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Dangote, Burna Boy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Mo Salah, Others To Bag Awards

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Top economic experts, government officials, entrepreneurs, captains of industry, policymakers, and professionals are set to converge in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, for the 100 Most Notable Africans Leadership and Business Summit 2025.

 

The summit, scheduled from July 4 to 6 at the Marriott Hotel in Kigali, aims to foster discussions on Africa’s economic growth, governance, investment opportunities, and sustainable development, the organisers of 100 Most Notable Peace Icons in Africa said.

 

It aims to showcase and celebrate the achievements and contributions of African leaders and businesses, among other things, to inspire future generations and promote a positive image of Africa globally.

 

At a press conference in Abuja, the Project Director Africa, for the 100 Most Notable Peace Icons in Africa, Ambassador Kingsley Amafibe celebrated the selected Africans who made the highly enviable Peace Icon list while noting that the summit promotes cross border initiatives that allow Nations to share best practices in areas like agriculture, education and health.

 

According to the organisers, the summit hopes to drive positive change and economic growth initiatives that promote entrepreneurship and innovation and strengthen governance and education across the African continent.

 

Among those to be honoured include Egyptian ace footballer Mohammed Salah, Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, music superstar Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, renowned investor Femi Otedola, DG WTO Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and other notable Africans.

 

It will also advocate for policy reforms and initiatives that promote good governance, transparency, and accountability in Africa’s public and private sectors.

 

The platform supports startups, innovators, and small businesses through mentorship and market access. Collaborating with local and international partners and NGOs, it implements community-based projects focused on education, healthcare, environmental conservation, and youth empowerment.

 

It also offers leadership development workshops, executive training programs, and mentorship opportunities to empower emerging leaders and entrepreneurs.

 

“Today, we celebrate trailblazers shaping Africa’s future, capturing leaders’ attention across Africa and business Executives.

 

“There is a pressing need for visionary leadership, strategic governance, transparency, and partnerships to drive positive change and unlock the continent’s full potential”, Amafibe said.

 

He went on to lament that Africa is grappling with Global economic challenges and stressed the need for open dialogue and strategic partnerships to drive economic transformation.

 

He highlighted that the event is a dynamic platform for people to come together and explore significant trends, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration and partnership.

 

Among other confirmed participants are Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo (COZA Global), music stars Tems and Diamond Platnumz, industrialist Tony Elumelu, Munyakazi Sadate, Chief Executive Officer, Karame Rwanda, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Zainab Nasir-Idris, wife of the Kebbi State Governor, and Huriyya Dauda-Lawal, wife of the Zamfara State Governor.

 

Others who made the list are Nduka Obaigbena (Chairman, Arise Media Group), Mr. Aigboje Imoukhuede (MD, Access Bank), Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State, Dr. Imane Kendili, Chief Executive Officer of Global Health Morocco, and Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube. Others include Dr. Nimi Briggs, Chief Executive Officer of NIMPAT Group, Nigerian star footballer Victor Osimhen, and other African icons.

 

Discussions at the summit will focus on governance reforms, business capacity development, education, agriculture, infrastructure, and human capital development, all geared toward job creation and youth empowerment across Africa.

 

Meanwhile, prominent political, business, and traditional leaders will be honoured at the upcoming Aso Prestigious Awards, featuring Aso Cultural Fiesta and being organised by Aso Multimedia.

 

The list of those to be honoured includes the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, the governor of Niger State, Umar Mohammed Bago, his Katsina state counterpart, Dikko Umaru Radda, Hajia Aisha Bala Mohammed, the Bauchi State First Lady, and several others.

 

The upcoming edition, the 20th Aso Prestigious Award, will feature categories including Man/Woman of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Female Personality of the Year, Real Estate Personality of the Year, Governor of the Year, Minister of the Year, Bank of the Year, Business Personality of the Year, Public Servant of the Year, Media Icon of the Year, and Special Recognition Awards.

 

While the Hajia Lami Tumaka will bag Woman of the Year, Wike will be recognised as Man of the Year, Gov Radda of Kastina State, Best performing governor of the Year. Other Awardees include Hon Imaam Suleiman- Ibrahim, Hon Minister for Women’s affairs, Dr Enitan Oteju ibironke, HRH Erelu Pearl Ogbulu, Mr Akinwale Abidakun, Dr Prince Adewale Adedeji, Amb Mubarak Tijjani, Dr Sanusi Bala Turaki, Dr Sa’adatu Adamu, Hajia Aisha Abdulsalam, Mr Mohammed Jammal, Mrs Simisola Adeyemo, Otunba Emmanuel Fayose.

 

Also, the CEO of Grosvenor Group, Prince Olatunji Olusoji, will be recognised as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year. First, Lady of Bauchi State, Hajiya (Dr) Aishatu Lami Bala Mohammed, will be recognised as the First Lady of the Year.

 

The Project Coordinator of the Aso Prestigious Award, Amb Kingsley Tolu Agboola, said it is designed to celebrate Outstanding Achievements and Personalities in the Private and Public sectors who have contributed to Nigeria’s development.

 

Other activities expected during the Aso Prestigious Awards 2025 include Aso Cultural Fiesta 2025, Art and crafts Exhibition, Cultural displays, fashion Shows, Music and Comedy and more.

 

Agboola explained that this year’s edition will be held on Friday, June 13th, at 6 p.m. at The Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments, Asokoro, Abuja.

 

-Leadership

Entertainment

Davido breaks silence after Grammy Award loss

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Five-time Grammy nominee, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reacted after losing the Best African Music Performance category at the 68th Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles, United States.

 

The Afrobeats star shared a message of faith and resilience following the outcome of the ceremony, which took place on Sunday night at the Crypto.com Arena in California.

In a post on his Instagram page, Davido shared photos with his wife, Chioma, from the event and wrote, “Oluwa Dey my side,” alongside prayer and music emojis.
Hours later, he posted another set of pictures of himself and Chioma at the Grammys, reflecting on the loss in a longer caption.

“I said baby listen we lost again let’s not go ! she said ‘Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat’ we outside,” he wrote.
Chioma also reacted via her Instagram page, praising the singer, “You already know that you’re the perfect one, @davido,” she wrote, while sharing photos from the awards night.
Davido was nominated in the Best African Music Performance category at the 2026 Grammy Awards but lost to South African singer Tyla, who won with her song Push 2 Start.

Other nominees in the category included Burna Boy (Love), Ayra Starr and Wizkid (Gimme Dat), Davido (With You featuring Omah Lay), and Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin (Hope & Love).

The win marked Tyla’s second Grammy Award, following her first victory in 2024 for her hit single Water.

Speaking during the awards ceremony, the singer revealed that With You, featuring Omah Lay, almost did not make the final tracklist of his album 5IVE.
“Man, it’s so crazy because that song almost didn’t make the album. With You was not in anybody’s top five.
“And now look at it go. Every time I was performing it, my heart would just start beating like, what if I didn’t put this song?” he told OkayAfrica.

Davido also recounted how he learned about the Grammy nomination, saying the news came unexpectedly while he was in Dubai, days before his birthday.

“I was in the car, actually, checking a car, and then my phone rang. They were like, ‘Oh yeah, another nomination.’ I was like, wow. Thank God,” he said.

“With You” was released in April 2025 as the 17th track on Davido’s fifth studio album, 5IVE, and has since become one of his most successful recent records, surpassing 100 million streams on Spotify.

Despite the song’s success, Nigeria did not record a win at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
Davido said he is now focused on touring and releasing new music.

He is also billed to perform at Coachella 2026, where he will be the only Nigerian artiste on the festival lineup, performing on April 11 and April 18, 2026, in Indio, California.

-Guardian

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Kunle Afolayan gives reasons to marry many women

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Nollywood filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, has stirred reactions after advising men to “marry many women” while reflecting on his upbringing in a polygamous home.

 

The actor and producer made the remarks at the watch party of Aníkúlápó: The Ghoul Awakens, with a clip from the event going viral on Tuesday.

Speaking at the event, Afolayan linked his existence and achievements to his late father’s decision to marry several wives.

“Without my father, there wouldn’t have been a KAP Village or even Kunle Afolayan. I am the seventh born of my father because my father had ten wives. For the men, marry many women, or rather be involved with many women. You know why? If my father didn’t, he would not have born me, and that is the honest truth. But today, a few of us are lifting his legacy. Life is short, death is constant. Nobody has life forever. Everybody has a period. Use your period,” he said.

While his daughter, Eyiyemi Afolayan, joined him on stage, the filmmaker compared his childhood experience with his relationship with his children.

“They are lucky. For her, staying by my side is luck. Do you know why? I couldn’t stand it with my father. My father didn’t know my school. My father didn’t know my date of birth. He did not know anything about me other than, ‘He is the son of that person.’ But today, I’m so proud of my father,” he added.

Afolayan also spoke about fatherhood.

“Sometimes when people say ‘Happy Father’s Day,’ I’m always saying whether he pays child support or not, he’s still a father. I have been going to court because I want to get a divorce. I don’t mind being in the witness box, and I experienced the shit, so that I can marry many wives,” he said.

He thereafter prayed for his daughter, praising her role in the series.

“Hephzibah, her mother is the one who gave her the name. I don’t care, but I am proud of you. You started with the film, you did the first season, and now with the second season, you did amazingly well. My good Lord will continue to increase you in wisdom, in knowledge, and in understanding. If this is your path, the good Lord will see you through.”
However, this is not the first time the filmmaker has spoken about his late father’s polygamous lifestyle.

In March 2021, Afolayan told BBC Pidgin that his father, Adeyemi Afolayan, who died in 1996, married 10 wives and had 25 children, a decision he said took a toll on the family.

“I would not want to marry many wives because my father had 10 wives and I knew what happened throughout that period. I knew that really distracted my father. In this age, nobody needs to tell you before you know what’s right,” he said at the time.

He also disclosed that growing up in a polygamous home affected bonding among the children due to language and other barriers.

Afolayan further narrated how he battled poverty in his early years, revealing that he once lived in a one-room apartment in Ebute-Metta and sometimes had to deal with flooding.

“I was born in Ebute-Metta and have lived in one-room apartment before that we even have to grapple with flood sometimes. It’s not shame to say have been poor before. But if you see how l made it, it’s a matter of consistency. My father was a very popular filmmaker and ordinarily, people would expect me to life the kind of live akin to Hollywood stars,” he said.

“But that wasn’t the case. How would one live such life when you’re living in a room with ten women. That doesn’t mean there was no love among us.”

He had advised young filmmakers to start with the little resources available to them while working towards their dreams.

 

-Guardian

 

 

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Court adjourns Ganduje’s corruption trial to April 15

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A Kano State High Court has adjourned until April 15 the trial of former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar, and son, Abdullahi Umar, alongside five other defendants, over alleged misappropriation of public funds amounting to billions of naira.

 

The defendants are facing an 11-count charge bordering on bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds. The remaining accused persons are Abubakar Bawuro, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lasage General Enterprises Ltd.

At the resumed hearing, the prosecution told the court it was ready to proceed and drew attention to a motion dated November 24, 2025, seeking leave to file additional proof of evidence.

However, defence lawyers raised objections, informing the court that multiple applications were pending and must be resolved before the trial could continue.

Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, counsel to some of the defendants, said the defence had filed a motion dated July 17, 2025, seeking a stay of proceedings.
Adekunle Taiye-Falola, representing the third and seventh defendants, also referred to a separate motion dated May 23, 2025.
In addition, Muhammad Shehu, counsel to the fifth defendant, told the court that an affidavit had been filed notifying it of a pending application for stay of proceedings before the Court of Appeal.
Abubakar Ahmad, counsel to the sixth defendant, informed the court that he had filed a notice of preliminary objection and an application for extension of time to respond on points of law dated February 2, urging the court to fix a date for hearing.

Only Faruk Asekome, counsel to the eighth defendant, indicated readiness to proceed with the trial.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the presiding judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, adjourned the matter to April 15 for the hearing of all pending applications and preliminary objections.

The trial has suffered repeated delays due to legal challenges. The high court had earlier dismissed preliminary objections raised by the defence as “incompetent” and affirmed its jurisdiction to hear the case.
That ruling was appealed by the defendants, who argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction. However, in October 2025, the Kano Division of the Court of Appeal struck out the appeal, citing failure to properly transmit the record of appeal.

-Guardian

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