Personality in Focus
LAWMA MD, Ibrahim Odumboni Wins NAOSNP Public Service Personality Award
The Managing Director/CEO of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Adejuwon Odumboni has reiterated the significance of local content development to solving Nigeria’s multifarious problems. Drawing inspiration from the recent technological innovations in the waste management agency, he affirmed that Nigeria is able to solve her challenges internally and should not continue to look outwards. He stated this at the just-concluded National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) Conference and Awards 2021.
Affirming his belief in the Nigerian can-do spirit, Mr. Odumboni shared: ‘I am not a believer in getting everything outside Nigeria. Use Nigeria to solve Nigeria’s problems. The problem of Nigeria can only be solved in Nigeria. You can never solve your problem by using external companies. You cannot maintain what you have not created. The phone you have if it breaks down, there is no way you can fix it because we never assembled it.’
On the LAWMA success story, the trailblazer noted: ‘What we have done is to change a lot of how we do things. Recently, LAWMA was given 102 trucks designed and assembled with LAWMA’s contribution in Lagos. We changed the narrative by moving away from almost looking outwards to looking inwards. Everything we use in waste management in Lagos is now manufactured inside our yard including our trucks.’
‘It is over 3 months we got those trucks and I can stand to tell you that none of them have broken down because even the drivers that drive them know how to fix them. We have designed them such that they don’t look like any other in the world. They can look like compactor but they are not ordinary compactors, they solve all the problems. So the modern-day technology is to solve modern problem by local content so we need to continue to promote that’.
‘We fly drones in Lagos to know where wastes are and then we react to that. We are proactive. We decentralized ourselves and use the intelligence that we get around to manage what we do. We are ensuring sustainability in everything LAWMA is doing’, the LAWMA MD noted about the ongoing technological advancement in the agency.
Under the administration of the public administrator cum business consultant, LAWMA has been revived for sustainability and accountability with a technological twist and local support. ‘I have the privilege to manage this agency under the support of H. E. Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. I have been saddled with the responsibility of managing the waste of over 25 million in Lagos – about 13,000 metric tons generated on a daily basis. I have over 41,000 formal and informal people helping in the waste sector and they have done a good job especially our policing team. We have our own policing team with over 450 that goes to ensure that when we clean up, by the time you come out, it can be sustained to some extent. Someone local can police – it is easy, cheaper, and easily verifiable as well. So it is very important that we do the right thing at the right time.’
Meanwhile, the man who has been at the helms of LAWMA since 2020 encouraged interagency collaboration among security agencies in Lagos. ‘We all need to work together. Working differently does not work. Working in silo can’t solve the problem. We can solve problem by engaging – it is cheaper, cost-effective, and sustainable. Security is everybody’s responsibility. You are responsible for the next person to you.’
Earlier, during the presentation of NAOSNP Public Service Personality of the Year Award to Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, the Association’s National President, Oki Samson described the LAWMA Managing Director, “Mr. Odumboni is a silent achiever, innovative CEO, a man of action; his cleaner Lagos advocacy drives and collaboration is very commendable,” Oki noted.
The LAWMA Boss was acknowledged to a rapturous ovation as he bagged The Public Service Personality of the Year at the NAOSNP Conference and Awards 2021 which was held at NECA House, Alausa-Secretariat in Lagos. This award came in recognition of his towering efforts at ensuring a healthier and cleaner Lagos, as well as demonstration of excellence and innovation in waste management.
The prestigious national award was jointly presented to Mr Ibrahim Odumboni by the former Inspector General of Police, IGP Sir Mike Okiro, immediate past General Manager of LASTMA, Engr. Olajide Oduyoye; Corp Commander FRSC Lagos Command, Sector Commander Olusegun Ogungbemide and Director of Public Relations, NSCDC, DC Sola Odumosu.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, has died. He was aged 90.
Oba Olakulehin, who ascended the throne in July 2024, died in the early hours of Monday, July 7, 2025, after spending a year on the throne, and two days after his 90th birthday
Oba Olakulehin received the staff of office from Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde, on July 12, 2024, as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Oba Olakulehin ascended the throne from the chieftancy rung of Balogun Olubadan, following the demise of Oba (Dr.) Moshood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, who died at the age of 81 years on March 14, 2024.
Personality in Focus
Things Fall Apart Festival 2025: Chimamanda Adichie Calls for Igbo Unity, Honoured by ATPN
Global literary icon, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has been inducted as an Honorary Fellow of theAssociation of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), in recognition of her remarkable contributions to promoting Nigeria’s cultural identity through literature. Her works, which have earned worldwide acclaim, continue to project Nigerian—and particularly Igbo—culture on the global stage.
The honorary induction took place during the Things Fall Apart Festival (TFA) 2025, held in Enugu and organized by the Centre for Memories – Ncheta Ndigbo, with endorsement from the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the ATPN, and in partnership with iTour Africa. The festival is a celebration of the legacy of Chinua Achebe’s timeless novel, Things Fall Apart.
Adichie, who chaired the festival, delivered a stirring address that emphasized the urgent need for unity and cultural pride among the Igbo people. Also present at the event were several dignitaries including Sir Ike Chioke, Managing Director of Afrinvest; Sir Emeka Mba, former DG of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission and founder of Afia TV; and celebrated actor Chief Nkem Owoh (Osuofia).
Speaking on behalf of ATPN National President Omo-Oba Adetunji Femi Fadina, the association’s Deputy President II, Wilson Uche Ugwu, emphasized the vital role of cultural identity in tourism development. He urged Nigerians—especially the Igbo—to take pride in their heritage and support initiatives that preserve and promote indigenous culture. Ugwu also reaffirmed ATPN’s commitment to professionalism among tourism practitioners and the need to avoid distorting Nigeria’s rich history and traditions.
In her keynote speech, Chimamanda Adichie made a powerful call for internal reflection and unity within the Igbo community:
“Ndigbo k’anyi tetalu n’ura. Let us wake up. Ife emebigo n’ala Igbo. Things have fallen apart in Igbo land,” she said. “We often speak of political marginalisation, and indeed any honest assessment of post-war Nigerian history acknowledges that. But before we can truly challenge external forces, we must first ‘clean house.’ We are giving those who want to marginalise us even more reasons to justify their actions.”
She stressed that unity does not mean uniformity but a conscious choice to collaborate for a greater goal despite differences.
“If all governors and senators from the Igbo-speaking states come together and set aside party affiliations, it would bestow a significant bargaining power to influence policies beneficial to the region.”
Adichie also delved into the erosion of Igbo language and identity, lamenting the decline of Igbo literature and the increasing pride in raising children who do not speak their native tongue.
“Languages are beautiful, and the more languages a child can speak, the better. But what’s happening in Igbo land is not about the ability to learn languages—it is about the lack of value for what is ours. Even our naming culture is eroding. We now give names not for their meaning, but for how ‘Western’ they sound.”
She drew parallels with the Germanic tribes, who despite having multiple dialects, united to form a modern German state. In contrast, she warned that internal divisions within Igbo society, often rooted in political rather than cultural identities, are weakening the community.
“Igbo is Igbo. Nobody is more Igbo than another. The distinctions we make today—‘Anambra Igbo,’ ‘Delta Igbo’—are political, not cultural. Our strength lies in our unity.”
The Things Fall Apart Festival 2025 served not only as a celebration of Achebe’s literary genius but also as a rallying point for cultural rebirth and communal introspection. It was a fitting occasion to honour Chimamanda Adichie, a torchbearer of African storytelling and cultural preservation.
Famous American televangelist, Jimmy Swaggart, has died at the age of 90.
Jimmy Swaggart’s death was announced on his Facebook page on Tuesday.
He reportedly died two weeks after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Louisiana home on June 15 2025.
The once most recognized Pentecostal preacher in the United States, was brought down in the late 1980s by sex scandals.
The pastor of the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, was reportedly caught on camera in 1988 with a prostitute in New Orleans.
Jimmy Swaggart was embroiled in a prostitution controversy in 1988 after he accused Marvin Gorman, his fellow preacher, of infidelity.
In retaliation, Gorman hired a private investigator who caught Swaggart with a prostitute.
The development triggered a national scandal, prompting him to temporarily step down from preaching.
Addressing the incident during a tearful sermon in 1988, Jimmy Swaggart apologized to his parishioners.
“I have sinned against you. I beg you to forgive me”, he said.
After the scandal, he, however, continued preaching for decades, but with a reduced audience.
