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Tourism: DAWN Commission lauds Fayemi’s developmental vision, promises support
The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission, DAWN Commission has commended Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state for his vision to strategically reposition the state as a foremost investment, culture and tourism hub.
DAWN Commission through its Director-General, Mr Seye Oyeleye, also described the Ekiti state helmsman as a governor who possesses a solid robust sense of governance and cosmopolitan developmental vision.
Oyeleye made this observation while hosting Ambassador Wale Ojo -Lanre, the Senior Special Assistant, Tourism Development to Ekiti State Governor who paid him a visit in his office, located in Cocoa House, Ibadan, Oyo State .
The DG, who commended Ambassador Ojo – Lanre for the visit said that he was not expecting less act from Ekiti because the state is being governed by a man who has a firm understanding of the essence of government, the need to govern well and the attitude of a philosopher ruler.
He disclosed that the Commission was inaugurated purposely to drive development in Western Nigeria and it will not steer off from its pristine objective and mission .
Speaking further, Oyeleye applauded the ex-Associate Editor of the Nigerian Tribune Newspapers, Ojo – Lanre for his proactiveness at espousing the tourism vision of Governor Fayemi and spreading its gospel to stakeholders who are strategic to the planting of a solid tourism economy in the state .
He assured that the Commission would not only support Ekiti Tourism Development but would facilitate both investment and investors for that sector in the state.
The DG, however reassured that the door of the Commission is opened to all for regional advancement and collective developmental issues .
In his remarks, Ambassador Ojo – Lanre, informed that his visit to DAWN Commission was propelled by the need to acquaint the Commission of Dr Kayode Fayemi’s tourism vision for Ekiti and the necessity for the Commission becoming a partner and a strong partaker of the vision.
The award-winning tourism journalist also pointed out that DAWN Commission has not only proven to all its capability and capacity of engendering and pathfinding developmental strides but also nurturing them to fruition and blossoming.
Ojo- Lanre noted that tourism development in a state cannot be localised bearing in mind that tourism is about luring of a mass of people to a destination and since DAWN Commission is of regional essence, it should be involved in the task of making Ekiti the destination of choice first for the people of South West and then to others.
The governor’s aide lauded DAWN Commission for being the furnace that minted the Amotekun Western Nigeria Security outfit which is effectively complementing the nation’s security agencies at ensuring that peace and security reign in South West.
Bitcoin and other leading cryptocurrencies extended their gains on Monday, driven by positive investor sentiment despite concerns over upcoming U.S. tariffs and key economic data releases later this week.
As of 9:55 am WAT, Bitcoin rose 3.71% to $87,480, while Ethereum gained 4.05%, trading at $2,093. The global cryptocurrency market capitalisation increased by 2.94% in the past 24 hours, reaching $2.84 trillion.
Other notable performers included XRP, Cardano, and Dogecoin, which posted gains of 3%, 2%, and 3.8%, respectively. Chainlink, Avalanche, Hedera, and Stellar also recorded growth ranging from 3% to 10%.
“Bitcoin is holding above $86,000, registering a 3% gain today. The key resistance level to watch is $86,700; a breakout could pave the way for $90,000,” said Vikram Subburaj, CEO of Giottus.
Bitcoin’s market capitalisation surged to $1.727 trillion, with dominance rising to 60.73%. Its 24-hour trading volume soared by 93% to $18.2 billion, while stablecoin transactions accounted for 94.74% of total crypto trading, reaching $57.58 billion, according to CoinMarketCap.
Solana Leads the Charge
Solana (SOL) emerged as a standout performer, surging over 7% in the past 24 hours to trade above $139.
The rally was fueled by reports suggesting that President Trump’s April 2 tariffs may be more targeted than initially feared, easing market concerns.
Solana’s momentum aligns with increasing adoption rates. DeFiLlama reported that Solana’s total value locked (TVL) reached 54.87 million SOL, its highest level since June 2022. Additionally, Ali Charts revealed that a record 11.09 million addresses now hold SOL, underscoring growing investor confidence.
Further supporting the bullish outlook, over $72 million in assets have recently been bridged from Ethereum to Solana. Solana’s weekly active addresses (17 million) now significantly exceed Ethereum’s (1.8 million), while Binance’s rising SOL wallet balances suggest fresh accumulation following recent selling activity.
Institutional Interest on the Rise
Institutional acceptance of Solana continues to grow, with Volatility Shares launching two Solana futures ETFs (SOLZ and SOLT) on Nasdaq on March 21.
Major asset managers, including Franklin Templeton and VanEck, have also applied for spot Solana ETFs, signalling increased interest in the cryptocurrency.
Meanwhile, BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes expressed optimism about Bitcoin’s trajectory, stating, “The Fed’s policy orientation could help Bitcoin achieve $110k before it retests $76.5k.”
With the crypto market gaining momentum, investors remain focused on key technical levels and macroeconomic developments that could shape future price movements.
The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) has unveiled the nominees for its highly anticipated 2025 edition, recognising outstanding achievements in African filmmaking, acting, and content creation.
The shortlist, released on Sunday night, features some of the most celebrated talents in the industry, with Uzor Arukwe and Omoni Oboli among the nominees. Uzor has been nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Suspicion, while Omoni secured a spot in the Best Supporting Actress category for Wives on Strike 3.
This year’s AMVCA will feature 28 categories, including both voting and non-voting awards, covering various aspects of filmmaking, from acting and directing to cinematography and digital content creation.
Top Contenders and Categories
The Best Supporting Actress category boasts a stellar lineup, including Meg Otanwa (Inside Life), Tina Mba (Suspicion), Ireti Doyle (All’s Fair in Love), and Mercy Aigbe (Farmer’s Bride), among others. Meanwhile, Best Supporting Actor nominees include Adedayo Adebowale Macaroni (Lisabi: The Uprising), Richard Mofe-Damijo (Christmas in Lagos), and Gabriel Afolayan (Inside Life).
In the leading categories, Best Lead Actress nominees include Bimbo Ademoye (Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre), Chioma Akpotha (Seven Doors), and Hilda Dokubo (The Uprising: Wives on Strike 3). Best Lead Actor contenders include Femi Adebayo (Seven Doors), Stan Nze (Suspicion), and Gideon Okeke (Tokunbo).
Celebrating African Creativity
This year’s edition features an exciting mix of Indigenous Language Films, with nominations for Seven Doors (Femi Adebayo), Lisabi: The Uprising (Adedimeji Lateef and Adebimpe Oyebade Adedimeji), and Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre (Kunle Afolayan). The Best Movie category sees strong competition from Lisabi: The Uprising, Skeleton Coast, Suspicion, and House of Ga’a.
Other notable categories include Best Director, where nominees such as Bolanle Austen-Peters (House of Ga’a), Norman Maake (Inkabi), and Robert O Peters (Skeleton Coast) will battle for the top honour. The Best Cinematography award features Inkabi, The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos, and Agemo.
Additionally, the AMVCA recognises digital content creators, with nominees including J
A police inspector, Effiong Bassey, has shot three people in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, leaving one dead and two others injured.
The Cross River State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday, describing it as tragic.
According to the Command’s spokesperson, Ugbo Irene, the shooting occurred in the early hours of Sunday at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Atakpa, Calabar.
She explained that Inspector Bassey had returned from his night duty at Ekondo Microfinance Bank when he began exhibiting abnormal behaviour.
“Inspector Bassey refused to hand over the AK-47 rifle he was assigned and instead proceeded to block the station’s gate, preventing anyone from entering or leaving the premises. Despite attempts at peaceful dialogue to resolve the situation, the officer’s actions escalated,” the statement read.
Tactical Units and patrol teams were then deployed to the scene. However, Bassey, suspected to be mentally unstable, opened fire on bystanders who had been instructed to leave the area.
“Tragically, three individuals were struck by the officer’s stray bullets, including Ijeoma Wilson Obot, a 41-year-old female, who later succumbed to her injuries. The other two victims, Charles Mkpang and another individual, are currently receiving medical treatment and are in stable condition,” the police said.
The officer was eventually subdued, disarmed, and taken into custody. He is now undergoing further investigation.
Concerned by the incident, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 6 Headquarters, Calabar, along with the Cross River State Command Management Team, visited the hospital where the victims were receiving treatment. The AIG also made a donation to support their immediate care.
The Command assured residents that it was working with key stakeholders to prevent any escalation of tension in the community.
It further urged the victims’ families and the public to remain calm, pledging a thorough investigation into the incident.
“The Cross River State Police Command is committed to ensuring that justice, fairness, and equity prevail, and the outcome of the investigation will be made public in due course.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” the statement added.
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