaders with low quality thinking are soon overwhelmed by the problems they are meant to confront and they succumb to the easy part of regarding the problems as part of the “Nigerian Factor”. Great Leaders on the other hand realize that there is no such thing as the Nigerian Factor and that iron will ultimately melt at the right temperature. That is exactly where a man like Fashola will be useful to Nigeria. His uncanny ability to see solutions, where other Nigerians see problems have made him one of the most successful Governors in Nigeria’s history. A fitting evaluation of  Governor Fashola by Time Magazine op-ed writer, Alex Perry on May 2, 2011 illustrates this:

 

“Fashola is not your usual politician. Rather than barging through his way across town with sirens blaring and lights flashing like other Nigerian leaders, he chooses to endure Lagos traffic with his fellow citizens. Also Fashola reads economic theory for fun. On his bedside table are books by development economists who see potential in poverty, people like C.K. Prahalad of the University of Michigan or Hernanado de Soto of Institute of Liberty and Democracy (ILD) in Lima.”

 

I can hardly evaluate the uncanny ability of Fashola in better perspective than Alex Perry. But I dare say that Lagos is a much better space because Babatunde Fashola happened to have been the Governor for eight years. A continuation of the constructions, vision and plans he and his team have clearly commenced and mapped out for Lagos will ultimately resolve the transportation conundrum that is the greatest problem of Lagos. The apposite hope herein is that the man will also affect an area of our National life positively at the National level if he is adroitly utilized.

 

 

Fashola1

IS A LAGOS BASED LEGAL PRACTITIONER

 

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Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact [email protected]

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Laffmattazz Announces Strategic Partnership with First Bank of Nigeria Limited for 2026 International Tour

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1 week ago

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April 24, 2026

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Laffmattazz Announces Strategic Partnership with First Bank of Nigeria Limited for 2026 International Tour

 

 

 

Laffmattazz, one of Nigeria’s foremost comedy and live entertainment brands, is pleased to announce its official partnership with First Bank of Nigeria Limited for the highly anticipated Laffmattazz 2026 International Tour, themed “Next Chapter: A New Season of Laughter.”

 

Now in its 15th year, Laffmattazz—the brainchild of renowned Nigerian comedian Gbenga Adeyinka (Gbenga Adeyinka 1st)—has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, celebrated for its seamless fusion of comedy, music, and live stage performances.

 

The 2026 tour, which kicked off on Easter Sunday, April 5th, 2026 at the Jogor Centre, Ibadan, marks a significant milestone in the brand’s journey. Building on over a decade of success across Nigeria, this year’s edition signals a bold expansion into the international market, with a multi-city run in Canada, alongside major stops in Akure, Abeokuta, and Lagos.

 

This strategic partnership with First Bank of Nigeria Limited underscores a shared commitment to excellence and innovation. It is also aligned with FirstBank’s First@Arts initiative—a significant and ongoing program dedicated to supporting the creative arts, entertainment, and cultural sectors. Through this initiative, FirstBank provides financing, advisory services, and actively fosters a sustainable value chain for artists and creative entrepreneurs, while supporting key industry platforms such as the Nigerian Entertainment Conference.

 

Speaking on the collaboration, the Laffmattazz team stated:

 

“We are delighted to welcome First Bank of Nigeria Limited as a strategic partner for the Laffmattazz 2026 International Tour. As we mark 15 remarkable years of Laffmattazz, this partnership reinforces our vision to take premium Nigerian entertainment beyond borders, while delivering even bigger, better, and more memorable experiences for our audiences.”

 

As a key partner, First Bank will enrich the tour through innovative customer engagement initiatives, experiential activations, and exclusive fan experiences across all tour locations.

 

With its distinctive blend of humor, culture, and live entertainment, the Laffmattazz 2026 Tour is poised to connect audiences across cities and continents, bringing laughter to thousands of fans worldwide.

 

⸻

 

About Laffmattazz

 

Laffmattazz is a premier Nigerian comedy and entertainment brand, now in its 15th year, renowned for its vibrant live shows and nationwide tours. Founded by Gbenga Adeyinka 1st, the brand continues to deliver high-quality experiences that celebrate creativity, culture, and laughter.

 

About First Bank of Nigeria Limited

 

First Bank of Nigeria Limited is Nigeria’s oldest financial institution, widely respected for its legacy of trust, innovation, and customer-centric financial solutions that support economic growth and development. Through its First@Arts initiative, the Bank continues to play a pivotal role in empowering the creative industry and driving sustainable growth across the sector.

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Opinions divided over Pasuma Jaiye Kuti proposed wedding 

Published

1 week ago

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April 23, 2026

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Opinions divided over Pasuma Jaiye Kuti proposed wedding 

 

 

The current threading in *entertainment* world of speculated society marriage between oganla Fuji, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma with Nollywood icon, and widely acclaimed Queen of the tube jaiyeola Kuti has brought out different opinions amongst the fans and entertainment personnel.

 

What started as a rumour and mirage is gradually turning to reality and some fans are saying it’s not possible for Jaiye Kuti who is one of the scandal free Nollywood actress to be involved in such an unholy union with Pasuma

Most people who spoke with our correspondence, are of opinion that such a marriage can only happen in a mirage sessions and in Nollywood movies that apart Jaiye Kuti been responsible and married with children, Pasuma is someone who have vowed not to married and have a woman under his roof.

But to some also, it’s not impossible as artistes are known to be engaging and married to each other after denied and counter claims, which made and at the end they will go ahead and married . With this most people believe that truly there’s marriage in offspring for both celebrities While both parties refused to comment on the trend controversial issues about the whole issue , the world is anxiously waiting if this well circulated story of Pasuma getting married to Jaiye Kuti will come to pass or it will turn out to be a mirage.

Either way the die is cast as all eyes will be on Jaiye Kuti and Pasuma with searchlight on Nigeria entertainment industry once again

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PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES OTEGA OGRA ON ELECTION TO WORLD FEDERATION OF ADVERTISERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

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1 week ago

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April 21, 2026

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PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES OTEGA OGRA ON ELECTION TO WORLD FEDERATION OF ADVERTISERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES OTEGA OGRA ON ELECTION TO WORLD FEDERATION OF ADVERTISERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated his Senior Special Assistant on Digital Engagement, Strategy and New Media, Mr Otega Ogra, on his election to the Executive Committee of the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA).

 

The election took place today at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting, held during the Global Marketing Week Conference in Stockholm, Sweden.

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES OTEGA OGRA ON ELECTION TO WORLD FEDERATION OF ADVERTISERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President Tinubu described the development as a significant step for Nigeria’s growing influence in global communications.

 

He noted that Mr Ogra’s emergence as the only representative from West Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa on the Executive Committee reflects the depth of Nigerian expertise and the contribution of a new generation of young Nigerian professionals to global industry standards.

 

Mr Ogra was elected to the Executive Committee on the platform of the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), underscoring the role of Nigeria’s organised advertising and marketing industry in shaping representation at the global level.

 

The WFA is the leading global body for advertisers, representing over 150 multinational and Fortune 500 companies, alongside national advertiser associations across more than 60 countries, with a combined annual marketing spend running into hundreds of billions of dollars. Its Executive Committee is the organisation’s highest decision-making body, responsible for setting priorities and guiding global policy on responsible advertising, media transparency, sustainability, and the evolution of digital ecosystems.

 

President Tinubu noted that Mr Ogra’s election is both a personal distinction and a strategic opportunity for Nigeria and the African continent, placing them at the centre of global conversations on brand trust, platform accountability, innovation and the future of marketing and communications.

 

The President commended Mr Ogra, who also serves as Vice President of ADVAN, for his sustained contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s marketing and communications ecosystem, drawing on a career spanning leadership roles across the banking, manufacturing, and public sectors.

 

“Otega’s election reflects the growing recognition of Nigerian expertise and affirms our capacity to contribute meaningfully to the frameworks shaping global markets,” the President said.

 

President Tinubu added that the achievement aligns with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in advancing the creative economy, strengthening digital governance, and positioning Nigeria as a competitive hub for innovation and enterprise.

 

Josh Faulks, CEO of the Australian advertiser association (AANA), and Simon Michaelides, Director General of the UK advertiser association (ISBA), also join the leadership team.

 

Current members of the executive committee, David Wheldon, President and Philip Myers, Deputy President, who is also the Chief Institutional Affairs and Corporate Communications Officer at Ferrero, continue in their current roles, as do all regional vice presidents.

 

 

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