Tinubu names ‘Tax man’ minister of state for finance

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Taiwo Oyedele as the minister of state for finance, replacing Doris Anite-Uzoka.

Mrs Anite-Uzoka will now move to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, as the Minister of State, her third portfolio in the administration.

President Tinubu today conveyed the nomination of Mr Oyedele to the Senate for confirmation in a letter to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Until President Tinubu nominated him as a minister, Mr Oyedele from Ikaram, Akoko, Ondo State, was the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, which overhauled Nigeria’s tax system.

Mr Oyedele, 50, is an economist, accountant and public policy expert.

He attended Yaba College of Technology, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in accountancy and finance. He attended Oxford Brookes University and earned a BSc in applied accounting.

He also completed executive education programmes at the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.

Mr Oyedele spent 22 years of his working career at PwC, joining in 2001 and rising to become the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader.

Mr Oyedele is also a professor at Babcock University in Ogun State and a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School.

Bayo Onanuga,

Special Adviser to the President,

(Information and Strategy)

March 3, 2026

Relief Radiant Hearts Foundation Launched in Iwo, Promises Hope for the Vulnerable

March 3, 2026

The ancient town of Iwo, Osun State, witnessed a significant humanitarian milestone on Sunday, March 1, 2026, as the Relief Radiant Hearts Foundation (RRHF) was officially launched at the Palace of the Oluwo of Iwo.

The colourful ceremony, held at the revered Oluwo Palace, attracted dignitaries, traditional rulers, government officials, medical professionals, education stakeholders and community leaders from within and beyond Iwoland.

Royal Endorsement and Vision

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Alhaji Liad Tella, expressed deep appreciation to the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, for his royal blessings, fatherly guidance and unwavering support which paved the way for the successful unveiling of the foundation.

Alhaji Tella stated that RRHF is built on the core values of integrity, transparency, accountability and sincerity of purpose. He commended the Coordinator of the Foundation, Asiwaju Anifowose Rahman, describing his passion as a driving force behind the initiative’s mission to reduce hardship, empower the less privileged through education and restore dignity to vulnerable members of society.

According to him, what began as a seed of compassion has blossomed into a tree of hope, stressing that divinely inspired visions often attract support from unexpected quarters.

In his royal remarks, Oba Akanbi lauded the initiative, noting that it would help reduce poverty, inspire hope and strengthen communal bonds within Iwo and its environs.

Chieftaincy Honour for UCH CMD

A major highlight of the event was the conferment of the prestigious chieftaincy title of Baasegun Ariwajoye of Iwoland on the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Professor Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo.

Professor Otegbayo described the launch as “the unveiling of hope and the institutionalization of compassion,” emphasizing the urgent need for structured and sustainable humanitarian interventions in the face of widening socio-economic gaps.

He praised the visionaries behind the foundation for transforming compassion into an enduring institution capable of delivering measurable impact.

The UCH management team present at the ceremony included Mrs. I.O. Olaleye, Acting Director of Administration; Mrs. Fawole, Head of General Administration; Mr. Akintola, Head of Transport; and Mrs. Obafunmilayo Adetuyibi, Head of Public Relations, among other staff members.

Academic Excellence Competition

Demonstrating its commitment to educational empowerment, the Foundation organized an Academic Excellence Competition as part of the launch activities.

Olaniyan Abdulsomod Olawale of Muslim Comprehensive High School, Isokan, emerged as the Overall Best Student and received a gold medal alongside a full scholarship to any public university of his choice in Nigeria.

Zakariyah Hameedah of Iwo Grammar School secured second place and was awarded full sponsorship for WAEC, NECO and JAMB registration, while Taofeek Ajimoh of St. Anthony Catholic Grammar School, Iwo, finished third and received full sponsorship for WAEC and NECO registration.

Two other outstanding students — Adigun Oluwatoyin Esther of Baptist High School, Iwo, and Atilola Ameeroh Demilade of Anwar-ul-Islam Grammar School, Iwo — were also recognized and rewarded with gifts in appreciation of their commendable performances.

In a further show of community support, the Host of the Day, Engr. Alamu Akeem Adelani, pledged to sponsor the WAEC and NECO fees of the two outstanding students on behalf of Omoba Dotun Babayemi (ODB).

Community Outreach and Collective Responsibility

Another key highlight of the ceremony was the distribution of food items to members of the community, reflecting the foundation’s core mandate of compassion, relief and service to humanity.

Special appreciation was extended to the Executive Chairman of Iwo Local Government, members of the Executive Council, EAS officials, honourable councilors, the CEO of Coastline, and prominent sons and daughters of Iwo both at home and in the diaspora who contributed to the success of the event.

Speakers at the ceremony described the Relief Radiant Hearts Foundation as more than an organization, but a symbol of unity, compassion and collective responsibility.

As the event concluded with prayers of gratitude to Almighty Allah, stakeholders expressed optimism that the foundation would bridge social gaps, uplift vulnerable groups and position Iwo as a beacon of structured humanitarian service in Nigeria.

Relief Radiant Hearts Foundation Launched in Iwo, Promises Hope for the Vulnerable

Human Rights Lawyer Warns Against Targeting Children, Hospitals in U.S – Israel Military Action

Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has urged the United States and Israel to fully respect international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions in their ongoing military action against Iran, warning that targeting civilians, children, hospitals and other protected populations constitutes a serious violation of the laws of war.

Speaking in a statement on Monday, Adeyanju said that even amid heightened conflict, combatants have clear legal obligations under international law to distinguish between military targets and civilians. He noted that deliberate attacks on non‑combatants and protected infrastructure such as hospitals and schools are prohibited under global legal norms aimed at minimizing human suffering during armed conflict. This framework is central to the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, which require parties to a conflict to take all feasible precautions to safeguard civilians and avoid harm to civilian objects.

“The United States and Israel must respect the Geneva Convention in their war with Iran. Children, hospitals, the civil population and vulnerable people must not be targeted,” Adeyanju said, emphasizing that failure to uphold these principles could amount to serious violations under international law.

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International humanitarian law (IHL) — the body of legal rules that govern armed conflict — protects those who are not taking part in hostilities, including civilians, medical personnel and humanitarian workers, and restricts how warfare may be conducted. Under IHL, parties must always distinguish between combatants and civilians and refrain from deliberate attacks on civilian objects even if military activity is occurring nearby.

Adeyanju’s appeal comes amid sharp escalations in the Middle East, where recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes inside Iran have sparked retaliatory attacks by Tehran and heightened fears of a wider regional conflict involving multiple state and non‑state actors. Various international actors, including the European Union, have called for “maximum restraint” and full compliance with international law in responding to the crisis, urging the protection of civilian lives and strict adherence to humanitarian norms.

Similarly, international legal and humanitarian organisations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations human rights chief, have reiterated that the laws of war apply regardless of the political objectives of the parties involved, and that the safety of civilians must remain paramount. They have called for all sides to uphold the rules of armed conflict and protect medical personnel, hospitals, homes and schools from attack.

Critics of the escalation have underscored the devastating toll that indiscriminate or disproportionate use of force can have on civilian populations, not only in the immediate conflict zone but also across neighbouring regions struggling with displacement, economic instability and humanitarian needs.

Adeyanju stressed that adherence to international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions is not merely aspirational but a legal and moral obligation for all parties in hostilities. He reiterated that the protection of innocent lives, especially children and vulnerable civilians, should remain central to any legitimate military action and urged greater international accountability for violations.

Human Rights Lawyer Warns Against Targeting Children, Hospitals in U.S – Israel Military Action