By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Prominent people, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, will be at the New Telegraph Awards Night/Dinner slated for this Friday at the Grand Ballroom of the Oriental Hotels, Lagos.

The monarch will be the Royal Father of the Day, while former Governor of Ogun State, Mr Olusegun Osoba, will attend the event as the chairman.

A statement from the newspaper disclosed that nine state governors from across the country have confirmed their attendance at the high-octane ceremony organised to reward excellence.

In a letter conveying his choice as the Royal Father of the Day, the company said it was borne out of his dedication to excellence and public good in his 10-year reign as the paramount ruler of the Yoruba nation.

“Your Highness, it is important to let you know that you were chosen because of your position as not only the Paramount Ruler of one of the largest and homogenous nations in Nigeria, but also because of your dedication to service, excellence, reward and honesty in your over 10-year reign on the throne of your ancestors,” a part of the letter delivered by the Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Mr Ayodele Aminu, disclosed.

Similarly, Mr Osoba, a former Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Times and Grand Patron of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), was chosen because of his close association with his profession, several years after serving as governor.

According to Mr Aminu, the former governor reflects the dream of not only journalists but every profession because he did not forget his roots and easily identifies with his colleagues, no matter the gap in age and experience.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

On Thursday, February 12, 2026, senior judicial officers, policymakers, labour leaders, and international stakeholders will meet in Abuja for the 4th International Labour Adjudication and Arbitration Forum (I-LAAF) organised by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).

The programme is themed Access to Labour Justice in a Rapidly Changing World of Work, and will explore the implications of technological disruption, non-standard employment relationships, and emerging forms of work for labour justice systems worldwide.

The Director General of NECA, Mr Adewale Smatt Oyerinde, said that while the forum was originally launched in 2023 as a national dialogue on labour dispute resolution, it has since evolved into an international platform for examining the changing architecture of labour justice.

“Over the years, the forum has contributed significantly to jurisprudential discourse and strengthened tripartite engagement on labour adjudication and arbitration,” he said.

“Our goal is to continue promoting constructive engagement and driving reforms that strengthen the labour justice system, ensuring it meets the evolving needs of employers, workers, and society in a rapidly changing world of work,” the NECA chief added.

The keynote address will be delivered by the President of Brazil’s Superior Labour Court, Justice Lelio Bentes Corrêa. Other speakers include the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem; the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice B. B. Bakwaph Kanyip; the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi; the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero; and the President of the International Organisation of Employers, Jacqueline Mugo.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Lagos State has launched a biodigester plant at the Ikosi Fruit Market to convert organic market waste into energy and fertiliser.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said via his official X account that the project was delivered through a partnership with C40 Cities and support from UK International Development.

The facility is designed to convert fruit and vegetable waste into biogas for cooking and electricity, and fertiliser for farmers, the state government official noted.

Mr Wahab said the project addresses a long-standing environmental challenge in the Ikosi community, adding that the market generates tons of organic waste daily, including fruit peels, vegetable trimmings, and unsold produce, much of which previously ended up in drains and dumpsites.

“I had the privilege of launching and handing over the Ikosi Fruit Market Biodigester Plant, delivered in partnership with @c40cities and with support from UK International Development under the Climate Action Implementation programme.

“Every day, Ikosi Fruit Market generates tons of organic waste, fruit peels, vegetable trimmings, unsold produce. In the past, much of this ended up in dumpsites and road medians, clogging drains, creating health risks, and releasing methane into the atmosphere.

“Today, that same waste will be fed into an anaerobic digester where it will be converted into biogas for cooking and electricity, as well as nutrient-rich biofertilizer for farmers. This is the circular economy in action,” he said on Monday.

He added that the project aligns with Lagos’ broader goal of building a resilient and resource-efficient city through visible, community-level climate actions.

This is the latest effort in the state’s waste management move. In July 2025, the Lagos State Government announced plans for a $400 million Waste-to-Energy plant in Epe, aimed at tackling waste, supplying electricity to two million residents, and reducing flooding.

Before that, in October 2024, Mr Wahab revealed that Lagos secured a €120 million commitment from the Netherlands to support its ongoing project with Harvest Waste Consortium, which is expected to convert 2,500–3,000 tons of municipal solid waste into electricity daily.