News From Nigeria
Leading engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, has broadened its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR efforts with major women’s health advocacy programs in Abuja and Lagos.
Last Tuesday, the company partnered with the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat and the Family Peace and Women Empowerment Initiative (FAPWEI) to host the 2025 Women’s Health and Advocacy Program in Abuja. The initiative focused on early detection and management of breast and cervical cancer, bringing together healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community representatives for sensitization sessions.
FCT Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, praised Julius Berger’s commitment, describing the company as not only building roads, but building people and strengthening communities. She emphasised the company’s role in advancing women’s health and aligning with national development agendas.
Julius Berger’s Chief Risk Officer, Mrs. Shakira Mustapha, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to community development, noting that the program celebrated women’s resilience while promoting awareness of mental health and preventive care. Head of Corporate Development, James Agama, added that the collaboration underscored the company’s vision of enabling progress and prosperity.
The Abuja event also featured donations of 400 bags of rice to beneficiaries, reinforcing Julius Berger’s commitment to social investment and sustainable partnerships.
Two days later, the company extended its outreach to Lagos, supporting a women’s health program at Gbagada General Hospital. Hundreds of women from Kosofe attended sessions themed “Woman’s Reproductive Journey and the Importance of Wellness through Self-awareness and Self-preservation.” Topics included menopause, pregnancy care, and self-care, alongside free medical check-ups.
Healthcare experts, including Dr. Olutokunbo Oseni and Dr. Noimot Balogun, stressed the importance of early detection and lifestyle awareness, commending Julius Berger’s role in preventive care. The company also highlighted its ongoing collaboration with Gbagada General Hospital, including rehabilitation of the Intensive Care Unit.
For Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, these initiatives are more than CSR checkboxes. They represent a philosophy of nation-building that integrates physical infrastructure with social investment. By focusing on women’s health, the company acknowledges that strong communities are built not only on roads and bridges, but also on informed, healthy, and empowered citizens.
As Chief Risk Officer Mrs. Shakira Mustapha noted, “When you train a woman, you have trained a nation.” Her words reflect the Julius Berger’s belief that empowering women is central to sustainable development.
From Abuja to Lagos, Julius Berger’s recent programs have demonstrated that its legacy is not confined to engineering marvels. It is also about shaping lives, strengthening communities, and ensuring that progress is inclusive.
Community members celebrated the opportunity to learn, engage, and receive care in a supportive environment. Local leaders and hospital officials lauded Julius Berger’s contributions, with Councillor Christiana Kuboye noting that the firm’s impact extends beyond infrastructure to meaningful community engagement.
Even the Master of Ceremony, and a physiotherapist at the hospital, Lanre Elegbeleye, reminded participants of Julius Berger’s enduring reputation: None of their bridges have ever collapsed because they stand for excellence, responsibility, courage, and collaboration, he further said.
With these initiatives, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC continues to demonstrate that its legacy of excellence is not confined to engineering projects, but also to strengthening communities and advancing public health across Nigeria.
The 2025 Canaan Land Smart City Golf Tournament and Business conference will begin on Friday, December 12 in Delta State.
‘’Koko Town has the huge potential for investment, particularly in real estate, agriculture, health, tourism and other areas. So we are expecting investors and some of the most famous and highly-ranked golfers in the sport’s history and in the contemporary game from different parts of the world’’ a statement by the Chief Executive Officer of Akogate Group, Felix Aganbi, said.
The golf tournament and business and conference will hold from12-14 December, 2025 in Canaan Land, Koko Town.
‘’Koko Town is a hub for fishing and shrimping operations. There are a lot of oil and gas companies. Whether you are a local or foreign investor or looking at residential or commercial properties, there is something for everyone in Koko’’
The statement said ‘’the event will showcase the diverse range of opportunities that the port town has to offer’’
On security, Aganbi said ‘’Steps have been taken to ensure that visitors from within and outside the country have a secure and conducive atmosphere within which to assess the economic opportunities of Koko”
He emphasized the tight security in Koko and the hospitality for which the residents are known for.
“Top business men in Nigeria and abroad, members of the diplomatic corps and key actors in government across the country are looking forward to converging on Koko beginning from December 12, 2025. They are excited by the prospect of experiencing the hospitality for which the good people of Koko are known for and the vast opportunities for commerce, tourism and industry”
According to Aganbi, the event is expected to drive long term sustainable economic participation and create new opportunities for local and foreign investors in the area.
‘’It will provide valuable insights into untapped business opportunities, encourage private sector participation, showcase the real estate and tourism potentials of Koko and unite the people and the communities.
‘’Situated off Benin-Sapele expressway, the port town is 30 minutes’ drive from Benin City and over 45 minutes away from Warri town by road. Koko has the best aquatic products in Nigeria as of today. Completion of the coastal road will reduce travel time between Delta and Lagos to less than two hours. There are ongoing refinery projects. People who are coming to Koko will be in for a surprise’’ he added.
Wike-Backed PDP Expels Makinde, Mohammed, Lawal, George, Others
It also approved the dissolution of the State Executive Committees in Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti States. The Edo State Exco, led by Nosa Ogieva, was, however, affirmed.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, has expelled Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.
It also expelled the party’s former Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara; former National Vice Chairman, Chief Bode George; and the newly elected National Chairman, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.
It also approved the dissolution of the State Executive Committees in Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti States. The Edo State Exco, led by Nosa Ogieva, was, however, affirmed.
These decisions were taken at the PDP group’s NEC meeting held on Tuesday at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
Its National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, read the communiqué of the NEC meeting, which stated in part:
“NEC approved the expulsion of the following: Adolphus Wabara, Olabode George, Ben Obi, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, Bala Mohammed, Oluseyi Makinde, Dauda Lawal, Taofiq Arapaja, Setonji Koshoedo, Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, Woyengikuro Daniel, Mohammed Kadade Suleiman, Emmanuel Ogidi, Sumaila Adamu Burga, Umar Sani, Udom Emmanuel, and Emmanuel Enorden,” he said.
“These people have been expelled from our party based on anti-party activities, disobeying of court judgements and other (acts) that cause disaffection in the party.”
He assured party faithful and stakeholders that the decision to expel the members was to stabilise the PDP, insisting that the party would not tolerate any form of impunity or indiscipline within its fold.
The pro-Wike PDP Acting National Chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman, who presented the memo recommending the expulsions, said the affected party leaders flagrantly disregarded court judgments, thereby bringing the party into disrepute.
This decision followed last Saturday’s PDP national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, where Wike and ten others, including former governors, serving lawmakers, and key party figures were suspended over alleged anti-party activities.
The Ibadan convention, convened by the other faction of the party, accused Wike’s bloc of attempting to “destabilise the party structure” ahead of a planned nationwide reorganisation.
Earlier on Tuesday, both groups arrived at the PDP National Secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja, to hold parallel NEC and Board of Trustees meetings.
The clash triggered a chaotic scene, as security operatives struggled to separate supporters from both camps, resulting in heated arguments, pushing, and an eventual shutdown of parts of the secretariat before the meetings proceeded separately.
COURTESY: CHANNELS TELEVISION
For democracy to work, citizens must be enlightened. The issue is not about demolition. I am against demolitions. Nearly all the governors in Nigeria are guilty of that because they do it without due process.
To demolish the abode of a person, the government must go to court and obtain a judgement before carrying out any demolition. The governors have been very lawless. The unfortunate thing is that no one has gone to court to challenge these illegal acts. Apart from citizen apathy, the Land Use Decree of 1978 gave unchecked powers to do as they wish with the land that belongs to the people. The governors have unchecked powers in this regard.
This is a military decree that have not been reviewed by the lawmakers because it benefits them as they use their positions and relationship to acquire choice lands in Nigeria.
The process of acquiring land in Nigeria is so opaque that only well-connected people can authenticate their property. In a functioning democracy, a law like this should never exist. No elected person should have unchecked powers. All over Nigeria, the governors are abusing this power.
Part of the unrest in the North can be linked to this abuse of process by these governors who are using their powers to take land from indigenous people. The Land Use Decree gave the governors the hammer and the nails, and the governors have been hammering away carelessly.
No one should have unchecked powers in a democracy. That law came from the military which I have written about extensively.
In a democracy, no one should be given power without checks and balances. No one is coming to save us. We must address these issues under our system of democracy by electing people who will be subject to the will of the people.
As it is right now, a lot of elected politicians are behaving like military dictators because that is all they know and the citizens are apathetic and have been made to feel that the abuse in the hands of elected officials is normal. This is a result of military induced cognitive dissonance and lack of political education.
The soldiers are not the answer to our present malady. They created the problem.
To correct a mistake, you have to rise above the level of understanding where the mistake was made. The Nigerian soldier can never be the solution because they created the sclerosis that is undermining our political process. The answer to problems in a democracy is more democracy, not military coups.
Military coups put the citizens in a state of arrested development. That is what we are experiencing now. If we trust the process, we will find the answers. This issue is not about Wike. It is about due process. You will lose the road if you focus on the mirage.
DR AUSTIN ORETTE WRITES FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS
The journey to discover and celebrate Africa’s future music stars has begun, as the 9th Edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) has opened the application portal for its Diamond Showcase, the award institution’s platform for rising music talents.
The 9th AFRIMA Diamond Showcase is designed to give undiscovered African artists a real chance to present their music to a wider audience and take a major step toward mainstream success.
The Showcase welcomes singers, rappers, DJs, producers, and instrumentalists from all parts of the continent to apply and take their place on one of Africa’s most respected music stages.
Janatte Haddadi, Regional Manager, Northern Africa for AFRIMA, described the Showcase as a rare and valuable opportunity for young creatives who are ready to grow. she explained that AFRIMA is committed to finding, mentoring, and promoting new African music stars who often remain unnoticed in their communities even though they have strong talent.
Haddadi announced that applications will run from November 18 to December 8, 2025, and she encouraged all interested artists to apply early through www.afrima.org/Diamond-Showcase or AFRIMA’s official Instagram page.
To apply, artists must submit a 45-second performance video. The AFRIMA Jury will then review all entries and select the top 15 finalists, known as “The Diamonds,” who will be invited to Lagos for the live Showcase.
Haddadi said, “We want to find the brightest diamonds in the rough across Africa. There are young artists in small towns, big cities, and everywhere in between who are doing amazing things with their music. Many of them have never had the chance to stand before the people who can help shape their careers. The Diamond Showcase is here to bridge that gap.”
The selected finalists will be hosted in Lagos, Nigeria, from January 6 to 7, 2026, with performances each evening from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The Showcase is part of the activities leading up to the 9th AFRIMA Awards.
Those selected will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Lagos, special AFRIMA gifts, mentorship opportunities, and the chance to perform in front of top music executives, major media platforms, and key industry leaders.
Haddadi urged young talents not to waste the opportunity. “If you believe in your gift, this is the time to act,” she said. “Don’t wait. Don’t hold back. Submit your entry. Africa is ready to meet its next big talents, and we are ready to support your first major step.”
Unarguably Africa’s global music awards, the 9th AFRIMA Awards will take place in Lagos, Nigeria, from January 7 to 11, 2026, with events including the Africa Music Business Summit, the Diamond Showcase, the Music Village Concert, the Nominees Party, the Red Carpet, and the grand Awards Night. In partnership with the African Union and Lagos State (Official Host City), the ceremony will be broadcast live to more than 84 countries globally.
PRESS RELEASE
The Governor of Lagos, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday sought the support of investors to make the approved Lekki–Epe International Airport, a reality.
He said the Lagos State Government is committed to partnering with the Federal Government and its agencies, as well as investors, in building a stronger, safer, more competitive aviation industry for Nigeria.
The Lekki-Epe International airport is an initiative of the Lagos State Government.
Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke during the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) National Aviation Conference held at Victoria Island, Lagos. The event was attended by President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Governors Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Babagana Zulum (Borno) and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), represented by his deputy, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele; and Board Chairman of FAAN, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, among others.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos State will work hand-in-hand with all federal agencies to ensure that the Lekki–Epe International Airport and Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) become models of what is possible when federal and sub-national governments work in the same direction.
He said: “The Federal Government has granted approval to Lagos State to build a new international airport in the Ibeju–Lekki axis as a public-private partnership project.
“The airport is designed as a Code F-compliant facility, capable of handling the Airbus A380 and other wide-body aircraft, and is planned to sit on about 3,500 hectares of land, roughly 10 kilometres from the Lekki Free Trade Zone. The master plan provides for an initial capacity of five million passengers annually, with modular expansion as demand grows.
“Lekki–Epe International Airport is not a vanity project. It is a strategic response to decongesting MMIA and building resilience; positioning Lagos as West Africa’s preferred hub; unlocking new opportunities in MRO, training and aviation services; and supporting the Lekki industrial corridor, which is already home to the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Free Trade Zone, the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Complex, and an emerging industrial and residential city.
“We are committed to working hand-in-hand with FAAN, NCAA and all federal agencies to ensure that the Lekki–Epe International Airport – and indeed MMIA – become models of what is possible when federal and sub-national governments pull in the same direction.
“Here in Lagos, together with the Federal Government and our partners, we are determined to create a future in which Nigerian aviation is safe, modern, competitive and inclusive – a future in which our airports are not bottlenecks, but bridges to opportunity,” he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also reiterated his administration’s commitment to creating an integrated mobility ecosystem in which rail, road, water and air transport are seamlessly connected in Lagos State.
He said his government over the last few years has made historic progress with the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line, running from Marina to Mile 2, and the Red Line, linking Agbado to Oyingbo, adding that it has also signed an MoU and unveiled plans for the Green Line, a 68-kilometre rail corridor from Marina to the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
“We are building an integrated, multi-modal transport backbone designed to move more than 20 million residents and the millions who come to do business with us,” he said.
Also speaking during the conference, Governors Uzodinma, Zulum and Abiodun highlighted aviation as a driver of economic growth, showcasing new airports, integrated transport systems, and investment opportunities across Imo, Borno and Ogun states.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
SPECIAL ADVISER – MEDIA AND PUBLICITY
17 NOVEMBER 2025
Preparations are in top gear as the family of First Republic politician, nationalist and pioneering journalist, Ernest Sissei Ikoli, gets set to bid farewell to a woman of profound moral scruples, stickler for hard work and excellence, Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.
The burial activities, scheduled for November 27 – 30 in Lagos, are expected to attract traditional rulers, clergymen, business tycoons, top government functionaries, prominent lawyers, public affairs experts, diplomats and media professionals across the world.
Following the demise of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli on September 2, 2025 at the age of 93, the Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation released burial plans indicating that the burial ceremonies will take place between Friday, November 27, 2025 and Sunday, November, 30, 2025.
‘’The service of songs is scheduled to hold on Thursday, November 27, 2025 at the Citadel, 274, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island by 5:00pm. The funeral service will be held at The Salvation Army Church, 11 Odunlami Street, Lagos on Friday, November 28. This will be followed by internment. The entertainment of guests will take place at The Hall Event Centre, 16 Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island while Thanksgiving Service will take place on Sunday, November 30, 2025 at The Salvation Army Church, Lagos Island’’
The Ernest Ikoli Foundation Statement said Elsie Ajayi Ikoyi was a woman liked by everybody because she had dignity and integrity.
‘’Mama Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was a mother to all, a church servant and a study in humility.
The woman of the altar, industry and unyielding grace was born beneath the golden skies of Kaduna on June 24, 1932″
The statement highlighted Mama Ayo’s intellect, resilience, wisdom and sobriety.
“Mama Ayo’s mind was a boundless library. She devoured books not for ornament, but for illumination — a habit that would later become the quiet engine of her wisdom”
The statement issued in Lagos by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Ernest Ikoli Foundation, Chief Anthony George- Ikoli (SAN), highlighted professionalism, apprenticeship in nation-building and her role as Executive Assistant to the First Editor of Daily Times, Publisher of African Messenger, President of the Nigerian Youth Movement, one of the founders of Action Group (AG) and representative of Lagos in the Legislative Council, Ernest Ikoli.
“Mama Ayo moved with quiet precision behind the scenes of history. While Ernest drafted editorials that stirred the conscience of a colony awakening to freedom, Mama Ayo kept the rhythm of his days — managing correspondence, organizing schedules, shielding one of the activists of Nigeria’s political history from distraction”
Well known as a tireless and cheerful woman who could be counted on, the statement said Elsie avoided the spotlight that focused on Ernest Sissei Ikoli through his long political career.
“In her presence, chaos yielded to order. In her silence, purpose found its voice. She did not seek the spotlight, but stood steadfast in its penumbra — a dutiful woman, an unseen architect of legacy, ensuring that the man who helped forge Nigeria’s voice never lost his own”
The statement recalled the period when the mantle of the sole provider fell upon her shoulders.
“Mama wore it not as a burden, but as a covenant. She became a staff member and major distributor for Abbott Pharmaceuticals during its pioneering years in Nigeria — a time when Similac and Isomil were not just products, but promises whispered into the cribs of a hopeful, growing nation. With grit and grace, she out-distributed her peers, not through force, but through faithfulness – waking before dawn, returning long after dusk, her arms laden not just with formula tins, but with the nourishment of futures. In her, Abbott did not merely find a distributor — they found a disciple of diligence, a woman who treated every delivery as a divine assignment”
Widely respected for her innumerable contributions to the development of individuals and groups in Nigeria and the world at large, the statement emphasized courage in adversity and how life exacted its cruel toll on Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.
“The loss of two of her children carved a canyon in her soul — a grief so profound it could have extinguished her. But Mama Ayo did not retreat. She ascended. In the hallowed halls of the Salvation Army, Marina Corps, she entered into a sacred covenant with God — a vow of everlasting service. There, as Welfare Keeper of the Home League Unit, she washed altar linens until they gleamed like morning snow, believing that holiness resided not only in prayer, but in purity of preparation. She folded hope into every crease, ironed devotion into every hem. Her hands, which once balanced ledgers and stacked crates, now cradled communion cloths with the reverence of a priestess”.
The statement emphasized her role in the women’s ministries.
“Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was a pillar in the Women’s and Mother’s Ministries, where her counsel was sought not for its volume, but for its virtue. And beyond the church walls, she poured her spirit into the Nembe Women Society (Lagos Branch) — gathering daughters of the Niger Delta in diaspora, weaving community from memory, stitching solidarity with stories. She did not merely lead — she mothered. She did not merely organize — she sanctified”.
Blessed with a rich and agile mind, the statement said Mama Ayo’s worldview was sculpted by sweat and scripture.
“Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli believed work was worship, excellence an echo of the divine, and failure not a full stop — but a comma in God’s longer sentence. Like the ant she so admired, she saw the cathedral in the crumb, the empire in the errand. She got up early, humming hymns to the rhythm of responsibility. She taught by presence: “Do it yourself, Do it well and Do it now.” Not as a command, but as a creed”.
The statement lavished praise on her for the quiet revolution.
“Her altar remains spotless. Her hands shape us. Her name — Elsie — “God’s Promise” — echoes in every life she lifted. Rest now, Mama. The Rock you carried has become the monument. The vision you served has become a victory. Well done, good and faithful servant”
Elsie Ajayi Ikoli will be remembered for her restlessness in terms of work and her persistence in excelling. She will also be remembered with respect.
Meanwhile, major organizations in Nigeria have expressed their condolences following the death of Mrs. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.
Charis Microfinance Bank has described the death of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli as an irreparable loss.
‘’On behalf of the Management and Staff of Charis Microfinance Bank Limited, we wish to express our deepest condolences to you and your family on the passing of your beloved mother, Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli, who slept in the Lord on the 2nd of September, 2025. We share in your grief during this difficult time and pray that God grants you and the entire family the strength and comfort to bear the irreparable loss’’ the bank said in a statement on Monday morning.
The dynamic financial institution also extolled the qualities of Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli and relevance of Lagos lawyer, Anthony George-Ikoli, in the business community and political history of Nigeria.
‘’As our esteemed chairman, your leadership, wisdom and commitment have been instrumental in guiding the bank towards its vision of financial inclusion, sustainable growth and economic prosperity. The values of honesty, accountability and integrity that you embody are a true reflection of the strong foundation and nurturing influence of your late mother. Her legacy lives on through you and the many lives she touched’’.
The bank, according to the statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Obiora Unigwe and the Head, Products & Brand Management, Osasu Steve-Momoh, is deeply saddened by her death.
‘’At Charis Microfinance Bank, we consider ourselves a family, and in this moment of sorrow, we stand firmly with you in solidarity and prayer. While her physical presence will be greatly missed, we take solace in the knowledge that Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli lived a life of grace, faith and purpose, one that will continue to inspire all who knew her. Please accept our heartfelt sympathy, and may her gentle soul rest in perfect peace’’
CAKASA (Nigeria) Company Limited also paid tribute to the memory of this role-model who stamped her footprints on the sands of time.
‘’On behalf of the Board, Management and the entire staff of CAKASA (Nigeria) Company Limited, I acknowledge the news of the transition to the glory of our beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli who slept peacefully in the Lord on 2nd September, 2025. What an irreplaceable loss’’ Cakasa (Nigeria) Company Limited said in a statement.
The statement by the Chairman of CAKASA, Christopher A. Alabi, described Elsie Ajayi Ikoli as a great mother.
‘’No doubt, the transition of our dearly beloved matriarch had left a great and indelible void in the hearts and minds of not just the immediate family but anyone who had had a rare occasion to meet her’’.
The engineering, procurement and construction company highlighted her virtue and nobility.
‘’The outpouring of grief and emotion over her transition is a clear affirmation of her personality as an embodiment of virtue and nobility. She showed love without expectation to all, cared for others without conditions and touched lives in innumerable and invaluable ways’’.
The statement advised Antony George-Ikoli and members of his family not to grieve.
‘’Mama Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was a rare gem. She personified selflessness, altruism and service to humanity. What a life well lived, a legacy superlatively delivered. She would be sorely missed, but we are not without hope. And so, it is well said that albeit ‘’ nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower’’. Let us grieve no more. But find hope and strength that whatever our worries and cares may justifiably be on account of her glorious transition. We must give them over to God for He cares for us. God’s care closes every void. His comfort soothes every pain and His love trumps every loss.
It also reminded Antony George-Ikoli of the roles played by Elsie Ajayi Ikoli in the Lord’s Vineyard.
‘’Thus, as we grieve the irreparable loss, we must take solace in the sublime truth that our sister, having died a worthy daughter of the Lord and servant in His Vineyard, the heavenly hosts are rejoicing to meet her behind the veil of immortality of course.
Similarly, WEMA Bank extended condolences to Anthony George-Ikoli on the passing of his dearly beloved mother.
‘’As a team, we are deeply saddened by this loss and understand how difficult it is to part with a loved one.
In a letter signed by Business Development Manager, Olaniyi Saheed and Zonal Manager, LM, Lucky Imoisilli, the bank expressed solidarity with the family during the period of mourning.
‘’Please accept our deepest sympathy and we pray that God grants you and your entire family the strength and comfort you need during this time and may her soul rest in peace’’.
In the same vein, Polaris Bank extended sympathies to the family of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.
‘’It was with deep sadness that we received the news of the passing of your dear mother, Mrs. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli. On behalf of the Management and Staff of Polaris Bank, we wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to you and your family during this difficult time’’
The bank in a letter by its Relationship Manager, Nta Henshaw and Branch Manager, Cibuzo Ogbonna acknowledged Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s contributions to the growth of the family.
‘’We understand that the loss of a mother leaves a void that cannot be easily filled. May you find strength in the cherished memories you shared with her and may her legacy of love and guidance continue to comfort and inspire you. Please be assured of our thoughts and prayers as you go through this period of grief. We stand with you and wish you and your family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss’’.
The leaders of the Ijaw Nation expressed grief over the demise of Anthony George-Ikoli’s mother, Mrs. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.
In a statement on Monday, the Ijaw leaders paid their deepest and heartfelt condolences, saying that the prayers of the Ijaw people are with Chief Anthony George-Ikoli and his family at this difficult time.
‘’Our prayers are with you and the entire bereaved family because of this irreparable loss. Though a painful exit of a good mother, God loves her more’’.
The statement by the Lagos State Chairman, Tonye Leonard Harry and State Secretary, Elayelagha Golden Ambakaderemo commiserated with Anthony George-Ikoli over the demise of his beloved mother, Mrs. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.
‘’Please accept our heartfelt condolences and may you find comfort and strength during this difficult time’’
The statement by the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Lagos chapter urged Anthony George-Ikoli and his relatives to draw strength from the mother’s illuminating attributes of honesty, discipline, resilience and joyful spirit.
‘’Her sweet memories will forever be etched in our minds” the statement added.
Lagos residents also expressed profound sadness at the passing of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.
A statement by the Alaka Executive Committee offered the deepest and most heartfelt condolences to famous lawyer, Chief Anthony George-Ikoli and his entire family.
‘’The loss of a mother is one of life’s most profound sorrows and we understand that no words can fully ease the pain you are experiencing’’.
The statement was signed by the Alaka Estate Chairman, Mr. Chukwuemeka Ugwu and the General Secretary, Mrs. Kemi Awe
‘’We stand with you in solidarity during this period of bereavement” the statement said.
‘’Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you navigate through these challenging times. We pray that the Almighty God will grant your mum eternal rest and provide you and your family with the strength, comfort and solace needed to bear this irreplaceable loss’’.
In a society that is based on the rule of law and hierarchy, there should be no room for any serving army officer to comment on what happened between Wike and Yerima.
It is disgraceful for any general to intimidate the public by saying that the action is a threat to national security. This is what is wrong with the military in Nigeria. They think they are a government in waiting or they are a parallel government. This grandiosity is absurd.
These statements should never be tolerated. This shows that the Nigerian soldiers do not know how to subordinate themselves to civilian authority in a democratic society.
The chief of army staff should be fired. It is wrong for him to comment on this issue and also it is wrong for him to relate this issue to national security.
What the chief of army staff has done is insubordination that requires him to be fired. Any comment on this issue should be from the Minister of Defence, not the chief of army staff.
The position of the chief of army staff suggests that the military in Nigeria is above the law and Mr. Wike should take orders from the service chiefs. No sir. The service chief should defer to the minister who has the jurisdiction here. The service chiefs should be debriefed on the relationship of the army and the civilian authority. Some of them are still living in the past.
The days where they release soldiers into the street to terrorize the citizens should be behind us. It is unfortunate. The Army chief of staff thinks, might is right. His statement shows that he does not see himself as a subordinate to civilian authority. It also demonstrates that he has no respect for the rule of law and due process. He should resign or be fired from the army.
By his utterance, he has demonstrated that he has no respect for the civilian authority. People like him should not be in the army. Their thinking is anachronistic to our present time. Any officer having this kind of ego should go to the Sahel. We don’t need military people who think they are government in waiting.
In the days of yore, this Army chief would have released soldiers into the street to harass citizens. In a civilian regime, the army should be seen and not heard. The army in the past poured into the street when a drunken soldier was hit by a vehicle. Instead of rendering help, they started beating people and burning cars. None of those soldiers were disciplined during the military regimes.
No soldier was punished for the rape and destruction that took place at Fela’s house. For more than three days, soldiers at Jaji poured into the street, beat up and destroyed cars belonging to citizens because a drunken soldier was hit by a vehicle.
It is our responsibility as citizens and leaders to change the mindset of the Nigerian military that has been distorted by military rule. Their primary duty is to defend the Republic, with arms, from external aggression.
Their constant aggression against the Nigerian citizens must be stopped. The Nigerian military goes into villages and shoots without asking questions.
Recently they went to a village in Delta state, terrorized and killed villagers who were sleeping. At this point of writing, no soldier involved in that exercise has been disciplined.
Enough is enough. In our democracy, we should hear from the minister of defence, not the Chief of Army staff whose language is a veiled threat to our democracy.
He should be fired. What he said is disrespectful to the minister.
What every Nigerian should understand is that no matter how they feel about that altercation, Officer Yerima is not supposed to be at that site. His presence there was unofficial and illegal.
Would Officer Yerima have gone there if the place does not belong to a retired general? Do serving soldiers take orders from retired officers? Would Officer Yerima and his platoon be polite if the occupant they met was not the minister but a citizen minding his business? They would have given him the Nigeria army treatment which comprises assault and false imprisonment which is the MO of the Nigerian army.
We must stop this abuse of citizens by members of the Nigerian army. They are enlisted to serve and protect Nigerians. Due to breakdown of military discipline during the dark days of military dictatorship, they consider themselves above the law and want to resolve legal issues with intimidation and assault. The breakdown of military discipline also coincided with citizens being mentally disarmed to use the law for protection.
What the soldiers do to citizens in Nigeria is an aberration. They call us bloody civilians. Why? If we want our democracy to survive, we must teach our people their rights. Under normal circumstances, in peacetime, enlisted men should not be seen in the cities unless they are there for special duties with clear rules of engagement.
What was the rule of engagement for Officer Yerima? What national assignment was he carrying out at that location? I sincerely believe that in spite of his reputation. Mr Wike went to this level because he has seen how uniform officers don’t think the law applies to them. He may have also noticed that the generals in the army are not subordinating themselves to civilian authorities in the process of our democratic governance.
It is time we start thinking of a reserve army. We can start by making all youth corps members undergo compulsory military training for six months. The only reason why the army threatens our national security with coup is because they have a monopoly of weapons.
For our democracy to grow, we must abolish this monopoly. The citizens should have the right to bear arms. Enough is enough. Respect begets Respect.
DR AUSTIN ORETTE WRITES FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS
The Ernest Sisei Ikoli Foundation on Monday announced that prominent leaders, technocrats and business moguls are expected to converge on Lagos on Friday, November 28, 2025, as the remains of Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli are laid to rest.
The Foundation also confirmed Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s body will lie in state for one hour in Surulere before a funeral service is held at The Salvation Army Church, 11 Odunlami Street, Lagos Island.
‘’The service of songs and reflection of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s life and legacy will be held on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at the Citadel, 274, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island by 5:00pm. On Friday, November 28, 2025, the body will depart Lagos University Teaching Hospital at 7:00am. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s body will lie in state in her 26, Eric Moore Close home. The funeral service will be held at The Salvation Army Church, 11 Odunlami Street, Lagos Island. This will be followed by interment at Ebony Vaults & Gardens, Ikoyi. The entertainment of guests will take place at The Hall Event Centre, 16 Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island while Thanksgiving Service will take place on Sunday, November 30, 2025, at The Salvation Army Church, Lagos Island’’ a statement from the Ernest Ikoli Foundation said.
Elsie Ajayi Ikoli died on September 2, 2025, in Lagos.
The Ernest Ikoli Foundation Statement said Elsie Ajayi Ikoyi was a woman liked by everybody because she had dignity and integrity.
‘’Mama Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was a mother to all, a church servant and a study in humility.
The woman of the altar, industry and unyielding grace was born beneath the golden skies of Kaduna on June 24, 1932″
The statement highlighted Mama Ayo’s intellect, resilience, wisdom and sobriety.
“Mama Ayo’s mind was a boundless library. She devoured books not for ornament, but for illumination — a habit that would later become the quiet engine of her wisdom”
The statement issued in Lagos by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Ernest Ikoli Foundation, Chief Anthony George- Ikoli (SAN), highlighted professionalism, apprenticeship in nation-building and her role as Executive Assistant to the First Editor of Daily Times, Publisher of African Messenger, President of the Nigerian Youth Movement, one of the founders of Action Group (AG) and representative of Lagos in the Legislative Council, Ernest Ikoli.
“Mama Ayo moved with quiet precision behind the scenes of history. While Ernest drafted editorials that stirred the conscience of a colony awakening to freedom, Mama Ayo kept the rhythm of his days — managing correspondence, organizing schedules, shielding one of the activists of Nigeria’s political history from distraction”
Leading construction engineering company, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, weekend, demonstrated its commitment to supporting education and community development through its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, initiative by donating a fully equipped Robotics Laboratory to Government Secondary School, GSS, Gwarinpa, Life Camp in the Federal Capital Territory.
The new laboratory stocked with robotics kits, computers, and hands-on learning materials, is designed to give students the opportunity to explore practical tech concepts and build essential problem-solving skills.
During the handover ceremony at GSS Gwarinpa Life Camp, the school environment was filled with excitement as students and staff explored the new robotics facility.
Project Coordinator for Region Central and North at Julius Berger, Engr. Dr. Amodu Ismaila, expressed appreciation for the warm relationship between the company and the Gwarinpa community. He noted that the school environment has become more comfortable and conducive for learning. According to him, Gwarinpa Secondary School has long been a neighbour to the company’s camp, and over the years, the school has continued to educate their children as well as other students in the area.
Dr. Ismaila said that the company as a good corporate citizen has had to be contracted to execute many projects in the area adding that through these various projects, Julius Berger remains both a good neighbour and a committed partner to the communities it serves.
Engr. Dr. Amodu Ismaila explained that, in selecting GSS the school as the starting point for the initiative, is to kick start the project. Adding that the Managing Director was strongly in support of the CSR activity at GSS, Gwarinpa.
Ismaila stressed that ICT forms the backbone of modern development, enabling a wide range of possibilities, from digital learning to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. He added that once ICT facilities are in place, all that is required is continuous upgrading of smart classrooms and steady progress from there.
The School Principal, Abubakar Ajayi, expressed his gratitude to the company for its continuous and sustained contribution to the growth of the school. He continued: “let me end it by saying that what you have done is a motivation for other organisations to copy. It is a good example. Since Julius Berger is close to me, you are about the only person or organisation I can easily run to. We will be coming back, from time to time. Before I came here, when I took over the school, I saw the set of students furniture that Julius Berger donated, very beautiful and durable. We hope that this partnership will continue”.
Members of Julius Berger’s delegation to the event also spent time interacting with the students, talking about the importance of learning basic technology skills and encouraging them to make good use of the new laboratory amidst a clear sense of excitement as students explored the equipment.
The donation of the robotics laboratory goes beyond providing physical tools. It represents a strong investment in young people and their potentials. By supporting initiatives like this, Julius Berger continues to play an important role in developing the next generation of curious thinkers and problem-solvers. Also, through actions like these, the company is reaffirming its commitment to community growth and its belief that empowering students today helps build a brighter, stronger Nigeria tomorrow.
Over the years, Julius Berger has consistently used its CSR efforts to contribute meaningfully to communities across the country. The company’s belief in “building beyond infrastructure” continues to guide its interventions, ensuring that its impact is felt not only in construction sites but also in classrooms, homes, and public institutions. By supporting education, the company reinforces the idea that true development begins with empowering people.