…Inaugurates Amufie Town Union executives

By Chinedu Sabastine

The Enugu State Government has urged Town Union President Generals (PGs) across the state to adopt inclusive leadership that promotes peace, unity and sustainable development in their communities.

The Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Chief Charles Egumgbe, gave the charge on Wednesday while inaugurating the newly elected 14-member executives of the Amufie Town Union in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area.

The executive committee, led by the President-General, Engr. Kenneth Okechukwu Ogili, was presented with certificates of return at the ministry’s headquarters in Enugu.

Egumgbe urged the new leadership to ensure transparency, accountability and regular engagement with members, stressing that women and youths must be carried along in decision-making.

He advised the executives against operating exclusive caucuses, noting that town union affairs should be conducted openly through regular meetings where decisions are collectively taken.

“You must carry everybody along. Let your policies be all-inclusive and ensure that members are well informed about your activities. Matters should be tabled before the executive and decisions reached collectively,” he said.

The commissioner warned against abuse of office, particularly in matters relating to community land, stressing that anyone found working against the interest of the community could be removed under the state’s Town Union law.

“I don’t know whether you will receive remuneration because this is service to humanity. But whatever you do, don’t sell community land illegally. Land has a way of fighting for itself,” he cautioned.

Responding, the new inaugurated President-General, Ogili, pledged to lead with transparency and work closely with his executive to promote peace, unity and development in Amufie.

He said the administration would prioritise security by strengthening the neighbourhood watch and collaborating with security agencies to flush out criminals from identified flashpoints.

Ogili also promised to maintain a cordial working relationship with the traditional ruler of the community.

“The Igwe is our father. We have different constitutional roles, and there will be no conflict between us. We shall work harmoniously for the peace and progress of Amufie,” he said.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate dissolution of the Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) on the Alienation of Federal Government Properties, ending the operations of a body that has overseen the privatisation, sale and lease of federal assets for more than two decades.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, President Tinubu directed that all matters relating to the committee’s activities will henceforth be handled by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
The PIC was established in 2000 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to supervise the disposal of Federal Government landed assets under the monetisation policy.
The committee was chaired by the then Minister of Housing and comprised representatives of the Ministries of Transportation, Justice, Health and Agriculture, as well as the Nigeria Police Force. Professor P.T. Ahire served as its pioneer secretary, while members were drawn from both the public and private sectors.
The statement recalled that the Federal Executive Council approved the establishment of a Panel of Inquiry on March 22, 2001, to produce a White Paper guiding the implementation of the committee’s recommendations. The panel worked for 21 months before submitting its report.
Explaining the decision, Onanuga said the Federal Government concluded that the committee had outlived its usefulness, as its activities had extended beyond its original mandate and resulted in multiple litigations across the country.
“After careful consideration, the Government has noted that the activities of the PIC had extended beyond its original mandate, resulting in multiple litigations across the country, and the continued existence of the Committee is no longer justified,” he said.
President Tinubu also directed that, with effect from November 5, 2025, all outstanding matters previously handled by the committee be coordinated by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
In addition, the former Secretary of the committee, B. S. Dutsin-Ma, was directed to immediately cease acting on behalf of the dissolved committee and the Federal Government on related matters.
The Presidency said the move is aimed at streamlining the management of issues relating to the alienation of Federal Government properties under the supervision of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

By Chinedu Sabastine

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and Afrinvest have urged Nigerian clubs to embrace digital transformation, saying strong online presence, quality data and commercial partnerships are key to financial sustainability.

Speaking at a seminar for media and marketing officers of NPFL clubs in Enugu, NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owunmi, challenged clubs to improve their digital platforms or risk missing sponsorship opportunities.

To underscore the importance of data, Owunmi offered a ₦100,000 reward to any club with a functional website containing comprehensive statistics from the just-concluded season, including player profiles, goals, match records and attendance figures.

He lamented that many clubs either lack functional websites or operate platforms with little useful content, stressing that data and digital engagement have become major revenue drivers in modern football.

“Our Gen Z audience lives online. If clubs are absent from the digital space, they cannot reach young fans, attract sponsors or benefit from e-commerce opportunities,” he said.

According to Owunmi, potential sponsors now demand audience and performance data before committing funds, but many clubs are unable to provide credible figures due to poor data generation.

He urged clubs to reduce dependence on government funding by strengthening their media and marketing departments, citing Rangers International’s ₦200 million sleeve sponsorship deal and other commercial partnerships as examples of what effective branding can achieve.

Owunmi also disclosed that from next season, the NPFL will introduce measurable digital benchmarks for clubs, including website functionality, quality content and social media engagement.

Afrinvest Manager, Emmanuel Eleojo, said the company’s partnership with Rangers International and the NPFL is anchored on its “Finance Meets Football” initiative, which promotes corporate investment in football.

He said Afrinvest’s support for Rangers since 2023 has boosted youth development, led to the establishment of the club’s academy and contributed to two league titles in three seasons, while producing players for the national team.

“When finance meets football, we see growth. We see progress. We see trophies won,” Eleojo said.

One of the lead paper presenters at the seminar, Mr George Isitua-Onukwu, who spoke on ‘Monetising NPFL Clubs Through Marketing, Sponsorship and Brand Investment’, harped on the need for the clubs to adopt a clear and timed approach to branding and marketing.

According to him, NPFL sponsors report hesitation because clubs cannot yet guarantee the consistent visibility and production quality brands ask for.

“Clubs without a structured calendar for renewals, activation briefs, and reporting are, by definition, always reacting,” he further stated.

The seminar brought together media and marketing officers from the 20 NPFL clubs to strengthen capacity in digital marketing, branding, content creation and data management aimed at improving the league’s commercial appeal.

A socio-political organization, Forum of Abia Democrats (FABD), has lauded the sterling leadership qualities of Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa.

Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa is the Nigeria Democratic Congress State House of Assembly candidate for Isiala Ngwa South Constituency of Abia State

Forum of Abia Democrats (FABD), whose membership is drawn from the seventeen (17) local government areas of Abia State in a statement on Thursday, hailed
Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa’s resilience and commitment to nation-building and development.

The statement by the forum was signed by the Chairman, Surveyor Samuel Azubuike and Secretary General, Victor Mbanaso.

While noting that Dr Michael Chiemezuo ‘s invaluable contributions towards deepening democracy in Abia state and Nigeria cannot be overemphasized, Forum of Abia Democrats(FABD) also noted that Dr. Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa has remained unwavering in her pursuit of gender equality in the country.

The pro-democracy forum further noted that Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo’s continued support for human empowerment, community development, and as well passion for good governance.

“Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa has remained committed to public service and also dedicated to the advancement of democratic values in Abia state and larger Nigeria. And this illustrious son of Abia state has continuously demonstrated his desire to contribute to societal building and development, having chaired and coordinated professional bodies effectively and efficiently.

Forum of Abia Democrats (FABD) therefore threw their weights behind Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa’s House of assembly bid, describing his recent emergence as the NDC State House of Assembly standard-bearer for Isiala Ngwa South state Constituency as a beginning of a new chapter of progress and purposeful leadership in Isiala Ngwa South.

The forum expressed confidence in the ability and capacity of Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa in driving even development and uplifting local communities across Isiala Ngwa South Constituency through attractions of government’s provision of critical infrastructural amenities and projects when elected into the Abia State House of Assembly come 2027.

According to the ethnic-nationality body, aside from attracting meaningful socio-economic and infrastructural projects across IIsiala Ngwa South Constituency, we believe Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa equally possessed the wherewithal to pursue and make impactful laws that strengthen all statutory and relevant institutions of democratic governance in Abia State.

“Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo has remained a defender of justice and advocate for the rights and welfare of average Nigerians.

“The confidence and widespread acceptance he enjoy among the electorates in isiala Ngwa South state constituency will turn into electoral victory for NDC in the coming general election next year,”the forum noted.

Forum of Abia Democrats (FABD) pledged to rally bulk votes for NDC State House of Assembly Candidate, Dr. Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa to ensure his total victory in the upcoming election in 2027 in isiala Ngwa South Constituency by the independent national electoral commission (INEC).

The southeast forum also used the medium to call on all eligible Nigerian citizens to participate in the ongoing nationwide voters registration exercise by INEC, so as to enable them exercise their franchise in next year’s general election in the country.

“Every eligible imo citizens should ensure it register and collect their permanent voters cards (PVC), because, it is the only weapon and power vested on citizens by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to effect a change in government, and vote in credible people to mount leadership saddle in all levels in the country,”They stated.