Author: Khadijah Olowode

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, 5 March, 2024, announced an increment in scholarship and bursary for students of Lagos State origin, in tertiary institutions. He said his administration from 2024 will pay N225,000 and N60,000 as scholarship and bursary to indigene students, as against the existing N200,000 and N50,000 respectively. The Governor also announced scholarships for the less privileged and physically challenged students in public tertiary institutions, noting that the scholarship will not be limited to Lagos indigene alone. He also announced the appointment of four former Students Union leaders as his Senior Special Assistants (SSAs). The…

Former First Lady of Lagos State, Senator Fatimat Raji Rasaki on Monday expressed her confidence in the appointment of Hon. Oyetunde Ojo as Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Senator Rasaki affirmed that the FHA would attain greater height under the new Managing Director. While congratulating the new FHA MD, Rasaki said Nigerians were anticipating progress in the activities of the FHA in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President. She said, “The new helmsman, is purposeful and well equipped for the job. As a former Member of the House of…

The Anwar-ul-Islam College, Agege Old Students Association (A’Level) Class of 85/87 at the weekend inaugurates its maiden executive body. The Advanced Level Class of ’87 body was formed in 2021 and held its first reunion meeting same year on December 11 with an interim body in place until the recent election. A former Lagos House of Assembly member, Honourable Yinka Ogundimu, emerged President after an election held online on Saturday, 24 February, 2024. The body also voted Kayode Kolade as Vice President, Ikmat Gbadamosi as General Secretary and Taiwo Odubeko as Asst. General Secretary. Post of the Financial Secretary went…

By Jude Ndukwe The now former coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria left the job after his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) expired at the end of February. His exit has created a familiar debate usually associated with such circumstances: should we seek another foreign coach or should we settle for an indigenous coach to take over from him? While some have argued that the next coach of the Super Eagles should be hired based on competence, track record and merit irrespective of where he comes from, others have said that they would prefer an indigenous coach…

Nigerian billionaire businessman and the richest black man on earth, Aliko Dangote on Monday, 4 March, 2024, renamed the road leading to the Dangote Oil Refinery, situated in Lagos State after late former Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Dr Herbert Wigwe. Aliko made this known during his speech at the funeral rites held by Herbert Wigwe’s families to give their son and his family a befitting ending. “The biggest road is now named Herbert Wigwe,” he added. Wigwe who died in a helicopter crash in the United States alongside with his wife and son would be buried on March…

The Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Sitting in Abuja has adjourned its hearing to Monday, 14th March, 2024. This followed the Court of Appeal Judgement that set aside its inspection order and expunged paragraphs ‘g’, ‘k’ and ‘n’ of the earlier ruling. Counsel to the petitioner, Okutepa SAN, moved for the business of the day, but the counsel to the first respondent, Kanu Agabi, SAN, drew the attention of the Tribunal to the Court of Appeal judgement and an affidavit to that effect. This necessitated the adjournment for the court to take the application. Meanwhile, the issue of tendering…

Ogun State Government is set to train100,000 Small Medium Scale Enterprises (SMSEs), especially youths on emerging technologies, towards attaining the peak in digital economy. This would be done through GetFundedAfrica Technologies (GFAT) in partnership with Microsoft, Google and Meta Delivering a keynote address during the official launch of the training at OgunTechHub, Abeokuta, tagged, “Gateway Skills Programme”, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Cyber Security, Senator Shuaib Salisu, said the empowerment would be an opportunity for SMSEs and youths who want to be self-reliant, get equipped with relevant technology skills enabling them upgrade to digital…

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has described the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye as an exceptional leader, whose teachings have impacted positively on the lives of many. In his message to mark the birthday of the spiritual leader, Prince Abiodun said Pastor Adeboye has always been consistent in advocating for peace, unity, and the socio-economic well-being of the country. Born on 2 March 1942, Pastor Adeboye is 82 years old on Saturday. “On behalf of the people of Ogun State, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to you on…

A former aide to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Works and Infrastructure, Abdulraheem Owokoniran, has been reported to have died in United Kingdom (UK). Owokoniran was also a former aide to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON. He contested for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the last primary of the party for the Surulere Federal Constituency I Bye-election. He was elder brother to the current Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Idris Aregbe, who had also contested for the Surulere Chairmanship seat. They were the son of former APC leader…

Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engr. (Mrs.) Noimot Salako-Oyedele has stressed the need to work out proper modalities for the demarcation of boundary lines to avoid conflicts among people. She also expressed the need to address other socio-economic issues, including trans-border trade, cross-border integration, and adequate security of Nigerians living at the border areas, noting that only then will their livelihoods be improved. Engr. Salako-Oyedele made the call at a one-day workshop, organized by the National Boundary Commission in conjunction with the Oyo State Government, themed “Creation of Platform for Local Border Authorities Along Nigeria-Benin International Boundary” held in Ibadan, Oyo…

By Moses Owopade (Accra) In less than a year to leave office, the President of Ghana, Mr. Nana Ado Dankwa Akufo Ado has expressed optimism that the present economic challenge that the nation is experiencing will soon be over. President Akufo Ado declared this when he was declaring his state of the Nation address to the Parliament. He said the government is aware of the battle that the citizens are facing that has led to pockets of protest by various groups in the country. He lamented that the crises are not peculiar to Ghana alone, tracing the global economic difficulty…

The death of Quadri Oyebamiji Tomori, popularly called Sisi Quadri was a monumental loss to Iwoland. Iwo is bereaved. A star in the Nollywood industry has gone. I commiserate with Iwoland most especially his immediate family. He was a talent and an asset in the film industry. He was a renowned jester with unmatched manner of presentation. I pray God should forgive his shortcomings and protect everything he left behind . Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi AROLE OLODUMARE, TELU I

By ‘Tunde Ogunmola Local government is the closest government to the people, hence it’s termed grassroots government. As a result of its proximity to the people, this third tier of government in Nigeria is realistically meant to be a concrete reality to the people and not an abstract entity that is detached from them. Owing of its closeness to the people at the grassroots, shouldn’t local government be able to feel, understand and promptly respond to the needs and expectations of the people under its watch? The basic needs and demands of people in various communities might differ but a…

The questionable contract award of Cargo and Crude Oil Tracking Note Scheme to a Belgian firm, Antaser BV by the Federal Government of Nigeria has now become a subject of international investigation, which may burst a can of worms and expose top Nigerian public and private officials involved in the perennial scotch of oil theft, which denies the country over eighty percent of its oil revenue. Donnington Nigeria Ltd and its technical partner Vortexa UK,the companies that were allegedly shortchanged in the wrongful award, had been at legal loggerheads with the Government of Nigeria, as well as Antaser Belgium and…

The American reality star, who married Nigerian businessman Simon Guobadia 15 months ago, filed to divorce him this month. The divorce announcement came after it emerged that Simon was denied US citizenship because of credit card fraud, identity fraud, among others. Porsha, who was on Instagram on Valentine’s Day and the days after flaunting her love for Simon, has now ended their union. She has also removed Guobadia from her Instagram bio and reverted to her maiden name, Williams.

Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court, Kano on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, convicted and sentenced three illegal bureau de change operators to three years imprisonment for operating without a requisite licence. The convicts: Umar Ibrahim Muhammad, Abubakar Yakubu Garba and Muhammad Tijjani were jailed after pleading guilty to one-count separate charges of illegal dealing in foreign currency without an appropriate licence. The lone-count charge reads: “That you Ibrahim Muhammad, sometime in February 2024 in Kano within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did engage in a financial operation of bureau de change without a valid licence and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 57 (5)…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Commander-General of Kano Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, has tendered his resignation letter, claiming “discouragement” from Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. Daurawa said he was discouraged by the governor’s comments despite his efforts to promote societal morality during his tenure at Hisbah. In a video shared on his social media handle, Daurawa said, “Currently, I’m in Kaduna State, meeting with lawmakers led by the Speaker to discuss implementing a mandatory pre-marital health check in Kano, similar to other Nigerian states. “However, I’ve encountered discouraging comments from Kano, despite my efforts at Hisbah to promote societal morality. “I’ve actively…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Benue State government has disclosed that it will focus on completing the ongoing work at some state-owned bakeries to address youth unemployment in the state. The Managing Director of Benue State Investment and Property (BIPC), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, who stated this during an inspection of one of the bakeries in the state, said government is investing in improving the skills of young people by establishing bakeries. According to him, improving the skills of youths in the state aligns with the administration’s renewed hope agenda and the plans of Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia. Dr. Asemakaha expressed satisfaction…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Operatives of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with a hybrid force and Civilian Joint Task Force invaded terrorists’ hideouts in Timbuktu triangle in the Lake Chad Region, eliminating three. The operation also led to the recovery of a machine gun, a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle, a gun truck mounted with an anti-aircraft gun, and a cache of arms and ammunition. This is contained in a statement issued on Friday, 1 March, 2024 by the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu. According to Nwachukwu, on sighting the troops, the terrorists engaged them in a fierce battle…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Oyo and Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, have disclosed that it intercepted and seized smuggled fake drugs valued over N1 billion along the Bakatari area of Omi-Adio, Ibadan, Oyo State capital. The Area Controller of the Command, Ben Oramalugo, who made this disclosure while briefing newsmen on Friday, 1 March, 2024 in Ibadan, said the Command had been an enforcement-oriented Command that prioritised the fight against smuggling in all its operations. The seized fake drugs, according to Oramalugo, had a total Duty Paid Value (DPV ) of N1,739,000,000,000 only for the 2024…