Author: Khadijah Olowode

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that his administration is revolutionizing agriculture to make Nigeria self-sufficient in food production and a net exporter of agricultural products. Speaking when he received a delegation from the Global Tijaniyya Movement, led by Khalifa Muhammad Mahe Niass, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on Sunday, 11 February, 2024, the President said his administration will support plans and efforts to give ease and succour to Hajj pilgrims. He emphasized the importance of spiritual endeavours in nation-building, underscoring his administration’s commitment to supporting religious activities. He highlighted the need for collaboration between political and spiritual leaders…

On Wednesday, 7 February, 2024, the giants of filmmaking in the Nigerian entertainment industry gathered at the world class GAC Motor G-Style Showroom to celebrate the monumental success of Funke Akindele’s latest film, “A Tribe called Judah.” GAC Motor Nigeria, leading automobile brand partnered with Filmone, Nigeria’s biggest film distribution business for this exclusive event aptly titled “A Toast to Funke Akindele; with top Nollywood actors and Industry legends such as: Sola Sobowale, lyabo Ojo, Yvonne Jegede, Bisola Ayieola, Enyinna Nwigwe, Timini Egbuson, Adduni Ade, others and the celebrant her self Funke Akindele In attendance. The highlight of the event…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike No fewer than 5000 small holder farmers have been listed to benefit $55million (N81billion) from the World Bank, Food And Agriculture, (FAO), as well as partners interventions in establishing alternative livelihood projects in forest communities of Cross River State. Similar intervention is equally ongoing in Ondo State. The two are the only Niger Delta states selected to benefit from the intervention because of their acknowledged remaining vast forests and arable lands. The National Project coordinator of the Global Environment Facility, which is handling the 3-year FOLUR Impact Programme, Prof Oladapo Adeyemi, made this disclosure in Calabar, Cross River State…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The cement price in Nigeria is on the upward trend as it has jumped to 100 per cent in the last three years amid soaring inflation and hardship. According to findings, cement price leapfrogged from 3,300 and 3,500 per 50 kg bag in 2021 to a record high N7,000 in February 2024. Recall that last year, the Cement Producers Association of Nigeria (CPAN)warned that the federal government’s plan to introduce concrete roads would see cement rise from N6,000 to N9,000. “Our findings from various parts of the country show that cement sells for as high as N6,000…

The Oyo State Government has begun the monitoring of beneficiaries of its N500 million Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Loan Support under the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) initiative.The state’s Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, who also doubles as the chairman of the SAfER Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sub-committee, Professor Musibau Babatunde, led members of the sub-committee on a monitoring and evaluation visit to participating Microfinance Banks and some beneficiaries of the loan in Ibadan, Oyo and Ogbomoso zones of the state. Speaking during the exercise, Prof. Babatunde explained the efforts of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde towards cushioning…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Tinubu has expressed his sadness over the news of the passing of Herbert Wigwe, top banker and entrepreneur, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, along with members of the Wigwe family. Herbert Wigwe, was the Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc and founder of the How Foundation. Tinubu, through a statement issued by his media aide, Ajuri Ngelale, on Sunday, 11 February, 2024, described Wigwe and Ogunbajo as exceptional Nigerian business leaders adding that their passing is “an overwhelming tragedy that is shocking beyond comprehension.” The President condoled…

A total of 24 suspected drug traffickers and dealers including a 42-year-old man taking thousands of concealed opioid pills to insurgents’ enclave in Banki area of Borno state, a six-month-pregnant lady, a mother of three children and three other women have been arrested in major interdiction operations by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, leading to the seizure of over 7,609 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs in eight states. The bulk of the seizures was made in Nasarawa state where NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Sunday, 4 February, 2024 intercepted a truck marked Lagos JJJ 64…

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has described as tragic the death of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Access Holdings Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe in a helicopter crash in the United States of America. Wigwe, his wife, son, and three others, including Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former Chairman of NGX Group Plc, died when their helicopter crashed near the border of California and Nevada on Friday night, 9 February, 2024. Governor Abiodun described the incident as a devastating loss for the families, friends, and the entire business community in Nigeria. The Governor described Wigwe as a quintessential banker who contributed immensely…

The Development Director for the British High Commission, Nigeria, Ms Cynthia Rowe, together with Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani have signed the Kaduna Mutual Accountability Framework (K-MAF). The signing earmarked the revitalised commitment to support good governance, human capital development with a focus on Health, Education, Social protection, economic recovery, and poverty reduction for the state. The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, Nigeria, first entered the mutual accountability relationship with the Kaduna government in June 2021, under the leadership and administration of Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai. The newly revised framework, according to a statement on Friday, 9 February, 2024, focuses…

The Federal Government is to collaborate with the Indian Government on geospatial mapping and technical expertise exchange, remote sensing, carbon mapping, and auto imagery. The collaboration with the Indian government is to be undertaken by Nigeria through the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation. This was made known when the Surveyor-General, Surv. Abuduganiyu Adebomehin received the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Gangadharan Balasubramania on Friday. The Indian High Commissioner stated that the reason for the visit was to seek collaboration on behalf of the Surveyor General Office of India and the government of Nigeria on the new geospatial…

An investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the star witness in the ongoing trial of Professor Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, have both testified in court against the University Don and his lawyer, Barrister Sunny Anyanwu. This is even as the court granted N250 million and N50 million bail respectively to the first and second defendants in the case. ICPC had arraigned Ndifon and Anyanwu on four amended count-charge bordering on sexual harassment and attempt to perverse the cause of justice contrary to Sections 8, 18…

To honour the grace of God on the life of Primate Elijah Ayodele, prominent personalities have confirmed their attendance at the forthcoming grand opening of the prophet’s new church cathedral in Lagos. The event which will be taking place on Sunday, 18 February, 2024 will have the presence of the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Abubakar; Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubakar; the CEO of SIFAX Group, Taiwo Afolabi; Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Alagbado; international society of diplomats, and several others. The cathedral opening will also be the grand finale of Primate Ayodele’s 2024 annual thanksgiving tagged ’21 days of unlimited praise’. …

By Kunle Akogun Nigeria’s most sought-after university, the University of Ilorin, has continued to elevate its national standing with its latest award of “Outstanding Nigerian University of the Year 2023” conferred on it in Lagos penultimate Friday (February 2, 2024) by the New Telegraph, Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in Politics and Business reporting. According to the frontline national newspaper, the University won the prestigious award because of its “exceptional contributions in governance and other areas of life”. The recognition of UNILORIN’s outstanding performance over the years, especially in 2023, under its new Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has…

by Folorunsho Hamsat “If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.” This line of thinking is the guiding light for Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele as the founder and leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Nigeria. Ayodele has been actively involved in philanthropy for more than thirty years, even though he is recognized more for delivering prophecies. This writer would not dwell on Ayodele’s prophecies for which he is…

The Asisat Oshoala Academy (AOA) has concluded its highly anticipated scouting programme to discover new talents that will not only make it professionally in football but also play for the country’s various national teams. The trials took place at Femi Gbajabiamila mini-Stadium, Abalti Barracks, Ojuelegba between Monday, 5 February, and Friday, 9 February, 2024. The event witnessed an outstanding participation of over 300 young female football enthusiasts, ranging from ages 9 to 17, who came from various schools and football academies in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Osun states. Academies such as Unification FC, CATS Ladies, Future Stars Girls, FC Phoenix…

Political stakeholders in Yenagoa constituency I, mainly the indigenous people of Epie/Atissa hosting the State capital have demanded for a fair and better treatment in political appointments from Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State as he gets sworn in for second term of four years. The stakeholders under the aegis of Equity Vanguard in a statement signed by Onizibe Samuel Asuefien and made available to our correspondent, lamented that since 1999 the executive arm of government has sidelined the people of Epie/ Atissa as no one has been privileged to occupy the office of Governor or Deputy Governor. They further…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A Rashidat Shittu, 20, a 400-level student at the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, has committed suicide over her academic status. The incident, it was gathered, occurred weekend when the Shittu, a student from the Department of Accounting, reportedly drank a bottle of pesticide known as Sniper. According to her colleagues who preferred anonymity, said Shittu committed suicide ahead of her upcoming exams because she was having some academic issues. “When she started feeling pains, she informed her friends and hostel mates that she used the poisonous substance,” one of the students said. Shittu was said to have been pronounced…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A petrol station owner in Akure, named Sesan Adelabu, popularly known as Emirate, has reportedly macheted his wife to death and committed suicide by drinking sniper, an insect-killing substance. The sad incident, it was gathered occured on Friday, 9 February, 2024 in the Alagbaka area of Akure, Ondo State capital. His body and that of his wife were deposited in the morgue. The late Adelabu was said to be the owner of the Emirate filling stations in Akure. Confirming the incident, The state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, confirmed the sad development, saying that the command…

Less than two months after the spokesman of Access Bank Plc, Abdul Imoyo died, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe has died in a helcopter crash in the United States of America. The incident took place on the night of Friday, 9 February, 2024. This is coming less than two months after the death of Imoyo on Sunday, 17 December, 2023, at First Cardiology, Ikoyi, Lagos, after a brief illness. Sources said the aircraft in which Wigwe was travelling, was headed to Las Vegas when it crashed near a border city between Nevada and California…