FG Tasks Information Commissioners on Partnership with ICPC to Fight Corruption

The Federal Government has called on state commissioners for information to join hands with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) to fight corruption.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, made the call when he declared open a one-day Rountable Engagement on Strategic integration in fight against corruption on Wednesday in Abuja.

The Rountable with the theme, ‘Partnership for Strengthening Transparency and Accountability at State and Local Government Levels Through Strategic Communications’, was organised by ICPC.

Those in attendance included commissioners for information from Kaduna, Nasarawa, Oyo, Borno, Kwara, Ogun, Cross River, Taraba, Rivers, Kogi and Zamfara States.

Others were those of Adamawa, Kano, Bauchi, Yobe, Anambra and Gombe.

Also in attendance were the Directors-General of Voice of Nigeria, Malam Jibrin Ndace; Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr. Mohammed Bulama; National Orientation Agency, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu and some officials from the Presidency and National Assembly.

Idris said that the fight against corruption is in line with the eight-point priorities of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He commended ICPC for the theme, adding that the presence of all the state commissioners for information, who have the onerous task of disseminating and cascading information to other strata of the Nigerian society, is remarkable.

“Fighting corruption is indeed one of the eight-point priority areas of President Tinubu’s administration and that is why the president is strengthening the institutional framework to fight corruption, especially through the ICPC and EFCC.

“By its policy of non-interference, the Tinubu administration has made it clear that anti-corruption agencies are not instruments of political witch-hunt; they operate with independence and professionalism in line with the established rule of law.

“However, the president has vowed that there will be no safe haven for corruption in Nigeria and he is also advancing far-reaching judicial reforms aimed at curbing unnecessary delays in corruption trials, ensuring that justice is neither denied nor endlessly deferred.

“I want to implore all of you that irrespective of the political parties you belong to, it is important you identify with the massive opportunities inherent in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

“I want to draw our attention to the need to leverage the vast and effective assets of the agencies under the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to achieve effective outreach across Nigeria.

“I also want to implore you to partner with ICPC in this very important task they have in ridding Nigeria, not just of corruption but also the perception of corruption that is doing more harm than good to the people of this country,” Idris said.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Emmanuel Udende, described ICPC as custodian of public trust.

Udende urged the ICPC to continue to open its doors and share insights and see the machinery of information in the state not as a peripheral entity but as core operational power.

The lawmaker, who was represented at the event by Mr Uboh Emelike, challenged the commissioners to embrace the programme with zeal and creativity.

“See yourselves as generals in this war and with power of communication to win the hearts and minds of the people.

“Let us leave this room with a common agenda; a blueprint that will ensure our message of transparency, accountability and integrity to transverse the length and breadth of this country.

“Together, by strategically integrating communication into the anti-corruption architecture, we can build the Nigeria that we deserve,” Udende said.

The Chairman, House Committee on Anti-corruption, Hon. Kayode Akiola, urged the ICPC, information commissioners and other stakeholders to join and create a corrupt-free country where governance is transparent, accountable and true representative of the people.

The Commissioners for Information and Internal Security of Borno, Prof. Usman Tar, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, appreciated ICPC and the Federal Government, promising they would collaborate with the relevant authorities to fight corruption. (NAN)

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    Awolowo House Pulled Down for New Technology Mall

    Awolowo House Pulled Down for New Technology Mall

    Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja 

    The iconic Awolowo House, in the heart of Ikeja, Lagos and a symbol of innovation since 1978 has been demolished. 

    The building, managed by Wemabod, a subsidiary of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, owned by the six South-west states of Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti is to be rebuilt into a modern and magnificent technology haven called Awolowo Technology Mall.

    The redevelopment of the Awolowo Technology Mall, is to commemorate and immortalize legendary nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s legacy of innovation, quest for knowledge, spirit of discovery, and excellence.

    The Managing Director of El- Salem Nigeria Limited, Mr Ben Gbade Ojo,stated in Abuja that the new Awolowo Technology Mall would more than double the previously available commercial space of Awolowo House from 4,800 sqm to over 9,000 sqm.

    Gbade Ojo, whose company is in partnership  with Wemabod to develop the Awolowo Technology Mall added that the Awolowo Technology Mall, now famously called A.T Mall, was a place where top-notch information technology companies would set up shops and offices to exhibit and market the latest information communication technologies and systems, as well as where the latest ICT products from global technological companies could be found in Nigeria.

    “It is a place where leading ICT experts congregate and set up shops and offices, a place where ICT training is carried out by global ICT geniuses and where ICT puzzles find ready answers, and ICT problems find well-tailored solutions. You will likely find at the A.T Mall, any ICT product or electric product available in the world, and you may not need to travel outside Nigeria for the product. Whatever technology products or services you are in need of, come to A.T Mall, Ikeja, and you will get them,” he said.

    A recent comprehensive report by data analytics firm, Statisense ranked Lagos as the world’s fastest-growing emerging technology ecosystem in 2025. The report published on X placed Istanbul in second position, followed by Pune. Belo Horizonte, Mumbai, Curitiba, Riyadh, Johannesburg, Chennai and Ho Chi Minh City completed the top ten. Analysts say the ongoing development of the magnificent Awolowo Technology Mall, now sought after by world-class technology firms, will further solidify Lagos’ now globally acknowledged status as a leading technology hub in the world.Statisense is a leading artificial intelligence data analytics company known for its annual ecosystem intelligence reports across emerging market.

    Caption: L-R: National President, Julius Berger – Senior Staff Association, Comrade Erayokan Silverster;

    Director, Adminstration, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, Alh. Dr. Kaita Abdulazziz; and General Secretary,

    Julius Berger – Senior Staff Association, Comrade Jamiu Akinola, during the presentation of

    Excellence to the Director on behalf of CCESSA

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    Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja  The iconic Awolowo House, in the heart of Ikeja, Lagos and a symbol of innovation since 1978 has been demolished.  The building, managed by Wemabod, a
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    Adekunle Awolaja: I Want a Sustainable AfRES With Physical Base in Nigeria

    Adekunle Awolaja: I Want a Sustainable AfRES With Physical Base in Nigeria

    Adekunle Awolaja, an Estate Surveyor and President of the African Real Estate Society (AfRES), tells Bennett Oghifo how AfRES evolved in West Africa and his efforts to ensure its spread across the sub region, particularly to the French-Speaking countries. He desires a sustainable AfRES and for it to have a physical base in Nigeria. He also speaks on AfRES’ conference coming up in Lagos this month

    Tell us about the evolution of AfRES

    The African Real Estate Society (AfRES) was founded in 1997 as part of the International Real Estate Society (IRES). AfRES is one of six sister societies within IRES. In North America, there is the American Real Estate Society (ARES); in South America, the Latin American Real Estate Society (LARES); in Europe, the European Real Estate Society (ERES); in Asia, the Asian Real Estate Society (AsRES); and in the Pacific region, covering Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and neighboring areas, there is the Pacific Rim Real Estate Society (PRRES). Together, these six societies make up a global network dedicated to advancing real estate knowledge. AfRES held its first annual conference in 1998 in Maputo, Mozambique. The drive to bring AfRES to Africa was led by Prof. Karl-Werner Schulte, a German academic, who had long been part of the International and European Real Estate Societies. He recognised the importance of Africa having its own platform within the global network, and his efforts laid the foundation for AfRES. In the early years, the society was dominated by Southern and Eastern Africa. West Africa became more involved later, largely through the efforts of the late ESV Akin Olawore, a Nigerian professional and mentor to many. After attending the 2006 AfRES conference in Tanzania, he returned home determined to ensure Nigerian participation. In 2007, we went to Ghana with the collaboration of the national body of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV). The Lagos State branch of NIESV went to explore Ghana to see if they could join us. Olawore had mobilised colleagues and reached out to Ghana, leading to strong representation from West Africa. At the AfRES conference in South Africa in 2008, Nigeria brought not less than 70 delegates while Ghana contributed 28. That was when the West African chapter of AfRES became fully established. In 2009, Nigeria hosted its first AfRES conference at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos. Since then, the conferences have rotated among Eastern, Western, and Southern Africa. Over time, AfRES has grown into a continental platform for knowledge exchange and professional development. I became the President of AfRES in 2023, and before then I was the Chair of AfRES Nigeria in 2009, the Vice-Chair of West Africa in 2010. I have also chaired several conferences, including the 2018 conference in Abeokuta. We’ve rotated the AfRES conference among the three chapters. After Abeokuta we went to Arusha, Tanzania. We will hold the next conference this year (September) in Lagos. My focus throughout my tenure has been on expanding the society’s reach, strengthening regional collaboration, and deepening the link between academics and practitioners.

    What are the objectives of AfRES?

    The aim of AfRES, like its sister societies, is to promote real estate research, education, and professional networking. It was originally established by academics but has grown to include developers, investors, practitioners, policymakers, and professionals in every area of real estate. From inception, the vision has been to connect the “Gown and Town” – ensuring that research findings can be applied directly to real estate practice and policy development. AfRES has also built strong professional ties with institutions across the continent. We regularly organise activities that fulfill the society’s three pillars – education, research, and practice. For education, we have partnered with universities like Covenant University in Nigeria and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana to host real estate summits and seminars. For research, we have encouraged collaborative projects and academic exchanges. For practice, AfRES often participates in professional conferences organised by national institutions such as the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) and the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS). I have personally attended the Ghana Institution of Surveyors’ annual conference several times – in 2022, 2023, and 2024 – continuing a tradition of mutual exchange that has existed for years. The late Mr. Eseogheva also ensured that Ghanaian colleagues, including leaders like Emmanuel Martey, who is both a traditional king and a past president of GhIS, were regular participants in AfRES conferences in Nigeria. He attended our gatherings in Ibadan (2016), Abuja (2017), and Lagos (2019), strengthening the ties between our two countries. Through these collaborations, AfRES has remained faithful to its mandate: promoting real estate education, fostering impactful research, and creating opportunities for practitioners to network and grow. Even though COVID-19 disrupted some of these efforts, we quickly resumed activities afterward and have continued to expand our programmes.

    What has been your contribution so far to AfRES?

    What I have tried to do is to expand the frontiers of AfRES beyond what we have. One of my greatest achievements has been the Francophone Project, where we thought of having an incursion into the Francophone countries of West Africa. We also had a thought of having incursion into the Portuguese-speaking countries- six of them. First of all are the French-speaking countries. They are the majority. For a long time, AfRES was dominated by English-speaking countries, even though much of West Africa is French-speaking. After years of planning, I was able to launch AfRES Francophone in Dakar, Senegal on May 30, 2023. The Mayor of Thies was a Surveyor. The conference brought together delegates from Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, Mauritania, and Guinea. Any conference that we have now, we will be having the French and English-speaking countries. This was a historic moment because it gave French-speaking Africa an active voice in AfRES. Eventually, AfRES will be known in all of Africa. We have made incursion into the Caribbean and we’ve AfRES in diaspora for African real estate practitioners in the diaspora.

    What would you like to see AfRES achieve in the future?

    I want a sustainable AfRES. I want AfRES to have a physical base in Nigeria. My dream is to have an African Real Estate Academy that will train, research and have a lot of knowledge-based solutions so that the Town and Gown will be mixed in a physical environment. Looking to the future, my dream is to establish an AfRES Academy – a physical institution in Nigeria that would serve as a hub for training, research, PropTech innovation, and practical real estate development. It would be a residential campus where the academic world and the professional industry meet, combining education, training, accommodation, and research facilities under one roof. Alongside this, I envision an AfRES Foundation, which would raise funds to support real estate research, practice, and professional development across Africa.

    What challenges did your team overcome?

    Of course, the journey has not been without challenges. Many colleagues have misunderstood AfRES, assuming it is only for academics, whereas it is open to all professionals. Some even questioned why I remained so committed, but my passion has always driven me. AfRES Nigeria was officially registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2013, and it belongs to all who are interested in advancing the real estate profession. Despite difficulties, I believe that with persistence and God’s grace, AfRES has continued to grow and will keep expanding across the continent.

    What rating would you give AfRES as you step down as president

    Our next major milestone is the 2025 AfRES Annual Conference, which will be hosted in Lagos from September 9–12, 2025, at the Oriental Hotel. This conference will gather delegates from across Africa and beyond, showcasing the growth of AfRES and the strength of Africa’s real estate sector. It will also mark the end of my tenure as president, but I step down confident that the society is stronger, broader, and more inclusive than ever before.

    The post Adekunle Awolaja: I Want a Sustainable AfRES With Physical Base in Nigeria appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

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    Adekunle Awolaja, an Estate Surveyor and President of the African Real Estate Society (AfRES), tells Bennett Oghifo how AfRES evolved in West Africa and his efforts to ensure its spread across the
    The post Adekunle Awolaja: I Want a Sustainable AfRES With Physical Base in Nigeria appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

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