The pain from the death of my friend lingers. It weighs me down. I hardly sleep through the night with a headache.

I am thinking of the meaninglessness of life, of human mortality, and the inevitability of death that ‘will come, when it will come’.

I wake early. My heart is pounding with grief. I head to the airport for my early morning flight to Abuja.

What happens next is fortuitous, a divine script. At the airport, I am allocated seat number 1C. We soon start to board. I take my front row seat. Others follow.

Then he embarks. His small retinue of aides indicate his status. He is wearing a simple traditional Igbo attire - a red cap on a red Isiagu and white trousers. This is not a small man. I recognize him immediately.

His seat is 1A, right next to mine.

I salute him. The broad smile on his face is no more than his usual dispensation of courtesies to everyone around him. He is a very friendly political leader. He takes the seat next to me.

I don’t waste any time at all.

‘Accept my sincere condolences, Your Excellency’.

He looks at me with some measure of surprise. Obviously, he does not know what I am talking about. It also confirms he does not recognize me.

‘The passage of Christian Chukwu’, I guide him. ‘I am Segun Odegbami’.

It adds up quickly in his head.

‘Ah, the Mathematical’. Recognition comes and lights up his face.

‘Thank you very much’, he says. ‘What a sad situation to lose one of the greatest heroes of this country, a legendary football player’.

He talks more about Christian Chukwu glowingly. He promises to support a befitting burial by the country for the born-leader and illustrious patriot. He recalls that Chairman Chukwu led a great generation of players in Rangers FC, IICC, Bendel Insurance and others, teams that played a big role in uniting the country in the years following the Civil War.

I tell him about Chukwu’s role, through his exemplary leadership of both Rangers International and the Green Eagles, of helping to heal the wounds inflicted on the psyche of Nigerians by the Nigerian Civil War.

Then he surprises me. He goes back in time to rekindle the magic of radio commentating: ‘Mathematical. He dribbles one, he dribbles two, he sprints down the touch line, he passes to Chukwu, he moves, oh, oh , oh……’.

He is actually running a commentary of an imaginary football match. Some of the passengers by our seats enjoy his sonorous rumbling voice, mimicking late Ernest Okonkwo.

He is obviously very happy to meet me. He says more than once as we settle down to a conversation that covers several subjects. It is as if we are long-separated friends running out on time to catch up.

We race through different subject matters until the plane taxis and lifts off into the darkening and pregnant clouds of Lagos at this time of the year.

Our conversation is like between two friends that have not seen each other for a long time, racing to catch up on things.

We talk about Christian Chukwu’s sad passage; his invitation to ex-Rangers players to the State House in Awka after he became governor; his support for the welfare of the Rangers players, a monthly stipend contributed by some of the South-East zone Governors. He desires that the stipend in increased. He tells me about his relationship with football. It is the only addiction he has.

He tells me he once cancelled an international trip whilst in transit in order to watch the Spanish El Classico on television between Real Madrid FC and FC Barca. Like me, he is a supporter of FC Barcelona. Up Barca!!

In his youth, he played football against his father’s wish, an old scar on his cheek-bone evidence of his defiance to play football on street pebbles.

He talks a little about his foray into politics, about Onitsha market and its poor reputation, plus the re-modeling of the city. There are steps to be taken to repair the image of the biggest public market in the whole of West Africa.

I ask him how he is able to run the State without borrowing a Kobo. That’s easy. He has prioritized his assignment to essential projects and has cut down on all waste.

He answers all my questions.

I am in his lecture-space.

He radiates confidence and happiness. His records of performance in almost 4 years will speak for him at the polls in his re-election bid.

The sound of the engines takes over. We go silent. By the time the plane gets to maximum height and starts to cruise comfortably, we are both taking a nap.

Abuja.

We resume our conversation as our plane lands in Abuja. Christian Chukwu is on our mind again. He led the Eagles at a glorious era in Nigeria, the 1970s and parts of the 1980s. He sees those years as half-filled, rather half-empty of opportunities to make Nigeria the greatest Black Nation on earth.

There is work to be done. Our responsibility is not to change the world but to play our parts in making a difference.

The only question he asks me is:’what do you do now?’.

I tell him - a little bit of this, a little bit of that.

I tell him about my only official portfolio is as Head of the Sports and Diplomacy Unit of the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs. I tell him about the ‘Wall of Fame’ and Allen Onyema’s role in that endeavour that makes me an Air Peace Ambassador.

We both wonder why we have never met before when we have several mutual friends.

We exchange numbers.

We take a picture as the plane stops finally.

We walk together from the plane to the arrival hall of the Airport where we part ways and promise to keep in touch.

Through all of this time he is greeting everyone around, sharing a few words here and there with even total strangers, a smile on his face always. He is a great man.

It is a great personal privilege and invaluable experience to have shared an entire 60 minutes, or so, with the former Governor of the Central Bank, and current Governor of Anambra State, PROFESSOR Chukwuma Soludo.

As I drive into Abuja, I am thinking.

3 members of the 1980 team have died in the past 3 months - Moses Effiong, Charles Bassey and ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu!

May they find absolutely peace with the Creator of the Universe! Amen.

Dr. Olusegun Odegbami, MON, OLY, AFNIIA, FNIS

Several persons are feared dead following another deadly attack on Emichi village in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

DAILY POST gathered that the attackers stormed the community around 2:00 pm on Wednesday, shooting indiscriminately at residents.

It was learnt that terrified residents fled for safety as no security personnel were on ground to intervene at the time of the attack.

The incident is coming barely 24 hours after 11 persons were gruesomely killed in Otobi-Akpa by suspected herdsmen.

More details to follow…

[DailyPost]

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar III, has declared social media a “terrorist organisation” during a speech on Wednesday, urging security agencies to address its dangers.

In the remarks, captured in a video posted by News Central, the prominent Nigerian traditional leader criticised the platform for spreading false narratives that can destabilise society.

“What happened has happened. You cannot come and be doing social media because that is one terrorist organisation.

“Social media is a terrorist organisation. What they do; somebody will sit down in his comfort zone and formulate stories, and you will discover that it is not true,” the Sultan stated.

The Sultan’s call for action emphasizes the need to curb misinformation, which he believes is easily spread by individuals crafting deceptive stories online.

“So, social media is a terrorist organisation that we must deal with. Security agencies must deal with this terrorist organisation called social media,” he reiterated.

[Punch]

Following his recent investment drive in the United Kingdom, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke disclosed that his administration has secured a hundred million dollars in investment from British investors.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed and made available to reporters in Osogbo on Wednesday, the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, which was witnessed by the UK Prime Minister’s trade envoy, Hon Florence Eshalomi, covers investments in different areas including agriculture, water, tourism and free trade zone.

The trip also yielded a partnership deal with the British Museum on cultural tourism, focusing on Osun’s cultural assets.

“Contrary to the fake news and doctored video from members of the opposition, the state governor successfully and flawlessly addressed four major high-profile meetings, which include the landmark trade meeting in the House of Commons; the address at the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce trade mission; the cultural tourism engagement at the British Museum; and the investment briefing with a select group of investors.

“In the end, a total of $100 million investment deals were made with a group of investors who attended the signing of the investment facilitation MOU in the presence of UK Prime Minister’s trade envoy, Hon Florence Eshalomi. The investment areas include agriculture, water, tourism and free trade zones.

“An investment collaboration framework with the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry was agreed upon during the chamber’s trade mission. Alongside the Osun State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the relationship is to create a tripartite working framework among the binational chamber, the State government and the UK Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“A partnership deal with the British Museum on cultural tourism focusing on Osun cultural assets and confirmed a huge link between the museum and Ile Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba nation.

“A new framework relationship between the British Museum and the state government on digitization of cultural assets.

“Multiple hosting and briefing of Osun indigenes on state of governance at home with two full days of feedback and brainstorming on governance ideas”, the statement added.

Vanguard News

One Nigerian businessman whose life exemplifies hard work, enthusiasm and resilience, is Mr. Tony Onyemaechi Elumelu CFR, fondly called TOE by friends and colleagues. Chairman of UBA Plc and Heirs Holdings, Elumelu sits on boards of several other conglomerates too numerous to mention.

Born on March 22, 1963, to parents from Onicha Ukwu in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, young Tony Onyemaechi had a modest upbringing but never looked back once he came of age.  At 62 he is not just a celebration of age but a celebration of purpose, persistence, and Pan-African impact.

Elumelu has proven that to build Africa’s future, we don’t need to look west—we need to look within. His journey is not just one of financial success, but of purposeful impact—a legacy that transcends numbers and speaks to the heart of a continent striving to overcome decades of stagnation and poverty.

As he marks another year, we look beyond his fortune to the deeper imprint he continues to leave: a legacy that breathes hope. At 62, Elumelu could have retired to enjoy the blessings that Almighty God has endowed him with but his passion and compassion for the African youth have been the adrenaline driving him.

He had earned the accolades: Forbes lists, global awards, honorary doctorates. But for him, legacy isn’t something you write in a will. It’s something you leave in people.

Tony Elumelu’s tenure as Group Managing Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, from 2005 to 2010, marked a transformational period that redefined the bank’s identity and elevated it to a Pan-African powerhouse.

Following the strategic merger between Standard Trust Bank (where Elumelu had served as CEO), and UBA in 2005, he led the combined entity with a bold vision: to build a world-class financial institution that would serve not just Nigeria, but the entire African continent and beyond.

Under his leadership UBA expanded from a single-country operation to a pan-African bank, establishing subsidiaries in over 20 African countries, as well as operations in New York, London, and Paris. The bank also introduced innovative digital banking platforms, improved customer experience, and modernized operations, setting new industry standards. UBA’s balance sheet and profitability saw consistent growth, and it became one of the largest and most respected banks in Africa.

This feat led to his recognition in 2008, as African Banker of the Year by the African Banker Awards. This award honored his transformational leadership at UBA, his role in championing cross-border banking in Africa, and his contributions to building a truly pan-African financial institution.

His win highlighted UBA’s growth under his stewardship and solidified his status as one of the most influential banking executives on the continent. Elumelu also championed strong corporate governance and transparency, which significantly boosted investor and public confidence.

He positioned UBA as a partner for development, aligning financial services with broader economic and social transformation across Africa. By the time he stepped down as GMD/CEO in 2010 due to the Central Bank of Nigeria's new policy,  Tony Elumelu had not only transformed UBA into a truly global bank, but had also laid a foundation of innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth that continues to shape its legacy today.

His guiding philosophy—Africapitalism—defines this vision. Coined and championed by him, Africapitalism is the belief that the private sector, especially entrepreneurs, must play a central role in the development of the African continent. It argues that long-term investments in strategic sectors will not only yield profits but also create jobs, foster stability, and build inclusive prosperity.

At 62, Elumelu stands as a towering figure in the landscape of African entrepreneurship, finance, and philanthropy. A name that resonates across boardrooms, government halls, and startup hubs from Lagos to Accra, to Nairobi to Johannesburg,  Elumelu has become more than just a successful businessman—he is a symbol of what is possible on the continent.

His life’s work is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership, and his mission is clear: to catalyze Africa’s economic transformation by empowering its entrepreneurs.

For Elumelu, success is not merely a personal triumph but a foreshadowing of a deeper vision. It isn’t just about profit. It is about people. It is about potential.

Perhaps the most transformative expression of Elumelu’s commitment to Africa is the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF). Launched in 2010, TEF has committed over $100 million to empower 10,000 African entrepreneurs over 10 years. As of 2025, it has already impacted thousands across 54 African countries, offering funding, training, and mentorship that many describe as life-changing.

These entrepreneurs are not just statistics; they are stories of transformation. Farmers in Malawi leveraging agri-tech; female founders in Ghana breaking into fintech; healthcare startups in Rwanda improving lives through innovation. Each story is a testament to Elumelu’s belief that Africa’s future lies in the hands of its people—not foreign aid, but local ideas and bold execution.

Entrepreneurs supported by the Tony Elumelu Foundation have generated over $4.2 billion in revenue across Africa and created more than 1.5 million jobs since the Foundation launched its flagship entrepreneurship programme in 2015.The impact of this initiative has extended to lifting over two million Africans out of poverty, making it one of the continent’s most significant privately-led economic empowerment programmes.

At 62, Tony Elumelu’s wealth and influence are undeniable. But what makes his legacy profound is not the size of his empire, but the scale of his impact. His life is a message that Africans can lead, build, and transform—on their own terms.

He has shown that philanthropy and capitalism are not mutually exclusive, and that profits and purpose can coexist. He has redefined success—not as personal gain, but as collective progress. As Tony Elumelu enters his 63rd year, the continent stands at a pivotal moment. With the largest youth population in the world, Africa holds immense untapped potential. But it also faces serious challenges—unemployment, inequality, and infrastructure gaps.

Elumelu’s work reminds us that the solutions are already here—in Africa’s young minds, waiting to be activated. If one man’s vision can ignite thousands of businesses, imagine what a continent of empowered, well-supported entrepreneurs could do. Elemelu is a firm believer that in the 21st century, what Africa needs is not aid but investment in infrastructure and investment in in the youths.  He was once quoted to have said: “supporting entrepreneurship is born out of a deep realisation that inaction could jeopardise the future of the continent, including that of those already considered successful”.

At 62, Tony O. Elumelu is more than a billionaire businessman—he is a movement. His name has become synonymous with transformational leadership, youth empowerment, and the bold reimagining of Africa’s economic narrative. While his wealth is substantial, it is his legacy beyond wealth that truly defines him.

In a world often obsessed with financial figures, Elumelu has redefined what it means to be successful. For him, it’s not about how much you have in your bank account—but how many lives you’ve touched, how many futures you’ve shaped, and how deeply you’ve inspired a continent to believe in itself. But what truly sets Elumelu apart is his commitment to using his influence to shift mindsets. He has made it fashionable to care, to give and to build.

Unlike many of his peers on the global billionaire stage, Elumelu’s wealth has always been tethered to purpose. He has consistently emphasized that profit without impact is hollow. Whether sitting on panels with world leaders or walking through rural communities, his message remains the same: Africa’s future is in the hands of its people, not in aids. As he celebrates another birthday, Elumelu’s legacy can be measured not just in years or dollar signs, but in hope restored, in jobs created and in ideas funded.

Among young Africans are those who now believe that they don’t have to leave the continent to live out their dreams. He represents the rare kind of leader who doesn’t just build companies—he builds people.

Tony Elumelu’s journey is far from over. As Africa navigates the complexities of a global economy, rising youth populations, and evolving digital landscapes, his voice and vision are needed more than ever. And if his past is any indication, the years ahead won’t just be about expanding empires—they’ll be about deepening impact.

Tony Elumelu is not defined by his fortune—but by the future he is helping shape. His wealth may open doors, but it is his wisdom, his will, and his unwavering belief in Africa that make him truly wealthy. His is a legacy not just of success—but of significance.

Kalu Okoronkwo, a former staff of UBA plc writes from Lagos Nigeria and can be reached via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has seen the light, seemingly. He has been speaking about the readiness of the Nigerian government to transform the nation’s legacy broadcast outfits, NTA and Voice of Nigeria, into modern broadcast operations that will be reflective of the expectations of the people, especially government, and broadcast aficionados.

Idris spoke at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he saw the real broadcast world that obviously sent him into delirium about what Nigeria can also do to fall in line with modern broadcasting. NAB combines state-of-the-art broadcast equipment exhibition with high-end conference and seminar presentations.

Last year on this column, we wrote: “If you are a regulator, like the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), which superintends the nation’s broadcast industry, Vegas is the place to be this April (2024) because at the NAB Show, there is so much knowledge available, so much expert information and master classes from the industry – manufacturers, vendors, software developers, programmers and even entertainers, that the regulator must soak itself in the midst without giving only the operators the opportunity for such knowledge. The regulator must be steps ahead if it is to provide proper regulatory direction and leadership for the industry.”

But knowing that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had placed a moratorium on official international travels at the time because of abuse in some quarters and the need to preserve much needed funds, we had argued: “But life doesn’t have to stop because of the stupidity and failing of others. This is why I want to make a case this morning. The broadcast regulator should be allowed to be in Vegas this April for the good of industry and country. A year out of Vegas by the regulator is like a year out of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). It may take several decades to catch up, and the world and its inventions do not wait for the sluggardly.”

I am not sure Nigeria was officially represented at NAB last year. Such information was very painful to bear because such absence drains the industry of requisite knowledge.

This year the story is different as the Minister led a team to NAB, which includes: Charles Ebuebu, Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC); Salihu Dembos, Director-General, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA); Ali Muhammad Ali, Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN); Lekan Fadolapo, Director-General, Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON); Jibril Ndace, Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), among others.

Without doubt, the Minister was in good company as he took with him top officials of relevant government agencies who may be the ones to execute any plan put in place to revamp the industry. “Strategic communication is essential to ensuring that the policies of the Renewed Hope Agenda reach the Nigerian people effectively,” he said.

Idris, according to reports, had the listening ears of Thomas King, Chairman, KINTRONIC Laboratories; Khiran Keerodhur, Chief Operating Officer, Thompson Broadcast; and Gianluca Baccalini, Chief Operating Officer, Systems Engineering, and some others.

This year’s theme, The Tech, The Trend, The Future, captures every nuanced  reasoning and approximation of all-round development and growth of the broadcast  industry. The theme curates today’s industry happenings and contemplates a tomorrow that accommodates emerging broadcast trends and technologies no matter how expansive. It is hoped that the Minister can move beyond words to rescue the government stations from their antiquated state of being where they hibernate as industry dodos and dinosaurs, far beneath the private stations which have set the pace since broadcast deregulation in 1992.

Also last week, there was another significant development. The NBC placed broadcast restrictions on “Tell Your Papa” by Rap musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, as content was “deemed inappropriate for broadcast due to its objectionable nature. It is therefore classified as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB), as it violates Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.”

The copy of the Code I have states in Section 3.8.1a as follows: “The Broadcaster shall ensure that obscene, indecent, vulgar language, lewd and profane expression, presentation or representation are not allowed in a programme.”

There is almost a seismic outrage. Since the song has not been banned in our private devices or homes or even in the social media, a majority of the people who have listened to it can’t really see anything mendacious in Eedris message to the Nigerian President through his son, Seyi, who, himself has roiled public sensibilities with outlandish claims about his father’s performance in office.

Eedris has his commanding view of reality which is expressed in the lyrics of Tell  Your Papa, part of which is stated here. “Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga,” he said.

Can reality or the truth be outlawed from our public spaces? No one can stop the creative artist from enjoying  his creative juice even if that may be bitter to some people, which is unfortunate and patently insincere. Are there no killings around the country? What is happening on the Plateau currently? Can it be lobotomised out of reality?

Global literary icon and foremost Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has ventilated his mind on the Eedris ban. In a statement he said: “Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learnt recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem…..

“We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseum. We know where it all ends. It is boring, time-wasting, diversionary but most essential of all, subversive of all seizures of the fundamental right of free expression,” he observed.

Prof Soyinka couldn’t miss the dose of irony as he pointed out that, “The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg. Mr Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him.”

The Nobel Laureate understands what it is for the artist to be repressed by the state. His experiences during the Nigerian Civil War may be too remote for our social media generation who attack his pronouncements, although they hardly understand the language he speaks. Eedris, although much junior to Soyinka in every scale of societal ranking, encapsulates every aspect of the statement.

He had been there before. Protest music seems to be his forte. In the book, The Handkerchief – The Story of High Chief Raymond Anthony Aleogho Dokpesi, Eedris shared his experience under President Obasanjo. “Everybody knows that identity. The identity will give you who  I am and what I stand  for. In 2004, I dropped the song, Nigeria Jagajaga and President Obasanjo came to the national TV and said, “That boy wey sing Nigeria Jagajaga, na your papa and your mama Jagajaga. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. From a nobody, the President made me somebody,” Eedris recalled with some pride.

When President Obasanjo responded to Eedris in his characteristic acerbic humour, the matter was literally over. But times have changed, and the reading of signs and reality have been tainted by prejudiced views of patriotism and warped interpretation of official responsibilities.

By placing NTBB on Tell Your Papa, NBC has only achieved the opposite effect – drawing attention to a song people hardly knew was in existence. It is even worse now because Nigerians are angrier that the broadcast regulator is denying them necessary channels/opportunities of reaching the President with pressing legitimate complaints that may spur him into doing something about their desperate concerns and receding expectations. It was a wrong move by NBC from every interpretation; a ricochet of sorts.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has further reduced the ex-gantry price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to N835 per litre. 

According to sources at the refinery, the plant dropped the price of the petrol sold to oil marketers to N835 per litre, six days after the refinery reduced it to N865 per litre.

“The refinery reduced the price of the petrol to N835 per litre,” a source told TheCable.

The reduction in Dangote petrol price followed an announcement by the federal government on April 9, that the naira-for-crude oil deal will continue after the first phase ended on March 31.

“The stakeholders reaffirmed the government’s continued commitment to the full implementation of this strategic initiative, as directed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC),” the finance ministry said.

“Thus, the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative is not a temporary or time-bound intervention, but a key policy directive designed to support sustainable local refining, bolster energy security, and reduce reliance on foreign exchange in the domestic petroleum market.” 

On April 15, Farouk Ahmed, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), said the estimated pump price of petrol in Nigeria is less than that of neighbouring countries in West Africa.

Ahmed also said Nigeria’s petrol importation reduced by 29.9 million litres in eight months due to increased contributions from local refineries.

[TheCable]

Indeed, Falola’s towering global stature as a leading global scholar has been well documented. But not much is said about the life-touching things he does in the quiet, intimate corners of humanity.

There is no gainsaying that Professor Toyin Falola is Africa’s gift to the world of ideas, intellectualism, and advancement of the human civilisation. From Ibadan he stormed the World, leaving global footprints as a leading architect of the African intellectual renaissance. In many respects, he blazes the trail as a thought leader whose journey and impact cuts across continents, races, and generations.

As a child, I grew up in a premise made up of dual bungalows. A cemented play area separated the main bungalow from a smaller bungalow that had six rooms in what used to be referred to as a face-me-I-face-you dwelling, wherein my parents rented a room.

Many an evening, before bedtime, when it was not raining, all the children from their respective rooms in the compound came with their ‘apotis’ (stools) and a few mats and gathered in the cemented common area between the two bungalows. The gathering was to listen to fascinating stories from elderly residents, whether parents or relations of parents, who were in Ijebu-Ode from varying adjoining villages, as apprentices learning one trade or the other.

The stories provided great philosophical underpinnings of values of public-spiritedness, hard work, contentment, avoidance of avarice, etc. A lot of creativity was involved. The stories were often laced with insights from the Yoruba cosmology that included exposure to the world of spirits of all sorts that one finds in the first African novel published in English or Pidgin English outside of Africa, in 1952 in the UK and in 1953 in the US, Amos Tutuola’s The Palm-Wine Drinkard. Before Tutuola, though, DO Fagunwa had, in Yoruba, pioneered the creativity of taking people into the realms of spirits, demons, and the dead.

At an early age, children were socialised into many different worlds. These tales were by the moonlight or in almost total darkness, as there was no electricity but a flicker of light provided by kerosene lamps of all sorts. The lantern was popular in this regard. These formed my first conjectures about “iwin”,”ẹbọra”, àjẹ́, and even Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s adoption of “abamì èdá,” following being initially known as Omo ìyá àje. These older story-tellers never clarified how “iwin”, differed from “ẹbọra”. But we knew that àjẹ́ referred to an initiated human female, with supernatural powers, including powers to take life. But in these unisex days, I guess a human male can also be an ajẹ́.

Both “iwin” and “ẹbọra” as supernatural elements, we were told, were ghosts or ghost-like. They could be encountered in the deep forests or like the dead, only in dreams. We knew of older women suspected to be àjẹ́, but as kids, we could only imagine “iwin” and “ẹbọra”. After all, they were not of our world. But that was not until Chief Olusegun Obasanjo accepted being dubbed as “ẹbọra” Owu. Spirits can be malevolent or benevolent, depending on the circumstances and one’s beliefs.

Since Baba Obasanjo is a known “ẹbọra”, then it is possible for living beings to have supernatural capacities that earn them the appellations of “iwin” and “ẹbọra”. Or a unique superhuman persona like Fela could result in the acceptance that such a being is an “abami eda”. Of late, I have been wondering about which would be the correct appellation for Toyin Falola. For all he has achieved and continues to achieve, I asked him which would be the correct description for him from all or none of the above. Toyin Falola responded with a question: what of all the above?

There is no gainsaying that Professor Toyin Falola is Africa’s gift to the world of ideas, intellectualism, and advancement of the human civilisation. From Ibadan he stormed the World, leaving global footprints as a leading architect of the African intellectual renaissance. In many respects, he blazes the trail as a thought leader whose journey and impact cuts across continents, races, and generations.

A total of nine Festschrifts have been produced in his honour. Beyond the written word, Falola has been a formidable voice in shaping African studies, delivering keynote lectures across the globe, serving as president of the African Studies Association, and leading landmark academic and policy discussions on Africa’s place in the world. Mr Toyin Falola has granted so many interviews to many media platforms, not only on the state of African studies and scholarship, but also on critical issues to the society, economy, and politics of Africa and the world at large.

A recipient of numerous prestigious honours that affirm his unparalleled all-encompassing contributions to academia. Herein lies the most interesting part of Toyin Falola’s legacies. His fine capacity to achieve such an uncommon feat in academics, yet capable enough to attend to so many other areas of interest at the same period, over about seven decades of life. This is something many academics continue to find extremely difficult, if not nearly impossible. He has brought very significant contributions to the study of the Humanities, Social Sciences, Literature, and Jurisprudence.

His various efforts over the past decades have reputedly resulted in the authorship, co-authorship, and editing of over 200 books, journals, and academic works on African History, Pan-Africanism, Anglo-African cultures, Latin America and Africa’s interaction with the outside world, to mention just a few. His seminal works, such as Key Events in African History: A Reference Guide, Nationalism and African Intellectuals, as well as Tradition and Change in Africa, have become indispensable in the study of African history and politics. Through many innovative platforms, such as the Toyin Falola Network, Falola Interviews, and Falola Media, he has continued to engage consistently, sharing his ideas, depths, and experiences.

A total of nine Festschrifts have been produced in his honour. Beyond the written word, Falola has been a formidable voice in shaping African studies, delivering keynote lectures across the globe, serving as president of the African Studies Association, and leading landmark academic and policy discussions on Africa’s place in the world. Mr Toyin Falola has granted so many interviews to many media platforms, not only on the state of African studies and scholarship, but also on critical issues to the society, economy, and politics of Africa and the world at large.

Indeed, Falola’s towering global stature as a leading global scholar has been well documented. But not much is said about the life-touching things he does in the quiet, intimate corners of humanity. Beyond academics, his compassion has often revealed itself in deeply personal and localised ways. On such occasions, he extends not only his voice but his hands and heart to friends in trouble.

Falola’s approach has often been to reach out, mobilise support, and restore hope and happiness. He does these by sometimes driving heartfelt fundraising campaigns to help colleagues in distress, to pushing for support for ailing and needy colleagues and friends. One such moment was his response to the tragic ordeal of Professor Adigun Agbaje, when the institution he worked for, while on leave of absence from the University of Ibadan, abandoned him in the hands of kidnappers, even though he was on an official assignment when he was abducted. Falola stood firm in amplifying voices, drawing attention, and catalysing moral and financial solidarity with Agbaje’s family and friends.

Similarly, when Professor Ayo Olukotun took ill and later passed on, Falola did not fold his arms. Twice, he used the trust of friends to raise funds for the period of sickness and subsequent burial, since the institution he also worked for would not do much. He went a step further in championing a foundation in Olukotun’s memory, as a tribute and a living commitment to their shared ideals: justice, knowledge, and a better Nigeria.

It is this same usual character that Falola came through, adorned in his surprising customised adirẹ fabric, as gifts shared at my 70th birthday celebration, with his rich, insightful lecture in my honour in March. That lecture titled, “Power, Privilege and Philosophy,” was delivered with an alluring charm and depth that left the audience at once chuckling and thinking. Anyone who has listened to Falola from the rostrum knows that he has a unique way of delivery, aesthetically wrapping sharp critiques in wit, using humour as both a shield and sword in the quest for truth. Toyin Falola is a master in the twin approaches of story-telling and real deep academic talk in his delivery of lectures and speeches.

His seven-decade life is filled with numerous awards, and various honorary Doctorates worldwide, the latest, being an honorary Doctor of Law from the University of the Free State in South Africa. In addition, he had been bestowed with several African titles and global acclaim. However, it is Falola’s localised empathy, large-heartedness and intellectual generosity that remains one of his most profound and enduring legacies. Toyin Falola is a towering figure with a tender spirit, full of grace and humility.

In an assessment of the Toyin Falola superhuman with a large heart, Professor Serges Kamga said: “…it should be stated clearly that this enigma of a human has given selfless service to humanity. He epitomises humaneness. Throughout the stages of his academic history and career progress, he has continuously advanced the courses of people through his philanthropic disposition to people with whom he has no genetic or communal ties. Falola believes tenaciously that the growth of another individual has never been an impediment to others, and for that reason, he is a committed investor in the progress of others in ways that cannot be overemphasised…”

His seven-decade life is filled with numerous awards, and various honorary Doctorates worldwide, the latest, being an honorary Doctor of Law from the University of the Free State in South Africa. In addition, he had been bestowed with several African titles and global acclaim. However, it is Falola’s localised empathy, large-heartedness and intellectual generosity that remains one of his most profound and enduring legacies. Toyin Falola is a towering figure with a tender spirit, full of grace and humility. He writes extolling and appreciating the efforts, progress, and achievements of others.

Falola’s firm grip on the ways of culture and religion of the African peoples may have been influenced by his background, growing up in a sprawling, polygamous household that practised Islam, Christianity, and ancient Yoruba spirituality. Falola can connect scriptures in the Bible with tenets from the Quran and yet relate with some deep spiritual chants of the Yoruba Ifa. This interesting mix of different worldviews and religions easily reflects in his thinking and the depth of the stories in his rich academic outputs in various areas of the human and social sciences.

During his address to the graduating students at the University of the Free State in South Africa, Falola, in quick succession, rendered three African folk tales to drive home the import of the rule of law in the organised non-anarchical society. He would have made the chief storyteller of my first decade in life – Buroda Bode – then a mechanic in training grin with envy.

Another round of lectures ended in South Africa and I realised that I should have directed my question on who is Toyin Falola to Dr Bisi Falola – his wife of about four-and-a-half decades. So, Doc, is Toyin an “iwin”,”ẹbọra”, “àjẹ́”, or “abàmì edà” or none or all of the above? To be married to an academic is a major challenge. To be side-by-side with an itinerant scholar always on the move and who reputedly can also remain indoors writing non-stop for five to seven days requires a hugely understanding superhuman of sort.

I salute Mrs Bisi Falola for being a supportively humble and tolerant superb human in her own right. She is ever ready to welcome Toyin’s many friends to sumptuous meals, and even offer professional advice on health, as I was once a beneficiary from her merely listening to my voice over the phone. She got it right that I was sick and needed medical attention. A few days later, she initiated the call to check if I sought medical attention and was improving.

Babafemi A. Badejo, author of a best-seller on politics in Kenya, was a former Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, and is currently a legal practitioner and consultant at Yintab Strategy Consults, as well as the African Annual Conference at the University of Texas at Austin’s 2025 Nelson Mandela Distinguished Africanist Awardee.

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend his ongoing retreat in France and return to Nigeria immediately to address the worsening security crisis gripping the nation.

In a statement posted today on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Obi expressed grave concern over the increasing rate of violence and insecurity across the country, lamenting what he described as a “glaring absence of governance.”

“Within just two weeks of Mr President’s absence, over 150 Nigerians have lost their lives due to various security breaches, especially in Plateau and Zamfara States,” Obi wrote.

He also pointed to the resurgence of insurgency in the North-East, particularly in Borno State, where both civilians and security personnel have been reported killed. The situation, he added, is not different in the South-East, where killings and abductions continue unabated.

Obi condemned the repeated pipeline explosions in the Niger Delta, describing them as further evidence of a nation in deep crisis. “Amid these disturbing developments, the CEO of the troubled company called Nigeria is holding a retreat in faraway France, removed from the epicentre of national distress,” he said.

He questioned the wisdom of conducting a strategic retreat in a foreign land that enjoys relative peace and stability secured by its leadership, while back home, “blood continues to flow.”

Reaffirming that his comments were driven not by personal ambition but by a desire to see a better-governed nation, Obi urged the President to “suspend whatever he is doing in France and return home to take responsibility by addressing these disturbing issues.”

“The fight for a better Nigeria is not about individuals,” he added. “It is about ensuring that every citizen can see, feel, and benefit from the policies and decisions of those in power.”