The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and DMG Events say the upcoming Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026 will unlock new defence-industrial opportunities across the continent.
The Director-General of DICON, Maj.-Gen. Babatunde Alaya, and President of DMG, Christopher Hudson, made this known while briefing newsmen on the event on Friday in Abuja.
They said the exhibition event would strengthen Africa’s position in the global security ecosystem.
The DICON boss said the event represents a landmark initiative designed to serve as a global platform for defense, security, and technology stakeholders to provide excellent ideas and to suggest cutting-edge innovations.
According to him, the event is poised to become Africa’s premier defense and security exhibition, reflecting Nigeria’s growing influence as a hub for industrial innovation, strategic cooperation, and global security collaboration.
“The exhibition will attract participants from across Africa, Europe, and Asia, including leading defense manufacturers, policymakers, security experts, and technocrats from the advanced industries.
“Over the four days, participants will engage in strategic forum, high-level discussions, programme demonstrations, and exhibitions featuring the latest technologies in land, air, maritime, and sabotage defense systems.
“The event will serve as a meeting point for government agencies, armed forces, research institutions, and private investors, providing a vital ground for public-private partnership and cross-continental cooperation.
“For Nigeria, it presents an opportunity to demonstrate our readiness to lead Africa’s industrial defense; and it aligns perfectly with the federal government’s vision, and agendas,” he added.
The President of DMG, Hudson, said Nigeria was hosting the event not only because the country is Africa’s largest economy, but also a regional leader in defense capabilities, industrial ambition and security cooperation across the continent.
According to him, defence investments and capability development are accelerating at a remarkable pace.
He said that African nations allocated about $52 billion and that was projected to increase an expanding programme, maritime, cyber and space domains.
“These efforts are driving modernisation, strengthening Corporation and opening opportunities for industrial collaboration.
“Its within that context that we are creating the African international Defense Exhibition,” he said.
Hudson said that the four days, which begin next year, would attract 30,000 attendees from over 100 companies, and over 500 exhibition companies.
“It will offer access to global technologies, sovereign capability partners and regional solutions aligned with Africa’s operational realities,” he said.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Friday hosted members of the National Assembly to a special dinner at the State House Banquet Hall.
The dinner also witnessed an interactive session focused on solutions to the state of the nation.
Mrs Tinubu used the occasion to plead for the passage of the Gender Parity Bill, also known as the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, currently before the legislature.
She also canvassed deeper engagement between the legislature and the presidency in order to promote national development.
Amid the security challenges across the country, the First Lady acknowledged the leaders’ commitment to the nation and to the democratic values they collectively uphold for Nigeria.
Guests at the dinner included Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo State was also at the dinner.
The gathering, according to the First Lady, was for dialogue and reflection on Nigeria’s democratic future and the centrality of women’s participation.
The First Lady said that the Gender Parity Bill offered a historic opportunity for Nigeria to reposition its democracy and strengthen national development.
“I have watched with keenness in recent months as various interest groups across our beloved nation, and even international bodies, have gathered momentum in support of this particular bill.
“Is it indeed possible for this bill to scale through? Yes, if not today, someday.
” If we do this now, the 10th Assembly will go down in the history of our legislature as the set that stood for women when it counted the most,” she said.
The First Lady urged lawmakers to seize the moment to “take care of our girls and boys.”
She said the current challenges facing millions of children, especially the girl-child and vulnerable boys in the Almajiri system, underscored the need for inclusive reforms.
“In the past few days, our nation has faced a lot of assault, especially as it concerns the future of the education of the girl-child.
” The boys, on the other hand, through the Almajiri system are deprived of basic necessities.
“This deprivation opens them up to be lured into the wrong hands.
” This is why we must prioritise reforms that restore dignity and provide safe learning environments,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu stressed that affirmative measures had improved governance quality in several countries, adding that Nigeria must not be left behind.
“Across the world, countries that have adopted varying forms of affirmative measures have seen improvements in the quality of governance, the inclusiveness of public policies, and the stability of their political systems.
“Nigeria can, and should also benefit from such progressive ideologies.
“I trust in your collective wisdom, your experience, and your patriotism to steer the nation towards a solution that is constitutionally sound and politically workable.
” Everyone, either male or female, should be given the opportunity to contribute to our shared humanity,” she said.
Akpabio, in his response, commended the First Lady for what he described as an unprecedented initiative.
He said both arms of the legislature remained committed to supporting President Bola Tinubu in stabilising the country and advancing inclusive governance.
“We are determined in the National Assembly to support President Tinubu to overcome the current enemy action in Nigeria,” he said.
He disclosed that he had written to two U.S. congressmen earlier in the day to correct what he described as “a false narrative” suggesting religious persecution in Nigeria.
Akpabio also announced that the Senate had resolved to designate kidnapping as a terrorist act carrying the death penalty with no option of fine or judicial discretion.
On the Gender Parity Bill, the Senate President pledged support, saying, “we will not want you to invite us only when women have a particular interest.”
Abbas, on his part, also praised the First Lady’s commitment to the well-being of Nigerians.
He said her advocacy had given women, peace, security and strong national visibility.
Abbas said the House recently dedicated an entire week of plenary sessions to national security for the first time in Nigeria’s legislative history.
He said members expressed overwhelming support for Tinubu’s security reforms.
On the Gender Parity Bill, Abbas said, “ women constitute almost half of our population but remain severely underrepresented in parliament.”
” This weakens our democracy and undermines national security.
“If this bill succeeds, Nigeria will take a significant step toward inclusion, justice and national stability, ” Abbas added.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent the names of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, days after he sent the first batch of three names.
Bayo Onanuga, media aide to President Tinubu made this known in a statement on Saturday.
According to the statement, President Tinubu, in two separate letters to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio asked the Senate to consider and confirm expeditiously 15 nominees as career ambassadors and 17 nominees as non-career ambassadors.
Onanuga stated that there are four women on the career ambassadors’ list and six women on the non-career ambassadors’ list.
The statement reads, “Among the non-career ambassador designates are Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu from Abia, a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri (Delta), former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmud Yakubu, former Ekiti first lady, Erelu Angela Adebayo, and former Enugu governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
“Others are Tasiu Musa Maigari, the former speaker of the Katsina House of Assembly, Yakubu N. Gambo, a former Commissioner in Plateau State and former deputy executive secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
“Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, a former senator from Plateau; Otunba Femi Pedro, a former deputy governor of Lagos State; Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister from Osun State; and Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu from Anambra State are on the nomination list.
“Also on the list are former First Lady of Oyo, Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former Lagos Commissioner, Lola Akande, former Adamawa Senator, Grace Bent, former governor of Abia, Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, businessman, lawyer and Senator from Ondo State, and the former ambassador of Nigeria to the Holy See, Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu from Benue State.
“Among the nominees for career ambassador and high commissioner-designates are: Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia), Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba), Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa), Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi), Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa), Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi) and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun).
“The other nominees are Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo), Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Edo), Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger), Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina), Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna), Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kawara) and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).
“The new nominees are expected to be posted to countries with which Nigeria maintains excellent and strategic bilateral relations, such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya, and to Permanent Missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union. All the nominees will know their diplomatic assignments after their confirmation by the Senate.
“Last week, President Tinubu sent three ambassadorial nominees for screening and confirmation. The nominees were Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun). All three are in the pot for posting to the UK, USA, or France after their confirmation.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said more nominees for ambassadorial positions will be announced soon”.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has urged the Federal Government to accord local engineers more recognition and support their passion, industry and resilience.
The Managing Director of NRC, Dr Kayode Opeifa, made the call according to a statement on Friday in Lagos.
He made the call while receiving the executives of the Nigeria Society of Engineers led by Mrs Margaret Oguntala in his office.
According to Opeifa, if the Federal Government can invest more in local engineers, the country will save billions of dollars.
Citing an with the NRC, Opeifa said the corporation’s local engineers had continued to save the country huge foreign exchange as they continued to improvise in keeping the corporation’s rolling stocks moving.
“The NRC is blessed with the very best of our local engineers.
“They have a good work ethics, and despite absence of some necessary work tools, they have continued to demonstrate capacity and show that they can build rail tracks, fix locomotive engines and do much more.
“Our female engineers are very passionate and compete with their male counterparts to contribute to the smooth operations of the railway,” he said.
He said that from the train attack in Kaduna to the recent train incident at Asham, NRC engineers prevented the government from awarding any contract to re-rail, recover and evacuate NRC trains.
He said that beyond collecting materials from supplies, the engineers – civil, mechanical, electrical, signals and telecommunications -had sustained NRCvoperations through their ingenuity.
Opeifa urged the NSE to continue to draw the attention of governments to funding gaps and the need to support local engineers since its members had continued to prove their mettle in national development.
Opeifa said he was confident that, given the necessary support, Nigerian engineers would rank among the best in the world.
He added that with the amendment to the corporation’s law; which had removed railway from the exclusive to the concurrent list, NRC engineers would in high demand.
Earlier, Oguntala, the 34th President and first female President of the NSE, applauded Opeifa for transformating railway transport.
She said that Opeifa re-awakened consciousness of work ethics with focus on ensuring value for money, which resulted in effective and efficient service delivery.
“Your commitment to enhancing transparency in railway administration is noteworthy, and we applaud this effort.
“This direction inspires confidence and aligns closely with our shared aspirations for a better and more accountable Nigeria,” she said.
Oguntala invited Opeifa to the society’s 2025 International Engineering Conference, Exhibition and Annual General Meeting with the theme: “Engineering Innovation for a Sustainable Blue Economy”.
She said that the event would take place from Dec. 1 to Dec. 5 in Ibadan.
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the First West Africa Para Games has disclosed that no fewer than 700 athletes have arrived Ogun for the games.
The Committee Chairman, Mr Victor Achakpo, stated this at a news conference in Abeokuta on Friday.
Achakpo noted that preparations were already underway for the games to commence, adding that the host country, Nigeria, would be fielding 190 athletes.
He added that the organisers had made comprehensive arrangements for accommodation, venues, transportation, medical services, security, and the feeding of all athletes.
The LOC chairman assured the athletes of their safety throughout the games, adding that Nigeria and Ogun state are safe.
He said that 16 West African counties with two invited countries would be participating in the games and promised participants of a free and fair games.
“The whole West African countries are participating with two invited countries, DR Congo and Cameroon.
“We are good to go; we already have over 700 athletes in Ogun state. The host country has over 190 persons and we have taken care of accommodation, venues, transportation, medicals and security.
“I want to assure everyone that Nigeria and Ogun is safe. Sports is one thing that unites any nation and sports will unite us. When I say sports, I am talking about para sports now,” he said.
Mr Sunday Odebode, the President, Paralympic Committee of Nigeria, appreciated Ogun state for accepting to host the games in spite of the challenges.
Odebode also commended the National Sports Commission under the leadership of Sheu Dikko, Director General, Bukola Olopade and African Paralympics committee for making sure Nigeria host the first edition of the games.
“The West African para games is for the development of the west coast. The common wealth is by the corner and this para games has given them another leverage.
“But today you will see ability in disability when you watch the opening ceremony today between Nigeria and Benin Republic as regard the amputee football,” he said.
The Secretary-General, Africa Paralympic Committee , Mr Ignatius Elletey, also commended the Federal Government and the Nigeria Paralympic Committee for hosting the maiden edition of the games.
He described the gesture as “a historic and impactful contribution to the development of para sports on the continent”.
“Let us use the power of sports to make persons with disabilities visible. Let us work to ensure they have access to sports and the opportunity to live fulfilling lives,” he said.
The games scheduled to commence on Friday will end on December 4.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee (NTPIC).
The committee, chaired by Mr Joseph Tegbe, would drive the implementation of the administration’s landmark tax reforms in line with national economic aspirations.
Presidential spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, announced this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
He said that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, would supervise the committee’s activities.
The committee, he said, would conduct extensive consultations across the public and private sectors to ensure broad-based input into the implementation process.
Tegbe is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
He brings over 35 years of professional experience, including his role as Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa.
Mrs Sanyade Okoli, Special Adviser to the President on Finance and Economy, would serve as Secretary, while other members include Ismaeel Ahmed and Rukaiya El-Rufai.
Tinubu said effective implementation of the new Tax Acts remained central to the administration’s economic transformation agenda and strengthening of public finance management.
“These new Tax Acts reflect our commitment to building a fair, transparent, and technology-driven tax system that supports economic growth while protecting the interests of citizens and businesses.
“The National Tax Policy Implementation Committee will ensure coherent, effective, and well-aligned implementation across all levels of government,” he said.
The committee’s mandate includes nationwide stakeholder engagements, public awareness campaigns, and alignment of revenue and regulatory agencies to ensure smooth implementation of the new tax laws.
It also emphasises strong inter-agency coordination, harmonisation of existing frameworks, and unified reporting throughout the transition.
The committee comprises experts in tax administration, finance, law, private sector and civil society.
Tegbe expressed readiness to work diligently toward successful execution.
“We understand the strategic importance of these Tax Acts.
“Our committee will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure seamless implementation and build public trust in the tax system,” he said.
Edun, on his part, said that the committee marked a significant step toward resetting the national fiscal framework for inclusive economic growth.
The NTPIC is expected to enhance revenue mobilisation, reduce leakages and reinforce accountability, boosting fiscal sustainability and advancing national development goals.
The National Executive Council (NEC) of Labour Party has reaffirmed the leadership elected at its 2024 National Convention in Nnewi, Anambra, and approved key organisational decisions.
This was made known in a resolution jointly signed by the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, Mr Julius Abure and Alhaji Umar Ibrahim respectively and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday.
The resolution was the outcome of the NEC meeting held on Friday in Abuja which was attended by members of the National Working Committee (NWC), state chairmen and secretaries of the party.
The meeting was monitored by officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Others in attendance at the meeting were national officers, stakeholders and co-opted NEC members.
In the resolutions, read by the national chairman, the party’s NEC said it had reviewed the controversies that trailed the 2024 convention, ongoing litigations and the stance of INEC.
It also cited recent Supreme Court judgments affirming that leadership disputes within political parties are strictly internal matters and not subject to judicial intervention.
Quoting a 2025 Supreme Court ruling in Abegunde vs Ondo State House of Assembly & Ors, the NEC noted that political parties, as corporate entities, are bound by their own constitutions and internal dispute-resolution mechanisms.
“Members are obligated to comply with party rules they freely subscribed to. Consequently, the NEC reaffirmed the officers elected at the March 27, 2024 convention.
“Those retained include National Chairman, Mr Julius Abure; Deputy National Chairmen, Clement Ojukwu, Dr Ayo Olorunfemi and Esther Gulmu as well as the National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim.
Others are the National Treasurer, Mrs Ngozi Doga; National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh and National Youth Leader, Kennedy Ahanotu, among others.
“The NEC also filled several vacant NWC positions, appointing Oluwafemi Arabambi as National Vice Chairman (South-West), Favour Reuben, Assistant National Organising Secretary and Mr Enu Kikawa, Assistant National Woman Leader (South-South).
“In addition, the council mandated the national chairman and national secretary to convene a special convention, when necessary, and ratify the decision to conduct ward, local government and state congresses nationwide,” the NEC stated.
The party therefore commended the INEC leadership for helping to make peace to return to the party by reaffirming its leadership.
It also commended all loyal members and the media for standing by the party through the turbulent times, adding that they had succeeded in making Labour Party an institution that could stand on its own against all odds.
Also at the meeting, the party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed, said that Labour Party as a welfarist party.
He promised that if the party should be allowed to take over government in 2027, the welfare of Nigerians would be assured.
Baba-Ahmed clarified that the Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023, Mr Peter Obi, is still part of the party.
The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) on Friday sensitised staff on its role in facilitating the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement’s implementation across Nigeria.
In his opening remarks in Abuja, the Director General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, said implementation would include research, capacity building, policy engagement, curriculum development, and the presentation of a compendium on AfCFTA law, 2019–2025.
Sulaiman noted that NILDS was Nigeria’s premier legislative and democratic capacity-building institution mandated to strengthen governance through research, training, policy analysis, and support services provided to legislators across all levels of government.
He explained that AfCFTA presented Nigeria major opportunities by expanding market access, boosting intra-African trade, attracting investment, promoting innovation, and ultimately reducing poverty while enhancing economic growth and integration across the continent.
“On behalf of NILDS management and staff, I warmly welcome all participants, especially our virtual guests, joining this important engagement from diverse professional backgrounds across Nigeria and beyond.
“Today’s programme demonstrates NILDS’ commitment to advancing AfCFTA knowledge, launching Africa’s first AfCFTA Law and Policy Division, alongside a comprehensive compendium of AfCFTA legal instruments and policies.
“Within weeks, the Division achieved Africa’s first AfCFTA Law and Policy unit and a comprehensive legal compendium while building strategic regional and international partnerships to strengthen implementation frameworks,” Sulaiman said.
He wished participants productive deliberations and encouraged continued commitment to strengthening NILDS’ contributions to national development while advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area objectives across Africa.
Setting the tone for the event, Prof. Mohammed Ladan, Director of AfCFTA Law and Policy at NILDS, said the sensitisation aimed to equip staff with knowledge of the AfCFTA framework and NILDS’ implementation role.
Ladan emphasised that in implementing AfCFTA, NILDS staff would provide technical and legislative support while raising awareness on the AfCFTA framework to ensure effective coordination within Nigeria and across African states.
“The sensitisation event will afford staff understanding of NILDS’ specific role within the national implementation strategy, fostering technical capacity and ensuring inclusivity of relevant stakeholders in planning and execution.”
The Representative of the Nigeria Coordinating Office of AfCFTA, Dr Fatima Bello, commended NILDS for its continued efforts to ensure successful AfCFTA implementation in Nigeria, highlighting the importance of staff awareness of the legal framework.
In her welcome address, Dr Adejoke Akasanmi, Director of Training at NILDS, encouraged participants to approach the event with dedication, deepening their understanding of the AfCFTA legal framework and their contributions to policy implementation.
Some environmental experts have urged the National Assembly to speed up the passage of the Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) bill to nip unethical mining in the bud in the country.
The experts, who made the call at a roundtable table in Abuja on Friday, urged the assembly to expedite actions on the bill, as it would spell out rights of host communities and protect them against hazards of unethical mining activities.
The Project Lead at Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF,) Mr Shehu Akowe, said that the roundtable was to draw government’s attention to the impact of expansion of extractive activities across the country.
Akowe recalled that as at 2024, there were 7,182 mining sites in Nigeria, comprising artisanal and small scale mining across 500 communities, of which a single unethical mining site could displace between 10 and 20 communities.
He said that the impact of ongoing extractive activities in Mpape, Takushara and Mbuko communities in the FCT could not be ignored, as extractive sites are too close to residential areas, thus posing serious threat to residents.
Akpwe said that given the volume of extractive activities in the communities, an environmental disaster, difficult to handle by government and stakeholders, could occur within a matter of time.
“So we are here to say that government needs to enforce the regulations that guide mining activities and ensure the community rights to decide what happened around them.
“We are calling on the government to ensure the passage of the ESHIA bill currently in the National Assembly, which has passed the first reading.
“The national assembly should accelerate activities on that bill, as it will help host communities.
“The bill, when passed, will project the voice of community better and not just on paper.
“The community must be informed; they must be part of the process; they must be part of every decision that will lead to mining in their domain.
“We are saying that the Federal Government should consider legislative backing to ensure communities only give informed consent and they should retain the right to take it back in the face of dangerous impact of mining,” he said.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Urban-Rural Environmental Advocacy (UREA), Mr Godspower Martins, called for domestication of UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights (2007), a principle that insists on free, prior and informed community consent.
According to him, the principle states that communities must agree to projects before they start and that communities will not just be consulted but be active partners in every stage of a mining project, from initial exploration to closure.
He said that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), a legal tool in Nigeria’s EIA Act, (1992), was designed to predict projects’ risks and ensure that development does not harm the environment or humans irreparably.
Martins said that host communities must stop seeing themselves as ignorant, helpless, passive and captured entities but as a statutory important part of the mining value chain that must not be ignored.
In his remarks, Mr Edosa Oviawe, an environmental expert, described mining as not something bad, as it leads to modern development.
Oviawe, however, said that unethical mining could spell doom for the society.
He alleged that a lot of illegal mining was ongoing in the country by licensed miners, stressing that many of them usually go beyond the scope of their certification.
The expert listed the implications of unethical mining to include loss of farm lands, water pollution, dust for blasts, sexual exploitation, school dropout, child mortality, accidents from open pits, infrastructure decay and respiration diseases, among others.
All these, he said, could only be seen after a long time and when the damage might have been done.
Oviawe noted that there were lots of ambiguities in the current law which needed to be updated with proper oversight to ensure that only ethical and developmental mining were carried out in the country.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Ubuntu Environmental Development Foundation (UEDF), Mr Daramfon Bassey, urged miners not to put profits ahead of humanity.
According to Bassey, unethical mining leads to cancer, fertility deficiencies among other health and environmental issues which are prominent in mining communities in Enugu, Plateau and Nasarawa, among other states.
“Even if you make all the profit, you will still need the environment to live in; there is need for government to take urgent steps.
“When lands are taken from communities, it is not just the land but their culture, herbs, ancestral history are also being taken,” he said.
Some residents of Ruga community in Mpape area of the FCT said that they were traumatised by the activities of extractive companies in the area.
One of the residents, Ms Prudence Donald, explained that before the quarry company blasts rocks with dynamites, they blare sirens to alert residents to move out of their homes to prevent loss of life in the event of house collapse.
She said that blasts often shake the entire community and that many house now have cracks on their walls as a result of frequent quakes.
She said that the community does not have a voice, as many of its leaders do not have formal education and cannot properly engage from informed position.
Another resident, Mr Yusuf Aliyu, said that efforts to engage the company had not yielded result, as it usually evades any attempt to account for its actions.
Aliyu explained that on one occasion, they were told by the company management that they were not answerable to Ruga but to Kaidi, a neighbouring community which did not feel impact as much.
He recalled that during one of the blasts, a piece of rock broke the head of a young girl who was going about her activities in the community.
Aliyu also said that many roofs had been damaged by the rock particles flying from blast sites into the community.
Women Converge 2025 unfolded yesterday as a compelling display of collective worship and shared spiritual energy, drawing women in their hundreds from across Rivers State, neighbouring regions, and the wider Nigerian Christian community.
Mrs Sotonye Toby Fulton(3rd right), welcoming wife of Rivers State Governor, Mrs Valerie Fubara at the Women Converge 2025, held at the Alfred Diete Spiff Civic Centre on Thursday.
What began as a routine annual gathering evolved into a deeply resonant moment of unity, praise, and reflection — one many described as the most moving edition yet.
The event, organised by Rivers Women Unite for Sim (RWUS), had the theme: “The Women: In An Evolving World.” It brought together a large number of women for praise, worship, prayers, thanksgiving, and discussions on how to keep moving forward.
Wife of Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara at the event.
The event which held at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre in Port Harcourt gained added prominence with the attendance of the First Lady of Rivers State, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, whose presence brought both a symbolic and personal dimension to the day.
From the moment she arrived, there was a palpable shift in the room, not marked by ceremony or formality, but by a warm, reassuring presence that blended easily with the spirit of the event.
Lady Fubara did more than deliver formal remarks. She joined in the worship sessions, prayed alongside the women, and offered a short exhortation that was striking in its simplicity and sincerity.
Her message — centred on hope, perseverance, and the importance of faith-led resilience — appeared to strike a chord, drawing murmurs of agreement and quiet applause from those present.
She praised women in Rivers State and across Nigeria for showing strength, courage, and determination in today’s challenging world.
Lady Valerie Fubara said women have continued to do well in business, farming, industry, public service, and politics, even while facing economic pressures and family responsibilities.
“Women remain strong and relevant in this changing world,” she said. “They keep pushing forward with faith in God and a desire to achieve more.”
She described the gathering as an important moment for women to support one another and to contribute to peace and development in Rivers State.
“Our women have always been pace-setters,” she said. “Your prayers and commitment make a big difference in our society.”
Lady Valerie Fubara encouraged women to stay prayerful, united, and focused, saying God would reward their efforts. She thanked them for their support for her and her family.
Earlier, the convener of Women Converge 2025, Mrs Sotonye Toby Fulton while welcoming participants described the Converge as one “deeply inspired by faith, values, and purpose.”
“It is also a space that welcomes every woman across professions, beliefs, social backgrounds, and generations.
“Today, we gather not only to pray, but also to learn. Not only to worship, but also to strategize. Not only to speak but also to take action.
“This is a place where faith meets policy, spirituality meets leadership, inspiration meets innovation, and women’s voices meet development,” Toby-Fulton said.
For many attendees, it reaffirmed a growing sense that leadership, in its most meaningful form, includes standing with citizens not only in governance but in moments of shared spiritual reflection.
Throughout the hall, the atmosphere echoed with music, prayer, and an unmistakable sense of belonging. Praise sessions lifted the room into a rhythm of joy; prayers were offered both collectively and quietly; testimonies hinted at personal battles and small victories.
Thanksgiving, which formed a central part of the programme, had the effect of drawing women into a single current of gratitude — for their families, for their communities and, for some, for the ability simply to gather in peace.
What emerged was a portrait of women stepping into their roles as spiritual anchors, moral guides, and the often-unacknowledged backbone of society. Many speakers noted that when women convene in worship, they bring an emotional clarity and spiritual depth that can shift the tone of entire communities.
Yesterday’s convergence seemed to affirm that view: worship became a soothing force, prayer a collective stabiliser, and mutual support a central theme.
While the gathering was steeped in faith, its social undertones were unmistakable. Conversations between sessions touched on the pressures of family life, the economic strains many households face, and the quiet but persistent work women undertake to hold their communities together.
In this context, the convergence was not merely a church event but a rare space where women shared stories, renewed friendships, and found reassurance in one another.
Lady Fubara’s presence added a maternal thread that ran through the day. Her interactions were unhurried and deliberate, marked by a willingness to listen, embrace, and offer words of comfort.
That conduct, participants said, created a sense of closeness — a feeling that the concerns of ordinary women were visible and valued at the highest levels of the state.
By the time the programme drew to a close, it was clear that Women Converge 2025 had offered more than spiritual upliftment. It delivered a reaffirmation of community, of shared faith, and of the quiet but enduring strength that women bring to public and private life. The songs may have faded, and the hall emptied, but the conversations, reflections, and bonds formed are likely to echo far beyond the day.
For many who attended, the convergence was a reminder that no woman stands alone — and that in shared worship, Rivers State finds a steadier, more hopeful heartbeat.
The event also featured a keynote message from Pastor Dr. Eno Jerry Eze; a prayer session led by Apostle Opuaya Bipiminayefie Agha of When Women Pray International, and praise and worship from several gospel ministers.
