Author: Soffiyyah Olamide

By Abimbola Ogunnaike All is now set for a power-packed heavyweight boxing clash between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia tonight. The fighters are set to earn massive prize money and fight purses, thanks to the head of Saudi’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA), Turki Alalshikh, who is driving efforts to make Saudi the new home of boxing. Though the exact figures have not been made public, Forbes reported that Joshua is set to bank a whopping $50 million [£39 million] from this fight, not including pay-per-view sales. In contrast, Ngannou is reportedly set to receive $20 million [£15.6…

The bid by the Tinubu administration to ensure food security through transformation of agricultural productivity in the country has received a major boost with a consortium of mid-sized agriculture companies pledging to support millions of farmers across different value chains in the country. Speaking during the group’s courtesy visit to the presidential villa on Friday, Vice President Kashim Shettima commended the efforts of the young entrepreneurs, particularly in “seeking practical solutions to challenges confronting the nation”. Sen. Shettima who welcomed their partnership said, “Mid-sized companies like yours should be the drivers of change in our nation. We can work as…

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development and Chairman of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), Dr. Dele Alake has affirmed the commitment of the African continent to equipping women with requisite skills to participate actively in the mining sector value chain. Giving the goodwill message at the International Women’s Day Forum 2024 organised by the Women Miners Association, the Minister lauded the organisers for putting the progress and plight of women in the mining sector on the front-burner, emphasising the importance of investing in the development of women for leadership in industry and governance. ” We live in a world…

President Bola Tinubu has condemned the heinous incidents of abduction involving very vulnerable victims, internally-displaced persons in Borno State, and students in Kaduna State. The President has also directed security and intelligence agencies to immediately rescue the victims and ensure that justice is served against the perpetrators of these abominable acts. “I have received briefing from security chiefs on the two incidents, and I am confident that the victims will be rescued. Nothing else is acceptable to me and the waiting family members of these abducted citizens. Justice will be decisively administered,” President Tinubu said. The President sympathized with the…

By Bola Tinubu The man in whose memory we gather here today serves as a compass for each of us and a guiding light for several generations of leaders. His principles have withstood the tests of time and geography. He stands as a testament to the resilience of his convictions. Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s life also provides a compelling narrative for every student of leadership—an inspiration that continues to resonate across our community, our nation, and the global stage. Therefore, I am honoured to be invited to yet another avenue to reassure ourselves of his essence. To comprehend Chief Awolowo’s teachings,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Famous controversial street hop musician, Portable has credited his success in the Nigeria music industry to rapper Olamide. Portable expressed gratitude to Olamide on TikTok, while acknowledging him for turning his life around. Reflecting on his journey from the streets to prominence, Portable recounted how he used to perform for just N200 at events before the rapper’s intervention. “I would have still been on the streets if not for Olamide, I went to London to collaborate with the best rapper in the UK and it’s all thanks to Olamide. He told me that I was gonna make…

By Abdulwarees Solanke Certainly, every nation desirous of development has a responsibility to preserve the values which gives it vitality and essence of existence. But it must also be able to re-invent those cultural elements and practices that are capable of holding it down from global relevance and competitiveness. There is an imperative for Nigeria of today to examine the various dimensions of her national cultural practices that are dysfunctional to the attainment of the lofty vision of nationhood. After all, a nation remains a nation when it can sustain its existence in terms of sovereignty and identity, and when…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A man who allegedly raped, impregnated a 15-year-old in an uncompleted building in Tayi Village near Minna, Niger State, is currently cooling off in one of the cells of the state police command. The command’s spokesman, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, who disclosed this to newsmen in Minna, said the teenager, name withheld, was in JSS3. According to Abiodun, the incident was reported at the Bosso Divisional Police Station on Feb. 28 at 10:30 pm. ”The female victim of about 15 years, who is a JS3 student in Minna, fell sick and was taken to a hospital for treatment and…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disclosed that Diaspora remittances increased by 433 per cent to $1.3 billion in February from $300 million in January. The Acting Director of Corporate Communications at CBN, Hakama Sidi Ali, who confirmed the development on Thursday, 7 March, 2024noted that foreign investors’ interest in Nigeria surged during the period referenced. “The Bank’s data indicates that overseas remittances rose to US$1.3 billion in February 2024, more than four times the US$300 million received in January,” she said. Recall that CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, during the 293rd Monetary Policy Committee meeting, detailed a plan…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that an 80-year-old man, Isiyaka Ayinde, committed suicide inside his kitchen at the Watch Tower in the Araromi Imota area of the state. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to an online medium on Friday, 8 March, 2024, adding that due to age and religious convictions, the deceased’s family insisted that the body be buried immediately. “The scene has been visited by the DCB personnel of the division, and photographs were taken. “The family of the deceased is not interested in depositing the body at…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike As he prepares his Liverpool team for what could be the final chapter in their captivating rivalry, the iconic manager of the English Premier League (EPL)giants, Jurgen Klopp, on Friday, 8 March, 2024, described Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola as the best manager of his lifetime. Recall that City have won five of the past six Premier League titles but Liverpool have been their main rivals, snatching the crown in 2020. The two teams are once again locked in a tussle at the top of the table, with leaders Liverpool ahead of the champions by a single point…

The member representing Enugu State in the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Mrs Ginika Tor, has admitted being quizzed over allegation of certificate forgery. Mrs Tor admitted this via a press statement she personally signed and released to the press while reacting to media report that she was grilled for many hours by the police at the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja. A non-governmental organization, Nigerian Citizens Action Group (NCAG) had accused Mrs Tor of certificate forgery over her interrogation by the FCID. According to the organization, Tor was grilled for several hours between 11am and 3.30pm on 24…

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, said his administration is targeting the construction of 85,000 new houses in 66 communities in the state aimed at resettling IDPs and other victims of Boko Haram insurgency. Zulum stated this on Thursday, 7 March, 2024, when he received a delegation under the northeast ambassadors’ group comprised of high commissioners, ambassadors, and developmental and humanitarian partners. Zulum explained that each of the proposed resettlement communities will have schools, clinics, police posts, marketplaces, stalls, boreholes, secure farmlands and vocational training centres where appropriate. The Governor said Borno State Government would commit 15% of its annual budget…

As FG Moves to Tap From $2.5bn Market Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday, 7 March, 2024, inaugurated the Intergovernmental Committee on Carbon Market Activation Plan in the bid to create a blueprint to drive an efficient sustainable carbon market ecosystem. This is in fulfillment of the promise made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT to reduce Nigeria’s carbon footprint as well as plans by the Federal Government, in collaboration and support of the Africa Carbon Market Initiative (ACMI), to tap from the carbon market which has an estimated value of $2.5 billion. The inauguration of the committee chaired by…

Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Barrister Olalekan Biliamin Onafeko has warned public servants working in the Assembly and its Commission not to indulge in divulging official information to anyone, without government authorization. Onafeko gave the admonition as the guest speaker during a sensitization on “CURRENT ECONOMIC REALITY AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES RELATING TO MANAGING STAFF WELFARE PACKAGE” at the 2nd edition of the staff forum organized by the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission at its office in Oregun, Ikeja. He further advised that any officer entrusted with official information or document is subject to the official…

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has called for stronger purpose and efficiency as measures of tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption. He made this call in Abuja on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at the Opening Session of a Management Retreat of officers of the EFCC, themed, “Repositioning EFCC for Greater Efficiency”. He stressed that the fight against corruption needed to be fought with vigour, tenacity of purpose, clear focus, doggedness and efficiency to achieve optimal results. “Every success in the fight against corruption will be determined by…

Lead prosecution counsel in the trial of Willie Obiano , former governor of Anambra state, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, on Thursday, March 7, 2024, accused the defence team of Obiano of allegedly evading prosecution’s service of a counter-affidavit. Obiano is facing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a nine-count charge of embezzlement and money laundering to the tune of N4 billion before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. At Thursday’s session, Tahir told the court that the prosecution fruitlessly knocked at the gate of the chambers of the lead defence counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, that was placed under lock and key, with no access in a bid …

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The South-East chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have offered reason for proposing N540,000 and N447,000, respectively, as new minimum wage for civil servants. The proposal was made on Thursday, 7 March, 2024 during the South-East Zonal hearing organised by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage in Enugu State. Speaking on behalf of the NLC in the region, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, the Chairman, NLC Enugu State Chapter, opined that the value of N30,000 minimum wage which came into effect in 2019 had been eroded by inflation. According to him, considering…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike As parts of its efforts to cushion the effects of economic hardship, the Ekiti State Government has approved the immediate purchase and distribution of N331 million food items to the needy in the 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 22 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State This development is part of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s recently announced economic relief programme. The state government also approved the payment of outstanding furniture allowance of political office holders who served between 2022 and 2023 in recognition of their contribution to the development of their LGAs and to also cushion the…

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has said that his administration will continue to give its best to the people of the state despite the challenging times. The governor said this on Thursday during the presentation of 28 18-seater buses to tertiary institutions in the state at the car park of the Governor’s Office, State Secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan. While addressing the students, Governor Makinde, who noted that the country is passing through a tough period, assured that the period would soon be over, adding that his administration would never relent in giving the best to the state and its people.…