History remembers the golden era of the Western Region as the moment Nigerian development reached its peak — a time when visionary men laid the foundations of education, governance, and civic life that a generation would inherit. Yet military intervention and political upheaval cut that trajectory short, scattering the seeds of what might have been. …
Careers in the financial system are often shaped by short-term ambition and visible rewards, but that of Bukola Smith offers a compelling alternative rooted in purpose, discipline, and long-term thinking. From her upbringing in Ogun State to her rise across Nigeria’s most influential financial institutions, her journey reflects the power of intentional choices over convenient …
There is a particular kind of excellence that does not announce itself. It simply shows up with rigour, with principle, and with an almost stubborn commitment to solving the problem at hand. That is the excellence of Professor Folasade Tolulope Ogunsola. To encounter her story is to encounter a Nigeria that is possible: one where …
In the Southwest, we have a proverb that says “Ìwà rere lẹ̀ṣọ́ ènìyàn” — good character is a person’s jewel; it is what truly adorns a man. We say it so often it has become almost decorative. But every generation or so, a man comes along and actually wears it — out loud, at cost, …
The life of Professor Oyewale Tomori is a compelling testament to how policy, perseverance, and purpose can converge to shape history. Born into a large farming household in Ilesa, his early life seemed destined for anonymity. Yet, the introduction of free education under Obafemi Awolowo altered that trajectory, opening a path that would carry him …
Ìyá ni wúrà, ìye bíye — “mother is gold” — is a beloved Yoruba song that eulogises the impact of mothers, particularly Yoruba mothers, on society. That impact reached an extraordinary new level with Adedotun Fowora Akande, whose sacrifice of a flourishing banking career to care for her son with autism ultimately birthed Nigeria’s first …
Dotun Akande: How One Nigerian Mother Built Nigeria’s First Autism Centre Read More »
As Professor Babajide Owoeye marks his 70th birthday, his life offers a remarkable story of scholarship, vision, and institution-building in Nigeria’s educational landscape. Renowned as a scholar of International Relations, he is equally distinguished as an educational entrepreneur whose vision spans the entire knowledge value chain. From establishing a book publishing enterprise to founding a …
As Oyo, Ogun, and Ondo States celebrate their golden jubilee, we recognize that a state’s greatness is not measured merely in infrastructure and institutions, but in the quality of human beings it produces. These fifty living icons, carefully selected from politics, arts, sports, business, traditional leadership, and academia, represent the finest expressions of what these …
FIFTY@FIFTY Series 3 of 3: Fifty Living Legends from Oyo, Ogun, and Ondo States Read More »
Born on 18 January 1959 in Badagry, Itunu Hotonu was raised without gender limits in an academic home that nurtured ambition and courage. From Architecture at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to becoming Africa’s first female admiral in the Nigerian Navy, her life redefined leadership, resilience, and possibility. First Daughter Raised Like a Son On …
As Oyo, Ogun, and Ondo States celebrate their golden jubilee, this compendium highlights 50 of the most iconic sites that define the cultural, historical, and developmental heritage of Nigeria’s Southwest. From UNESCO-recognised natural wonders to pioneering institutions that shaped the nation, from ancient palaces that housed powerful kingdoms to modern industrial complexes driving economic transformation, …
FIFTY@FIFTY Series 2 of 3: 50 Iconic Sites in Oyo, Ogun, and Ondo States Read More »
