Economy
Eva Adelaja Girls’ at 60: Family Unveils Ben and Eva Adelaja Prize
By Adedapo Adesanya
The week-long 60th Anniversary of Eva Adelaja Girls’ Secondary Grammar School, Bariga, commenced on Saturday, February 17 with the Praise Day and Community Hymn Singing held at Chapel of Christ the Light in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
The event witnessed personalities from different sets of the six-decade-old school grace the chapel at the heart of Lagos to sing hymns to honour God and extol the virtues of the late founder, Mrs Eva Adebayo Adelaja.
Eva Adelaja Girls’ Secondary Grammar School, Bariga was founded in 1964 by Mrs Evangeline Adebayo Adelaja. The school was formerly known as Girls Secondary School. It was privately owned until 1969 when it became grant-aided by the Lagos State Government. In 1974, it was completely taken over by the government.
Speaking during the service, Revd Oladele Ajayi, the Presiding Chaplain, lauded the life of the educator and appreciated her contribution to the education of the girl child.
He called on those present, including family members, alumni, present students, and other well-wishers to emulate her.
On her part, the president of the Eva Adelaja Girls’ Secondary Grammar School Old Girls’ Association, Mrs Rhoda Ayinde, said the milestone provided an opportunity to thank God for using Mrs Adelaja as a vessel to raise a generation of girls on the right path.
“It’s an opportunity for us to thank God for the impact of the last six decades, for the journey of raising role models that Mama started 60 years ago and that’s why we decided to start our celebration with thanksgiving.
“It is of great impact that the mighty tree that Mama planted is providing shade and is being felt by everyone. By the Bariga community, by the state, and the nation at large,” she said.
The highlight of the event was the announcement of the establishment of the N1 million Prize known as the Ben and Eva Adelaja Prize, which will be awarded to the best-graduating student moving forward.
This was announced by the representative of the family of the founder, Mrs Kehinde Kamson, the daughter of the late founder in memory of their mother and father.
“To commemorate this milestone anniversary, the Adelaja family has decided to commit in perpetuity, to providing an annual prize to be called the Ben and Eva Adelaja Prize.
She said the prize would be given at the end of each school year to a graduating student across the board with criteria including the best performance in academic excellence, leadership, commitment to community, and vision.
She added that the family wished this would be the top prize at the school in honour of the founder’s legacy starting in 2024, noting that a fund will be established to also recognise other exemplary students at the school.
On her part, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mrs Folashade Laja, lauded the foot at which the celebrations commenced and said the next set of activities would impact others.
The next event will be a Fun Day scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, at the school compound located at 1, Adepeju Street, Bariga, Lagos from 8 a.m. onwards. This will feature a novelty match, charity visit, rally, health talk, and a raffle draw.
On Thursday, February 22, there will be an anniversary lecture and documentary from 10 a.m. at 10 Degrees Event Centre Plot A2, along Billings Way in Oregun.
The celebration will culminate with a dual event starting with a thanksgiving at Chapel of Christ the Light scheduled to start by 9 a.m. This is followed by a reception and awards ceremony by 12 noon.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Insurance Commission has issued new guidelines for the collection, management, and administration of the Insurance Policyholders’ Protection Fund.
In a circular issued to all insurance institutions on Tuesday, the regulator also set May 31, 2026, as the deadline for insurers to submit their assessment returns for the 2025 financial year.
Recall that on August 5, 2025, President Bola Tinubu signed into law the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act ( NIIRA 2025).
This landmark legislation repeals the Insurance Act 2003, and consolidates related provisions, ushering in a modern regulatory framework. It lays a strong foundation for sustainable growth and increased investment in the country’s insurance sector.
The commission said the guidelines were issued in exercise of its powers under the 2025 Act and other existing insurance laws and regulations to provide regulatory clarity, improve guidance, and ensure ease of compliance across the industry.
According to NAICOM, the guidelines establish a comprehensive structure for the operation of the IPPF, which serves as a statutory safety net to protect insurance policyholders in the event of distress or insolvency of a licensed insurer or reinsurer. The framework also provides direction on the reimbursement of loans by insurers and reinsurers.
NAICOM stated, “The guidelines ensure regulatory clarity, guidance and ease of compliance, as it provides a comprehensive regulatory framework for the collection, management, and administration of the Fund, which serves as a statutory safety net designed to protect insurance policyholders against distress and insolvency of a licensed insurer or reinsurer, including guidance for the reimbursement of loans by an insurer or reinsurer.
“Please be informed that the IPPF Assessment Returns in respect of the year 2025 shall be submitted to the Commission not later than 31st May 2026, while subsequent submissions shall be in line with Section 4.3 of the Guideline on Insurance Policyholders Protection Fund.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Dangote Refinery on Wednesday returned the petrol price to N1,200 per litre, less than 24 hours after it increased it by 5 per cent.
The private refinery had raised the ex-depot price by N75 on Tuesday, citing pressure from volatile global oil markets, but quickly brought it back to N1,200 per litre from N1,275 per litre.
The swift downward review is directly linked to a sharp drop in international crude prices. Brent crude has plunged to $95.05 per barrel, after a 13 per cent decline, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude closed at $97.18, recording nearly a 14 per cent drop.
This development comes after US President Donald Trump announced a conditional two-week ceasefire with Iran, which eased fears of immediate supply disruptions in the global oil market.
“This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!” Trump said on social media, marking a sharp reversal from his earlier warning that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” if Iran failed to comply with US demands.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Mr Abbas Araqchi, confirmed that the country would halt attacks provided strikes against Iran cease and transit through the Strait of Hormuz is coordinated by Iranian forces.
Despite the breakthrough, tensions remain elevated across the region, with several Gulf states reporting missile launches, drone activity, or issuing civil defence warnings.
While oil prices have fallen back below $100, they remain significantly elevated after surging by a record amount in March. Market analysts noted that regardless of how successful the ceasefire is, geopolitical risk related to the Strait of Hormuz is likely to remain elevated for the foreseeable future under the control of Iran.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Crude oil deliveries from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery doubled in March, boosting prospects for improved fuel availability.
This was revealed by the chief executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Mr Aliko Dangote, on Tuesday, when he received the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mrs Amina Mohammed, at the industrial complex in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
While speaking on feedstock supply, Mr Dangote commended the NNPC for increasing crude deliveries to the refinery in March, noting that volumes rose to 10 cargoes—six supplied in Naira and four in Dollars—to support domestic fuel availability, according to a statement by the Refinery.
“Last month, they gave us six cargoes for Naira and four cargoes for Dollars,” he said.
Despite the improvement, Mr Dangote noted that the supply remains below the 19 cargoes required for optimal operations, with the refinery continuing to bridge the gap through imports from the United States and other African producers.
He also expressed concern over the unwillingness of international oil companies operating in Nigeria to sell to the refinery, stating that their preference for selling crude to traders forces it to repurchase at higher costs, with broader implications for the economy.
Mr Dangote added that the refinery is seeking increased access to domestically priced crude under local currency arrangements as part of efforts to moderate fuel costs and enhance long-term energy and food security across the continent.
On her part, Mrs Mohammed underscored the strategic importance of Dangote Industries Limited -particularly Dangote Fertiliser Limited—in addressing Africa’s mounting food security challenges, while calling for stronger global partnerships to scale its impact.
Mrs Mohammed said the United Nations would prioritise amplifying scalable solutions capable of mitigating the continent’s food crisis, describing Dangote’s integrated industrial model as a critical pathway.
“I think the UN’s job here is to amplify and to put visibility on the possibilities of mitigating a food security crisis, and this is one of them,” she said. “I hope that when we go back, we can continue to engage partners and countries that should collaborate with Dangote Industries.”
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism10 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn