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Engineers Key to Solving Lagos’ Road Infrastructure Challenges — LAMATA

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Engineers play a crucial role in addressing road infrastructure challenges, ensuring long-term sustainability and improved mobility for residents of Lagos State.

Technical Adviser on Public Transport (Road and Infrastructure) at the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, Adeyemi Adeniji gave this submission at a public lecture organized by the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, APWEN Lagos Chapter in collaboration with LAMATA with the theme: “Sustaining Lagos State Road Transport Infrastructure: Role of Professional Engineers”

Adeniji emphasized that the capacity of Lagos roads has been exhausted due to rapid urbanization. He noted that with the state’s population estimated at 32 million, existing road networks struggle to accommodate the growing demand, leading to congestion, inadequate public transport, and infrastructural stress.

He stressed that engineers must take a leading role in designing innovative solutions to address these challenges, noting that engineers are responsible for conducting thorough site analysis and traffic studies to design roads that accommodate population growth and traffic demand effectively.

Adeniji also highlighted the need for integrated flood control measures into road construction to ensure durability and prevent road damage.
As part of efforts to modernize transportation. He explained that engineers must design interchanges that seamlessly connect different transport modes, including buses, ferries, and rail, to improve commuter experience.

According to the Technical Adviser, sustainable road development must be prioritized through the implementation of green infrastructure, such as solar-powered traffic signals and environmentally friendly transport solutions to reduce carbon emissions.

He further emphasized the importance of ensuring that materials used in construction meet high standards, while strict adherence to safety regulations must be enforced to minimize road accidents.

Beyond construction and planning, Adeniji stressed the need for public education on proper road usage, including adherence to traffic signs and safe commuting practices.

Chairperson of APWEN Lagos Chapter, Dr. Atinuke Owolabi, echoed this sentiment, stating that road safety education is essential in reducing accidents and improving overall traffic management.

She reaffirmed APWEN Lagos’s commitment to championing initiatives that promote better road infrastructure and awareness campaigns.

OGUN STATE POLICE COMMAND RESPONDS TO MULTIPLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN ABEOKUTA

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……One life lost, others injured.

The Ogun State Police Command had received report of a tragic incident involving multiple car crashes leading to the death of one person.

According to reports, the traffic accident occured on the 9th of March ,2025, at about 8:00 PM along Olomore Housing Road, Abeokuta.

The accident involved a Toyota Camry (Reg. No. Lagos SMK 303 BX), driven by Ayodeji Oyedele (M), 45 years, along with two motorcycles and a tricycle. Unfortunately, one motorcycle rider, Muhammad Dahuru (M), 25 years, lost his life, while three others sustained injuries.

Police investigations indicate that the accident was caused by reckless and dangerous driving on the part of the Toyota Camry driver. The suspect has been taken into custody, and further investigations are ongoing by the Motor Traffic Division (MTD) of the Ogun State Police Command.

The accident scene was visited by the police, and a rough sketch was drawn. All accident vehicles have been moved to the station for further inspection by the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) to aid the investigation.

The Ogun State Police Command urges motorists to adhere strictly to road safety regulations to prevent further loss of lives. We assure the public that justice will be served, and further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.

Wema Bank Announces 6th Edition of Hackaholics; “Beyond Algorithms: Engineering Disruptive Innovation ”

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…Introduces Accelerator Programme for Startups.

Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has announced the launch of Hackaholics 6.0, themed Beyond Algorithms: Engineering Disruptive Innovation, at a press conference held in Lagos.

The 6th edition of Hackaholics has been expanded to integrate both hackathon and ideathon formats, creating a dynamic platform where developers, designers, business strategists, and problem solvers can collaborate to tackle real-world challenges. With a strong focus on harnessing cutting-edge technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), Hackaholics 6.0 aims to drive transformative change across key industries such as education, healthcare, sustainable agriculture, and financial inclusion.

A key highlight of this edition is the introduction of the Wema Bank Accelerator Programme, designed to address a critical gap in startup development—funding without strategic support. The programme will serve as a launchpad for transformative ideas, providing mentorship, funding, and access to strategic networks to help startups scale successfully.

In line with Wema Bank’s vision for continental growth, Hackaholics 6.0 will extend beyond Nigeria, with activations in key African tech hubs. This expansion supports the bank’s goal of fostering a pan-African innovation ecosystem, connecting talent to accelerate ideas, and positioning Wema Bank as a leader in shaping Africa’s digital future.

Moruf Oseni, Managing Director and CEO of Wema Bank, shared his vision for Hackaholics 6.0: “Hackaholics was created to empower Nigeria’s brightest minds to solve real-world problems and drive technological advancements. This year, as we celebrate our 80th anniversary, we are taking it a step further with Hackaholics 6.0. This edition is not just about solving problems; it’s about engineering disruptive innovation that will reshape industries and transform lives.

”To support this vision, we are introducing the Wema Bank Accelerator Program, a strategic initiative designed to provide startups with the tools, mentorship, and resources they need to scale and thrive. Hackaholics 6.0 is more than an event; it is a movement to empower the next generation of problem solvers and shape the future of Nigeria and Africa.”

Oseni also emphasized how innovators can participate: “We invite developers, designers, business strategists, and problem solvers from across Africa to join this transformative journey. Whether you are at the ideation stage or already have a market-ready solution, Hackaholics 6.0 and the accelerator program are designed to support you. Visit hackaholics.wemabank.com to apply and be part of this movement to engineer disruptive innovation that addresses real-world challenges and creates lasting impact.”

Ugonna Ginigeme, Co-Founder and CEO of Feegor and grand prize winner of Hackaholics 5.0, expressed his gratitude and excitement at the press conference: “We emerged the winner, The Meta Lord at Hackaholics 5.0. It was a very exciting moment. It still is a very exciting moment for us. At Feegor, we are not just building a Nigerian startup. We are building for the African market. We believe we will be number one. And we are super, super excited to have Wema Bank as a trusted partner for us. I would like to encourage everybody, every startup, every developer, and everybody who is focused and interested in building an amazing startup to apply. And I assure you that if you have Wema Bank as a partner, success is guaranteed.”

Since 2019, Hackaholics has empowered Nigeria’s brightest minds to solve real-world problems, driving technological advancements and supporting groundbreaking startups. As Hackaholics 6.0 kicks off, Wema Bank reaffirms its commitment to fostering problem solvers who will reshape Nigeria’s future and drive transformative change across Africa.

UNILAG Unveils ACEDHARS Building, Restates Commitment to Herbal Medicine Research, Capacity Development

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The University of Lagos, UNILAG has officially unveiled the newly constructed African Centre of Excellence for Drug Research, Herbal Medicine Development, and Regulatory Science, ACEDHARS.

The unveiling ceremony, held at the pent area of the new facility along the University Medical Centre Road on Thursday, March 6, 2025, marked a significant milestone in advancing herbal medicine research and regulatory science in Africa.

Speaking at the event, UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS, described the occasion as a defining moment for the institution and Africa’s herbal medicine sector.

Her words: “Today is a day of thanksgiving. We are not just opening a building; we are opening a new chapter in the development of herbal medicine in Africa.”

Professor Ogunsola highlighted the Centre’s pivotal role in postgraduate training and applied research in drug discovery, emphasizing its importance in driving Africa’s sustainable development. She praised the state-of-the-art structure as a testament to what the university can achieve through collaboration and shared vision.

The Vice-Chancellor also commended her predecessor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, for securing the ACEDHARS project grant, and acknowledged the leadership of Professor Bola Ade-Ademilua, the Centre’s Director.

The Special Guest of Honour and former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ogundipe, lauded Professor Ade-Ademilua’s leadership in overcoming challenges to ensure the project’s completion.

In response, Professor Ade-Ademilua expressed gratitude to Professor Ogunsola for her unwavering support and reflected on the Centre’s journey. She underscored ACEDHARS’ commitment to advancing research in herbal medicine.

She further detailed the new building’s features, which include: dedicated production rooms for drug manufacturing; high-tech laboratories and classrooms; a spacious hall for events and state-of-the-art virtual learning studio and modern office spaces

Established in 2019, ACEDHARS is dedicated to manpower development in quality assurance, herbal drug standardization, dosage reproducibility, drug development, repurposing, and safety monitoring across West and Central Africa. The Centre focuses on transforming herbal formulations into standardized treatments for non-communicable diseases, NCDs.

Remi Tinubu Commends Anambra First Lady, Mrs. Nonye Soludo

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Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has lauded the passionate and exceptional execution of the Renewed Hope Agricultural Support Programme by the First Lady of Anambra State, Mrs. Nonye Soludo in Anambra.

Senator Oluremi praised the Anambra First Lady’s empowerment of 200 smallholder farmers with startup tools, seeds, and training to boost food security and economic resilience in the state.

In a report by Izuchukwu Adichie, Senior Special Adviser on New Media to Governor Charles Soludo, the passion of Mrs. Soludo’s hands-on approach has been captivating. She didn’t just implement the programme, but walked the fields with beneficiaries during the whole process and intensive training, listened to their challenges, and encouraged them to succeed to the end.

While eulogising Mrs. Soludo, the Nigeria First Lady asserted “Mrs. Soludo’s work is a masterclass. Anambra made the most of the programme’s objectives by being thorough and very intentional about each step,”

Senator Tinubu remarked while she played the recorded video of the event in Anambra state during the First Quarter High-Level Meeting with Wives of Governors from the thirty-six states of the Federation.

The accolade comes on the heels of Mrs. Soludo’s recognition as “Madam Solution” by the people of Anambra, as her initiative christened ‘Her Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo’ has impacted about 100,000 households in the state, coupled with ‘Her Green Anambra’ campaign which promotes organic farming and environmental sustainability, that has turned backyard gardens into successful economic hubs. 

Mrs. Soludo stands out in her actions. Whether in teaching schoolgirls to plant vegetable gardens or lobbying for policies that protect mother and child rights, the Anambra First Lady  is an advocate of dietary preference, improving healthy breastfeeding, reducing vaccine-preventable diseases, human trafficking, and child abuse, and preventing malnutrition and maternal and infant deaths,  she is guided by a simple philosophy, “Progress must touch the least, the last, and the lost.”

 “When I grow up, I want to be like Aunty Nonye,” said 12-year-old Adaora from Amesi, one of the thousands of children inspired by Mrs. Soludo’s mentorship programmes

DG, NCSP Holds Talks on Investment Opportunities with Huawei Technologies

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The Director General of Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, NCSP, Joseph Tegbe in his continuous efforts for the technological advancement of the country has held investment discussions with the leadership team of Huawei Technologies to enhance collaboration towards the digital transformation of Nigeria.

This was at the technical sessions of the 2025 Mobile World Congress (MWC), where Tegbe and members of his delegation from Nigeria participated.

Discussions were held with Mr Tony Bao, Huawei Vice President and Mr Hover Gao, President Sub-Saharan Africa Region. At the meeting, Huawei Technologies restated its commitment to support Nigeria in the acceleration of the country’s digital transformation.

Tegbe also harped on the need to balance innovation and risk that Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents in the new world order. He averred that while innovation should be fully encouraged, guiding regulations and policies must be flexible and adaptable.

The annual event, which is the ultimate confluence of technology, people, and ideas, creates the blueprint for future industries and societies, and the NCSP team’s participation presents opportunities for a deeper understanding of an array of solutions and capabilities of Huawei Technologies.

Tegbe’s role as the NCSP boss signals the country’s commitment to maximising the vast opportunities between both Nigeria and China. It is pivotal to enhancing bilateral cooperation in key sectors, such as trade, investment, infrastructure, technology, and foreign policy.

TotalEnergies CPFA Partners with HEI to Train 200 Students in First Responder Skills

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In a strategic effort to strengthen emergency response capabilities, TotalEnergies Closed Pension Fund Administrators, CPFA has partnered with Health Emergency Initiative, HEI to train 200 students and teachers in Lagos and Rivers States in essential first responder skills.

This initiative is designed to equip young Nigerians with lifesaving skills in CPR, first aid, trauma care, and prehospital emergency response, ensuring they can provide immediate assistance in medical emergencies before professional help arrives. By integrating emergency preparedness into school activities, the program aims to foster a sustainable culture of lifesaving intervention within communities.

Speaking on the significance of the partnership, Paschal Achunine, an Ashoka Fellow and Executive Director of HEI, highlighted the urgency of equipping non-health professionals with lifesaving skills, particularly in light of the increasing migration of healthcare professionals.

“With the ongoing ‘japa’ migration trend in the healthcare sector, empowering young individuals with first responder skills is more critical than ever. This initiative will bridge the gap by training students and teachers to respond effectively to emergencies, ultimately reducing preventable deaths.”

Achunine expressed profound gratitude to TotalEnergies CPFA for its commitment to supporting emergency preparedness and sustainability.

“TotalEnergies CPFA has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to social responsibility by investing in young people. This initiative is not just about saving lives; it’s about ensuring the continuity of communities and businesses by empowering individuals with the skills needed to respond effectively in emergencies.”

Also speaking at the event, Mrs. Shitta-Bey Aramide, representing the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Lagos State, commended TotalEnergies CPFA for its strategic investment in youth development and emergency preparedness.

“This initiative has the potential to create behavioural and systemic change by shifting the prevailing culture of inaction during emergencies. Rather than bystanders recording incidents on their phones, we can instill a culture where individuals step in to provide lifesaving assistance. This noble objective informed the Ministry of Education’s approval for HEI to train all senior secondary school students in Lagos State as well as inclusion of the training in the secondary school curriculum.”

She further called on corporate organizations and well-meaning individuals to adopt this impactful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, by sponsoring more students to benefit from first responder training. She noted that HEI’s proven track record in transparency, accountability, and project execution makes it a trusted partner for such initiatives.

Through this partnership, TotalEnergies CPFA and HEI are taking a significant step toward building a more responsive and prepared society. By equipping students and teachers with essential first responder skills, the initiative is set to increase survival rates during medical emergencies and contribute to a more resilient and safety-conscious population.

So far HEI has trained over 126,000 first responders across Nigeria.

JMG Accelerates Action for Gender Equality, Celebrates International Women’s Day

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JMG, a leading provider of electromechanical solutions in Nigeria has joined the global community in celebrating International Women’s Day with the theme: “Accelerate Action.” 

As a responsible corporate organization, JMG reaffirms its commitment to accelerating progress toward a more equitable and inclusive workplace.

The Company’s Group General Manager, Rabi Jammal, affirmed that at JMG Limited, recognition of gender equality is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic business priority.

He said this underscores the company’s conviction that a culture of diversity, inclusivity, and equality is essential for fostering innovation, achieving excellence, and driving business growth

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we acknowledge the progress made towards gender equality, said Rabi

According to him, the company imbibes the culture of women’s inclusiveness, with a view to advancing their cause for a brighter future in their careers and recognizes their contributions to its growth trajectory.

To join the movement to Accelerate Action, JMG will hold a fireside chat with a cross-section of women leaders within the organization. More information on this event will be posted on the JMG News page soon.

Rabi expressed that accelerating action for gender equality requires a collective effort, commitment, and accountability.  He, therefore, invites JMG’s partners, clients, and stakeholders to join in the journey to create a more equitable and inclusive world.

JMG is a leading electro-mechanical solution provider in Nigeria, offering a comprehensive range of products and services to meet the diverse needs of homes, businesses, and industries. With expertise in power generationelectrical infrastructuresvertical transportationcooling systems, and air compressors.

Rite Foods Marks International Women’s Day, Celebrates Female Employees’ Contribution to Growth

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Rite Foods Reiterates Commitment to Clean Energy

As the world unites to celebrate the 2025 International Women’s Day, IWD, Rite Foods, a leader in Nigeria’s food and beverage industry has recognised and celebrated the remarkable achievements of women, particularly those breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields such as engineering,  supply chain, technology, and sales.

Speaking on the significance of IWD, Managing Director/CEO of Rite Foods, Seleem Adegunwa emphasised the indispensable role of women in driving societal and organisational progress. He reaffirmed the company’s dedication to gender inclusivity, stating, ‘’At Rite Foods, we believe in the power of diversity and the strength that women bring to the workplace. We remain committed to encouraging  an environment where women can excel, innovate, and build thriving careers.”

As a proudly Nigerian company, Rite Foods boasts an impressive portfolio of award-winning brands, including Bigi Carbonated Soft Drinks (13 variants), Bigi Premium Table Water, Fearless Energy Drink (Classic and Red Berry), Sosa Fruit Drink, and Rite & Bigi Sausages—all crafted to refresh and energise consumers, including women making strides in their respective fields.

At Rite Foods, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and empowering workplace where women thrive, lead, and drive innovation. This IWD, we pay tribute to trailblazing Nigerian women across industries and to the dedicated female professionals within our organisation—production supervisors, finance experts, sales managers, marketing strategists, and factory engineers—who are instrumental in our continued success.

Further emphasising the company’s commitment to gender equality, KudiratBalogun, Chief Financial Officer at Rite Foods, highlighted the organisation’s dedication to providing equal opportunities for all employees. “As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I encourage women to embrace their strength, ambition, and achievements—just as Rite Foods continues to refresh and satisfy diverse consumer needs with our premium brands.”

Rite Foods’ commitment to excellence has been recognised with multiple industry accolades, including Most Innovative Carbonated Soft Drink Brand of the Year (Bigi), Most Outstanding Energy Drink in Consumer Engagement (Fearless) and Best Value for Money – Carbonated Drink Brand 2023 (Bigi Cola).

As the global community marks International Women’s Day 2025, Rite Foods remains steadfast in its mission to support and celebrate women—not just today, but every day.

Arilex-Di Revolutionizes Car Rental Services in Lagos

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In a bid to provide reliable, affordable, and hassle-free transportation, Arilex-Di Limited has launched its premium car rental services in Lagos, targeting students, families, private companies, and government agencies.

The company, which aims to revolutionize the car rental industry in Nigeria, offers a range of services tailored to meet the unique needs of its clients within and outside Lagos. With a focus on exceptional customer service, competitive pricing, and a fleet of well-maintained vehicles, Arilex-Di Limited is poised to become a leader in the car rental market.

According to the Director of Arilex-Di Limited, Mr. Ayodele Adebayo, the company is committed to providing exceptional car rental experiences that exceed customer expectations.

“We are thrilled to introduce our premium car rental services within and outside Lagos,” Mr. Adebayo said. “Our goal is to make car rental easy, affordable, and enjoyable for everyone. We understand the importance of reliable transportation, and we’re dedicated to delivering exceptional service to our clients.”

Arilex-Di’s fleet of vehicles includes Siena cars, which are meticulously maintained to ensure safety and comfort. The company’s team of experienced mechanics and drivers ensures that every vehicle is in excellent condition, providing customers with a seamless and enjoyable driving experience.

The company’s competitive pricing and exceptional customer service are expected to set it apart from other car rental companies in Lagos. Arilex-Di Limited offers flexible rental options, including daily, weekly, and monthly rentals, to cater to the diverse needs of its clients.

For inquiries and reservations, customers can call 09072558014 or 08065979510 or email a.arilexdiifo@gmail.com.