EsteemStudio

🎬 CELEBRATING OUR PRODUCTION HERO! 🎉

Today, we celebrate Babalola Taiye Joseph (Bab’s), our Agba Producer at Esteem Studios.

Bab’s has consistently worked behind the scenes, producing and live-streaming our various programs and ensuring that our content reaches our audience with quality and professionalism.

Your dedication, creativity, and commitment to the team do not go unnoticed. Thank you for always giving your best and keeping the production desk running.

We appreciate you, Bab’s! 👏🏽🎥
Keep up the great work!

🔥 FROM THE ALTAR

Theme: GOD IS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES
📖 Text: Romans 8:28

Beloved, there are seasons in life when we pray and it seems as if God is silent. We ask for direction, but the road remains unclear. We expect things to change, yet everything appears to remain the same.

But today, I want to remind someone: God has not stopped working simply because you cannot see what He is doing.

Romans 8:28 tells us that all things work together for good to those who love God. This does not mean that everything we experience is good. There are painful moments, disappointments, delays and situations we would never have chosen for ourselves.

But God can use even those difficult experiences as part of His greater purpose.

Look at Joseph. He had a dream, but before he reached the place God prepared for him, he experienced rejection, betrayal, slavery and imprisonment.

Imagine Joseph sitting in prison wondering, “God, where is the promise You gave me?”

Yet, while Joseph thought his life was going backwards, God was preparing him for the palace.

Sometimes, what looks like a delay may actually be preparation.

David was anointed king, but he did not become king immediately. There was a period between the anointing and the fulfilment of the promise.

Perhaps you are also in a waiting season.

You have prayed about your finances.
You have prayed about your family.
You have prayed about your career.
You have prayed about your future.
You have asked God for a breakthrough, but the answer has not yet come.

Don't conclude that God has forgotten you.

Delay does not mean abandonment.

Sometimes God is doing something in you before He does something for you.

He may be building your character, strengthening your faith, teaching you patience or preparing you for a responsibility you are not yet ready to carry.

The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5–6:

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

There will be moments when you will not understand God's plan.

When that happens, trust Him anyway.

You may not understand the closed door.
You may not understand the delay.
You may not understand the disappointment.

But remember: God sees the whole picture while we often see only one part of the story.

So don't give up because of what you are experiencing today.

Your current situation is not necessarily your final destination.

The chapter you are living now may be painful, but God is still the Author of your story.

Keep praying.
Keep believing.
Keep working.
Keep trusting.

One day, you may look back and realize that the season you thought was destroying you was actually preparing you for what God had planned.

🙏 PRAYER

Heavenly Father, strengthen everyone who is passing through a difficult season.

For those who are waiting, give them patience.
For those who are discouraged, restore their hope.
For those who are confused, give them direction.
For those who feel forgotten, remind them that You are still with them.

Help us to trust You even when we cannot understand Your ways.

Turn our trials into testimonies and our struggles into strength.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

FROM THE ALTAR — ESTEEM STUDIOS
🎙️ Samuel Kayode Ojo

2027 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: TINUBU, ATIKU AND PETER OBI — WHAT ARE THEIR CHANCES?

By Samuel Kayode Ojo
For Esteem Studios

Nigeria's 2027 presidential election is gradually taking shape as one of the country's most closely watched political contests. Three familiar names are again at the centre of national attention: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

The three politicians bring different political records, constituencies and policy arguments to the contest. However, with the election still months away, their eventual performance at the polls will depend on several factors, including party structures, regional support, campaign organisation, economic conditions, voter turnout and the ability of opposition forces to cooperate.

INEC has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for 20 February 2027.

1. PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU — APC

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu enters the 2027 contest as the incumbent and the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

His campaign is largely built around continuity and consolidation of the reforms introduced since 2023. His administration has defended policies including fuel-subsidy removal and exchange-rate reforms, arguing that these measures are intended to address structural weaknesses in the Nigerian economy.

Tinubu and the APC are also expected to campaign on infrastructure, investment, electricity reforms and other programmes undertaken by the administration.

However, the central political question surrounding Tinubu's re-election bid is how Nigerians will assess the effects of his government's policies on their daily lives. Issues such as food prices, purchasing power, employment, insecurity and the general cost of living are likely to remain major issues during the campaign.

Tinubu also has an important advantage that comes with being the incumbent: the APC has a nationwide political structure and control of the federal government. At the same time, the administration's record will be placed directly before voters for assessment.

Key question for Tinubu: Can the administration convince voters that its reforms are producing sufficient results to justify continuity?

2. ATIKU ABUBAKAR — ADC

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is returning to the presidential contest, this time under the platform of the African Democratic Congress.

Atiku is presenting himself as an alternative to the direction taken by the Tinubu administration. His campaign has focused on issues including the economy, security, education, healthcare and institutional reforms.

One of his most notable policy differences with the incumbent concerns fuel subsidy. Atiku has said he would restore fuel subsidy if elected, arguing that Nigerians have not received sufficient benefits from its removal. His campaign has also spoken about strengthening security, attracting investment and addressing electricity challenges.

Atiku's major political challenge is that he is again contesting against a divided opposition field. There have been several attempts to bring opposition politicians together behind a common platform, but those efforts have faced disagreements and realignments.

In 2026, Atiku became the ADC's presidential candidate, while Peter Obi moved into a separate political platform. This means that, unless the opposition eventually reaches an agreement, Atiku and Obi will once again be competing for votes from parts of the same broad opposition electorate.

Key question for Atiku: Can he build a sufficiently broad national coalition and persuade voters that his alternative economic and governance programme offers a better direction?

3. PETER OBI — NDC

Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi remains one of the most prominent figures in Nigeria's opposition politics.

Obi gained significant national support during the 2023 presidential election, particularly among young voters and supporters who rallied around his message of political and economic change.

For 2027, Obi's political message has continued to emphasise production, investment, human capital development and reducing Nigeria's dependence on consumption.

His campaign is attempting to turn the enthusiasm generated during the 2023 election into a broader national political organisation.

One of Obi's important challenges is translating his strong support base and public visibility into a nationwide electoral structure capable of competing effectively across Nigeria's different political regions.

His move away from the earlier opposition coalition arrangement also means that the opposition vote could again be divided unless a broader agreement is eventually reached. Recent discussions among opposition leaders have continued to explore the possibility of cooperation or a common platform.

Key question for Obi: Can he transform his strong public following into the broad geographical support and political organisation required to win a nationwide presidential election?

WHAT COULD DETERMINE THE 2027 ELECTION?

Rather than declaring a winner before Nigerians vote, several factors deserve close attention.

1. The economy

The state of the Nigerian economy will probably be one of the biggest issues in the election.

Voters will be looking at inflation, food prices, employment, the value of the naira, fuel prices, electricity and household purchasing power.

2. Regional and national support

Nigeria's presidential elections require candidates to build support across different parts of the country. A candidate's ability to move beyond his traditional political strongholds will therefore be important.

3. Opposition unity

The division or cooperation among opposition parties could significantly affect the electoral landscape.

There have been continuing discussions about creating a united opposition front, although the negotiations have experienced disagreements and changes in political alliances.

4. Party structure

Presidential elections are not won by popularity alone. Ground-level mobilisation, polling-unit agents, party organisation, fundraising, campaign networks and the ability to reach voters across the federation will all matter.

5. Voter turnout

Young Nigerians constitute a significant part of the electorate, but political enthusiasm does not automatically translate into votes. Registration, voter accreditation and actual turnout could have an important effect on the final result.

6. The candidates' records

For Tinubu, voters will assess the record of his administration.

For Atiku, voters will consider his previous experience as Vice President and his repeated presidential campaigns, as well as his current policy proposals.

For Obi, voters will assess his record as former Anambra governor, his 2023 presidential campaign and the policy programme he is presenting for 2027.

CONCLUSION

The 2027 presidential election is developing into a contest involving familiar political figures but a political landscape that is not identical to 2023.

Bola Tinubu is defending his administration's record and seeking continuity.

Atiku Abubakar is presenting an opposition alternative centred on economic changes, security and governance reforms.

Peter Obi is again campaigning around structural economic transformation, production and more efficient use of national resources.

At this stage, it is too early to determine the outcome. The eventual result will depend on the candidates' ability to build national coalitions, mobilise voters, communicate credible programmes and respond to the economic and social concerns of Nigerians.

For voters, the important task is to examine what each candidate has done, what each is promising, how those promises would be implemented, and what evidence supports the claims being made during the campaign.

The 2027 election will ultimately be decided by Nigerian voters at the ballot box.

Samuel Kayode Ojo
Esteem Studios

ESTEEM STUDIOS SPORTS NEWS
By Samuel Kayode Ojo

UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND

The 2026/27 UEFA Nations League continues this weekend, with a number of exciting fixtures scheduled across Leagues A, B and C.

In League A, two high-profile encounters will take centre stage as Czechia host Croatia, while England welcome Spain to Wembley. Both matches are in Group A3.

In League B, Slovenia take on Scotland, while North Macedonia face Switzerland.

Meanwhile, League C features several matches, including:

- Bulgaria vs Luxembourg
- Faroe Islands vs Kazakhstan
- Iceland vs Estonia
- San Marino vs Finland
- Albania vs Belarus
- Slovakia vs Moldova

The Nations League league phase began on September 24 and will run through November 17, with teams battling for promotion, survival and progression to the next stage.

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS QUALIFIERS

In Africa, attention turns to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which also continue this weekend.

In Group D, co-hosts Kenya will play at home against Eritrea, while South Africa host Guinea in another important encounter.

The matches are part of the opening round of the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda already assured of places at the finals as co-hosts.

According to CAF, Kenya vs Eritrea is scheduled for 13:00 GMT, while South Africa vs Guinea kicks off at 16:00 GMT on Saturday, September 26.

For Esteem Studios Sports News, I am Samuel Kayode Ojo.

GOOD MORNING and HAPPY WEEKEND from ESTEEM STUDIOS! ☀️

Sometimes, the way we remember the past is not the whole story.
We may remember how others hurt us, disappointed us, or misunderstood us, while overlooking our own reactions and the lessons those experiences brought.

True growth comes when we are willing to look back with honesty...not to blame ourselves or others, but to understand, learn, forgive, and become better.
The goal is not to tell a perfect story about yesterday, but to tell a truthful one that helps us build a better tomorrow.