Edo State Public Service Inclusivity: Governor Monday Okpebholo swore in Edo’s first visually impaired permanent secretary, Melody Omosah, plus 19 other permanent secretaries, after a competitive exam where 250 officers sat and only 20 were selected—an explicit push for merit over patronage. Clean Mobility Investment: Edo also signed up US-linked partners to set up an electric tricycle assembly and manufacturing plant, aiming to cut imports, create jobs, and grow Nigeria’s e-mobility ecosystem. Customs Tech Upgrade (Benin–Nigeria): Benin and Nigeria concluded an eight-day geospatial intelligence-led Customs operation (Operation GEOCONTROL), using mapped risk hotspots and joint field enforcement to seize illicit goods across the border. Governance & Research Capacity: The Athena Centre inaugurated the Alhaji Gidado Idris Institute of Governance and Public Policy, positioning it as a platform for research, policy dialogue, and public-sector reform. AI Policy Building (COMESA): COMESA began consultations across 21 member states to draft a harmonized regional AI strategy and regulatory framework, with Kenya and Zambia leading the first rounds. Wildlife Conservation Signal: Scientists report West African leopards are slowly increasing in one park, but warn of a worrying gap that highlights how fragile the recovery is.