General
1,004 Graduate from Crown Flour Baking Academy
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
In three years, no fewer than 1,000 persons have graduated from the Crown Flour Angels (CFA) Baking Academy, a flagship programme of Olam Agri’s Seeds for the Future (SFTF) initiative.
The latest people to complete the training scheme were 355 women, who learned baking and entrepreneurship through an intensive four-week course that includes professional certification from the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB). Graduates gain market-ready skills and the confidence to build sustainable businesses.
SFTF is Olam Agri’s signature value chain development platform in Nigeria, driving impact through focus areas: improving local wheat production, advancing education and skills for young people, empowering women, promoting health and nutrition nationwide and reducing carbon emission.
On behalf of the graduating women, Aisha Ahmad Abdullahi thanked the company for investing in her and her colleagues: “My colleagues and I have had an amazing time learning new things about baking. I didn’t believe I could bake the way I do now. The skills and insights I have acquired in the academy have raised my confidence in building a baking business. I am grateful to Olam Agri.”
Also speaking, the Kano State Coordinator for NABTEB, Talatu Muazu, said, “Helping the women acquire top baking skills and enrol for professional certification under the same programme is a testament to the Crown Flour Angels initiative’s commitment to excellence. These efforts will have a lasting impact on these young lives, and I am confident that they will go on to achieve great things.”
The Commissioner for Commerce and Investment in Kano State, Mr Shehu Wada Sagagi, who represented the state’s Deputy Governor at the event, said, What makes me happier is that the graduates of the baking academy are women.
“Considering the plight of women in our society and the economic situation, our women need to be empowered to raise their incomes. I am delighted with what Olam Agri is doing for these women. As a government, we need to identify with this great initiative as it supports and balances the state’s various empowerment agendas.”
The General Manager/Head of Marketing at Olam Agri, Ms Bola Adeniji, said, “We believe that real corporate success must go hand-in-hand with social impact. As part of our corporate social responsibility, we are deeply committed to empowering the communities where we operate – and among our most impactful initiatives is the Crown Flour Angels programme.”
The Senior Vice President and Managing Director of the wheat-milling unit, Olam Agri, Nitin Mehta, said, “The Crown Flour Angels programme was initiated to equip women with useful skills that will enable them to participate effectively in the economy, and provide support for households. By equipping women with baking and entrepreneurship skills, we are launching them into a growing market where their skills and experience are certain to yield rewards.”
The Country Head of Olam Agri, Anil Nair, said, “Olam Agri was founded here in 1989. As a business that originated from Nigeria, we reserve a special place for the country, as evidenced in our continuous investment in the improvement of the country’s food systems, the well-being of its citizens, and the attainment of the key federal and state economic growth agendas. The Crown Flour Angels initiative supports the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with a focus on women’s empowerment. Congratulations to the women who have benefited from this effort.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, has approved the declaration of a 16-hour curfew in 10 local government areas of the state, as part of measures targeted at tackling insecurity.
According to a memo issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Musibau Babatunde, the curfew takes effect from Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
The movement restriction, between 4 pm and 8 am, lasts for 48 hours in the first instance and affects local government areas bordering the Old Oyo National Park.
The affected local councils are Oriire local government (Headquarters: Ikoyi-Ile), Orelope (Headquarters: Igboho), Irepo (Headquarters: Kisi), Saki West (Headquarters: Saki), Saki East (Hq Ago-Amodu), Atisbo (Headquarters: Tede / Ago-Are), Itesiwaju (Headquarters: Otu), Iseyin (Headquarters: Iseyin), Olorunsogo (Headquarters: Igbeti), and Atiba (Headquarters: Offa-Meta, Oyo).
The development followed a series of protests that rocked the state over the abduction of children and teachers in the Orire Local Government Area in May.
The National Coordinator of the movement, Mr Juwon Sanyaolu, who spoke during the latest protest held on Monday, said the demonstration was part of ongoing efforts by the group to push for the freedom of the victims.
According to him, the protest “is a continuation of actions the organisation has embarked upon since the abduction of children and teachers” in the Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State in May.”
“We will continue to protest for the release of all abducted victims until they are free. We believe that government officials are in the comfort of their rooms and offices while innocent 46 students and their teachers are languishing in the kidnappers’ den.
“We are demanding freedom for all captives in the North, South, West, and East of Nigeria,” Mr Sanyaolu said.
He also criticised political leaders for focusing on preparations for the 2027 elections while insecurity continues to threaten the lives of Nigerians.
“We will not be sitting until 2027. By that time, we won’t even know how many will be alive.
“So that is why we are at the heart of Ibadan in Oyo State, where the abduction took place. The state and federal governments must act, or they will continue to witness mass action,” he added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Department of State Services (DSS) has closed its case against former Kaduna State Governor, Mr Nasir El-Rufai, in the ongoing alleged wiretapping trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, prosecuting counsel, Mr Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that the prosecution would not be calling further witnesses in the matter, prompting the formal closure of the DSS case.
Following the development, defence counsel, Mr Paul Erokoro, told the court that the defence intends to file a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution has failed to establish sufficient evidence against the former governor.
The defence subsequently sought two weeks to file the application, while the prosecution requested two weeks to respond.
The defence also applied for a variation of some of the bail conditions earlier granted to El-Rufai, describing them as stringent and difficult to meet.
They argued that the bail terms were too stringent, particularly the requirements for level 17 civil servants with properties in Maitama or Asokoro, as well as verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna state traditional council.
However, the prosecution opposed the request, insisting that qualified public officers who meet the conditions exist and urging the court to refuse the application.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik declined the request to vary the bail conditions, ruling that there are civil servants who own properties at the said location.
The court, however, adjourned to September 22 for the filing of the no-case submission and continuation of the trial.
In February, the federal government filed a three-count charge against the former governor of Kaduna State over an alleged interception of communications belonging to Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr Nuhu Ribadu.
In a television interview, he confessed that he and other unnamed individuals listened to conversations from Mr Ribadu’s phone after it was tapped by a third party. While acknowledging that such interception is technically unlawful, he argued that illegal surveillance was not unusual.
However, the FG, through the secret police, filed charges against Mr El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The I-Fitness Gym centre around Jakande Roundabout, Lekki Peninsula, Eti-Osa, Lagos, has been sealed by the Lagos State government.
The facility was closed on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, by officials of the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO).
The gym centre was accused of indiscriminately discharging raw sewage into public drains via a pipe, thereby causing public nuisance and environmental pollution as well as endangering human health.
Announcing the closure of the premises of the organisation, the Lagos Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, reiterated the need for the public to adhere strictly to proper wastewater management practices.
He emphasised that any individual or organisation found contravening environmental regulations will be meted out with appropriate sanctions and possible prosecution in accordance with the enabling laws.
The Commissioner has come under fire lately because of the poor waste management system in the metropolis, causing the state to look dirty.
A chief of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, called for his resignation over the issue.
In a related development, Mr Wahab has clarified that the state government has given members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) the authority to arrest environmental violators.
In a statement, he explained that contrary to the misinformation being circulated by some bloggers and commentators, the recent engagement between the Lagos State Government and transport unions across the State is not intended to replace the statutory responsibilities of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC). LAGESC, in collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Task Force, remains the duly empowered environmental enforcement arm of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
“As we are all aware, several environmental challenges persist within parks, garages, and the public transportation ecosystem, including illegal trading activities and the indiscriminate disposal of refuse on road medians and within transport facilities. The State Government’s engagement with transport unions is aimed at fostering collaboration, promoting shared responsibility, and ensuring improved cleanliness and proper waste management within their respective parks and garages.
“This partnership does not in any way diminish, transfer, or replace the enforcement responsibilities of LAGESC and the Task Force. Rather, it is a complementary initiative designed to strengthen environmental compliance, sanitation standards, and stakeholder participation in maintaining a cleaner environment across the State.
“We therefore wish to reassure all Lagosians that environmental cleanliness remains a top priority of the Lagos State Government. We will continue to engage relevant stakeholders and partners in our collective effort to build a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos,” he stated.
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