SIFAX Group has donated a set of major community projects to the people of Isade-Elero and Pampa-Isade in Ijebu North-East Local Government Area of Ogun State, in a move designed to improve education, trade, religion, and recreation.

The newly commissioned facilities include the Chief Samson Afolabi Centre for Information and Technology Services, a 100-seater ICT hub, the Isade Central Mosque, a community security office, 27 open market stalls, and a modern recreational facility.

Sustained impact in local communities

The initiative builds on years of interventions by SIFAX Group and its Chairman, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi. Past contributions include a community health centre, seasonal road grading, and the construction of St. Mark’s Church auditorium, hall, and vicarage.

L-R: Coordinator of Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation, Mrs. Foluke Ademokun; Baale of Isade-Elero, Chief Moses Sunday Odunuga, The Chairman of Ijebu North-East LGA, Hon. Folusho Badejo; Elder Brother of Dr. Taiwo Afolabi who represented him at the event, Deacon Dr. Wale Afolabi; Chairman of the Project Committee, Major General S. A. Odunsi and His wife during the official commissioning of the projects delivered to the Isade-Elero and Pampa-Isade Communities on Saturday, 13th September 2025.

Speaking at the commissioning on Saturday, 13 September 2025, Dr. Afolabi’s elder brother and representative at the event, Deacon Dr. Wale Afolabi, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to grassroots development.

He said:

“SIFAX Group and Dr. Taiwo Afolabi believe in the principle of social impact through support for communities across the country in the form of infrastructural provision, human capital development and economic empowerment for the vulnerable. It is this same vision that underlines the support we are providing for these communities today.”

Leaders welcome private sector support

The Chairman of Ijebu North-East LGA, Hon. Folusho Badejo, praised the project, stressing that such initiatives complement government efforts.

“These kinds of projects are what the local government embraces as they help augment our efforts towards making lives easier for our people. I’m excited to see the markets as well as the ICT centre, as they are projects the local government itself aspires to execute,” he said.

Baale of Isade-Elero, Chief Moses Sunday Odunuga, described the projects as “a prayer answered,” thanking SIFAX Group and Dr. Afolabi for their continuous investment in community development.

Unity, culture and celebration

The commissioning ceremony drew local leaders, clergy, and residents, including Project Committee Chairman Major General S. A. Odunsi (Rtd.), Vicar of Saint Mark’s Anglican Church, Revd Canon Mathew Kolade, and Chief Imam of Isade Mosque, Rafiu Oluwakemi Lawal.

The newly commissioned Isade Central Mosque, donated by SIFAX Group to the Isade-Elero community in Ijebu North-East LGA, Ogun State, as part of the company’s grassroots development initiatives.

Cultural displays, poetry, choreography, and parades by the Boys Brigade, Girl Scouts, and military groups enlivened the event. In a rare show of unity, Christians and Muslims celebrated side by side, underscoring the inclusive nature of the projects.

Transforming lives through Corporate Social Responsibility

Community members say the projects promise better learning opportunities, enhanced security, thriving commerce, and stronger social bonds.

By prioritising education, trade, and recreation alongside religious and security needs, SIFAX Group has reinforced its reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading companies in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

With these new facilities, the company has once again demonstrated that when businesses invest in communities, “entire societies move forward.”

A new report by Global Witness has revealed that land and environmental defenders across Africa remain under attack, with at least 126 people killed or disappeared between 2012 and 2024.

The report, Roots of Resistance, released today, documents a global decline in killings and disappearances from 196 in 2023 to 146 in 2024. Despite the drop, this still averages around three environmental defenders killed or missing every week.

According to the report, Africa accounted for nine deaths in 2024, including four in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), three in Liberia, one in Cameroon, and one in Madagascar.

In the DRC, all four victims were working to protect Upemba National Park. Two were rangers preventing poaching and illegal mining, while two others monitoring elephant movements were kidnapped and later found dead.

With 78 killings documented between 2012 and 2024, DRC ranks as the deadliest African country for defenders and the eighth most dangerous globally.

Global Witness Senior Advisor, Laura Furones, said the numbers are likely higher than reported:

“These already chilling figures are most likely a gross underestimate. The continued difficulty in building an evidence base on the situation faced by defenders in Africa has led to the under-reporting of attacks and the under-representation of defenders in this region.

Just because we are not recording as many cases in Africa, that does not mean it’s not dangerous for defenders. In fact, the opposite is true, with the severe repression of civic space leaving many defenders too scared to speak out in the first place.”

Nigeria’s Ekuri Community at Risk

The report also highlights ongoing threats faced by Nigeria’s Ekuri community in Cross River State, once celebrated internationally for its pioneering conservation model. Despite winning a UN prize for sustainable forest management, the Indigenous Nkukorli Peoples say their efforts are undermined by illegal logging and government-backed corporate interests.

Community activists now face escalating threats and criminalisation. Speaking at the Nigeria launch of the report in Lagos, Martins Egot, Chairman of the Ekuri Initiative and Executive Director of PADIC-Africa, said:

“Like so many communities across the country, continent and the world, we have seen the devastating effects of rampant resource exploitation and corruption – and devastation of our land and environment – all in the name of profit.

We know how powerful community-led conservation can be in protecting forests, and the planet – we have seen it for ourselves. The international community must recognise the role we play. When communities like ours are empowered, they become the most effective guardians of the environment.”

Criminalisation of Activists

The report also draws attention to the arrest of Odey Oyama, Executive Director of the Rainforest Resource Development Center (RRDC), in January 2025. Oyama was arrested with four others by more than 40 masked and armed police officers. He was charged with promoting inter-communal war, a crime that carries a potential life sentence.

Oyama said:

“My arrest was a clear attempt to silence me for standing up to corporate logging interests and official corruption. It’s a tactic used to intimidate those who oppose the destruction of our forests.

Defending our environment is a perilous job. You can easily be killed. I have just been lucky. It is vital that international bodies support forest defenders like me and hold accountable those who facilitate illegal logging.”

Wider Regional Struggle

Beyond Nigeria and DRC, cases of violence and intimidation are also reported across Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Chad, Liberia, and Madagascar.

Global Witness documented at least 96 cases of arrest and detention between December 2023 and August 2024 against campaigners opposing the controversial East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) in Uganda and Tanzania.

The group said the figures point to a pattern of systemic suppression, where defenders are not only killed or disappeared but also harassed, threatened, and criminalised for speaking out.

Adron Homes and Properties has unveiled its Lemon Friday Plus Promo 2025, a real estate campaign designed to make homeownership more affordable for Nigerians through discounts, flexible payment plans, and festive rewards.

Flexible Land Payments and Discounts

The promo allows customers to begin their homeownership journey with an initial deposit of ₦50,000 while spreading payments across 24 months. Buyers also enjoy a 30% discount on land purchases.

Adron Homes said the initiative was part of its mission to bridge the housing gap in Nigeria.

“The Lemon Friday Plus Promo is our way of making December unforgettable for our customers,” the management of Adron Homes stated. “We are not only offering affordable land ownership, but also giving families gifts that make the festive season brighter.”

Estates Across Multiple States

The promo covers estates in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Abuja (FCT), Nasarawa, Plateau, Osun, and Niger States. According to the company, these locations are strategically positioned in fast-developing communities with modern facilities, including:

Reliable power supply

Good road networks

Functional drainage systems

24-hour security with CCTV

Recreational centres and shopping malls

Green spaces for healthy living

Rewards for Subscribers

Subscribers are also rewarded with festive gifts depending on their deposit category.

Bronze (₦300,000 deposit): 25kg bag of rice + 2 chickens + vegetable oil OR home theatre.

Silver (₦500,000 deposit): A goat OR 50kg bag of rice + 3 chickens + vegetable oil OR rechargeable fan.

Gold (₦1,000,000 deposit): A goat + 50kg rice + palm oil + garri Ijebu OR 2 bags of 50kg rice + 4 chickens + palm oil + garri OR washing machine.

Diamond (₦3.5M deposit on estates above ₦20M before discount): A cow OR double-door fridge.

Duration of the Promo

The promo runs from 7 July to 6 January 2026, with instalment payments for deposits closing on 31 November 2025.

A Sustainable Pathway to Homeownership

Adron Homes noted that the initiative goes beyond sales by offering Nigerians sustainable pathways to real estate investment. Over the years, the company has introduced various schemes that allow families to gradually transition into homeowners despite financial constraints.

The real estate firm called on prospective buyers, families, and investors to take advantage of the opportunity before the promo closes.