News

One year remembrance: Family, friends celebrate late PUNCH chairman, Aboderin

Published

7 years ago

May 31, 2019

Eric

Family and friends gathered on Thursday for the one year remembrance service in honour of the late chairman of PUNCH Nigeria Limited, Mr Gbadebowale Aboderin.

The event was held at the Trinity House on Victoria Island, Lagos.

Aboderin, aged 60, died on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 6.05am after a heart surgery at the First Cardiology Consultants, Ikoyi, Lagos.

He was buried on June 15, 2018.

Before his death, Aboderin was also the chairman, PUNCH Commercial Printing Limited and Lukahed Properties Limited.

He was an alumnus of Government College, Ibadan and was trained as a pilot in the United States.

A sports enthusiast and philanthropist, he was the founder and chairman of the Dolphins Female Basketball Team and a former chairman of the Lagos State Basketball Association.

He was also a one-time vice-president of the Nigerian Basketball Supporters Club.

At the remembrance held for the late Aboderin, his sister, Mrs Angela Emuwa, described the late PUNCH chairman as a determined man who did not only push himself but also pushed others to succeed.

She said, “As my brother, he was stubborn in the sense that he was determined to achieve his dreams. He left an indelible mark on a lot of people.

“For instance, he took the girls at Dolphins like his daughters. He used to say that anything that was good for his daughters was good for the girls. He pushed a lot of people to succeed.”

Emuwa, who emerged as the chairman of PUNCH Nigeria Limited after Aboderin’s death, said he was an amazing man.

“I just pray to God that we would have the strength to continue the legacy he laid down,” she said.

Another sister to the deceased, Mrs Wunmi Obe, recalled that the late PUNCH chairman didn’t want people around him to be sorrowful.

She said as they grew up, it was impossible for anyone to be sorrowful when around the late Aboderin.

“He wanted people to stay in high spirits,” she said.

Obe narrated how the deceased didn’t want anyone to know he was sick in his dying days.

She said, “Towards the end of his life and he was always going to the hospital, he told me that I shouldn’t tell anyone that he was dying because he didn’t want anyone to panic or cry.

“He told me, ‘You know you are strong.’ I know I’m not. But because he told me, I had to do so. His influence was so strong that on the day he died and I got to the hospital, I didn’t initially cry and inform anyone until I realised, ‘Wait, my brother is gone.’ His death was shocking but we celebrate him.”

A basketball coach, Mr Peter Amadu, who said he was tutored by the late PUNCH chairman, described him as a man who desired others to succeed.

He said, “He (Aboderin) told me what life was all about and I am sad that he did not live till today to see the young man that he guided to become a man.

“I was with the Dolphins but at a time, I wanted to become a full-time coach. I requested his permission and he gave me the permission to go and study. He contributed to my ability to attend the National Institute of Sports. He said my dream was his happiness.”

Admonishing the departed’s family and friends in his sermon, the founder of Trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, said the late Aboderin would be missed dearly.

“We miss him dearly. He was the kind of person you could not but miss. Once he entered a place, his aura filled the whole room. He was always here and there, jumping and singing, dancing and creating songs,” said Ighodalo.

Reading from John 11:19-26, the cleric said even in the presence of God, death could come.

He said, “Whether we like it or not, death comes. The prayer is that it will come only at the appointed time, not necessarily at old age. If God is there, He makes the passage easy.

“So we don’t need to mourn because that’s the character of all flesh. Our brother, Wale, will rise again.”

In her comments, one of the deceased’s daughters, Nicole, thanked those who attended the remembrance service of their father.

News

Gowon is Not Dead, in Good Health, Aide Debunks Death Rumour

Published

4 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Eric

Adeyeye Ajayi, Personal Assistant to former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), has dismissed recent rumours on social media purporting the death of the ex-leader.

Ajayi described the rumour as false and misleading.

In a statement released on Sunday, Ajayi called on the public to disregard the reports, emphasizing that they are baseless and misleading. He stressed that the rumours only serve to create unnecessary panic and confusion among Nigerians.

He assured that General Gowon is in good health and continues to live an active life. He highlighted that the former Head of State has been attending public functions and engaging with various social and national initiatives.

Ajayi further described General Gowon as a continued voice of reason in Nigeria, noting his ongoing contributions to national dialogue and development.

He urged Nigerians to focus on credible news sources, and exercise caution before sharing unverified information online.

Social media platforms in recent days have seen multiple posts claiming that the 90-year-old ex-leader had passed away. Analysts and observers have warned that such false reports can cause unnecessary anxiety and undermine public trust in information.

Ajayi concluded by urging the public to celebrate the legacy and life of General Gowon while dismissing any unverified reports about his health. He reiterated that the former head of state remains active, healthy, and committed to supporting initiatives for Nigeria’s growth and progress.

News

Accord Party Reaffirms Adeleke As Osun Guber Candidate

Published

7 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Eric

The Chairman of Accord Party in Osun State, Pastor Babalola Akande, says the only legally recognised candidate of the party for the 2026 governorship election in the is Governor Ademola Adeleke.

Akande made the clarification against the backdrop of primaries conducted on Sunday by another faction of the Accord Party in Osogbo.

He described the primaries conducted by the factional Accord Party as an unlawful political charade, orchestrated by the opposition.

“Let it be stated clearly, categorically, and without equivocation that all the actors being named in the fictitious primary, are not members of our party.

“Some of them were expelled from the party since 2018 for alleged fraud and other acts inimical to the unity, discipline, and progress of the party.

“Such a character or any other in his shoes, therefore, possess no authority whatsoever; moral, political, or legal, to convene, announce, or participate in any activity conducted in the name of the Accord Party,” he said.

He said the party is not disturbed by crude impersonation and political mischief, stating that the public should, however, know the impersonators are affiliates of the opposition, acting as proxies to undermine the popularity of Adeleke.

“Let me state with absolute finality that Adeleke is the duly nominated and lawful governorship candidate of the Accord in Osun.

“This position is incontestable, irreversible, and firmly grounded in law, haven emerged through due process in accordance with the Constitution of the Accord, the Electoral Act 2022, and established judicial precedents.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Accord hereby issues a formal and stern warning to all concerned.

“Under the Electoral Act 2022, only recognised political parties acting through their duly constituted organs can lawfully conduct congresses or primary elections, after giving proper notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Any primary conducted outside this framework is illegal, null, void, and of no legal consequence whatsoever,” he said.

He said any individual parading himself as a candidate of the Accord without lawful nomination would be committing a clear act of impersonation and electoral fraud, which is actionable both under the Electoral Act 2022 and relevant provisions of the Criminal Code and Penal laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said that Adeleke remained the sole and legally recognised governorship candidate of the Accord in Osun, noting that “no parallel structure, impersonator, and contrived spectacle can alter legal reality”.

He urged residents to ignore the distractions, which he said, were the handiwork of politically displaced actors.

A factional Accord Party in Osun, on Sunday, announced Mr. Clement Bamigbola as its 2026 governorship candidate.

NAN

News

OAU: MicCom Institutes Financial Awards for Best Graduating Student, Producing Dept

Published

1 day ago

December 14, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Makers of fine quality cables and wires, MicCom Cables and Wires Limited, has instituted an annual financial awards to reward the best graduating student, and the department that produces the best graduating student in the Faculty of Technology of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. The awards take off with immediate effect.

The revelation was made by the University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, while delivering a speech during the 49th Convocation Ceremony of the institution, held at the school’s Amphitheater.

Speaking before a crowd of graduands, academic and non-academic staff, dignitaries and the general public, an elated Bamire announced that the award is instituted in honour of Engr. (Mrs.) Comfort Olufunke Ponnle, co-founder of MicCom Cables and Wires, and mother of the present Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Olubukola Adubi.

“MicCom Cables and Wires Limited has instituted an Annual Financial Award in honour of Engr. (Mrs) Comfort Olufunke Ponnle, FNSE, for the Best Overall Graduating Student (BOGS) in the Faculty of Technology (One Million Naira) and the sum of Ten Million Naira to the Department where the BOGS emerges in the Faculty of Technology.

“This award celebrates exceptional students and the invaluable role of their department in shaping and fostering the future of Engineering and Technology.

“The award is to be presented annually during the University Graduation Ceremony starting this year, 2025. This is to empower the next generation of engineers,” VC Bamire said.

Mrs Ponnle, a certified engineer, died in October 2012 at the age of 68.

This year’s awards were quickly presented to the 2025 winner, Amuke Sunday, who emerged the overall graduating student, while his department, Computer Science and Engineering carted away the N10 million grant.

The CEO of MicCom, Mrs Adubi, was on hand to make the presentations, supported by members of the academic community.