Personality in Focus
Lola Ade John: From Tape Cutting to a Walk for Tourism
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By Frank Meke
Tourism Minister, Mrs lola Ade John, will embark on a physical endurance test tomorrow, Thursday, September 26th, and, on Friday, 27th, in a fanciful show of force for Nigeria tourism. Lola Ade John will lead her team to cut open the ceremonial tapes at the Abuja Radio House where the ministry and its troupe of jesters would celebrate World Tourism Day.
The World Tourism Day is celebrated annually on the 27th of September, by all members States of United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism), formerly known as the United Nations World Tourism Organisation ( unwto) with a special theme, focal to either addressing global tourism issues or highlighting its famed interventionist values and gains to economies and peoples all over the world.
This year’s theme, “Tourism and Peace”, takes a deeper insight into how the industry adjudged the largest employer of labour, helps to enthrone peaceful coexistence among nations through strategic understanding of cultural tourism diversity and values inherent in preserving people’s heritage competitiveness, powering job creation and revenue generation to develop a sustainable rural economy.
In a news report by Daily Telegraph paper, the Nigerian agenda to celebrate the day, which was forwarded to me, the reporter cheekily “mocked” lola Ade John Walk for tourism as a ” new dimension,” leaving readers with options to draw their conclusions on the Walk through the city of Abuja, which was not intentioned to call for a change to the bitter but avoidable communial clashes across the country with our most border communities going to battle over land related issues or over other mundane dislocations. Auntie lola walk is not also reported to help address the near total collapse of our once secured environment by marauding kidnappers and haters of Nigerian peace.
The minister’s new wtd Walk therefore calls for a serious interrogation to what actually it’s meant to achieve since she not either flying a kite to draw attention to the possibility of a national reorientation to having a peaceful engagement by Nigeria’s diverse cultures and peoples to show temperance in any possible sociopolitical issues that may bred dislocations neither is her cat walk on the well paved Abuja roads is to go host at the Abuja city gate a creatively designed Nigerian flag that could excite the history books of the
Guinness World Record with a thoughtful message, calling on Nigerians to live in peace for the sake of cultural tourism promotion and national development.
Anyway, since the minister and her wtd planning committee are strangers to the many socioeconomic dislocations in the country, which in itself provokes a breached environment, her choice to approve and lead such adventure walk for mere test of physical health fitness, is worrisome because she did not tell us if there would be oversight by medical paramedics and ambulances in case any participant starts breathing hard for fresh air.
Knowing fully well that our government people only think about their pockets and not their health, that lola Ade John organised walk may lead to another avoidable national emergency, which may again force out our caring president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to leave his busy table on hospitals round visits to sympathise with those who should just simply in the first place gather at Apo Hills for a breath of fresh air and healthy drinks to celebrate World Tourism Day, instead of trying to show us a new dimension to how not draw attention to a failed tourism ministry.
My friend and brother in the pen business, Okorie Uguru of African Herald Magazine, called me up this morning to remind me that Nigeria ought to be celebrating 25 years of tourism but poisoned his intervention by equally reminding me( us) to list what gains we had made over those two decades and half.
I won’t write all he angrily vomited, particularly about those unelected but selected to confuse and confound our cultural tourism narratives.
So,by tomorrow and Friday, we shall stay in various corners to watch madam lola Ade John and her new Olympic hopefuls in a national tourism walk to which intent is just be seen to ” show off skirt and sport boots in the name of tourism.
The radio house talk show, I am very sure, will be the same banal meetings on Friday, to which we have seen her sustain for the past few months. Now that she is so fit to walk from the city gate to the radio house, and if you know Abuja very well, that is indeed a distance that must require both police , road safety, and national emergency services .
To walk such a distance by our lovely and beautiful minister who is just coming out of health issues scares me to no end, and I kind of wonder why her aides want her to take such a risk.
Maybe the Madam tourism UK based medical team has given her the nod to participate, but I will suggest she just go straight to the radio house, cut the tape to declare the tourism talk show open, present a nice paper with no commitment to anything serious to either on attention to the security agencies to wake up and secure Nigeria or simply dance to the drummings of her cultural troupe of tourism jesters, share drinks and say bye to another meaningless gathering for the sake of tourism and peace!.
By Eric Elezuo
Premier commercial bank, the United Bank of Africa (UBA) has announced the retirement of its chairman, Mr. Tony Elumelu after 12 years of meritorious service. The retirement notice will take effect from August 21, 2026.
The announcement was made on Monday after a meeting of the Board of Directors, according to a statement titled NOTIFICATION OF RETIREMENT OF GROUP CHAIRMAN OF UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA AND APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR, and made available to Pointblank.ng.
Elumelu will be replaced by Non-Executive Director of the bank, Mr. Emmanuel N. Nnorom, chartered accountant with over forty years’ experience in banking, finance and audit.
Expressing his appreciation for the privilege of serving the bank for 12 years as Chairman, Elumelu noted: that “Serving United Bank for Africa has been one of the great privileges of my career. UBA has established a unique competitive position, across Africa and globally, and I leave the Board with great confidence in UBA’s future. Emmanuel Nnorom is a leader of integrity, experience and sound judgement, and I am confident that the Bank will continue to thrive under his leadership.”
In his acceptance speech, the incoming Chairman, Emmanuel Nnorom remarked that “I am honoured by the trust the Board has placed in me and deeply conscious of the legacy I inherit. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board, Management and our staff across all our markets to sustain UBA’s momentum and continue delivering long-term value to our shareholders, customers and stakeholders.”
The statement quoted the Board as placing on record “its profound appreciation to Mr. Elumelu for his visionary leadership and exceptional contribution to the strategic vision and institutional strength of the UBA Group.”
It added that “Mr. Elumelu’s tenure has been a defining chapter in the Group’s history. Under his stewardship, UBA was transformed into a pan African institution, operating in 20 African countries and 4 global financial centres and serving over 50 million customers.”
Accomplished journalist and former Cable News Network (CNN) International anchor, Isha Sesay, will this week return to the studios of the global news network, not as an interviewer, but as the subject of its celebrated 30-minute magazine programme, African Voices, sponsored by telecommunications giant, Globacom.
The episode will shine a spotlight on the remarkable journey of the distinguished broadcaster whose career has traversed some of the most influential corridors of international journalism.
The 50-year-old British-Sierra Leonean media personality, born on January 6, 1976, rose to prominence through an illustrious career at CNN, which she joined as a news anchor in 2005 after distinguished stints with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Sky News. Over the years, Sesay became one of the most recognisable and respected faces in global television news, bringing clarity and composure to some of the world’s most consequential stories.
An alumna of Trinity College, Cambridge, United Kingdom, Sesay steadily carved a distinctive niche for herself in broadcast journalism. In 2009, she became the host of the inaugural edition of International Desk, CNN’s weekly news programme, further cementing her reputation as a journalist of substance and international standing.
Her career afforded her the opportunity to engage with numerous eminent personalities, including former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and his successor, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, among other notable global figures.
Sesay also contributed to Anderson Cooper 360° as presenter of the 360 Bulletin, a role she assumed on January 17, 2011. Subsequently, she was reassigned as anchor of another flagship news programme, CNN NewsCenter, continuing a professional trajectory that reflected both versatility and excellence.
Beyond the newsroom, Sesay has demonstrated a deep commitment to social impact. In 2014, she launched her educational and humanitarian non-profit advocacy initiative for the African girl-child. The organisation, aptly named Women Everywhere Can Lead, has since provided educational support and empowerment opportunities aimed at nurturing a new generation of female leaders across the continent.
More recently, Sesay captured public attention with her personal journey into motherhood, welcoming her first child through In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) as a single mother. Her experience has resonated with many women around the world, adding another compelling chapter to a life story already rich in courage, resilience and inspiration.
On this edition of African Voices, Sesay will share insights into her distinguished career, her enduring advocacy for girls’ education and empowerment, as well as her new and deeply personal adventure into motherhood. The programme will air on Saturday at 7.30am.
Repeat broadcasts will follow at 11.00am on the same day, while additional screenings are scheduled for Sunday at 3.30am and 6.00pm. Further rebroadcasts will air on Monday at 3.00am and 5.45pm, and on Tuesday at 5.45 pm, with the same time belt continuing into the following week until Monday at 3.00am
Personality in Focus
Double Honours for PLWD: Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation Opens Applications for Scholarship
The Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation (OSF) has announced the opening of applications for the 2026 OSF Scholarship Programme and the Professor Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN Fellowship, reaffirming the Foundation’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities, and developing future leaders within the disability community.
Since its establishment, the Foundation has worked to remove barriers to higher education by providing financial assistance, recognizing academic excellence, and investing in students whose determination and leadership have the potential to create lasting change in their communities.
Dr. Opeoluwa Sotonwa
Founder, Sotonwa Opeoluwa Foundation
The OSF Scholarship Program is open exclusively to Deaf and hard of hearing students enrolled in accredited tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The scholarship recognizes academic merit, leadership, resilience, and a commitment to pay it forward.
The Professor Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN Fellowship is open to law students with disabilities pursuing a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree at an accredited Nigerian institution. Named in honor of one of Nigeria’s most distinguished legal practitioners, the fellowship promotes greater representation of persons with disabilities within the legal profession while supporting the next generation of advocates,
scholars, and public leaders.
Mrs Cassandra Sotonwa,
Chief Operating Officer, Sotonwa Opeoluwa Foundation
“Education has the power to transform lives, strengthen communities, and expand opportunities for generations to come,” said Dr. Opeoluwa Sotonwa, Founder of the Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation.
”Through these programs, we continue our commitment to investing in talented students whose perseverance, engagement, and character will help shape a more inclusive and equitable Nigeria. We encourage every eligible student to apply and take advantage of these opportunities.
Applications will be evaluated through a competitive review process based on academic achievement, leadership potential, community engagement, and the overall quality of each application. Priority consideration may be given to applicants who have not previously received an OSF Scholarship or a Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN Fellowship.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the application instructions carefully. Only fully completed applications submitted with all required supporting documents by the published deadline of July 30, 2026 will be considered. Incomplete applications or those missing required documentation will not be reviewed.
The Foundation maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward fraud. Any applicant found to have submitted forged or altered transcripts, falsified documents, plagiarized personal statements, or other fraudulent materials will be disqualified and permanently barred from future scholarship and fellowship opportunities offered by the Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation.
Application forms, eligibility requirements, and submission instructions are now open and available at opeoluwasotonwafoundation.org.
Interested applicants should review the eligibility requirements and application instructions before submitting their materials.
About the Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation
The Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation (OSF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing educational access, leadership development, and economic empowerment for persons with disabilities in Nigeria. Through scholarships, fellowships, mentorship, strategic partnerships, and advocacy, the Foundation empowers students to achieve academic excellence, professional success, and meaningful
leadership.
