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The Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has called on youths to reject agents of division and exclusion, and focus on shared values in an era increasingly defined by identity politics.

Fashola stated this while speaking at the Lagos Leadership Summit 2025 on Wednesday, organised by the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, themed: “Transformative Leadership: Development-Responsive, Adaptive and Inclusive Models”.

The former Lagos State governor, who spoke on the topic: “The Inclusion Imperative: Why No One Wins When Leadership Leaves People Behind”, emphasised the importance of unity and inclusiveness.

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He noted that the 1999 Nigerian Constitution already contains strong provisions that promote national cohesion and inclusion.

He stressed the need for leaders across all levels to collaborate in giving practical meaning to the constitutional imperatives.

According to him, true leadership lies in ensuring that no one is left behind, regardless of ethnic, religious or political affiliations.

The chief host of the event, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his address, reiterated his administration’s dedication to good governance and pledged to use creative leadership, culture and the THEMES PLUS Agenda for the benefit of the people as well as the society in a bid to achieve the aims and vision of moving Lagos forward.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who spoke on the topic: “From Leadership to Legacy: Designing Systems That Work Without You”, said he had been lucky to take forward the aggressive leadership of past leaders and had been able to innovate, urging people to get good education and do well in whatever assignment and level they find themselves.

The Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade said Governor Sanwo-Olu had the vision of Lateef Jakande leadership academy and the academy had graduated 60 fellows and 30 others underway.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has called for the immediate release and safe return of six Nigerian tourists currently detained by immigration authorities in Cape Verde.

The Chairman of the Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa made the appeal in a statement signed by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit of NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the group—comprising young Nigerians aged between 25 and 31—had traveled from Senegal to Cape Verde for vacation but were detained upon arrival at the airport. The tourists were reportedly accused of not having sufficient funds and had their phones confiscated before being taken to an immigration deportation camp.

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NiDCOM expressed concern over the condition of the detainees, stating that they are facing severe distress and trauma. One of them is said to have a medical condition and has been denied access to vital medication.

“We appeal to the Immigration authorities in Cape Verde to please treat the tourists with respect and dignity and put them on the next immediate return flight to Dakar for onward connection back to Nigeria,” the Commission urged.

The affected individuals have been identified as David James Udoh, Lily Dada, Oghenero Adaware, Sherifat Abimbola Ogundairo, and Jesutomi Aina. The trip was reportedly organized by Irin Travels, associated with the handles @irintravels and @theFARAWAY_.

The matter has been escalated to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and reported to the Consular and Migration Directorate for urgent intervention.

Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over alleged defamatory statements made against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central District.

In the petition signed by his lawyer, N.A. Abubakar, to the IGP on Wednesday, Bello called on the police to invite Akpoti-Uduaghan to substantiate her allegations against him with credible evidence.

“Where she fails to do so, cause her to be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the law for criminal defamation, inciting public disturbance, and spreading false information injurious to public peace,” the lawyer wrote.

The former governor also wrote to Akpoti-Uduaghan, through his lawyer, R.O. Balogun, demanding retraction and public apology over the alleged defamatory statements made against him or face legal consequences.

The former Kogi governor claimed the female lawmaker during a homecoming event on April 1, 2025, in the Okehi Local Government Area of the state “maliciously” defamed him and levelled assassination allegations against him.

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Bello said the said actions of the female senator contravened Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.

“By accusing our client of plotting an assassination and naming him as a co-conspirator in a purported murder plot (with an attempt to disguise the killing as mob or ethnic violence), Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan has:

“Gravely damaged our client’s reputation by portraying him as a violent and vengeful political actor and misled the public and tried to incite ethnic and political distrust, especially among clans of Ebiraland in particular and the people of Kogi Central in general.