Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has emphasised the importance of humility and simplicity, declaring that his immense wealth does not prevent him from staying in a modest hotel or being comfortable with basic amenities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The billionaire businessman made the remarks while speaking at an event tagged Vision 2030 on Monday, where he also accepted an invitation from popular content creator Adebayo Ridwan, better known as Bae U Barbie, to feature on his YouTube programme, Curiosity Made Me Ask.

Dangote stressed that people should remain humble regardless of their achievements or financial status, noting that success should not make anyone feel superior to others.

“And also to show people that, look, in life, you have to be as simple as you can, because anybody can be anybody,” he said.

Explaining his approach to life, the industrialist said he could comfortably spend the night in even the poorest hotel, provided he had access to basic facilities.

“Today, if you take me to anywhere, if you take me to the worst hotel, I can sleep, I can have my shower, I can live,” he stated.

He added that people should embrace simplicity and avoid placing themselves on a pedestal because of their social standing or accomplishments.

Dangote also shared an experience involving the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, whom he said had served for eight years without using a personal driver.

According to the billionaire, he met the Ethiopian leader during a visit to the country to commission a fertiliser plant. During their encounter, Dangote asked why the prime minister did not have a driver.

He said the prime minister responded that his wife usually drove him around.

Dangote Accepts Bae U Barbie’s Interview Invitation

At the same event, Dangote accepted an invitation from Bae U Barbie to appear on his YouTube programme, Curiosity Made Me Ask.

The invitation followed the content creator’s argument that young Nigerians deserved more opportunities to hear directly from influential business leaders.

Bae U Barbie had observed that many of Dangote’s previous interviews were conducted on platforms that younger audiences might not regularly follow, despite their interest in his businesses and the planned initial public offering.

Responding to the appeal, Dangote described young people as the future of Nigeria and Africa, adding that older generations had a responsibility to share their experiences with them.

“Honestly, the future that we have is actually you, the youth. We, our own generation really, we have not really done very well for Nigeria and also for Africa. That’s the truth,” he said.

He further explained that engaging with younger Nigerians would give them an opportunity to learn from the experiences of previous generations.

“So we need to sit down with some of you and discuss our own experience with you,” he added.

The billionaire also expressed appreciation for the support and respect he receives from young Nigerians.

Dangote also explained why he readily agrees to take photographs with people who approach him, despite his status as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals.

He recalled an experience from his younger years when he and his late grandfather met prominent personalities in Washington and asked to take pictures with them.

According to him, the experience influenced his decision to accommodate similar requests from members of the public.

Dangote’s remarks highlighted his belief in humility, accessibility and the importance of maintaining a connection with ordinary people, regardless of wealth or social po

 ....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

For the traders whose livelihoods were devastated by last week’s tanker explosion at Oluku Market, the commencement of rebuilding offers something urgently needed: a visible path back to business.

Governor Monday Okpebholo’s response has moved beyond his visit to the scene and his assurance that affected traders would receive government support. With rebuilding now underway, that promise is taking physical shape.

The significance lies in the speed: a disaster struck, the governor responded, and the work of restoration has begun.

The fire occurred on Thursday, October 15, along the Benin–Lagos Road in Ovia North-East Local Government Area. By the following day, Okpebholo was at the market, assessing the destruction, listening to traders and pledging to rebuild. He also visited injured victims at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, extending his response from the scene of economic devastation to the bedside of those receiving treatment.

Now, the commencement of reconstruction gives affected families a stronger reason to look ahead.

For someone whose shop has just been destroyed, time carries a heavy cost. Rent, school fees, feeding expenses and loan obligations continue even when trading stops. Every additional week without income can deepen the damage and make recovery more difficult.

That is why the urgency at Oluku matters. Getting rebuilding underway creates the conditions for traders to recover their working spaces and begin the journey towards earning again.

A market may be built with blocks, roofing sheets and concrete, but its real value is measured in the households it sustains.

Behind every stall is a network of people: the farmer supplying produce, the driver delivering goods, the apprentice learning a trade, the porter earning a daily wage and the parent depending on sales to keep a child in school. Restoring the market helps reconnect that chain of economic activity.

The intervention also draws credibility from an earlier example in Ekpoma.

After fire destroyed the Police Officers’ Wives Association shopping complex in January 2026, Okpebholo visited the affected traders and promised to rebuild. In April, he commissioned the reconstructed complex and announced ₦200 million in support for traders whose goods had been destroyed. That response addressed both the trading environment and the need to help businesses recover.

For Oluku traders, Ekpoma provides a practical reference: a devastated commercial space was rebuilt, and government committed additional support towards restoring livelihoods.

Jattu forms another part of this wider effort. Following the January 2025 market fire, the administration pledged assistance to victims. By September 2026, Jattu Modern Market was among the commercial facilities reported to be undergoing extensive reconstruction under the administration’s market renewal programme.

From Ekpoma to Jattu and now Oluku, the common concern is the survival of local enterprise. These markets serve different communities, but the people who depend on them share the same basic aspiration: a secure place to work and a fair opportunity to earn.

The administration’s wider redevelopment programme offers relevant lessons. Plans for the redesigned Oba Market included a mini fire station, a sick bay and other welfare facilities, demonstrating how market infrastructure can incorporate protection for the people and investments within it.

This is where Okpebholo’s commitment to a progressive Edo State meets everyday reality. Progress becomes meaningful when government protects the foundations of ordinary people’s independence—the shop, the stall, the tools and the opportunities through which families sustain themselves.

His swift response at Oluku, followed by the commencement of rebuilding, sends an important message about that responsibility. It shows the value of responding while the needs are urgent and carrying an assurance into action.

The work must now maintain that momentum until traders can return, reopen and rebuild their income.

For the people of Oluku, the strongest expression of hope will be the sound of business returning to a place where fire brought everything to a halt. The rebuilding already underway is the first concrete step towards that recovery.

Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah is the Principal and CEO of Bush Radio Academy

The media office of former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has dismissed reports suggesting that the senator is planning to defect from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The office described the reports as false, stressing that Tambuwal remains committed to the ADC and is focused on strengthening the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Monday, the senator’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Prince Daniel, urged Nigerians to disregard the claims circulating on social media.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Tambuwal has no plans to join the APC. Suggestions to the contrary are false, baseless and should be disregarded,” the statement read.

The clarification followed the circulation of photographs and video clips on social media, which triggered speculation about a possible political realignment by the former governor.

However, Tambuwal’s media office maintained that his interactions with politicians from other parties should not be interpreted as evidence of an impending defection.

“Political civility is no proof of political realignment. Exchanging greetings or interacting with members of another party does not amount to negotiating a change of allegiance,” Daniel stated.

The office explained that Tambuwal had maintained cordial relationships with politicians across party lines for several years, noting that these connections were built on public service and mutual respect.

It further emphasised that the senator’s political loyalty remained with the ADC, where he was concentrating on strengthening cooperation, building alliances and mobilising support ahead of the next general elections.

“Senator Tambuwal remains firmly committed to the ADC. His focus is on strengthening the party, building broad cooperation and mobilising Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections,” the statement added.

The media office also appealed to political supporters, journalists and social media users to verify information before publishing or sharing reports concerning the senator’s political activities.

It warned against presenting speculation as established fact, urging Nigerians to seek clarification from credible sources before drawing conclusions about Tambuwal’s political decisions.

The office also encouraged the public to focus on pressing national issues, including economic difficulties, insecurity and governance challenges, rather than unverified reports about politicians switching parties.

Tambuwal governed Sokoto State from 2015 to 2023 before being elected senator representing Sokoto South Senatorial District in 2023.

Before becoming governor, he served as Speaker of the House of Representatives and later contested the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

His alignment with the ADC has positioned him among opposition figures preparing for the 2027 general elections, as political parties and their leaders explore possible alliances to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling APC.

Despite the speculation surrounding his political future, Tambuwal’s media office reiterated that his relationships with politicians outside the ADC should not be construed as an indication that he intends to return to the ruling party.

The office urged anyone seeking accurate information about the senator’s political decisions to contact the AWT Media Office for clarification before circulating unverified claims.