Sahara Group to Deliver 180MW Power Plant in Rivers State

 Sahara Group to Deliver 180MW Power Plant in Rivers State

Rasheed Akolawole 

February 7, 2025

Sahara Group, a leading energy conglomerate, has announced plans to commission a new 180-megawatt (MW) power plant in Rivers State, Nigeria, within this year. This initiative aims to enhance electricity supply and foster industrial growth in the nation.

Kola Adesina, Executive Director of Sahara Group, highlighted the company's dedication to improving energy access across Africa. He emphasized the necessity for collaborative efforts among governments, private sector stakeholders, development partners, and civil society organizations to bridge the continent's energy gap. Adesina stated, "We are up against the all-important task of bridging the energy gap in Africa and need a strong coalition of stakeholders to achieve this." 

The forthcoming power plant is part of Sahara Group's broader strategy to invest in power generation and distribution assets across Africa. Currently, through its subsidiary, Sahara Power Group, the company boasts a generation capacity of approximately 2,000MW. In Nigeria, Sahara Power operates several plants, including the Egbin Thermal Power Plant in Lagos State, which has a capacity of 1,320MW, and multiple facilities in Rivers State, such as the Afam Power Plant (180MW), Eleme (75MW), Omoku (150MW), and Trans Amadi (136MW).

This development aligns with the Mission 300 initiative, which seeks to connect 300 million Africans to reliable electricity by 2030. The initiative focuses on increasing energy access and promoting environmental sustainability through the deployment of renewable energy solutions. Key partners, including the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB), are expected to play significant roles in financing energy projects, providing project development and advisory services, and supporting policy reforms and capacity building. 

Sahara Group's commitment to delivering the 180MW power plant in Rivers State underscores its dedication to enhancing energy access and driving economic growth in Nigeria and across the African continent.

Yemi Olakitan's Resume/CV

 

 

Name: Yemi Olakitan

Sex:   Male

State of Origin:      Lagos State, Nigeria

Marital Status:       Married

yemiolakitans.blogspot.com.

Portfolio: Yemi Olakitan's articles on Muckrack. https://muckrack.com/yemi-olakitan/articles

Phone: 08033766549

Email: yemisage@gmail.com

Career Objectives

To provide excellent professional services in communications, Journalism, traditional media, digital marketing, content marketing and management

To excel in Digital Content Management, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Management, and Content Writing.

Skills

●       News Editing, Reporting, Journalism skills, Digital Marketing.

●       Search Engine Optimization, SEO Content writing, Copywriting, Web Management, Content Creation and Social Media Marketing

●       Investigative reporting

Experience

96.9 Coolfm▪ 2000 – 2006, https://www.coolfm.ng/

Steam Broadcasting and Communications Ltd ▪ 267A Etim Inyang Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos

Position Held: News Editor/News Correspondent

Duties and Skills on the Job: News Reporting and Editing, News Correspondence, Social Media Management.

·        Bowclose Ltd, 2006-2007, Lekki, Lagos

Position Held:  Assistant Editor, Duties, on the job skills: Article writing, editing, interviews, social media management.

·        The Guardian Newspapers, 2007-2012,  Rutam House, Isolo Way, Lagos, Nigeria, https://guardian.ng/

Position Held: Arts Reporter, Journalist

·        News watch Magazine, 2012-2013 Energy House, CMS, Lagos, https://newswatchnigeria.com/

Position Held: Senior Staff Writer, article writing, editing, research.

·        National Mirror Newspaper- 2013-2014, Energy Building, CMS, Lagos,

Position Held: Head of Investigations. Duties and on the job skills: Research, investigations, interviews, writing.

·        World Entertainment Television, 2014-2016, owners of Wazobia Television, https://www.wetv.ng/, Wazobia FM, CoolFM, Nigeria InfoFM, Arewa FM, Kano

Position Held: Content Developer. 

Skills on the job: Content Development, Social media management, Search Engine Optimization, SEO

·        May University Press, https://www.mayeducational.com.ng/ publishers of the journal Nigeria, https://thejournalnigeria.com/author/yemi/

Position Held:

Editor.

Duties and Skills on the job: Writing, Editing, Reporting and Investigation

Current Position: Senior correspondent at New Telegraph newspaper:

Co-founder and General Manager at Techpression Media Ltd, publishers of online technology news magazine. www.techpression.com

Education

University of Ilorin,

Kwara State, Nigeria

1996 ▪ Bachelor of Arts, the Performing Arts

 

General Certificate of Education, GCE

1990

West African Examination Council, WAEC

1989

 Certifications

2010: Certificate in Advanced Computer Application (Microsoft sponsored)

2003: International Committee of the Red Cross Society, Journalism Training in Armed Conflicts Reporting

2002: British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC Certificate in Election Reporting

LinkedIn Certified Search Engine Optimization Expert

LinkedIn Certified Social Media Manager

Certified SEO Specialist at Simplilean.com

LinkedIn Marketing and Newsletter Marketing Foundations, July 2024

LinkedIn, Improving SEO For Your Website June 2024

Learning to Write Marketing Copy, June 2024

Marketing Strategy and SEO Content Writing, June 2024

LinkedIn SEO Marketing Tools, June 2024

Social Media Marketing Foundations, May 2024

Using AI as Your SEO Marketing Assistant, May 2024
 

Award

1998: Adamawa State NYSC Merit Award

Referees

Gboyega Akosile

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State

 

Tajudeen Sowole

Arts Journalist, Blogger

The Guardian Newspapers

Rutam House,

Isolo, Lagos, Nigeria

 

Kazeem Ugbodaga

Editor

PM News

Ifá: A Sacred Divination System

 

By Ifadola Ifadayo

Ifá is a sacred divination system practiced by the Yoruba people of Nigeria and other parts of West Africa, the Americas, and the Caribbean. It is deeply connected to Òrúnmìlà, the deity of wisdom and divination, who is believed to have revealed Ifá to humanity.

Key Aspects of Ifá Divination

1. The Ifá Oracle System

Ifá divination is performed by a Babaláwo (male priest) or an Ìyáláwo (female priestess), meaning "father/mother of secrets." These priests use Odu Ifá, a vast collection of wisdom, to interpret divine messages.

2. Tools of Ifá Divination

• Ọ̀pẹ̀lẹ̀ (Divination Chain) – A chain with four shells or seeds on each side, used for quick divination.
• Ìkìn (Palm Nuts) – Sixteen sacred palm nuts cast on a divination tray (Ọ̀pón Ifá) to reveal Odu Ifá.
• Ẹrìndínlógún (Sixteen Cowrie Shells) – Used mainly in related traditions for divination.

3. The Odu Ifá – Sacred Texts of Ifá

Ifá consists of 256 Odu (sacred verses), which hold the entire wisdom of the system. Each Odu contains poems, proverbs, and historical stories used to guide people in life.

4. How Ifá Divination Works

1. A person consults a Babaláwo for guidance.
2. The priest casts the divination chain or palm nuts.
3. The resulting Odu is interpreted based on the situation.
4. The person may be advised to perform a Ẹbọ (sacrifice/ritual) or take other spiritual actions.

5. Ifá and Destiny (Ori)

Ifá teaches that each person has an Ori (spiritual head/destiny) chosen before birth. Through Ifá divination, one can understand their destiny and take steps to align with it.

Ifá in Modern Times

Ifá is still widely practiced in Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Brazil (Candomblé), Cuba (Santería), and the U.S. It was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2005 due to its deep cultural and spiritual significance.

Lagos State Government Approves N500 Million Subsidy to Reduce Food Prices

By Yekini Agbojulogun 

Lagos, Nigeria – January 30, 2025 – In a bid to alleviate the burden of rising food prices on residents, the Lagos State Government has announced the approval of a N500 million subsidy aimed at reducing the cost of essential food items. The initiative, which seeks to stabilize food prices across the state, is expected to benefit millions of Lagosians grappling with inflationary pressures in the country.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Tuesday, revealed that the subsidy would be directed towards key food items such as rice, beans, maize, and vegetable oil, among others. According to the Governor, the government’s decision was motivated by the urgent need to ensure food security and improve the standard of living for Lagos residents, particularly those in low-income communities.

"Over the past few months, many families have struggled with escalating food prices, which has created hardship for a large segment of our population. The N500 million subsidy is part of our broader strategy to cushion the impact of inflation and ensure that food remains affordable and accessible to all," Governor Sanwo-Olu stated.

The subsidy will be disbursed through various state-run outlets and markets, including designated food distribution centers and local vendors, who will sell subsidized goods at reduced rates. Authorities have emphasized that the initiative will focus on creating a direct link between the government’s efforts and Lagosians in need, making sure that the subsidy reaches its target beneficiaries.

Food inflation has been one of the most pressing issues in Nigeria, as the cost of basic commodities has surged due to factors such as increased fuel prices, supply chain disruptions, and adverse weather conditions affecting agricultural production. The impact has been particularly severe in Lagos, a major urban hub where many residents depend on affordable food for their daily sustenance.

This move by the Lagos State Government follows similar initiatives by other states and the federal government, aimed at addressing Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges. Experts have welcomed the subsidy but urged that it should be part of a broader, long-term strategy to address the root causes of food inflation.

Economist and policy analyst, Dr. Ngozi Adebayo, commended the Lagos government for the initiative, noting that “while this subsidy will provide temporary relief, there is also a need for greater investment in agricultural infrastructure and policies that support local food production to reduce Nigeria's reliance on imports.”

As the subsidy rolls out, residents of Lagos are hopeful that it will ease some of the pressure they face in the markets. However, they are also calling for sustained efforts from both state and federal governments to tackle the broader economic issues that continue to affect the cost of living in the country.

In the coming weeks, the state government is expected to release additional details on the operational framework for the subsidy distribution, including how vendors will be vetted and monitored to ensure transparency in the program.