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Mrs. Onikepo Akande: Celebrating an Achiever @80

Published

1 year ago

November 3, 2024

Eric

Eric Elezuo

The Convention Centre of the Eko Hotel and Suites was a melting point of some sort recently when the who’s who in South West politics and industry thronged the arena in honour of one of Nigeria’s distinguished public servants, Chief (Mrs.) Onikepo Akande, as she celebrated her entry into the octogenarian club.

Among a list of the high class personalities that gave the gathering a touch of excellence were Her Excellency, the Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefilure; Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Aare Dele Momodu; Former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; publisher, Guardian Newspapers, Lady Maiden Ibru; Publisher, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka, Hajia Bola Shagaya, former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and his wife; Senator Daisy Danjuma, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, Pastor Siju Iluyomade, CEO, Biscon Communications, Prince Bisi Olatilo; Erelu Abiola Dosunmu and many others.

Clad in the best of attires as the event lasted, the elated Otun Iyalode of Ibadanland and former Minister of Mines and Industry, was a gracious sight to behold as she welcomed invitees and special guests of honour.

THE WOMAN, ONIKEPO AKANDE

Formerly Onikepo Adisa, Mrs. Onikepo Akande (OON CON) was born on October 29, 1944 in Lagos. She is an economist, accountant and industrialist, who served as the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and honorary life Vice-President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.

A native of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nike is the first of four children of a royal family. She had her secondary school education at Queen’s School, Ede (now Queen’s School, Ibadan) after completing her basic education in Ibadan. She holds a B.Sc. in Accountancy from the North-Western Polytechnic (now University of North London) after graduating in 1968. She is also an alumni of the Harvard Business School and the International Institute for Management Development.

An accomplished traditional practitioner, Nike holds the title of “Ekerin Iyalode of Ibadanland”, a traditional chieftaincy position in her homeland. She is married to Chief Adebayo Akande, a business magnate and owner of Splash FM, Ibadan with whom she has children.

She is a renowned industrialist and economist, described by former President Goodluck Jonathan as “an inspiration”. A board member of Union Bank of Nigeria and PZ Foundation, she also serves as the Director of the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Industrial Development Bank.

Not done with finding her worthy to serve on various fronts, on December 8, 2015, Nike was appointed Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group Nigeria, succeeding Chris Ezeh. She was appointed as the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on December 5, 2015.

At her investiture, the wife of the then President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, said of her that Nigeria needs nothing less from a two time minister as she pledged a vibrant private sector. The then outgoing President of LCCI, Mr. Remi Bello, also considering her pedigree, said ‘she’s bringing rich blend of public, private sector experience to bear on LCCI’, a trust she had not failed ever since being the second woman president of the organization in its 127 years of existence.

In her speech at the event, Mrs. Akande did not leave anyone in doubt as regards where her priority lies. This is espoused as follows:

“We need the private sector to generate employment to address the acute and frightening unemployment, poverty and insecurity in our society; we need a virile private sector to make Nigeria a respected country in the comity of nation.

“We would not relent in our advocacy to promote a conducive environment for the private sector to play the role expected of it in the realisation of the Nigerian vision.”

That is the kind of passion she has to see that the average Nigerian is well catered for and given the good he deserves.

A peep into her life and times showed that she was appointed Minister of Industry, Federal Republic of Nigeria in December, 1997 and re-appointed to the same Ministry in August, 1998. This made her a two-time Minister of Industry under different administrations. She was the first Nigerian woman to become Minister of Industries. This was not surprising to many who knew her as a strong believer in the philosophy that industrialization is the key to economic development, poverty alleviation and eradication, as well as employment generation.

At an event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1998, she was awarded the African Federation of Women Entrepreneur Award. In 2003, she was conferred as an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). Nike is also a recipient of the national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) since 2014.

A seasoned business administrator and accountant, she has evolved in the near two decades as noteworthy industrialist in the economic landscape of Nigeria.

Many boardrooms have been graced by the presence of this amiable accomplished woman. She had been the Director of Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB), a member of the Board of Trustees, of the National Center for Women Development; member, panel to study and re-organize both the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Trust Investment Company Limited Ibadan; Director of National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria (NICON).

Mrs. Akande is not the type to come to office without leaving a mark of positive affection on both the office and the people. One of her major achievements in office was the revamping of the Onigbolo Cement Company, a Nigeria-Benin Republic joint venture to its present level of profitability.

She also particularly emphasized the adoption and revitalization of Industrial Development Centres (IDCs) across the nation, to support and help the informal sector operators in Nigeria in order to boost industrial productivity.

In December 1998, she broadened Nigerians Industrialization effort by successfully signing an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with Romania and Bulgaria – a co-operation which Nigeria is still benefiting from till today.

A fulfilled person, she said this of herself, “I am a fulfilled and happy person. That is why I always smile because I thank God. I have a special song which I always sing: ‘Elo ni mo san, fun Oba ogo, elo ni Jesu mi gba, fun ore re lori mi’.”

Recollecting what gave her the impetus to aim so high, and achieve so much, she said: “Being the first child, leadership was thrust at me when my mother died. I used to take her place during the extended Aboderin family meetings where I sat with big people. I’ve always been ambitious and as a child, my mother hired a private teacher for extra-moral classes for me. One day, he was talking about the death of a Minister, Bode Thomas then. I was interested in the story, and I told him I would be a minster in this country someday. When I became a minister, he came to look for me at the ministry to remind me of this.”

She believes that winning is a product of niceties: “To win in life, you have to be nice to people and help them as much as possible. Moreover, I am still contributing my quota to the development of Nigeria. I was at Queen’s School, Ibadan to see the principal sometime and I saw that the administrative block was not looking nice. I promised to do something and being on the board of PZ Foundation, I requested help for my alma-mater and they constructed a brand new administrative block.”

Her pedigree is endless, and that is why she is worthy of the boss of the week. Happy 80th Birthday ma!

Headline

Court Validates PDP 2025 Convention in Ibadan, Affirms Turaki-led NWC

Published

6 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Eric

The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has affirmed the validity of the 2025 Elective Convention of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), which produced Dr. Kabiru Turaki as the substantive National Chairman of the party.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Ladiran Akintola upheld the convention in its entirety, ruling that it was conducted in full compliance with the relevant constitutional and statutory provisions governing party elections in Nigeria.

The decision marked a significant legal victory for the party’s leadership and brought clarity to the dispute surrounding the convention’s legitimacy.

The ruling followed an amended originating summons filed by Misibau Adetunmbi (SAN) on behalf of the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, in Suit No. I/1336/2025.

In a comprehensive judgment, the court granted all 13 reliefs sought by the claimant, effectively endorsing the processes and outcomes of the Ibadan convention.

Justice Akintola held that the convention, organised by the recognised leadership of the party, satisfied all laid-down legal requirements as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), and the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

The court found no breach of due process or statutory non-compliance in the conduct of the exercise.

In the same proceedings, the court dismissed the Motion on Notice seeking a stay of proceedings and suspension of the ruling, filed by Sunday Ibrahim (SAN) on behalf of Austin Nwachukwu and two others. The applications were described as lacking merit.

Earlier in the proceedings, the court had also rejected a bid by Ibrahim to have his clients joined in the suit.

Justice Akintola ruled at the time that the joinder application was unsubstantiated and consequently dismissed it.

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Opposition Parties Reject 2026 Electoral Act, Demand Fresh Amendment

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Eric

Opposition political parties have rejected the 2026 Electoral Act recently passed by the National Assembly, which President Bola Tinubu swiftly signed into law.

The parties called on the National Assembly to immediately begin a fresh amendment process to remove what they described as “all obnoxious provisions” in the law.

Their position was made known at a press briefing themed “Urgent Call to Save Nigeria’s Democracy,” held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on Thursday.

In a communiqué read by the Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Ahmed Ajuji, the opposition leaders stated:

“We demand that the National Assembly immediately commence a fresh amendment to the Electoral Act 2026, to remove all obnoxious provisions and ensure that the Act reflects only the will and aspiration of Nigerians for free, fair, transparent and credible electoral process in our country. Nothing short of this will be acceptable to Nigerians.”

Some of the opposition leaders present in at the event include former Senate President David Mark; former Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi; and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, all from the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ahmed Ajuji, and other prominent members of the NNPP, notably Buba Galadima, were also in attendance.

The coalition said the amended law, signed by Bola Tinubu, contains “anti-democratic” clauses, which they argue may weaken electoral transparency and public confidence in the voting system.

At the centre of the opposition’s concerns is the amendment to Section 60(3), which allows presiding officers to rely on manual transmission of election results where there is communication failure.

According to the coalition, the provision weakens the mandatory electronic transmission of results and could create loopholes for manipulation.

They argued that Nigeria’s electoral technology infrastructure is sufficient to support nationwide electronic transmission, citing previous assurances by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The parties also rejected the amendment to Section 84, which restricts political parties to direct primaries and consensus methods for candidate selection.

They described the change as an unconstitutional intrusion into the internal affairs of parties, insisting that indirect primaries remain a legitimate democratic option.

The opposition cited alleged irregularities in the recent Federal Capital Territory local government elections as evidence of what they described as a broader pattern of electoral compromise.

They characterised the polls as a “complete fraud” and said the outcome has deepened their lack of confidence in the ability of the electoral system to deliver credible elections in 2027.

The coalition also condemned reported attacks on leaders of the African Democratic Congress in Edo State, describing the incidents as a serious threat to democratic participation and political tolerance.

They warned that increasing violence against opposition figures could destabilise the political environment if not urgently addressed.

In their joint statement, the opposition parties pledged to pursue “every constitutional means” to challenge the Electoral Act 2026 and safeguard voters’ rights.

“We will not be intimidated,” the leaders said, urging civil society organisations and citizens to support efforts aimed at protecting Nigeria’s democratic system.

On February 18, 2026, President Bola Tinubu signed the Electoral Act (Amendment) 2026 into law following its passage by the National Assembly. The Act introduced several reforms, including statutory recognition of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and revised election timelines.

However, opposition figures such as Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have also called for further amendments, particularly over the manual transmission fallback clause, which critics say leaves room for manipulation.

The president said the law will strengthen democracy and prevent voter disenfranchisement.

Tinubu defended manual collation of results, questioned Nigeria’s readiness for full real-time electronic transmission, and warned against technical glitches and hacking.

The Electoral Act sparked intense debate in the National Assembly over how election results should be transmitted ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Civil society groups under the “Occupy NASS” campaign demanded real-time transmission to curb manipulation.

In the Senate, lawmakers clashed during consideration of Clause 60, which allows manual transmission of results if electronic transmission fails.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC, Abia South) demanded a formal vote to remove the proviso permitting manual transmission, arguing against weakening real-time electronic reporting.

The move led to a heated exchange on the floor, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio initially suggesting the demand had been withdrawn.

After procedural disputes and a brief confrontation among senators, a division was conducted. Fifteen opposition senators voted against retaining the manual transmission proviso, while 55 supported it, allowing the clause to stand.

Earlier proceedings had briefly stalled during clause-by-clause review, prompting consultations and a closed-door session.

In the House of Representatives, a similar disagreement came up over a motion to rescind an earlier decision that mandated compulsory real-time electronic transmission of results to IReV.

Although the “nays” were louder during a voice vote, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas ruled in favour of rescinding the decision, triggering protests and an executive session.

Headline

AFP: How Tinubu’s Govt Paid Boko Haram ‘Huge’ Ransom, Released Two Terrorists for Kidnapped Saint Mary’s Pupils

Published

3 days ago

February 24, 2026

Eric

The Nigerian government paid Boko Haram militants a “huge” ransom of millions of dollars to free up to 230 children and staff the jihadists abducted from a Catholic school in November, an AFP investigation revealed Monday.

Two Boko Haram commanders were also freed as part of the deal, which goes against the country’s own law banning payments to kidnappers. The money was delivered by helicopter to Boko Haram’s Gwoza stronghold in northeastern Borno state on the border with Cameroon, intelligence sources told AFP.

The decision to pay the militants is likely to irritate US President Donald Trump, who ordered air strikes on jihadists in northern Nigeria on Christmas Day and has been sent military trainers to help support Nigerian forces.

Nigerian government officials deny any ransom was paid to the armed gang that snatched close to 300 schoolchildren and staff from St. Mary’s boarding school in Papiri in central Niger state on November 21. At least 50 later managed to escape their captors.

Boko Haram has not been previously linked to the kidnapping, but sources told AFP one of its most feared commanders was behind the mass abduction: the notorious jihadist known as Sadiku.

He infamously held up a train from the capital in 2022 and netted hefty ransoms for the release of government officials and other well-off passengers.

Boko Haram, which has waged a bloody insurgency since 2009, is strongest in northeast Nigeria.

But a cell in central Niger state operates under Sadiku’s leadership. The St. Mary’s pupils and staff were freed after two weeks of negotiations led by Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, with the government insisting no ransom was paid. Nigeria’s State Security Service flatly denied paying any money, saying “government agents don’t pay ransoms”.

However, four intelligence sources familiar with the talks told AFP the government paid a “huge” ransom to get the pupils back. One source put it at 40 million naira per head – around $7 million in total.

Another put the figure lower at two billion naira overall. The money was delivered by chopper to Ali Ngulde, a Boko Haram commander in the northeast, three sources told AFP.

Due to the lack of communications cover in the remote area, Ngulde had to cross into Cameroon to confirm delivery of the ransom before the first group of 100 children were released.

Nigeria has long been plagued by mass abductions, with criminals and jihadist groups sometimes working together to extort millions from hostages’ families, and authorities seemingly powerless to stop them.

Source: Africanews