News
Benin Monarch To Tinubu’s Daughter: Do You Know Role Of Iyeki In Benin Culture?

Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has questioned the daughter of President Bola Tinubu and Iyaloja General, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo if she knows the role of Iyeki (market leader) in Benin Kingdom and the connection with the palace.
The revered Benin Monarch asked Tinubu-Ojo the question when she paid him a homage in his palace and to inform him that she was in the state to inaugurate Pastor Josphine Ivbazebule as the Iyaloja of all markets in Edo State.
The Benin Monarch, having carefully listened to Tinubu-Ojo, told her that the ‘Iyaloja’ concept she spoke about was alien to the Benin culture.
The Oba told the Iyaoloja General
that in Benin Kingdom the Iyeki must be confirmed by the palace after being selected by the market women.
READ ALSO:Oba Of Benin Ushers In ‘Emorọ’
Oba Ewuare II told Tinubu-Ojo that Iyeki performed certain cultural roles on his behalf in the markets outside her role of coordinating affairs of traders in the market.
He said the Iyeki has special relationship with the palace and performed expected roles in the shrine located in every market.
The Oba said: ”Iyaloja is alien to us here in Benin. You are in Benin, the home of culture; we have our culture here. I have discussed this matter with my chiefs and those that are knowledgeable. Do you know the role of Iyeki in Benin culture? Every Iyeki has a special relationship with the palace. Are you aware of that? Do you know that every Iyeki has a cultural role to perform inside every market.
“The Oba does not interfere so long as the Iyeki does what is expected of her in the shrine of a particular market on behalf of the Oba. We are not going to say much except to explain to you the concept of Iyeki in Benin.”
READ ALSO:Oba Of Benin Suspends Palace Chiefs
Chief Osaro Idah, whom the Oba permitted to enlighten Tinubu-Ojo also added: “Iyeki is independent in every market like the Oba market, Ogiso market and others. The traders select their leaders from within the market. The Iyeki do more than the role of coordinating traders.
“There are certain shrines inhabited in all the markets. They play certain roles on behalf of the palace. After their selection, they bring the person to the palace for confirmation.
“The novelty of general Iyeki is alien to Benin custom and tradition. We just believe the Iyaloja is your socio-cultural thing like you have other clubs.
“It is not in our culture to have a general Iyeki. Iyeki is particular to each market. No one has the right to control the other in another market. The Iyeki in Oba Market has no role to play in Ogiso Market. The Oba established the market for all in the society”
News
BREAKING: Ex-CDS Musa meets Tinubu At Aso Villa
Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, is meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Musa was spotted arriving at the State House at 7:03 pm on Monday as he was led into the President’s office area by a senior security official.
Dressed in dark-green traditional northern attire with elbow-length sleeves, Musa is meeting the President publicly for the first time since Tinubu retired him on October 24, 2025.
READ ALSO:Tinubu Sends Ex-INEC Chair, Former Oyo First Lady, 30 Additional Ambassadorial Nominees To Senate
The purpose of the meeting was not immediately known.
It comes amid heightened security concerns in the North, including the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi, the attack on worshippers in Eruku, Kwara, and the kidnapping of Catholic schoolchildren in Minna, as security agencies intensify counter-terrorism and anti-kidnapping operations across the North-West and North-Central.
News
Insecurity: Former NYSC Director Tasks Corps Members On Self, Environmental Consciousness
A retired Director, Information and Public Relations, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Directorate Headquarters, Eddy Megwa, has called on all corps members serving in the country to take their personal security seriously, always be self and environmental conscious.
The former Director made the call at the Bauchi NYSC permanent orientation camp, Wailo, Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state on Monday.
He warned that the times were evil, therefore vigilance, self consciousness and consciousness of the environment were of paramount importance.
He also called on them to serve the nation with loyalty, commitment and zeal for patriotism, adding that no nation grew without the selfless service of the citizens and called on the corps members to rise up and make the desired change.
READ ALSO:FG Enlists NYSC Members In Campaign To Fight Small Arms, Light Weapons Proliferation In Northeast
“I want to urge you all to deliberately work towards building a great nation of our collective dreams.
“This is because if we have a country that is working very well, the youths will not be desperate about relocating to other countries of the world for greener pastures,” he said.
Megwa further discouraged the youth from illegal migration, describing it as a suicide mission as many of such ‘desperate people’ ended up losing their lives in the Sahara desert in the most gruesome manner.
The former NYSC Spokesman encouraged the corps members to strive for excellence in all they do and achieve even what their forebears could not achieve.
“There are a whole lot of opportunities you have now and can leverage on which the older generation never had.”
READ ALSO: FG Approves New NYSC Mandatory Regulations
He told his audience not to put their names and their families into disrepute by getting themselves involved in crimes and other unwholesome activities.
“The Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme of the NYSC is the panacea to graduate unemployment.
“I want to, therefore, advise you to take advantage of the programme by learning skills that will be useful to you in the future.”
Earlier, Mr Umoren Kufre, the state’s Coordinator of NYSC, appreciated the retired Director for the visit and words of motivation to both camp officials and corps members.
He described the former Director as a living legend that shaped the NYSC Public Relations Unit to what it is today and left his footprints boldly.
News
NiMet Predicts Three-day Sunshine, Cloudiness From Monday
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and haziness from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja envisaged sunny skies over the entire northern region throughout the forecast period on Monday.
It envisaged sunny skies with patches of clouds over the entire central region.”For the southern region, cloudy atmosphere with sunshine intervals is anticipated over the region with slim chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Cross River during the afternoon to evening hours,” it saidAccording to NiMet, dust haze is anticipated over Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Borno, and Yobe on Tuesday throughout the forecast period.It anticipated sunny skies with cloud patches over the entire central region.
READ ALSO:NiMet Forecasts Rain, Flash Floods Nationwide
“For southern region, cloudy skies are expected over the region with slim prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Cross River during morning hours.” Isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Delta, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River later in the day,” it said.
The agency predicted dust haze over the northern region throughout the forecast period on Wednesday.NiMet anticipated a sunny and hazy atmosphere over the entire central region.”For the southern region, cloudy atmosphere are over the region in the morning hours.
“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms with moderate rains are anticipated over parts of Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers ” it said.
READ ALSO:NiMet Forecasts Rain, Flash Floods Nationwide
NiMet urged the public to drive under the rain with caution and to take necessary precautions as dust particles would be in suspension over the northern region.
NiMet advised people with asthmatic health conditions and other respiratory issues to be cautious of the present weather conditions.
”Airline operators are advised to get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.” Residents are advised to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet – visit our website – www.nimet.gov.ng.
-
Metro4 days ago
JUST IN: One Dead As Ngige Escapes Assassination
-
News4 days ago
Guinea-Bissau Coup: FG Gives Update On Ex-President Jonathan
-
News4 days ago
Okpebholo Fires EDOGIS Managing Director
-
Metro4 days ago
BREAKING: Bandits Abduct Teenage Boy, Six Girls From FCT Community
-
News5 days ago
Tinubu Appoints Non-Career Ambassadors For US, UK, France
-
Metro5 days ago
Train Attack: Terrorist Leader Gave Mamu N50m From Ransom — DSS Operative
-
News4 days ago
BREAKING: NNPCL Reduces Fuel Price After Dangote Refinery, Depot Owners Cut Rates
-
Metro4 days ago
Bandits Demand N500m As Ransom To Release 13 Kaduna Locals
-
Metro4 days ago
Man Flees After Lady Dies In Ondo Hotel
-
Business4 days ago
Fourteen Nigerian Banks Yet To Meet CBN’s Recapitalisation Ahead Of Deadline