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Wole Soyinka @90: Glo-sponsored African Voices Playmakers Hosts Nobel Laureate

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African Voices Playmakers, CNN International’s magazine programme, will this week host world renowned playwright, dramatist, poet and rights activist, Professor Wole Soyinka. The 30-minute programme is sponsored by digital solutions provider, Globacom.

The Nobel Laureate will be sharing details of the values, the ideologies and the passion that formed the foundation of his enviable life and career.

This week’s edition commemorates Professor Oluwole Akinwande Soyinka’s 90th birthday, having been born on July 13, 1934 in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He will also regale viewers with the details of his extraordinary activism which birthed his literary works. A movie which highlights  his political incarceration in Nigeria is billed for release this year.

Having gained international repute through his books in prose, poetry and drama, Soyinka became the first African writer to win  the Nobel Laureate in Literature in 1986 for his “wide cultural perspective and… poetic overtones fashioning the drama of existence”.

As a student of the University College, Ibadan, now known as the University of Ibadan, his artistic talents had been noticeable. He later gained admission to the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom for a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature.

Added to his Nobel Prize, Soyinka also got  the Benson Medal from the Royal Society of Literature in 1990; Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award in 2009; Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, Lifetime Achievement, 2012, and the Europe Theatre Prize, Special Prize, 2017.

In his honour at 90, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu renamed the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, him.

The programme will be broadcast at 8.30 a.m. on Saturday on DSTV Channel 401. Repeats will be broadcast the same Saturday at noon; Sunday at 4.30 a.m. and 7.00 p.m.; and on Monday at 4.00 a.m. Repeats will be on Saturday next week at 8.30 a.m. and 12 noon and on Sunday at 4.30 a.m. and 7.00 p.m.

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Personality in Focus

Tinubu Upgrades Bianca Ojukwu to Senior Minister in the Foreign Affairs Ministry

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NOMA Celebrates Access Bank’s Olakunle Aderinokun at 55

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By NOMA

The Nigerian Online Media Alliance (NOMA) has celebrated Mr. Olakunle Aderinokun on his 55th birthday, describing him as a distinguished strategic communications expert and media professional whose nearly three-decade career continues to shape Nigeria’s communications and business landscape.

In a statement by Theresa Moses, Chairperson, NOMA highlighted Aderinokun’s current role as Head, Media and Public Relations at Access Holdings Plc, where he leads group-wide media strategy, executive communications, crisis management, and corporate reputation positioning across local and international markets.

The Alliance noted that his ability to align corporate narratives with business strategy, stakeholder expectations, and regulatory realities has strengthened institutional credibility and public trust.

Aderinokun’s career reflects a unique blend of journalism, financial services, and corporate leadership. He spent 24 years at THISDAY Newspapers, rising to the position of Group Business Editor and Associate Editor, where he played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s business journalism ecosystem. He later served as Editor, Business at ARISE News Channel, further consolidating his reputation for editorial excellence and impactful storytelling.

Throughout his journalism career, he covered critical sectors including banking, capital markets, energy, aviation, and macroeconomics, engaging directly with top policymakers, regulators, and corporate leaders. His extensive international exposure includes participation in global platforms such as the IMF-World Bank Meetings, African Development Bank Meetings, TICAD in Japan, the Nigeria-China Business Forum, Africa Oil Week in Cape Town, and Vaasa Energy Week in Finland.

Beyond journalism, Aderinokun brings strong financial and investment expertise, having worked with United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Wall Street Trust Company (now WSTC Financial Services), where he handled equity analysis, market research, and investment advisory. This foundation, NOMA noted, has enabled him to effectively bridge financial performance with strategic communication outcomes.

An entrepreneur, he founded Pure Synergy Ltd in 2013, a firm focused on reputation management and strategic communications, and later served as CEO of Excite Enterprise Ltd, an online business solutions platform.

In the public sector space, Aderinokun served as Media Adviser to Senator Tokunbo Abiru in 2020, where he led media strategy and publicity for the Lagos East Senatorial campaign, contributing to its successful outcome.

Academically, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics (Pure and Applied) from the University of Ilorin and an MBA from the University of Lagos, complemented by executive education at Lagos Business School and professional training with the World Bank Institute, NIPR, and Standard Bank Group, South Africa. He also holds multiple professional certifications across public relations, banking, marketing, and digital communications.

NOMA described him as a quintessential, multifaceted professional whose career embodies excellence, innovation, and leadership.

“Olakunle Aderinokun represents the very best of strategic communication and media practice in Nigeria. His journey is not only inspiring but also instructive for the next generation of professionals navigating the evolving media and corporate landscape,” the statement read.

As he marks his 55th birthday, NOMA commended his enduring contributions and wished him continued success, good health, and greater accomplishments in the years ahead.

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Ogunsan Celebrates IGP Olatunji Disu on 60th Birthday

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The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, has congratulated the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on the occasion of his birthday, commending his visionary leadership and reform-driven approach to policing in Nigeria.

In his birthday remarks, Dr. Ogunsan described the IGP as a “distinguished officer whose career has consistently reflected professionalism, courage, and a deep commitment to public safety.”

He noted that since assuming office as the 23rd Inspector-General of Police early this Year 2026, Disu has demonstrated a clear resolve to reposition the Nigeria Police Force towards greater efficiency and public trust.

Dr. Ogunsan particularly praised the IGP’s emphasis on intelligence-led policing, a strategy aimed at enhancing proactive crime detection and prevention, as well as his push for the integration of digital tools and forensic capabilities into police operations. These reforms, he said, signal a shift towards modern, accountable, and citizen-focused policing.

He further highlighted Disu’s decisive steps to strengthen the state policing agenda and officers’ welfare. He praised him for the effective policing model through the restructuring and reduction of tactical units, a move designed to address concerns over excesses while redeploying personnel to police divisions for improved community-level security.

The LSSTF boss also acknowledged the IGP’s consistent advocacy for discipline, integrity, and professionalism within the Force, noting that such values are critical to restoring public confidence and enhancing institutional credibility.

Reflecting on his track record, Dr. Ogunsan recalled Disu’s impactful leadership roles across key commands, including the Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory Commands, where he contributed significantly to crime control and intelligence-driven operations.

His tenure as the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos is a testament to his operational excellence and urban crime management.

Ogunsan wished the IGP good health, wisdom, and continued success in his efforts to build a more secure Nigeria. “On this special occasion, we celebrate not only a remarkable leader but a reformer whose vision continues to inspire confidence in the security architecture of our nation,” Ogunsan said.

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