The 2nd edition of the Values for Daily Living (VDL) International Conference with the theme In Pursuit of Excellence was successfully held on Friday, October 10, 2025 at the Base Landmark Event Centre in Enugu, Nigeria, bringing together key national stakeholders, development partners, parents, school owners, teachers and youth advocates to reignite conversations around rebuilding Nigeria on the foundation of values.

Organized by the Help Sphere Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to the advancement of values education, climate action, and humanitarian causes, the conference was convened by Mrs. Sandra Ani, President of the Foundation and visionary initiator of the VDL Project.

This year’s conference, themed “IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE” attracted distinguished personalities including the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, as well as delegations from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Members of Education community, parents, religious institutions, civil society organizations, the media and other critical stakeholders.

In her welcome address, Mrs. Ani reflected on the growth of the VDL Project, which began as her personal initiative during her National Youth Service in Akwa Ibom State in 2013.

She noted that what started as a small community development effort – renovating an orphanage home, empowering youths, and providing eye care for the vulnerable has now evolved into a nationwide values advocacy movement touching lives across Nigeria.

A key highlight of the conference was the Grand Finale of the 2025 VDL National Essay Competition, which recorded over 800 entries from students across tertiary and secondary institutions across the country.

The top 20 finalists competed in Enugu, with Dickson Sunday from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State emerging as the winner of the Tertiary Category, receiving a ₦1,000,000 cash prize, while Amarachi Nkemakolam Moses from Federal Government Girls College, Lagos, clinched the Secondary School Category, going home with ₦500,000.

While the top two (2) Finalists in both categories all got consolation prizes, the most outstanding 20 finalists were also formally decorated as VDL Ambassadors and will lead values advocacy campaigns across their various states and institutions promoting integrity, empathy, discipline, and civic responsibility among young Nigerians.

In his keynote speech, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, the Director General of the NOA, commended the initiative and reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with organizations like the Help-Sphere Foundation in promoting civic values and ethical reorientation across the nation.

Other speakers and panelists echoed the need for collective responsibility among government, schools, families, and communities to rebuild Nigeria on strong moral foundations.

The conference ended with renewed enthusiasm among participants, partners, and young people to drive the Values for Daily Living Campaign – a movement that continues to inspire a new generation of Nigerians to live right, lead right, and influence right.

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer and songwriter, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, takes centre stage in a new edition of CNN International’s magazine programme, African Voices Changemakers, sponsored by telecommunications giant, Globacom.

Hosted by ace journalist Larry Madowo, the episode, which aired on Saturday, October 4, 2025, traces Tems’ inspiring journey from producing music in her Lagos bedroom to becoming a global music sensation and one of Africa’s most distinctive voices.

In the feature, Tems discusses her creative process, her swift rise to international fame, and her mission to uplift women through the Leading Vibe Initiative, which encourages young African women to pursue their dreams with confidence.

The episode explores Tems’ unique sound, her drive to redefine global music on her own terms, and the personal experiences that have shaped her artistry. Viewers gain a deeper understanding of her authenticity, resilience, and dedication to elevating African music on the global stage.

To accommodate viewers across various time zones, the programme will be rebroadcast on Saturday, October 11, at 7:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.; Sunday, October 12, at 3:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.; and Monday, October 13, at 3:00 a.m. (all in West Africa Time).

This edition promises fans and music lovers an intimate and inspiring glimpse into the life of one of Africa’s most influential voices, whose artistry continues to shape and redefine contemporary global music.

The Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA), Pan-Atlantic University, is proud to announce the public unveiling of the second edition of its landmark exhibition, Collecting Now. Opening on October 11, 2025, the exhibition presents 90 significant works on loan from six distinguished Nigerian collectors – Olufemi Akinsanya, Ifeyinwa Momah, Tayo Odunsi, Nonso Okpala, Bimpe Nkontchou and Yemi Ogunbiyi – offering audiences privileged access to a diverse range of traditional, modern and contemporary art rarely seen outside private collections.

Following the success of its maiden edition in 2024, Collecting Now has become an important platform for highlighting the practice of art collecting in Nigeria and its role in sustaining the country’s cultural and creative economy. Featuring works across painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media, the exhibition illuminates the interplay between individual taste and collective heritage.

This year’s showcase is particularly notable for spotlighting two women collectors whose perspectives illustrate the multifaceted power of collecting—as a way of living and as an act of advocacy.

“The Collecting Now series reinforces YSMA’s role as a pioneering institution that brings private visions into public spaces,” said Dr. Jess Castellote, director of the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art. “We are not only presenting exceptional works of art but also shaping a critical conversation about collecting as a cultural practice that ensures continuity, strengthens our art ecosystem, and connects Nigeria’s artistic legacy with future generations.”

Reflecting on her participation in the exhibition, one of the featured collectors, Ifeyinwa Momah, shared: “For me, art is everyday living—it fills my spaces, shapes my memories, and inspires how I see the world. This exhibition is deeply meaningful because it allows these personal experiences to be encountered publicly, sparking conversations that affirm the value of art in our daily lives. I am proud to stand alongside fellow collectors in sharing our journeys through this platform at YSMA.”

The exhibition enjoys the continued support of Ark Insurance Brokers, who, for the second time, are sponsoring the insurance of the entirety of works on display. Their renewed partnership underscores their position as a leading brokerage provider for the arts in Nigeria, with a longstanding commitment to supporting culture and creativity alongside their broader insurance expertise.

“Our partnership with YSMA for Collecting Now reflects our enduring belief that Nigerian art is a national treasure worthy of world-class protection,” remarked Kayode Awogboro, Managing Director of Ark Insurance Group. “As a trusted name in insurance, we take pride in safeguarding collections of immense cultural value, while affirming our commitment to the arts as part of the fabric of society.”

Through this initiative, YSMA affirms its position as a pioneering institution dedicated to advancing cultural scholarship, deepening public access to art, and celebrating the vision of Nigerian collectors as curators and preservers of history and heritage. The general public is invited to see Collecting Now II between October 11, 2025 to February 9, 2026 at the Olori Funmilayo Shyllon Exhibition Gallery of the YSMA at Pan-Atlantic University.