Umahi, Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun, Others Grace Shekina and Shope’s Wedding in Lagos

It was a celebration of love, family, friendship and distinguished personalities in Lagos on Saturday, August 22, 2026, as Shekina Chidinma Umahi and Shope Alexandra Ayinde were joined in holy matrimony at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Powerlink Chapel, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
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Shekina, a niece of the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, is the daughter of Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Pastor Obi Abel Umahi, DSc, OFR, while Shope is the son of Commodore NN (Rtd.) Deacon Adebayo Abidemi Ayinde.

The wedding brought together governors, senior government officials, lawmakers, business leaders, traditional rulers, captains of industry, family members and friends from across the country to celebrate the young couple.

The Honourable Minister of Works, who also serves as the Deputy Director-General of Infrastructure, Mobilization and Sensitization of the 2027 APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, was present at the ceremony to celebrate with his niece and the families of the newlyweds and was joined by the Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Dapo Abiodun, CON; and Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti, who chaired the occasion.

In his opening remarks as Chairman of the occasion, Governor Alex Otti described marriage as a lifelong commitment and urged the newlyweds to embrace patience, understanding and tolerance as they begin their journey together.

With humour, the Abia State Governor stressed the permanence of marriage, telling the couple that they should approach their union with a strong commitment to making it work.

“I want to tell you in advance that I won’t be present and as such, I declare that this marriage is indissoluble,” he said.

In separate remarks, the parents of the bride and groom expressed gratitude and joy at witnessing the marriage of their children.

They praised Shekina and Shope for distinguishing themselves through their formative years and into adulthood, describing them as outstanding young people who had continued to make their families proud.

They prayed for God’s guidance, peace, happiness and prosperity in their marriage and wished them a fulfilling life together.

The Umahi family also formally welcomed the couple with the presentation of family gifts.

On behalf of the Umahi family, the Chairman of the Uburu Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Eze Laz Umahi, PhD, presented the gifts to the newlyweds.

The ceremony attracted a gathering of political leaders, statesmen and captains of industry.

Other governors present at the event included the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, represented by his deputy, Her Excellency Patricia Obila; Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Peter Mbah, represented by his deputy, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai; Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Usman Ododo, represented by his deputy, Comrade Joel Oyibo; Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, represented by the Commissioner for Public Safety and Security, Rt. Hon. Festus Ebea; and Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency Chukwuma Soludo, represented by the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor.

Among the captains of industry, statesmen and
other distinguished personalities at the occasion were Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings; Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Bureau of Public Procurement; Admiral Alison Madueke, GCON, former Chief of Naval Staff; Mr. Oliver Alawuba, Group Managing Director of UBA, represented by Chidi Okpara; Prof. Patrick Utomi; Mr. Adebiyi Olalekan, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lorelei Construction Limited; Engr. Solomon Dacree; Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, Chairman of Orient Global Limited; Chief Ifeanyi Clement Okorie, Chairman of Rock Results Group; and Barr. Chioma Nweze, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South East), among others.

The Ministry of Works was also represented at the ceremony, with the Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Goronyo; Senator Allwell Onyesoh, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works; Hon. Akin Alabi, Chairman of the House Committee on Works; and Engr. Musa Saidu, Director of Highways, Bridges and Designs, among others, joining in the celebration.

Umahi, Sanwo-Olu

Other members of the Umahi family at the ceremony included HRH Eze Laz Umahi, PhD, Chairman of the Uburu Traditional Rulers Council; Barr. Roy Umahi, SAN, FCArb, of Roy and Associates; and Chief Austine Umahi (Anyanwu Igbo), Chairman of the Amino Kano University Board.

The wedding provided a memorable gathering of the two families, their friends and well-wishers, with guests celebrating the union and offering prayers and goodwill for a happy, peaceful and enduring marriage.

Francis Nwaze, FIPMD
Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works (Media)
Sunday 23, 2026
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Tiger Graduation Day: Ambition, Love and the Journey to NNPC

When I first heard that there was an engaged couple among the 2026 class of NNPC Tigers, I knew immediately they were a #HumansOfNNPC story, and I had to meet them.
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So, on Tiger Graduation Day, I invited Philips and Olamide to my office. I was expecting a cute story about two people who had applied to NNPC together and somehow found themselves graduating together. What I got was much better. Their story began long before NNPC.

Park that.

They first met at the Polaris Bank Graduate Intensive Training School in Lagos. Olamide remembers thinking Philips was calm, intelligent and quite easy to talk to. His first impression of her? Open and smart.

Yet, neither of them heard the faintest toll of wedding bells. Fast forward a few years and separately, both saw the NNPC Tigers recruitment announcement and applied.

Then the coincidences began. They lived far apart but were assigned to the same centre for the computer-based test. They prepared together, encouraged each other and moved on to the interview stage. Then, somehow, they were scheduled for interviews on the same day. Same panel. Same room. Out of about 1,000 candidates being interviewed daily, in batches of five.

At this point, I am thinking (out loud): Okay, NNPC recruitment process or matchmaking exercise? They laughed.

But there was something lovely about the way they told the story. There was no sense that either had expected life to unfold this way. They simply kept showing up, doing the work and cheering each other on.

Then the job offers came. Philips says he opened the email and had a light bulb moment.

“It was then I knew Olamide was my wife,” he said, smiling.

That part will stay parked…

I was curious about what they had heard about NNPC recruitment before they applied.

The familiar stories came up: you needed to know someone, the process was almost impossible, that ordinary qualified applicants without connections did not stand a chance.

This was far from their experience. Neither knew anyone at NNPC. They found the opportunity online, applied through the official recruitment portal and went through the required stages.

“I was most surprised by how structured the process was. Every stage demanded preparation, patience and high performance,” Olamide said.

Their advice to anyone considering applying for the next Tigers programme?

“Apply anyway!”

Don’t believe the hype and what you read. Do not reject yourself before your application is considered. Prepare and let the process decide whether you stand a chance.

How has their journey through Tigerdom been? In their early days in Abuja, before they found an apartment, their daily commute involved a bike from T-Pumpy Estate to Lugbe, followed by a taxi from Police Signpost to work.

NNPC

“We were learning new names, acronyms and departments while trying hard to look like we knew exactly what we were doing,” Philips recalls.

Today, they laugh about it as the sweetest part of their story, beginning their careers and a life together. Judging by the way they spoke about each other in my office, I suspect this is only the beginning of an exceptional story.
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Information Minister Celebrates Former Military President IBB at 85, Comments His Enduring Commitment to a United Nigeria

The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has congratulated former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR, on his 85th birthday, describing him as an elder statesman whose life and service occupy an important place in Nigeria’s contemporary history.
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In a statement issued on Monday, the Minister said General Babangida’s journey through military service, national leadership and statesmanship represents a significant chapter in Nigeria’s political and institutional evolution.

Idris noted that, decades after leaving office, the former Military President has remained engaged with issues of national importance, particularly those concerning Nigeria’s unity, stability and development.

He said General Babangida’s experiences in leadership and public service constitute a valuable reservoir from which succeeding generations can draw lessons about the complexities and responsibilities of nation-building.

The Minister also acknowledged the former Military President’s enduring faith in Nigeria and his continued interventions in support of national cohesion and peaceful coexistence.

“General Babangida remains an important voice in our national journey, and at 85, we celebrate his service, his statesmanship and his enduring commitment to a united Nigeria,” Idris said.

IBB

He wished the former Military President many more years of good health, peace and fulfilment, while praying that he continues to enjoy the affection of his family and the goodwill of Nigerians.

Rabiu Ibrahim, mnipr
Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation

August 17, 2026
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