Upwardly mobile businessman, Kola Dada, popularly known as KDD, is set to showcase his next major move after months of quiet planning and strategic development.

Information reaching The Nation indicates that KDD has struck a significant waste management deal with the Kwara State Government, a project that officially commenced in November.

Sources disclosed that the partnership, sealed through Dada’s company, followed several months of negotiations with the Kwara State Ministry of Environment, led by Dr. Abubakar Ayinla.

According to insiders, Dada’s entry into the waste management sector marks another milestone in his illustrious career, having already established a strong reputation in South Africa, where his entrepreneurial exploits are widely celebrated among industry professionals.

Though KDD has kept details of the deal closely guarded, limited to his trusted inner circle, he has reportedly been shuttling frequently between Lagos and Kwara State to oversee operations and ensure smooth execution of the project.

A source further hinted that this may only be the beginning of Dada’s expanding business ventures, as he is said to be working discreetly on several other deals expected to unfold in the near future.

Unbeknownst to many, KDD shares a close friendship with South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, a relationship said to have deepened during his years of business in the country.

The recent development underscores Dada’s steady rise in the Nigerian corporate space and his commitment to driving innovation and sustainability through strategic partnerships.

Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has continued to deepen its commitment to youth innovation and entrepreneurship with Hackaholics 6.0, its flagship campus ideathon. This year, the Hackaholics train has toured four Nigeria cities from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, to the University of Ibadan (UI) and Purple Academy, Lagos, bringing together some of the brightest young minds in Sub-Saharan Africa to create transformative solutions to real-world problems.

With over 3,000 entries submitted so far, at each location, hundreds of students and young entrepreneurs gathered to receive industry-led masterclasses, and develop ideas aimed at solving challenges in the ecosystem. For four days in each location, participants were immersed in the full Hackaholics experience, from ideation to mentorship to pitch readiness, culminating in high-energy final pitches where the best ideas emerged. In every location, three Ideathon winning teams; including one women-led group and two Hackathon teams walked away with invitations to compete at the Hackaholics 6.0 Grand Finale. These teams now stand a chance to scale their solutions with the backing of Wema Bank’s innovation ecosystem.

Speaking on the initiative, MD/CEO Wema Bank, Plc, Moruf Oseni, said, “Hackaholics has always been about more than technology. It is about empowering young people to think differently, create boldly, and contribute solutions that can move our industry and nation forward. The level of talent and creativity we have witnessed so far further reinforces why we continue to invest in this programme. The innovative ideas and solutions coming out of the participants have the power to shape the future of financial services and beyond, and we are excited to see them come to life.”

Since its launch in 2019, Hackaholics has grown into a cornerstone of youth engagement and innovation in Nigeria. With over 12,000 applicants from 15 schools, and a total of over $300,000 disbursed in funding, including ₦75 million awarded to women-led teams between 2023 and 2024, the program has consistently delivered on its mission to create a vibrant ecosystem where students, innovators, and early-stage founders can collaborate, learn, and grow while building long-term relationships with Wema Bank.

As the Hackaholics 6.0 train continues its journey to more cities before the Grand Finale, Wema Bank remains committed to empowering the next generation of Nigerian innovators. Students and young entrepreneurs are encouraged to visit https://hackaholics.wemabank.com/ for more information on how to participate and submit their entries.

The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, has said that the ongoing 2025 Lagos International Climate Change Summit provides an opportunity for participants to rethink their relationship with the ocean, viewing it not as a resource to be exploited but as “a living system to be nurtured.”

The summit, which is being held at the Lagos Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, focuses on the theme, “Blue Economy, Green Money: Financing Africa’s Coastal Resilience and Ocean Innovation.”

Speaking at the event, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said Lagos State was set to take a “deep plunge” into its aquatic wealth, with plans to harness the full potential of its marine and coastal ecosystems.

Sanwo-Olu noted that the new focus of the state government was to unlock the many opportunities within the Blue Economy by developing sustainable financing models and innovative solutions that would protect the oceans, strengthen the coasts, and create prosperity for future generations.

According to him, the time had come for Lagos “to turn its blue waters into green wealth” through strategic investments that would build the economy of the future.

He explained that the state’s efforts to create a new ocean-driven economy were anchored on three interconnected pillars — resilience, innovation, and financing. “We are driving ocean innovation to reimagine commerce and mobility. And we are unlocking green and blue finance to power both. Lagos does not wait for the future; Lagos builds it. And this future is sustainable, inclusive and ocean-powered,” he said.

The Governor further noted that the state’s approach to harnessing its aquatic ecosystem aimed to build coastal resilience to protect lives and livelihoods. He added that the initiative was also a “renewed call to global investors,” stressing that “investing in Lagos’ resilience is not philanthropy; it is smart economics that will be seen as an investment in the stability of Africa’s most dynamic economy and the security of the continent’s coastal future.”

The two-day summit brought together a broad mix of stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, including innovators, financiers, policymakers, and environmental advocates.

Sanwo-Olu observed that although Lagos’ Atlantic coastline had long been used for recreation and tourism, limited attention had been given to the economic value embedded in its aquatic resources. He said the summit was designed not only to strengthen adaptation measures for environmental protection but also to provide a platform for innovators and investors to develop sustainable business models that would safeguard the natural ecosystem.

The Governor added that through the summit, Lagos was leading Africa’s drive toward a greener, more sustainable economy. He noted that the state’s policies had shown that “development and decarbonisation can be achieved together.”

“The blue economy is not just an economic concept; it is a lifeline for the planet. The green transition is not an obligation; it is an opportunity to rebuild better. We must seize this moment to finance the tides of resilience, to turn our blue waters into green wealth, and to leave behind not just a livable Lagos, but a thrivable one,” Sanwo-Olu said.

In his remarks, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab emphasised that despite the growing climate threats, Lagos’ ocean remained a vital artery for commerce and a source of livelihood for millions of people.

“The Blue Economy represents more than just water-based industries; it embodies a new frontier for sustainable prosperity. This summit also provides an opportunity to bridge a crucial gap between visionary climate action and the sustainable financing needed to make it a reality,” Wahab said.

He reiterated that Lagos was committed to tangible actions in pursuit of its environmental vision. “Our mission is clear: it is to unlock the capital that will help us build resilience, drive innovation, and protect our coastal future. Lagos isn’t just talking about this vision; we are taking concrete steps to bring it to life,” he added.

Also speaking, Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the development of the nation’s marine sector.

Oyetola, represented by the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said several reforms had been implemented to improve maritime governance and promote environmental sustainability.

He said, “Lagos State is key to achieving this vision, with ongoing roadmaps focused on marine conservation, innovation and sustainable use of ocean resources.”

The Minister added that the Federal Government would continue to collaborate with stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to unlock Nigeria’s maritime potential, strengthen security at sea, and ensure long-term benefits for the economy and coastal communities.