Lagride Deploys New Fleet Under $100m UBA-Backed ‘Drive To Own’ Scheme; Targets 3,500 Vehicles

BY JUMOKE OWOOLA

Lagride has deployed a new set of vehicles under its Drive To Own programme, marking a significant milestone in its plan to expand structured pathways from professional driving to long-term vehicle ownership for captains.

Drive To Own is a performance-led initiative designed to reward captains who consistently meet measurable standards, including service quality, safety, compliance, ride completion, customer feedback, and overall operational discipline on the platform. The programme is backed by a $100m facility from United Bank for Africa (UBA), supporting Lagride’s plan to scale responsibly with strong governance and clear accountability, with a target of deploying 3,500 vehicles as the programme expands.

Lagride’s Drive To Own $100m partnership with UBA was launched in December by Chief Diana Chen, Chairman of Lagride, and Oliver Alawuba, Group Managing Director and CEO of UBA. The programme is already delivering tangible outcomes as the rollout progresses.

Speaking at the event, Mildred Ekanem, Executive Director of Lagride, said the deployment reflects Lagride’s commitment to building sustainable livelihoods while improving service standards for customers across Lagos.

“Drive To Own is built on structure and measurable performance,” Ekanem said. “This deployment is proof that when captains commit to a standard, the platform will commit to them in return. With UBA as a key partner and a strong financial backbone behind the programme, we are building a credible ownership engine that strengthens service quality and expands opportunities for captains over time. Our ambition is clear: scale responsibly and reach a deployment target of 3,500 vehicles as the programme grows.”

Ekanem added that the programme’s approach is driven by verifiable performance records generated through Lagride’s rental framework, which provides consistency and accountability for both the platform and its financial partners.

“Access to finance at this scale requires trust and data,” she said. “The rental period created a disciplined operating framework that produced the performance history needed for this model to be supported with confidence.”

UBA described the partnership as a practical example of enterprise finance enabling asset ownership through responsible, trackable performance.

Babatunde Ajayi, Head of Business Banking at UBA, said, “UBA is proud to partner with Lagride on Drive To Own because it is a structured model with clear accountability. The $100m facility backing this programme reflects our confidence in a framework that combines performance data, governance, and a pathway to asset ownership. This programme reflects what banking should be in the modern African economy: practical, inclusive, responsible, and forward-looking. It shows that when institutions trust people, and people honour that trust, progress becomes inevitable. This is how finance should work—enabling real enterprise, supporting livelihoods, and scaling opportunity responsibly.”

One of the beneficiaries, Aminu Ganna, a Lagride captain, described the moment as a turning point for captains committed to building stable futures through the platform.

“This is bigger than receiving a car. It is proof that the work we do every day can lead to ownership,” Aminu Ganna said. “Drive To Own gives captains hope and a clear path forward. For those of us who take the standards seriously, this is the opportunity we have been waiting for.”

The Drive To Own deployment event brought together Lagride captains, UBA representatives, and members of the media, featuring programme remarks, the official deployment moment, and a media briefing outlining the standards and expectations that underpin Drive To Own.

Lagride reiterated that Drive To Own will remain strictly performance-led, with continued eligibility dependent on professionalism, safety, compliance, vehicle care, and reliability.

Family Arrives Too Late as Impatient Death Ends Life of UK-Based Nigerian Footballer

By Peter Dansu 

Tragedy has struck the Nigerian football community following the death of Saburi Adeniji, a UK based Nigerian footballer who succumbed to a severe brain stem injury after weeks in intensive care.

Adeniji, popularly known as Ola, was a left winger for Kings Park Rangers Football Club in the United Kingdom. The club confirmed his passing in an emotional statement on Saturday, revealing that he died on Friday morning after bravely holding on in hopes of seeing his family one last time.

According to the club, arrangements had been made for his wife and young daughter to travel from Nigeria to the UK, but heartbreakingly, they arrived a day after his death.

It is with great sadness that we must announce our number 17 Saburi Adeniji Ola passed away yesterday morning, the club said. He fought so hard to still be here for when his family arrived. His wife and daughter unfortunately arrived this morning a day late.

Describing him as more than just a footballer, Kings Park Rangers paid glowing tribute to Adeniji as a devoted husband, loving father and cherished teammate.

He will always be a King. He will always be loved as a friend, as a dad, as a husband, as a brother and as a son, the statement added.

Adeniji’s death came weeks after the club had raised the alarm over his worsening health condition. On January 17, the team announced that their winger had been admitted into intensive care and suspended all matches to stand by his bedside in solidarity.

As his condition deteriorated, Kings Park Rangers launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise emergency funds to bring his family to the UK.

In a detailed update on the fundraising page, the club disclosed that Adeniji was admitted into Queen’s Hospital on January 15, 2026, where doctors confirmed he had suffered a devastating brain stem injury.

Medical specialists later classified him as brain dead, noting that his condition had continued to decline and that death was imminent.

The statement explained that recent changes in UK medical procedures delayed the withdrawal of life support, allowing a brief window for his family to travel in hopes of seeing him before he passed.

The fundraising drive covered urgent visa processing, flight tickets, accommodation and living expenses for his wife and four year old daughter who were based in Nigeria.

Beyond reuniting the family, the club said part of the funds would support Adeniji’s widow and help secure the future and education of his young daughter.

Saburi leaves behind a four year old daughter whom he adored. He worked tirelessly to provide for his family and was deeply committed to giving her a good education and a better future, the club noted.

Kings Park Rangers described his death as devastating and urged the football community to rally around the grieving family during the painful period.

This is a moment for the football world to come together players clubs teammates supporters and friends, the club said.

Adeniji’s sudden passing has left fans, teammates and loved ones in mourning, a painful reminder of how swiftly life can be taken, even when hope remains.

Iworo FM 96.3 Marks One Year in Grand Style, Bags Major Broadcasting Awards

By Peter Dansu 

Nigeria’s foremost indigenous radio station, Iworo FM 96.3, on Saturday, February 7, 2026, rolled out the drums to celebrate its first anniversary in a colourful ceremony that drew traditional rulers, political leaders, religious clerics and members of the community.

The glamorous event, held in Iworo and its environs, had in attendance the Oniworo of Iworo Awori Kingdom, Oba Dr Oladele Friday Kosoko, the Chairman of Olorunda Local Council Development Area, Hon. Ajose Peter Kumayon, alongside other royal fathers, Christian and Muslim leaders, and prominent stakeholders.

Activities kicked off with a thanksgiving session, where organisers and guests expressed gratitude to God for the journey so far, acknowledging the challenges faced since the station’s establishment in 2025 while celebrating the resilience that has kept it growing.

Speaking at the event, Oba Kosoko described Iworo FM as a blessing to the community, noting that the station has boosted development and brought Iworo Kingdom into national recognition.

According to the monarch, the radio station has not only amplified the voice of the people but has also attracted attention and progress to the area through its consistent and quality programming.

Iworo FM is a good initiative that has attracted development to the community. It has placed Iworo Kingdom on the national map, all thanks to the amazing and laudable work of the management. Within one year, there has been tremendous progress in the operations of this radio station. I am glad to see the improvements and also congratulate the people of Iworo for having an investment like this, the monarch said.

A major highlight of the celebration was the presentation of prestigious broadcasting awards to the station by 1423 Communications in recognition of its growing influence in the media space.

The station was honoured as the Fastest Rising Indigenous Radio Station in the Badagry Iworo axis and Best Radio Station in Breaking News Coverage Across the Interlands.

Representing the communication firm, the presenter said the awards were based on close monitoring of the station’s performance and its positive impact within a short period.

Iworo FM deserves all the accolades it is getting because it has done exceedingly well for the community and Lagos State as a whole. These awards are the result of careful observation of the station’s operations and activities. It is indeed marvellous, the representative stated.

Receiving the awards on behalf of the station, Oba Oladele Friday Kosoko, who also serves as the Board Chairman, expressed deep appreciation and reaffirmed his commitment to taking the station to greater heights.

We are very happy with this award. It shows that we are being watched, and to be considered for these laudable awards means a lot to us. I will continue to show commitment to this radio station and will do even more as we move forward in the coming years, he said.

The anniversary celebration was further spiced up with raffle draws, where lucky participants went home with items such as electric fans, bags of rice, clothing materials and other food supplies, adding excitement and goodwill to the historic occasion.

With its first year marked by growth, community impact and industry recognition, Iworo FM 96.3 appears firmly positioned as a rising force in indigenous broadcasting across Lagos State and beyond.