Personality in Focus
Nestlé Board: Ifezulike Out, Oyebode In As New Chairman
The Board of Nestlé Nigeria PLC has appointed Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, MFR, as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors with effect from May 18, 2023.
The appointment announced to shareholders and other stakeholders at the Annual General Meeting of Nestlé Nigeria PLC, held at the MUSON Center on May 17, 2023, follows the retirement of Mr. David Ifezulike as a Director and the Chairman of the Board of the Company with effect from May 18, 2023.
Mr. Oyebode qualified as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria
in 1980. He holds a Master of Laws degree and is the co-founder of the law firm of Aluko & Oyebode. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and the Nigerian Leadership Initiative. He is the Chairman of Okomu Oil Palm PLC, Teach for All, and the African Philanthropy Forum. He is also a Director of both CFAO Nigeria and Lafarge Africa PLC as well as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ford Foundation.
Mr. Oyebode was first appointed to the Board of Nestlé Nigeria PLC on February 24, 2014, and has served on the Statutory Audit Committee, Nomination, Governance and Remuneration Committee as well as the Board Audit and Risk Management Committee of the Company.
Mr. Ifezulike who holds a Masters in Management Science and a Diploma of
Imperial College, London, was appointed to the Board of Nestlé Nigeria PLC on December 22, 2000. He became the Chairman of the Board on May 10, 2013 and served the Company meritoriously during his tenure.
He joined Nestlé Nigeria PLC on January 1,1980 and worked for over 26 years in various capacities and locations including Nigeria, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Switzerland, and Ghana. He was on an international exchange program as Factory Manager of Nestlé Ghana between May 1999 and April 2003.
He retired from Nestlé Nigeria PLC as the Executive Director, Industrial Development in October 2006.
The Board of Nestlé Nigeria PLC thanked Mr. Ifezulike for his contributions to the growth of the Company and wished him success in his future endeavours.
The Board of Nestlé Nigeria PLC also expressed confidence in the ability of the new Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Oyebode, to further contribute to the development of the Company and wished him personal satisfaction in his new role.
The Nigerian Senate has confirmed General Christopher Musa, the former Chief of Defence Staff, as the country’s new Minister of Defence.
The announcement was contained in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu.
Musa, who retired from the military just 40 days ago, was nominated by President Tinubu on Tuesday to succeed former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down on health grounds.
According to Onanuga’s statement, the Senate approved Musa’s appointment on Wednesday through a voice vote, following a thorough screening session during which lawmakers posed numerous questions.
“Senate confirms Gen. Christopher Musa as Minister of Defence The Senate has confirmed the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, as the Minister of Defence. The Senate confirmed Musa on Wednesday via a voice vote after a rigorous screening session in which lawmakers asked him many questions,” the statement read in part.
Personality in Focus
CM Shehu Mohammed Lauds NAOSNP over 2025 Road Safety Champion Award, Hails Staff
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mallam Shehu Mohammed has won the 2025 Road Safety Champion Awards instituted by the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) at the National Conference/Awards held recently in Lagos, in recognition of his aggressive transformation agenda in road transportation safety and commitment to championing the campaign for safer road environment in Nigeria through the FRSC platform.
In his remarks at the event, the National President of NAOSNP, Mayor Oki Samson emphasized the growing responsibility of the media—particularly online security news outlets in shaping public understanding and national resilience in an era marked by complex security threats, misinformation, and rapid technological changes. Mayor Oki underscored the vital role of the press in national security discourse and called for deeper collaboration between media and security agencies to ensure accurate, timely, and responsible reporting.
According to him, the event represents not just a dialogue, but a critical partnership between those who safeguard the nation and those that shape public opinions, stressing the need for harmony that could present national understanding, cohesion and development. He called on the award winners to continue to discharge their national responsibilities with greater zeal and patriotism, noting that building and safeguarding a nation requires robust collaboration and partnerships between stakeholders.
In his Keynote address, the the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, who was represented by Air Vice Marshal Bashir Rimi Mamman underscored the critical interplay between security, governance, and national development. His called for unity, responsible journalism, and collective action to secure Nigeria’s future. “This event serves as a platform for reinforcing the media’s role in national security and commitment to safeguarding the nation,” he stated.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 2 Lagos, Adegoke Fayoade, who spoke on the theme of the conference, positioned security as a foundational enabler of economic development and resource safeguarding in Nigeria, saying the two must always harmonize to produce credible results for national security and development agenda.
With the theme “Securing and Safeguarding Nigeria’s Economic Resources,” AIG Fayoade’s messages highlighted the necessity of aligning security operations with economic priorities, leveraging identity and information systems, partnering across sectors, and ensuring ethical, capable, forward‑looking security institutions. Such an approach, he said, recognises that economic resources whether tangible (infrastructure, commodities, ports) or intangible (identity systems, revenue flows, investor confidence) require integrated, multi‑dimensional protection.
”As Nigeria continues to aim for growth, investment, and resource optimisation, the link between security and economy remains central,” the AIG submitted.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed of the FRSC whose award was received on his behalf by the Sector Commander of Lagos State Sector Command of the FRSC, Corps Commander Kehinde Hamzat, reiterated that every movement starts and ends on the road. He stressed that transportation is a critical aspect of Nigeria’s infrastructure and plays a vital role in connecting people, goods and services across the country.Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed further noted that Road Traffic Crashes are the major factors contributing to disruptions in the supply chains and increase in operational costs for the transport sector.
While emphasizing the role of stakeholders in national security and development efforts, Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed gave assurances that FRSC as an agency of the Federal Government charged with the lead agency responsibility of ensuring road traffic management and safety administration in the country will effectively enforce relevant reforms in transportation safety laws as government at all levels is geared toward investing more in infrastructure and combating corruption in the system.
The FRSC Boss further called on the media to continue to raise public awareness on issues of road safety, hold people accountable and disseminate information most professionally to build trust and ensure integrity of their reportage, dedicating the award to the hardworking personnel of the FRSC.
In attendance at the event which also saw the award of NAOSNP “Best Security Agency Spokesperson of the Year” to the FRSC Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide
were representative of the former Chief of Defence Staff; representative of the Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam; the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Lagos, Adegoke Fayoade and the representative of the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi among security and other agencies.
It is worthy of note that NAOSNP National Security Conference/Awards has over the years become the largest media-organized security conference, gathering top public and private stakeholders in Nigeria’s security architecture.
Personality in Focus
Tunji Alausa is a True Son of Yorubaland, Family Member Replies Detractors, Says Attacks Politically Motivated
The Chief Executive Officer, Okay Group, Mrs. Motunrayo Ajeigbe-Akinlosotu, has publicly condemned a series of online posts accusing the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Morufu Alausa, of attempting to abolish the teaching of Yoruba language in Nigerian schools.
Akinlosotu, who identified herself as a relative of the minister, described the claims as unfounded and driven by political motives.
She reacted specifically to a viral Facebook post by one Abulesowo Egbowon, who labelled Dr. Alausa “an enemy and a saboteur of Yorubaland” and accused him of allegedly opposing Yoruba language education and regional interests.
In a strongly worded response, Akinlosotu dismissed the allegations, insisting that Dr. Alausa is a “true son of Yoruba land” whose heritage and service record contradict the narrative being pushed online.
“My name is Motunrayo Ajeigbe-Akinlosotu. Dr. Alausa happens to be my uncle. He is from Lagos State. The mother is half Lagos and half Ilesa. While the father is from Lagos on both sides of his family. So Alausa is a true son of Yorubaland and a true son of Lekombi Omo Eko,” she said.
She expressed shock that some individuals were cursing the minister over policies she said he had no hand in, noting that the attacks appeared politically motivated.
“I don’t know why people are now raising curses on Dr. Alausa. It’s not about the portfolio he is holding. Many of those spreading these things are simply frustrated,” she said.
She believes the attacks may be coming from Alausa’s enemies who are frightened by his rising profile in politics.
Ajeigbe praised the minister’s performance, describing him as a hardworking reformer who has introduced policies aimed at improving the education sector.
“Dr. Alausa is doing well in the Ministry of Education. He has changed many things that were not working. He is always ready to help people at any time, even without seeking recognition,” she added.
Addressing insinuations about his religious or cultural identity, Ajeigbe emphasised that the minister comes from a deeply religious family with both Muslim and Christian backgrounds and has always been committed to supporting communities in Lagos and beyond.
“This is a man many people look up to in Lagos State. He helps quietly without announcing it. So where is all this beef coming from?” she asked.
She urged Nigerians to disregard false narratives being circulated on social media, warning that political actors may be attempting to smear the minister for personal or partisan reasons.
The controversy began after Egbowon’s Facebook post accused Dr. Alausa of attempting to halt Yoruba-language instruction in schools and questioned why none of the minister’s children reportedly bear Yoruba names.
The post sparked a flurry of negative comments portraying the minister as “not a son of the soil.”
Ajeigbe called for restraint and urged the public to seek facts rather than fall for misleading information circulated online.
“Please, people should be very careful. I am not talking about politics. I am talking about who Dr. Tunji Alausa truly is,” she said.
