THE DIGESTABLE

Aina Obasanjo  The Senior Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Youth Development, Hon. Tunde Delu has donated a three-KVA generator to the Ogun State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN. Hon. Delu presented the generator during a working visit to the association’s secretariat at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Kuto, Abeokuta. The donation was part of the activities marking the visit, during which the Governor’s aide sought the support of the association for his forthcoming boxing event scheduled for November. Receiving the generator, the Chairman of Ogun SWAN, Comrade Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji, expressed appreciation to Hon. Delu for what he described as a timely intervention. Comrade Ogunsiji said the previous generator had served the association for more than ten years, having been passed down through successive administrations. He explained that the old generator was inherited from the administration of former SWAN Chairman, Alhaji Hakeem Akintunde, w...

  Aina Obasanjo  The Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr Oludaisi Elemide has commended the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, for sustaining its National Quiz Competition on Legislature and Democracy for Senior Secondary School students. Mr Elemide gave the commendation while declaring the 11th edition of the 2026 competition open at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. He said the initiative would deepen students’ understanding of democracy and encourage their interest in governance and legislative processes. The Speaker expressed delight at the brilliance and awareness displayed by the participating students, urging them to uphold the values of integrity, fairness and good sportsmanship throughout the competition. The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Moriamo Oloko, appreciated the Assembly for providing a conduciv...

  Aina Obasanjo  The Ogun State Government says it is integrating Artificial Intelligence and other digital technologies into its tourism development strategy to position the state as a smart tourism hub. The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Sesan Fagbayi, stated this in his message to mark the 2026 World Tourism Day, with the theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.” Hon. Fagbayi said the theme underscored the need for stakeholders to deploy emerging technologies to make tourism more inclusive, sustainable and accessible. He said the state government was improving tourism infrastructure through the construction of access roads to the Professor Wole Soyinka Train Station, as well as the renovation and revamping of the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre. The Commissioner also listed the June 12 Cultural Centre, Yemoji Natural Pool and Ebute Oni Tourist Site among destinations being developed to promote Ogun’s cultural and natural heritage. He exp...

  Idris Katib  Crescent University Abeokuta has secured the approval of the National Universities Commission, NUC, to commence a Bachelor of Science degree programme in Artificial Intelligence. The programme is expected to commence from the 2026/2027 academic session. The approval was conveyed in a letter dated September 11, 2026, addressed to the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Ibraheem Gbajabiamila, and signed by the Director of Academic Planning of the NUC, Abubakar M. Girei, on behalf of the Executive Secretary. The approval followed a resource verification exercise conducted earlier in the year by a panel of experts, which assessed the human and material resources available for the programme. Speaking on the development, the Vice Chancellor described the approval as a significant milestone in the university's academic development. Professor Gbajabiamila said the approval further complements the institution's record of 100 percent accreditation scores across i...

  Aina Obasanjo  More than three thousand runners are expected to participate in the 2026 Abeokuta 10KM Race scheduled for Saturday, October 3, in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The fifth edition of the road race, organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, will commence at seven o’clock in the morning from Macjob Grammar School, Onikolobo, and end at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Kuto. The race will take participants through major parts of Abeokuta, offering residents and visitors an opportunity to experience the city’s cultural and tourism attractions. A major highlight of this year’s event is the decision to restrict participation to Nigerian athletes, making it a hundred-percent indigenous competition.

Aina Obasanjo  The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr António Guterres has called for an open, inclusive and human-centred digital future for the global tourism industry. Mr Guterres made the call in a message to mark the 2026 World Tourism Day with the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.” The UN Secretary-General said Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way travellers select destinations, how tourism businesses operate and how travel experiences are developed. He noted that while AI and digital technology could strengthen small businesses, improve services and create new opportunities, unchecked use of the technology could concentrate tourists in a few destinations and platforms. Mr Guterres stressed the need for tourism workers, local communities and emerging destinations to participate in shaping the future of the industry. He called for greater investment in digital skills and wider access to technology, saying innovation should bene...

  Aina Obasanjo  The Ogun State Government says it will strengthen support for the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of Imeko town. Governor Dapo Abiodun stated this in a message to the grand finale of the 2026 Imeko Agbinrekoti Festival. Governor Abiodun who was represented by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Sesan Fagbayi described the festival as a celebration of the history, traditions and cultural identity of the people of Imeko, announced that the annual event would be included in the cultural festival calendar of the State Ministry of Culture and Tourism. He said cultural festivals such as Agbinrekoti were important platforms for preserving indigenous traditions, promoting community unity and showcasing the tourism potential of communities across Ogun State. Governor Abiodun said the State Government recognised the contribution of festivals to cultural tourism, the local economy and the creative industry. He explained that government was ...

  Aina Obasanjo  A special prayer session has been held for the Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi. The prayer was held on Sunday at the FIRE Ministry International, Mile 2, Ilupeju Oke-Ogun, Abeokuta, as part of activities marking the 45th birthday anniversary thanksgiving of the General Coordinator of Yayi Connect Nigeria and Diaspora, Comrade Jomokenyatta Akeju. The programme was sponsored by Hon. Ola Olayode. Speaking during the service, the General Coordinator of Yayi Connect Nigeria and Diaspora, Comrade Jomokenyatta Akeju, led the congregation in prayers for Senator Adeola, seeking divine wisdom, protection, good health and continued guidance in his service to the people of Ogun West and the state. Prayers were also offered for peace, progress and prosperity in Ogun State and Nigeria. The sponsor of the programme, Hon. Ola Olayode, described Senator Adeola as a leader who has contributed to the ...

Aina Obasanjo  Nigeria’s Beach Soccer National Team, the Sand Eagles, have intensified preparations for next month’s CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Ghana’s Black Sharks. Twenty invited players are currently in camp in Kaduna, where they have been undergoing tactical and technical training at the Murtala Muhammed Square Sports Complex. The training sessions are being supervised by Coach Christopher Kadiri, as Head Coach Abdullahi Isa is currently with the Golden Eaglets preparing for the WAFU-B Under-17 Championship in Ouagadougou. The Sand Eagles will host Ghana’s Black Sharks in Kaduna on Saturday, October 10, before travelling to Accra for the second leg on Saturday, October 17. Nigeria returned to international beach soccer competition two years ago after a period of absence, but lost to Mauritania on the away-goal rule in the qualifying series for the CAF Beach Soccer AFCON hosted by Seychelles. The winner of the two-legged encounter between N...

  Aina Obasanjo  The Ogun State Police Command says it has arrested eleven suspects and recovered two suspected stolen vehicles, three firearms and twenty-five ATM cards in a series of operations conducted across the state between September 16 and 26. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Bode Ojajuni, disclosed this in a statement issued by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer,  Oluseyi Babasuyi, in Abeokuta. According to the Commissioner, the operations also led to the recovery of several mobile phones and assorted electrical materials, while eight vehicles were impounded for allegedly obstructing traffic at the Sagamu Interchange Bridge. The Command said two suspects were arrested in connection with the recovery of a stolen commercial motorcycle at Mokoloki Village, while two others were apprehended over alleged burglary and theft of electrical materials along Ayetoro Road. The police also reported the arrest of three suspects by the Special Weapons and Tactics ...

  Aina Obasanjo  The Ifelodun Concord Community Development Association (CDA), in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State, has celebrated its first anniversary with the commissioning of concrete poles and solar street lights installed across major streets in the community. The anniversary celebration, which also featured the association's Annual General Meeting (AGM), was held on Saturday, September 26, 2026, and attracted community leaders, residents, delegates and other stakeholders. The project, according to the CDA leadership, was initiated to address darkness in the community, improve security and enhance the physical appearance of the area at night. Speaking at the event, the Chairman of New Dawn Area Community Development Committee (ACDC), Alhaji Usman Olamilekan AbdulGaniu, commended the leadership and members of Ifelodun Concord CDA for completing the project within one year of the association's inauguration. Alhaji Usman urged members of the CDA to remain ...

    Aina Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has endorsed his former Chief of Staff, Dr. Oluwatoyin Taiwo, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency in the 2027 general election. Abiodun, while speaking about Taiwo’s political and administrative journey, described him as a diligent and trusted political associate whose capacity had been tested through successive responsibilities in his administration. The governor also offered a personal account of how Taiwo first came into his cabinet, recalling that he was among those presented for consideration when his administration was seeking a representative from Ipokia. According to Abiodun, he personally interviewed the prospective appointees before making his choice. “I interviewed them, and I said, I like this young man. I think I can work with him,” the governor recalled. That initial assessment, as reflected in Taiwo’s subsequent trajectory, marked the beginning of a rela...

Aina Obasanjo  Six years after the death of Bamidele Adeyemi during the COVID-19 lockdown in Abeokuta, Ogun State, his family is appealing to Governor Dapo Abiodun not to grant executive clemency to one of the men serving a life sentence over his death. Bamidele, a father of two, was killed in 2020 after he reportedly refused to unlawfully reopen a restricted community security gate in the Onikolobo area of Abeokuta. According to his family, he was carrying out his duties as a member of the local community security committee when he was attacked. The family alleges that Ajayi Olayinka and his accomplice, Oguntayo Ayobami, attacked Bamidele with broken bottles and knives, injuries which eventually led to his death. The two men were prosecuted before the Ogun State High Court, Sagamu Judicial Division, in a case marked Suit No. AB/1C/2021. In a judgment delivered by Justice P.F. Oduniyi on June 19, 2023, the court convicted both men of manslaughter following a plea-bargain arrangemen...

  Babcock University High School and Cornerstone Academy have emerged as top performers in the Spelling Bee and Debate competitions respectively at the 2026 Isanbi Day Education Programme organised by the Ilisan Youth Development Association (IYDA). The competitions formed part of activities organised by IYDA to mark the 49th Isanbi Day Anniversary and brought together students from secondary schools in and around Ilisan to demonstrate their academic knowledge, confidence and communication skills. In the Junior Secondary School Spelling Bee Competition, Ayeni Flourish of Babcock University High School emerged as the overall winner after an impressive performance. Oremuyiwa Opemipo of Aunty Fola High School secured the second position while Oshosanwo Habibat of Future Leaders Group of School emerged third. The competition provided the students with an opportunity to test their vocabulary, concentration and ability to spell correctly under competitive conditions. The Senior Secondary...

Aina Obasanjo  The Pacesetter Premium Cassava Merchants and Value Chain Association, PAPCAMAVA, has called on the Federal Government to introduce policies and interventions to strengthen Nigeria’s cassava value chain and ensure that cassava prices reflect prevailing production costs. The association made the call at a press conference jointly addressed by its Ogun and Oyo State executives in Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State. President of PAPCAMAVA, Mrs. Jokotoye Kehinde, said the sharp decline in the farm-gate price of cassava was threatening farmers’ livelihoods and could affect the sustainability of food production. She said the price of raw cassava had reportedly fallen from about two hundred and twenty thousand naira per tonne to as low as five thousand naira, representing an estimated 97.7 per cent decline. Mrs. Jokotoye said the situation had made it difficult for farmers to recover expenses incurred on land preparation, planting, labour, harvesting and transportation. She calle...

  Aina Obasanjo  The Ogun State Government and DP World MEA FZE have signed Memoranda of Understanding for the development of the Gateway Deep Sea Port and the Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone. The projects are expected to attract more than seven billion dollars in initial investment and create over fifty thousand direct jobs. President Bola Tinubu witnessed the signing ceremony in Paris, France, alongside the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Director-General of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho. The agreements are aimed at strengthening Nigeria's maritime infrastructure, easing trade bottlenecks and expanding the country's manufacturing and export capacity. Speaking at the occasion, President Tinubu said the projects would address longstanding infrastructure and logistics challenges while providing an integrated platform for industrial production, maritime commerce and access to African and global markets. He said ...

  Aina Obasanjo    The Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, has pledged his support for the 2026 Abeokuta 10KM Race, scheduled to hold on October third. Senator Adeola, who is also the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Ogun State, gave the assurance when the Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Yetunde Olopade, paid him a courtesy visit to formally invite him to the race. The race is being held in honour of the Senator. Senator Adeola commended Mrs. Olopade for her leadership of Nilayo Sports Management Limited and expressed satisfaction with the achievements recorded by the company under her watch. He said he appreciated the decision to honour him with the race, promising to make every effort to attend the event despite his busy schedule. Earlier, Mrs. Olopade said Senator Adeola was being honoured for his contributions to youth and sports development in Ogun State. She presented a running kit ...

  Aina Obasanjo  The Ogun State Football Association, OGSFA, has commenced moves to harmonise football activities across the state through the development of a comprehensive annual football calendar. The decision was reached at a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abeokuta, the second such meeting convened by the Association in the last two months. Chairman of the OGSFA, Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi, said the initiative was aimed at consolidating existing achievements and creating a more coordinated structure for football development in the state. He noted that the Association currently runs several competitions, including the Sir Kesington Adebutu Age-Grade Tournament for boys and girls, the Bet9ja-sponsored State League, and U-13 and U-15 developmental competitions. Alhaji Majekodunmi said with more than one hundred clubs and academies operating in Ogun State, the Association would continue to expand opportunities for young players and other stakeholders. The meeting also calle...

  Aina Obasanjo  The Ogun State Football Association, OGSFA, has commenced moves to reform football administration in the state, with stakeholders resolving to strengthen grassroots structures, regulate competitions and harmonise the annual football calendar. The resolutions were reached at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the SWAN Secretariat, MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Kuto, Abeokuta. The meeting, which was a continuation of consultations that began in August, brought together members of the OGSFA Board, Football Council Chairmen and Secretaries, representatives of the Coaches Association and other stakeholders. At the meeting, stakeholders called for better coordination among the Football Association, Football Councils, clubs, academies, coaches, referees and facility managers to ensure a more organised football administration in the state. They also resolved to engage the Ogun State Commissioner for Sports Development, the State Sports Council and stadium management authoriti...

  Aina Obasanjo  The Ogun State Government has warned industries against improper waste disposal, saying indiscriminate dumping and open burning are contributing to flooding, environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. Governor Dapo Abiodun gave the warning in Abeokuta at the third Annual Workshop on Industrial Waste Management organised by the Ogun State Waste Management Authority, OGWAMA. The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Ola Oresanya, said Nigeria generates more than thirty-five million tonnes of solid waste annually, with Ogun State accounting for over one million tonnes, much of it generated by industries. He explained that the dumping of waste in drainage channels obstructs the free flow of water and aggravates flooding, while open burning releases pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Governor Abiodun stressed that Ogun’s position as one of Nigeria’s major industrial hubs comes with a responsibility to en...

  Aina  The immediate past Chief of Staff to the Governor of Ogun State and the All Progressives Congress candidate for the Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections, Dr. Emmanuel Oluwatoyin Taiwo has distributed educational materials to pupils and students in public primary and secondary schools across Ipokia Local Government Area. The materials, which included exercise books, school sandals and socks, were presented to students in selected schools as part of Dr. Taiwo’s commitment to supporting children from less-privileged families, easing the financial burden on their parents and ensuring that no child is denied access to education because of economic hardship. Speaking during the distribution exercise, Dr. Taiwo explained that the intervention was prompted by reports that some pupils and students had been unable to resume for the new academic session because their parents could not afford basic learning materials. According to him, the situation...

Aina Obasanjo  The All Stars Football Club Abeokuta has expressed delight and congratulated one of its members, Coach Toyin Ayinla, following his appointment as the new Head Coach of AS Cotonou, a club competing in the Benin Republic Ligue 1. Ayinla, a former Gateway FC coach, has continued to make his mark in the football coaching profession, and his latest appointment has been received with excitement by members of the All Stars Football Club Abeokuta family. The President of the club Alhaji Waheed Adeoye Lawal in a statement in Abeokuta described the appointment as a significant achievement for Ayinla and a moment of pride for the club. Alhaji Lawal noted that Coach Ayinla's elevation to a top-flight coaching position in the Benin Republic reflects his dedication to the game, experience on the touchline and commitment to football development. He said that the club was particularly pleased to see one of its members receive an opportunity to continue his coaching career beyond Nig...

  Aina Obasanjo  The Chairman of the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Evangelist Olalekan Ifede, has commended the 2025 Overall Best Teacher in Nigeria, Mr. Francis Solanke, for contributing to the development of basic education in his community. Ifede gave the commendation during the commissioning of renovated classrooms at Ansar-Ud-Deen Main Primary School One, Kemta-Ilawo, in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State. The SUBEB Chairman described the renovation as a commendable initiative that would improve the learning environment for pupils and teachers. He congratulated Solanke for bringing honour to Ogun State through his achievement and urged the pupils to emulate his dedication by taking their studies seriously, listening to their teachers and striving for excellence. Also speaking, the Education Secretary, Abeokuta North Local Government, Chief Oluwole Ayorinde, congratulated Solanke for making the local government proud and prayed for cont...

  Aina Obasanjo  The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has called for sustained collaboration with the media to effectively sensitise Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections. The newly posted Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, Gender and Inclusivity, INEC, Kogi State, Mrs Bulus Maryam Godwin, made the call during a courtesy visit to the General Manager of Radio Nigeria Prime FM, Lokoja, Mr Alfa Yakub. Mrs Bulus said as preparations for the 2027 general elections gradually commence, continuous partnership between INEC and the media has become necessary to provide the public with accurate and timely information on electoral procedures. She emphasised the need for voters to be properly educated on their responsibilities, the rules governing elections and other activities of the Commission to enable them to participate meaningfully in the electoral process. The INEC official therefore appealed to Radio Nigeria Prime FM to sustain its support fo...

  Aina Obasanjo  The Ogun State Government has called for increased support for artists and other practitioners in the creative industry to enable them to contribute more to economic development. The State Head of Service, Mr. Olanrewaju Saka, made the call at the opening of the Quarterly Visual Arts Exhibition organised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. He said the exhibition would provide a platform for artists to display their talents, preserve the state's cultural heritage and access opportunities in the creative economy. Mr. Saka, a trained and certified creative arts instructor, said the creative industry had the potential to promote entrepreneurship, employment and human capital development. In remark, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. 'Sesan Fagbayi, described the exhibition as a deliberate effort to create regular platforms where creativity could be showcased and connected to economic opportunities. Hon. Fagbayi urged the public to support artists t...

  Aina Obasanjo  Dangerous Driving at the 5-A-Side Pitch of MKO Abiola Sports Arena Raises Safety Concerns There is a growing concern that deserves the urgent attention of the authorities and management of the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta. It is not about the quality of the facility. It is not about the standard of the playing pitches. It is not even about the increasing number of football matches being hosted at the Arena. It is about safety. More specifically, it is about the dangerous manner in which some motorists drive around the premises, particularly in the vicinity of the 5-a-side football pitch located at the back of the main bowl. For those who regularly use the facility, the concern is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. The question is simple: How safe is a sporting environment when vehicles are allowed to move at dangerous speeds in areas where footballers, children, coaches, officials, spectators and other users of the facility are constantly moving...