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Ooni of Ife @ 52: Akmodel MD Odegade Pays Glowing Tribute to Monarch
Dr. Abdulhakeem Odegade, has congratulated His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II (Ooni of Ife), on the occasion of his 52nd birthday.
The Managing Director of Akmodel Group, Builder (Dr.) Abdulhakeem Odegade, has congratulated His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II (Ooni of Ife), on the occasion of his 52nd birthday.
Dr. Odegade described the revered monarch as a symbol of Yoruba cultural heritage, unity, wisdom and purposeful leadership whose influence continues to inspire people across Nigeria and beyond.
As the Arole Oduduwa and custodian of the rich heritage of Ile-Ife, the Ooni has continued to play an important role in promoting Yoruba culture, peace, youth empowerment and community development.
The Akmodel Group MD commended the monarch’s commitment to preserving the values and traditions of the Yoruba people while encouraging unity, progress and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.
He said: “On behalf of my family, management and staff of Akmodel Group, I warmly congratulate His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, on this remarkable occasion of his 52nd birthday.
“Kabiyesi, your reign represents a proud chapter in the history of Ile-Ife and the Yoruba nation. Your dedication to cultural preservation, unity and human development remains a source of inspiration to the present and future generations.
“As you celebrate another year of life, may Almighty God grant you sound health, renewed strength, greater wisdom and many more years of impactful service to humanity.
“May your reign continue to bring peace, prosperity and progress to Ile-Ife, the Yoruba nation and Nigeria as a whole.
“Happy 52nd Birthday, Kabiyesi! Long may you reign in peace, wisdom and prosperity. Ki ade pe lori, ki bata pe lese!”
About Akmodel Group
Akmodel Group, comprising Akmodel Homes and Properties, Akmodel Builders Construction, and Akmodel Farm Investment, has established itself in prime locations across Nigeria – including Lagos, Awka, Uyo, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ilorin, and Enugu – and internationally in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and the UK.
Recently, the company diversified into Akmodel Auto-Care and Akmodel Oil and Gas, expanding its footprint in the business landscape.
Fidelity Bank Plc has won two honours at the 2026 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions Awards.
The bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, received the Award for Excellence in Banking Leadership, while Fidelity Bank was named Best Bank in Oil and Gas Financing.
The awards were presented at the 14th BAFI Awards held recently at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to BusinessDay Media Limited, the leadership award recognises banking executives who have delivered institutional growth, strengthened shareholder value, promoted innovation and inclusion, and contributed to the development of Nigeria’s financial services sector.
Onyeali-Ikpe thanked the organisers and dedicated the award to Fidelity Bank’s customers, board, management and employees.
“I am deeply honoured to receive the Award for Excellence in Banking Leadership. I sincerely thank BusinessDay Media Limited for this recognition and dedicate it to our valued customers, whose trust and support have strengthened and inspired me throughout my career.
“The African philosophy of Ubuntu teaches us, ‘I am because we are.’ In that spirit, this honour also belongs to the board, management and staff of Fidelity Bank Plc, whose dedication and professionalism continue to drive our vision of a stronger, more innovative and customer-focused financial institution,” she said.
Onyeali-Ikpe has more than three decades of banking experience spanning retail, corporate and commercial banking, treasury and business development. Since becoming the Chief Executive Officer, she has led Fidelity Bank through sustained growth and an expansion of its international operations, including the acquisition of the former Union Bank UK, now FidBank UK Limited.
The Best Bank in Oil and Gas Financing award recognised Fidelity Bank’s support for projects across Nigeria’s energy value chain.
The bank financed the development of an onshore crude oil export terminal at the Otakikpo Marginal Field in Rivers State. It also supported the Pinnacle Oil and Gas Terminal in Lekki and part-financed a 23,000-cubic-metre liquefied petroleum gas carrier for Temile Development Company Limited.
Fidelity Bank also participated in the $3bn SNEPCo Contractor Finance Facility, which provides naira and dollar financing to indigenous contractors working on SNEPCo projects.
The projects are expected to strengthen local participation, petroleum product distribution, gas availability and critical energy infrastructure.
The two awards underscore Fidelity Bank’s growing profile in the financial services industry and its role in financing sectors critical to Nigeria’s economic development.
Fidelity Bank Plc reaffirmed its support for the Nigerian beauty industry and women owned businesses at the commemorative dinner and awards ceremony of Beauty in the Motherland 2026.
The ceremony, held on October 6, 2026 at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, celebrated creativity, enterprise and impact across the beauty and lifestyle industry.
It formed part of the three-day Beauty in the Motherland 2026 programme, which attracted more than 3,000 attendees and over 300 exhibitors from the skincare, haircare, fragrance, cosmetics, wellness and related segments.
Hosted by Nancy Isime and Enioluwa Adeoluwa, the dinner brought together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, investors, creatives and other stakeholders. Guests were also treated to a performance by Nigerian music star, Yemi Alade.
A major moment at the ceremony was the presentation of a special recognition award to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe.
The organisers said the recognition acknowledged her leadership and the contribution of Fidelity Bank to the growth of Beauty in the Motherland and the broader beauty enterprise ecosystem in Nigeria.
In her remarks, Onyeali-Ikpe said the sponsorship of the programme for a third consecutive year reflected the confidence of Fidelity Bank in the potential of the beauty industry and the entrepreneurs shaping its future.
She described the African beauty industry as vibrant, innovative and increasingly global. She added that Fidelity Bank would continue to help entrepreneurs acquire relevant knowledge, access finance, reach new markets and build sustainable businesses.
The award further highlighted the expanding role of Fidelity Bank in supporting an industry powered significantly by women entrepreneurs and young business owners.
Beyond its sponsorship of the dinner and exhibition, the Bank provided participating businesses with account opening, payment and advisory services. It also served as the exclusive point of sale provider for the event, facilitating vendor collections and promoting wider adoption of digital payment solutions.
Products showcased by the Bank included Fidelity POS Instant Settlement, PayGate Plus and SME accounts. Its representatives also engaged exhibitors on financial management, business growth and access to suitable banking services.
Beauty in the Motherland 2026 featured exhibitions, product showcases, competitions, networking opportunities and business conversations. The programme gave entrepreneurs a platform to present their products, engage customers and explore relationships with distributors, partners and investors.
The organisers, Beatrice Obinna Eneh and Linda Edozien, said the initiative was established to celebrate and advance the human and natural resources supporting the African beauty industry. They said its long-term ambition was to strengthen industry structures, empower entrepreneurs and improve access to markets.
Fidelity Bank supports small businesses through initiatives such as the Fidelity SME Hub, Fidelity Quarterly Business Forum, SME masterclasses, HerFidelity and FundHer. These platforms provide financing, capacity development, business advisory, digital solutions and market access opportunities.
The success of the commemorative dinner and awards ceremony reinforced the importance of recognising the entrepreneurs, professionals and institutions driving growth across the beauty value chain.
Through its sustained partnership with Beauty in the Motherland, Fidelity Bank continues to position itself as a leading financial partner to the Nigerian beauty industry and women owned businesses.
As Nigeria joins the global campaign for breast cancer awareness, Fidelity Bank Plc and Foremost Radiology are encouraging women to recognise possible warning signs, seek professional medical advice and take timely action when they notice unusual changes.
The initiative is being implemented through HerFidelity, the women focused proposition of Fidelity Bank, as part of activities marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Breast cancer may present through a lump or thickening, changes in the size or shape of the breast, changes to the skin or nipple, or unusual nipple discharge. Some of these changes may not be accompanied by pain.
Although such symptoms do not necessarily indicate cancer, health professionals advise that unusual ch