Segilola Resources Operating Limited (SROL), operator of Nigeria’s first commercial gold mine and a subsidiary of Thor Explorations Ltd., has taken bold steps toward community development and youth empowerment in Osun State by recognising winners of its 2025 University Competition and unveiling major infrastructure projects in Odo‑Ijesha.

The University Competition, launched earlier in 2025, called on students from tertiary institutions across Osun State to devise practical and innovative strategies to tackle the scourge of illegal mining — a growing issue threatening both the environment and legitimate mining efforts in the region.

Judged independently by the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), the competition attracted a wave of outstanding ideas, reaffirming the intellectual power and creativity of Nigerian youth.

Winners Shine with Vision for Sustainable Mining

Three students emerged as the standout winners:

Ibrahim Sulaiman of Adeleke University claimed the first prize of ₦800,000 — ₦500,000 from the official prize fund and an additional ₦300,000 personally presented by Mr. Segun Lawson, CEO of Thor Explorations Ltd.

Beulah Chimaobi Ude from Obafemi Awolowo University took second place with ₦500,000 (₦300,000 official prize + ₦200,000 bonus).

Abisola Faith Adegboyega of Osun State University, Osogbo Campus, won third place and received ₦300,000 (₦200,000 prize + ₦100,000 bonus).

Speaking during the award presentation, Mr. Segun Lawson said:

“This competition is not a token gesture. It reflects our firm belief that young Nigerians are not just the future of the mining industry; they are already shaping its present. The entries were bold, thoughtful, and solution-driven, offering real strategies for tackling illegal mining and promoting responsible, sustainable practices.”

Community Infrastructure Projects Unveiled in Odo‑Ijesha

Following the award ceremony, Segilola Resources commissioned two key infrastructure projects on July 31st, 2025, further anchoring its long-term investment in the Odo‑Ijesha community. These included:

The renovated Community High School — now equipped to offer a more conducive learning environment.

An upgraded block of market stalls — designed to boost local trade with safer, organised, and hygienic facilities for traders.

The projects were implemented in close consultation with community leaders to ensure alignment with grassroots needs and aspirations.

Madhurii Sarkar Amoda, Community Development and Stakeholder Manager at SROL, during the commissioning event, remarked:

“It is always a privilege to work closely with host communities on projects that reflect their true priorities. These are more than just physical structures; they are symbols of progress, inclusion, and our long-term commitment to building with, not just for, the people of Odo‑Ijesha.”

Building for the Future of Osun

Through initiatives like the University Competition and strategic infrastructure investments, Segilola Resources Operating Limited continues to lead by example in Nigeria’s mining industry. The company’s approach emphasizes inclusive development, environmental responsibility, transparency, and shared prosperity — principles critical to reshaping the narrative around resource extraction in the country.

By empowering students and uplifting communities, Segilola is not only investing in the present but laying a foundation for a more sustainable and equitable future in Osun State and beyond.

In a significant stride toward bolstering healthcare education in Northern Nigeria, the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) on Thursday, July 31, donated a fully completed administrative block worth ₦250 million to Al-Qalam University’s College of Allied Health Sciences, Katsina.

The building, funded under ASR Africa’s Tertiary Education Grant Scheme (TEGs), is part of the organization’s broader commitment to addressing infrastructure gaps in African tertiary institutions. So far, over 30 institutions across the continent have benefitted from grants ranging between ₦250 million and ₦2 billion.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Professor Nasiru Musa Yauri, Vice Chancellor of Al-Qalam University, expressed deep appreciation to ASR Africa, stating:

“The choice of the project and its location were strategic as the institution plans to extend its academic programmes to include the College of Allied Health Sciences.”

He further revealed that the university has formalized partnerships with major healthcare facilities across Katsina State to support clinical training for students enrolled in the new health sciences programs.

Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Medical Education

L-R: Alh. Bilya Sanda, Chairman, Katsina Islamic Foundation; Prof. Nasiru M. Yauri, VC, Al-Qalam University, Katsina; Dr. Ubon Udoh, MD/CEO, ASR Africa; Barr. Abdullahi Faskari, Secretary to the State Government, Katsina representing the State Governor; Justice Musa Danladi, Chief Judge, Katsina State; Alhaji Aminu Lawal Marafa, Marafa Katsina, representing the Emir of Katsina during the tape-cutting at the official commissioning of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Administrative Building for the College of Allied Health Science in Al-Qalam University, Katsina recently.

The newly commissioned facility houses furnished administrative and academic offices, two conference halls, and infrastructure to support the upcoming degree programs in Nursing Science, Public Health, Radiography, Physiotherapy, Optometry, and Medical Laboratory Sciences.

Dr. Ubon Udoh, Managing Director of ASR Africa, commended the university’s project management team for their role in the timely delivery of the project. He stated:

“The partnership between ASR Africa and the university’s Project Management Unit ensured the project was completed within the stipulated time. We are satisfied with the outcome and urge all beneficiaries to ensure its proper use.”

State Government Applauds Educational Investment

Representing the Governor of Katsina State, Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda, the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Faskari, thanked ASR Africa’s Chairman, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, for what he described as a critical investment in the state’s educational sector.

“Education is vital for the growth of any society. That is why Governor Radda has made it a top priority on his agenda,” said Faskari.

The event was attended by top university officials, state executives, and members of the ASR Africa team.

About ASR Africa

Founded in 2021 by Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, African industrialist and Chairman of BUA Group, ASR Africa is a philanthropic initiative committed to sustainable, impact-driven development in health, education, and social development across Africa. The initiative focuses on homegrown solutions to systemic challenges, delivering interventions that are both strategic and locally relevant.

This donation to Al-Qalam University underscores ASR Africa’s growing influence in shaping the continent’s future through education and community-driven development.

The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Olushola Oladoja, paid an official visit to Ondo State over the weekend following the recent gruesome murders of three students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA). His visit was hosted by Comrade Adekanye Mayomi Adeboye, popularly known as INEC, the Chairman of NANS Joint Campus Council (JCC), Ondo Axis.

The high-profile visit comes in the wake of heightened fear, outrage, and security concerns on campuses across the state, especially in Akungba-Akoko, where students are mourning the brutal killings.

A Call to Action on Student Safety

Speaking during the visit, Comr. INEC described the presence of the national student leader as “a mark of true leadership and a sign that our voices are being heard at the highest levels.”

According to him, “The visit signifies national concern for Ondo State students and reaffirms that student leadership is strongest when voices across all levels rise together.”

Also present was Kevin Solomon Olaoluwa, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, who commended the efforts of NANS at all levels.

“The collaborative spirit between the national and state leadership of NANS is commendable. I urge the National President to continue offering needed guidance and support to Comr. INEC, especially as they work hand-in-hand to improve the state of student affairs in Ondo,” Olaoluwa said.

AAUA Murders Spark Legislative Alarm

Meanwhile, the Ondo State House of Assembly was thrown into a sober mood on Monday, July 29, as Hon. Tope Agbulu, member representing Akoko South West Constituency II, officially reported the killings of three AAUA students to the legislature.

Raising the matter under urgent public importance, Hon. Agbulu recounted with sadness that between Tuesday, July 16, and Monday, July 22, 2025, three students were brutally murdered in Akungba-Akoko by individuals alleged to be indigenes of the host community.

The first incident involved two male students, Abha John Friday (25) and Okah Adrel Eloho (19), who were attacked and murdered in their rented apartment. Preliminary reports linked the attack to their landlord, one Mr. Oladele Femi, who was allegedly the ringleader. Femi is now deceased under unclear circumstances, while two accomplices have been arrested and are facing prosecution.

The second case involved a female student, Joy Adeyemi, who was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, identified as Olatunbosun, also an indigene of Akungba. He is currently on the run.

“This Must Stop” – Lawmaker Demands Justice and Security Reforms

Hon. Agbulu issued a passionate appeal to the Governor of Ondo State, the State Police Command, and all relevant security agencies to take swift action.

“We must not fold our arms while innocent students, our future leaders, are being cut down in the prime of their youth,” he told the House. “The social and academic stability of Adekunle Ajasin University depends heavily on the safety of its students.”

His recommendations include:

1. A full-scale investigation into all killings and a manhunt for the fugitive, Olatunbosun.

2. Deployment of increased police patrols and the setup of strategic checkpoints in student-populated areas.

3. Creation of a dedicated campus security task force.

4. Conflict resolution dialogues between students and Akungba community leaders.

5. Formation of a Crisis Response Committee for future emergencies.

“This House must rise to ensure Akungba remains a safe haven for learning, not a theatre of bloodshed,” Agbulu declared.

Uniting for the Future

Comr. Olushola Oladoja reassured students during his visit that NANS would not relent in advocating for safer campuses.

“Our students must never be made to choose between safety and education. We will pursue justice and systemic reform at all levels,” the NANS President said.

As the NANS Ondo leadership continues under the theme of a “Unified and Redefined Era,” student communities across the state are watching closely, hopeful that the visit will translate into concrete action and lasting change.