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How Sanwo-Olu Wants To Use Technology, Collaboration and Internet Access To Build the Future Of Lagos —– By Funke Phillips

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Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State speaking at different events in Lagos talked about how technology, collaboration, and internet access are very important parts of the future of Lagos he wants to build.

Speaking at an event at the Vibranium Valley, a digital technology hub in Lagos employing over 1,500 Nigerians with a 5 years plan of employing 45,000 people, he said;

“Technology is changing the way we live, work and socialize. Social and governance problems are also solved with technological innovations especially in a city-state such as Lagos with a Gross Domestic Product of more than $136b dollars. A huge investment in technology and the creation of expansive learning facilities will help us reach the Lagos we want faster”.

According to the World Economic Forum, by 2030, one in five people will be African. Combining the continent’s soaring population with technology, improvements in infrastructure, health and education, Africa can become the next century’s economic growth powerhouse.

Lagos as one of the fastest growing African city-states in the world and a GDP more than many countries has a key role to play in helping Africa become the economic growth powerhouse, and only leaders with the right vision, know-how and willpower can put in place the structures that are required to accelerate this growth.

Technology and the Future of Lagos

A visionary leader selects the necessary resources required for the journey long before the journey begins and Sanwo-Olu has taken such a step with the selection of Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, a man who has driven the development of complex technology systems at different levels of the private and public sectors as his running mate.

Speaking at an event in Lagos this week, he went on to emphasize his stance by first making a pledge to provide institutional and infrastructural support for the growth and development of the technology sector in the State if elected as Governor in 2019.

‘‘I’m aware that technology is the oil of today. Some ten years ago, the richest companies in the world were oil and energy giants, but the tide has changed. What we have today are technology companies dominating the global economic space. With technology, transparency and accountability in government become easier and possible. Technological innovations are helping social enterprise address social problems. Tech is accelerating SME evolutions and the impact of this is positive on the economy, which gives everyone a share of the prosperity created by this system,” he said.

Collaboration and The Future of Lagos

Collaboration is a very important part of the future of Lagos, and past governors of Lagos have demonstrated the importance of collaboration with different Public-Private Partnership projects that have made the lives of the citizens and residents of Lagos easier.

Beyond collaborating on that level, Babajide Sanwo-Olu at an event talked about how when elected, his government would partner with the private sector in education, health, security, and transportation to solve social issues, create employment opportunities and support entrepreneurship.

Internet Access and The Future of Lagos

On November 11th, 2018, Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Leisure Mall in Surulere, Lagos launched the “Sanwo Free WiFi” initiative, that will over the next couple of weeks be launched in other parts of the state.

Internet access is a big leveler and Mr. Sanwo Olu has demonstrated his understanding of the key part it has to play in closing the gap between Lagos and the rest of the world.

There are so many big ideas in Lagos, almost as much as in Silicon Valley, but a major differentiating factor is access to the Internet and the lack of adequate infrastructure to aid software development.

Lagos is the Silicon Valley of Nigeria because we have the largest cluster of technology hubs. Lagos as a state has about 28 hubs while the entire country of South Africa has 59 hubs. Babajide Sanwo-Olu understands how important Lagos is in the plan for tech advancement in Africa and knows that the sheer amount of talent breeding in hubs like CcHub, iDEA hub, Wennovation Hub, Leadpath Nigeria, Vibranium Valley, Zone Tech Park and even our Ikeja Computer Village just to mention a few needs to be harnessed properly.

He has promised that his administration will listen, get input and put forth customized solutions. His support for the tech industry is absolute because it is an extremely vital part of our economy.

The Future of Lagos is now. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is now and the future.

 

BIG STORY

Buhari Never Honoured Anyone The Way Tinubu Did To Him — Shehu Sani

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Former senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, stated that while he was alive, late President Muhammadu Buhari never paid tribute to anyone in the same way President Bola Tinubu did for him.

He mentioned that Tinubu declared a public holiday on the day of Buhari’s funeral, personally attended the burial, and also renamed a federal institution in Buhari’s honour, among other gestures.

Sani referred to these actions as extraordinary and worthy of recognition.

He took to X to outline the several ways Tinubu showed respect to his predecessor.

These actions included declaring a public holiday, being physically present at Buhari’s burial, visiting his family, holding a Federal Executive Council meeting in his memory, and renaming a university to commemorate him.

The President physically attended the burial of Buhari, met with his family, declared a public holiday, held a FEC meeting in his honor and renamed a university to immortalise him.

Something even the late President never did to others. And yet they said he is ‘exploiting the death of Buhari’.

What would they have said if he had done none of the above? Politics is something else, the senator tweeted.

The post continued to draw reactions, with over 1,000 likes recorded at the time this report was made.

Sani’s statement came amid increasing political discourse regarding Tinubu’s actions following Buhari’s death, especially from opposition groups.

His remarks appeared to be a direct response to criticisms from parties such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which accused Tinubu’s administration of leveraging Buhari’s death for image-boosting.

Presidential media aide, Sunday Dare, dismissed ADC’s claims, describing them as nothing but an opportunistic exercise in manufactured outrage.

He pointed out the irony of the same party accusing Tinubu of politicising Buhari’s passing while also trying to gain attention by speaking ill of the late president.

Their latest press release alleging that President Tinubu’s government is ‘exploiting’ the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari for political gain is not only dishonest.

It is an insult to millions of Nigerians who genuinely mourned the loss of a statesman, and who watched the State Burial accorded Buhari with solemn respect and dignity, he said.

He added that the funeral was held with full honours appropriate for a former leader, and witnessed by dignitaries worldwide, with millions following on various media platforms.

According to him, Tinubu is not chasing superficial popularity but rather letting his growing accomplishments speak louder than the distractions posed by groups like the ADC.

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BIG STORY

Court Jails Gospel Singer Moses Otitoju, Eight Others For Cybercrime

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The Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, has sentenced Moses Otitoju, a self-proclaimed gospel singer, and eight others to prison for crimes linked to cybercrime, conspiracy, and misuse of funds.

Otitoju was sentenced along with Ayodele Joseph, Adeoye Joseph, and Abubakar Abdulmalik, all charged with similar offences by the anti-corruption agency.

The charges were filed by the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

According to a statement issued Friday by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, the 31-year-old gospel singer from Iyamoye in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State was sentenced to six months in prison by Justice Abimbola Awogboro without the option to pay a fine.

Otitoju was convicted for keeping over N8.4 million in his bank account, which was traced to illegal activities.

One of the charges read, “That you, Otitoju Moses Sesan, sometime between October 2024 and December 2025, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did retain control of the gross sum of N8,404,339 in your account, being proceeds of criminal conduct, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17(a) and (b) of the EFCC Act, 2004.”

Ayodele, who had N243,750 in his account, received an eight-month jail sentence without an option of fine.

His Tecno 19 phone was confiscated by order of the court and handed over to the Federal Government.

Adeoye, a native of Okene LGA in Kogi State, was also sentenced to eight months without the option of a fine.

He forfeited $220, an iPhone 13, and a Tecno Pop 9 phone to the Federal Government.

Abubakar was handed a six-month prison term. His iPhone 16 and Samsung S10 were also ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.

EFCC prosecutors Aliyu Adebayo, Sesan Ola, Rashidat Alao, and Mustapha Kaigama led the cases, presenting statements, exhibits, and recovered funds as evidence, all of which were admitted in court.

In another case, Justices Haleema Saleeman and Sulaiman Akanbi of the Kwara State High Court found Emeka Achi, Isaac Oluwafemi, Afolabi Olatoye, Zubeiru Zubeiru Junior, and Abdulkadir Taofeek guilty of cybercrime and diversion of funds.

Justice Akanbi sentenced Abdulkadir to three years in prison with an option to pay a N500,000 fine, and ordered that N800,000, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and a Samsung phone be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Justice Saleeman sentenced Emeka, Isaac, and Afolabi to six months in jail each, with the option to pay N100,000 as a fine.

In addition, Emeka was ordered to repay N3.35 million within three months and report to the EFCC every two weeks alongside his parents until full payment is made.

Tunde Oyekola

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BIG STORY

Kogi University Lecturer Dies During Sex Romp In Hotel Room With 200-Level Student

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A senior lecturer at Kogi State University, Anyigba, named Dr. Olabode Abimbola Ibikunle, reportedly died in a hotel room following a sexual encounter with a 22-year-old student in her second year.

It was reported that the event happened on Tuesday, July 15, and the police at Anyigba were alerted shortly after. The student involved was taken into custody for questioning.

The lecturer, known across the university for his strict approach, was allegedly infamous for taking advantage of female students in return for academic favours.

Sources claim Dr. Ibikunle, who was married with children, had booked a room in a hotel alongside the student, who is studying Social Studies Education.

According to those familiar with the situation, the lecturer consumed several energy drinks prior to the incident, presumably in anticipation of vigorous activity.

Unfortunately, the lecturer collapsed and passed away during the act.

The Kogi State Police Command verified the incident to SaharaReporters on Friday, labeling it as unfortunate.

In a statement to SaharaReporters, the Command’s spokesperson, SP William Ovye Aya, stated that the student had been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for deeper inquiry and potential charges.

Aya explained: “The report was received on July 16, but the unfortunate incident happened on July 15, 2025. It was the manager of the hotel (name not disclosed), who came to the police station at Anyigba and reported about his guest, the lecturer who had lodged in their facility with a 22-year-old 200-level student, 22 years old, named Gloria Samuel.

“According to the manager, the girl on that fateful day rushed to the reception and complained that the lecturer took her to the hotel, and after they had sex, the man slumped.

“So the manager rushed and informed the DPO, and the DPO rushed to the scene, and they moved the man to the hospital. On arrival, a doctor on duty confirmed the lecturer’s death.

“So the girl in question has been transferred from Anyigba Police Division to the State CID for further investigation and prosecution. An autopsy has been conducted, but right now I don’t know whether the result of the autopsy is out because I haven’t spoken with the SCID.”

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