News
Ekun Leaps to The Next Level
Chief Waheed Ekun, the Agbaakin Mayegun of Ibadanland, is a thoroughbred ‘shon of the shoil’ of Ibadanland whose diverse influence transverses all segments of the formal and informal strata of the Nigerian polity, nay worldwide, but in particular that of Yorubaland and succinctly that of Ibadanland which is the main focus of his interest in the leadership of the umbrella body of all indigenous Clubs/Associations/Groups of Ibadanland known as, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII).
It is an accepted fact that sporting activities are about the only aspect of life, globally, with unifying factor when all citizens of a country put aside all their differences and unite as one to support our team/individuals!
Worldwide sporting activities like football and table-tennis attract so much followers and Chief Ekun had, since a very tender age, been involved in one of the prominent grass-root sporting activities, namely Table-Tennis game, he went to the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, to hone his capability to be well acceptable in all global sporting convocations!
Waheed was a champion at all categories of the table-tennis championship events held locally and globally, he went ahead to take on coaching jobs in many countries abroad like Ghana, United Kingdom, United States of America amongst others!
Waheed remains the only Nigerian, nay African, whose write-up on the game of Table-Tennis was accepted to be published in the journal of the International Table-Tennis Federation who later adopted his recommendations as part of how the game was officiated!
His exploits in these sporting activities attracted and are still attracting lots of influence in all circumstances of human endeavours and these are veritable avenues he will definitely explore for the benefit of Ibadanland as much as the need arises!
During all his educational and professional exploits, he came in contact with and made lasting/mutually beneficial relationships which will still be available for the development of Ibadanland!
Waheed is iconic social person with membership of notable associations/groups within and outside the shores of Nigeria. He is a member of the first cosmopolitan club in Africa, the Ibadan Recreation Club, where he served in so many relevant capacities including being the General Secretary of the Club. He is a member of the Ibadan Solidarity Group, which is one of the foremost clubs under the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) where he also served as the General Secretary and eventually as the President after which he was included in it’s Board of Trustees. A crucial aspect of his membership of ISG is the undeniable fact that when he was it’s General Secretary, he got a lot of upward mobile sons of Ibadanland to join the Group which eventually lifted the status of the Group from one which membership was not up to twenty to a level of almost seventy as those he brought in also got others to become members thus strengthening the influence of the Group in the CCII and Ibadanland!
Waheed also is a member of the Jericho Businessmen Club, another formidable Club within the CCII, and to demonstrate his grassroot cleavage, he belongs to Ibidapo Ibidunni Olounje Bodija, an association of market men and women through whose sponsorship he was elected as the General Secretary of CCII, a position on which he brought to bear his wealth of experience thus elevating the GS status beyond the way it used to be considered in the affairs of the CCII!
This caught the attention of the then Executive Governor of Oyo State who appointed him as his Special Adviser On Sports thus giving him the privilege of being part of the governance of the State with the attendant advantage of knowing the workings of the Civil Service at the top which he had and can still exploit for the benefit of CCII as the need arises in future!
It was during the tenure of Waheed as the Chairman, Ibadan Week Celebrations, that a lot of fresh/new ideas were introduced thus lifting the Celebrations to another level never experienced before and equally generating both moral and financial profits to the CCII!
Chief Ekun is now into real estate industry operating under the name Waheed Ekun Properties and he is involved in the totality of the industry: buying, selling and building (commercial and residential apartments) through which business he has been able to build a credible reputation!
Waheed is married to ‘Sunmbo, his childhood heart-throb, and they are blessed with three children, Yetunde, Wareez and Aishat and through Yetunde, he became a grandfather some years ago!
All his veritable exploits in all of human endeavours did not go unrecognized and therefore, he was given an Impact Award_ in recognition of his contributions towards the promotion/development of Ibadanland, particularly the youths, by The Federation of Ibadan Students Union in the year 2009. Also he, as a cultural icon, was appointed a Cultural Ambassador by The Centre For African Culture And Tradition in the year 2010. Equally in the year 2019, the University of Ife made him a role model in pursuant of his attributes as a youth leader!
A complete gentleman with considerable influence in all facets/spheres of the Nigerian polity, it is during the Ileya Eid-Kabir party he holds annually that his wide acceptability is better seen/demonstrated as the creme-de-la-creme of the society always make that occasion a must-attend event, Waheed is a very marketable individual whose brand will bring a lot of developmental milestones, from within and outside Nigeria, to Ibadanland during his tenure as the PG of CCII!
The Minister-designate for Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has firmly clarified that he never promised to fix Nigeria’s national electricity grid within three months, describing such claims circulating in sections of the media as a misrepresentation of his Senate screening remarks.
A statement issued after his appearance before the Senate stressed that Tegbe was deliberate and cautious in his presentation, avoiding unrealistic timelines while outlining a structured reform pathway for the power sector.
According to the clarification, Tegbe explained that while Nigerians can expect early signs of progress, particularly in grid stabilisation within his first 100 days in office, comprehensive reforms will be guided strictly by technical assessments, stakeholder consultations, and sector realities.
He noted that critical challenges such as gas supply constraints, metering gaps, infrastructure decay, and commercial inefficiencies require coordinated interventions that cannot be resolved through arbitrary timelines.
“My commitment to this distinguished chamber and to Nigerians is clear: we will deliver visible and measurable improvement in the power sector,” Tegbe stated during the screening.
He assured that his focus would include stabilising the national grid, modernising transmission and distribution infrastructure, strengthening commercial frameworks, and enforcing accountability across the electricity value chain.
On tariff policy, the minister-designate reaffirmed that reforms would be carefully designed to balance sustainability with social protection, ensuring that vulnerable households are shielded while also restoring investor confidence in the sector.
The statement further emphasised that Tegbe’s approach reflects discipline, technical understanding, and a reform-minded agenda aimed at delivering lasting solutions rather than short-term political promises.
It added that he remains open to responsible media engagement and constructive clarification where necessary, noting that accurate reporting is essential to public understanding of ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria’s power sector.
Tegbe reaffirmed his readiness to lead a transparent, results-driven reform process anchored on accountability, realism, and measurable progress.
A grand cultural renaissance celebrating the enduring legacy of legendary Yoruba war hero and statesman, Ogedengbe Agbogungboro, will take centre stage as the 2026 edition of Ogedengbe Fiesta holds from July 29 to 31 across Osun State and Ekiti State.
The three-day heritage festival, unveiled by organisers on Wednesday, is themed, “Ogedengbe Agbogungboro Legacy: Leadership, Security, and Statecraft for Modern Governance in Nigeria.”
The event is designed to preserve Yoruba cultural heritage, deepen historical consciousness, promote tourism and stimulate national conversations on leadership, peacebuilding and governance.
According to the organisers, the fiesta will commence with traditional homage at Atorin and heritage excursions to notable Kiriji War historical sites in Imesi-Ile, where participants will relive significant moments in Yoruba military and political history.
The programme will also feature guided visits to the historic Ogedengbe Cave, Ibu Latoosa Site and the Yoruba Peace Treaty Grove, all regarded as symbolic monuments of Yoruba resilience, diplomacy and unity.
As part of activities lined up for the celebration, participants will tour the gardens of renowned legal icon and elder statesman, Afe Babalola, in Okemesi-Ekiti.
The organisers further disclosed that a Legacy Awards and Hall of Fame Investiture ceremony would hold in Ilesa to honour individuals who have contributed immensely to the promotion of Yoruba culture, leadership and community development.
A distinguished personality lecture in honour of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, and Arole Fabunmi of Okemesi-Ekiti is also expected to headline the event, with scholars, traditional rulers, cultural enthusiasts and public intellectuals billed to discuss pathways to strengthening governance and security through indigenous values and historical lessons.
The organisers noted that all activities would commence daily by 11am, adding that the festival would serve as a rallying point for lovers of Yoruba culture, history and tourism across Nigeria and beyond.
They described the fiesta as not only a celebration of the heroic exploits of Ogedengbe Agbogungboro, but also a strategic platform to inspire a new generation of leaders through the ideals of courage, unity, patriotism and visionary leadership.
The Federal Government on Tuesday ruled out any plan to reinstate fuel subsidy despite worsening economic hardship and mounting public pressure.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, stated this in Paris, France, during a meeting with global investors alongside President Bola Tinubu.
Oyedele said the government would also not introduce price controls, stressing that market forces remain the preferred mechanism for determining petrol prices.
“We will not bring back fuel subsidy because it creates distortions for the economy, and we won’t introduce price control because we believe in the market,” he said.
The minister argued that the subsidy regime had long undermined economic efficiency, adding that emerging global energy shifts, including developments in Iran, present fresh investment opportunities for Nigeria.
The removal of petrol subsidy in May 2023 triggered a steep rise in inflation, worsening the country’s cost-of-living crisis.
Nigeria’s headline inflation climbed from 22.41 per cent in May 2023 to 34.19 per cent by June 2024 — its highest level in nearly two decades — driven by surging fuel, food, and transportation costs.
Food inflation further accelerated, exceeding 39 per cent by October 2024, while transport fares soared by nearly 300 per cent, compounded by currency devaluation.
Despite the economic strain, Tinubu defended the policy, saying it had stabilised the foreign exchange market.
“Subsidy that was a burden to the entire country was removed, and ever since we have achieved FX stability,” the President said, according to his Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun.
In a related statement, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the administration’s reforms were aimed at eliminating structural distortions, strengthening macroeconomic stability, and laying the foundation for inclusive growth.
He added that the government remained committed to fiscal discipline and transparency.
Highlighting economic progress, Oyedele disclosed that Nigeria recorded an 11.2 per cent growth in Gross Domestic Product in dollar terms in 2025, describing it as a major step towards the country’s ambition of building a $1tn economy by 2030.
He also pledged that the government would begin publishing quarterly financial reports to enhance accountability and public trust.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha, assured investors of Nigeria’s commitment to prudent borrowing and sustainable debt management.
The Federal Government has continued to defend its reform agenda despite growing public discontent, insisting that the long-term gains will outweigh the current economic pains.
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