Author: Khadijah Olowode

The Nigerian women’s football community is in mourning following the sudden death of Domo Okara, head coach of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership side, Bayelsa Queens. Okara, who led the team to numerous successes, passed away in the early hours of Saturday, 8 June, 2024, at the age of 47. Okara’s contributions to women’s football in Nigeria are profound and enduring. He recently guided the Bayelsa Queens, also known as the Prosperity Girls, to a third-place finish in the 2023/2024 NWFL Premiership Super Six held in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State. In 2023, he led the team…

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, June 7, 202 ordered the final forfeiture of every asset of NOK University, Gwasmyen Water Factory, Gwasmyen Event Center and Gwasmyen International Hotel in Kaduna State. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had, through its counsel Ekele Iheanacho filed an order of final forfeiture of the said properties pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and Section 44(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Iheanacho, through diligent submission and evidence before the court,…

Leading ICT company, MTN Nigeria has announced the 17th edition of its flagship employee volunteer initiative, Y’ello Care, where MTNers have the unique opportunity to contribute their resources – time, money and more – towards worthy causes. Themed “Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow”, this year’s edition, which will be for 30 days in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of MTN Group, aims to address educational disparities in underserved rural and remote communities. “Y’ello Care is about the MTN ecosystem giving back and contributing their time, money, and resources to make a positive impact. This year, we’re focusing on education in remote areas,…

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has rejected the N60,000 minimum wage proposed by the Federal Government. This contradicts the Federal Government’s commitment to a minimum wage exceeding N60,000. According to the Governors, N60,000 as minimum wage is not sustainable and can not fly. Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) went on strike on Monday, protesting the federal government’s proposal of N60,000 as the minimum wage, which they deemed unacceptable. Reacting in a statement released on Friday, 7 June, 2024, the NGF said there is a need for a realistic and sustainable minimum wage…

The Notaries Public Society (TNPS) has named Justice Kayode Ariwoola, chief Justice of Nigeria, as special guest of honour at its June 20 launch, holding at Marriot Hotel, in Ikeja, Lagos. In a statement, TNPS said that the “event will bring together all stakeholders within the notary public value chain.” This include “consulates and embassies of the UK, US, South Africa, Dubai & Canada, President of the Africa Notaries Society, representative of the Notaries Society of Australia, Ireland and the UK.” Expected equally are the internal and foreign affairs Ministries, NAFDAC, SON, some Justices of the Nigerian Courts, senior members…

Let me start by taking a pre-emptive strike at the topic of the keynote address as formulated by the Egbé, which was stated to be ‘Economic Recovery for Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges’. In doing so, I mean no disrespect to my very esteemed hosts. On the contrary, it is my wish to set the records straight and hopefully offer some enrichment to our conversation, in the belief that somebody is listening. In March 2014 several news media copiously reported the Honourable Minister of Finance as saying that Nigeria was heading towards a recession. In 2016, Nigeria entered a recession as predicted. …

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for three staff of the Account and Finance Department of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) after they failed to appear in court for a multi-million-naira fraud case brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The ICPC had charged four REA employees with allegedly receiving about one billion naira under the pretence of false project supervision. When the cases were called on Thursday, 6 June, 2024, before Justice Emeka Nwite, Hanrrietta Onormen Okojie, Umar Musa Karaye, and Emmanuel Pada Titus were absent and they…

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has held that the Republic of Togo violated Mr. Al-Hassan Dibassi Fadia’s right to a fair trial under Article 7(2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights 1981. Fadia, a former pilot with ASKY Airlines, claimed that Togo violated his human rights through disciplinary measures taken against him by ANAC-Togo, the national civil aviation authority of Togo, following accusations of falsifying flight records. In a judgment delivered by Justice Edward Amoako Asante, President of the Court and judge rapporteur in the case, the Court ordered the Republic of Togo to pay 15 million…

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi has revealed that many orphanages in the country are presently having their activities investigated for likely child trafficking. She made the revelation during a one-day community dialogue and advocacy on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) organised by the agency for stakeholders in Gwagwalada local council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The NAPTIP DG said some orphanages commit a lot of infractions that can be categorised as human trafficking, noting that: “We are investigating a lot of orphanages around the country, NAPTIP is…

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has flagged off the resettlement of internally displaced persons to nine local government councils while also disbursing N954.7 million for their rehabilitation and supporting them in getting a source of livelihood. About 12,985 comprising 4,880 male heads of household, 1,230 female heads of household, 6,875 married women and other family members were earmarked to be resettled in the nine councils, in the first phase, those to be resettled are to communities in six councils of Bama, Konduga, Gwoza, Kukawa, Jere and Ngala. Each of the 4,880 male heads of household and another 1,230 female…

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has approved N4.8 billion foreign and local scholarships for 524 Brono indigenes to study postgraduate degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The Governor flagged off the scholarship scheme on Friday, 7 June, 2024, at the multi-purpose hall of the Government House, Maiduguri. He said his government had allocated a total of ₦4,852,955,000 for scholarships, with ₦241,000,000 for the tuition fees of 241 Master’s degree candidates in Nigerian universities; ₦141,000,000 for the tuition fees of 94 PhD candidates in Nigerian universities; ₦1,105,500,000 for the tuition fees of 147 Master’s degree candidates to study abroad…

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has advised Nigerians to be familiar with the laws of the countries they are visiting. The advice was given on Friday, 7 June, 2024, at the backdrop of the harrowing experience of a Nigerian medical doctor, Andrew Etsetowaghan at the Geneva Airport for carrying a presentation pointer in his hand luggage. The Chairman/ CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa told Nigerians travelling through Switzerland to avoid carrying laser pointers as its usage has been ban in that European country. Etsetowaghan, Chief Party, USAID Funded Accelerating Control of the HIV Epidemic in…

Lagos State has welcomed a newly built healthcare infrastructure to expand access to care for children living with sickle cell disorder. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, 7 June, 2024, formally inaugurated the two-storey Paediatric Sickle Cell Centre sited in the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja. The purpose-built medical facility was donated by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) occupied by Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire. The intervention was initiated to address the inadequacies and strengthen the Centre to cope with the volume of sickle cell cases daily attended to in…

Yobe State Government has called on investors around the country and globally to come over to the state to invest, insisting that the season of insecurity was over. Addressing a press conference in Damaturu marking the five years anniversary of Buni administration, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Baba Malam Wali boasted that Yobe State is now safer than the other 35 states in the country. He said: “Investors are free to come and tap into the economic potentials under the leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni.” He added that the incessant attacks of Boko Haram between 2013 and…

Former Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, SAN is set to unveil a new book titled “The Nigerian Law of Electronic Transactions” on June 11 in Lagos. In a statement by Adeniji Kazeem & Co. on Friday, 7 June, 2024, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, will chair the public presentation of the book. At the same time, former Federal Commissioner of Works, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, SAN, will be the Special Guest of Honour. The book examines the predominance of electronic transactions in the 21st century…

The Lagos State Government has said that the introduction of information technology had assisted in quality and quick dispensation of justice in the state. The state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr Lawal Pedro stated further that technology plays a vital role in transforming every aspect of human lives in which legal section is not an exception. Lawal Pedro stated these in a message to the official launching of the Eko Laws Simplifier App held at Alausa, Ikeja. Represented by Mr Olamide Ibrahim, the Commissioner for Justice said electronic filing of cases had greatly improved accessibility and delivery of…

The Anwar-ul-Islam College Agege Old Students Association Class of 1987 will this weekend host one of their classmates recently promoted in the Nigeria Police Force. He is Ahmed Lateef, a former Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) now promoted to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) rank. Lateef is among the ’87 Class of ACAOSA and he was the Assistant Head Boy and also the Editor of the school’s news journal at the time. ACAOSA ’87 set President, Dr Yinka Ogundimu, a former Lagos House of Assembly member, told newsmen during the week that all arrangements have been concluded to accord…

The grand finale of the 27th convocation of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, has been concluded, with the school’s Best Graduating Student, Olaniyi Mubaraq Olawale, going home with N10 million cash prize awarded by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Olawale, a graduate of the Department of Accounting Education, finished with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.98. The university produced 8,477 graduands across 10 faculties, who completed their first degrees in 2022/2023 academic year. For four consecutive sessions, the school has maintained its graduation order, sustaining its academic reputation. The school Visitor, Gov. Sanwo-Olu, congratulated the graduands for the successful…

By Tunde Odesola (Published in The PUNCH, on Friday, June 7, 2024) Nestling aboard an incoming Delta Airline flight from Atlanta, Georgia on May 10, 2024, the window-seat view of the landscape and skyscape of Ikeja cityscape was gloomy. The giant American bird called Boeing glided through the clouds before swooping down intently like a hawk in hunt. There were no trees, no greenery in sight from my skyview as Lagos spread out like a ghetto cast in concrete, iron, rubble and filth. “Where are all the trees the Babatunde Fashola administration planted,” I asked myself. I answered myself, “Felled…

At the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF), taking place in Namibia in June, Alain Sebah, President, Golden Tulip Afrique Francophone & East Africa (GTAF); and Dupe Olusola, Managing Director and CEO, Transcorp Hotels Plc, will both receive awards recognising their professional accomplishments. Alain will receive the Outstanding Contribution Award and Dupe the Leadership Award. Dupe became Managing Director and CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc during the COVID-19 pandemic when occupancy fell to just 5%. She led the company back to profitability faster than most of the world’s hospitality companies, with the share price growing over 600% in 2023. Under her…