Business
From Abeokuta to the African Stage: The Bold Evolution of ADE’s Couture in Ogun
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In the heart of Abeokuta, where the historic Olumo Rock stands as a testament to heritage and endurance, a new kind of monument is being built—one crafted from silk, shears, and sophisticated stitches. ADE’s Couture, popularly known as AC, has long been a cornerstone of the creative industry in Ogun State. Now, the brand is shedding its local skin to embrace a continental identity.
In an exclusive interview held on Monday at the brand’s Corporate Headquarters in the Ogun State capital, the CEO of ADE’s Couture Aladetan Iseoluwa Adefarati (MC STOPSHEBE) made a definitive declaration: The brand is ready to compete on the grandest stage of them all—the Africa Fashion Show.
The atmosphere at the AC headquarters was one of focused ambition. Amidst the rhythmic hum of sewing machines and the vibrant hues of premium fabrics, the CEO detailed the brand’s trajectory. This isn’t merely about a runway appearance; it is about a significant impact that redefines the Nigerian fashion narrative.
”We have spent years perfecting our craft within the borders of Ogun State,” the CEO stated. “We have mastered the ‘perfect fit’ and the art of storytelling through fabric. Now, ADE’s Couture is ready to stand side-by-side with the finest fashion houses across Africa. We are not just representing a brand; we are representing the creative spirit of Nigeria.”
He also appealed for social media support to boost visibility and sales.
Speaking further, he lamented the lack of business sense in Abeokuta compared to Lagos, citing difficulties in showcasing their products.
“We have vanguard, punch, and other media coverage, but we need influential people to help amplify our brand,” he said.
“If they post about us, people will know we exist and we’ll get engagement.”
“We will definitely keep going if we have more important personnel supporting us,” he added.
The “AC” signature has become synonymous with a unique blend of traditional Nigerian aesthetics and contemporary global silhouettes. As the creative economy in Ogun State experiences a resurgence, ADE Couture has emerged as a leader for several reasons:
Participating in the Africa Fashion Show is a strategic move to position Abeokuta as a burgeoning fashion hub. By taking designs to this broader stage, ADE’s Couture is signalling that the Nigerian fashion industry is ready to transition from local retail to global export.
The CEO emphasised that the goal is to show that “Made in Nigeria” is a badge of luxury and quality. As the brand prepares its upcoming collection for the show, the message is clear: ADE’s Couture isn’t just joining the race; they are intending to lead it.
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Nigeria’s long-standing dependence on imported petrol may soon come to an end as Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals moves to supply between 60 and 65 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily to the domestic market, exceeding national consumption requirements and creating room for exports.
President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, disclosed the development in Lagos, noting that a structured offtake arrangement has been finalised with selected marketers to guarantee nationwide distribution and stabilise fuel supply.
According to him, the refinery will dedicate up to 65 million litres of petrol daily to the local market, while an estimated surplus of between 15 and 20 million litres will be exported.
Nigeria’s average daily petrol consumption ranges between 50 and 60 million litres, placing the refinery’s output above current domestic demand. Industry observers say this represents a major turning point for the downstream sector, effectively breaking decades of reliance on imported refined products and recurrent fuel scarcity.
Under a revised distribution framework approved by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, nationwide supply will be routed through major marketing firms.
These include MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited Retail, 11 Plc, TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc, Rainoil Limited, Northwest Petroleum & Gas Company Limited, Ardova Plc, Bovas & Company Limited, AA Rano Nigeria Limited, AYM Shafa Limited, Conoil and Masters Energy.
The structured distribution model, regulators say, is designed to eliminate supply bottlenecks and curb speculative practices that have historically disrupted fuel availability.
Analysts describe the development as a significant structural reform in Nigeria’s fuel supply chain. As Africa’s largest crude oil producer, Nigeria has for decades relied heavily on fuel imports, exposing the economy to foreign exchange volatility, logistical challenges and periodic shortages.
With domestic refining capacity now exceeding national demand, the country is expected to save billions of dollars annually in foreign exchange previously spent on petrol imports.
Experts say this could ease pressure on the naira, strengthen external reserves and improve overall trade balance stability.
During a recent inspection of the facility, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bayo Bashir Ojulari, described the refinery as a transformative national asset capable of redefining Nigeria’s energy security and accelerating industrial growth.
Ojulari said the plant had surpassed initial expectations, noting that while it was designed to process 650,000 barrels per day, live operational data showed throughput of 661,000 barrels per day.
“These are live parameters, not projections, reports or photographs,” he said, describing the refinery as a source of national pride and a demonstration of Nigeria’s capacity to deploy world-class industrial technology.
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Lafarge Africa Plc has honoured its top-performing customers and transporters at the 2025 Customer & Transporter Awards, held on Saturday, February 21, at the Landmark Event Centre.
The ceremony brought together customers, transporters and key stakeholders, including government officials, board members and the company’s leadership, to recognise outstanding performance and reaffirm the partnerships that continue to drive Lafarge Africa’s growth nationwide.
Regarded as the pinnacle of the company’s commercial calendar, the annual awards celebrate partners whose dedication, integrity and resilience ensure Lafarge Africa’s products reach markets across the country, even amid challenging economic conditions.
At the event, Elder Ubong Bassey Obot of Ubotex Nigeria Limited emerged as National Volume Champion. Igwe Cosmas Ezeumeh Chizoba of C.C. Umeh and Sons Limited and Chief Etim Effiong Okon of Batoframoje Enterprises finished as first and second runners-up, respectively. The overall winner received a 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser, while the runners-up were rewarded with a 2026 Toyota Prado and a 2026 Toyota Fortuner.
In the transport category, B.I.G MultiQuest Nigeria Limited clinched the National Best Transporter award and went home with a 2026 Toyota Hilux. Two National Growth Champions received 15KVA generating sets, while four regional champions were rewarded with Toyota RAV4 vehicles. Other prizes presented on the night included Changan CS55, GAC S3 and Hyundai Creta cars, 13KVA solar inverters, 80-inch Hisense televisions and deep freezers.
Welcoming guests, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, expressed appreciation to customers and transporters for their loyalty and continued support, noting that the company’s growth story is inseparable from the strength of its partnerships.
He said that in 2025, Lafarge Africa expanded its retail footprint, prioritised customer experience, strengthened its ready-mix business and launched new low-carbon products, including Ecoplanet Elephant and Ecocrete, leveraging technology as a competitive advantage.
“Our achievements would not have been possible without the trust, market insights and commitment of our customers and partners. Tonight, we celebrate partnership and shared success,” he said.
Also speaking, Commercial Director Gbenga Onimowo described customers and transporters as “trade champions” whose belief in the company’s products has sustained its market leadership. He added that the awards were designed to inspire even greater achievements in the year ahead.
Logistics Director Osaze Aghatise acknowledged transporters as a vital link between the company and its customers, ensuring efficient distribution and nationwide availability of Lafarge Africa’s innovative building solutions.
The evening featured award presentations across multiple categories, alongside entertainment, networking and celebrations, underscoring the spirit of collaboration that defines Lafarge Africa’s relationship with its trade partners.
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The Ogun State Government has disclosed that its aquaculture support programme under the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) has generated an estimated ₦9.17 billion in revenue for fish farmers across the state, following sustained investments in feed subsidies, infrastructure development and capacity building.
The Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, made this known in Eriwe, Ijebu, while addressing stakeholders during an ongoing inspection of OGSTEP-funded agricultural projects across fish clusters and farm settlements in Ogun State.
According to the commissioner, a total of 4,256 aquaculture farmers have benefitted from the intervention programme, which was designed to boost fish production, reduce production costs and improve farmers’ incomes.
He revealed that the state government supplied 195,436 bags of fish feed to farmers at a 30 per cent subsidy, representing a direct government investment of ₦2,745,875,800 to cushion the impact of rising input costs.
Owotomo explained that the intervention has resulted in an estimated aquaculture output of 4,256 metric tons of fish, contributing significantly to food security and reducing dependence on imported fish.
He added that the state government has also extended support to the poultry subsector, with 1,272 broiler farmers benefitting from the programme and 77,703 bags of professional and commercial broiler feed distributed across the state,
while some other broiler farmers were supported with the production of 500 birds each and linked to off-takers to prevent post harvest losses.
During the inspection, the commissioner visited the Ijebu Development Initiative for Poverty Reduction at the Eriwe Fish Farm Cluster, which comprises about 600 fish farmers and has been equipped with a modern fish processing facility.
The facility includes a five-ton solar-powered blast freezer, a 10-ton cold room, a 500/900-capacity chest freezer, four 50kg smoking kilns, three 100kg smoking kilns, a 500kg-capacity digital weighing scale, stainless steel work tables, 400-litre holding tanks, as well as rehabilitated fish processing buildings and market shops.
Owotomo also inspected ongoing fish processing facilities at the Ikangba Fish Farm Cluster, which has about 1,224 fish farmers, and the Ikenne Fish Farm Cluster, noting that similar processing infrastructure is being deployed in Ibiade, Ado-Odo and Ilashe fish clusters.
He stressed that the OGSTEP intervention is statewide and inclusive, aimed at reducing post-harvest losses, promoting value addition and stabilising prices across the aquaculture value chain.
“This is a clear demonstration that when government support is well-targeted, agriculture becomes profitable for farmers and beneficial to the economy,” the commissioner said, adding that the programme has strengthened production capacity across clusters.
In separate remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Angel Adelaja; the Chairman of Ikenne Local Government, Hon. Jamiu Asimi; the Chairman of the Catfish Farmers Association in Ijebu, Mr. Lazarus Okole; and the CEO of the Ijebu Development Initiative for Poverty Reduction, Mr. Marcus Adeniyi, commended the initiative noting that the new facilities would reduce gluts, curb distress sales, improve incomes, expand production and strengthen local economic development, while reaffirming Governor Dapo Abiodun’s commitment to sustainable agricultural growth in Ogun State.
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