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Professor Ayeleru @ 60: Portrait of a Life that Teaches Beyond the Classroom 

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By Dare Adekanmbi

Today, we must pause—deliberately—from whatever else may beckon for our attention. Let associates, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers, from far and near, dust off their dancing shoes and, bedecked in their finest apparel, make their way to Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan. There, we the participants converge to celebrate the archpriest as he marks his diamond anniversary. 

 

Three scores, as street lingo would have it, no be joke—especially against the backdrop of the 2025 UN data that places Nigeria’s average life expectancy at 54.6 years.

 

Who is today’s archpriest? He is a man with clean hands and a pure heart; one who does not put his trust in idols; blessed by God with a sound mind in a healthy body: Professor Lateef Babatunde Ayeleru, a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, FNAL, and immediate past Director/Chief Executive Office of the Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry, Lagos State. 

 

I met Professor Ayeleru during my journalism career, specifically in the build-up to the 2015 governorship election in Oyo State. As an investigative journalist with a penchant for exclusives, I engaged political grandees across party lines within the state’s ever-shifting political terrain. At that time, two dominant schools of thought shaped Oyo politics: the Rashidi Ladoja Bodija School and the Abiola Ajimobi Marines. Prof, as the celebrant is fondly called, was one of the leading eggheads of the Bodija School.

 

We bonded almost instantly—drawn together by our shared Humanities background and our common roots in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, that fiery furnace where many of us were forged.

 

Several encounters stand out. At the height of preparations for Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s second-term bid, his spokesperson published an article in the Tribune containing what many considered outlandish claims against Senator Rashidi Ladoja, who had emerged as the sitting governor’s most formidable nemesis. Prof and I held a virtual meeting to dissect the piece. Before dawn the next day, an intellectually robust response had germinated from his fecund pen.

 

It was my professional duty to ensure Ladoja’s right of reply, and Prof’s article was consequently deployed—lavishly—by the paper. The rejoinder not only rattled Governor Ajimobi but reportedly compelled him to instruct his media team to temporarily sheath their swords against Ladoja. Such was the force of Prof’s reasoned intervention. His writings elevated political discourse in Oyo State and resonated even on the national stage.

 

Yet his contributions extended far beyond polemical writing. Professor Ayeleru convened like-minded academics in his office to engage Ladoja in rigorous intellectual sessions—cross-fertilising ideas and preparing him for the gubernatorial debate organised by Splash FM, the state’s pioneering private radio station.

 

In celebrating my diamond mentor, we are not merely marking the passage of time; we are honouring six decades of excellence, service, and inspiration. A distinguished scholar, Prof firmly believes that knowledge without humility leads only to ruin. Outside the arena of intellectual engagement, one could scarcely guess that he has attained the summit of academic pursuit.

 

Students and close associates admire his humility, quiet strength, and unwavering commitment to fairness and truth. His principled stance has always been clear: true achievement is not measured solely by the volume of publications, but by the lives enlightened, enriched, and transformed along the way.

 

At 60, the life of this Professor of French, Applied Linguistics and African Literatures reminds us that greatness is sustained not by position, but by consistency of values and depth of purpose. He has mentored generations with patience, discipline, and generosity. Many of his former students are now professors, professionals, leaders, and scholars who embody the ideals he modelled—explaining why his influence remains potent far beyond the classroom. Professor Ayeleru stands as a moral exemplar—demonstrating that leadership is best expressed through service, wisdom, and ethical clarity.

My family and I join numerous well-wishers to celebrate Professor Ayeleru and this remarkable milestone with gratitude and admiration. It is my earnest prayer that his pitcher will not break at the fountain, and that the Almighty God will continue to strengthen and confirm him in all goodness. Félicitations et joyeux anniversaire, mon chef. 

 

Adekanmbi, one of Professor Tunde Ayeleru’s numerous mentees, wrote in from Ibadan, Oyo State. 

 

 

 

 

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Oceangate Engineering To Appeal Federal High Court Ruling over Forfeiture of Assets

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Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited has said it will appeal to the recent ruling of the Federal High Court ordering the forfeiture of certain assets.

 

Barr. Nnenna Onyeaso, the Company Secretary said in a statement on Thursday insisting that neither the company nor its leadership was found guilty of any wrongdoing.

 

Onyeaso said that the firm has described the court’s decision as a civil asset forfeiture order based on suspicion rather than proof, stressing that the judgment did not establish any criminal liability against the organisation.

 

 

According to her, the company maintain that it has already directed its legal team to file an appeal, expressing confidence in the judicial process and the outcome of a thorough review of the case.

 

“To be clear, this ruling is a civil asset forfeiture order with no finding of wrongdoing against Oceangate or its leadership.

 

“The court’s decision rested on a legal standard of suspicion, not proof, and it is one we intend to pursue fully through the appeals process,” she said in a statement.

The firm secretary also said that Oceangate has reiterated its belief in the rule of law, noting that the appellate system exists to address such outcomes.

 

She added that the company remained confident that the facts of the case will ultimately affirm its integrity and business practices.

 

Onyeaso said that the firm also emphasised that its operations remained unaffected, stating that it continues to provide employment for many Nigerians while contributing to the country’s energy sector and broader economy.

 

“We have always believed in the ability of the judicial process, and that belief has not wavered,” she added.

 

She noted that Oceangate further expressed appreciation to its employees, partners, and clients for their continued support amid the development, assuring stakeholders of its commitment to transparency and accountability.

 

The Secretary said that the company reaffirmed its confidence in Nigeria as a viable destination for investment, describing the country as a land of equity, growth, and opportunity.

 

“We remain committed to the continued growth of our business and the communities we serve as we are optimistic that justice will prevail at the end of the legal process.

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Anti-Party Activities: Rivers APC Takes Disciplinary Action Against Fubara

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The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended a prominent member, Fubara Dagogo, following his legal attempts to halt the party’s national convention.

The decision was taken by the Ward 4 Executive Committee after allegations of anti-party activities and gross misconduct were levelled against the party chieftain.

The crisis arose after Dagogo took legal action against the APC over its upcoming national convention.

He approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, requesting an order to halt the party’s planned event.

In his suit, Dagogo alleged that he was unjustly prevented from contesting for the position of National Vice-Chairman (South-South).

Although Dagogo reportedly paid N5.1 million for the nomination form, he claimed the party refused to provide the required documents to formalize his candidacy.

He subsequently petitioned the court to suspend the South-South zonal congress and recognize his eligibility for the position.

Additionally, he sought the nullification of any election conducted without his participation and demanded N100 million in damages for what he described as marginalization.

However, the leadership of his ward in Bonny viewed this legal move as a direct violation of the party’s internal discipline.

The Ward Chairman, Richard Ibani, announced the suspension, stating that the resolution was passed during a committee meeting held on March 16.

The document confirming his removal was signed by the Ward Secretary, Donald Jumbo, and 21 other executive members.

The ward leaders maintained that Dagogo’s actions were an embarrassment to the party and a breach of the APC Constitution 2022 as amended. Specifically, they cited Article 21.2 (I), (II), and (VII), which deal with party discipline and the conduct of members.

In a strongly worded statement, the committee noted that they had previously cautioned members against acts that could ridicule the party.

​They stated: “The ward exco has always advised its members to desist from actions capable of ridiculing our party, but your recent actions have shown that you are not willing to respect and abide by the constitution and actions of our great party.”

The suspension is indefinite and took effect immediately.

The ward leadership has also called on the state secretariat to uphold the resolution and apply further necessary actions.

 

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Sterling Bank Charts Way Forward For Nigeria’s Transport, Logistics Sector

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Industry leaders, policymakers, financiers, and innovators convened in Lagos today for the inaugural Nigeria Transport & Logistics Summit (NTLS) 2026, hosted by Sterling Bank at Eko Hotel & Suites, to forge actionable strategies for building a faster, more connected Nigeria through transport, mobility, and logistics.

 

Held under the theme “Funding the Engine of Growth,” the summit positioned Nigeria’s transport and logistics sector as a critical but under-leveraged driver of productivity, regional integration, and economic growth. Transport, mobility, and logistics collectively form the backbone of the Nigerian economy, yet chronic underinvestment, infrastructure deficits, and limited access to financing have long constrained its potential.

 

Transport, mobility, and logistics collectively form the backbone of Nigeria’s economy. While the logistics sub-sector alone contributes approximately ₦1 trillion to national GDP, experts estimate that the broader transport and logistics market exceeds ₦15 trillion in potential value. Yet persistent infrastructure gaps, inefficiencies, financing constraints, and policy fragmentation continue to limit the sector’s full impact.

 

NTLS 2026 brought together senior government officials, regulators, infrastructure operators, investors, development partners, and private sector leaders to address critical priorities including multimodal connectivity, airport and road modernization, energy-efficient mobility, digital trade facilitation, and innovative financing frameworks.

 

Speaking at the summit, Sterling Bank’s Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, represented by Sterling One Foundation CEO, Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, called for urgent, coordinated action to fix the systems that move Nigeria’s economy forward.

L-R Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO, Sterling One Foundation; Darlington Nwankwo, Divisional Head, Renewable Energy, Mobility and Tourism, Sterling Bank; Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Honorable Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State: and Moyomade Akinyosoye, Divisional Head, Institutional Banking, Sterling Bank, at the recently concluded Nigeria Transport and Logistics Summit, hosted by Sterling Bank in Lagos recently.

He emphasized that while Nigeria’s transport and logistics challenges, ranging from port congestion to inefficient corridors and high operating costs, are well documented the real opportunity lies in effective execution.

 

“We must move beyond diagnosing the problem to building integrated, modern logistics systems that can power productivity at scale. This means fixing our ports, strengthening logistics corridors, improving road and rail connectivity, and embedding efficiency across the value chain.”

 

“Nigeria’s competitiveness, both regionally and globally will increasingly depend on how effectively we move goods, people, and services. The time for incremental change has passed; what is required now is bold, coordinated execution across public and private sectors,” Abubakar concluded.

 

Also speaking at the event, the Divisional Head, Renewable Energy, Mobility and Tourism at Sterling Bank, Mr. Darlington Nwankwo, described logistics as the backbone of trade, industry, and national competitiveness.

 

He noted that while the sector contributes just under four percent to Nigeria’s GDP, estimated at approximately ₦15trillion, its true economic impact is significantly larger when viewed as an enabler of productivity across agriculture, manufacturing, and trade.

 

“We must be deliberate about fixing the logistics backbone of the economy if we are to unlock the growth we need. Nigeria’s trade competitiveness is directly linked to the efficiency of its logistics corridors, from ports to inland distribution networks.”

 

“At Sterling, we see our role as connecting capital to execution, designing financing solutions that do not just fund infrastructure but unlock entire value chains. This includes supporting multimodal transport systems, enabling cleaner mobility solutions, and partnering with both government and private sector players to reduce investment risk. The opportunity before us is not just to fix what is broken, but to build a logistics ecosystem that is faster, more efficient, and globally competitive.”

 

Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, echoed the call for bold ideas, strategic investments, and forward-looking policies, describing the summit as a vital platform to shape the future of movement, trade, and connectivity in Nigeria. He urged policymakers to move swiftly from planning to implementation, called on investors to support infrastructure and innovation, and encouraged industry leaders to champion efficiency, sustainability, and accountability.

 

In his keynote address, Professor Biodun Adedipe grounded these ambitions in hard realities, noting that with nearly 90 percent of Nigeria’s logistics dependent on road transport, the country faces mounting congestion and maintenance costs that demand diversification into rail and more durable infrastructure. He cautioned that economic transformation requires patience, with meaningful results unlikely to materialise in under 18 months.

 

Panel discussions throughout the day focused on reducing logistics costs, strengthening aviation and road integration, modernizing downstream energy distribution, and accelerating the adoption of cleaner and more sustainable mobility solutions.

 

The summit concluded with a call for sustained public-private collaboration, stronger regulatory coordination, and the creation of structured financing vehicles to de-risk infrastructure investments.

 

As Nigeria seeks to strengthen its regional trade position and unlock non-oil export growth, NTLS 2026 marks a decisive step toward building a more integrated, resilient, and globally competitive transport and logistics ecosystem.

 

 

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