Author: Khadijah Olowode

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Tinubu on Saturday, April, 2024 commended Chess maestro, Tunde Onakoya, on setting a new world chess record. Tinubu thanked Onakoya for “sounding the gong of Nigeria’s resilience, self-belief, and ingenuity at the square of global acclaim”. The Presidency said in a statement signed by the President’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale on Saturday, 20 April, 2024, and made available to media houses. The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu congratulates Tunde Onakoya on new world chess record.’ Onakoya broke the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon on Saturday, after playing for over 58 hours undefeated. At…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike All is not well at the All Progressives Congress(APC) primary election going on in Ondo State on Saturday, 20 April, 2024 as violence broke out at Ward 1 at Stella Maris College, Okitipupa, between rival supporters of two aspirants of the party who are contesting to be the party’s candidate for the November 16, Ondo State Governorship election. Accredited party members, who had gathered in large numbers to participate in the candidate selection process, fled the scene when violence erupted among the rival factions. It was gathered that the accreditation and election process had not begun when…

The immediate Past Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the Lagos State University (LASU), Nigeria, Professor Elias Olukorede WAHAB has likened cultural imperialism to ethnocide. The Professor of Sociology stated this position while speaking as the Guest Speaker at the 62nd International Conference of Lewis and Clark University in Portland Oregon USA with a presentation titled: “Globalization, Commodification Marketization and Cultural Imperialism: Issues and Dimensions”. He examined the treatise that globalisation is a major “soft power” in the reign of cultural imperialism constructing thesis on the premise of the assumptions and presuppositions of classical social theory. He affirmed that globalisation has…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The committee to conduct the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primary in Ondo State, on Friday, 19 April. 2024 said a total of 171,922 accredited members would vote on Saturday, 20 April, 2024. It was gathered that the primary is scheduled to hold in 203 wards in 18 local government areas with 16 aspirants including the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, contesting. The Secretary of the seven-man committee, Ovie Omo-Agege, stated this after the meeting with stakeholders and aspirants on the night of Friday, 19 April, 2024 in Akure, the state capital. According to him, none of the aspirants…

By Abimbolo Ogunnaike Tragedy occurred at Gbeganu Area of Minna, Niger State capital, as an elderly man, named Alhaji Muftau Mohammed , slumped and died at Morris Police Division, where he had gone to bail two of his sons, Mubarak Ahmed and Yusuf Mohammed who were reportedly arrested by the police. Mubarak and Yusuf told Daily Trust that they were picked by the police around 11pm on Wednesday, 17 April, 2024, where they were sleeping in a burglary in front of their house due to heat. According to Yusuf, “We were lying down in a burglary in front of our house…

In line with its commitment to provide critical support to indigent members of communities around the country in the face of the ongoing economic challenges, Dufil Prima Foods Limited, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles, in partnership with Golan Helps Abuja Food Bank Initiative (GHAFBI) and Meluibe Foundation on Wednesday, April 17 distributed Indomie noodles cartons to vulnerable communities in Kuje and Kubwa Local Government Areas in Abuja. With the goal of alleviating hunger and supporting communities across Nigeria, Indomie Instant Noodles has committed to donating a substantial quantity of noodle packs to various NGOs working tirelessly to address food insecurity. These…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, says that the completed 25.7-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe Road in Bayelsa State, which it executed in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, is ready for inauguration. Speaking during an inspection tour of the road, with seven bridges, 53 culverts and spurs to 14 communities, the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai, said that the Commission had opened discussions with the main contractor, SETRACO, to undertake some minor repairs on the road in preparation for the commissioning ceremony. Antai, who was accompanied by NDDC directors and engineers, said that the project was not only a…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has resumed its popular Free Health Care Medical Programme, which covers different communities in the Niger Delta region, as part of its efforts to ensure better healthcare delivery to the people.Speaking at a week-long free healthcare programme, which the NDDC organised in conjunction with the Pro-Health International, at the Ukana Cottage Hospital in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said that the programme would bring healthcare to the door-steps of rural dwellers and communities.The NDDC Chief Executive Officer, who was represented by the NDDC…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated Nigerian Chess master, Tunde Onakoya, for setting a new Guinness World Record for the longest marathon chess. Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said Onakoya’s remarkable story showed that with determination, dreams can indeed soar to monumental heights. Governor Sanwo-Olu, while commending Tunde Onakoya for beating World Guinness records, said the journey of the Chess master from Lagos, Nigeria, to global recognition embodies the spirit of Lagos as a great city. He said: “Congratulations to Chess Master Tunde Onakoya on breaking…

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake has backed plans by the Oyo State Government to obtain mining licences. Reiterating the Ministry’s support for sub-national entities in the country to develop the sector, the Minister emphasised that cooperation with states will develop the mining industry value-chain and promote value addition for maximum beneficiation to host communities. In his remarks, Gov. Makinde revealed that his visit was necessitated by the need to follow up on the application of the state for mining license, stating that Oyo state is on the verge of establishing a state-owned mining corporation. “I came…

Justice Abdulhamid Yakubu of the Gombe State High Court sitting in Gombe , Gombe State on Thursday, April 18, 2024 convicted and sentenced the duo of Adamu Usman and Emmanuel Joseph to jail for employment and Automated Teller Machine, ATM, fraud to the tune of N7.990. They were separately arraigned on one-count charge by the Gombe Zonal Command of the Commission. The charge against Adamu Usman reads: That you Adamu Usman and Abdulwahab Adamu Magaji between January / December 2023 at Gombe , Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did obtain the aggregate sum of Seven Million and…

Israel, Iran War: Oil Prices Jumps To $90.54 Per Barrel By Abimbola Ogunnaike The price of Brent crude is now $90.54 per barrel, up from $87 days after the war between Israel and Iran escalated. Oil prices jumped more than 3.94 per cent on Friday, 19 April, 2024 after Israel carried out a retaliation strike in Iran, triggering fears of an all-out war in the Middle East. Also, the US West Texas Intermediate, WTI crude futures spiked 4.06 per cent to $86.09. A U.S. official confirmed with NBC News that Israel has conducted a retaliation operation in Iran. Reports filtering said explosions…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its Joint Venture partner in OML 85, First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited have commenced oil production from the asset, also known as Madu Field. Production from the field which is located in shallow waters offshore Bayelsa State and operated by First E&P is expected to be at an average of 20,000 barrels per day. The NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, made this disclosure in a statement issued on Friday, 19 April, 2024. Speaking on the development, the NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mele Kyari,…

A pastor, David Odeniyi, has asked a Mapo Grade ‘A’ Customary Court in Ibadan, Oyom State presided over by Mrs S.M. Akintayo to dissolve his union with his estranged wife, Bolanle, on the grounds of domestic violence and constant embarrassment in church. Recounting his ordeal before the court, Odeniyi, who resides in the Basorun area of Ibadan, accused his wife of being ill-tempered. ”She pulls and drags my trousers in order to disgrace me. ”Had I known that my wife would treat me like this, I would never have married her. “Bolanle abandoned me with our only child and travelled…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, has said it would be wrong for anybody to liken the current travail of their National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, to the political intrigues that led to the removal of the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee from the party secretariat. Morka stated this while responding to questions surrounding Ganduje’s suspension on Arise TV on Thursday, 18 April, 2024. Oshiomhole, a former National Chairman of the party, and members of then NWC were elected into office for four years (2018 – 2022) at a National Convention…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Armed policemen have sealed off the secretariat of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Makurdi, the capital city of Benue State. The party secretariat belongs to the Austin Agada-led APC Working Committee located along JS Tarka Way opposite the Railway Market in Makurdi. It was gathered that policemen and Armour Personnel Vehicle were deployed to the Agada-led office as early as 6am on Friday, 19 April, 2024. The other one belongs to Benjamin Omakolo’s team which is located along Kashim Ibrahim Way. The Publicity Secretary of the Agada faction, Daniel Ihomun, said that the sealing off of…

South Africa’s state-owned petroleum company the Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF) on Thursday, 18 April, 2024, met officially with South Sudan’s national oil company Nilepet in Juba, as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa continued his state visit to the country.SFF, which is the operator of Block B2 in South Sudan and partner of Nilepet in the Nile Orange joint venture, has begun its oil and gas exploration campaign in Jonglei state and finished its initial aerial survey last month. In the meeting, the companies provided updates on activities required to continue work to the next phases.Over the next six months, an…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Tinubu has approved an extensive census of schools in Nigeria from primary to tertiary level, their conditions and live-in facilities, proximity to one another, and educational infrastructure among other data points. The stocktake would also include ascertaining the number of all teachers in Nigeria, their qualifications, training support received, and all pupils and students in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, gender, and exam grades, among others. Presidency said in a statement signed on Thursday, 18 April, 2024 by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale Tinubu premised Thursday’s system-wide policies on “a paucity…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB) has announced that at least 577 blind candidates are set to take the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination UTME in 11 centres nationwide. Chairman of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Equal Opportunity Group, Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, made this known on Thursday, 18 April, 2024 while addressing newsmen in preparation for the 2024 UTME for blind candidates and others with special needs assigned to JEOG. Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, set up the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group in 2017 for effective handling of blind candidates and others with special…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Former Governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Thursday, 18 April, 2024 prayed a Federal High Court, Abuja to set aside an arrest warrant issues against him. Bello, through his lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, told Justice Emeka Nwite that the court lacked jurisdiction to grant the order in the first instance. Mohammed told Justice Nwite when the matter was called for the ex-Governor to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 19-count money laundering charge. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Nwite had, on Wednesday, 17 April, 2024, ordered that…