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Celebrating Amala Day with Founder, Adeola Alamala
By Ayo Oyoze Baje
“Our goal is to bring the experience of home-cooked Nigerian food to more people, one community at a time. By this, we are celebrating culture and culinary excellence” – Olorunsomo Smart Adeola, aka Alamalla
In a vibrant celebration of culture, food, and community spirit, Amala Spot with Adeola Alamala recently hosted the much-anticipated Amala Day 2025, followed closely by the grand opening of its brand-new AAU Campus Outlet in Ekpoma. The events, held on Friday, 31st October, and Saturday, 1st November 2025, with the outlet officially opening on Monday, 10th November 2025, marked a major milestone for the fast-growing local food brand known for its authentic Nigerian dishes and warm customer experience.
Amala Day 2025 wasn’t just another food event it was a festival of culture, taste, and togetherness. For two full days, from 12 PM to 8 PM, the atmosphere at Amala Spot on Sec School Road, Ujemen, Ekpoma, was filled with excitement, laughter, and the irresistible aroma of freshly served Amala, Ewedu, and Gbegiri.
Customers trooped in large numbers, eager to partake in the special 20% discount offered throughout the event. From students to working professionals and local food lovers, everyone came together to celebrate the timeless Nigerian delicacy that unites people across generations.
Olorunsomo Smart Adeola, popularly known as Adeola Alamala, is a graduate of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, from the Department of Medical Laboratory Science. Long before his university days, he had already been actively involved in the food industry, where he developed a strong passion for culinary excellence and customer satisfaction.
Adeola Alamala, the passionate founder and face behind Amala Spot, described the event as “a moment to celebrate our roots, appreciate our customers, and introduce new faces to the real taste of Amala done right.”
Guests were treated to well-prepared meals featuring the perfect blend of soft Amala, rich Ewedu soup, and the flavorful Gbegiri option. Many attendees commended the brand for maintaining high food standards and consistency while creating an environment that felt like home.
Beyond the delicious food, Amala Day was also about community connection. Adeola and the team interacted directly with customers, creating a friendly, family-like atmosphere. There were light games, cheerful moments, and even spontaneous dance sessions that kept the energy alive throughout the event.
What truly stood out was the spirit of togetherness Amala Spot successfully turned an ordinary weekend into a memory-filled culinary celebration. Patrons expressed their satisfaction, with many sharing positive feedback on social media and promising to return with friends.
One student attendee commented, “Amala Spot isn’t just a food place anymore; it’s a vibe. Adeola and the team made everyone feel special.”
The two-day festival didn’t just end with satisfied customers it also built momentum for something bigger: the expansion of Amala Spot into new territory.
The Launch of Amala Spot AAU Campus Outlet
Barely a week after the successful Amala Day, Amala Spot with Adeola Alamala took another bold step by launching its AAU Campus Outlet on Monday, 10th November 2025, at 2:00 PM, located before Igbinedion Hostel, AAU Campus, Ekpoma.
This new branch, designed as a “Take-Out Only” outlet, represents the brand’s innovative approach to convenience and accessibility for students and staff within the Ambrose Alli University community. The opening day featured a 10% discount on all take-out orders, drawing a crowd of enthusiastic customers eager to be among the first to experience the new spot.
Adeola Alamala expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support and explained that the AAU Campus branch was inspired by high demand from university students who wanted easier access to their favorite meals. “We realized many of our loyal customers are students who love our Amala but find it difficult to leave campus often. This new outlet brings Amala closer to them,” he said.
The new outlet is a reflection of Adeola Alamala’s long-term vision to make Amala Spot not just a local eatery, but a recognizable food brand across multiple campuses and cities in Nigeria. The Ekpoma expansion shows the brand’s commitment to growth while maintaining its strong focus on taste, quality, and customer satisfaction.
According to Adeola, the success of the Amala Day celebration reaffirmed the community’s love for authentic Nigerian meals and reinforced the need to spread that joy beyond one location. “Our goal is to bring the experience of home-cooked Nigerian food to more people, one community at a time,” he said proudly.
Both the Amala Day event and the new outlet launch demonstrate the brand’s unique philosophy combining culinary excellence with cultural pride. Amala Spot is not just about serving food; it’s about sharing a cultural experience that connects people emotionally to their roots.
By offering discounts, engaging directly with customers, and expanding thoughtfully, Adeola Alamala continues to redefine what a modern local food brand can achieve. The emphasis on trust, transparency, and consistency has earned Amala Spot a loyal following and positioned it as a leading destination for traditional meals in Edo state.
As Amala Spot with Adeola Alamala looks to the future, the brand’s mission remains clear: to celebrate Nigerian cuisine, promote food entrepreneurship, and create spaces where food, friendship, and culture meet beautifully.
The success of the 2025 Amala Day and the launch of the AAU Campus outlet are only the beginning. With the love and support of its growing community, Amala Spot is well on its way to becoming a household name one bowl of Amala at a time.
Kudos to Alamala for his patriotic efforts to bring a local delicacy, such as Amala to the global stage.
Wema Bank has introduced a new jingle to mark the next phase of its digital banking journey, tagged the ALAT: The Evolution jingle. Designed to capture the energy of a smarter and more seamless banking experience, the jingle is bright, catchy, and full of life. It reflects a platform built to simply work, pairing sound with innovation as ALAT: The Evolution steps forward with enhanced features and a refreshed user experience.
Everyday banking can often feel routine or even stressful, with multiple steps and delays slowing things down. The ALAT: The Evolution jingle reimagines that experience with a lively and confident tone that mirrors the app’s capabilities. From voice banking with SAW to Tap and Pay and bank uptime prediction, each feature is echoed in the rhythm and flow of the sound. It brings to life the speed, convenience, and reliability that define this new phase of ALAT: The Evolution.
More than just music, the ALAT: The Evolution jingle represents a clear statement of intent. It signals a shift towards banking that feels natural, responsive, and in tune with the user. As customers update their app and explore ALAT: The Evolution, the jingle serves as a reminder that a better, smoother way to bank is already here. Wema Bank is not just evolving its technology; it is shaping how banking feels.
Adron Homes and Properties Limited has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and fostering community development through its sponsorship of the 39th edition of the Lisabi Festival, one of the most revered cultural celebrations of the Egba people.
Held under the distinguished leadership of Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, the festival remains a symbolic institution that celebrates the unity, resilience, and historical legacy of Egbaland. It pays tribute to the legendary warrior Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, whose courage and leadership united the Egba people and secured their freedom.
Through this strategic sponsorship, Adron Homes and Properties Limited continues to position itself not only as a leading real estate developer but also as a custodian of culture and a partner in sustaining the traditions that shape communities across Nigeria.
Speaking on the importance of the festival, Oba Gbadebo emphasized that Lisabi serves as a vital platform for preserving the Egba people’s values, traditions, and identity, while inspiring younger generations to remain connected to their cultural roots.
For Adron Homes, the partnership reflects a deliberate alignment with the socio-cultural aspirations of Egbaland. By supporting the festival, the company is contributing meaningfully to the preservation of indigenous heritage, the promotion of unity, and the celebration of a people whose influence continues to shape the cultural landscape of Abeokuta and beyond.
Notably, Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State is also home to key Adron Homes developments, including the prestigious Adron Homes Sunrise Park and Gardens located in Alabata, and Southgate Park and Gardens Estate in Alamala. These flagship estates further reinforce the company’s deep-rooted presence and long-term investment in the socio-economic growth of the region.
The 2026 edition of the Lisabi Festival, themed “Integrating Apprenticeship Training into Education: Opportunities and Challenges,” highlights the intersection between tradition and modern development, an area where Adron Homes continues to make an impact through its community-driven initiatives.
The festival will feature a vibrant lineup of cultural and social activities, including the iconic Woro procession, traditional rites, arts and crafts exhibitions, educational programmes, and community engagements, all reflecting the richness of Egba heritage.
By Oki O. Samson
In what is already generating significant grassroots political momentum across Surulere, immediate past Executive Chairman of Coker-Aguda LCDA, Hon. Rasaq Ibrahim Olamilekan, popularly known as RIO, has officially declared his intention to contest for the Lagos State House of Assembly seat representing Surulere Constituency II.
The declaration, made on Saturday, March 21, 2026, positions the youthful and widely regarded grassroots mobilizer and a party loyalist as a strong contender in the evolving political landscape of Lagos State.
At the official declaration on Saturday morning, supporters, community leaders, youth groups, and political stakeholders gathered in large numbers to witness what has been described as the formal transition of a tested local administrator into state-level legislative politics.
A Grassroots Politician with Development Credentials
Hon. Olamilekan’s entry into the race is backed by a track record that spans infrastructure renewal, social welfare interventions, education support, and community-driven security initiatives during his tenure as Council Executive Chairman.
Described by admirers as detribalized and accessible, RIO built a reputation for inclusive governance for all tribes, implementing policies and programs that cut across religious, ethnic, and political divides. His administration’s interventions ranged from road construction and drainage systems to healthcare upgrades and youth empowerment schemes.
In the area of healthcare, his government reconstructed the Orile-Iganmu Primary Healthcare Centre and facilitated multiple medical outreaches in collaboration with the Lagos State Health Management Agency, bringing free medical services closer to residents in underserved communities.
Security Advocacy, Peacebuilding and Policy Direction
A major highlight of his public service profile is his consistent advocacy for sustainable security funding and community peacebuilding. Speaking at an event marking his induction as Patron of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in Southwest Nigeria in 2024, Hon. RIO emphasized the need for a maintenance culture in security investments.
“Buying equipment is not enough,” he noted. “We must make deliberate provisions for maintenance to ensure long-term effectiveness of support to the Nigeria Police Force.”
During his tenure, he provided operational vehicles for Police formations and institutionalized monthly security meetings with Divisional Police Officers and other community stakeholders. These measures were noted to have improved safety coordination across the LCDA and were largely applauded by the community, the Media industry.
His collaboration with security leadership, including engagements with former Lagos Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa, further reinforced his administration’s proactive approach to tackling crime and improving public safety infrastructure.
Beyond institutional support, Hon. Olamilekan also demonstrated a firm commitment to peace and conflict resolution at the community level. Following incidents of unrest in Orile Iganmu, a densely populated community and cultural hub hosting the National Theatre, he convened a high-level security stakeholders’ meeting involving community leaders, law enforcement agencies, and transport union representatives.
The engagement led to the inauguration of an Enquiry and Peace Taskforce Committee tasked with addressing recurring street clashes in areas such as Awe, Aloko, Alagba, and Memudu streets. The committee, working with the council’s security architecture, was mandated to develop recommendations and drive a comprehensive sensitization campaign across the LCDA.
Describing peace as a collective responsibility, the former Chairman stressed that sustainable development can only thrive in an atmosphere of security and mutual coexistence.
Social Intervention and Community Impact
Hon. RIO’s leadership gained widespread attention and commendation from political party leaders during the post-fuel subsidy removal period, when his administration rolled out sustained palliative distributions. Over a six-month period, thousands of residents comprising youths, widows, elderly citizens, and vulnerable groups benefited from food and financial support initiatives.
Unlike many local governments criticized for slow response, Coker-Aguda LCDA under Hon. RIO leadership executed multiple phases of relief distribution, reaching over 12,000 residents. The initiative was widely praised by party leaders, community stakeholders for its transparency, inclusiveness, and consistency.
Recognition and Rising Political Profile
His governance style and impact earned him several accolades, including his induction into the prestigious Trek Africa Hall of Fame as Youth Man of the Year. The recognition placed him alongside notable figures such as Secretary to State Government, Lagos State, Barr. Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin and Executive Secretary/CEO, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, underscoring his growing influence within Lagos’ political and governance ecosystem.
His emergence as one of the youngest local government chairmen in Lagos helped position him as a symbol of youth inclusion in governance and a bridge between established political structures and the next generation of leaders.
Legislative Vision for Surulere II
In declaring his candidacy, Hon. Olamilekan RIO pledged to take his grassroots governance experience to the legislative arena, with a focus on people-oriented laws, improved infrastructure funding, education access, and community-based security frameworks.
He emphasized that his campaign would be driven by direct engagement with constituents, policy clarity, and a commitment to delivering measurable outcomes.
With a blend of administrative experience, party loyalist, grassroots appeal, and a demonstrable commitment to peace and development, political observers believe his candidacy could significantly shape the contest for Surulere Constituency II.
As the political season gathers pace, attention will be on how his entry reshapes alignments within the constituency and influences the broader dynamics of legislative elections in Lagos State.
