…as Encounter 2026 holds in Ikeja

The Convener of the Encounter Series, Seun Oyedeji, has described the 2026 edition of The Encounter Symposium as timely, saying Artificial Intelligence has become an integral part of modern life with far-reaching implications for education, communication and society.

The symposium, headlined by renowned comedian Ali Baba and other speakers, was held at the Radisson Blu, Ikeja, and brought together students, educators, parents and young professionals for conversations on the responsible use of AI.

Speaking at the event, Oyedeji, a seasoned broadcast journalist, acknowledged the benefits of AI in research, creativity and information dissemination, but warned that the technology could also facilitate misinformation, manipulated videos and other forms of digital deception.

“Artificial intelligence is good. It has come to make life easier for us. It is a blessing, but it could become a curse if we are not intentional about how we deploy it,” she said.

Oyedeji expressed concern over children’s increasing exposure to digital devices, noting that some were already finding ways to circumvent parental controls. She urged parents to monitor the platforms their children access, determine appropriate ages for introducing digital devices and encourage responsible technology use.

She further cautioned that excessive reliance on AI could undermine creativity, originality and independent thinking, insisting that the technology should complement rather than replace human intelligence.

One of the participants, Ezekiel David of Platform College, described AI as more of a friend than an enemy, saying it could help young people acquire knowledge, adapt to emerging trends and prepare for the demands of a changing economy.

A major highlight of the symposium was the inter-school debate competition. Platform College emerged winner, while Government Senior College came first runner-up and Mandate Private School finished third.

Oyedeji said the symposium was designed to encourage young people to explore the positive applications of AI and resist pressures to use the technology for harmful purposes.

She expressed optimism that its responsible adoption would enable Nigerian youths to develop innovative solutions to national and global challenges.

The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said that his promise to gift each councillor in Abuja N10 million if they deliver their wards for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections is reward for political mobilisation.

Wike, who made the clarification while speaking with journalists in Abuja during monitoring of ongoing projects, said the N10 million pledge is not a vote-buying strategy.

On Monday, the FCT minister told councillors to deliver their wards for Tinubu in the 2027 elections and get the cash reward.

Wike made the promise during a rainbow coalition stakeholders’ meeting attended by traditional rulers, political stakeholders and residents in the Kwali area council of the FCT.

Doubling down on his earlier remarks, the FCT minister juxtaposed his promise with a parent’s pledge to purchase a car or house for a child who graduates with a first-class degree from the university.

Wike said he did not ask the FCT councillors to collect money to purchase votes during the elections.

The FCT minister added that reward system is a global practice, noting that politicians in other climes also hand incentives to facilitate political mobilisation.

“It is only trained journalists or reasonable persons who understand the difference between a reward and a bribe,” NAN quoted the minister as saying.

“You tell your son, ‘I want a first class from you. Get a first class, and you get a house or a brand new car.’ Just go and work hard.

“That is what we are bringing. I didn’t say take this money and go and buy voters; I said go and work and show commitment.

“Vote-buying is giving someone money to go and vote for a specific candidate.

“Media houses collect millions for prime-time advertisement slots to let voters know what candidates offer, but when you tell your constituents or party workers you will reward their hard work, critics call it bribery.”

The FCT minister dismissed allegations that opposition parties are not being given the level playing field to campaign due to restriction of access to facilities.

“Who is not allowing the opposition to campaign? I know they held a rally the other day in a state stadium,” the FCT minister said.

“In Rivers, I don’t think anybody has complained to you that we are not allowing them to campaign.

“Let them go to the main stadiums, mobilise, and talk to the people.”

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has responded to claims by Peter Obi that he was prevented from celebrating with the Flamingos, Nigeria’s U-17 women’s football team, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), had said he was stopped from meeting and felicitating the victorious team because officials told his protocol team that they could lose their jobs if they allowed him near.

In a statement on Monday, Shehu Dikko, chairman of NSC, relayed that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) who accompanied and received the team, reported that they did not see Obi near or around the players at the airport. 

According to the officials, two individuals wearing Obi campaign face caps and other campaign attire approached them to request that the former governor meet and take photographs with the players. 

The proposed arrangement was also likely to involve campaign materials, the NSC said. 

“The players had just arrived early that morning on an Air Maroc flight at about 5.30 a.m. and were tired after their journey and a demanding competition,” the statement reads. 

“The officials exercised their judgment in declining the sudden meeting and photograph request at that time, taking account of the players’ welfare and the circumstances of the request and without any prior notice of any arrangement for airport reception for the team. 

“Nothing in the account provided by the officials supports the suggestion that their jobs were at risk.”

Obi had said he was at the airport to board a flight to Enugu, which would ordinarily depart from the domestic terminal, while the Flamingos arrived through the international terminal.

Dikko said airport officials and passengers welcomed and celebrated the team without discrimination on grounds of political or other affiliations.

“This moment of joy and national pride was duly captured by the media present to cover the team’s arrival and Mr. Obi was never captured anywhere near the team and or at the vicinity of the international wing of the Airport,” he said. 

The NSC boss said the commission takes strong exception to Obi’s decision to present the incident as evidence of political intimidation without first seeking clarification from the NFF or the commission. 

According to him, turning a request for an unscheduled interaction into a toxic narrative of political victimisation shifts attention from the players’ achievement to an individual political grievance. 

“These young champions should not be drawn into that controversy and never deserved this from Mr. Obi,” he said. 

He urged the NDC presidential candidate to reflect deeply and offer an unreserved apology to the players “for souring their moment of glory with his regrettable actions, subsequent statement and media interviews deliberately weaponising a non-issue for political gain”.

He noted that the Flamingos are minors and have a dedicated safeguarding official within the technical crew to protect and guide the players. 

“Their welfare, dignity and protection from undue pressure must remain central to every engagement,” he stated.

“This responsibility includes managing access to the players and ensuring that interactions including planned photograph sessions are appropriate and within the regulations.”

He said young athletes in the country must not be used to suggest allegiance to any political party, adding that considerations apply equally to public officials, political figures and the public.

Dikko said the team’s journey to the World Cup final involved more than seven months of preparation, training, World Cup qualifiers, the WAFU tournament and the competition in Morocco.

He acknowledged Obi’s congratulatory messages during the closing stages of the competition but said such gestures were different from sustained engagement with the team’s preparation, welfare and development.

“Our national teams deserve consistent support from everyone through preparation, competition and setbacks, as well as when they return with trophies,” he said.

Dikko added that Obi, and any other Nigerian who wishes to meet or host the Flamingos should contact the NFF or NSC with a formal request so that suitable arrangements can be made around the team’s programme, welfare, and, most importantly, to ensure every activity is implemented within the rules. 

The NSC chairman also disputed Obi’s claim that he was prevented from visiting the Super Eagles in the dressing room after Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe in Uyo on March 25, 2025.

He said the players had declined to receive visitors after the match, which ended unfavourably for Nigeria, as they wanted to hold an immediate meeting among themselves. 

Dikko, who said he sat on the same row as Obi and a sprinkling of governors during the match, added that no dignitary or official, including himself, the governors and top NFF officials, visited the players. 

He added that FIFA protocols restricted access to the dressing room to accredited persons or those cleared through the football federation.