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Senator Ikpea Assures Edo Central Constituents Of Effective Representation, Accountability

Published

1 month ago

August 12, 2026

The senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Joseph Igiagbe Ikpea, has assured his constituents of sustained and effective representation, promising to deepen legislative accountability, attract development and ensure that the voices and aspirations of the people remain central to his mandate.

Ikpea gave the assurance on Tuesday at the Edo Central Senatorial District Stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting, held at the Uromi Town Hall, Uromi, with the theme, “Deepening Legislative Accountability, Development Dialogue and Inclusive Participation.”

The meeting brought together political leaders, traditional stakeholders, community representatives, youths, women and other critical stakeholders to deliberate on the duties and functions of a lawmaker.

The senator said the town hall meeting was designed to create a direct platform for constructive engagement between the people and their representative.

He stressed that legislative representation must go beyond sitting in the chambers of the National Assembly to include regular consultation, accountability and tangible interventions that improve the lives of constituents.

According to him, “Stakeholders’ meetings are very critical for us as legislators; otherwise, the people will not be aware of what we are doing and how the three arms of government operate.

“Senators are not tied to road construction, as we are lawmakers, and money for constituency projects does not come to us as senators.

“It goes to the relevant MDA, and the MDA will spread the money to the local governments according to how you want it. I will continue to engage with the people with a view to knowing their priority projects so I can lobby for them.

“It is only in this kind of meeting that you can ask the people to give you their needs analysis. I have asked them to go to their various local government areas and bring their needs analysis so I can put them into my template, and from that template, I will execute my projects,” he assured.

Senator Ikpea further assured the people of Edo Central that he would continue to deploy his position in the Senate towards attracting meaningful projects, supporting human capital development and pursuing policies capable of improving the socio-economic well-being of the people.

The Chairman of the occasion and APC leader in Edo Central Senatorial District, Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe (Rtd.), commended the initiative, describing the meeting with the constituents as essential to strengthening democratic governance.

Giving a summary of the various lectures, the Edo Central Senatorial Leader, Gen. Esekhaigbe, said: “We have been made to know, by the various speakers, the differences between legislative duties, executive duties and the judiciary.

“We came to know that Senator Ikpea came in at a time when constituency funds had already been allocated to the MDAs.”

The meeting was hosted by the Deputy APC Senatorial Chairman for Edo Central, Chief Abuya Iduozee, while speakers included a former member of the House of Representatives for Esan Central, Esan West and Igueben Federal Constituency, Mr. Patrick Ikhariale, who spoke on “The Constitutional Duties of a Legislator.”

Also speaking, a former two-term member of the House of Representatives for Esan North-East and Esan South-East Federal Constituency, Mr. Friday Itulah, examined “Budgeting and Implementation versus Constituency Projects.”

He urged stakeholders and constituents to understand the legislative process and distinguish between the responsibilities of lawmakers and those of the executive arm of government.

Dr. Pascal Ebhohimien spoke on “The Political Future of Edo Central,” while the State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) addressed participants on the devastating effects of drug and substance abuse, particularly among young people.

Speaking with our correspondent shortly after the event, an APC chieftain in the senatorial district, Elder Sam Eboigbe, expressed satisfaction with the achievements of the senator despite his short stay in office.

He maintained that the large crowd and the calibre of dignitaries who graced the meeting were a reflection of what Ikpea stands for.

“We are happy with what he is doing for the people. In fact, he has tried. His eight months at the Red Chamber are enough to perform a miracle or magic,” he said.

He, however, appealed to the Esan-born lawmaker to continue to attract more people-centred projects to the senatorial district so that the constituents could benefit more from his representation.

Other stakeholders at the event also stressed the need for greater investment in education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment, employment creation, infrastructure and security across Edo Central.

They expressed optimism that sustained dialogue between the senator and his constituents would strengthen accountability and ensure that the district’s development priorities receive appropriate attention at the national level.

The meeting ended with renewed assurances that the senator’s office would remain open to constructive contributions from the people, with stakeholders urging constituents to support initiatives capable of promoting peace, unity and development across the senatorial district.

Senator Ikpea reaffirmed his commitment to giving Edo Central a strong voice at the National Assembly, assuring the people that their mandate would be treated as a sacred trust and that their interests, welfare and future would remain at the heart of his legislative agenda.

He, however, gave out N2 million each to the five local government areas in the district, just as he asked all market women in the area to meet with him with a view to empowering them.

News

Six Corps Members Receive N10m Grants To Boost Agribusiness

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme.

The programme was organised on Monday by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged Corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.

Nafiu said agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and generate wealth.

He also stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of business ventures, while commending BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation and its partnership with the NYSC.

“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” he said.

The beneficiaries are Dominic Olufemi (FC/25C/1143), who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole (ED/26A/2251), N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala (ED/25B/1402), N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe (OG/26B/1037), N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen (KG/26A/1735), N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue (JG/25B/1742), N1 million.

Speaking on the selection process, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme began with an online registration portal through which Corps Members engaged in agribusiness submitted their business plans.

She said nearly 3,000 Corps members applied and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists.

According to her, the finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.

Shopeka said the beneficiaries had also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.

She added that Corps Members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.

The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.

Odusanya explained that BATNF was an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.

He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.

He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.

According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.

News

CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 23%

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the reduction of the interest rate, also known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 23 percent.

Briefing the media in Abuja, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said at the 307th MPC meeting held on September 22, 2026 agreed the resetting of the MPR and recaliberation of the monetary policy market.

According to Cardoso, the committe is satisfied with the disinflation progress, adding that members noted stable banking sector following successful recapitalisation.

Meanwhile, according to Nigerian Tribune, reports that that the MPC, at its 306th meeting in July 2026, disclosed its resolution to retain the interets at 26.5 percent.

According to the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, “the Committee’s decision to maintain the current policy stance followed a thorough assessment of the balance of risks. Although headline inflation moderated marginally in June 2026, global uncertainties have heightened, due mainly to the renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

“In view of the evolving developments, maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance remains appropriate. In arriving at its decision, the Committee noted the recent resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, with particular attention to its spillover effects on global energy prices and the potential pass-through to domestic inflation.”

News

NURTW: KWAM1 Settles Long-time Rift Between MC Oluomo, Tafa Sego

Published

3 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has brokered a peace deal between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Tafa Sego.

The reconciliation took place at Ojusagbola in Ijebu, Ogun State, where several NURTW chieftains gathered for the meeting.

The development was announced on Tuesday on KWAM1’s digital media page on Instagram, alongside photographs from the meeting.

According to the post, the two union leaders have resolved their differences after years of strained relations.

“After years of an age-long rift, MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego have finally settled their differences. And from what we know now, this is final,” the post said.

The musician was said to have intervened as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, with the aim of bringing an end to the longstanding disagreement between the two NURTW figures.

“K1 acted in his role as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by seeking an end to the long-standing rift, once and for all,” it said.

The post also described the meeting as a significant step beyond previous public displays of reconciliation.

“This time, it was not just another handshake for the cameras. The two old friends and colleagues came together at Ojusagbola, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) playing the peacemaker.”

Both MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego were reported to be pleased with the outcome of the intervention.

“Both parties are delighted about the new development,” the post said.

The two men had previously been allies and prominent figures within the Lagos NURTW before their relationship became strained amid disagreements linked to leadership of the union in the state.