Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, prince Kassim Afegbua, who is also a renowned publiscist and information management strategist, has thrown a solid weight behind Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen’s 30-years job in Nollywood.

During a courtesy visit in his office yesterday, Monday October, 20, 2025 in Benin the Edo state capital, prince Afegbua a renowned Image maker , insisted that he will be present in all the events oulined by Lancelot Imasuen to mark his 30 years in Nollywood.

He said that it’s important that the state supports Lancelot, whom they regard as an icon, saying the state is very proud of him and all that he has achieved in Nollywood. Most especially his love for Edo State and placing the state in the map of great places to visit and invest in.

“His coming home to do most of his projects, most especially the Benin Film Academy that is affiliated to the Igbinedion University, which i believed many could have set up somewhere else, is a remarkable feat.”

“Look at all the iconic cultural films that he has produced and how well they have helped shaped and projected the image of the Benin Kingdom. So celebrating 30 years of his illustrious career should be a plus for Edo State and a major thing to key into, said the commissioner who gave Lancelot and his team of local organising team a warm reception

Prince Afegbua was also the image maker of former Nigerian President Ibrahim Gbadamosi Babangida. He was also the Commissioner for Information during the time of former Governor Adams Oshiomole, now a Senator representing Edo North.

In a similar vein, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen also visited the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Itami. The elated commissioner who agreed to partner with lancelot in resuscitating drama as a major tool for social orientation praised the iconic filmmaker for his various exploits.

The event is billed to start on November 15th, 2015 with an open street casting that is going to happen in various major streets in Benin and ending at the place where he grew up as a young child. Then, the colloquium, which will be the major event, will take place in Benin, which will see the unveiling of Oduwa Imasuen Lancelot, OIL Foundation. A Foundation that is poised to help resuscitating and rejuvenating dramatic and Film Clubs across various schools in Edo State.

L-R: The Chairman, Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode; Chairman, Committee on Energy and Mineral Resources, LAHA, Hon. Sobur Akanbi Oluwa; MD/CEO, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), Prince Fatiu Akiolu; Chairman, Committee on the Environment (Parastatals), LAHA, Hon. (Engr.) Shabi Adebola; Chairman, Committee on Procurement, LAHA, Hon. Apata Samuel; and the Committee Clerk, LAHA, Mr. Olaosebikan Ebenezer during the Committee’s oversight function at LASAA in Lagos ..,Monday

The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) recently welcomed a high-powered delegation from the house committee on environment of the Lagos State House of Assembly, led by its Chairman, Honourable Shabi Rasheed Adekola. The visit served as a statutory oversight function, providing a critical platform for detailed engagement on the agency’s performance and regulatory adherence.

The LASAA management team, headed by the Managing Director/CEO, Prince Fatiu Akiolu, engaged the Committee in extensive discussions that spanned the agency’s activities, its performance metrics and compliance with regulatory responsibilities. The meeting fostered productive conversations focusing on strategic policies and ongoing projects aimed at developing an organised, safe and visually appealing outdoor advertising space across the state.

Prince Akiolu seized the opportunity to express his profound gratitude to the Committee for their time, unwavering support and valuable guidance.

“We are deeply committed to upholding best practices in outdoor advertising regulation,” Prince Akiolu stated. “LASAA’s mission is to contribute meaningfully to the sustainable development of Lagos State’s visual environment, a goal we pursue rigorously for the benefit of all residents and visitors.”

In his remarks, Honourable Shabi Rasheed Adekola delivered a glowing assessment of LASAA’s operational efficiency. He particularly praised the agency’s efforts in maintaining a cleaner and safer Lagos through effective signage control and regulation under Prince Akiolu’s leadership.

The Chairman underscored the non-negotiable need for sustained cooperation between the legislature and all government agencies to guarantee efficient service delivery and accountability.

“We recognise LASAA’s vital role in keeping Lagos clean and safe,” Honourable Adekola stated. “This partnership between the legislature and government agencies is essential for ensuring service delivery and accountability that aligns perfectly with the agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.”

Honourable Adekola also issued a call to action, urging LASAA to intensify its efforts in public sensitization. He explained that engaging the public on the agency’s core mandate is crucial for ensuring continuous compliance and maximizing revenue potential.

Crucially, he reinforced the need for LASAA to reassure the public that the state’s outdoor advertising structures are maintained with “utmost integrity,” guaranteeing their safety.

The oversight visit successfully affirmed the shared commitment of both the legislature and LASAA to promoting transparency, efficiency and innovation within the public service, thereby enhancing the quality of life in Lagos State.

…with Agriculture Summit Africa 2025

Lagos, Nigeria – Africa’s agricultural rebirth gathers momentum as Agriculture Summit Africa (ASA) 2025, the continent’s foremost platform for advancing sustainable and inclusive agricultural transformation, returns under the bold theme ‘Survival of the Greenest: Reclaiming Africa’s Food Destiny’.

Scheduled for November 6–7, 2025, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, ASA 2025 is set to spotlight financing pathways to drive sustainable growth in the agricultural sector.
Now in its eighth year and convened by Sterling Bank, the summit will bring together policymakers, agribusiness leaders, investors, and innovators from across Africa and beyond to explore innovative solutions to the continent’s agricultural challenges.

Furthermore, the event will foster collaboration and innovation, examining how green finance, digital tools, and climate-smart practices can transform Africa into the world’s next agricultural powerhouse.

Addressing attendees at the press conference to announce plans for the summit, Abubakar Suleiman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank, emphasised the Bank’s purpose for convening the summit, noting that, “At Sterling, we believe Africa’s food future will be secured not by chance but by deliberate, collective effort.”

“Our commitment is rooted in the conviction that agriculture is central to Africa’s transformation, socially, economically, and environmentally. ASA 2025 is a platform that has galvanised this transformation by uniting policymakers, innovators, and investors around one shared goal: reclaiming Africa’s food destiny through sustainability and innovation.”

With over 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land and a rapidly growing population, Africa holds immense potential to become a global agricultural powerhouse.

However, productivity challenges, limited access to finance, and the escalating impacts of climate change continue to hinder food security. ASA 2025 will leverage multi-sector partnerships and policy alignment to accelerate the continent’s transition from dependence to self-sufficiency.

“This year’s theme, ‘Survival of the Greenest,’ underscores both the urgency and the unique opportunity before us,” commented Olushola Obikanye, Group Head, Agric Finance and Solid Minerals at Sterling Bank. “Africa’s food future lies in sustainability, innovation, and collaboration.

ASA provides a platform where governments, financiers, innovators, and farmers can engage meaningfully to design solutions that strengthen agricultural value chains, unlock financing, and foster inclusion. Agriculture is not just an economic imperative; it is the heartbeat of Africa’s transformation,” he added.

The two-day event will host delegates from over 30 African countries, providing valuable opportunities for networking, policy engagement, and investment facilitation among agribusinesses, innovators, and financiers enabling access to capital.

The event will also feature high-level panels, keynote addresses, policy dialogues, exhibitions, and an Investment Deal Room (a marketplace designed to connect investors with viable agribusiness ventures and initiatives).

Sunbeth Global Concepts, a global agro-commodities sourcing and trading company, will co-convene the summit, contributing its expertise in agribusiness strategy, capacity building, and development partnerships.

Eyitemi Adebowale, Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Sunbeth, spoke to the company’s commitment to sustainable agriculture, saying, “We are proud to co-convene ASA 2025 because we believe the future of Africa’s development is rooted in sustainable agriculture. Through this summit, we aim to spotlight solutions that empower farmers, attract investment, and promote climate-smart practices that build resilience across the continent.”

With strategic partners including Mastercard, which will lead discussions on digital tools for agricultural transformation, ASA 2025 is poised to ignite a movement toward innovation and financial inclusion within the agricultural sector.

Other key sponsors and partners include the International Finance Corporation (IFC), The Alternative Bank, Arzikin Noma, ONE Foundation, Noor Takaful, Bühler, and many others.

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About Agriculture Summit Africa (ASA)
Agriculture Summit Africa (ASA) is the continent’s foremost platform for advancing agricultural innovation, investment, and sustainability. It brings together leaders from government, business, and development sectors to foster collaboration, share insights, and drive action toward a resilient, inclusive agricultural future for Africa.
Interested participants and organisations can register at www.agricsummit.org.

About Sterling Bank Limited
Sterling Bank Limited is a full-service national commercial bank in Nigeria and a member of Sterling Financial Holdings Group. With a heritage of over 60 years, the bank has evolved from Nigeria’s pre-eminent investment banking institution to a trusted provider of retail, commercial, and corporate banking services.
Sterling is a forward-thinking financial institution committed to transforming lives through innovative solutions, exceptional service, unwavering integrity, and a steadfast focus on its HEART strategy, which centers on Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation. As pioneers in digital banking and financial inclusion, Sterling continues to lead by example, showing how purpose-driven leadership can deliver transformative outcomes for individuals, businesses, and society at large.
Guided by a culture of innovation and a passion for excellence, Sterling Bank remains dedicated to redefining the banking experience for millions of customers across Nigeria.