Enugu State Government-owned Airline, Enugu Air, on Tuesday – 4th August, 2026, signed a pact with Jands Travel Business School, JTBS, an Enugu based private travel, leisure and hospitality training institution to showcase Enugu’s potentials as a destination for leisure, business, investment and innovation.

The signing of the pact which took place
at Ifennia Court, Independence Layout, Enugu, is ahead of the hosting of the 2026 edition of the Domestic Tourism Festival, DTF, being organised by Jands Travel Business School to be held at Amadeo Event Centre, Enugu from September 4 – 6, 2026.

The forthcoming event with a theme: “Innovation and Technology for Peaceful Domestic Tourism,” is expected to draw about 2,000 delegates which includes 300 travel agencies from across Nigeria, alongside tourism boards, airlines, hospitality operators, investors and international guests, will feature tourism exhibition, business networking, cultural display and performances, among others.

In a remark at the occasion which was witnessed by Enugu Air representatives led by the Chief Operating Officer and Jands Travel Business School Board of Trustee members, the Chairman – Chief Ben Etiaba, said that it was an honour that they were partnering with Enugu Air to promote tourism and aviation in Enugu State.

“It is both an honour and a privilege to join you on this historic occasion as we witness the signing of a strategic partnership between Jands Travel Business School and Enugu Air.

“Today is about more than a Memorandum of Understanding. It is about a shared vision. It is about institutions coming together to build bridges between education and industry, between tourism and aviation, and between aspiration and opportunity.

“Tourism has become one of the world’s fastest growing economic sectors. It creates jobs, stimulates entrepreneurship, preserves culture, strengthens national identity, and contributes significantly to economic growth. Yet, for tourism to thrive, it requires reliable transportation, skilled professionals, innovative partnerships, and visionary leadership,” Etiaba said.

Etiaba explained the essence of the forthcoming three-day festival. “The forthcoming Jands Travel Business School’s Domestic Tourism Festival presents a unique opportunity to celebrate Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage while showcasing Enugu State as a destination for leisure, business, investment, and innovation.

“It is therefore fitting that Enugu Air, our state’s proudly emerging airline, is partnering with Jands Travel Business School, an institution committed to developing excellence in travel, tourism, hospitality, and aviation education.

“This collaboration demonstrates what can be achieved when government initiatives and private sector institutions work hand in hand. It aligns perfectly with the vision of transforming Enugu into a leading destination for commerce, tourism, investment, and ease of doing business. The remarkable improvements in infrastructure, security, and connectivity across the state provide a solid foundation upon which partnerships such as this can flourish.

“I particularly applaud the management of Enugu Air for embracing this collaboration at this formative stage of the airline’s journey. Your willingness to support initiatives that promote tourism and human capital development speaks volumes about your corporate vision and your commitment to the development of Enugu State and Nigeria,” he said, adding that, “I am confident that this partnership will become a model of successful collaboration and will contribute meaningfully to the growth of tourism, aviation, and economic development in our state and our nation.”

On her part, Mrs Chioma Obi, Director, Jands Travel Business School, expressed gratitude at the partnership they are striking with Enugu Air to drive tourism, aviation and the hospitality industry.

“It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the official announcement of the strategic partnership between Jands Travel Business School and Enugu Air for the Domestic Tourism Festival (DTF) 2026.

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to promoting tourism, improving connectivity, and positioning Enugu as a preferred destination for tourism, business, and investment.

“The Domestic Tourism Festival, now in its third edition, has become a growing national platform for tourism development, bringing together government, the private sector, travel professionals, investors, academia, and development partners to advance meaningful conversations and collaborations,” she said.

She explained that the last edition of the festival was great but expressed optimism that 2026 edition would surpass.

“Last year’s edition welcomed 1,287 participants, and this year we expect over 2,000 delegates, including more than 300 travel agencies from across Nigeria, alongside tourism boards, airlines, hospitality operators, investors, media organizations, and international guests.

“Enugu Air is more than an airline—it is a gateway to our destination. By becoming the Official Destination Airline Partner of DTF 2026, Enugu Air will help make travel to Enugu easier while connecting directly with hundreds of travel professionals, tourism stakeholders, corporate organizations, and decision-makers from across the country.

“For Jands Travel Business School and the Domestic Tourism Festival, this partnership strengthens our mission of showcasing Enugu’s tourism potential, attracting investment, and creating new opportunities for businesses within the tourism value chain,” she said.

In his own remarks, the
Chief Operating Officer of Enugu Air, Ugonna Agubuokwu, expressed joy with the collaboration with Jands Travel Business School for their efforts in promoting the tourism industry, and promised to ensure that the September Festival will be a huge success.

“As an Airline, we are honoured to be at this event. We all know what tourism brings to our economy. It promotes growth and development. It tells story of who we are and above all, it generates revenue.

“On the strength of this event, we shall use this event as a gate way to showcase our routes and our domestic destinations, that is why we are happy to be a part of this great event. Having said this, I promise that come September 4 to 6, 2026, it will be a very big occasion for both the organisers of the event, Jands Travel Business School and above all, Enugu Air.”

Pastor Titilayo Adewale, the daughter of the late Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi, the founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has firmly denied viral media reports claiming she criticized the church’s leadership or demanded public monuments to preserve her father’s legacy.

The viral post claimed Adewale criticised senior RCCG pastors for allegedly sidelining her late father’s legacy

Adewale described the claims as false and urged those circulating them to stop spreading misinformation.

She debunked the circulating stories and clarified her stance in a statement shared on Facebook page on Monday.

She said the statement attributed to her did not originate from her “either implicitly or explicitly,” stressing that her father’s greatest legacy was not tied to buildings or monuments but the lives he transformed.

“For the record, Baba’s image or lack thereof on any edifice on earth is nothing compared to making Heaven and his face being recognized there,” she wrote.

She explained that her father never encouraged the pursuit of material possessions or earthly recognition, recalling that he was reluctant even to own a personal residence because he did not place value on material acquisitions.

“My father consistently believed in building people rather than merely constructing buildings.

“He never believed in acquiring wealth or earthly possessions,” she said, adding that it would be inconsistent to suggest that he desired his name or image to be prominently associated with buildings or institutions.

According to her, the reports were aimed at creating unnecessary controversy and division within the church rather than promoting the memory of its founder.

“In my opinion, this report and similar ones are not about me, my father, or even the leadership of the RCCG. Instead, they are intended to create unnecessary arguments and division.

“Their purpose is to divert attention from the divine work currently being carried out and sow discord among us,” she stated.

She warned those responsible for circulating the reports to desist from what she described as “mischievous acts of misinformation.

Adewale also reaffirmed her support for the leadership of the church, praying for continued wisdom and strength for the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and his family.

…NCC’s CEO lauds Mbah’s Smart Schools, infrastructural, digital capacity initiatives

In a major boost to President Bola Tinubu’s digital economy agenda, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Enugu State Government, on Tuesday, sealed a strategic 15-year lease of the agency’s Digital Industrial Park and Learning Centre to the Enugu State Government.

The move would see the Enugu State Government take over and optimise the facilities located in the state capital as the Enugu Talent City and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute in line with the digital economy drive of the Governor Peter Mbah Administration.

Speaking during the lease agreement signing ceremony at Government House, Enugu, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the arrangement fully aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu Administration, and its ambition to grow Nigeria into a $1 trillion economy driven by productivity, innovation and private sector growth.

Maida stressed that Mbah had shown a clear agenda to build Enugu State into a digital economic powerhouse through deliberate investment in education, infrastructure, innovation and digital capacity, maintaining that the Mbah Administration was well positioned to advance the objectives for which these facilities were established.

“Our expectation is that this partnership will support Enugu’s ambition to become a leading destination for digital services, artificial intelligence, startup incubation, outsourcing, research and technology-enabled enterprise.

“We also expect these facilities to become spaces where young people acquire relevant skills, entrepreneurs transform ideas into viable businesses and local enterprises connect to opportunities beyond Enugu and Nigeria.

“These facilities were conceived as platforms for innovation, entrepreneurship and human capital development. They were designed to deepen digital skills, support startups, attract investment, create jobs and position Nigeria as a competitive destination for business process outsourcing, knowledge process outsourcing and other technology-enabled services.

“In essence, they were built not merely as physical assets, but as platforms for developing the people and enterprises that will power Nigeria’s digital economy.

“So, for us at the NCC, completing physical infrastructure is only the beginning. Buildings alone do not create innovation. People do. Ideas do. Entrepreneurs do. And partnerships bring all these elements together,” he said.

The NCC boss also commended Governor Mbah’s investment in Smart Green Schools, saying he was building an economy prepared for the future.

“Physical infrastructure is essential to development, but infrastructure alone cannot deliver lasting prosperity. This is what makes the Smart Green Schools initiative significant. It recognises that preparing our children for tomorrow must begin today. Technology-enabled schools, digital learning facilities, robotics and artificial intelligence laboratories demonstrate an understanding that education must evolve alongside technology. That is leadership with the future in mind.

“Investment in education and skills raises productivity, expands economic opportunity and strengthens the ability of individuals and businesses to create value.

“This is even more important today. Artificial Intelligence is reshaping industries. Automation is changing the nature of work. Digital technologies are transforming how governments serve citizens and how businesses operate,” he concluded.

Speaking, Governor Peter Mbah commended President Tinubu for recognising the centrality of the digital economy to the $1 trillion economy he seeks to build, as well as for understanding that much of that growth would come from the states.

He noted that AI would contribute about $20 trillion to the global economy by 2030, saying, “It is not a space you want your young ones to be missing.”

“We also believe that our talents, our brightest talents, should not be exported in person. We believe that they should export their talents outside the country from here, and that is why we see huge benefits in these assets in terms of job creation and opportunities for our young people.

“We are also looking at transforming the Digital Bridge Institute into a world-class AI institute. We will also transform the Digital Industrial Park. If you have followed the news, we have already taken steps, working with some teams from Qatar, to make sure that it becomes a certification centre for AI on the continent.

He said the NCC would not regret its decision to temporarily hand over the facilities to Enugu State.

“I am sure that a few years down the line, we can come back here and be very proud of the decision we made today to activate these assets and to make sure that they are productive,” he concluded.

Earlier in his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Enugu State Governor on Digital Economy and Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs), Arinze Chilo-Ofia, thanked the FG and NCC for the confidence reposed in Enugu State to activate and optimise the two strategic assets and ensure the realisation of the objectives for which they were conceived and built.