Personality in Focus
IPADA: The President is Just Being Nice
By Frank Meke
In the Nigerian tourism space, the Federal Government has always been nice to the sector. They usually pat us on the back; good boys, they chorus, you all are doing well!
The industry, the cultural tourism sector, is not only being “managed and accommodated” as an orphan, It has always been visited with expired politicians seeking just any place to fluent their borrowed agbada or a place for jobs for the boys.
During the military era, cultural tourism sector was dubbed a mere “preferred” sector, meaning it’s time and season is on hold until a more better and serious economic players like oil, commerce, transportation, banking and aviation sectors have been properly situated, grounded and funded before Nigeria can bet its assets and strength on the “come and enjoy” platforms of cultural tourism.
As it’s at the federal level, our state governments, which are mere copy cats of the confusion at the centre, takes the deceptive shenanigans to a mundane level, and in most states, treats the business as a special purpose vehicle of corruption.
If you have been around in this sector, it would amount to a story retold that some so called state commissioners of culture, or tourism and some fanciful appendages, hardly have the ears of their governors, with some operating from offices( shanties) not befitting even pigs.
Let us not go back in history as we are not known to stay long on printed words but on figures, particularly when such figures( money) empower our vanities. In the past eight years, we have danced from one confusion to another with both the federal government and states, doing their magics in the name of tourism development.
The eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari basically gleaned the hairy scalp of the sector with a Mohammed that chose the valley than the mountain top of tourism.
We laboured hard to have the then president who was buffeted by insecurity in the nation to publicly identify with the sector and up our global integrity ranking.
The larger number of about 200 million Nigerians took to outbound visitations, putting pressures on our foreign exchange reserves, ignoring our goddamme forsaken tourism sites and festivals for packaged lollipops of Europe and the sweet wine valleys of south Africa.
Foreign embassies were besieged by holiday hungry Nigerians, with many of them willing to escape to Alsaka or any strange corner of the earth in order to have a foreign visa stamp on their maligned travel passport.
Just like in the aviation sector in Nigeria, where foreign airlines dominate our airspace without a reciprocal presence elsewhere, Nigerians swelled the tourism arrival and expenditure figures of most countries in the world while we shouted redemption from our corners.
Back home, we have more Nigerians telling stories of Spanish adventurers and explorers than the history of Badagry or Opobo. We forgot that tourism is about telling stories of nations and peoples, and trust our very miserable ministers and commissioners, who are usually at the behest of foreign trips to understudy civilizations which our ancestors bequeathed to the world through arts and crafts. The ancient Benin kingdom dates back in centuries before the marauding colonialists came plundering our huge cultural tourism assets. Do our children know that!
Evidently, today, and after making billions of dollars out of our ancestral heritage, the “wise men” thieving descendents of our troublers from Europe and America are now falling over themselves to return the loots and since we don’t have records of what was actually stolen from us, particularly from the Benin kingdom, we now have a concerned governor who has refused to pay the Ogba Zoo 36 million naira arbitration judgment awarded in favour of the zoo management over six years ago, now fighting the reverred Oba of Benin over the custody of the returned looted artifacts.
Just as the stories and history of our plundered cultural and natural resources are steeped in deep mystery, the history of slavery and socioeconomic impact is still not fully told.
Late Nigeria business mogul and pro democracy advocate, moshood kashimawo Abiola deployed his huge financial muscle and international connection in the 90’s to seek reparations cost to Africa, based on the very damaging plundering in human history by white colonialists through slavery and neo colonialism.
Those who love printed words, history, and traditions of the African black person should go read up the Abuja proclamation.
It was a painful, tears bearing story of how these white beings, damaged the lives of Nigerians and Africans whom they herded into ships and sold as slaves in America and all parts of Europe and even in the Arabian peninsula.
The late Abiola built integrity around the quest for reparations through the Organisation of African unity( OAU), now known as the African union ( AU) but we the black nations flunderred because we have a different story line to the reparation agenda.
Like I said earlier, we won’t waste so much ink on reparation but won’t leave the subject matter without drawing attention to the history of slavery through the shahel deserts. The story of slavery in Nigeria , no doubt, is dominated by the brutish and heartless human merchandise through the Atlantic waters of Nigeria. The desert variation is equally worth mentioning.
Recently, there has been some great noise about an “IPADA” ( home coming ) tourism project tied around the slave trade history of Nigeria. Our tourism minister, Mrs lola Ade John, is so upbeat about it and has shuttled between lagos and Abuja to push it as a Nigerian tourism story.
As usual, the process as much as it may bear fruit to our quest to reinvent our cultural tourism narratives, fell short of enjoying nationwide integrity support because it was still tied to apron strings of the initiator and founder.
First, in our complex nation as Nigerians and with each each region and people with different and diverse narratives of the slave trade, IPADA, which is a Yoruba word for ( welcome or return ( home), will have a tough buy in by other Nigerians from a Minister who is Yoruba, a founder, ( Yoruba) a president who is also Yoruba!.
Indeed, the haste to which the project itself was pushed forward without defining the parameters of the IPADA agenda within the complexities of the slave trade and cultural history of Nigeria and the tourism content gives it away as a castle in the air.
For those who may take to name calling, IPADA should have been clearly defined as a tourism agenda, focal to projecting, and attracting the Yoruba diaspora, which is one of the best documented and profiled Nigerian sub nation found across West Africa, Brazil and even in the United States, with their own colonies patterned after the traditional and cultural ecosystem as found in modern Nigeria.
At the villa introduction of the IPADA agenda, our president was nowhere to be found, and that rankled me. Is it a sign that the project does not have enough sociopolitical and economic values? Is it shortsighted on hosting venue and security integrity? Where were the governors, too busy for the IPADA agenda? Even if other state governors outside the southwest did not see the larger picture of the tourism content of IPADA, those from the south West nko?
For the first time, I would want to differ on the president absence at the event right within his expansive office, and I am sure the few diplomats , particularly from West Africa, noticed too.
When a father invites guests to the wedding ceremony of his son in his own house, not a rented public facility, he must show up even if he is too busy with his farm works because he is the chief celebrant and must let his guests and in-laws know that his son is close to his heart.
I am an unrepentant admirer of President Ahmed Tinubu political sagacity. His support to our media family is legendary, and I had expected the same integrity support and presence for the IPADA project even though there may be some noticeable shortcomings which can be corrected once the project gains traction.
To simply commend otunba wanle Akinboboye is not just good enough. There was nowhere in the president ” speech ” promising financial muscles to project.
Every tourism project is very expensive, I mean very expensive, so to merely provide the cosy facilities at the villa without the president and even his vice president showing up, tells me that our cultural tourism economy is still an orphan.
The president should take a second look at the IPADA agenda and give it a national outlook. Wanle Akinboboye has provided the ingredients deserving a national cultural tourism road map, but it takes the financial might and international muscle of the president, Federal Republic of Nigeria, to attract the attention of the world to Nigeria.
That is my take, except the minister, Mrs lola Ade John, just wanted to build a castle in the air with the IPADA villa adventure or maybe, maybe and maybe!
Personality in Focus
Eminent Gents Int’l Announces Philanthropist Abiodun Enilari Paseda As New President
By Eric Elezuo
The Eminent Gents International Club, an association of eminent gentlemen, who have proved their mettle in the society, and committed to lending a helping to the upliftment of the society, has announced Sir Abiodun Paseda as its new president.
Paseda takes over from Eminent Otunba Olumide Owoseni, who performed creditably well during his tenure in office.
The announcement was made following a keenly contested electoral process, where Paseda was elected unopposed. His election, according to a cross section of the club members, was made possible as a result of the confidence members reposed in him owing to his acknowledged discipline, focus and leadership abilities.
Announcing the results, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Eminent Barr. Taiwo Odumosu, commended members for the maturity, discipline, and commitment they demonstrated throughout the process, noting that despite minor challenges encountered, members conducted themselves in a manner that reflected the values and ideals upon which the Club was founded.
Immediate Past President Eminent Otunba Olumide Owoseni
Barr. Odumosu congratulated the newly elected officers and urged them to provide purposeful and inclusive leadership capable of strengthening the unity and growth of the Club.
Among members of the executive council, who will be working with Eminent Paseda are Eminent Barr. Oluwaseun Basorun, who was elected as the Vice President and Eminent Ariyo Abass, who won the General Secretary position.
Others are Eminent Ganiu Omotoso for the office of the Assistant General Secretary, Eminent Akinsanya Olaseni as Financial Secretary, Eminent Muyiwa Jayesimi as the Treasurer, Eminent Barrister Yomi Akodu as the Public Relations Officer and Eminent Segun Fetuga, who won the position of the Social Secetary.
Eminent Odumosu admonished the incoming administration to ensure that no member is left behind in the affairs of the Club, and to place the welfare of members at the forefront of its programmes and policies in order to continue to enhance the beautiful etiquette of the almost 20 years Club.
The Eminent Gents International Club was established in 2006 as a group saddled with the responsibility of catering for the less privileged, the needy and the have-nots of the society. The Club strongly believes in giving back to the society, with an overriding philosophy, which revolves around pooling skills, resources and experience to create a sustainable change, and improve the lives of those in need.
New Vice President Eminent Barrister Oluwaseun Bashorun
Consequently, the Club has prioritise engagements in targeted initiatives aimed at addressing critical issues affecting the needy cutting across food, heathcare, shelter, clothing and not forgetting empowerment.
In his acceptance speech, Eminent Paseda pledged to live up to expectations, and ensure that the founding principles of the Club is not derailed.
He congratulated his co-executive council members, urging everyone to give their best performance to ensure the success of the administration in particular, and the Club in general.
A distinguished Nigerian based in London, England, Paseda is the Chief Executive Officer, Focus on Disabilities (FOD) Foundation, a not for profit organization that is saddled with the responsibility of seeing to the wellbeing of those living with disabilities. The organization, founded in 2010, has supervised the provision of sundry humanitarian assistance to people living with disabilities across Nigeria and the African continent with special mention to England, his place of residence.
He is a stern believer in the lifting of the downtrodden in the society, and has been awarded the Humanitarian award by Ceebee Gold Foundation.
A recipient of the BEFFTA Award, Africa achiever Award, Scotland among many others, Paseda has since 2012 been distributing movement enhancing materials to the disabled across the continent. Some of these distributions include 60 wheel chairs and disability aids in Kano and Kaduna states in 2012; distribution of clutches, wheel chairs, food items among other things in Ogun state in March and September 2013. Ever since, the selfless giver has not looked back in supporting the less privileged with his resources. He runs an all-expense paid home for people living with disabilities in Odogbolu, Ogun State
Paseda’s humanitarian outreach stretches across Africa and the UK where he is reputed to have touched a lot of lives.
A new chapter in clinical leadership has commenced at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, with the appointment of renowned Consultant Nephrologist, Dr. Olusola Adebisi, as the institution’s new Head of Clinical Services (HCS). He officially resumes duty today, Monday, June 15, 2026, following the expiration of the tenure of his predecessor, Dr. A.S. Adediran, whose stewardship contributed significantly to the advancement of clinical services within the tertiary healthcare institution.
The appointment, approved by the 7th Board of Management at its 6th Extraordinary Meeting held on June 8, 2026, is hailed as a strategic move that places one of the hospital’s most experienced clinicians and respected administrators at the helm of its clinical operations. With a distinguished career spanning renal medicine, healthcare leadership, organized medicine, and community service, Dr. Adebisi brings a wealth of experience and a reputation for excellence to the role.
Until his appointment, Dr. Adebisi served as Head of the Nephrology Unit at FMC Abeokuta, where he earned recognition as one of the leading authorities on kidney-related illnesses within the West African sub-region. A passionate advocate for preventive nephrology, he has spearheaded numerous community sensitization initiatives, including annual World Kidney Day campaigns aimed at promoting early detection and management of kidney disease. He has also mentored and supervised generations of resident doctors, medical officers, and specialized nephrology nurses, helping to sustain a culture of clinical excellence.
His leadership credentials extend beyond clinical practice. Dr. Adebisi previously served as Chairman of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), FMC Abeokuta Chapter, where he was instrumental in fostering professional harmony and academic advancement among consultants. He currently serves as Faculty Treasurer of the West African College of Physicians (WACP), a role that underscores his financial discipline, organizational trust, and administrative competence. His earlier engagements with the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) further enriched his understanding of Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.
Beyond medicine, Dr. Adebisi is actively involved in civic and community development. He currently serves as President of the Rotary Club in the Oke-Ona Egba District, championing humanitarian, maternal health, and community empowerment initiatives. He is also the Social Secretary of the Abeokuta Sports Club, contributing to social cohesion and cultural development within Ogun State.
A devout Christian and committed family man, Dr. Adebisi is widely respected for a leadership style rooted in integrity, compassion, and service. As Head of Clinical Services, he is expected to focus on strengthening patient-centred care, enhancing clinical research and residency training, improving interdepartmental collaboration, and promoting institutional harmony across all clinical cadres.
Speaking on his vision for the office, Dr. Adebisi emphasized the need for innovation, professionalism, and teamwork in healthcare delivery. “Our objective remains clear: to deliver compassionate, world-class, and accessible healthcare to our immediate community and beyond, fueled by clinical innovation, integrity, and absolute dedication to human life,” he said.
With his assumption of office today, stakeholders within and outside FMC Abeokuta express optimism that his blend of clinical expertise, administrative experience, and people-centred leadership will further strengthen the institution’s position as a leading centre of excellence in healthcare delivery, training, and research.
Personality in Focus
June 12: Tinubu Confers National Honours on Kolade-Otitoju, Dasuki, Okei-Odumakin, Others
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred national honours on several prominent pro-democracy activists, journalists, civil society leaders, and retired military officers in recognition of their contributions to Nigeria’s democratic struggle and the historic June 12 movement.
The announcement was made during the President’s nationwide Democracy Day broadcast commemorating Nigeria’s 27 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.
According to President Tinubu, the awards are intended to immortalize the sacrifices of individuals who endured persecution, imprisonment, solitary confinement, harassment, and exile during the fight against military dictatorship and the struggle to actualize the June 12, 1993 presidential election mandate.
Tinubu Honours Democracy Heroes
The President emphasized that the honourees played critical roles in defending democratic values and laying the foundation for the civilian rule Nigeria enjoys today.
Among those recognized are veteran journalists, media executives, civil rights advocates, and leaders of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), whose resistance to military rule helped shape the nation’s democratic journey.
Media and Civil Society Leaders Recognised
Notable recipients in the media and civil society category include:
* Gbemiga Ogunleye, former Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ)
* Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, Director of News at TVC News and veteran journalist
* Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, renowned human rights campaigner
* Chief Ayo Opadokun, NADECO chieftain
* Sam Omatseye
* Oladele Alake
* Olatunji Bello
* Louis Odion
* Tunde Fagbenle
* Richard Akinnola
* Debo Adeniran
The recognition highlights the pivotal role played by the media and civil society organizations in resisting authoritarian rule and advocating for democratic governance.
Retired Military Officers Honoured for Opposing Dictatorship
In what observers have described as a historic and groundbreaking move, President Tinubu also created a special category to honour military officers who worked from within the armed forces to challenge authoritarian rule and support democratic ideals.
The honoured retired officers include:
* Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd)
* Colonel Lawan Gwadabe (retd)
* Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe
* Major General Ishola Williams (retd)
* Major General M.A. Garba
* Brigadier General Lawal Jaafaru Isa
The President noted that these officers risked their careers, personal freedom, and lives in pursuit of democratic governance during one of Nigeria’s most turbulent political periods.
Celebrating 27 Years of Democracy
The national honours ceremony forms part of activities marking Democracy Day, observed annually on June 12 in remembrance of the 1993 presidential election widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to preserving democratic institutions, protecting civil liberties, and ensuring that the sacrifices of June 12 heroes remain permanently etched in Nigeria’s national memory.
The honours have been widely viewed as a significant step toward acknowledging the contributions of individuals and groups whose courage and resilience helped restore democratic rule and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic foundations.
