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Prince Akeem Owoade, a Nigerian-Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist, has been approved as the new Alaafin of Oyo.
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, announced the appointment on Friday through the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade.
Owoade is a Nigerian and Canadian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and president of 100279 Manitoba Limited, a real estate investment and financial services business in Manitoba, Canada.
Born 49 years ago to a prominent and royal family of Owoade-Agunloye in Oyo town, Owoade is one of the surviving children of Pa Rasaki Ibiyosi Owoade, the descendant of Aremo Aderounmu Iyanda Owoade, Agure Compound, Oyo town.
Owoade completed his secondary school education at Baptist High School, Saki, Oyo State, Nigeria, in 1992.
His father worked for the Oyo North Agricultural Development Programme, helping the Oke-Ogun community in boosting agricultural productivity.
Taking an early interest in engineering, Owoade began his engineering studies by completing his National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State (1994 to 1997) and The Polytechnic, Ibadan (1999 to 2001), Oyo State.
He did his national youth service with Nigeria Gas Company as a Mechanical Intern/Planner in 2002.
After the completion of his NYSC, he worked with Oceanic Bank International Plc. in Warri, Delta State as a teller from 2003 to 2004.
Owoade decided to further his education in the United Kingdom, where he attended the University of Sunderland (2008) and Northumbria University (2012) from where he earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering, respectively.
He became certified in Project Management in June 2015 (PMP holder).
He was chosen by the Owoade-Agunloye family as the preferred candidate to represent the Owoade family in the Alaafin of Oyo race.
He held a Planning Engineer position at Oil Reach Company, Glasgow, United Kingdom for some years before moving to Canada for greater opportunities.
He is the Project Coordinator at one of the largest electric power and natural gas utility providers in Canada, Manitoba Hydro.
Senator John Azuta-Mbata has been elected as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Azuta-Mbata, a former Senator representing Rivers East at the National Assembly, was elected at the stakeholders meeting of the Igbo Socio-Cultural organization at the old government lodge Enugu, the Enugu State capital on Friday.
The event was attended by several delegates from the South-East and the Diaspora with more than 200 social and cultural groups.
Mbata will be succeeding Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu, the last occupant of the President General seat, who hailed from Imo State. He succeeded the late Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and the late Prof. George Obiozor, all of whom were from Imo State but died in office.
John Azuta-Mbata served as the senator representing Rivers East senatorial district under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between 1999 to 2003.
Azuta-Mbata was born in January 1960. He earned a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Ibadan.
He was a member of the Governing council of Rivers state university of science & Technology, Port Harcourt.
After taking his seat in the Senate in June 1999, he was appointed to committees on Defense, Works & Housing, Women Affairs, Finance & Appropriation (vice chairman), Information, Special Projects and Local & Foreign Debts.
Suspected armed bandits on Tuesday ambushed a joint team of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and vigilante members in Baure Village, killing 21 of the local security men.
The team was returning from a condolence visit when the attack occurred at around 4:30pm on Tuesday January 7, 2025.
Katsina State Police Command confirmed this assault on Friday, stating that the operatives from the Safana Divisional Headquarters responded promptly to the incident, restoring normalcy to the area.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu said efforts were underway to apprehend perpetrators of the heinous act.
“The Command is committed to ensuring that those responsible for this dastardly act are brought to justice,” the statement read.
“Further developments will be communicated as the investigation progresses.”
The incident has left the local community in shock, as attacks by bandits continue to pose significant challenges to security in the region.
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies in their efforts to maintain peace and stability.
As the clampdown on internet fraudsters continue across the country, the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested four Chinese and 104 Nigerians in a business apartment in the Gudu axis of Abuja.
The suspects were arrested on Thursday, January 9, 2025, EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale confirmed.
The suspects, comprising 67 male (including four Chinese) and 38 female were allegedly involved in hotel review job scam targeting victims and hotels in Europe and other parts of the world.
The EFCC spokesperson further noted that the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old sex worker, Riyanatu Musa for allegedly stabbing a barman to death during a quarrel.
The sex worker who is based in Mubi South local government area, killed the barman identified as Yohanna Musa, during quarrel over N200 balance of liquor.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje said the sex worker has since confessed to the heinous crime while being interrogated.
According to the PPRO, the sex worker narrated that she had collected dry gin known as “Big Ben” and one other from the victim and promised to pay the following day, saying that she paid the sum of N1,500 remaining the balance of N200.
She explained that the fight ensued between her and the victim when he demanded for his money and in the course of the feud, she stabbed the victim with a knife in the chest, resulting to his death.
The mother of two who said that she drinks alcohol however denied drinking beer on the day of the incident, saying that she regretted her action.
SP Nguroje said the Commissioner of Police, Morris Dankombo has ordered discreet investigation into the matter, and warned the public from taking laws into their own hands.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested the man behind the recent cloning of its website in which a notice was placed to falsely inform Nigerians that the agency was carrying out a recruitment exercise.
The suspect, Sylvester Victor Augustus, 32, a native of Abak local government area of Akwa-Ibom State, was tracked and arrested by DSS operatives on Thursday at his residence on Akpan Eno Lane in Abak, Abak LGA of Akwa Ibom State.
A security source, who confirmed the arrest, said the suspect claimed to be a graduate of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), a blogger and content creator.
The source said Augustus will soon be arraigned in court.
It would be recalled that Augustus had cloned the DSS website on which he created a fake online recruitment notice, apparently with the intent of defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.
Immediately, it was noticed, the DSS promptly tagged the post “fake” and cautioned members of the public not to fall victim to the antics of fraudsters
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has reacted to the viral video showing two sons of Lagos-based billionaire industrialist and businessman, Chief Razak Okoya-Thomas, displaying wads of N1,000 banknotes and spraying themselves with same, saying it was an abuse of the nation’s currency.
The Police authorities also said the Police escort seen in the video holding the bundles of the Naira notes for the two rich kids has been identified and detained for disciplinary action.
These were disclosed by the NPF on its verified Facebook page on Friday morning. The Police, however, was silent on the consequences of the action of the Okoya boys.
The Force wrote: “The policeman captured in the recent viral video shared by the sons of the lagos businessman, Chief Okoya, where they were abusing the naira, has been identified and detained for disciplinary action.
“The involvement of the policeman has been condemned, as it’s unethical. We will always strive hard to uphold the sanctity, credibility, and core values of the police. Thanks.”
Mixed reactions have trailed the viral video on social media as some netizens criticised the rich kids for displaying wealth in the midst of widespread poverty in the land, while others said the Okoya boys were free to live their lives according to their dictates.
The Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has accused his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje of owing ₦48 billion outstanding gratuities.
Yusuf stated that Ganduje failed to prioritize the payment of gratuities and death benefits to state retirees in his eight-year tenure.
He disclosed this during the official launch of the 3rd tranche of ₦5 billion payment of backlog of gratuities and death benefits of retirees at the Government House.
In a statement released by Governor’s Spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa on Friday, Yusuf sympathized with the pensioners, who he said had passed through difficult times and untold hardships during the Ganduje-led administration.
He lamented that hundreds of these retirees had lost their lives while waiting endlessly for their entitlements.
He said, “The perennial neglect of Ganduje’s administration to settle pensioners entitlements in the last eight years of his government has subjected pensioners to hardship in Kano.
“This is the biggest social security threat ever witnessed since the creation of Kano state in 1967. Many have lost their lives while waiting endlessly for their gratuities.”
He explained that the release of a cumulative sum of ₦16 billion in gratuities to about 6,886 retirees in three tranches was part of his campaign promise to ease the pain of senior citizens who had contributed immensely to public service while on active service.
According to him, payment of backlog gratuities to the lawful beneficiaries is not only an obligation but a moral right of every leader. He assured the retirees of transparent processes for the payment, which they would receive through an electronic system from the government Treasury.
“Out of over N48 billion inherited, we commenced settlement process with N6 billion being the 1st tranche to 2,2667 retirees. A few months later, we released the second tranche of N5 billion to 2,216 pensioners. Today, I am overwhelmed with joy to witness the launch of the 3rd trench of N5 billion for 2,000 beneficiaries.
“We are not paying the pensioners in cash because we don’t have confidence in the cash payment, and we would not allow the irregularities that characterised the past administration to reoccur. You will all be paid through bank accounts directly to your account”, he added
General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has revealed that the strength of renowned evangelist, Rev. Uma Ukpai, helped him after the death of his son, Dare Adeboye.
Recalls that Dare, the third child of Adeboye, died on May 4, 2021, in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, where he was based with his family.
Pastor Adeboye’s son was the Assistant Pastor in charge of Region (Youth) 35 and was married to Temiloluwa with three daughters, before his death.
Speaking during a special service at the International Worship Centre in Uyo on Friday held to celebrate Ukpai’s 80th birthday, Adeboye said the clergy’s steadfastness in Christian faith helped him after the death of his son.
Adeboye, who described his son’s death as the darkest moment since becoming a Christian, said he drew strength from Ukpai’s lifestyle.
He added that Ukpai’s influence would be well appreciated when he dies.
In his words, “If you really, really want to serve God, then you must be ready to serve him whether things are pleasant or not.
“In the darkest moment of my life since becoming a Christian — when I lost my son without notice — my son called me on a Sunday evening and said, ‘Daddy, the weekend programme was extremely successful. Glory be to God, thank you for your prayer support.’ The next thing I heard on Tuesday night was that my son was gone.
“I had to preach on Friday, and one reference point that gave me strength was Uma Ukpai. I know he lost more than one child in a day, yet he did not waver. He kept on serving God. He gave me strength at a time when I needed it most.”
Governor Seyi Makinde, on Friday, 10th January, 2025, announced the appointment of Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the next Alaafin of Oyo.
As earlier reported by Naija News, the approval was made public in a press statement by the Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade.
The announcement comes about 2 years and 9 months after the last Alaafin, of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, joined his ancestors.
Below are some important things to know about the incoming Alaafin, Prince Owoade.
1. Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade hails from the Owoade-Agunloye royal family of Oyo, with a lineage tracing back to Aremo Aderounmu Iyanda Owoade of Agure Compound. He is one of the surviving children of Pa Rasaki Ibiyosi Owoade.
2. Prince Owoade was born in 1978.
3. He attended Baptist High School, Saki, and holds diplomas in Mechanical Engineering from The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, and The Polytechnic, Ibadan. Prince Owoade pursued further education in the United Kingdom, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sunderland in 2008 and a Master of Science in the same field from Northumbria University in 2012.
4. Prince Owoade worked as a Planning Engineer in the UK and is currently a Project Coordinator at Manitoba Hydro, Canada.
5. The newly-appointed Alaafin is the president of 100279 Manitoba Limited, a company focused on real estate and financial services.
6. Owoade was recommended by the Oyomesi after extensive consultations to succeed the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, as the new Alaafin of Oyo.
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Subomi Okoya, one of the sons of billionaire Razaq Okoya, has apologised for abusing the naira following the detention of a policeman attached to him.
In a viral video, Subomi and his brother Wahab were seen spraying naira notes while the detained officer held stacks of the currency, a violation of Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.
Spraying or abusing the naira is an offence punishable by law. In 2024, popular socialite and cross-dresser Okuneye Idris, popularly known as Bobrisky, was imprisoned for a similar offence.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) said on Friday that it had identified and detained the policeman captured in the video.
The NPF disclosed this on its official X handle, stating, “The policeman captured in the recent viral video shared by the sons of the Lagos businessman, Chief Okoya, where they were abusing the naira, has been identified and detained for disciplinary action.”
The NPF condemned the officer’s actions, calling them unethical and contrary to the values of the police force. “The involvement of the policeman has been condemned, as it’s unethical. We will always strive hard to uphold the sanctity, credibility, and core values of the police,” the statement read.
Several X users demanded that Okoya’s sons should also be detained.
@Omolomo_o wrote: “What about the sons who mishandled the money? They’re above the law ????”
@SamuelI10540458 wrote: “Why detain the Police when you could have easily picked Chief Okoya sons . This is all shades of wrong.”
Reacting to the backlash, Subomi apologised to the police in a post on X, saying he was not fully aware of the consequences of his actions.
“To the Nigerian people, my actions were not to cause any trouble or harm. My intentions were pure and naive.
“I ask for your forgiveness and support in this situation as I had no intention to raise such an alarm. I wasn’t fully aware of the consequences of my action,” he wrote.
Former Minister of Youth, Solomon Dalung has doubled down on the claim that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is not insulated from the activities of ‘dangerous cabals’.
The former Minister reiterated his recent claim about the existence of cabals in Tinubu’s administration while appearing on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Friday, January 10, 2025.
Dalung said the activities of the cabals are unhealthy to good governance, adding that most of the decisions of the Tinubu administration are influenced by the cabals.
“If you look at the hardship in the country and the president’s reaction, it’s completely a disconnect from the reality we are dealing with.
“Of course, I still maintain that the infrastructure of the cabal is still effective and also influencing most of the things we see happening in government,” he said.
Explaining why he described the cabals as dangerous, Dalung said the people around Tinubu pursue their personal interests, disconnecting the president from the reality of Nigerians’ plights.
“They are dangerous because they pursue their selfish interest against the interest of their principal and that, of course, is at cross purposes with the intention of whosoever appointed them. That is dangerous because they are doing things different from what ordinarily would have impacted positively on Nigerians,” he explained.
When asked to mention the names of the people who constitute the cabals, derailing Tinubu’s directives, the ex-minister said he reserves the right to mention no name.
“As to asking me to name some names, I have clearly given you my opinion about what I know as a cabal. And it is up to you to dig deeper as an investigative journalist to find out
“But for you to ask me to name some names, I think I have the right to reserve the names of those I in my opinion think are a cabal,” Dalung said.
Jubilation has erupted in the ancient city of Kano as a Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II in the crucial legal battle over the Emirship stool.
Supporters of Emir Sanusi, including youths and elderly individuals, celebrated the victory with drums, dancing, and other festivities.
The judgement delivered by the Appeal Court which sat in Abuja has brought an end to the prolonged legal dispute that threatened the stability of the Kano Emirate.
Recall that the dispute began when Governor Abba Yusuf sometime in May 2024 dissolved all the Emirates and dethroned the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero while he was away from the state (the palace) and that which paved way for the reinstatement of the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II who was immediately moved into the Kofar-Kudu palace to ascend the throne.
Upon return to the state, Bayero was forced to occupy the Nassarawa mini palace in a sit tight and where he currently carries out his courts.
The Federal Government has said the promise of a better economy for the nation was being delivered.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, stated this on Thursday while briefing the Senate Committee on Appropriations on the 2025 budget.
The briefing provided critical updates on the performance of the 2024 budget and the administration’s progress in implementing key economic reforms.
During the briefing, Edun sought a closed session when was grilled concerning revenues accruing from the removed petrol subsidy.
During the session, the Minister said the significant fiscal recovery in the economy was a result of bold reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including the market-based pricing of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and foreign exchange policies, which collectively could save the country up to 5% of previously lost revenue.
“The administration inherited an economy on the brink, but through targeted reforms, we are now on a recovery path.
“Our focus remains on growing revenues, improving fiscal discipline, and ensuring sustainable economic growth for all Nigerians,” he said.
Edun stressed the strong performance of recurrent revenue at nearly 100% in 2024 as evidence of the government’s ability to meet its obligations despite a challenging economic environment.
He also expressed the government’s commitment to funding capital expenditure, which has been extended to run through June 30, 2025.
He pointed out that the over 3% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth recorded last year as a key milestone, was a result of sound macroeconomic reforms of the government.
“Our macroeconomic reforms have begun to deliver results. With stronger performances from agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, we are seeing consistent revenue growth, which is critical for funding our development goals,” he stated.
The Minister explained that the 2025 budget was designed to build on the successes of the past year by increasing tax-to-GDP ratios and shoring up national revenues.
He reaffirmed the President’s commitment to maintaining fiscal stability and meeting debt obligations while implementing reforms that will foster inclusive growth to the benefit of all Nigerians, including creating jobs and attracting investment.
The Finance Minister further assured the Committee that the government’s reforms are setting the stage for sustained economic growth and fiscal recovery.
He added that the administration remains determined to achieve higher growth rates and create a more stable economic environment that benefits all Nigerians through increased job opportunities, higher investments, and inclusive growth.