Headline

One Year After, Family And Friends Remember Deaconess Oluwatoyin Shola-Bakare In Lagos

Published

7 years ago

April 17, 2019

Editor

By Michael Effiong and Pix by Segun Lawal

One year gone by without the love and care you gave everyone that crossed your path. How difficult it is coping without your physical presence. Your absence is a silent grief, your life a beautiful memory. I miss you so much. My Oluwatoyin, rest on in peace”

Mr Shola Bakare with children, Enoch & Deborah and Pastor Max Gbinigie of TREM, Utako Abuja

These were the moving words of Mr Abiodun Shola Bakare, as family and friends gathered to mark the first year remembrance of the passing of his wonderful wife, Deaconess Princess Oluwatoyin Ajoke Shola-Bakare (nee Ogunlana Obanikoro)

Mr Shola Bakare deep in prayers

The sober graveside ceremony held at the famous Vaults & Gardens, Ikoyi was officiated by Pastor Max Gbinigie of the The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Utako, Abuja.

Pastor Gbinigie preached about the need to thank God that the family she left behind has remained united and urged the widower, Mr Shola Bakare to remain strong.

Michael Effiong James with wife, Mrs Oluwakemi James, cousin of the late Deaconess Oluwatoyin Shola Bakare

In his words “I know the last one year has been tough, it has been rough but I want to encourage that the Lord who has seen you through will continue to be with you.Never abandon that God.He will give you long life.

“Deaconess Toyin was a good woman and that is why we are all here today. The beautiful thing is we are not mourning, we remember her and we are excited, we are happy because everyone felt her touch.

Mr Shola Bakare with family and friends

We are here not because we want to sorrow afresh but we just thank God that we are alive to remember this great daughter of God, who served Him till her very last day on earth”

Pastor Max Gbinigie of TREM, Vision House, Utako Abuja delivering words of exhortation

He adminished all present that life was beyond wealth and materialism but should be about impact, the effect we have had on other people’s lives.

He added “What is your life like? What is the value of your life? He urged all to examine themselves to ensure they will be right with God”

Mr Shola Bakare, children, Pastor Gbinigie with siblings of the late Deaconnes Oluwatoyin Shola-Bakare

The sermon over, he then showered prayers on Mr Shola Bakare and his children, Enoch and Deborah as well as the other members of the family and friends who flew in from all.parts of the world for the remembrance.

After the prayers, guests were entertained with food and drinks and the Lagos leg of the ceremony was rounded off.

Mr Shola Bakare with friends

Mr Shola Bakare with Michael Effiong, Editor, Ovation International Magazine

The remembrance will continue in Abuja on Good Friday with a Solemn Night of Worship at her residence and on Easter Sunday, April 21, there will be a first memorial service at TREM, Vision House, Utako.

Headline

Defence Gulps Lion Share As Tinubu Presents N58.47trn 2026 Budget to NASS

Published

2 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has presented a budget of N58.47 trillion for the 2026 fiscal year to a joint session of the National Assembly, with capital recurrent (non‑debt) expenditure standing at N15.25 trillion.

Tinubu presented the budget on Friday, pegging the capital expenditure at N26.08 trillion and putting the crude oil benchmark at US$64.85 per barrel.

He said the expected total revenue is N34.33 trillion, projected total expenditure: N58.18 trillion, including N15.52 trillion for debt servicing. The budget is N23.85 trillion, representing 4.28% of GDP.

The budget was anchored on a crude oil production of 1.84 million barrels per day, and an exchange rate of N1,400 to the US Dollar for the 2026 fiscal year.

In terms of sectoral allocation, defence and security took the lion’s share with N 5.41 trillion, followed by infrastructure at N3.56 trillion.

Headline

Mike Adenuga, Emmanuel Macron Hold High-Powered Meeting in Paris

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Eric

Accomplished billionaire businessman and Commander of the French Légion d’Honneur, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr., GCON, CdrLH, has held a private meeting with the French President, Emmanuel Macron.

The two powerful citizens of the world held the meeting on Wednesday at the historic Élysée Palace in Paris.

The high-level engagement underscores the longstanding relationship between Dr. Adenuga and the French Republic, as well as his continued relevance in global business and diplomatic circles.

A respected industrialist and philanthropist, Adenuga has been widely acknowledged for his contributions to economic development, telecommunications, energy, and humanitarian causes across Africa and beyond.

The meeting adds to Dr. Adenuga’s growing profile as a bridge between African enterprise and international leadership.

Headline

Free at Last: Burkina Faso Releases 11 Nigerian Soldiers, Aircraft

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Eric

Burkina Faso has released Nigerian soldiers who were detained after their aircraft made a forced landing in the Sahelian country earlier this month, Nigerian officials said.

The release followed a diplomatic intervention by President Bola Tinubu, who dispatched a high-level delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, to meet Burkina Faso’s Military Leader, Ibrahim Traoré, on Wednesday.

In a statement, Alkasim Abdulkadir, Tuggar’s spokesperson, said both sides resolved the matter amicably and secured the release of the Nigerian Air Force pilots and crew.

The soldiers had been held for nearly two weeks after the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) described the aircraft’s landing as an “unfriendly act” carried out in defiance of international law.

The Nigerian Air Force, however, said the crew encountered a technical issue that required a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, the nearest available airfield. It said the landing complied with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.