Prodiva, an outfit coined out of two words, prosperity and diversity, was floated by Bolatito Ajibode, a seasoned banker with deep corporate banking experience.

The experience spans 32 years across three banks.

The event, which is being sponsored by Ginger Up Nigeria  Limited, makers of Ginger Up and Ginger Shot healthy drinks, plans to empanel a crop of working class young Nigerians who have tried their hands on floating small and medium enterprises, to share their stories, the rough roads and the successes, to motivate an audience of other young Nigerians on what is possible and to ginger them up instead of contemplating fleeing the country in search of any greener pastures elsewhere.

The fiesta, aimed at promoting industry zeal in young Nigerians, is being headlined by Ifedolapo Runsewe, the young founder of Ibadan-based Free Recycle Limited, which has done wonders with used tyres recycling.

The event, taking place at Muri Okunola Park in Lagos State, would have free exhibition stands for some of the fiesta partners.

According to Ajibode, who described herself as the woman with green blood running in her veins because of the love for fatherland Nigeria, after the maiden edition in Lagos, it would now be a yearly event that would be taking place in all the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

She said: “By God’s grace, it is going to be a yearly event.

“A day is coming when (Aliko) Dangote will come and tell his story and ultimately we will be doing it in all the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

“After the maiden edition in Lagos, we will do it again in Lagos.

“By the third year, we should be in Abuja.

“By the fourth year, we should be in Port Harcourt and the fifth year, in Enugu and then in Kano.

“In future, this independence fiesta will be happening simultaneously in all the six geopolitical zones.

“That is what we have in mind.”

Brimming with unparalleled patriotic zeal, Ajibode created a pan Nigerian fabric, Prodiva, during her days as a top banker when she discovered that Nigeria lacked an African print that defines her cultural essence like the kente print that is synonymous with Ghana.

She designed Prodiva fabric to celebrate Nigeria’s 60th independence in 2020.

Prodiva fabric is designed out of the unique cultural essence of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

On the pan-Nigerian fabric are the six features representing the regions: Green land unique with the North Central, which is the food basket capable of feeding the whole nation when fully harnessed; hand crafted calabash used in serving cow milk in the North East; Arewa knot, the political symbol of Northern Nigeria; crown of Oduduwa, symbolising power and authority of the Yoruba race in the South West; Ofor, the sacred symbol of justice, truth and authority of the Igbo chief in the South East; and Fedora black hat, which is also known as Niger Delta cap, nicknamed Goodluck Jonathan or Resource Control cap, from the South South.

READ ALSO: 75-year-old grandpa arrested as NDLEA destroys 178,000kg skunk

Ajibode narrated the story with Provida: “Despite being the largest Africans that wear Ankara, I wonder why Nigeria could not be identified with a unique fabric just like the kente with Ghana.

“That was how I came up with Provida fabric to become the unique identity of Nigeria.”

After identifying the unique features synonymous with the six geopolitical zones, Ajibode approached the fabric honcho at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos for a good design and she came out with a beautifully designed fabric, which she has been marketing for years now as Nigeria’s unique wear, the equivalent of Ghana’s kente.

According to her, during the fiesta, Prodiva will be marketed to participants just to encourage them to don Nigerian wears instead of any foreign material.

Ajibode, who is the founder of Ginger Up Nigeria Limited, described herself as a living evidence of prosperity in diversity.

She started a cottage industry from her kitchen in 2016 after her experience of preparing fresh ginger and honey mixture for her husband to enjoy his tea and pap because the imported ginger granules were not available in the market.

Fortunately, her employer, Stanbic IBTC Bank, has a policy that encourages staff to invest in their Outside Business interest.

Consequently, Ajibode became the first producer of commercial ginger drinks in Nigeria, employing more than 50 well paid workers.

After leaving the bank, she was appointed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the Deputy Managing Director of Lekki Free Trade Zone Development Company.

She served as the DMD of Lekki Free Trade Zone for three years and retired in July 2025 to focus on the production of her ginger drinks, which is now a national product and gradually becoming an international brand.

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Nigeria’s batting contributions on the day collaborates their decision to bat against Saint Helena after winning the toss at the Nigeria Cricket Federation, NCF, oval B.

Abeit losing opener Selim Salau in the third over for 10 off 8, Sulaimon Runsewe’s 60 off 51 balls steadied the innings for the home side.

Runsewe, who seemed to be having a swell time at the crease, was sent packing for an lbw in 14.2 overs leaving Elijah Olaleye 46 off 36 and Danladi Isaac 48 off 26, both playing not out, to end the Nigerian innings on 185/2 in 20 overs.

In reply, Saint Helena struggled with the bat, with no batter scoring 20 runs and above.

Scott Crowie’s 17 off 32, Aiden Leo 18’s off 27 and David Young’s 13 off 12 were the top batting performance for the side.

READ ALSO: AFCON: Super Falcons to face Tunisia, Algeria, Botswana

Nigeria’s bowlers, led by former Under 19 captain, Rdiwan Kareem ensured the likes of Brett Isaac, Cliff Richards, Jamie Essex and Andre Yon were dismissed for a duck.

Kareem was the stand out bowler with four dismissals as captain Sylvester Okpe sent two batters back to the pavilion while Peter Aho, Taiwo Mohammed and Isaac picked one wicket each to restrict Saint Helena to 67/10 in 19.1 0vers.

Nigeria won by 118 runs.

Nigeria will play against Côte d’Ivoire on Sunday, before facing Sierra Leone, Eswatini and Botswana.

Two of the top teams in the tournament will qualify to the ICC Africa Qualifiers in 2025.

Source: NAN

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Runsewe disclosed this during a familiarisation visit of the building with travel writers in Abuja.

According to him, it was long overdue for the nation to have such a tourist attraction where local and international tourists could access Nigeria’s peculiar cultural products.

He said the building which was initially acquired by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had been retrieved.

He said the 30-metre long building would accommodate offices for all countries with embassies in Nigeria as well as an e-library connected to over 170 countries.

According to him, that would afford local and international tourists to connect to the globe and also help individuals who might wish to conduct research based on Nigerian culture.

According to Runsewe, the Culture House which was undergoing some finishing touches would be inaugurated soon and ready to receive visitors.

“Here in the building, we have befitting offices for all staff of NCAC with work stations, a clinic that will cater for free medical assessment for all staff and visitors, also we have rehearsal rooms for the performing and theatre arts department.

“It is an iconic building that will accommodate constant exhibition of nation’s cultural materials.

“We have halls for events, a lift that is permanently connected to an inverter and boardrooms.

“We also have a small market where some of the members of staff could get some foodstuff and pay at subsidised rate at the end of each month.

“Erected on six corners of the building are 25 metres high art works designed to depict peculiar cultural features in each state of the federation, this is meant to attract and educate tourists,” he said.

Runsewe said the purpose of the building was to ensure proper welfare of NCAC staff and make the council perform its mandate of cultural promotion.

Source: NAN

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Runsewe, in a statement on Friday, said there was need for strategic rethinking on cultural related narratives by filmmakers in Nigeria to avoid public resentments and reactions.

The “Gang of Lagos” co-produced by Jade Osiberu and Kemi Lala-Akindoju, premiered on April 7 has generated reactions from the Lagos State government.

The state government in its reaction said the movie portrayed the Eyo masquerade as a gun-wielding villain while adorning the full traditional regalia.

The state also felt it was a misrepresentation of cultural ethos of Eyo masquerade and insulting to the tradition and history of Lagos indigenes.

Runsewe, however, pleaded with the state government and the people of Lagos to forgive the infractions contained in the flick, assuring to arrest such cultural insensitivity headlong.

He noted that the Eyo masquerade was one of the key cultural tourism products, associated with the history of Lagos and Nigerian culture.

Runsewe advised film makers to be well guided when producing for public consumption on Nigerian cultural history so as not to provoke tension and irritations across the country.

“Lagos State government, for instance, has invested and continues to champion the growth of the creative sector, targeting young persons for training in all aspects of film making and production.

“With community theatre halls built at each of its local geo-space and even with John Randle Yoruba Museum, where researches on Yoruba culture and tradition can be learnt first hand.

“So, films with narratives on the ways of life of our people must trend on best acceptable and sensitive information profiling,” he said.

“Though the world of creativity is said to hold no boundaries but when it comes to cultural narratives, careful measures, strategic profiling, dedicated investigation should be done,” he said.

He said request to collaborate with custodians of national cultural and traditional institutions should be thoroughly considered and consulted.

“During the last National Festival for Arts and Culture, NAFEST, in Lagos, we, at NCAC wrote to the Oba of Lagos, requesting the participation of the iconic Eyo masquerade.

“We were made to appreciate and understand that Eyo masquerade public appearance is guided by certain traditional ethics and procedure, so we expect our filmmakers to follow same engagement route.

“Honestly, we at NCAC appreciate Nigerian filmmakers for the efforts to use such narratives, to contribute to national cultural tourism rebirth and acceptation, including its international cultural tourism value chain.

“But we must advise that a cultural sensitivity context and content analysis should be part of both production and post-production ecosystem,” he said.

Source: NAN

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Runsewe made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Sunday in Abuja.

He said that anybody found guilty of vices such as rape, advance fee fraud and other related crimes should be taken to his or her family house to dance by the village square.

“We have to use local and native approach to tackle issues of rape, advance fee fraud and other vices.

“Many of our people go abroad, come back and give us bad name because of their crimes, yet they come back to celebrate and promote these vices.

READ ALSO: Adire Osun: NCAC Director-General, Runsewe, commends Oyetola

“So, what I think we should do from now is that once somebody commits a crime, the person should be taken close to the family house. Let them dance by the village square.

“I’m telling you that you will be shocked that you won’t get anyone committing crimes.”

Runsewe said that the major reason why crimes had continued was that somebody that committed crime would get bail from one top person in society.

“So, let us put it this way: both the person that committed the crime and the man standing for his bail should go to jail. You will see that nobody will go again.

“Once they know that they can’t buy off the security agents on issues like these, I can assure you that a lot of changes is around the corner,” Runsewe stated.

Source: NAN

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He implored Nigerians to see their diversity, ethnicity and religious tolerance as an opportunity to unite without allowing politics and other things to divide them.

Governor Sanwo-Olu made the appeal when the National Technical Committee of the National Festival of Arts and Culture led by the Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, paid him a courtesy visit at Lagos House, Ikeja on Thursday ahead of the NAFEST holding in Lagos in November.

He said: “We believe that bringing the NAFEST Festival to Lagos at this very difficult time in our country would be used as a means to galvanise the country. The NAFEST 2022 in Lagos by the grace of God will be used to heal this country. It will be used to bring together our diversity in unity.

“If sports can bring us together, arts, culture and entertainment can do better. And if we do it and package it very well before we go into the general elections in 2023, we would have used that platform to heal the country. We would have used it for people to see that we don’t have any other place to go to. We have a responsibility to fix it (Nigeria).

“We should see the NAFEST not just as a festivity but as an opportunity for us to come together, heal and project unity for our country. And ensure that if we can go into next year with all of the tribulations and fears that we have; we will suppress them, surpass them and have elections that will be free, and peaceful, and we can build a better and bigger nation that would be the envy of the world. That is what I am looking forward to.

“Let us see our diversity as an opportunity to unite us. Let us see our ethnicity as an opportunity to unite us. Let us see our religious tolerance as an opportunity to unite us. We should not allow politics and other things to divide us. I am a strong believer of arts, culture and entertainment as a unifier and simple language that knows no tribe, ethnicity and religious bias.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos will continue to be a pride for all and a rallying point for Nigeria.

“For us as a government, it is really about ensuring that we can use every breath that we have to better the lots of our people; that we can use the opportunity God has given us to recreate a tomorrow for citizens and we can only do that by ensuring that everything that has to do with good governance is the things we are doing.

“Lagos will open its arms to ensure a spectacular and hitch-free event and most importantly ensure that we can heal our country; we can stop the bleeding in the country and we can use it (NAFEST festival) as a platform to unite Nigeria,” he said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that Lagos State apart from hosting the NAFEST in November, will also commission the biggest and best African museum, the JK Randle Museum for Arts and Culture and host the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and art exhibition in November.

Speaking earlier, Runsewe commended Governor Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to promoting tourism, arts and culture, noting that the decision of the government to make Entertainment and Tourism a fifth pillar in the six-pillar THEMES developmental agenda for Greater Lagos was commendable.

Runsewe, who noted that no development could take place in Nigeria without Lagos State, called Nigerians to join hands with Lagos to move the country.

He said the NAFEST Festival taking place in Lagos in November would be used to unite the nation and preach love among all the citizens of the country.

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According to the spokesman of the command, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, he was arrested on May 19, 2022 for having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 13 years old girl (name withheld), who is a pupil in his class.

The suspect was arrested following a report lodged at Ago Iwoye divisional headquarters by the victim’s mother, who came to the station with the victim and reported that the suspect lured the victim to his house at Ayegbami area of Ago Iwoye after the school lesson at about 4:30 p.m. and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.

The blood soaked pants of the victim was brought to the station as an evidence.

Upon the report, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Ago Iwoye, SP Noah Adekanye, detailed his detectives to the scene, where the randy teacher was promptly arrested.

On interrogation, he initially denied having anything with the victim, but when the victim confronted him, he was unable to say anything further.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to anti-human trafficking and child labour unit of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department for further investigation and possible prosecution.

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Runsewe said this at the closing ceremony of NAFEST 2021 late Saturday night.

The festival with the theme, “Celebrating National Unity in Diversity,” commenced on November 14 and ended on November 22.

NCAC is responsibile for organising the annual cultural festival.

“The 2022 edition of NAFEST will hold in Lagos State.

“Lagos is waiting for the world and we are going to Lagos with an advanced NAFEST, we will do something bigger than what we have had in the past,” he said.

Runsewe said that NAFEST remained a veritable tool for uniting the nation, adding that such cultural festivals would stop agitations for separation.

“We will get Nigeria united by all means, we must remove that spirit of dishonesty, hatred and fake news, all must go now.

“The story been carried around that Nigeria is going to be divided, you can see 31 states in Ekiti, this is to tell us that nothing can divide this country, the country will remain.

“I thank Ekiti people and the government for receiving the 31 states and giving us the impression we need, it is a big statement and I remain grateful.

“There is no reason to disagree among ourselves considering the beauty of this nation, rather, we should stand together in love, peace and harmony,” he said.

Runsewe noted that over 450 Ekiti indigenes had been empowered with some forms of skills like wig and bead making, tailoring, cosmetology, shoe making and conversion of waste to wealth.

He added that the festival had raised the income of Ado-Ekiti residents especially those in hotel, transportation and other businesses.

According to him, with such festival, Nigeria would be stronger and better again.

Source: NAN

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Declaring open the cultural fiesta themed: “Celebrating National Unity in Diversity”,  Ekiti State governor and Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, Dr Kayode Fayemi, described the annual cultural celebration as a vital tool for integration, unity, economic prosperity and political stability of the country.

At the event, where representatives across the states of the federation observed a cultural parade that reflected their rich cultural heritage in colourful attires and peculiar cultural instruments witnessed the staging of a melodious drama titled “Children of the rolling hills” that was orchestrated by the wife of Ekiti State governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.

Others at the event were the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi; Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly,  Funminiyi Afuye; Secretary to the State Government, Biodun Oyebanji;  Head of Service, Mrs Peju Babafemi, Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Prof Rasak Ojo Bakare and his counterparts from the states of the federation and the FCT.

Governor Fayemi, maintained that the current economic and political state of the country requires concerted efforts and investment in arts and culture to give room for the expression of talents, promotion of  unity of the country in its diversity and harnessing human potentials for economic prosperity.

Stressing the import of culture for national development and economic growth, the governor said culture impacts on economic growth by strengthening social virtues, creating trust which facilitates relationships and inspiring motivation that stimulates entrepreneurship.

“We know and understand that culture is one of the main pillars of development, for without culture, it is certain that development would be greatly hindered. The critical state of our nation requires that efforts be intensified to revive our diverse culture and enhance the potential of our arts to ensure social and political stability, both of which hinge on the viability of the economy.

“The burden of our national commitments which has rested solely on the performance of our crude oil in the international market has continued to render the nation immobile. This calls for an innovative solution. Investing in culture is crucial to the general development of any society.

“As a country with diverse cultures, it is imperative for us to take advantage of the innate strength in our diversity, and our human and natural resources, to build a united, just and prosperous country for the present and future generations.”

The governor disclosed that his administration in Ekiti had taken arts and culture beyond mere performance to the realm of cultural re-orientation, attitudinal change, value orientation and its integration into the state’s educational curriculum to be taught at primary and post primary level.

Fayemi added that the national event was in fulfilment of his administration’s efforts at exposing Ekiti to both national and international attractions to woo more stakeholders in the culture, tourism and creative world to the state.

Also in his speech, the Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, commended Governor Fayemi for not only demonstrating strong political will in hosting this year NAFEST but for also mobilising  government apparatus to take active role in ensuring the success of the event.

He disclosed that this year event would feature several completion including tales by moonlight, drama, traditional board games, children’s drawing and painting, children’s essay writing, traditional cuisines, archery, indigenous fabric and fashion and cultural market display where winners would be given prizes and award.

Otunba Runsewe added that participants would also have opportunity to visit the rich cultural tourist centres in the state like the popular Ikogosi warm spring, Arinta water fall, Fajuyi park and amusement, Ogun Onire groove and others in the course of the week-long event.

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Runsewe described the Adire Osun Project as the reawakening of cultural fashion, saying the efforts deserved national accolade.

Runsewe lauded Oyetola for his effort at reviving the dying cultural fashion of the people who were noted for their artistic and cultural tourism endowments.

Runsewe, who is also the President, African Region of the World Craft Council, WCC, stated that the declaration of August 27 as Adire Osun Day by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, resonated with the vision and aspirations of the federal government to grow and focus on indigenous cultural tourism engagements.

He added that the time had come for Nigerians to embrace indigenous and traditional ways of life.

That, he stressed, entailed wearing, eating and speaking Nigeria.

“The Cultural Adire fabric revolution started with Ogun State, and Osun State Governor has taken it further to a  refreshing dimension, factoring international leverage and making it a citizens project which is commendable, deserving our support and encouragement,” Runsewe explained.

He urged other state  governors to pay more attention to, and indeed, exploit the cultural tourism and indigenous economy in their jurisdictions so as to create jobs for the youth and women in the rural areas.

Osun State, noted for its iconic Osun Osogbo cultural  festival, is home to the Adire variant, Adire Eleko, peculiar to the state.

The ancient city is also noted culturally as Ilu Aro (Home of Dye).

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