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VIDEO: How I Found Out About First Military Coup In Nigeria — Anyaoku

Published

7 months ago

March 6, 2026

Editor

Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has recalled how he first learned about the military coup that took place in Nigeria on January 15,1966.

Anyaoku shared the account while delivering opening remarks as the Chairman at the 2026 Annual Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Lecture, where he spoke about his experience at the University of Pennsylvania on the day the coup occurred.

The annual memorial lecture, held at the Ikenne residence of Chief Awolowo in Ogun State, marks the 117th posthumous birthday of the sage, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, with the theme, ‘Politics as Future-Making: Awolowo and Leadership as Theory of Action’, delivered by Prof Wale Adebanwi, Presidential Penn Compact Professor, University of Pennsylvania, USA.

According to Anyaoku: “And here, mentioning Pennsylvania, if I may digress a little bit, with a personal anecdote about my personal experience at the University of Pennsylvania. Sixty years ago, and when I say 60 years ago, I assume I must be the oldest person in this hall because I am now 93. But 60 years ago, on 15 January 1966, I was invited to the University of Pennsylvania to address the Association for International Affairs, along with my counterpart at the British Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.”

He explained that at the time, he was serving as First Secretary-Counsellor in the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the United Nations, under the late Chief Simeon Adebo, who was Nigeria’s Ambassador.

Anyaoku said the meeting focused on the Unilateral Declaration of Independence by Ian Smith, leader of the minority regime in the then Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, on November 11, 1965. After the speeches, the audience was invited to ask questions.

Recounting the moment he first heard about the coup, he said: “The very first question was put to me by a man who wanted me to tell him more about the military coup d’etat.”

He said he initially believed the man might have confused Nigeria with another country experiencing political instability.

“I thanked him for his interest in my country, but suggested to him that he might be mistaking Nigeria for Algeria, where President Bembele had been overthrown, or for the Republic of Niger where the then President Hamani Diori was having some problems, but the man persisted by saying that on his way to the meeting he had on his car radio that a military coup had occurred in Nigeria and that the Prime Minister, he of course couldn’t say the name of the Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was missing.”

Anyaoku said the comment prompted him to briefly leave the hall to confirm the information.

“Whereupon I requested a 10-minute break in order to go to the nearest telephone booth to call my ambassador in New York. Those were the days, well before the use of mobile phones.”

He said he later returned to the audience with limited information about what had happened.

“I returned to the hall to tell the audience that it was true, that something unusual had happened in my country, but I could not tell the details. This was where and how I learned about the first military coup d’etat in Nigeria.”

Dignitaries at the Memorial Lecture hosted by Ambassador Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, Executive Director, Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, include the Obi of Onitsha is Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe; former Governors of Ogun and Osun States, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams; veteran broadcaster and diplomat, Dr. Yemi Farounbi; Senator Wale Adetutu; and Oladipupo Adebutu, among others.

Watch video below:

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

2 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.