society
OGUN WILL BECOME NIGERIA’S FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY IN 2021 – OKUBADEJO
Ogun State 2021 budget is aimed at sustaining the State’s economic agenda and making the State economy the fastest growing in the country.
This was the submission of the State’s Chief Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Dapo Okubadejo while giving the breakdown of the 2021 budget on Thursday.
Okubadejo who explained that the ambition of the Prince Dapo Abiodun administration is to improve on the real sector and job creation, noting that the budget also targets poverty eradication and encourages investors.
Explaining that part of the vision of the state is a deliberate action to encourage private sector participation, he noted that the Dapo Abiodun’s economic agenda will drive investments.
Okubadejo said the overall vision and strategic direction of “the present administration is to make the economy of the state the biggest in the country in a manner that would ensure real sector growth, create jobs and also significantly eradicate poverty amongst our people.”
Speaking on the Agricultural sector, which he described as the major economic driver in the State, Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina said the State plans to expand the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) with the introduction of cotton, oil-palm and cocoa in 2021, just as 10,000 hectares of land has been allocated for the use of cotton farmers in the state.
Odedina added that the state government approved new framework for land use in the state stating that access to land would become a seamless process in 2021.
He also noted that the state government would be stepping up its game in the New Year with its engagement with the World Bank, International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the African Development Bank in it’s the bid to make the State the official special agro-processing zone.
“We also want to move into Anchor Borrowers Programme for Cotton, Oil palm and Cocoa in 2021 and government already allocated 10,000 hectares of land to Cotton farmers and we have also started work to link Cocoa, Oil-Palm farmers in 2021.
“We are going to step the game in 2021 with our engagement with the World Bank, IITA and particularly the African Development Bank in the bid to make Ogun State the official special agro-processing zone
The commissioner who further disclosed that the state would be concentrating on dam irrigation, said that the state would also be focusing on Climate Smart Agriculture, which he said would help to create more employment opportunities for the people.
“In the area of Investment in Agriculture, the Government already approved new framework for land use that will make land access a smooth process in 2021, because we have to expand agriculture, we cannot lock down agriculture, in 2021, we are going to be concentrating into abandoned agriculture activities of dam irrigation and service to take in more people across the state.
“We are also going to be focusing on Climate Smart Agriculture because in other parts of the country they are talking about flood, but in our state, we are only being confronted with drought, that means, we are taking particular attention to irrigation facility in 2021, when this is being done, more people will be employed,” he said.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker on her part disclosed that the vision of the state government which would be focusing on the ‘Ogun Health Improvement Programme”, said that there are three pillars of Hub and Spoke model, standardisation of health facilities, health workers and their equipment and innovative funding, which includes collaboration with the private sector.
Coker who also noted that the ultimate vision of the present administration in the state was to provide an affordable and accessible and quality health care for every citizen of the state, added that the goal of the state government was to ensure the reduction of the maternal and infant mortality by 25% by the year 2023.
The Commissioner while noting that the state government would be implementing the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme, said the Basic Health Insurance Scheme which involves the Vulnerable, Pregnant Women and Children between the age of three and five would have access to free health care services across the twenty local government areas of the state.
Coker who further said that the enrollment exercise which already started across the state would see about one thousand individuals enrolled under the program across the twenty local government areas of the state in the first instance, added that the State Governor would be inaugurating the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme which would accommodate the Formal and Informal sectors.
The Commissioner who also added that the state government is looking at developing a responsive and effective 24 hour ambulance service to support the health development program, added that the state would also be digitizing all of its health records across all the three tiers of facilities in the state.
#BuildingOurFutureTogether #ISEYA #OgunState
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
society
NOVO Announces Spring 2026 Launch: The World’s First Diamond-Backed Digital Currency and Wealth Platform Devoted to Feeding Africa
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
Tinubu Mourns Rear Admiral Musa Katagum: A National Loss for Nigeria’s Military Leadership
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG
“President Tinubu Pays Tribute as Nigeria’s Naval Command Mourns the Sudden Loss of a Strategic Maritime Leader at a Critical Security Juncture.”
Abuja, Nigeria – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially mourned the death of Rear Admiral Musa Bello Katagum, the Chief of Naval Operations of the Nigerian Navy, who died on February 19, 2026, after a protracted illness while receiving treatment abroad. His passing has sent ripples through Nigeria’s defence establishment and national security architecture, marking the loss of one of the most experienced and respected maritime commanders in recent memory.
In a statement released on February 20, 2026 by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described Rear Admiral Katagum’s death as a “significant blow to the military and the nation,” noting the late officer’s vast experience and “invaluable contributions” to both the Nigerian Navy and the broader “Armed Forces of Nigeria”. The President extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, naval personnel and the nation at large, while praying for solace and strength for colleagues and loved ones.
Rear Admiral Katagum’s career was marked by distinguished service in several strategic capacities. Before his appointment as Chief of Naval Operations in November 2025, he served as Director of the Presidential Communication, Command and Control Centre (PC4) and Chief of Intelligence of the Nigerian Navy-roles that placed him at the nexus of naval operational planning and intelligence gathering. His leadership was widely credited with enhancing the Navy’s capacity to respond to growing maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea, including piracy, illegal bunkering, and transnational crime.
Security policy experts emphasise that Katagum’s loss comes at a critical juncture for Nigeria. Dr. Adebola Akinpelu, a defence analyst at the Institute for Security Studies, observes that “Nigeria’s maritime domain remains a frontline in the broader security challenges facing the nation; the loss of an adept operational leader like Rear Admiral Katagum is not just a personnel change but a strategic setback.” His insight reflects broader concerns about continuity in military leadership amid intensifying threats.
The Nigerian Navy’s own statement, confirmed by the Directorate of Naval Information, affirmed that Katagum’s “exemplary leadership, strategic insight, and unwavering loyalty” were central to boosting operational readiness and national defence. According to Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the Director of Naval Information, “His legacy remains a source of inspiration across the services.”
As Nigeria grapples with complex security landscapes at its land and maritime frontiers, the death of Rear Admiral Katagum underscores a broader national imperative: strengthening institutional capacities while honouring the service and sacrifice of those who defend the nation’s sovereignty. In the words of military scholar Professor James Okoye, “Leadership in security institutions is not easily replaceable; it is built through experience, trust and strategic clarity; qualities that Katagum embodied.”
Rear Admiral Musa Katagum has since been laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites, leaving behind a legacy that will inform Nigerian naval operations for years to come.
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