The Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council, Comrade Bunmi Adigun, has charged media practitioners to take responsibility for shaping a credible and positive narrative about Ogun State through accurate, balanced and professional journalism.

Adigun gave the charge on Saturday while speaking as a guest speaker at the official launch of Ogun 360, a digital media platform established with the vision of becoming the leading destination for everything relating to Ogun State, with the tagline, “Everything Ogun, All in One Place.”

He said Ogun State had a rich story of industrial growth, agriculture, education, culture, innovation and human capital development, stressing that the media had a responsibility to document and project these stories to audiences within and outside the state.

According to him, journalism goes beyond reporting daily events, as the media also helps society understand issues, gives voice to the voiceless, documents history, interrogates policies and provides citizens with information needed to make informed decisions.

The NUJ Secretary, who is also a staff member of Ogun State Television (OGTV), said his 18 years in broadcasting and experience covering a former governor, including official assignments to 13 countries, had exposed him to the importance of effective storytelling in presenting the achievements and potentials of a place to the wider world.

He urged Ogun 360 to maintain accuracy, verification and credibility, noting that the desire to promote the state must never lead to the sacrifice of professional journalism.

Adigun also called for greater attention to stories beyond government and politics, saying the achievements of entrepreneurs, farmers, students, artisans, innovators, traditional institutions, artists, athletes and other residents deserved adequate media visibility.

He said the emergence of digital media had created an opportunity for Ogun 360 to become not only a news platform but also a digital archive of the state, where its history, culture, people, opportunities and achievements could be preserved for future generations.

He further urged government, the private sector, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, journalists and members of the public to collaborate with the platform in building a stronger information ecosystem for the state.

Adigun said Ogun needed a media ecosystem capable of telling its story beyond the state, noting that investors, tourists, researchers, students and Nigerians in the diaspora needed credible and accessible information about the state.

He congratulated the founders and management of Ogun 360, urging them to remain committed to professionalism, fairness, innovation and responsible journalism.

He said: “When we tell the Ogun story well, we are not merely reporting the present. We are documenting history, shaping perception and helping to define the future of our state.”

He expressed optimism that Ogun 360 would grow from a digital platform into a trusted institution of information and become a major destination for those seeking to understand Ogun State.

“Tell the stories that matter. Give voice to the voiceless. Celebrate excellence. Ask the difficult questions. Promote opportunities. Preserve our heritage. And above all, protect the credibility of the Ogun story,” he added.

IJEBU-ODE, OGUN STATE — A remarkable display of youth participation and community-driven economic advocacy took place today in Ijebu-Ode as hundreds of young people took to the streets under the Ijebu Rewa Ijebu Business Awareness Walk, calling for stronger patronage, visibility and growth of indigenous businesses.

The awareness campaign, which brought together vendors, entrepreneurs, supporters and community stakeholders, was designed to promote local businesses and encourage residents to support products and services provided by businesses within the Ijebu community.

One striking observation from the event was the strong presence of youths among the participating vendors and business promoters. The gathering presented a refreshing picture of young people actively engaging in entrepreneurship, street commerce, marketing and community economic development.

Rather than remaining on the sidelines, these young entrepreneurs were visibly involved in promoting their businesses and contributing to an initiative aimed at strengthening the local economy.

The campaign featured messages such as “Support Ijebu Businesses” and “Buy Ijebu,” reinforcing the importance of local patronage in sustaining businesses and creating economic opportunities within the community.

The organisers also highlighted the potential benefits of greater collaboration among local entrepreneurs, including increased business exposure, networking opportunities, customer patronage and the development of a stronger Ijebu economy.

With 500 vendors reportedly participating, the scale of the initiative underscores the significant number of young people actively engaged in commercial activities across Ijebu-Ode.

Beyond the publicity generated by the walk, the event also offers an important conversation about youth entrepreneurship and the future of local commerce.y The visible participation of young vendors demonstrates that many youths are already taking steps towards economic independence through small businesses and entrepreneurial ventures.However, the enthusiasm displayed on the streets also raises the need for sustained support for these emerging entrepreneurs through access to affordable finance, business training, digital marketing opportunities, improved infrastructure and favourable policies that can enable small businesses to survive and expand.

For Ijebu-Ode and the wider Ijebu community, the sight of hundreds of young people actively promoting their businesses presents a positive message: youth entrepreneurship is not only a means of personal livelihood but also a potential engine for community development.
As the campaign’s message suggests, “One People, One Purpose, One Progress,” the success of local businesses ultimately depends on a collective commitment from entrepreneurs, consumers, community leaders, government and other stakeholders.

The Ijebu Business Awareness Walk has consequently provided a platform for young entrepreneurs to be seen, heard and recognised — while sending a strong message that supporting indigenous businesses can contribute significantly to building a more vibrant and sustainable local economy.
OgunSpeaks Media Observation:
The impressive youthful participation was one of the most noticeable features of the event. The presence of young vendors in large numbers suggests that Ijebu-Ode’s informal and emerging business sector has a significant youth component. This presents both an opportunity and a responsibility for stakeholders to create an environment where these young entrepreneurs can move from survival businesses to sustainable and scalable enterprises.

A community radio station breached the rules after accidentally announcing the death of King Charles III in a May broadcast, a UK watchdog said on Monday.

Radio Caroline, a former pirate radio that now mostly plays rock music, apologised in May after airing messages falsely announcing the monarch’s death.

One of the messages had said, “We have suspended our normal programmes until further notice as a mark of respect following the passing of His Majesty King Charles III.”

The national anthem was then played, followed by around 16 minutes of silence before the regular programme resumed.

The presenter apologised 30 minutes after the messages were initially triggered, Ofcom said.

The regulator, which received two complaints about the broadcast, said the “very significant inaccuracy” and the “considerable length of time” taken to acknowledge the error breached two of its rules.

One requires news reports to be accurate and impartial.

The other requires significant mistakes to be acknowledged and corrected on air promptly.

Radio Caroline told Ofcom the error occurred when a member of staff accessed sound files pre-recorded in the event of the monarch’s death while carrying out maintenance on the studio computer, as the programme was being streamed remotely.

The staff member played the files “out of curiosity”, which stopped the stream from the presenter’s remote location and broadcast the files on air.

The person then reportedly “panicked and left the premises” after realising what had happened, according to the Ofcom statement.

Radio Caroline said the remote presenter “would not realise that they had gone ‘off air’ unless they were monitoring their output via an internet monitor.”

The presenter, believing they were still on air, was not actively monitoring their phone and did not immediately respond to calls from people at the station who had noticed the error, the report said.

The station said the person who played the files had been “reprimanded” and had “apologised”.

It added the pre-recorded files had now been removed from the studio computer.

AFP

The leadership of the Yayi Progressives Movement (YPM) in Ogun State, under the leadership of its Convener, Armstrong ‘Tope Akintunde, has felicitated the movement’s principal and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan, popularly known as Yayi, as he celebrates his 57th birthday.

In a joint congratulatory statement issued to journalists on Monday by the State Media Director of the movement, Oluseun Joshua, the YPM described Senator Adeola as a “standing mirror” of good leadership and a blessing to the APC and the people of Ogun State.

The movement further acknowledged the senator’s contributions to the development of Ogun State, describing his political journey and growing influence in the state as remarkable and a reflection of his dedication to public service and the people around him.

The Convener, Akintunde, said the occasion provided an opportunity for members of the movement and supporters of Senator Adeola to celebrate his achievements and reaffirm their confidence in his leadership.

“As a political support group, we celebrate our leader and principal on his 57th birthday today. I join all well-meaning Nigerians in celebrating a political icon and a distinguished blessing to the good people of Ogun State.

“This is the time to let the people of Ogun State know that Senator Olamilekan Adeola is an icon whose contributions across various sectors are undeniable.

“It is my prayer that as our leader advances in his glorious years, God will continue to guide and strengthen him and all those around him. As he marks this golden year, may he continue to experience growth, greater accomplishments and fulfilment in every aspect of his life and endeavours,” – Akintunde said.

On his part, the State Coordinator of the Yayi Progressives Movement, Hon. Olusegun Kaka, highlighted Senator Adeola’s humanitarian gestures and commitment to the people, noting that these qualities have distinguished him among his contemporaries.

Kaka joined the leadership and members of the movement in celebrating the senator, while wishing him continued blessings, good health and success.

“I join our Convener and other members of the progressive family to rejoice with and celebrate our distinguished Senator Solomon Adeola on his birthday today.

“This is another special day in his lifetime. We pray that God will grant him many more years in good health, wisdom and greater accomplishments. We look forward to gathering again to celebrate with him next year as Governor of Ogun State.

“The Yayi Progressives Movement is a platform united by shared political ideals, loyalty, grassroots mobilisation and a commitment to advancing the cause of its principal.

“As we jointly celebrate Senator Adeola at 57, we reaffirm our commitment to building a vibrant progressive family anchored on service, solidarity and the pursuit of a better future for the people of Ogun State,” – Kaka said.

* …movement receives ‘No Women, No Nation’ forum, says membership has risen to 55,000 across the state

The Yayi Progressives Movement (YPM), a leading political support group in Ogun State, has intensified its grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections with the inauguration of its students’ wing and the admission of the ‘No Women, No Nation’ forum into the movement.

The development was announced during a joint gathering of the groups held in Abeokuta on Saturday, where the Convener of the YPM, Armstrong ‘Tope Akintunde, said the movement was committed to engaging young people, particularly students who are eligible to vote, as part of its mobilisation strategy.

Akintunde stressed the importance of bringing students into the political process, describing them as an important component of the society and the future of the country.
He said the movement would continue to provide space for students to participate actively in its activities, adding that their involvement was critical to its grassroots mobilisation efforts.

The convener also welcomed the ‘No Women, No Nation’ forum into the YPM, describing its reported membership of about 4,000 women as another indication of the movement’s growing grassroots strength.

“This is another testament to our mobilisation efforts in the Yayi Progressives Movement. I can confidently declare that the movement can now boast of 55,000 members across the state.

“I appreciate all our Apex leaders, the State Executive Committee, as well as our local government and ward coordinators, for their unrelenting efforts in moving the movement forward and advancing our agenda and mission.”

Akintunde charged the newly admitted groups, particularly the students and members of the ‘No Women, No Nation’ forum, to intensify their grassroots mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said the objective was to secure broad support for the movement’s principal, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as well as other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the presidential level to the state House of Assembly.

Speaking on behalf of the apex body of the movement, the Co-Convener and an apex member, Hon. Kehinde Odeneye, commended the students and members of the ‘No Women, No Nation’ forum for choosing to join the YPM.

Odeneye said the development demonstrated the impact of the movement’s grassroots engagement across the state.

“This is what we stand for in the Yayi Progressives Movement. Our grassroots mobilisation and engagement are yielding results and improving daily.

“I commend our ever-relenting Convener for his steadfastness and commitment to moving the movement forward alongside other leaders in the group”.

The newly inaugurated students’ wing was led by Comrade Dotun Opaleye, who commended the leadership of the YPM for creating room for students to participate in the movement.

He said the students’ wing was mobilising young people across tertiary institutions in Ogun State and had set a target of enrolling 5,000 students into the movement.

“It is my joy that we have a slot in this large political support group, the Yayi Progressives Movement. With my position within the students’ circle in Ogun State, myself and our team are mobilising 5,000 students across the state who are ready to support and key into the agenda of the Yayi Progressives Movement,” – Opaleye said.

He explained that the students’ mobilisation cut across various institutions in the state, adding that the group was particularly targeting students interested in the activities of the APC.

According to him, the students’ wing had already recorded significant progress towards its 5,000-member target.

Opaleye also commended the YPM leadership for supporting the recently concluded voter registration exercise on campuses, saying the initiative demonstrated the movement’s commitment to engaging students.

“I can’t end this message without commending the Convener of this great movement for mobilising us for the just-concluded exercise on voter registration within our campuses. This gave us the assurance that the Yayi Progressives Movement is ready for the students and stands by its mission.”

Also speaking during the event, Mrs. Ogunsanya Olusola, a leader of the ‘No Women, No Nation’ forum, commended Akintunde for his commitment to the growth of the APC in Ogun State.

Olusola spoke during the appreciation and decoration of the YPM Convener as their new patron, expressing confidence in the leadership of the movement.

The Chairman of the YPM board of leaders, Chief Fajimi, also appreciated members and supporters of the movement for their contributions.

He particularly commended the Convener for the recently concluded solidarity trek organised by the YPM students’ and youth forums, describing the exercise as unprecedented in the political history of Ogun State.

– Oluseun JOSHUA,

State Media Director, Yayi Progressives Movement

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has described tree planting as a collective responsibility to protect the environment, restore degraded ecosystems and secure the future.

A keynote address at the commemoration of the 2026 Ogun Tree Planting Day, themed “Root for the Future: Plant a Tree, Heal the Earth,” organised by the state Ministries of Environment and Forestry at the frontage of Orange Valley Estate, Olusegun Obasanjo Hilltop, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Represented by his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, the governor said the theme was timely as the effects of climate change were increasingly affecting communities, livelihoods and the economy.

Abiodun said the theme was particularly timely, noting that climate change was no longer a distant concern as rising temperatures, flooding, prolonged dry seasons, land degradation and biodiversity loss were increasingly affecting communities, livelihoods and the economy.

Tree planting is not merely placing of seedlings into the soil but a reaffirmation of our collective responsibility to protect the environment, restore degraded ecosystems and secure a future where economic progress and environmental sustainability advance together,” the statement quoted Abiodun as saying.

The governor commended the administration of President Bola Tinubu for prioritising environmental sustainability through initiatives including the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan, National Clean Cooking Policy, Afforestation and Ecosystem Restoration, Climate Safe Investments and Carbon Market Development.

He said Ogun remained committed to supporting the national objectives through investments in afforestation, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, green infrastructure, waste management, environmental sanitation and improved flood-control mechanisms.

Abiodun also commended the Ministries of Environment and Forestry for sustaining the annual tree-planting programme, saying it had grown beyond a government initiative into a statewide movement involving schools, tertiary institutions, corporate organisations, development partners and individual citizens.

He urged participants to sustain tree planting efforts and ensure that planted trees matured through proper commitment and nurturing.

The Ogun State Head of Service, Olanrewaju Iskeel Saka, called on public servants, corporate organisations, educational institutions, community leaders and residents to “make tree planting an integral part of their daily lives.”

The Commissioner for Forestry, Taiwo Oludotun, said “the state government had resuscitated all six forest reserves that were moribund before the commencement of the Abiodun administration”, adding that “Ogun now had a good forest cover.”

In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, highlighted the environmental benefits of trees, including” carbon capture, improved air quality, water conservation, erosion control and the provision of habitats for wildlife.”

Oresanya also said trees beautified cities and contributed to the physical and mental well-being of residents, stressing the need for more tree planting across the state.He urged residents to nurture every tree seedling, protect it from damage and monitor its growth.

Calling students and young people “Environmental Champions of Tomorrow,” Oresanya urged them to begin their commitment to environmental protection by planting trees in their schools, places of worship and communities and encouraging others to do the same.