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Lagos To Ikere Ekiti: Primate Ayodele’s Homecoming with Charity and Salvation – by Folorunsho Hamsat
Encouragement can seem like a good, but small thing to us. But encouragement is massive. Popular prophet, Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, understands in his dealings that encouragement is such an important element of church life that, like the Bible commands, he makes it his regular routine to encourage others, particularly, the downtrodden, to value life.
For 30 years, Primate Ayodele has applied his Holy Spirit empowered ability not just to preach and prophesy, but to also encourage by giving.
A typical village boy that he loves to call himself, the famous seer from the agricultural and mine Southwest town, Ikere Ekiti in Ekiti State, had profound spiritual insight to understand the mysteries of God early enough. Thus, when he escaped to Lagos in the mid-80s after suffering the disappointments of not realizing his childhood dream of studying Mass Communication or becoming a soldier, the zeal to excel in whatever he chose to do afterwards stole his attention.
The task to forgive and love whomever he might have already had a strained relationship with back in his town of birth was first. He needed to move on and shine. Ayodele did not have a church when he became known for prophesying. Six years before he established the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, he had been noted as a possible replacement for one of the then globally known prophets, Primate Theophilus Olabayo. His prophecies rang through all corners of the globe. And his journey to attain leadership began in earnest.
Something occupied his thoughts; how to get to the top of the Mission and impact others. He said he then realized that the secret to the pinnacle of God’s assigned task is giving. Ayodele says that sharing does not only affect the receivers in positive ways, it also transforms the life of the giver in great ways. “I give out more than a half of what God has blessed me with, and I don’t expect any reward for this other than to be acknowledged as a man who shares from the little he has,” the servant of God declared while addressing journalists at his last birthday celebration in Lagos.
Ayodele’s passion to encourage and empower the oppressed, help those with lost hope to dream and hope again, blossomed. His prophecy aided by heart for charity, announced him to the world as unique among his contemporaries in God’s vineyard. On Thursday, 25th of April, 2024, Primate Ayodele returned to Ikere Ekiti, in a large entourage, wonderfully overwhelmed by the welcoming warmth by his kit and kin.
What a joy it was for the God’s servant to see a packed venue of Ikere Ekiti young and old folks, including the king and political leaders pouring their hearts out in prayer for him as he laid the foundation of the town’s branch of INRI Ministry the next day, Friday 26th of April, 2024.
Typically, the day witnessed both empowerment and spiritual relief. Essential items were made available at ridiculously affordable prices, scholarships were provided for indigent brilliant students while the servant of God spoke into people’s life for transformative power of faith, healing and breakthrough.
Speaking on the essence of giving, Primate Ayodele averred that the Lord provides us with one incredibly encouraging reason to excel in the grace of generous giving: to prove our love for others. This, he said, he has satisfactorily done establishing his ministry in his place of birth, thus physically empowering his people and bringing them closer to salvation.
-Folorunsho Hamsat is a Lagos based journalist
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Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”
He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”
Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.
He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.
“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”
The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.
He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”
“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”
Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.
News
Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency
The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.
In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.
Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote
Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.
The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.
‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.
President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded
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Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience
Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.
The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.
In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.
He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”
The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.
Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.
“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”
Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.
“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”
The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.
By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.
The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.
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