🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
11-year-old Toluwalashe Balogun wins Golf for Peace tournament ladies' title
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Eleven-year-old golfer Toluwalashe Balogun emerged as the overall ladies' winner at the Golf for Peace tournament held at Ikoyi Club 1938. Balogun achieved a net score of 66 in the 18-hole tournament. Abiodun Adesina secured the overall men's title with a net score of 70. The fifth edition of the tournament, initiated by Kemi Olowoyo-Otegbade, aims to promote friendly competition, diplomatic dialogue, and social impact through sports. Olowoyo-Otegbade highlighted that Balogun's win amplifies the tournament's message of golf as an inclusive sport for all ages. Chairman of the planning committee, Abimbola Ajinibi, noted the event's non-kinetic approach to tackling insecurity by fostering peaceful problem-solving. Balogun herself emphasized participation over pressure, stating, "I just keep my eyes on the ball, stay calm without pressure and believe that the next hole will always be better than the last." Her father, Afolabi Balogun, who is also the Captain of the Ikoyi Club Golf Section, reflected on golf's ability to provide peace of mind. The tournament saw 120 players from various clubs participate, and the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, along with his transport counterpart, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, officially opened the event. Ogunlende underscored sports' role in fostering connection, understanding, and collective progress towards a more inclusive and peaceful society.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 10 countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadUS health officials have approved Otarmeni, a gene therapy developed by American biotechnology company Regeneron, to treat a rare form of hereditary hearing loss. This treatment targets severe-to-profound hearing loss caused by specific mutations in the OTOF gene, which affects approximately 50 newborns annually in the US. The OTOF gene encodes a protein essential for transmitting auditory signals from the inner ear to the brain. Regeneron plans to offer this treatment free of charge to eligible American patients, despite gene therapies typically being very expensive. Administered as a single injection into the ear, the therapy has been praised by parents of children who received it. A clinical trial involving 20 pediatric patients aged 10 months to 16 years showed that at least 80 percent experienced significant hearing improvement within a few months. Dr. Eliot Shearer, an ear, nose, and throat doctor at Boston Children’s Hospital involved in the trial, stated that the FDA's accelerated approval signifies a new era in treating genetic forms of hearing loss, making 24/7 natural hearing possible.
Must ReadKing Charles III is scheduled to visit the United States for four days, a trip requested by the UK government and President Donald Trump, and will be accompanied by Queen Camilla. The visit aims to honor the historic relationship between the two countries as the US celebrates 250 years of independence. However, the visit faces controversy due to transatlantic tensions over the Iran war, with President Trump criticizing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's opposition to the war and other policies. Trump has also commented on the state of Britain's armed forces. Prime Minister Starmer has defended the state visit, emphasizing the breadth of UK-US ties, despite a YouGov poll indicating 48 percent of Britons support its cancellation. Trump, however, believes the visit could help repair relations. The UK's new ambassador to the US, Christian Turner, stated the visit is important for the countries' ties and highlighted the personal relationship between the King and the President. Monarchy expert Craig Prescott noted that the King is skilled at navigating such occasions and the independence anniversary provides a context for the trip beyond current political figures. The King is expected to address the US Congress, marking the first time a British monarch has done so since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1991. Anti-monarchy group Republic's Graham Smith, however, views the trip as pointless. Additionally, the visit is overshadowed by the scandal surrounding late US sex offender
Must ReadFormer Minister of Environment, Lawrencia Mallam, expressed deep concern over the collapse of Nigeria's textile industry, calling it a "national shame" and a major contributor to unemployment and insecurity. Speaking at the launch of "Do the Needful: Chronicling the Life and Times of Comrade Dele Ariyo," a memoir honoring late textile union pioneer Lawrence Ariyo, Mallam highlighted the shutdown of textile mills, particularly in Kaduna State. She stated that the industry is "dead," with once-active companies and cotton production no longer existing. Mallam identified poor infrastructure, especially erratic electricity supply, as the primary obstacle to industrial growth, asserting that stable power is crucial for revival. She also criticized Nigeria's reliance on imported fabrics, noting the country's loss of its status as a leading African textile producer. Mallam believes that reviving the sector would directly address unemployment and insecurity by creating jobs. Prof Olufemi Lawal, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Lagos State University, described the memoir as a vital historical account of the industry's decline and its past economic contributions. Olusegun Ariyo, the author and son of Lawrence Ariyo, presented the book as both a tribute and a call for government action to restore the sector and create employment.
Niyi Agoro, Cluster Director of Human Resources for Continental Hotels Group, has been named one of Africa's Top 15 Hotelier HR Leaders for Q1 2026 by Hotelier Africa. This recognition highlights his influence in shaping workforce strategy within the hospitality sector. Continental Hotels Group stated that Agoro is a leading human capital executive redefining talent management in an industry facing digital transformation, talent mobility, and increasing guest expectations. Hotelier Africa noted that the honorees were distinguished for creating resilient talent ecosystems that support sustainable growth and competitive advantage. Agoro's approach focuses on agile organizational cultures, robust performance frameworks, and positioning talent as a core business enabler. Industry observers see this recognition as reflecting a shift where HR leadership is central to enterprise performance and competitiveness. Agoro expressed appreciation for the honor, stating it motivates him to deepen his impact in the field by aligning talent strategies with business imperatives and fostering high-performance cultures. Karl Hala, Group General Manager of Continental Hotels, said the recognition affirms the organization's commitment to excellence in human capital development, noting that under Agoro's leadership, the HR Centre has become a benchmark for talent strategy and cultural coherence.