Author: Khadijah Olowode

Brenda Powell devoted her life to helping young people. She had worked as a child life specialist in the haematology oncology unit at Akron Children’s Hospital in Ohio for 28 years and had a reputation for being the best in her field. But her family was always her priority, so when Brenda received a call at work from her husband to say their 19-year-old daughter Sydney needed her, she went straight home. It was 3 March, 2020, and 50-year-old Brenda, who also had a son, believed her home life was going well. Her daughter was studying at University Mount Union…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have smashed a party organised for illicit substance abuse at a lounge in Osogbo, the Osun state capital, arresting the organisers who were found in possession of drugs. A statement on Sunday, 26 November, 2023, by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said the clampdown was made on Saturday, 25 November, 2023, following credible intelligence that some persons were going to hold a night party tagged “Unholy Alliance…for Stoners and Drunkards” where different types of illicit substances were going to be sold and consumed by patrons. He said soon…

By Moses Owopade, Accra, Ghana Ogun State indigenes in Ghana have held the first Ogun Day Festival. The Festival was organised by Ogun sons and daughters living in the Republic of Ghana on Saturday, 24 November,2023, reports thegazellenews.com The Acting Nigeria High Commissioner in Ghana, Ambassador Aliyu Usman who was the special guest at the event commended the vision behind the event. He said this will encourage younger ones who have not been opportuned to understand the culture of their fathers. Thegazellenews.com’s correspondent in Accra reports that the Nigerian Envoy charged Ogun indigenes in Ghana to contribute to the economic advancement…

Former Director, Voice of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdur Razaq Abdus Salam has attributed the dearth of morals as one of the challenges hindering growth and development of the country. He also enjoined the youth to shun all acts of indiscipline and provide adequate care for their parents especially their mothers. The pioneer Ameer of The Muslim Congress stated these at the presentation of N7.5 million financial support by Here and Hereafter Foundation to 26 beneficiaries mainly widows and orphans. He narrated the story of a man who was dying but couldn’t pronounce the Khalimah until the Prophet called for his mother…

The National Assembly has appealed to Nigerians to consider as priority the forthcoming Town Hall meering in Abuja on Electoral Reforms assuring that all decisions arrived at would be fully implemented. The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Hon Bayo Balogun who gave this assurance on a monitored Interview in Lagos said arrangements have been concluded for a successful forum. The proposed Citizens Town Hall Meeting on Electoral Reforms scheduled for Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotels, Abuja was for all stakeholders to brainstorm on how to improve on the Electoral Act to…

Come Friday, 1 December, 2023, His Royal Highness, Oba Hameed Adekunle Oyelude Makama, Tegbosun III, CON, will install Mrs Abisola Bamidele as the first Erelu Borokoni of Owu, Kuta. All roads lead to Kuta, which promises to be a high society event laced with tradition. To ensure that the chieftaincy ceremony is given a touch of class and panache, Mrs Bamidele fondly called Lady BisBam by her admirers, has put all the finishing touches to make it a memorable day. Abisola Bamidele, a visionary and an accomplished female entrepreneur and philanthropist, was born on 4 July, 1970 in Epe, Lagos. …

Unethical behaviours by manufacturers and other businesses dealing with consumers is the focus of a free webinar holding on November 30. Consumertrics, a leading consultancy firm on consumer governance and advisory, in conjunction with the Center for Consumer Concerns Initiatives (CCCI), is hosting the webinar on the topic ‘Ethical Practices: Shared Wins for Businesses and Consumers’. The webinar, which kicks off at 12 noon, will be keynoted by Professor Felicia Monye, President Consumer Awareness Organisation (COA). Panellists who will be speaking in the webinar include the vice chairman/chief executive of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC), Mr. Babatunde…

By Feyisola Adeyeha For Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries, 2024 promises to be a year of big bang and boost, not only for its wide- ranging production lines but also for the investment climate of Nigeria. By the first quarter of the imminent year, an estimated 500 new jobs and more robust manufacturing mileage are expected to come for reviving and refloating the local economy. All these are coming through the local production of active pharmaceutical ingredients( APIs) being birthed newly by Emzor. As at now, the Sagamu, Ogun State production plant of Emzor is a beehive of activities. Construction engineers on…

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, on Saturday said the unity of the people of the country lies in their cultures and traditions. Senator Shettima made this known during the celebration of the 37th edition of the Akesan Day held at the Christ Apostolic Grammar School, Iperu-Remo,Ogun State, where he also said the Akesan Day is a testimony to the potential that lies with the citizens of the country when they unite under the banner of their shared heritage. The Vice President, who also called on the people of the country to harness the past to show a brighter future…

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari has confirmed that the Port Harcourt refinery will start working in December 2023. Kyari made the confirmation on Thursday, 23 November, 2023, during his meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas. He also informed Abbas that the rehabilitation of the state-run refineries is in serious progress, saying it would put an end to the importation of petrol by December 2024. “I can confirm to you that by the end of December this year, we will start the Port Harcourt refinery,” Kyari…

The Oyo State Government has begun moves to end the erratic water supply in the State, by collaborating with some Technical Team from the University of Ibadan. The Chairman of the Oyo State Water Corporation, Hon. Elias Adeojo revealed this today in Ibadan while leading the Technical Team to the Scheme. Hon. Adeojo stressed that the Corporation decided to collaborate with the Team, due to its enthusiasm, experience and renowned expertise to assist the Corporation in attaining their goals. Hon. Adeojo emphasized that the collaboration involves joining forces and sharing of ideas on how to solve the issue of inconsistency…

Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, has said that the new leadership in the Commission will unveil the right vision and set the tone for the management to drive the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region. Ebie, who spoke during a facility tour of the NDDC headquarters complex in Port Harcourt, underlined the need for the new Board and Executive Management to take basic steps that would inform the roll out of new strategies to drive the development process in Nigeria’s oil-rich region. Accompanying the Chairman on the facility tour…

A public procurement advocacy group, Network for the Actualization of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD) has decried that 70 percent of procurement proceedings are being initiated and concluded in the bedrooms of privileged few in the country, even as it commended the Federal Government over plan to review the public procurement Act 2007 for possible amendments. The group in a statement, signed by its head of office, Mr Akingunola Omoniyi and made available to Saturday in Abuja. said President Bola Tinubu has again demonstrated courage and tact in tackling one of the most vicious enemies of the country’s growth…

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has delivered a judgment in a suit brought by a Liberian political party, True Whig Party (TWP) alleging the violation of its rights to property, fair hearing, and effective remedy by the Republic of Liberia. Delivering its judgment, the Court declared it had jurisdiction to entertain the matter. It also declared that the Applicant’s application was admissible, but however ruled that there was no violation of right to property by the Republic of Liberia. Lawyer to the applicant averred that True Whig Party was founded in 1869 and registered as a political entity in Liberia…

⁣In his bid to restore political stability in Ondo State, President Bola Tinubu, late on Friday, 24 November, 2023, waded into the months-long crisis between factions loyal to the Executive Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, and the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.⁣ ⁣This followed marathon negotiations between the President and the Deputy Governor, representatives of Governor Akeredolu, federal and state lawmakers of Ondo, officials of the state chapter of the All Progressives’ Congress, and other stakeholders in the state at the State House, Abuja.⁣  ⁣The President advised all opposing parties to bury the hatchet and embrace peace, eliciting commitments to this effect. ⁣…

President Bola Tinubu has commended the re-elected Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, and the Governor-elect of Kogi State, Usman Ododo for working hard to win the votes and hearts of the people of their states in the recently conducted off-season governorship elections. He gave the commendation on Friday, 24 November, 2023, while receiving Uzodimma and Ododo in Abuja. The duo, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and some stalwarts of the ruling All Progressives Congress were led by the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, to meet the President. Tinubu expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the elections,…

Issuance of Certificates of Occupancy in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will now cost N3.5 million, a reduction from the previously proposed cost of N5 million. This was disclosed by the FCT Minister, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike during his second monthly Ministerial media parley which was held on Friday, 24 November, 2023 in his office. Speaking on a wide range of issues, Barrister Wike disclosed that the decision to reduce the cost of C of O was based on the recommendations of the Task Force set up on the issuance of C of Os, in mass housing estates and recovery…

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar has charged 12 newly winged pilots of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to justify the efforts and resources invested in their training by contributing their best towards sustaining the successes recorded in the various theatres of operation within the country. According to Air Marshal Abubakar, the Service has continued to conduct independent and joint operations aimed at not only decimating the criminals and denying them freedom of action but also shaping the operational environment in the various theatres. This, he said, can only be sustained with the injection of…

The Third Edition of the Zenith Bank Tech Fair, themed “Future Forward 3.0”, which was held on November 23-24, 2023, at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos has concluded. From the over 500 contestants that participated in the Zenith Hackathon (Zecathon), Sync, a team collaboration and workflow management platform that provides synergy, enables project management, task planning, messaging, payments, scheduling and people operations, emerged as the overall winner, taking home the grand prize of N20 million. This is in addition to a mentorship programme with Seedstars, a company dedicated to implementing high-quality capacity-building programmes for…