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Int’l Yoga Day: Indian Envoy Urges Nigerians to Embrace Ancient Practice for Healthier, Longer Lives

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By Gloria Ikibah

The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Abhishek Singh, has called on Nigerians to embrace yoga as a lifelong wellness practice capable of promoting healthy ageing, improving mental well-being and enhancing overall quality of life.

The envoy made the appeal on Saturday during the 12th International Day of Yoga celebration held at the Velodrome of the National Stadium in Abuja, where hundreds of participants gathered under the global theme, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing.”

Observed annually on 21 June, the International Day of Yoga was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014 following a proposal by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the endorsement of 177 member states. The annual observance seeks to raise global awareness of the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of yoga while encouraging healthier and more balanced lifestyles.

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This year’s celebration highlighted the role of yoga in supporting healthy ageing, especially as populations around the world continue to live longer and face increasing risks of chronic illnesses associated with old age.

Addressing participants, Singh described yoga as one of India’s greatest contributions to humanity, stressing that its benefits extend beyond physical exercise to include mental clarity, emotional balance and inner peace.

“Yoga has got many benefits, but I emphasise that this year’s theme is healthy ageing because we have seen that many times when you age, you get many ailments which can be avoidable through the practice of yoga.

“This is what we are going to convey to the masses—that if you practise yoga, you will be as youthful in your old age as you were in your youth. Practise yoga for good health and good ageing,” Singh said.

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The colourful event attracted diplomats, government officials, members of the diplomatic community, students, Corps members, wellness enthusiasts and members of the Indian community in Nigeria, all united by a shared commitment to healthy living.

The High Commissioner noted that yoga remains increasingly relevant in a world characterised by demanding schedules, stress and lifestyle-related illnesses, as he said the practice provides an opportunity to reconnect with oneself while improving physical and mental health.

“In the fast-paced modern lives, yoga provides a dedicated space to breathe deeply, reduce stress and cultivate mental clarity. By combining gentle movements, stretching, breathing exercises and mindfulness, yoga can help improve balance, flexibility, strength and mobility, while also supporting mental well-being and stress management,” he said.

He explained that yoga has evolved beyond its origins to become a universal language that promotes peace, wellness and harmony among people of different cultures and nationalities.

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Reflecting on the significance of the Abuja celebration, Singh said the large turnout demonstrated the growing appreciation of yoga as a tool for healthier living and stronger social connections.

“The theme this year is Yoga for Healthy Ageing and everyone has now realised the importance of yoga not only for their physical well-being but also for their mental well-being.

“I have seen this great sea of humanity in the colours of the Indian flag—orange, white and green—and how it brings everyone across borders and languages together for the common purpose of uniting humanity for good health,” he said.

He also commended the National Sports Commission, officials of the High Commission of India, corporate partners and members of the community for contributing to the success of the event, urging participants to make yoga a daily habit rather than an occasional activity.

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“Let us practise yoga to connect with ourselves and foster a sense of harmony and tranquillity that we can carry into our daily lives,” Singh said.

With growing evidence linking regular physical activity and mindfulness to improved health outcomes, advocates say yoga continues to gain recognition as a simple, accessible and cost-effective way to promote healthier living, reduce stress and support well-being across all stages of life.

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IGSOSA Restructures, Names Zonal Coordinators, Moves to Strengthen Members’ Welfare

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The Iluelogbo Grammar School Old Students Association (IGSOSA), Owhelogbo, has unveiled a series of measures aimed at strengthening its nationwide structure, improving members’ welfare and accelerating the development of the alma mater.

The decisions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in Owhelogbo, where old students from various sets and branches participated in deliberations on the growth of the association and the development of Iluelogbo Grammar School.

A major outcome of the meeting was the appointment of five Zonal Coordinators to improve grassroots mobilisation and deepen participation among members across the country.

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The newly appointed coordinators are Dr. Israel Adaigho for Asaba Zone; Barr. Faith Enajedu for Port Harcourt/Akwa Ibom/Abia Zone; Mr. Ben Akelemo for Lagos Zone; Dr. Fortune Erume for Warri Zone; and Mr. Simon Enajedu for Abuja Zone.

According to the communiqué, the coordinators are expected to mobilise old students within their respective zones and serve as a link between the zones and the National Executive of the association.

The AGM also approved the establishment of a Welfare/Benevolent Trust Fund Committee to coordinate welfare-related matters affecting members.

The committee is chaired by Dr. Tony Alabi, with Mr. Patrick Nebe, Mr. Nathais Otobo, Barr. Ovah Frederick, Dcns. Vivian Okpobrisi, Mrs. Flora Utunedi-Whiskey and Chief Jonathan Orife as members.

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Engr. Lawrence Enna was appointed Secretary of the committee.

In another major resolution, the AGM proposed an amendment to the association’s constitution to accommodate three additional positions — Legal Adviser, Internal Auditor and Board of Trustees (BOT).

The proposed constitutional amendment is to be posted on the association’s general online platform for members to consider and vote on within one week from the date of the communiqué.

The association said the measures were part of its broader effort to strengthen its administrative structure, promote members’ welfare and ensure greater participation in the affairs of the old students’ body.

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IGSOSA expressed appreciation to members for their continued support and called on old students who are yet to join the association to connect with the appropriate Zonal Coordinators.

The communiqué was signed by the National President of the Iluelogbo Grammar School Old Students Association, Owhelogbo.

Ven. Moses Edeki
Secretary General.

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Tinubu Shifts Return Date Again, Now Expected Back Tuesday

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has again adjusted his return schedule from Europe, with the President now expected to return to Nigeria on Tuesday, September 29, according to sources familiar with his itinerary.

Tinubu had been expected back in the country this weekend after the Presidency announced on September 21 that he would extend his working vacation by a few days and return before the end of the week. However, his itinerary has since been revised. The reason for the latest change has not been disclosed.

Sources had earlier indicated that Tinubu would return to Lagos and remain there for up to a week before travelling to Abuja.

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The President left Nigeria on August 30 for London to begin a three-week working vacation as part of his annual leave. After spending about a week in the United Kingdom, he proceeded to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.

The Presidency had initially announced that Tinubu would return after the three-week vacation. It later said on September 21 that his stay in Europe had been extended by a few days, with a weekend return planned.

According to the Presidency, Tinubu has remained in contact with officials in Nigeria and continued to direct government affairs while abroad. Vice-President Kashim Shettima was delegated to represent him at some official functions during his absence.

Shettima, however, travelled to New York on September 20 to represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has also represented the President at some official engagements.

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The repeated adjustment to Tinubu’s return schedule has renewed public and political debate over the length of his absence from the country and the constitutional procedure for transferring presidential powers when the President is away.

Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution provides for a President proceeding on vacation to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, after which the Vice-President performs the functions of the President in an acting capacity.

Opposition figures have questioned whether the prolonged absence requires a formal transfer of presidential powers to Shettima, particularly as the President’s stay abroad has extended beyond the period initially announced.

The Presidency has maintained that Tinubu has remained engaged in governance throughout his stay abroad.

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio also dismissed suggestions of a leadership vacuum, saying Tinubu remained in charge despite his absence from Nigeria.

Speaking in Akwa Ibom on September 22, Akpabio said he was not the Acting President because Tinubu remained in power and continued to direct the affairs of government.

If the latest itinerary holds, Tinubu will return to Lagos on Tuesday, September 29, ending a four-week working vacation in Europe. Reports indicate that he is expected to participate in Independence Day activities in Lagos before proceeding to Abuja.

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Reforms in NNPCL under Ojulari have increased Nigerians’ trust in current administration – Centre

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The Centre for Reforms and Good Governance (CRGG) has hailed the transformative leadership of Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari as Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), declaring that the sweeping reforms under his stewardship have significantly boosted public confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Maxwell Onazi, the Centre described Ojulari’s tenure since his appointment on April 2, 2025, as a defining chapter in the commercialisation and professionalisation of Nigeria’s national oil company.

According to the CRGG, Ojulari’s results-driven approach has delivered measurable gains across upstream production, financial performance, transparency, infrastructure delivery and investor confidence, reversing years of opacity and operational inefficiency.

The Centre noted that these outcomes align directly with the Renewed Hope Agenda and demonstrate the administration’s capacity to appoint competent technocrats capable of delivering tangible national value.

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“Engr. Bayo Ojulari has shown that with disciplined leadership, commercial focus and commitment to transparency, NNPCL can be transformed from a historically loss-making entity into a profitable, investor-ready national asset,” Maxwell Onazi stated.

“The surge in production, the restoration of regular Federation Account remittances, the unprecedented financial disclosures and the unlocking of multi-billion-dollar investments are not abstract achievements.

“They are concrete evidence that the Tinubu administration’s reforms in the oil and gas sector are working and that Nigerians can once again trust that their most strategic national resource is being managed with integrity and competence.”

The Centre highlighted the dramatic rise in upstream output under Ojulari’s watch.

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According to the CRGG, the first half of 2026 alone produced clear evidence of the transformation. NNPCL recorded ₦19.04 trillion in revenue and ₦2.28 trillion in profit after tax between January and June 2026, while statutory remittances to the Federation Account reached ₦6.286 trillion in the same period and climbed to ₦7.913 trillion by the end of July, including a single-month payment of ₦1.627 trillion in July.

These figures, the Centre noted, represent a decisive break from past patterns of irregular transfers and limited disclosure.

“The 2026 half-year numbers speak louder than any rhetoric. Revenue of ₦19.04 trillion, profit after tax of ₦2.28 trillion and nearly ₦8 trillion remitted to the Federation Account in seven months show that NNPCL is now operating as a true commercial entity that delivers value to the Nigerian people,” Maxwell Onazi stated.

“When citizens see consistent, transparent remittances and rising production under a leadership appointed by this administration, their trust in the broader reform agenda of President Tinubu naturally increases.

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“Ojulari’s results have made that connection clear and credible.”

The Centre further highlighted the operational gains that underpinned the financial performance.

National crude oil production has been sustained at levels above 1.7 million barrels per day for much of 2026, reaching peaks of approximately 1.73 million barrels per day, the highest in five years.

NNPC Exploration and Production Limited continued to post strong output, with earlier records of 355,000 barrels per day in late 2025 extended into higher peaks of around 365,000 barrels per day.

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Gas production also strengthened, hitting 7,841 million standard cubic feet per day in June 2026, supporting the administration’s gas-based industrialisation push.

“Infrastructure progress has been equally notable, the group added. “The Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) and Obiafu–Obrikom–Oben (OB3) gas pipelines advanced to 94 per cent and 98 per cent completion respectively in 2026, while major upstream projects such as Bonga Southwest-Aparo moved closer to delivering additional barrels and jobs.

“Cost discipline remained a priority, with Ojulari’s team achieving $3.4 billion in savings through systematic contract reviews and optimisation.

“These are not isolated successes. Higher production, stronger gas output, near-completion of critical pipelines and multi-billion-dollar cost savings form a coherent picture of a national oil company that is finally being run with commercial rigour,” Onazi said.

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The Centre for Reforms and Good Governance concluded that Ojulari’s first year-plus in office has set a new benchmark for public-sector performance and provided a clear demonstration that competent, reform-minded leadership can deliver results that benefit the entire nation.

It called on stakeholders to sustain support for the ongoing transformation so that the gains already recorded can be consolidated and expanded in the years ahead.

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