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Otunba Femi Okenla donates 350 million enterpreneur center to Olabisi Onabanjo University

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Otunba Femi Okenla donates 350 million enterpreneur center to Olabisi Onabanjo University

The Director-General of Onitsha Business School, Prof. Olusegun Sogbesan, has delivered a scathing critique of Nigeria’s tertiary education system, warning that unless universities urgently adopt entrepreneurship and localised learning models, they risk becoming “factories of frustration.”

Speaking at the commissioning of the N350 million Olufemi Okenla Entrepreneurship Centre at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Sogbesan declared that the university system in Nigeria is “teaching young people in foreign tongues, but not in the language of enterprise.”

In a thought-provoking keynote titled The Role of Tertiary Institutions in Promoting Entrepreneurship in Nigeria, he urged universities to discard their obsession with degrees and certificates, and instead focus on nurturing creators, innovators, and job generators.

“We are not simply calling for a tweak in the curriculum,” he said. “We are calling for a redefinition of the very purpose of higher education in Nigeria.”

The professor outlined a six-pronged strategy for transformation, including: institutionalising entrepreneurship as a university-wide mission, building on-campus innovation hubs, redesigning curricula for practical outcomes, training facilitators, ensuring access to capital and mentorship, and integrating policy and accountability mechanisms.

“These strategies are not aspirational—they are achievable,” Sogbesan asserted. “They require leadership, alignment, and urgency.”

He argued that entrepreneurship must be rooted in indigenous languages and contextual realities.

“From the African apprenticeship model to the rise of tech startups, our curriculum must speak the language of our people—both literally and practically,” he said.

“If we continue to graduate students who can write exams but cannot write proposals… if our degrees do not produce value, then we are complicit in engineering their frustration and Nigeria’s stagnation,” he added, drawing loud applause.

Sogbesan warned that without a radical overhaul, Nigeria would continue to churn out certificate-holding job seekers who remain disconnected from economic relevance.

“No entrepreneurship, no development. Tertiary institutions must stop preparing students only to join the workforce and start preparing them to build the workforce.”

…Minister Backs Call for Entrepreneurial Shift

Representing the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule, described the new Centre as “a gateway to new thinking, new ventures, and new opportunities.”

“In a nation blessed with talent yet burdened by unemployment, our educational model must evolve. We must now produce job creators, not just job seekers,” Sule said.

He hailed the Olufemi Okenla Foundation for what he described as “a visionary investment in the youth of Nigeria” and aligned the Centre’s goals with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritises youth empowerment and economic diversification.

“The Olufemi Okenla Entrepreneur Centre is a powerful addition to this national movement,” he said. “It is a space where ideas will be nurtured, businesses will be born, and the dreams of many young Nigerians will find wings.”

The donor, Otunba Olufemi Okenla, a distinguished alumnus and entrepreneur, shared an emotional account of how his experiences at OOU shaped his entrepreneurial spirit.

“This institution taught me to wear my thinking cap,” he said, recalling how a life-threatening spinal injury in his second year forced him to find creative means of survival—selling bread and screening films to fellow students.

Okenla revealed that the N350 million project was conceived when he turned 59,and will be delivered in three phases,including 50 million for equipping the centre and another 100 million to be set aside in a fixed deposit account for maintenance
“By September,the first batch of 20 students will be admitted-10 from the Ogun State Polytechnic of Health and Allied Sciences and another 10 from my church”” he announced
In a notable philantropic gesture,Okenla also pledged 20 million in seed capital for student -led startup,with 5 million to be awarded to each of the first four graduating cohorts.
“Let us ensure the next generation of Nigerian students graduates does not leave university with just a certificate in hand,but with business in motion,a product in development,or a vision already unfolding “he said
He also appreciated Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo of KICC,whom he credited for inspiring the project and expressed heartfelt appreciation to his wife of 36 years
“She has stood by me for over four decades and will now oversee the disbursement of the seed capital
This is not just a legacy ;it’s our life’s mission”he said
The Vice Chancellor,Professor Ayodeji Agboola thanked Otunba Femi Okenla for giving back to the institution and asked others to emulate his good gesture
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing council,O0U,Prof.Oluwatoyin Ashiru who happened to be femi Okenla’s uncle said he’s not surprised that femi is putting the family name on the global map because he has always been an inspiration in the family

The building was later declared opened by Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo

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BREAKING: Former President Muhammadu Buhari Dies in London Hospital

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BUHARI CONGRATULATES FBN ON 40 YEARS OF CROSS-BORDER BANKING IN UK

BREAKING: Former President Muhammadu Buhari Dies in London Hospital

 

Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, has passed away. He died on Sunday afternoon in a clinic in London, where he had reportedly been receiving medical attention.

BREAKING: Former President Muhammadu Buhari Dies in London Hospital

The sad news was confirmed in a brief two-paragraph statement released by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu. The statement read in part: “INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHIRRAJIUUN. The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London. May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus, Amin.”

 

Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s civilian president from 2015 to 2023 after a previous stint as military head of state (1983–1985), was a central figure in the country’s political and military history. His death marks the end of an era for many Nigerians who saw him as a symbol of integrity and national discipline.

This is a developing story. More details to follow.

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Today’s Effort, Tomorrow’s Triumph: The Undeniable Power of Doing Your Best Today

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Today’s Effort, Tomorrow’s Triumph: The Undeniable Power of Doing Your Best Today.

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

D best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” ~ H. Jackson Brown Jr.

In a world addicted to shortcuts and obsessed with quick wins, the timeless wisdom behind the quote above cuts through the noise like a sharpened sword. The idea that tomorrow’s success depends entirely on today’s actions is not a cliché, it is an irrefutable truth. Whether in faith, science, economics or personal development, one law stands firm: today’s SEED is tomorrow’s HARVEST.

Today’s Effort, Tomorrow’s Triumph: The Undeniable Power of Doing Your Best Today.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

We can not continue to fold our hands in laziness today and expect miracles tomorrow. A nation can not waste time, bury talent and ignore responsibility today and then complain about failure tomorrow. Life does not reward intentions; it rewards actions.

Faith Speaks: Christianity and Islam Agree on the Power of Today. This principle is not just motivational; it is deeply spiritual. Across the world’s major religions, the doctrine of intentional daily action is clear.

In the Bible
Proverbs 6:6-8 teaches:

“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”

The lesson here is blunt: the time to prepare is now, not later.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 further reinforces this:

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…”

In the Quran
Islam emphasizes the same responsibility of living intentionally and working righteously each day. In Surah Al-Zalzalah (99:7-8), the Holy Qur’an declares:

“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”

This verse reminds believers that nothing is wasted; every small effort counts and will show its result, either today or tomorrow. It is a divine call to mindfulness and proactive living.

Also, in Surah Ar-Ra’d (13:11), Allah says:

“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.”

Change does not fall from the sky. God helps those who help themselves; today, not when it is convenient.

Procrastination is the Poison of Purpose
Dr. Timothy Pychyl, a psychology professor at Carleton University, states that:

“Procrastination is not a time management problem, it is an emotion regulation problem.”

We put off effort not because we lack time, but because we avoid discomfort. Yet nothing of value has ever been built in comfort. From Moses to Muhammad (PBUH), from Mandela to Martin Luther King Jr., progress has always come from people who embraced struggle today to secure peace tomorrow.

From Nations to Individuals: A Pattern of Success. Japan, South Korea and Singapore, these countries did not wait for the future to be great. They built it. After war and poverty, they chose to invest in education, discipline, innovation and daily excellence. The results? Economic prosperity, global respect and technological advancement.

Compare that with many African nations, where politics, procrastination and misplaced priorities have crippled development. Nigeria, for instance, continues to grapple with the consequences of poor preparation. We cannot talk about transformation if we do not first talk about intentional effort; daily, consistent and focused.

The Economy of Today. Economists describe something called the Law of Diminishing Intent: the longer you delay action, the less likely you are to do it at all. In business, delaying a product launch or avoiding staff training today often leads to loss of competitive edge tomorrow.

Brian Tracy, in his bestselling book Eat That Frog, emphasizes:

“Your ability to discipline yourself to set clear goals and then work on them every day will do more to guarantee your success than any other single factor.”

In other words, daily action beats monthly inspiration.

Talent is Nothing Without Today’s Discipline. Too many young people have talents buried in the coffin of laziness. Dreams without daily action are hallucinations. The Bible says in Proverbs 14:23:

“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”

Success is not a gift; it is a product. You cannot wish your way into greatness. You must work your way into it—step by step, day by day.

The Quran also teaches in Surah An-Najm (53:39):

“And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives.”

It doesn’t get clearer than that. You get only what you strive for.

Global Voices That Support the Principle. Great minds from various backgrounds have echoed this truth:

Angela Duckworth (Author of Grit): “Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.”
Daily effort is the dividing line between the average and the great.

Jim Rohn: “Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying basic fundamentals.”

Barack Obama: “The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something.”

Malcolm X: “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”

When both Eastern and Western wisdom align, when scriptures and scholars agree, then it is no longer a theory; it is a law.

Time is the Most Precious Currency. Unlike money, time cannot be earned back. Once gone, it is gone forever. Every second wasted is a blessing buried. The Quran calls mankind to account for their time. In Surah Al-Asr (103:1-3), Allah says:

“By Time, verily man is in loss, except those who believe and do righteous deeds, and enjoin each other to truth and patience.”

Even belief must be accompanied by action, otherwise it results in loss. Believing in your future without acting today is self-deception.

A Message to Nigeria’s Youth and Leaders. Let us be brutally honest. Nigeria will not change through slogans. Africa will not rise through hashtags. Real transformation begins with action; by the citizens, by the youth and most critically, by the leaders.

Our failure to plan, our tendency to delay reforms, our endless “we’ll do it later” mindset; this is what chains our future. We must kill procrastination before it kills our potential.

Instead of wishing for a better Nigeria, wake up and become the better Nigerian. Apply for the course. Register the business. Clean the streets. Learn the skill. Fight corruption. Demand accountability. Do your best today.

Final Thoughts: The Time is Now. The truth is simple: You will not rise tomorrow if you sit today.

Yes, life is unfair. Yes, circumstances can be hard; but you must never give the excuse of tomorrow for what you can perfect today. Success does not belong to the most privileged. It belongs to the most prepared.

Let us leave you with the words of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who said:

“If the Hour (the end of the world) is about to be established and one of you was holding a palm shoot, let him take advantage of even one second before it happens and plant it.” (Musnad Ahmad)

That is how powerful the present moment is even if the world is ending, still do your best now.

The Closing Reflections.
Tomorrow is not a miracle waiting to happen. It is the fruit of today’s labor. If you want to succeed, begin today. If you want to change your story, act now. If you want a better nation, do not just hope; build it.

The best preparation for tomorrow is not luck. It is doing your best today without excuse, without delay and without fear.

Today’s Effort, Tomorrow’s Triumph: The Undeniable Power of Doing Your Best Today.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

Written by George Omagbemi Sylvester
Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

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NDA Cadets to Conduct Live Firing Exercises, Residents Advised to Take Precautions

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NDA Cadets to Conduct Live Firing Exercises, Residents Advised to Take Precautions

NDA Cadets to Conduct Live Firing Exercises, Residents Advised to Take Precautions

The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) is set to conduct a Range Classification Exercise for Cadets of the 73 Regular Course from July 14 to 18, 2025, at the NDA Open Range.

According to Major Mohammed Maidawa, Academy Public Relations Officer, the four-day exercise is designed to enhance the Cadets’ skills in live firing scenarios and will be instrumental in their training and preparedness.

NDA Cadets to Conduct Live Firing Exercises, Residents Advised to Take Precautions

Major Maidawa urged local residents and communities to be aware of the exercise schedule and not to be alarmed by the sounds associated with live firing activities during this period.

He also advised farmers, herders, and residents to avoid entering or trespassing into the NDA Open Range and surrounding areas from July 14 to 18, 2025, citing public safety as a priority.

“Public safety is our priority, and adhering to these guidelines will help prevent any accidents,” he said.

The NDA appeals to the public to cooperate and disseminate the information to ensure awareness and safety.

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