Personality in Focus
Victoria Island PCRC Celebrates CP Ahmed Kantagora with Gala Nite
It was a colourful evening of celebration and felicity in honor of a fine gentleman officer who has just gotten a new rank of Commissioner of Police in the Nigeria Police, CP Ahmed Mogaji Kontagora. The evening of super fun, sumptuous meals, graceful dance proved to be a time to unwind for many friends of the new CP Kontagora.
Many police officers who due to the intensity of work rarely have time to relax were able to let down the hair even as they salute their colleague, CP Kontagora who will soon to be moved out of the Lagos State Police Command to a new command, Oki Samson of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP report. The gala was attended by many police officers including some who are higher in rank than the new CP Ahmed Kontagora.
The special guest at the gala, the AIG in charge of Zone 2 (comprising Lagos and Ogun state commands), AIG Adeleke Adeyinka Bode noted that himself and Kontagora had been friends for over 30 years. ‘Kotangora is my coursemate. So if there is anyone who knows him, I am. I have known him for the past 30 years. He is a gentleman officer and very likeable.’
The host of the event, Mr. Matthew Ibadin who is also the Chairman of PCRC Victoria Island took the opportunity to celebrate Kontagora whom he described as ‘reliable police officer and an excellent operations person.’ He wished the new CP well in his new endeavor.
Speaking on behalf of the officer-colleagues, DCP Umar Shelleng shared: ‘Kontagora is a very industrious person. We have known each other right from when we were younger officers. We worked together in INTERPOL for a very long time when he had the opportunity to represent Nigeria Police in INTERPOL office in Cote D’Ivoire.
He is a very nice, amiable, humble, and down-to-earth person which has been attested by others. He is firm, straightforward and has a way of addressing issues without being unnecessarily harsh or aggressive.’
‘I wish you well. I congratulate you. Promotion comes with a lot of responsibility and I am very sure that your posting will soon be announced’, he told Ahmed Kontagora.
Celebrating the CP Kontagora on behalf of his civilian friends, Otunba Ayoola reiterated that Kontagora has a way of addressing issues. ‘You won’t even realize that someone is there. There was an experience where a lawyer ran to Alagbon over a rent issue after a kongaroo judgement. He didn’t even know the person but we were all surprised the way he addressed the issue quietly without noise.’
‘Above all, he is very patriotic. He loves the job. Sometimes 2am is when he retires to his home. I celebrate him’, NAOSNP gathered from Otunba Ayoola.
On behalf of media professionals whom CP Ahmed Kontagora often interacted with, President of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers, Oki Samson noted that the newly promoted CP is media-friendly, ‘He is always responsive to address issues of public importance which arise from their activities as Police. He is a fantastic operations officer who puts the maintenance of law, order, and security as a priority. May you continue to rise to greater heights in the Nigeria Police.’
The Chairman of PCRC in Lagos, Apostle Kehinde Showemimo while giving the toast at the event said: ‘I appreciate this wonderful, friendly, very gentle man who is always ready to help. Whatever the issue is, he is looking for solutions.’
‘We are happy that God has elevated him, may God continue to elevate him the more. May he experience exponential growth in every sphere of life’, Apostle Showemimo concluded.
Before his promotion, CP Ahmed Kontagora held the position of the DCP in charge of Operations in the Lagos State Command where he excelled tremendously under the leadership of CP Sylvester Abiodun Alabi. He also worked with the former Lagos CP, the retired AIG Hakeem Odumosu.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim, has commiserated with the family of late Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (retd) on the death of the former military administrator.
In a condolence statement signed by the Minister himself, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), Senator Gaidam lauded the fallen soldier, saying that his contributions to nation building will not be forgotten.
Olubolade died in the early hours of Monday, May 12, 2025.
Below is the detailed message:
LETTER OF CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY OF THE LATE NAVY CAPTAIN CALEB OLUBOLADE (RTD)
I, the Honourable Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidami, offer condolences to the people and government of Nigeria, especially the Olubolade family, on the death of former Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (Rtd), who died today.
The Ministry and Police community share this moment of grief and sorrow with the family, the people of the state, and the entire country. When offering condolences to a statesman, it is important to acknowledge the significance of his contributions and the impact of his passing on the nation.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of a true leader and dedicated servant to our nation. His legacy will live on through his tireless efforts and commitment to the people. This is a profound loss for our country. Captain Olubolade’s dedication to public service and his unwavering commitment to the security sector will be remembered.
Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the passing of a statesman who served with honor and integrity. May his spirit of leadership inspire generations to come.
In this time of grief, we offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Olukayode. His contributions to our nation will not be forgotten.
A Board Member of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, has been honoured with membership status of the Centre for African Social and Economic Transformation (CASET), University of the West of England, United Kingdom.
The recognition is coming on the heels of Ogunsan’s indefatigable commitment and unrelenting advocacy and support for quality education across all levels.
Dr. Ogunsan’s unflinching interest in education glaringly shows in his active participation as Board Member of Center for Digital Humanities (CEDHUL) in Nigeria’s frontline university, University of Lagos; as Chairman of AKEM Foundation, a nonprofit which has provided millions of naira within two (2) years to support schools and NGOs who provide education access for free to children in underserved communities in Nigeria; and in several individual sponsorships to ensure that the future is brighter for children. His personal story of prominence polished out of adversity continues to propel him forward.
This commitment is well-captured in the letter of Jo Midgley, the Deputy Vice Chancellor and the Registrar of the University of the West of England, UK who communicated the news of the appointment to the advisory board.
The academic, Jo Midgley highlighted about Dr. Ogunsan, ‘Your extensive experience and contributions to Africa’s higher education sector through training university leaders and teaching personnel, as well as your Board Membership of the Centre for Digital Humanities at the University of Lagos, Nigeria will make you an invaluable member of our CASET’s Advisory Board.’
‘As a Board member, you will play a crucial role in shaping CASET’s strategic direction, providing high-level support and guidance on stakeholder engagement strategies and knowledge dissemination efforts, helping to foster impactful collaborations and partnerships, and ensuring that the Centre’s initiatives align with the evolving needs of Africa’s social and economic landscape’, the letter stated about the expectations for the technocrat Ogunsan.
The higher institution, University of the West of England, United Kingdom also added the reason for appointing Dr. Ayo Ogunsan as Member of the Advisory Board of our Centre for African Social and Economic Transformation (CASET). They noted that they are guided by the University’s ethos of enterprise and collaboration, thus ‘the Centre is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities in Africa through strategic partnerships and transformative education and training programmes, research, evidence-based policymaking, social and cultural engagement geared towards finding practical solutions to regional social and economic challenges.’
‘We will be honoured to have you as part of our highly respected and esteemed group of experts and thought leaders.’
Midgley added that the Advisory Board convenes annually, with meetings held virtually and occasionally in person at the University of the West of England UK or in Africa where feasible.
He noted that Ogunsan’s insights and participation would be instrumental in helping CASET to achieve its mission of fostering transformative social and economic change through capacity building, research priorities, evidence-based policy and innovation.
The Registral said that Advisory Board Members were not employees of the University including CASET adding that his term as a board member would commence in June 2025 and run for a renewable period of three years on a non-remuneration basis.
“Renewal of board membership is subject to members’ continuing support, integrity and commitment to always being a good ambassador in advancing CASET’s mission.
“We will be honoured to have you as part of our highly respected and esteemed group of experts and thought leaders.
“We also appreciate your willingness to contribute to our mission and look forward to your valuable contribution to advancing CASET’s vision for transformative change in Africa,” he said in the letter.
It was gathered that Ogunasn is a prominent figure in the education sector, his expertise spans entrepreneurs hip, security management, and education, and he is widely acknowledged for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence.
Source: Trek Africa
Robert Francis Prevost, the first pope from the United States, has a history of missionary work in Peru but also a keen grasp of the inner workings of the Church.
The new Leo XIV, a Chicago native, was entrusted by his predecessor Francis, to head the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, charged with advising the pontiff on new bishop appointments.
The sign of confidence from Francis speaks to Prevost’s commitment as a missionary in Peru to the “peripheries” – overlooked areas far from Rome prioritised by Francis – and his reputation as a bridge-builder and moderate within the Curia.
The 69-year-old Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo, Peru, was made a cardinal by Francis in 2023 after being named Prefect of the Dicastery, one of the Vatican’s most important departments — and a post that introduced him to all key players in the Church.
Vatican watchers had given Prevost the highest chances among the group of US cardinals of being pope, given his pastoral bent, global view and ability to navigate the central bureaucracy.
Italian newspaper, La Repubblica, called him “the least American of the Americans” for his soft-spoken touch.
His strong grounding in canon law has also been seen as reassuring to more conservative cardinals seeking a greater focus on Theology.
Following Francis’s death, Prevost said there was “still so much to do” in the work of the Church.
“We can’t stop, we can’t turn back. We have to see how the Holy Spirit wants the Church to be today and tomorrow, because today’s world, in which the Church lives, is not the same as the world of ten or 20 years ago,” he told Vatican News last month.
“The message is always the same: proclaim Jesus Christ, proclaim the Gospel, but the way to reach today’s people, young people, the poor, politicians, is different,” he said.
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Prevost attended a Minor Seminary of the Order of St Augustine in St Louis as a novice before graduating from Philadelphia’s Villanova University, an Augustinian institution, with a degree in Mathematics.
After receiving a masters degree in divinity from Chicago’s Catholic Theological Union in 1982, and a doctorate decree in canon law in Rome, the polyglot joined the Augustinians in Peru in 1985 for the first of his decade-long missions in that country.
Returning to Chicago in 1999, he was made provincial prior of the Augustinians in the US Midwest and later the prior general of the order throughout the world.
But he returned to Peru in 2014 when Francis appointed him as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo in the country’s north.
Nearly a decade later, Prevost’s appointment in 2023 as head of the Dicastery came after Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet was accused of sexually assaulting a woman and resigned for age reasons.
The Vatican later dropped the case against Ouellet for insufficient evidence.
Prevost also serves as president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
