WHO IS TEGBE THE OYO MAN STEPPING INTO NIGERIA'S POWER SECTOR

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Mr Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe was born on March 21, 1966, in Oyo Town and is of Ibadan ancestral descent, tracing his roots to Jegede Compound in the Labo area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

He had his early education at St Mary’s RCM School, Oyo; Federal Government College, Ogbomoso; and the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, where he graduated with a First Class Degree in Civil Engineering in 1988.

The 60-year-old is also an alumnus of Lagos Business School, INSEAD, Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (FCIT) and Certified in Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT).

Career and professional experience

Tegbe is currently a Senior Partner and Head of Technology Advisory Services and Markets at KPMG Professional Services Nigeria, a member firm of KPMG International.

He also serves as KPMG Africa Lead for Cybersecurity practice, Public Sector and Technology, Media and Telecommunications. His experience spans about three decades across institutional transformation, sector reforms, strategy development and technology implementation.

He has worked across industries including telecommunications, financial services, manufacturing, oil and gas, and the public sector, advising the presidency, state governments and international agencies.

Public sector and industry engagements

His experience includes advisory roles in the power sector, with engagements involving the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company.

Before his consulting career, he worked as a tax consultant and managed audit engagements across major sectors. He also served as Head of Materials Accounting at Shell Petroleum Development Company between 1991 and 1992.

He is an active member and consultant to the Infrastructure and Human Capital Development Policy Commissions of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.

Leadership roles

Tegbe is Chairman of the National Council for Management Development and also chairs the Boards of Trustees of Unity Schools Old Students Association and Federal Government College Ogbomoso Old Students Association.

He is a member of the Ikoyi Club and the Ibadan Recreation Club, and serves on various corporate boards.

Personal life and philanthropy

He is a Christian of Anglican background and a member of the RCCG Jesus Embassy Parish, VGC.

He is married to Mrs Abimbola Tegbe (née Ayandipo of Ogbomoso descent), and they have two sons.

Through the Tegbe Foundation, he supports non-profit and community development initiatives across the country.

Expectations from nomination

The presidency said the nomination is expected to strengthen ongoing reforms in the power sector, with a focus on improving grid stability and attracting investment.

If confirmed, Tegbe is expected to contribute to policy implementation and address challenges in electricity supply nationwide.

According to the statement, Tegbe’s mandate is to strengthen reforms, and it points to better implementation of frameworks by agencies like the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), especially on tariffs, metering and market rules.

Another challenge before Tegbe is improving grid stability and focusing on reducing outages through better coordination and upgrades, particularly within the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

THE DUO ECHELONS OF THE CITY BOY MOVEMENT

Two men, bound by the same foresight and vision, have taken it upon themselves to lead the affairs of the City Boy Movement with unwavering commitment under the leadership of the Patron of the movement, Barr Seyi Tinubu.

 At the helm is Francis Oluwatosin Shoga, serving as the Director General, alongside Abayomi Favour, the National Coordinator. Together, they have shown remarkable dedication to the cause they believe in.

From one city to another, they have remained restless in their mission, tirelessly preaching the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Their journey has not been one of comfort, but of sacrifice, resilience, and determination to keep the movement alive and growing across communities.

Through long travels, countless engagements, and continuous mobilization, they have carried the message of hope to the grassroots, inspiring supporters and strengthening the foundation of the movement with every step they take.

May God continue to strengthen them, grant them wisdom, and bless them with the leadership skills needed to sustain and grow the movement, as they work steadfastly toward seeing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reelected in 2027 for another four years.

CITY BOY MOVEMENT DIASPORA (UK) HOLDS STRATEGIC STAKEHOLDERS’ MEETING IN LONDON, STRENGTHENS GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT FOLLOWING PRESIDENT TINUBU’S STATE VISIT

The City Boy Movement Diaspora (UK) convened a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in London, bringing together national leadership, diaspora executives, political stakeholders, and allied support groups in a strategic engagement aimed at consolidating global support and strengthening coordination following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom.

The meeting served as a critical platform to align diaspora participation with the administration’s diplomatic gains, reinforcing the role of Nigerians abroad in advancing national development and international partnerships.

The meeting also featured an interactive engagement session with the Patron of the City Boy Movement, Barr. Seyi Tinubu, who spoke extensively on the philosophy, vision, and future direction of the movement.

Engaging directly with stakeholders, he showed the movement’s youth-driven identity and inclusive approach:

> “The City Boy Movement is a platform for participation, not observation. It is designed to ensure that young Nigerians at home and in the diaspora are actively involved in shaping the future of our country.”

He further highlighted the importance of continuity in engagement:

> “What we are building is not just a political structure, but a generational movement that connects governance with the people. The diaspora has a critical role to play in sustaining that connection.”

Leading the engagement was the Director General of the City Boy Movement, Hon. Oluwatosin Francis Shoga, alongside members of the national executive, who provided overarching strategic direction for the movement.

In his address, Hon. Shoga emphasized the importance of structured leadership and global coordination within the movement:

> “This engagement reflects the evolution of the City Boy Movement into a globally coordinated structure. Our responsibility is to ensure that support for Mr. President is not only visible but organized, strategic, and impactful across all regions, including the diaspora.”

He noted that the London meeting was a continuation of efforts to consolidate international momentum generated by the President’s successful state visit.

The event was hosted by the Director of the City Boy Movement Diaspora (UK), Hon. Prince Bidemi Akintunde (Stainless), who led coordination efforts and ensured the successful convening of stakeholders toward strengthening diaspora engagement and support for the administration.A key highlight of the meeting was the presentation on diaspora engagement strategy which outlined a clear framework for diaspora-driven support.

> “The diaspora must transition from being symbolic supporters to becoming structured contributors. Our focus is on coordinated mobilization, strategic communication, and building economic and policy linkages that directly support Mr. President’s agenda,” he stated.

He further emphasized that the United Kingdom, as a global hub, remains critical in shaping international perception and strengthening Nigeria’s soft power.

Also in attendance were key leaders of the movement, including national executives, the Women Leaders, and coordinators across various regions.

Notable stakeholders present included the Senior Special Adviser to the President , Chief Sunday Dare, National Director of Media Sunday Dada,Hon. Tunde Doherty APC Chairman United Kingdom Chapter, Pastor Tobi Adegboyega, Wife of the DG, City Boy Movement Mrs Ajibola Shoga, National Women Leader Hajia Ummusalma Rabiu, National spokes person Hon. Chief Dr. Emana Duke Ambrose-Amawhe, South West Women Leader Chief Mrs Halimat Tejuosho, Chief Martha Agba pioneer member,North Central Zonal Youth Coordinator Hon.Suleiman Abubakar Magaji, Director Gombe State Mubarak Hamisu Usman, Imo State, Cubana Chief Priest, Seyilaw as well as representatives of various support groups.

Discussions at the meeting focused on broad-based mobilization, strategic communication, and the need to amplify awareness of the administration’s policies and reforms within the global community.

Participants described the engagement as highly impactful, noting that it strengthened alignment, clarified strategy, and reinforced the role of diaspora stakeholders as critical partners in national development.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to expand the global footprint of the City Boy Movement, deepen diaspora coordination, and sustain support for the administration’s vision through structured and strategic engagement.

Signed:

Director of Communication and Media

City Boy Movement, Diaspora (UK)

The Middle East in Flames: The Erosion of International Law and the Imperative for Diplomatic Restoration | Dr Kayode Ajulo, OON, SAN

As of March 9, 2026, the Middle East confronts its gravest crisis in generations: a direct armed conflict between the United States, Israel, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, now in its second week. 

What commenced on February 28, 2026, as coordinated airstrikes—eliminating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior officials—has escalated into sustained military operations targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, military infrastructure, energy assets, and command structures. 

Retaliatory Iranian missile and drone barrages have struck Israeli territory and U.S. bases across the Gulf, while Hezbollah’s activation has reignited intense exchanges g the Lebanon-Israel border, displacing hundreds of thousands and claiming hundreds of civilian lives.

Recent developments underscore the conflict’s broadening scope: Israel has conducted fresh strikes on Tehran’s oil depots and Revolutionary Guard headquarters; Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader amid pledges of allegiance from military and political figures; and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned of an impending “energy war” following attacks on Iranian refineries and storage sites. Casualties mount rapidly—Iran reports over 1,200 deaths from initial strikes, with civilian infrastructure (including schools and desalination plants) hit—while U.S. forces confirm soldier fatalities and global oil prices surge toward unsustainable levels, threatening economic stability worldwide.

This escalation exposes profound fractures in the post-1945 international legal order, particularly the United Nations framework designed to preserve peace.

The Prohibition on the Use of Force and Its Apparent Breach

The cornerstone of modern international law remains Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which obliges Member States to “refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.” 

Exceptions are narrowly circumscribed: authorization by the Security Council under Chapter VII (Article 42) or the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence against an armed attack under Article 51.

The joint U.S.-Israeli strikes of February 28 occurred amid ongoing indirect diplomatic negotiations mediated by Oman, with preparations for further talks in Vienna. 

No Security Council resolution authorized the action, and no imminent armed attack by Iran justified preemptive force under prevailing interpretations of Article 51. Legal experts, including UN Special Rapporteurs and scholars, have condemned the strikes as a violation of the prohibition on aggression, lacking necessity and proportionality. 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres explicitly stated on February 28 that the attacks “squandered an opportunity for diplomacy” and undermined international peace and security. UN human rights experts further declared the operations unlawful, breaching sovereign equality, territorial integrity, and the duty to settle disputes peacefully.

Iran’s retaliatory actions—invoking Article 51 self-defence—targeted military objectives but extended to civilian areas in Gulf states and Israel, raising concerns of indiscriminate attacks prohibited under international humanitarian law (Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, customary rules). Strikes on civilian infrastructure, including schools (deemed grave violations by the UN), demand impartial investigations and accountability.

The United Nations: A Forum Paralyzed by Division

The Security Council’s emergency session on February 28 produced condemnations from the Secretary-General and calls for restraint but no binding resolution or enforcement mechanism. Veto powers fractured consensus: the U.S. defended the operations as protective of Israeli security; Russia and China condemned them as aggression; European members urged de-escalation without explicit attribution. 

This mirrors historical patterns—vetoes have long stymied accountability in Middle East conflicts, rendering the Council more a mirror of great-power divisions than an effective guardian of peace.

While the UN excels in humanitarian coordination and documentation of violations, its political arm lacks coercive tools absent P5 unity. The organization’s warnings on civilian harm and nuclear safety risks remain non-binding rhetoric in the face of unilateral action by major powers.

Pathways to Restoration: Diplomacy Over Domination

Sustainable peace requires immediate cessation of hostilities, verifiable de-escalation, and return to negotiations. Practical steps include:

The urgent need for backchannel mediation through countries such as Oman, Qatar, or Egypt is essential to halt ongoing strikes and the activation of proxy forces. In parallel, there is a critical necessity to reinvigorate nuclear diplomacy, leveraging established pre-escalation frameworks to engage with Iran’s nuclear program through verified and peaceful channels.

Moreover, ensuring humanitarian access and the protection of civilians must remain a priority, strictly adhering to international humanitarian law. To foster stability in the region, it is imperative to offer robust incentives, including reconstruction aid and sanctions relief conditioned on restraint, while simultaneously managing and containing existing proxy networks.

The UN could facilitate monitoring or host a conference if consensus emerges, but progress depends on bilateral/multilateral commitments backed by credible deterrence.

History demonstrates that military dominance breeds resentment and perpetual cycles of violence; enduring stability arises from negotiated compromises respecting core interests while enforcing red lines. 

The current conflagration, threatening global energy, migration, and security, demands that parties with leverage prioritize diplomacy. Failure to do so risks an unmanageable regional war, with reverberations far beyond the Middle East.

The international community must reaffirm the Charter’s principles: force is not a substitute for law. Only through dialogue, accountability, and mutual restraint can the flames be extinguished and a just peace restored.

*Ajulo is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and an Advocate for Justice and Peace

Edited by 

Lashley Oladigbolu, a London based accredited Journalist for World Bank Online Media Briefing Centre