Adron Homes Powers Ibadan Cultural Festival, Strengthens Cultural Influence

Adron Homes and Properties Limited delivered a commanding performance at the grand finale of the 2026 Ibadan Cultural Festival, firmly establishing its dominance as Nigeria’s leading real estate brand. At the iconic Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, the company did not just sponsor the event, it took control of the narrative, transforming the cultural celebration into a powerful showcase of brand strength, innovation, and market authority.

With the presence of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, alongside a distinguished assembly of traditional rulers, high chiefs, and top government dignitaries, Adron Homes leveraged the high-profile platform to reinforce its influence at the intersection of culture, community, and modern development. The royal commendation from the Olubadan, who openly praised the company’s contribution, further cemented Adron’s growing stature as a key driver of cultural and socio-economic advancement.

Speaking at the event, the Group Managing Director, Mrs. Adenike Ajobo, projected a bold and uncompromising vision, emphasizing that Adron Homes is not just building houses but creating ecosystems where heritage, lifestyle, and modern living seamlessly converge. She reaffirmed that the company’s presence in Ibadan is strategically positioned to redefine the city’s residential landscape while embedding the brand deeply within the cultural fabric of its people.

Adron Homes’ activation proved to be one of the most dominant features of the festival. The “Adron Experience” zone became the epicenter of engagement, attracting massive crowds through immersive brand interactions, including the viral 360-degree video booth that drove widespread digital visibility. Simultaneously, the Ibadan Sales Team executed a results-driven engagement strategy, converting high foot traffic into real business opportunities while showcasing Adron’s expanding portfolio of modern, world-class estates transforming the city’s iconic skyline.

By seamlessly integrating its “Home Festival” concept into the cultural celebration, Adron Homes blurred the line between tradition and innovation, delivering an unmatched brand experience that competitors could not rival. As the festival drew to a close, one message was unmistakable, Adron Homes did not just participate; it dominated, setting a new benchmark for corporate cultural investment and reinforcing its position as the brand defining the future of real estate in Nigeria.

NURSING COLLEGE HOLDS MATRICULATION AND CAPPING CEREMONY, CHARGES STUDENTS ON INTEGRITY AND DISCIPLINE.

Enugu, Nigeria –
Ezzy International College of Nursing Sciences, Akpuoga Nike, in Enugu State, has formally inducted a new cohort of one hundred and seventy nursing and midwifery students into the 2025/2026 academic session, with a colourful matriculation and capping ceremony.

The event, which was held at the college premises as the second matriculation of the college was employed to underscore the importance of discipline, ethics, and academic excellence in healthcare training. It also brought together dignitaries, faculty members, parents, and well-wishers who gathered to witness the symbolic transition of the students into the noble profession of nursing and midwifery.

In her welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of Ezzy International Group of Companies, USA and Nigeria, Dr Gloria Chijioke Bertram-Okoli, congratulated the matriculating students and charged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and moral conduct throughout their training and beyond. She emphasised that the nursing and midwifery professions, and indeed the entire healthcare sector, demand not only intellectual competence but also compassion, integrity, and unwavering dedication to saving human life.

The highlight of the ceremony was the lecture themed “Building a Culture of Academic Integrity and Professional Discipline”, delivered by the Matriculation Guest Lecturer, a U.S.-based Dr. Nelson Aliyu and the CEO of Eralmed Medical Inc. New Jersey, USA whom Hon. Sanni Kafeel Abdulkadir CSK ably represented. In the lecture, the students were reminded that integrity remains the foundation of credible healthcare delivery, while discipline is essential for maintaining trust and excellence in the profession.

Speaking on behalf of the guest lecturer, Hon. Kafeel hinted that their training was not confined to the classroom but extended to the preservation of society, especially in human life, dignity, and trust. He urged the students to resist all forms of academic malpractice and unprofessional conduct, as every examination taken with honesty, assignment completed with diligence, and clinical practice conducted with sincerity would contribute to the formation of a professional whose decisions may one day determine outcomes of life or death.

“Academic integrity is the foundation upon which true learning is built. It demands honesty in thought, originality in expression, and respect for the intellectual contributions of others. In an age where access to information is immediate and abundant, the temptation to compromise standards is ever-present. Yet, it is precisely in such times that integrity must be most firmly upheld. Knowledge acquired without honesty is not empowerment—it is deception, and it ultimately diminishes both the individual and the institution.”

He emphasised. He further noted that the future of the health sector rests on practitioners who are not only skilled but also ethically grounded and encouraged them to remain focused, worthy in character, and committed to lifelong learning.

The capping segment of the ceremony conducted by the provost of the institution, Mrs Ugwuanyi Augustina Ngozi, was a deeply symbolic tradition in nursing education which signified the students’ readiness to begin their clinical training and hands-on patient care under professional supervision. It served as a solemn reminder of their responsibilities and the ethical obligations attached to the professions.

The Administrator of the College, Mrs Okwudu Ifeyinwa Peace, reiterated the college’s commitment to providing quality education, practical exposure, and mentorship aimed at producing globally competitive nurses and midwives who can contribute meaningfully to healthcare delivery both within Nigeria and internationally.

Among the dignitaries present at the occasion were, Sir Emmanuel Sunday Nwankwor (CEO, Nwas oil and gas of the Board of Trustees, Ezzy International College of Nursing Sciences, Mrs. Uchenna A. Eze Provost, Bishop Shanaha College of Nursing Sciences Nsukka, Dr. Chinonye Festa Onyekwuo, Provost, Merit College of Nursing Sciences, Owerri, Chief Esv. Emmanuel Nnaji, Surveyor Emenike Maduegbunam from the Ministry of Land, Enugu State.

The Royal Fathers of the Day, include, HRH, Igwe Chukwudi Ngwudile, Igwe Agodom III Chinemeze 1 of Abor, HRH, Igwe Gabriel Nnamchi Okoh (Ochiora 1 of mobulujodo Nike Kingdom), who was ably represented by the PG of his community. Spiritual fathers and religious leaders from different denominations were also present to commit the occasion to God almighty.

Other protocols mentioned for recognition during the event were distinguished leaders in the health and public sectors who, though not present, but have continued to play vital roles in advancing healthcare development in Nigeria and Enugu State in particular. They include Alhaji Ndagi Alhassan, the CEO/Registrar of Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Prof. George Ugwu, the Enugu State Commissioner for Health; Engr. Pst. Beloved Dan Obi Anike, the Executive Chairman of Enugu East Local Government Area; and Prof. Uchenna Ifeanyi Nwagha, who is the immediate past provost at the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.

Parents and guardians who attended the event expressed pride and optimism, applauding the institution for its structured training approach and value-driven philosophy.

The ceremony concluded on a note of inspiration and renewed commitment, as the newly inducted students pledged to uphold the values of their profession and strive for excellence in their academic and clinical pursuits.

How Governor Dauda Lawal Enhanced Agriculture and Food Security in Zamfara State in Under 3 Years 

By Oladapo Sofowora 

For a state like Zamfara with the moniker; ‘Farming is our Pride’ is a case of a toothless bulldog who can only bark without attacking. Adjudged as the state with the most rich and arable land for agricultural works but failed to meet its full potential. The reason is not far-fetched but it’s an issue of leadership without foresight, genuineness and the can-do spirit. For years, Farmers had abandoned their fields, storage facilities were rotting and fertiliser was a luxury. This made families across the fourteen local government areas skip meals not because of banditry alone, but because food production had flatlined to the surface.

In 2023, the messiah, known for taking challenges head-on, came into the picture: Governor Dauda Lawal took the state from a struggling agrarian state back to its true potential. These changes were done without magic but required the seriousness from a government that is ready to bring about rescue to the ailing agriculture and food security value chain in Zamfara.

Today, the story is different, perhaps not perfect but measurably, verifiably different. Here is the direct account of how agriculture and food security improved under Governor Dauda Lawal within just three years and why the improvement needs to continue for another four years not through promises but through documented interventions that any farmer, trader, or housewife in Gusau, Funtua, or Talata Mafara can readily confirm.

For the very first time, fertilizer and improved seeds were hoarded by political middlemen who sold them at triple the market price or kept them for their own cronies this scam was finally stopped as farmers finally got inputs and they got them fairly. Governor Lawal broke that system entirely by creating a biometric farmer registration system that eliminated ghost names and party loyalists masquerading as farmers. Through this system, the state distributed 190,000 bags of subsidized fertilizer at a 50 percent subsidy directly to small holder farmers across all fourteen LGAs between 2023 and 2025. He also distributed 120,000 bags of maize and sorghum seeds and over two million rice seedlings free of charge to registered farmers.

The result was immediate and measurable. According to the Zamfara State Ministry of Agriculture, the number of farmers who planted at least one hectare of crops increased from approximately 180,000 in 2022 to over 350,000 in 2024. Fertilizer access rate among rural farmers rose from 22 percent to 67 percent. More farmers planting means more food on tables, more off-takers and funds readily available, more emerging markets are opening up and staple food availability like; maize, sorghum, millet, rice were increased by an estimated 40 percent across the state within two planting cycles.

Post-harvest losses dropped significantly, as food that used to rot now reaches hungry mouths. Before Lawal, Zamfara lost nearly 40 percent of its harvest to spoilage, rot, and pest infestation because there were no functional storage facilities across the state. Many farmers have had to watch their tomatoes, peppers, and grains decay while their families went hungry. In a bid to cushion this effect, the governor revived the Gusau Grain Storage Complex and the Funtua Agricultural Hub by installing modern silos with a combined capacity of 25,000 metric tons.

He also distributed 10,000 hermetic grain bags, airtight storage bags to rural women farmers who previously had no way to preserve their harvest beyond a few weeks. Post-harvest losses dropped from an estimated 38 percent in 2022 to 22 percent in 2024 this were verifiable statistics according to the Zamfara Agricultural Development Project.

With these changes, it is clear that; 16 percent more of every harvest actually reaches the market or the family kitchen. Less food waste means more food circulating in the local economy and farmers can now store their grains for months and sell when prices are fair, rather than being forced to sell immediately at rock-bottom prices to avoid spoilage.

Before Governor Dauda Lawal, Zamfara used to be a one-season farming state once the rains stopped in October, food production also nosedive. Families then endured five months of scarcity, sky-high prices and reliance on imported food from neighbouring states. Governor Lawal changed that permanently by rehabilitating five earth dams like; Bakolori, Zauro, Wawan Rafi, Dansadau and Kwalkwalawa, installing solar-powered irrigation pumps to ensure year-round water access. He also distributed 5,000 treadle pumps to smallholder farmers in Shinkafi, Kaura Namoda, and Talata Mafara LGAs.

Dry-season cultivated land increased from roughly 2,000 hectares in 2022 to over 10,000 hectares in 2024. Farmers are now producing onions, tomatoes, peppers, and wheat during the traditional lean months of November to March. The impact on food security has been dramatic as staple food prices which historically spiked by 50 to 70 percent between February and April, increased by only 22 percent during the same period in 2025, the smallest lean-season inflation in a decade. Families are eating better during the hardest months of the year because Lawal refused to accept that Zamfara should be hungry for half the calendar.

Herder-farmer clashes and livestock diseases had decimated Zamfara’s animal protein supply, with thousands of cattle dying from preventable illnesses and violent confrontations pushing herders off traditional routes. Governor Lawal launched the largest livestock vaccination campaign in the state’s history, inoculating 2.2 million cattle against CBPP and 1.5 million goats and sheep against PPR all free of charge. He also established three modern grazing reserves equipped with veterinary clinics and water points, moving herders away from open grazing that provoked conflicts with crop farmers.

Livestock mortality rates dropped from approximately 15 percent annually to 6 percent in 2024. Milk production increased by an estimated 30 percent and meat availability rose by 20 percent across major markets. More milk and meat means better nutrition, especially for children. Protein deficiency cases reported by Zamfara’s primary health centers dropped by 18 percent between 2023 and 2024. That is not a statistic. That is thousands of children getting stronger because Governor Lawal decided that animal health is human health.

Mechanization farming needed to replaced hoes, aching backs and tiny plots. In other to ensure more productivity of farmers across the state by reducing their burden amdnhelping them cover a large portion of their land during planting, Governor Lawal acquired 100 tractors, 300 power tillers and 50 combine harvesters by also establishing a tractor-hire scheme where farmers pay per hectare cultivated rather than bearing the crushing cost of ownership. He also opened a N2 billion Agricultural Credit Fund, providing loans to over 12,000 farmers at 5 percent interest with a six-month moratorium terms no commercial bank in Nigeria would ever offer. Land under cultivation expanded from 320,000 hectares in 2022 to approximately 480,000 hectares in 2024. Mechanization rates climbed from 8 percent to 22 percent.

Each tractor cultivated an average of 500 hectares per season, replacing the labor of over 200 farmworkers. More land under cultivation directly translates to more food supply, and the state’s estimated total food production in metric tons increased by 35 percent between 2022 and 2024 according to ZADP harvest surveys.

The ultimate test of any governor’s food security policy is whether families can afford to eat at least three square meals. Governor Lawal passed this test by creating the Zamfara Food Security Stabilization Committee, opened five bulking centers where farmers aggregate produce for bulk sale to major processors and waived all local government taxes on agricultural produce movement for eighteen consecutive months. No roadblocks, no levies, no settlement fees for trucks carrying farm produce.

In major Zamfara markets, the price of a 100-kilogram bag of maize in September 2024 was N38,000, compared to N52,000 in neighboring Katsina and N55,000 in Sokoto. Beans were N65,000 in Zamfara versus N85,000 in Kaduna. Sorghum prices were N35,000 in Zamfara versus N48,000 in Kano. An average household in Gusau spends approximately 28 percent less on staple grains than a comparable household in Katsina or Kano. That difference is money that stays in pockets for healthcare, education, and other needs. In a state where poverty rates were among the highest in the nation, that 28 percent saving is the difference between a child staying in school or being sent to the streets.

Despite Governor Dauda Lawal’s inheritance of an agricultural sector in intensive care, with just two years later, the vital signs have improved across every major metric. Farmers accessing subsidized inputs rose from 22 percent to 67 percent. Post-harvest losses dropped from 38 percent to 22 percent. Dry-season cultivated land expanded by 400 percent. Land under total cultivation increased by 50 percent. Mechanization rates more than doubled, as livestock mortality rate was cut by more than half.

The lean-season food price spike, which historically punished families with 50 to 70 percent inflation was contained to just 22 percent. Has he solved all of Zamfara’s food problems? No. Despite security, roads to some farming communities are still poor, more irrigation infrastructure still needed, the direction is unmistakable. Governor Dauda Lawal took a manifesto promise in 2022 and turned it into a measurable reality which everyone can see today. Food is more available and affordable.

For the first time in years, Zamfara’s farmers are looking ahead, not just surviving but producing. To consolidate on all these gains and also make it more solidified, Governor Dauda Lawal’s re-election is a collective efforts which all sundry must come together to make a reality by speaking in one voice on the pools and ensuring that farmers continue enjoying the dividend of democracy to ensure stability in Agricultural and food security value chain in the state and Nigeria at large.