Personality in Focus
49th Birthday: Aare Adetona, Wife Bag Otun, Yeye Otun Asiwaju Onigbagbo Honours
As part of activities to celebrate his 49th birthday on April 2, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Adron Homes and Properties, Aare Adetola Emmanuel-king and his wife, Yeye Aderonke Emmanuel King have been inducted and decorated as the Otun Asiwaju Onigbagbo and Yeye Otun Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Remo Land.
The Asiwaju Onigbagbo honour refers a leader of all believers (Christians) in Remo Land. It’s a title given by CAN as a religious body. The conferment of the Otun Asiwaju on Aare Adetona indicates his assisting capacity to the Asiwaju Onigbagbo, who is the Senator Gbenga Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State.
The event took place at the Communion Faith Assembly, Garden of Faith, Kemta House Estate, Idi-Aba Abeokuta, Ogun state.
The couple were ordained by top Ogun State clergymen and members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ogun State Chapter under the leadership of Bishop (Dr) Tunde Akin-Akinsanya. Other members of his team were Rev Dr O Oyeniyi chairman CCN, Most Rev Dr Peter Odetoyinbo Chairman CSN, Rev Dr S.O Babayomi Chairman ECWA/TEKAN, Pastor J K Onakoya (JP) Chairman CPFN/PFN and Rev Leke Sopein Chairman OAIC who also held a special service to celebrate his birthday.
It is worthy of note that Aare Adetola during his National Youth Service year in Bayelsa State, was an active member of the Christian youth corps members in Bayelsa State during his National Youth Service year, where he held the position of State Coordinator for Nigeria Christian Corpers’ Fellowship (NCCF) Bayelsa State from 2000-2001. He also served as the President of the Youth Fellowship of Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel) Sagamu from 2002-2004 and became the prayer squad coordinator for the Living Faith church from 2005-2007. Aare Adetola has been ordained as Deacon of the Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel) Sango Otta, a position he has held since 2008. This was part of the reason that led to his induction as the Otun Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Remo Land as the deputy to his excellency Former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Engr. Gbenga Daniel who is the Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Remo Land.
During the induction, the officiating Bishop and the CAN Ogun state Chairman Bishop Dr Tunde Akin-Akinsanya also implored Aare Adetola and his wife Yeye Aderonke to continue to support the propagation of the gospel and also dedicate their wealth to giving immensely to the church and CAN projects in Ogun State. He also harped on the need to become worthy ambassadors for Christ as the position he holds is of great value to the Christian faith and it also plays a pivotal role in the development of Christianity within Remo and beyond the shores of Ogun State.
Aare Adetola who thanked the Christian body for finding him worthy of such a highly coveted title disclosed that he is more than happy that the induction is coming on his birthday and it’s an indication of a new beginning in his life. He also disclosed that; all he has acquired to date was as a result of the favour of God on his life and he will never derail from projecting his good works in his life and he will forever be a good ambassador of the CAN and the body of Christ at large. “I am excited and happy for this induction; it’s coming on my birthday day and it makes it more significant. I and my wife are both grateful to the CAN Ogun State chapter for this and also to our friends and associates who came to honour us. I and my household will keep investing in the work of God and we will never derail from it. This will mark the beginning of the growth of Christianity in Remo land as I will play my part accordingly and pray to God to help me fulfil all my heart desires.”
Yeye Aderonke Emmanuelking who gave her life to Jesus Christ in October 1995, joined the Eagle’s Trainers Church aka Heritage Assembly where she diligently served in the service of God within the ushering department of the church until 1998/1999 before her academic pursuit. She later joined the Redeemed Christian Church of God as a young lady and a student at the Lagos State University where she subsequently became a member of the Living Faith Church upon her marriage to Aare Adetola Emmanuelking in April 2007. Since her marriage, she has strongly enshrined the Christian faith in her home and nurtured many young persons to spiritual growth in the Christian faith. In her remarks; she disclosed her readiness to be a pillar of support in ensuring the husband focuses more on the works of God and also promised to always motivate him by ensuring he devotes his time and resources to the works of Christ. ‘As a pillar of support, I will always be by his side and also motivate him to contribute his quota to the development of God’s work.” She concluded.
Aare Adetola also disclosed that at a later date, he would be hosting his friends and family to an elaborate thanksgiving Soiree and that the induction was just an avenue to enable him to take the oath of office, blessings and other paraphernalia.
“The induction was just to receive the blessings and also do the normal rites. I will be hosting my friends at a Thanksgiving party soon. The mood of the country is not good for a massive Soiree so when things pick up in the country, I will send invitations around for a mega Thanksgiving party. I want to thank CAN for finding me worthy of this honour. I want to thank the Executive Governor of Ogun State; Prince Dapo Abiodun for his support, also the Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Remo Land; Former Governor of Ogun State Senator Gbenga Daniel and The Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Ogun State; Former President Olusegun Obasanjo for their commitment to God work. May Almighty God continue to strengthen.”
By NOMA
The Nigerian Online Media Alliance (NOMA) has celebrated Mr. Olakunle Aderinokun on his 55th birthday, describing him as a distinguished strategic communications expert and media professional whose nearly three-decade career continues to shape Nigeria’s communications and business landscape.
In a statement by Theresa Moses, Chairperson, NOMA highlighted Aderinokun’s current role as Head, Media and Public Relations at Access Holdings Plc, where he leads group-wide media strategy, executive communications, crisis management, and corporate reputation positioning across local and international markets.
The Alliance noted that his ability to align corporate narratives with business strategy, stakeholder expectations, and regulatory realities has strengthened institutional credibility and public trust.
Aderinokun’s career reflects a unique blend of journalism, financial services, and corporate leadership. He spent 24 years at THISDAY Newspapers, rising to the position of Group Business Editor and Associate Editor, where he played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s business journalism ecosystem. He later served as Editor, Business at ARISE News Channel, further consolidating his reputation for editorial excellence and impactful storytelling.
Throughout his journalism career, he covered critical sectors including banking, capital markets, energy, aviation, and macroeconomics, engaging directly with top policymakers, regulators, and corporate leaders. His extensive international exposure includes participation in global platforms such as the IMF-World Bank Meetings, African Development Bank Meetings, TICAD in Japan, the Nigeria-China Business Forum, Africa Oil Week in Cape Town, and Vaasa Energy Week in Finland.
Beyond journalism, Aderinokun brings strong financial and investment expertise, having worked with United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Wall Street Trust Company (now WSTC Financial Services), where he handled equity analysis, market research, and investment advisory. This foundation, NOMA noted, has enabled him to effectively bridge financial performance with strategic communication outcomes.
An entrepreneur, he founded Pure Synergy Ltd in 2013, a firm focused on reputation management and strategic communications, and later served as CEO of Excite Enterprise Ltd, an online business solutions platform.
In the public sector space, Aderinokun served as Media Adviser to Senator Tokunbo Abiru in 2020, where he led media strategy and publicity for the Lagos East Senatorial campaign, contributing to its successful outcome.
Academically, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics (Pure and Applied) from the University of Ilorin and an MBA from the University of Lagos, complemented by executive education at Lagos Business School and professional training with the World Bank Institute, NIPR, and Standard Bank Group, South Africa. He also holds multiple professional certifications across public relations, banking, marketing, and digital communications.
NOMA described him as a quintessential, multifaceted professional whose career embodies excellence, innovation, and leadership.
“Olakunle Aderinokun represents the very best of strategic communication and media practice in Nigeria. His journey is not only inspiring but also instructive for the next generation of professionals navigating the evolving media and corporate landscape,” the statement read.
As he marks his 55th birthday, NOMA commended his enduring contributions and wished him continued success, good health, and greater accomplishments in the years ahead.
The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, has congratulated the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on the occasion of his birthday, commending his visionary leadership and reform-driven approach to policing in Nigeria.
In his birthday remarks, Dr. Ogunsan described the IGP as a “distinguished officer whose career has consistently reflected professionalism, courage, and a deep commitment to public safety.”
He noted that since assuming office as the 23rd Inspector-General of Police early this Year 2026, Disu has demonstrated a clear resolve to reposition the Nigeria Police Force towards greater efficiency and public trust.
Dr. Ogunsan particularly praised the IGP’s emphasis on intelligence-led policing, a strategy aimed at enhancing proactive crime detection and prevention, as well as his push for the integration of digital tools and forensic capabilities into police operations. These reforms, he said, signal a shift towards modern, accountable, and citizen-focused policing.
He further highlighted Disu’s decisive steps to strengthen the state policing agenda and officers’ welfare. He praised him for the effective policing model through the restructuring and reduction of tactical units, a move designed to address concerns over excesses while redeploying personnel to police divisions for improved community-level security.
The LSSTF boss also acknowledged the IGP’s consistent advocacy for discipline, integrity, and professionalism within the Force, noting that such values are critical to restoring public confidence and enhancing institutional credibility.
Reflecting on his track record, Dr. Ogunsan recalled Disu’s impactful leadership roles across key commands, including the Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory Commands, where he contributed significantly to crime control and intelligence-driven operations.
His tenure as the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos is a testament to his operational excellence and urban crime management.
Ogunsan wished the IGP good health, wisdom, and continued success in his efforts to build a more secure Nigeria. “On this special occasion, we celebrate not only a remarkable leader but a reformer whose vision continues to inspire confidence in the security architecture of our nation,” Ogunsan said.
Terrorists in northeast Nigeria killed a brigadier general in an assault on a military base, a local government chairman told AFP on Thursday, the second killing of a high-ranking officer in five months.
Africa’s most populous country has been fighting a terrorist insurgency for 17 years, since Boko Haram’s 2009 uprising, which has seen the emergence of powerful splinter groups, including Islamic State West Africa Province.
In an overnight attack, unidentified terrorists killed at least 18 soldiers and torched vehicles at a base in Benisheikh, about 75 kilometres from Borno state capital Maiduguri, an intelligence source told AFP.
“Unfortunately, the brigade commander, Brigadier General O.O. Braimah, lost his life,” Kaga Local Government Chairman Zannah Lawan Ajimi told AFP in a phone interview.
Two intelligence sources confirmed Braimah’s death to AFP.
His death follows the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba by ISWAP in November. He was the highest-ranking military official to die in the long-running conflict since 2021.
“They overran the brigade,” one of the intelligence sources said, giving the death toll as “at least” 18.
The second intelligence source said that “the terrorists killed several troops” and “burnt vehicles and buildings before they withdrew,” without giving a toll.
The army and Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
– Rising terrorist violence –
Researchers have warned of an uptick of violence since 2025.
Borno capital Maiduguri has seen two suicide bombings since December — the type of bloody, urban attacks reminiscent of the insurgency’s peak a decade ago.
On Wednesday, the US State Department said in a notice it was authorising “non-emergency US government employees” to leave Abuja “due to the deteriorating security situation”.
While the insurgency is concentrated in the northeastern countryside, terrorists from Nigeria and the neighbouring Sahel have made inroads western Nigeria, where organised crime gangs known as “bandits” have been raiding villages and extorting farmers and artisanal miners for years.
Gunmen killed at least 90 people across several remote villages in northwest Nigeria this week, according to an AFP tally of tolls given by local and humanitarian sources.
Among the attacks was an assault in Kebbi state that police blamed a local terrorist group known as Mahmuda, which is affiliated with Al-Qaeda.
Kebbi sits on Nigeria’s border with Benin and Niger and since 2025 has been targeted by a rising number of terrorist attacks.
Conflict monitor ACLED says there has been a surge in violence in the area carried out by militants affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
In nearby Kwara state, in October, fighters from the Al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM claimed an attack after years of researchers warning that the terrorist conflict ravaging the Sahel risked spreading south towards coastal West African states.
In December, the United States, with Nigerian assistance, bombed northwest Sokoto state, targeting Islamic State Sahel Province fighters usually found in neighbouring Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso.
AFP
