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Obasanjo, Vanguard’s Amuka Lead Prayers for Zinox Chief Leo Stan Ekeh @70
African statesman and former Nigeria President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday night, joined several distinguished Nigerians including Mr Sam Amuka, media icon and Publisher of Vanguard newspaper, to pray for Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Group, on his 70th birthday.
R-L President Olusegun Obasanjo, his wife Chief Mrs Bola Obasanjo and Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh at the event
Obasanjo who graced the thanksgiving meeting with his wife among other dignitaries prayed for more years on earth for Ekeh, whom he described as an “achiever and a very kind man who deserves to be celebrated.” The meeting which held in Ekeh’s residence was organised by his wife and children with opening prayer said by Reverend Father Francis Ike, of the Church of Assumption Falomo, Ikoyi.
Obasanjo who was President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 described Ekeh as “one of the people who made it possible for people to say the good things they say about me and about my period in government.”
President Obasanjo who never hid his admiration and love for Ekeh showered praises on the tech billionaire for taking advantage of the opportunities he created during his eight years as President.
He said: “Leo Stan Ekeh is a very kind man, an achiever. People have been celebrating you but I particularly have to celebrate you because of what you mean to me. Wherever I go in Nigeria and outside Nigeria, people say to me, you did this and that especially in enhancing both local and foreign investments. An African President, five months ago, even invited me to his country to show him how I was able to create many billionaires in Nigeria during my tenure.
“I celebrate Leo Stan because it is one thing to create an opportunity, it is another thing to find people who will even see that as opportunity and take advantage of it and achieve success with those opportunities. Leo Stan is one of the people who made it possible for people to say the good things they say about me and about my period in government.
“That’s why I have to join your family and every other person in identifying those qualities in you that made you a great achiever that you have been. The lesson for all of us is that in spite of the hardship, there are still opportunities. The challenge is how to identify those opportunities and take advantage of them and individually and collectively turn our poverty into prosperity just as Leo Stan has done.”
Obasanjo while thanking God for the gift of long life told Ekeh: “Today, you are celebrating 70 and I am here with you at your invitation. You will celebrate 80, whether you invite me or not, I will be there. You will celebrate 90, you will celebrate 100 and I don’t pray to be there,” he said wittily, eliciting laughter from guests.
Aside Obasanjo and Amuka, others who joined in honouring Ekeh were former Lagos state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola and his wife, former INEC Chairman, Professor Maurice Iwu and his wife, Chairman of MTN, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe and his wife; Mr. Atedo Peterside, Founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank and his wife; Chairman of Fidelity Bank, Mrs Amaka Onwughalu; Managing Director Fidelity Bank, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe; Mr. Udoma Udo-Udoma, Chairman Seplat Energy and his wife; secondary school mates of Ekeh including Charles Oputa (Charly Boy) who came with his wife; Leo Stan’s elder brother HRM Eze George Ekeh (aka Saint George), the traditional ruler Ishi Ubomiri Autonomous Community in Imo state who performed the traditional rites to usher Leo Stan into the traditional club of Elders of Ubomiri; representatives of multinationals with whom he has partnered all through the years; among other distinguished Nigerians and foreigners.
Ekeh in his response thanked Obasanjo for adopting him as his son and trusting him. He attributed his success to the prayers and blessings of Obasanjo, describing him as the President who made most of the billionaires in Nigeria.
The Zinox boss who recalled his little beginning as a mass servant and chorister, said he chose his path early in life, refusing to drink alcohol and smoke cigarette, and keeping to it till this day.
“I am a promoter of trust economy and I believe that trust must define everything you do if you want to succeed,” he said.
He recalled how he woke his parents one night to tell them he was going to start a tech business which sounded strange to them because technology was non-existent in his state at that time.
He acknowledged the role of his wife in his life. “My wife is my strength. I was very clear I was going to marry an intelligent woman. My wife ticked all the boxes for me,” he told the audience.
“I started my business with my school fees and I have been able to build myself and my companies as collateral. People trust me and trust my companies because I was intentional about building trust and integrity in all we do,” he said.
Google and UpSkill Universe, Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading AI and business skills training partner, have announced a major redesign of the Google Hustle Academy programme.
For the first time, the free training initiative is open to everyone, not just business owners. The new curriculum is focused on equipping individuals and entrepreneurs with practical AI skills.
Small businesses are the engine of Africa’s economy, creating over 80% of jobs on the continent. To help them grow, the Hustle Academy was launched in 2022, providing bootcamp-style training on business strategy, digital skills, AI, and leadership. The program has since trained over 18,000 SMEs, with many reporting increased revenue and job creation.
Now, as AI reshapes the job market, the program is evolving. The 2026 edition is built for anyone in Sub-Saharan Africa, including employees, students, and jobseekers, who wants to use AI to advance their career.
To meet the needs of a diverse audience, the new format includes short, 60-minute webinars and more immersive, high-impact bootcamps. These sessions are laser-focused on putting AI to work immediately in areas like digital commerce, marketing, and growth strategy.
Speaking about the academy, Gori Yahaya, Founder & CEO UpSkill Universe said “The 2026 Hustle Academy is designed to close the AI Skills gap with hands-on training that is short, focused, and immediately useful. AI is reshaping how businesses win and how careers are built, right across this continent.
“We’re excited to renew our partnership, now in its fifth year with Google, combining their global AI leadership with our deep regional AI expertise. The next wave of AI leaders will come from this continent. We are making sure they are ready.”
The Hustle Academy initiative has strengthened digital competitiveness across emerging African economies by enabling SMEs to move beyond AI awareness to practical implementation, positioning them for sustained growth in an increasingly AI-driven business environment.
“We believe that the future of Africa’s digital economy lies in the hands of individuals and entrepreneurs alike. Our new strategy focuses on scaling reach by training individuals in the latest AI-centered tools and techniques,” said a Google representative.
Lagos State has dragged 45 individuals and firms, including Bi-Courtney Aviation, DAAR Communications and Leaders & Company, to revenue court for tax debts running into billions of naira.
Lagos Govt
Bi-Courtney, operators of Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, faces N38.7 million claim; DAAR, behind Africa Independent Television, owes N22.4 million; ThisDay publishers Leaders & Company allegedly skip N67.1 million.
GMT Energy Resources tops corporates at N145.8 million, followed by Sheriff Deputies at N132.1 million; others like Heyden Petroleum, AA Rescue, BRT operator Primero also listed.
Individuals owe N13.5 million to N35 million each.
Attorney-General Lawal Pedro said suits followed ignored notices, aiming to enforce laws and fund infrastructure.
More defendants: IENG Nigeria, James Fisher, V Care Diagnostics, Venture Garden, Saro Africa, Barry Callebaut, Native Media, First Consulting, Eyowo Payments.
Compliant taxpayers post-notice escaped prosecution; defaulters risk penalties, interest, jail.
Pedro urged prompt filings and payments.
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians on counterfeit and unregistered Cerelac Mixed Fruits and Wheat products being sold in Lagos.
NAFDAC said Nestle Nigeria, the genuine Marketing Authorisation Holder of the product, received a complaint of suspected counterfeit purportedly manufactured by Nestlé Spain, bearing Batch Code 308002910.
It said that Nestle Nigeria reported that the complainant described that the counterfeit product emitted an odour suggestive of possible contact with fuel.
NAFDAC said that preliminary review of the product by Nestle Nigeria indicated that it had expired, in spite of the container displaying an expiry date of 10-2026, which suggested that the date coding had been tampered with (revalidated).
Nestle Cerelac Mixed Fruits and Wheat is a nutritious infant cereal, designed to be a delicious first food for infants.
NAFDAC said that its post-marketing surveillance’s directorate officers in Lagos conducted a surveillance visit to Maxland Shopping Centre, 193 Ago Palace, Okota, where the product was purchased by the complainant.
It added that the suspected counterfeit and unregistered Cerelac were found on sale at the premises and subsequently mopped up, while Nestle assisted in identifying the distinguishing features between registered and unregistered product.
According to the regulatory agency, Nestle revealed that the unregistered product used a hyphen (-) to separate the day from the year, while the registered product used a slash (/) to separate the day from the year.
“It is important to note that Nestle Nigeria is not aware of the channels through which the products are supplied into the country.
“Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of the sale of substandard and falsified regulated products to the nearest NAFDAC office, call 0800-162-3322, or send an email to [email protected],” NAFDAC said.
The agency warned that counterfeit formula often lacked essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals, leading to stunted growth or developmental issues.
It said that such formula might also contain contaminants that might lead to severe health consequences to infants or even death.
NAFDAC reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public health adding that it would continue surveillance activities to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of all NAFDAC-regulated products circulating in Nigeria.
It said that all zonal directors of the agency and state coordinators had been directed to carry out surveillance and mop up the revalidated product, if found within the zones and states.
The agency urged distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and caregivers to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain, to avoid the distribution, sale, and use of fake products.
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