Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Correspondent Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Council, on Tuesday kicked off activities for its 2026 Press Week celebration with an exciting table tennis competition held at the Table Tennis Arena of the George Innih Stadium.

The championship, which featured chairmen and representatives of various NUJ chapels across the state, showcased camaraderie, healthy rivalry, and sporting excellence among journalists.

At the end of the keenly contested tournament, Ibrahim Alege of TVC emerged overall winner after defeating Kayode Adeoti of Sobi FM in the final match.

Alege had earlier secured his place in the final by overcoming Abdulwaheed Bibire of NTA in the semi-final encounter.

Final standings released after the competition showed:
1st Position – Ibrahim Alege (TVC),
2nd Position – Kayode Adeoti (Sobi FM), Joint 3rd Position – Dada Olaolu (Information Chapel) and Abdulwaheed Bibire (NTA).

Speaking after the event, Head Coach, Kehinde Aiyelabegan, commended the organisers for putting together what he described as a peaceful and well-coordinated tournament.

He praised the participants for their discipline, sportsmanship, and display of talent throughout the competition.

“The organisers were fantastic, the players were disciplined, and the atmosphere was peaceful.

“We saw impressive talent on display, and in my view, everybody who participated is a winner,” he said.

The table tennis challenge is one of several activities lined up for the 2026 Press Week celebration of the Correspondent Chapel, aimed at promoting unity, wellness, and professional bonding among journalists in Kwara State.

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The British Deputy High Commissioner, Gill Lever, has said that Kwara under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has become a model for gender equity, calling the governor a trailblazer for women’s rights and participation in politics.

“First of all, you’re a strong advocate for women’s representation in governance and I think Kwara, under your leadership, has been a trailblazer for women’s rights and women’s participation in the political life of your state,” Lever said during a visit to the Ahmadu Bello House in Ilorin on Tuesday.

“We know that you’ve appointed over 50% of your cabinet roles to women. So women’s representation in political life and lawmaking is essential to Nigeria’s economic development. I think we all see that.
So I strongly commend you, Your Excellency. You are a model state for gender equity and your endorsement of the special seats bill for women has earned you ‘HeForShe’ ambassador.”

Lever noted that the British government is working in many states to help improve digital skills and nurture young talents in tech industry.

“We’re visiting the Ilorin Innovation Hub today to see the progress of that particular set of UK assistance, see how it’s helped to develop skills and develop aspirations in the tech sector. This is allowing innovators to access global networks and opportunities,” she said.

“So we’re very keen through our digital access programme to help improve digital skills, nurture talents, and further the aspirations of young men and women in tech and help them into employment opportunities.

“You may also know that we launched, a couple of months ago, a community hub in Olayinka (Ifelodun local government), which we hope will benefit over 50,000 people in the local government with tech skills and digital access.”

Lever said the British Government supports free, peaceful, and credible election in Nigeria next year, adding that Downing Street has no favourite political party and will not be seen interfering in local political matters.

“We all want to see elections that are peaceful, that are inclusive, that are credible, with space for participation, with respect for institutions,” she said.

“The British government, as you’ll understand, Excellency, are entirely neutral. We do not favour one party or another, and we would never be in the business of telling Nigerian people how to vote. But peaceful and credible elections, of course, are not only a democratic objective.
This is not only about the Commonwealth values and the values of democracy that we’ve long shared, they’re also an economic objective or imperative as well.”

Governor AbdulRazaq, for his part, said his administration has turned around the fortunes of the state with significant progress made in different sectors of the economy.

“We have made significant progress in different sectors of the economy: from health, education, agriculture and road infrastructure. When we came in 2019, things just weren’t working in the state. From backlogs of pensions and gratuities to payment of half-salaries to blacklist of Kwara by Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC),” he said in what countered earlier narratives by some opposition elements.

“When we came in, 99% of schools did not have WASH facilities and no fencing of schools; teachers were in fact owed months in salary arrears. Today, we are up-to-date in investment in basic education with payment of counterpart funds to UBEC. We have expanded access to education, healthcare and we are making prompt payment of salaries as well as improving the welfare of the workforce. We have cleared backlog of salaries we met. In fact, we are planning to raise minimum wage again this year to N100,000.”

AbdulRazaq explained that his administration’s investment in education and health sectors have yielded positive results with improved ratings of the sectors and expansion of access to education and health care delivery.

“We have expanded access to university education with the (completion of) two campuses of KWASU in Kwara North and South. Then, by the time we will be leaving office by 2027, Kwara will have five teaching hospitals to bridge shortage of manpower in the health sector,” AbdulRazaq said.

On agriculture, the Governor said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is encouraging farming activities and the state has established Shea processing factory in Kaiama which will be the second largest in Nigeria when it becomes operational.

He also spoke extensively on security issues, breaking down the efforts of the state government with other stakeholders to stem breaches and make rural communities safer.

A delegation of select stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Hawul Local Government Area have declared total support for the party’s governorship candidate in Borno State, Engr. Mustapha Gubio, FNSE, following a solidarity visit to him in Maiduguri on Sunday.

The delegation, comprising chairman of the APC Stakeholders, Ali Abubakar Jatau, the Secretary, Inuwa Bwala, party chairman, Yahaya Gyerha and other senior party leaders told Gubio that his emergence reflects the confidence reposed in him by Governor Babagana Zulum, party elders and the wider APC membership across the state.

Speaking on behalf pf other stakeholders, Ali Abubakar Jatau, said the choice of Gubio was informed by his track record as a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, his loyalty to the party, and his accessibility to grassroots members. He added that the candidate’s understanding of Borno’s security and development challenges positioned him to consolidate existing gains.

“Hawul is fully behind Engr. Mustapha Gubio. Our structures from the ward to the council level are mobilised and ready to work for APC’s victory,” the he said. “We will campaign vigorously and ensure that the people of Hawul deliver for the party at the polls.”

Responding, Gubio thanked the delegation for the show of unity and urged party leaders to maintain discipline and focus on voter mobilisation. He said sustaining peace and accelerating development would remain his priorities if elected.

He also called on stakeholders to avoid actions that could undermine party cohesion ahead of the primaries and the main election.

The delegation concluded the visit with prayers for the candidate’s good health, wisdom and success, expressing optimism that his administration would build on the achievements of the outgoing government and introduce new projects for the benefit of Borno citizens.

Hawul LGA, located in southern Borno, is regarded as one of the APC’s strongholds in the state.