Author: Khadijah Olowode

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that the 2024 UTME Notification Slip, which shows candidates the date, venue and time of their examination, is ready for printing. All candidates, who have registered for the 2024 UTME scheduled to commence on Friday, 19th April, 2024, are urged to print their Notification Slips before Friday, 19th April, 2024 to know the date, venue and time of their respective examinations as well as some other vital information regarding the examination. JAMB spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin directed concerned candidates to print the slip by visiting JAMB’s website: www.jamb.gov.ng; click…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike O.J. Simpson, the star NFL football player whose 1995 acquittal in the so-called “trial of the century” for the brutal murders of his wife and a male friend gripped the world, has died at the age of 76, his family announced. “On April 10, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer,” a message signed by the family said on social media site X. Simpson was arrested and prosecuted for the murders of his friend and a male friend but was acquitted by the US court in 1995 Details later… AFP

Wasiu Ayinde Omogbolan Anifowose Marshal (aka K1) is a Nigerian Fuji musician, the Mayegun of Yorubaland, the Olori Omo Oba of Ijebuland and a farmer. In this interview with Guardian Newspaper at his Mayegun Resort, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, he speaks on sundry issues, including his family, band, Mayegun Resort, politics and Nigeria. Q: Congratulations on staying relevant and doing music for 52 years. Do you have plans to establish a music school? A: There is no way I will establish a music school that would be able to convince people more than the resilience they would need to pursue life…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike with agency report A top Vietnamese property tycoon Truong My Lan, chair of major developer Van Thinh Phat, was sentenced to death on Thursday, 11 April, 2024 in one of the biggest corruption cases in history, with an estimated $27 billion in damages. A panel of three hand-picked jurors and two judges rejected all defence arguments by My Lan, who was found guilty of swindling cash from Saigon Commercial Bank, over a decade. “The defendant’s actions… eroded people’s trust in the leadership of the (Communist) Party and state,” read the verdict at the trial in southern business…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike With a view to creating a formidable front to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), from power in 2027, the Africa Democratic Congress(ADC) has disclosed plans of a merger with other political parties in the country. The National Chairman of the ADC, Ralphs Nwosu, made the disclosure at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, 10 April, 2024. Nwosu, who said the APC had failed Nigerians and rated the government low on all fronts, added that the opposition would not sit idle and watch the downward spiral of the nation. “The state of the nation is…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, 10 April, 2024 called on Nigerians to keep hope alive in his administration’s efforts to make their lives better and meaningful. Tinubu explained that without this hope, his government would lack the support it requires to deliver on its Renewed Hope Agenda. ”The Renewed Hope Agenda is alive, well and fine, and Nigerians should continue to be very hopeful. Without hope, there is no salvation,” Tinubu told journalists after he joined Muslim faithful to observe Eid-el-Fitr prayers at the Eid Ground at the Dodan Barracks in Lagos. Special Adviser to the President…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A former member of the House of Representatives from Kogi State, Hon. Mohammed Idris, is dead. Mohammed, son of a former Governor of Kogi state, Ibrahim Idris, represented Ankpa, Olamaboro and Omala Federal Constituency at the lower chamber of the National Assembly. It was gathered that he slumped and died shortly after observing Eid prayer at his residence in Abuja on Wednesday, 10 April, 2024. He will be buried according to Islamic rites at Gudu cemetery in Abuja.

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Barely 24 hours after the death of popular actress, Saratu Gidado, popularly known as Daso, another renowned Nollywood actor, Junior Pope Odonwodo, popularly known as Jnr Pope, tragically lost his life along with three colleagues in a boat accident on Wednesday, 10 April, 2024. A filmmaker, Samuel Olatunji, who made this disclosure on his instagram page, said the deceased and three others were involved in the accident in Anam River, while going to movie location. “Sad day for Nollywood. Four actors, including Junior Pope fell into Anam River on their way to location and their bodies have…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A former governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, has advised indigenes and residents of Ibadan to disregard the claims of Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, that Olubadan-designate, Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin is not fit to become Olubadan. Ladoja, who is the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, noted that Ajibola cannot stop the Olubadan-designate, Olakulehin, from becoming the Olubadan. Ladoja made these declarations while addressing newsmen at his Ondo Street, Ibadan, residence shortly after he observed the two-Rakah Eid el-Fitri prayer along with other Muslim faithful on Wednesday, 10 April, 2024. Thegazellenews.com gathered that Ajibola on Tuesday, 9 April, 2024 declared…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passing of the paramount ruler of Isolo Kingdom, Oba Kabiru Alani Adelaja Agbabiaka, Adeola Olushi III. The Governor also commiserated with the people of Isolo and the family of the Osolo of Isolo Kingdom, Oba Agbabiaka Saliu, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 64 at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), shortly after observing the Eid prayers. Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, described the passage of the Osolo of Isolo Kingdom, as a great loss to…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike This indeed not the best of times for the embattled and impeached Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu as members of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Etsako West Chapter in Delta State, on Tuesday, 9 April, 2024, protested over his alleged planned return to the party. The protesters, who came from the 12 wards in the council area, marched to the party secretariat to submit their petition against the move, saying welcoming him back will bring rancour, disharmony, and unprecedented crisis into APC. Presenting a communique on behalf of the APC stakeholders in Etsako West LGA, Yakubu Musa said Shaibu’s exit…

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has congratulated Muslims in Osun State and across the globe on the conclusion of 1445AH (2024) Ramadan and occasion of the Eid-el-fitr celebration. He noted that though Ramadan has ended, Muslims must continue to reflect on and sustain the lessons and virtues of the Holy month and replicate same in their daily lives, particularly in their conducts and dealings with others. Oyetola in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Ismail Omipidan, prayed Almighty Allah to accept all the acts of worship and supplication of the Muslim faithful during the just-concluded holy month. …

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared that there is no cause for alarm over the selection of the next Olubadan, warning individuals peddling divisive tendencies over the matter to desist from such acts. The Governor maintained that the due process on the matter includes the nomination of the next Olubadan by the Olubadan-in-Council and the forwarding of the same to his office, which is yet to be done. Governor Makinde said this on Wednesday, when the Deputy Governor, Barr. Bayo Lawal, led Muslim Government Representatives and other Muslim functionaries on a courtesy visit to his Ikolaba residence, shortly after…

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has condoled with the immediate family, Isolo community and Lagos State in general over the death of the Osolo of Isolo, His Royal Majesty Kabir Agbabiaka. The Isolo monarch died on Wednesday, 10 April, 2024. Princess Orelope-Adefulire described the late monarch as a lover and promoter of peace. “He loved peace and he was chief promoter of peace throughout his reign until he answered the final call,” she said. The Presidential Aide stated that the news of the Monarch’s death was a shock. “His death…

The Osolo of Isolo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Kabir Agbabiaka has joined his ancestors, reports thegazellenews.com This medium learnt that the first class traditional ruler in Lagos breathed his last early Wednesday, 10 April, 2024 at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital(LASUTH) where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment. The late traditional ruler was aged 64. He became the traditional ruler of the town in 2004, hence his death came barely three months to his 20th coronation anniversary. Until his death, HRM Agbabiaka was the Secretary of the League of Awori Obas in Lagos State.

In another unprecedented performance, Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has released its audited financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2023, showing exceptional and impressive performance across all its major indicators. The 2023 financials, filed by the Bank at Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGx) on Monday, showed an impressive leap in gross earnings, as it grew from N853.2 billion recorded at the end of 2022 to close at N2.08tn; representing a strong 143 percent growth. The banks’ total assets also rose remarkably by 90.22 percent, doubling the N10 trillion mark, to close at N20.65 trillion…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A local radio station in Kano State has announced that the popular actress and veteran Kannywood actress Saratu Gidado, popularly known as Daso, has died in her sleep. Her family members explained that the actress failed to wake up on the morning of Tuesday, 9 April, 2024 after the midnight meal before the commencement of the day’s Ramadan fast, Sahur. Daso, until her death, was a prominent figure in the Hausa film industry for over 18 years. Her remarkable performances and versatile roles endeared her to audiences across the Northern region. Before she took up the illustrious…

In his desperation to always want to hug the headlines as a self-appointed opposition leader, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has allowed himself to be led into a blind alley again by his poorly informed aides. In a press statement signed on his behalf by media assistant, Paul Ibe, the Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Candidate in the last election made false allusions, in his futile attempt, to denigrate and find faults in the audacious and transformational Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project, which was recently inaugurated as one of the signature projects of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration. To Atiku’s chagrin and…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Residents of Apata in Oworo District, Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State, were in a jubilation mood on Monday, 8 April, 2024. This was understandable. Their traditional ruler’s wife finally delivered a set of triplets after 17 years of waiting. It was gathered that the elated queen, Olori Teniola-Faith, delivered the babies in the early morning of Monday, 8 April, 2024 at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja. The Palace of the Olu of Apata, Oba Fredrick Balogun, the latest father in the community, was agog with praise singing and dances as the people celebrated with the…

By Niyi Akinsiju The World Bank projects that the value of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product in 2024 will reduce to $394.94 billion at current prices, that is, a decline of $82.44 from the 2022 size when it was stated to be $477.38 billion. This projected shrinking of the size of the Nigerian economy will reflect in further reduction of the nation’s per capita GDP to $1700, that is, the value of the country’s economic output per person which is calculated by dividing the GDP of a country by its population. The reality of the Nigerian national economy is that though…