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Update : Senator Tokunbo Abiru Supports Business Start-Ups With Grant, As 41 Graduate From Innovation Lab

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The Chairman, Senate committee on Industries, and the Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA on Friday supported business start-ups with grant during the graduating ceremony and Demo Day of Business 101 for Creatives and Artisans (Cohort 001) participants of the Senator Abiru Innovation Lab (SAIL).

Out of 47 individuals that enrolled for the training, forty-one (41) budding and aspiring entrepreneurs successfully completed the 3-months intensive business training handled by the technical partner of SAIL, the Co-creation Hub (Cc-Hub).

Over 4,000 young men and women applied for the 5 pilot SAIL programmes across 16 Local Governments/Local Council Development Areas in the Lagos East Senatorial District, while 150 were shortlisted for the entire maiden cohort. 47 individuals were admitted into Business 101 for Creatives and Artisans class.

Other programmes include Tech Talent Development, Lagos East Teachers Fellowship, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Café for Secondary School Students and Start-up Accelerator for Businesses.

SAIL, is an initiative of the Tokunbo Abiru Constituency Team (TACT) Foundation, a dedicated innovation and tech lab that is providing relevant technology, business and digital skills to tech enthusiasts and young entrepreneurs across the Lagos East Senatorial District.

In his remarks, Abiru, a former bank chief Executive said his Foundation established the Innovation Lab in response to growing unemployment in the country and also to position the younger generation for the enormous opportunities available in this current fourth industrial revolution.
He said, ‘’We are all aware that in recent years, Nigeria has faced unprecedented economic challenges ostensibly caused by recession, shrinking revenues and the Coronavirus. The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS reported that the youth unemployment rate in Nigeria is at 42. 50 in the first quarter of 2022.

‘’Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, having failed to maximize the opportunities of the agricultural and industrial ages. Now, we are in the digital revolution age, we therefore cannot as a nation afford to miss out on the enormous opportunities available in this innovation and digital age.

‘’This is the compelling rationale behind the establishment of The Senator Abiru Innovation Lab (SAIL). Look around you today, you will discover that the COVID-19 pandemic has made remote working fashionable. Also, the rise in the deployment of robotics and artificial intelligence all point to the fact that we either brace up for technology or we lose out again!

‘’So, I knew, when I became Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that the most enduring empowerment I can give to young people and entrepreneurs, in my constituency is to leveraging my global exposure and experience to make them globally competitive by equipping them with premium digital, innovative and technological skills which are in high demands globally. This was in keeping with the social contract that I had with the people of the Lagos East Senatorial district when seeking their votes’’.

Ojoma Ochai, Managing Partner of the Creative Economy Practice at CcHUB, challenged the graduating participants to harness the huge opportunities in the creative sector.

She said, “I want to begin this speech by saying thank you to Senator Abiru for his investment in developing opportunities for talent to thrive’’, adding that the creative sector contributes the equivalent of half of Nigeria’s GDP, it represents about 3% of global GDP and employs millions around the world and in Nigeria.

The event also featured a pitch session of 10 aspiring entrepreneurs in the graduating class who had the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of business professionals for seed funding and mentorship.
Senator Abiru doled out a business grant worth N3m to the top three entrepreneurs who made best business pitches. The Overall winner, John Olisa got N1.5m, while the first runner up, Jessica Nwobodo got N1m and the second runner up, Esther Ogundare went home with N500k.

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Ughulu: Campaigns OK Movement’s Position on Independence Remains Unchanged Amid NDC Crisis

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The OK (Obi/Kwankwaso) Movement has declared that it will maintain its independent identity while mobilising support for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and its candidates ahead of the 2027 general election. NigerianNews Updates

Movement’s leader John Ughulu said the group remained committed to its original mission of securing the election of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and erstwhile Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Speaking in an interview, Ughulu dismissed suggestions that the movement’s decision to campaign independently would undermine its support for the NDC, insisting that the focus should be on achieving a common political objective.

“What difference does it make when we campaign on parallel lines? The most important thing is that we have one objective,” he said.

Asked whether the movement had decided to retain its independent status rather than formally integrate into the NDC campaign structure, Ughulu said its position had not changed.

“We have always been independent, and there is nothing wrong in that. We are campaigning for NDC party’s candidates. I will appreciate we leave it like that,” he added.

He urged members and supporters to remain guided by the principles upon which the movement was established, stressing that its political mission remained unchanged.

“The members of the OK Movement work on the principles upon which we formed the movement. The mission to bring His Excellency Peter Obi and His Excellency Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is sacrosanct,” Ughulu said.

His remarks underscore the movement’s intention to retain its organisational independence while supporting the NDC’s electoral ambitions, particularly its presidential candidate, Obi, in the 2027 contest.

The disagreement between the NDC and the OK Movement followed the movement’s announcement of a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council to mobilise support for the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, ahead of the 2027 general election.

The NDC leadership rejected the arrangement, insisting that only the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) had the authority to constitute and announce its official campaign council.

The party also maintained that support groups must operate within its recognised organisational framework rather than establish parallel structures.

NDC National Leader Senator Seriake Dickson reinforced this position, arguing that political movements supporting the party’s candidates should complement, not compete with the party’s machinery.

The OK Movement, however, resisted the party’s position, insisting that its support for the NDC candidates should not be interpreted as an obligation to surrender its independently established structures.

Ughulu maintained that the movement had its own leadership, membership and organisational framework, which it was unwilling to dissolve or merge into the party.

The disagreement escalated after the NDC disowned the movement’s campaign council and referred Ughulu to its disciplinary organ over alleged disregard for party authority.

Despite the controversy, the movement has maintained that it will continue to mobilise support for Obi and other NDC candidates while retaining its independent identity.

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Breaking : Imo West Senatorial Race: Court Orders INEC to Recognise Okorocha, Bars Uzodimma from Claiming APC Ticket

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A court has reportedly ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the name of former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, as the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary for Imo West Senatorial District.

The court also reportedly directed Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, to stop presenting himself as the APC candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District seat.

The ruling concerns the dispute over the APC senatorial ticket for Imo West, with the court’s directives addressing the recognition of the party’s candidate and the publication of the relevant details by INEC.

The development could have significant implications for the political contest in Imo West, depending on the terms of the judgment and any subsequent legal proceedings.

 

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Breaking : INEC Confirms Oyebanji’s Re-election in Ekiti, First Consecutive Governorship Victory Since 1999

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Governor Biodun Oyebanji casting his vote at his Okeelele Unit 003

The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the All Progressives Congress candidate, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the winner of the Ekiti State governorship election held on Saturday.

The governor was re-elected after polling 319,224 votes over his closest rivals in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Olumayokun Oluyede and African Democratic Congress, Dare Bejide, across the state’s 16 local governments.

The Returning Officer for the election, Prof Adenike Oladiji, who is the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure, announced the results in the early hours of Sunday at the INEC’s headquarters on Iyin Road in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Oladiji said, “Therefore, I, Adenike, am the returning officer for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election…Oyebanji Abiodun Abayomi, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and stands re-elected.”

While the APC polled 319,224 votes, the PDP candidate polled 40, 533 votes, and the ADC candidate amassed 12,872 votes.

There are 988,251 registered voters, and 384,940 are accredited.

Out of the 382,109 votes cast, the total valid votes in the election were 375, 777.

According to INEC result, the PDP candidate, who hails from Ikere Ekiti, lost in his Ikere Local Government area.

While the APC and its candidate, Oyebanji, scored 8,742 votes, the PDP, which came second in the LGA, garnered 2,051 votes.

Below are the full results of the governorship election as collated at the State Collation Centre from the 16 LGAs on Sunday.

Efon Local Govt

Collation officer: Prof. Joseph Ojo

ADC – 201
APC – 8742
PDP – 2051

Ijero LG

Collation Officer: Prof. Olaniran Akanni

ADC – 2026
APC – 25506
PDP – 2479

Ikere LG

Collation Officer: Prof. Kehinde Jayeoba

ADC – 245
APC – 11116
PDP – 9872

Emure LG

Collation Officer: Prof Emmanuel Oluwafemi

ADC -732
APC – 14325
PDP – 851

Ekiti South West

Collation Officer: Prof. Kola Oladunmoye

ADC – 1076
APC – 14705
PDP – 1800

Ido/Osi

Collation Officer: Prof. Otalobi Akintunde

ADC – 561
APC – 17901
PDP – 1449

Ekiti West

Collation Officer: Prof Bolaji Stephen

ADC – 674
APC – 28258
PDP – 3644

Ado LG

Collation Officer: Prof. Toye Fasinmirin

ADC – 1054
APC – 38026
PDP – 3817

Ilejemeje LG

Collation Officer: Prof. Kehinde Mogaji

ADC – 579
APC – 8984
PDP – 1243

Ise/Orun LG

Collation Officer: Dr John Isa

ADC – 365
APC – 12907
PDP – 1627

Oye LG

Collation Officer: Prof. Jide Popoola

ADC – 998
APC – 18975
PDP – 2891

Moba LG

Collation Officer: Prof. Suleiman Adegboyega

ADC – 994
APC – 20500
PDP – 1572

Ayekire/Gbonyin LG

Collation Officer: Prof. Oso Bamidele

ADC – 314
APC – 17133
PDP – 1563

Ikole LG

Collation Officer: Prof. Sadiat Adifala

ADC – 812
APC – 26508
PDP – 750

Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA

Collation Officer: Prof. Michael Adeyemi

ADC – 511
APC – 29278
PDP – 2119

Ekiti East LGA

Collation Officer: Prof. Olabode Olatunbosun

ADC – 1730
APC – 26359
PDP – 2795

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