By Oluwatosin Alex, Kunle Tosin and Kayinde Oladele

Dr. Sarah Adi, the Commissioner of Finance in Taraba State, has distinguished herself as one of the strongest drivers of Governor Agbu Kefas’ reform agenda. Her tenure has been marked by bold and transformative steps that have restored order, accountability, and transparency to the state’s financial system.

One of her most notable achievements is her relentless war against the ghost workers’ cartel that had crippled Taraba’s payroll system for years. By blocking leakages and closing avenues through which corrupt individuals siphoned government funds, Dr. Adi has saved the state billions of naira and redirected those resources towards genuine workers and development.

Her reforms were particularly visible when Governor Agbu Kefas approved the employment of 1,500 staff across the state. Instead of implementing the directive, the cartel manipulated the process, inflating the figures to 6,000 on paper. This act doubled the wage bill from about N3 billion to over N6 billion monthly, creating a huge financial burden.

To tackle this, Dr. Adi spearheaded the introduction of biometric verification across the civil service to identify legitimate workers. The exercise revealed the shocking extent of fraud: ghost workers were being paid while many genuine workers were sidelined. In response, she introduced stricter controls, including a directive for every worker to submit their appointment letters. These bold measures restored sanity to the system but also made her the target of powerful cartels intent on sabotaging her efforts.

Despite the blackmail and attacks, Dr. Adi has remained undeterred. Her commitment to integrity and transparency has made her a beacon of good governance in Taraba State. She continues to ensure that salaries are paid to real workers, not fictitious names, thereby strengthening the state’s financial base and public trust in government.

It is clear that the attacks on Dr. Adi are desperate attempts by vested interests to weaken the state’s anti-corruption reforms. But their tactics will not succeed. Tarabans must rally around her and defend the progress already made under her leadership.

The state faces two choices: allow the ghost workers’ cartel to thrive and drain its resources, or support reform-minded leaders like Dr. Sarah Adi to destroy the cartel completely. The administration of Governor Agbu Kefas has made its choice, and Tarabans must also stand firmly on the side of progress, accountability, and integrity.

Dr. Adi’s achievements are proof that with the right leadership, corruption can be defeated, and Taraba State can thrive.

Adron Homes Sponsors Olojo Festival 2025, Celebrates Heritage and Tourism Development

Adron Homes and Properties Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading real estate companies, has reaffirmed its commitment to cultural preservation and community development by officially supporting the 2025 Olojo Festival themed “Tourism for Inclusive Growth with Cultural Rebirth.”

In a press conference held recently at the Palace of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Eniitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, highlighted the festival’s enduring significance as a symbol of Yoruba heritage and a catalyst for economic and social development.

Representing the Chairman/CEO, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, the Managing Director of Adron Group, Mrs. Adenike Ajobo, described the Olojo Festival as “more than a cultural gathering, a living heritage that connects the Yoruba civilization to the global stage, strengthening local economies, uniting people, and inspiring generational pride.”

She noted that Adron Group’s sponsorship aligns with its mission to build communities that honour tradition while creating sustainable opportunities.

“Tourism and housing share a common purpose which connects people, places, and possibilities. At Adron, we believe that true development must respect heritage while driving progress for future generations. Supporting Olojo Festival reflects our commitment to inclusive growth and cultural rebirth,” she stated.

The Olojo Festival, recognised as one of Africa’s foremost cultural events, continues to attract international attention while reinforcing Ile-Ife’s status as the cradle of Yoruba civilization. With the support of organisations like Adron Group, the festival is expected to further project Nigeria’s culture globally, boost tourism, and inspire unity across communities.

Adron Group extended prayers for the continued reign of His Imperial Majesty, Kabiyesi Ojaja II, and expressed optimism that the 2025 Olojo Festival would be peaceful, impactful, and a beacon of pride for Yorubaland, Osun State, and Nigeria at large.

The Engr. Ogundele Jamiu Foundation (EOJF), under the leadership of its founder, Engr. Ogundele Jamiu, a proud ambassador for education in Yewa North, has once again demonstrated its strong commitment to education.

As part of its drive to promote educational development, the foundation donated thousands of writing materials, exercise books, school bags, rulers, pens, and pencils to learners across 40 primary schools in Ogun West and Ogun Central Senatorial Districts.

First Phase of the Outreach

The outreach officially began on Friday, 19th September 2025, at Community Primary School, Mashifa, Imeko Afon Local Government Area, the hometown of Engr. Ogundele Jamiu.

As a son of the soil, he deliberately launched the initiative from his roots as a demonstration of his passion for improving education across Ogun West.

In recognition of tradition and leadership, Engr. Ogundele Jamiu also paid visits to esteemed traditional rulers, including:

Kabiyesi of Afon Land, Oba Adeware Abdulrasheed

Onimeko of Imeko Land, Oba Benjamin Oyeditan Alabi

Oloola of Ilara Land, Oba Mutiu Adedimeji Oyede-Lawal

Alongside other respected traditional rulers across the local government.

In addition to traditional leaders, the foundation also engaged community leaders within the local government, emphasizing the importance of collective responsibility in driving educational progress.

Commitment to Service

During the outreach, all EOJF team members were present and served diligently and without bias. Their unity and commitment further reflected the foundation’s vision of fairness and excellence.

The pupils who benefited from the donations expressed their joy and pledged to take their academics seriously, making their teachers, parents, and communities proud. Traditional rulers and community stakeholders also commended EOJF for its remarkable dedication, describing the initiative as a significant milestone in the history of Ogun West.

Materials Donated

As part of the exercise, EOJF donated the following educational items across the schools:

20,000 Exercise Books (2A, 2B, 2D)

2,000 School Bags

11,000 Rulers

15,000 Pens

7,000 Pencils

Schools Benefiting from the Outreach

Imeko Afon LGA

1. RCM School 1, Imeko

2. Baptist Primary School 2, Imeko

3. Methodist Primary School 2, Ilara

4. Community Primary School, Alagbe Ilara

5. Methodist Primary School, Idofa

6. Community Primary School, Kofesu

7. Community Primary School, Kajola/Idofa

8. Community Primary School, Obolo

9. Community Primary School, Okeagbede

10. Community Primary School, Olorunda Moriwi

11. RCM Primary School, Iwoye

12. Community Primary School, Gbayin Kolasa

13. Baptist Day Primary School, Afon

14. Community Primary School, Aseere

15. Community Primary School, Ibara

16. Imeko-Afon Local Government Primary School, Atapele

17. Community Primary School, Agbooro

18. Community Primary School, Oloro

19. Community Primary School 2, Idiayin

20. Community Primary School 1, Obada

Yewa North LGA

21. AUD School 2, Oke Rori, Ayetoro

22. UPS 1, Ayetoro

23. YNLG Primary School, Saala Ayetoro

24. St. Peter Anglican Primary School, Joga Orile

25. UAMC Primary School, Eleja Ibese

26. AUD School, Imasayi

27. Yewa Central School, Igan Alade

28. CPS Agbon Ojodu

29. AUD Primary School, Ijoun.

30. YNLG Primary School IV, Oja Odan

31. AUD School, Igan Okoto

Further schools across Ogun West and Ogun Central will also be reached in the next phases of the outreach.

Moving Forward

The outreach continues this week across other selected primary schools in Imeko Afon and Yewa North, with subsequent visits scheduled to cover more schools in the local governments.

We invite everyone to stay connected and follow the progress of this life-changing initiative on all our social media platforms.

More updates will be shared as the outreach continues.