celebrity radar - gossips
OON AWARD: COME AND SEE ME DEY BUGA… By Femi Adesina OON
OON AWARD: COME AND SEE ME DEY BUGA… By Femi Adesina OON
Femi Adesina – The news came like a bolt from the blue. I had been slated to receive National Honours Award in the rank of Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON. Who, me? I almost couldn’t believe it. Astounded is the word. But the person telling me was neither flippant nor frivolous. And a short while after, I had the letter in my hands, duly signed, bearing the good news in cold print. I still asked: who, me? Yes, it was me. Emi lo kan. It was truly my turn, and no mistake.
On Tuesday, October 11, 2022, the deed was done. I was among 450 people (443 Nigerians and 7 foreigners) who turned out at the International Conference Center, Abuja, to be decorated with National Honours by no less a person than President Muhammadu Buhari himself. He was on his feet for about four hours, personally festooning winners and handing out the honors. He took only a few minutes interlude twice, so that cultural troupes could perform. At 80 in two months, God is extremely kind to our President.
The National Honours Award was established by the National Honours Act number 5 of 1964 “to honour deserving citizens who have contributed to the development and progress of the country in any field of endeavor.” What then qualified me? I didn’t know. But the Committee in charge had found me proper and worthy, and there I was, being decorated as Officer of the Order of the Niger. I wanted to ask again; who, me? But it was past questions at that time. It was reality, crystal clear. Come had come to become (apologies to colorful politician, Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe).
On award day, I had suddenly found myself awake at 1.19 am. This was the real wee hours, when people do different things, both good and bad. I love my sleep, but here was I, wide awake. And the kaleidoscope of my life began to play before me. Son of two teachers, I was barely two years old when I was frogmarched to school. Amazing that I can vividly remember the day, with my oversized school uniform, particularly the knicker, which me and my siblings later named ‘sokoto yambari,’ a jocular Yoruba word for massive, outsize. And that knicker surely was. The man who called himself a tailor must have been a carpenter in his former life.
Father was principal at St Charles Grammar School, in Osogbo, then in Western Region. And school was St Claire’s Nursery School, where I bounced cheerily to, barely visible in my sokoto yambari.
Work took my father to Notre Dame College, Usi-Ekiti, some years later. And school continued at St Joseph’s Primary School. I had grown taller, and sokoto yambari was gone.
And then in 1971, my father decided to retire from service, just in his mid-40s. We headed home, to Ipetumodu, in present day Osun State. Schooling continued at St Augustine’s Primary School, then to Origbo Community High School, and to the then University of Ife, and on and on.
Professional career. Marriage. Fatherhood. Climbing the ladder, becoming MD/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Newspapers. Till President Buhari made me his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity in 2015. I watched the film of my life in those wee hours. From beginning till now. Will it be like that on Judgment Day, when the film of our lives would be shown to us? Well, this was no judgement day, so let’s not scare ourselves. It was Honours Day. And I began to sing, praise God, and pray. Did I also cry? I won’t tell you, lest you make jest of me.
So, Femi Adesina is now OON. The boy from Ipetumodu. A television reporter had asked me how I felt about it later that day. And I replied: delighted. If I had been object of so much abuses, excoriation, flagellation, from evil hearts, wailing wailers, simply because I came to serve my country, headed by a man I’d always admired, and I took everything in my strides, why shouldn’t I take this one, too? Why shouldn’t I, in the words of the song by Kizz Daniel and Techno, begin to buga. “Let me see you dey buga, go low low low, go low low low, buga won.”
I was landing and landing softly on the sofa floor, courtesy President Buhari and Members of the National Awards Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness, Justice Sidi Bage, the Emir of Lafia. The National Honours and Award Investiture Organizing Committee is headed by Sen. George Akume, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs. I thank them all.
I have seen the good side of Nigerians with this award. From all walks of life, I have received congratulatory messages, through newspaper advertisements, phone calls, text messages, and on all social media platforms where I’m active. I thank my Kabiyesi, Oba Gbenga Joseph Oloyede, the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu who placed a phone call to me, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, who placed a full page newspaper advert on behalf of Oke-Ona Egba Dynasty Trust Foundation, my friend, Niyi Adesanya, a Leadership and Business Re-Engineering Expert, who also placed a full page newspaper advert, Prof Amidu O. Sanni, Vice Chancellor of Fountain University, Osogbo, who sent in a personal congratulatory letter, my General Overseer, Rev Sam Aboyeji of the Foursquare Gospel Church, my pastor, Rev Ayomide Abraham, and thousands and thousands of people of goodwill. Friends, loved ones, relations, and even complete strangers. This country is not just filled with wailing wailers, who see no good in others. I have seen the Lord’s goodness, His mercies and compassion…
How about my own professional association, the Nigeria Guild of Editors, of which I was a past President? They hosted me to a dinner on Tuesday, alongside other media people that were given awards. God bless you all.
I thank my friends from the South-East, under the auspices of Igbo Friends of Femi Adesina, led by Rev Austin Ifeanyi Epunam. They paid me a congratulatory visit at State House, coming with a cake which we cut together. Ndeewo.
Can I possibly mention all? ‘Imposicant,’ as we say in local lingo. Thank you, thank you, thank you everyone.
Make you see me dey buga, go low low low, go low low low, buga won.
If you don’t believe, ask my wife, who I told after the investiture: “henceforth, when you call me, you must add OON, FNGE (Fellow Nigeria Guild of Editors) FCICMC (Fellow Chartered Institute of Corporate Mentoring and Coaching), Nwanne di Namba, Ugomba, etc. Otherwise, I won’t answer.” With my shoulders up. I don become a case.
Hahahahahaaaaaaa. Let me see you dey buga, go low low low, go low low low, buga won.
*Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity
celebrity radar - gossips
BUA Chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu Records Africa’s Biggest Wealth Surge, Net Worth Hits $11.2bn
BUA Chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu Tops Africa’s Wealth Gains in the 2026 Forbes Rankings as His Fortune Jumps 120% to $11.2 Billion, Rising to 3rd Place; Aliko Dangote Remains No.1
Billionaire Industrialist, Philantropist, and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has emerged as Africa’s biggest wealth gainer in the 2026 Africa’s Richest People ranking published by Forbes, after his net worth rose sharply over the past year.
According to the latest Forbes list, Rabiu’s wealth surged 120 percent to $11.2 billion, representing the largest increase recorded among the continent’s billionaires in the latest ranking. The jump moves Rabiu, who is Nigerian, to third place among Africa’s richest individuals, up from sixth position a year ago.
The rise in Rabiu’s fortune was driven largely by the strong performance of BUA Cement, his flagship publicly listed company, whose shares surged by 135 percent over the past year. The rally significantly outpaced gains in the broader Nigerian Exchange, which has itself recorded strong growth amid improving investor confidence.
Forbes estimates Rabiu’s net worth at $11.2 billion, placing him behind luxury goods tycoon Johann Rupert, whose fortune is estimated at $16.1 billion, and Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, who retains the top position with an estimated $28.5 billion.
Rabiu’s rise underscores the growing influence of Nigeria’s industrial sector and the expanding footprint of BUA Group, which has built major operations across cement manufacturing, food processing, sugar refining, infrastructure, mining and energy.
The latest Forbes ranking also highlights a broader surge in wealth across Africa’s billionaire class. The continent’s 23 billionaires now hold a combined net worth of $126.7 billion, representing a 21 percent increase from the previous year, as major equity markets rallied and regional currencies stabilised.
Nigeria remains one of the continent’s leading centres of billionaire wealth, accounting for four individuals on the list, including Dangote, Rabiu, telecommunications magnate Mike Adenuga, and energy investor Femi Otedola.
Forbes said the 2026 ranking was calculated using stock prices and exchange rates as of March 1, 2026, with privately held companies valued using comparable industry benchmarks.
Rabiu’s leap in the ranking reflects not only the strong performance of BUA Cement but also the broader momentum of Nigeria’s capital markets and the continued expansion of large scale industrial enterprises across Africa’s largest economy.
Analysts say the development signals growing investor confidence in African manufacturing and infrastructure driven businesses, sectors that are increasingly central to the continent’s economic transformation.
celebrity radar - gossips
COAS Ties Battlefield Success to Constitutional Allegiance and Civil Authority
COAS Ties Battlefield Success to Constitutional Allegiance and Civil Authority
During his operational visit to the 4 Special Forces Command in Doma, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, delivered a stark message, intertwining the elite unit’s combat effectiveness with an unshakeable pledge of allegiance to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian Constitution.
While directing troops to intensify high-impact operations, the COAS made it clear that their mission is a direct expression of their constitutional oath. He reaffirmed that the Nigerian Army’s primary role is to defend the nation against external aggression and provide aid to civil authority, all in strict adherence to the supreme law of the land and under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief.
This emphasis on loyalty served as a powerful backdrop to his operational directives. By linking the “decisive defeat” of terrorists to the Army’s constitutional mandate and loyalty to the President, Lt. Gen. Shaibu sought to galvanise the Special Forces, framing their upcoming engagements not just as military objectives but as a sacred duty to the democratically elected government and the nation’s founding charter. The message was clear: their fight is a fight for the Constitution and the president it empowers.
celebrity radar - gossips
Mercy Johnson Okojie, Purity Okojie Lead Campaign for Girls Tag’s All-in-One Period Care Kit
*Mercy Johnson Okojie, Purity Okojie Lead Campaign for Girls Tag’s All-in-One Period Care Kit
iBlend Services, appointed Regional Agency for Girls Tag alongside its PR and marketing firm, Eddie MPR, has officially launched Girls Tag, described as Nigeria’s first all-in-one period care pack designed for girls aged nine and above.
The initiative seeks to tackle persistent gaps in menstrual health education and access to sanitary products in Nigeria, where many girls experience their first period with little preparation or guidance. According to the promoters, Girls Tag was created to eliminate the fear, confusion, and stigma often associated with puberty, replacing them with confidence, comfort, and dignity.
Beyond hygiene, the brand positions itself as a supportive care system for both girls and parents, offering tools and language to guide families through early puberty conversations.
To strengthen its reach, Girls Tag announced a strategic ambassadorial partnership with Nollywood actress and philanthropist Mercy Johnson Okojie and her daughter, Purity Okojie. The mother-daughter collaboration is intended to reflect authenticity and relatability for Nigerian families navigating similar experiences.
Speaking on the partnership, the leadership of iBlend Services expressed confidence that the ambassadors’ real-life connection would resonate deeply with mothers and daughters nationwide.
Mercy Johnson Okojie, in her remarks, described the initiative as a natural fit, noting that puberty can be an anxious period for both parents and children. She also revealed that her newly authored puberty guide, Youberty, will be included in every Girls Tag kit. The book is designed to help boys and girls aged 10 to 13 better understand the physical and emotional changes that come with growing up.
Each Girls Tag care pack contains premium sanitary pads in various sizes, overnight period pants, panty liners, disposable sanitary bags, a discreet sanitary purse, and a copy of Youberty. The kit is tailored to support first-time and early period experiences while promoting proper hygiene and self-care.
The company disclosed that the product will be available nationwide in Q2 2026 at select retail stores, pharmacies, and malls, with direct delivery options through its website and social media handle, @girlstag.ng.
With its combined focus on education, dignity, and accessibility, Girls Tag aims to reshape menstrual health support for young girls across Nigeria.
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