*The Adeola Adeyemi Foundation (TAAF) to Host Peace and Conflict Prevention Sensitization Program in Lagos this October*

All is set as The Adeola Adeyemi Foundation (TAAF) announces partnership with ECOWAS PEACE FUND and YOU AGAINST CRIME INTERNATIONAL to host a three-day Peace and Conflict Prevention Sensitization Program in Lagos Themed “Promoting Peaceful Coexistence in Lagos: A Conflict Prevention Initiative,” the program is designed to unite communities, foster dialogue and tolerance, and promote lasting peace in Nigeria’s commercial capital.

Adeola Adeyemi, the founder of TAAF in her recent interview said: ‘the program is particularly timely given the lingering sense of tribal consciousness and political tension that has persisted since the 2023 general elections. With divisions and frayed community relations still evident in parts of Lagos, this sensitization effort aims to ease anxieties and equip residents with practical tools for peaceful coexistence under a shared national identity.’

The initiative will combine public outreach, education, and dialogue to engage residents meaningfully in conflict prevention efforts. Activities will include a citywide road show to raise awareness about dialogue and nonviolent conflict resolution, as well as school-based sessions designed to teach students about tolerance, unity, and the importance of community harmony.

A major highlight of the three-day campaign will be a town hall meeting that brings together community leaders, stakeholders, and residents to identify challenges affecting peace in Lagos and to discuss collaborative solutions. The forum is expected to serve as a bridge for dialogue and help mend divides among different ethnic and social groups across the state.

Also speaking ahead of the event, a spokesperson for The Adeola Adeyemi Foundation emphasized the urgency of such interventions in the present climate.

“Since the 2023 elections, we have witnessed heightened tribal sentiments and tensions that threaten the unity of our society. Peace cannot be achieved in isolation – it requires the collective effort of all,” the spokesperson said. “Through this program, we hope to calm frayed nerves and remind everyone that our greatest strength lies in our shared humanity and our ability to coexist despite our differences.”

The spokesperson also called for broad-based collaboration:

“We invite corporate organizations, community groups, and individuals who share our vision for a peaceful and united Lagos to partner with us. Together, we can make this initiative impactful and extend its reach to as many lives as possible.”

By addressing lingering post-election tensions and creating platforms for constructive dialogue, The Adeola Adeyemi Foundation aims to reaffirm the shared identity of Lagos’s diverse communities and strengthen the culture of peace as a foundation for sustainable development. In a vibrant and multiethnic city like Lagos, such initiatives are vital for building resilience against conflict and nurturing unity.

Buratai on the Ground in Lusaka as Africa’s Diplomats Rally for Change

LUSAKA — In a powerful show of continental unity and vision, the League of African Ambassadors (LAA) is set to officially launch in Lusaka, Zambia, promising to become a game-changer in Africa’s socio-political and economic diplomacy.

On the evening of October 5th, 2025, distinguished members of the LAA, led by Ambassador Ominyi Nwanne, the Interim President of the League of African Ambassadors (LAA), the immediate past Nigerian High Commissioner to Zambia and Zambian Special Envoy Ambassador Lazarus Kapambwe, held an exclusive briefing and dinner at Pamodzi Hotel, outlining plans for the historic event.

Among the distinguished guests was the Board of Trustees member representing West Africa and former Nigerian Army Chief, His Excellency Ambassador Lt. General T.Y. Buratai, who is currently on an on-ground assessment mission ahead of the launch.

Buratai’s Message of Unity and Vision for Africa

General Buratai commended the Zambian President, His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema, for his progressive leadership of Zambia and Africa. He appreciated the Zambian President for graciously taking over the hosting of the LAA and its grand launch scheduled for October 14 and 15, 2025.

Reflecting on Africa’s liberation movements in the 19th and 20th centuries, Buratai recalled the immense contributions of Zambia’s founding father, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, of blessed memory. “Kenneth Kaunda will always be remembered for his unwavering commitment to Pan-Africanism and liberation. He was a champion of peace, unity, and reconciliation — a man of profound humility and personal integrity,” Buratai said.

He urged the League to continue from where Africa’s founding fathers stopped, stressing that the issues of security, development, and progress remain elusive across the continent. With the birth of the LAA, Buratai called for a new era of robust, progressive, and pragmatic diplomacy to tackle Africa’s myriad challenges.

The former Army Chief also commended the interim president, the chairman and vice chairman of the local organising committee, and all members for their vision, solidarity, commitment, and sacrifices toward ensuring the success of the launch.

Buratai was accompanied by his close friend, His Royal Majesty, Oba Alhaji (Dr.) Hameed Oyelude Makama, Tegbosun III, the Olowu of Owu-Kuta Kingdom, a distinguished and influential monarch from Osun State, Nigeria.

A Call to Action for Africa

In a stirring statement, Deputy Spokesperson Ambassador John J. Usanga urged all African stakeholders to “join the League, lend your voice, and shape Africa’s future together. History will judge us not by our hesitations, but by the actions we take today.”

Zanaco: A Strategic Partner in Economic Diplomacy

Ahead of the launch, the LAA planning committee made a courtesy visit to Zanaco headquarters in downtown Lusaka, where CEO Ms. Mukwandi Chibesakunda hailed the League as a vital partner in advancing Africa’s economic diplomacy.

“The knowledge and experience I see in this room is immense,” she said, noting that the LAA complements existing government initiatives and can catalyze long-term continental growth.

The LAA, a non-profit and non-political continental body comprising retired and serving envoys, models itself after the Council of American Ambassadors in the United States and the European Council on Foreign Relations. Its inaugural launch, scheduled for October 14th, will host delegates from across Africa and beyond.

Ambassador Sylvester Mundanda, the LAA’s administrative head, added, “Zanaco’s pan-African reach and credibility make it the perfect partner as we pursue economic diplomacy. Their commitment to sustainability, financial growth, and social development aligns seamlessly with our vision for Africa Rising.”

Building on Experience, Recycling Wisdom

Ambassador Kapambwe emphasized the League’s mission: “Recycling wisdom and experience earned at a huge cost is invaluable. If we can recycle plastic, why not recycle the knowledge and expertise of Africa’s ambassadors?”

The Lusaka launch promises to set the stage for an enduring legacy, ensuring that Africa’s diplomatic experience is preserved, shared, and leveraged for the continent’s development.

Interim President Ominyi Nwanne, Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Mulambo Haimbe, and other key stakeholders were recognized for their pivotal roles in making this historic event possible.

With Zambia’s central location, peaceful democratic credentials, and growing reputation as a hub for regional diplomacy, the LAA’s continental launch is poised to become a defining moment for Africa’s collective vision and ambition.

Africa Rising: The Journey Begins

As the countdown to October 14th continues, one message resonates across the continent: Africa’s future is a shared responsibility — and the League of African Ambassadors is ready to lead by example.

…Accuse PENGASSAN, NUPENG Of Plot To Introduce Corruption Into Private Refinery

…Urge Attorney General Of The Federation To Order Thorough Probe Of Union’s Financial Activities In The Last 10 Years

In a show of unprecedented unity across Nigeria’s diverse ethnic landscapes, prominent groups from the North, South-West, South-East and South-South have thrown their weight behind the Dangote Refinery’s recent decision to lay off over 800 employees amid escalating labour tensions.

The groups under the aegis of One Nigeria Movement (ONM) held emergency meetings in Kaduna, Lagos, Enugu and Port Harcourt respectively to accuse the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) of orchestrating a sinister plot to infiltrate and corrupt the operations of Africa’s largest private refinery.

The pan-Nigerian solidarity comes as PENGASSAN’s nationwide strike, declared on September 28, cripples crude and gas supplies to the facility, threatening fuel scarcity and power outages just as the nation edges toward energy self-sufficiency under President Bola Tinubu’s reforms.

The crisis, which has gripped the nation’s oil and gas sector for weeks, erupted when Dangote Refinery dismissed the workers on September 25, citing “repeated acts of sabotage” during an ongoing reorganization to repair a key gasoline unit shut down in late August.

PENGASSAN and NUPENG, which had earlier secured a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on September 9 allowing voluntary unionization after NUPENG’s initial strike threat, claim the layoffs were punitive retaliation for over 90% of staff joining their ranks, allegedly replacing Nigerians with over 2,000 Indian expatriates in violation of labor laws and International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.

Dangote Industries, however, insists the affected employees numbered far fewer than reported and were let go to safeguard operational integrity, emphasizing that over 3,000 Nigerians remain in its workforce and that union membership is a protected individual right, not a prerequisite for employment.

Federal mediation efforts by the Ministry of Labour and Employment stalled on Monday, with talks set to resume today amid fears of broader economic fallout, including halted truck loadings and potential blackouts from thermal plant shutdowns.

In Kaduna, the Arewa Youth Forum decried the unions’ actions as a “deliberate assault on Northern economic aspirations.”

Led by convener Malam Idris Suleiman, the AYF framed the layoffs as a “defensive necessity to block infiltrators intent on reviving subsidy-era corruption in a private enterprise.”

Suleiman accused PENGASSAN and NUPENG of exploiting the MoU to “embed racketeers who siphoned billions from public refineries through ghost contracts,” warning that their strike threatens the refinery’s role in stabilizing the naira and curbing inflation, now below 20% for the first time in years.

“The Arewa Youth Forum unequivocally supports Dangote Refinery’s layoffs to purge saboteurs, safeguarding Northern hopes for economic revival.

“We accuse PENGASSAN and NUPENG of scheming to implant corrupt syndicates into this private enterprise, echoing their subsidy thefts, and urge Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi to launch an EFCC probe into their financial dealings from 2015 to 2025 to expose illicit gains.”

In Ibadan, the Oduduwa Peace Advocates (OPA) endorsed Dangote Refinery’s sackings as a “bold stand against labor-induced corruption.”

The high-level caucus, attended by over 120 Yoruba leaders, condemned PENGASSAN’s strike escalation on Monday, which halted field operations, as an “attack on Yoruba entrepreneurial spirit.”

OPA spokesperson Chief Tunde Afolabi highlighted the refinery’s role in strengthening Lagos-Ibadan trade corridors, now at risk from union-driven fuel shortages that could spike transport costs by 30%.

OPA traced the dispute to deliberate sabotage linked to the August gasoline unit failure, costing $100 million in repairs, and accused unions of using the MoU to “plant cronies mirroring NNPCL’s $20 billion subsidy heists.”

Afolabi praised Bola Tinubu’s deregulation, which has attracted $50 billion in upstream investments, and dismissed PENGASSAN’s claims of anti-Nigerian layoffs as “propaganda to mask their greed,” noting the refinery’s 3,000-strong Nigerian workforce.

The group urged Yoruba youth to rally behind Dangote, framing it as a symbol of regional innovation.

“These unions, silent during fuel queues that crippled Yoruba traders, now feign advocacy to line their pockets,” Afolabi declared.

Meanwhile the Igbo Young Professionals Forum (IYPF) assembled in Enugu for a stakeholder summit, endorsing Dangote Refinery’s layoffs as a “preemptive strike against corruption’s spread into Nigeria’s private sector.”

The forum, drawing tech entrepreneurs and youth leaders, slammed PENGASSAN and NUPENG’s strike as a “ploy to sabotage Igbo economic aspirations” by disrupting fuel supplies vital to Aba’s markets.

IYPF President Chidi Okonkwo tied the refinery’s stability to the potential for 100,000 Eastern jobs, now threatened by union actions risking the Q4 2024 N3.42 trillion trade surplus.

IYPF dissected the unions’ tactics, linking the sackings to sabotage behind the August unit failure and accusing PENGASSAN and NUPENG of exploiting the MoU to “embed agents who thrived on subsidy scams.”

Okonkwo criticized their opaque finances, including unaccounted dues from IOCs, and connected the crisis to PIA-driven gains like 1.4 billion barrels unlocked via field plans.

The group mobilized diaspora networks to pressure global labor bodies, arguing that PENGASSAN’s “prayer vigil” strikes violate voluntary unionization laws.

“Igbo ingenuity thrives on fairness; we stand with Dangote to block saboteurs prioritizing profit over progress,” Okonkwo affirmed, urging federal action.

On its part, the Niger Delta Peace and Development Assembly (NDPDA) convened a critical town hall in Port Harcourt, voicing robust support for Dangote Refinery’s sackings as a “stand against union sabotage threatening the Niger Delta’s economic lifeline.” The gathering, attended by oil community leaders and environmental activists, condemned PENGASSAN and NUPENG’s strike as a “betrayal of the region’s resource control struggle,” risking fuel shortages that could cripple Port Harcourt’s industrial zones.

NDPDA convener Mrs. Ebiere Okorie linked the refinery’s stability to equitable wealth distribution under the PIA, vital for fishing and trading communities.

NDPDA highlighted how the layoffs countered sabotage linked to the August shutdown, accusing unions of exploiting the MoU to “embed corrupt agents who profited from subsidy scams.”

“These unions ignored Niger Delta suffering under fuel scarcity while pocketing illicit gains; now they threaten our hope for self-sufficiency,” Okorie declared.

The assembly urged Niger Delta youth to reject union protests, framing Dangote as a partner in local refining capacity.

“Our region has bled from NNPCL’s failures; we won’t let PENGASSAN turn Dangote into another looting ground,” Okorie asserted, calling for a federal injunction to halt the strike’s “economic terrorism” before mediation resumes.