Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

The Chairman of Ifelodun LCDA, Mayor Olufemi Akanbi Okeowo has said that the food palliative programme of his administration is making significant impacts in the lives of the residents based on the feedback he has been getting so far. He therefore explained that it is necessary to increase the package in order to reach more people. He said this at the 11th edition of the programme which held at LA Primary school, Mosafejo. According to the Council Chairman there are more beneficiaries from the seven wards, each ward is to select 150 people they know are in need of the…

The British Government has awarded 82 Nigerians, the prestigious Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships to study a wide range of master’s degrees and PhD programmes in the UK in 2024. This year, 32 scholars received the Chevening scholarships, and 50 scholars have been awarded the Commonwealth scholarship so far. A pre-departure ceremony was held in Abuja on Thursday for scholars based in Abuja and environs, while a similar ceremony will hold in Lagos next week, and will be hosted by the Deputy Head of Mission, Abby Bernard, for scholars in Lagos and nearby cities. At the Abuja pre-departure reception, the British…

Over 71,000 people across Africa are registered as missing with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a 75 per cent rise from the number recorded in 2019. ICRC in a statement on Friday revealed, stating that Africa is the continent with the highest missing persons caseload, the highest number of unaccompanied children, and the highest number of family reunifications, based on its registered cases as from the end of June. ICRC’s regional director for Africa, Patrick Youssef said: “The issue of missing persons, including those forcibly disappeared, remains one of the most damaging and long-lasting humanitarian consequences of…

A total of $1.6million has been provided by the Economic Community Of West African States State (ECOWAS) Commission and the World Food Program (WFP) to fight the rising malnutrition and poverty in Katsina and Sokoto brought about by surge in banditry and internally displacement in the North West. Donation of palliative to the North West by the WFP is expected to increase to the troubled North West region as a total of 500O metric tonne of wheat donated by the Ukrainian government is scheduled to be received at the weekend. The Deputy Head of Programme WFP, Manuela Reinfield made the…

International partners and local stakeholders in the global effort to combat the scourge of illicit drug trafficking have expressed their preparedness to support the Alternative Development Project of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). According to a statement on Friday by the spokesman of NDLEA, it is an initiative aimed at encouraging illicit drug producers and dealers to engage in lawful and productive business opportunities. They made the commitments in their remarks during the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop on “Building a Support Network for the Alternative Development Project in Nigeria”, organised by the Alternative Development unit of…

By Dave Agboola The recent decision by the Minister of Education, Hon Tahir Mamman, to set the minimum age for taking the WAEC at 18 years is a move that could severely impact the education sector in Nigeria. This decision, intended to foster wisdom, may instead lead to despair. Under the guise of progress, the new age policy has raised concerns about the future of education in Nigeria. By imposing strict age limits on exam candidates, WAEC has inadvertently created obstacles that hinder the academic progress and potential of students who may have started their educational journey later. Statistics indicates…

The Federal Government has approved an upward review of statutory allocation of Universal Basic Education matching grants accessible by state governments for infrastructure projects to N3.554 billion. The Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission(UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi stated this on Thursday, 29 August, 2024, during a 5-day financial training for SUBEB Chairmen and Board Secretaries in Ibadan. In his remarks, the increased matching grants to the States for the implementation of projects comes from 2% of the consolidated revenue fund allotted to support basic education in Nigeria. Bobboyi said the approval followed the passage of the 2024 Appropriation Bill and…

The Executive Committee of Isiwo and Area Development Association (ISADA), in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State, has lauded Governor Dapo Abiodun for redeeming the promises of his predecessors by constructing the collapsed Aloro Bridge which had been abandoned for decades. This was contained in a letter presented to the Governor through the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, TPl. Olatunji Odunlami during a courtesy visit to his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. Speaking, leader of the delegation, Otunba Ibidapo Adebajo, reminded the Governor of the promise to construct Odolewu-Ipesi-Isiwo road, which would improve access to the agrarian…

Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Spain, Alhaji Yusuf Yaro Mamman, will chair the 2024 annual conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), slated for October. The 2024 Conference Planning Committee chairman, Danlami Nmodu, mni, announced this in a press statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of GOCOP, Sir Remmy Nweke. The conference, Nmodu said, would be held at the Reverton Hotel, 1/5 Kunama Crescent, GRA Lokoja, Kogi State at 10 am on Thursday, 3 October, 2024. According to him, the 8th Annual Conference, with the theme, “Nigeria: Tackling Insecurity, Power Deficit, and Transitioning to Digital Economy,” would be presided over…

The Chairman of Odiolowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area, Honourable Razaq Olusola Ajala has advised students to face their studies, work hard and avoid distractions for them to succeed in their chosen professions. Ajala gave this advice on Thursday, 29 August, 2024, while speaking at the grand finale of the council’s free GCE Form Project which took place at the council secretariat in Ilupeju. “You’ve to avoid distractions of all forms especially from the social media. You’ve to be focused and be determined. Hard work and diligence are prerequisites for success. You need all these,” he advised. Ajala, who is also…

Nigerian man, named Joshua Oladele, two others sentenced to life imprisonment over murder of 25-year-old in London Three men, including Joshua Oladele, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of 25-year-old Hamza Iqbal in London. The sentencing comes nearly a year after Hamza was ambushed and stabbed 23 times in what was described as a revenge attack. The deadly incident took place on 24 September, 2023, when Hamza, accompanied by friends, was confronted by the trio—Oladele, Micah Hines, and Ali Alamiri—armed with machetes. The attack was reportedly orchestrated by 28-year-old Dontae Smicle, who believed Hamza’s group was responsible…

The British teams learned their fate at a glitzy, semi-automated ceremony in Monaco on Thursday, 29 August, 2024 that passed by without any glitches. For the first time, in what many view as an attempt to see off the threat of a breakaway European Super League, the old groups are gone, with one league taking over. Each side will play eight fixtures – a lucrative minimum of two more than the previous set-up. Premier League champions City were the first team pulled out by legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, with Cristiano Ronaldo then pressing a button to trigger a computer generated schedule of…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has charged young people, particularly the recipients of the Silver Award of the International Award for Young People Nigeria, to stay focused to achieve a greater tomorrow. He urged the recipients of the award, which is part of the globally recognised Edinburgh’s International Award framework, to thrive to be the best in everything they do and make good use of the opportunities and platform given to them. Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke on Thursday, 29 August, 2024 during the Silver Award Presentation Ceremony and 10th Anniversary of the International Award for Young People Nigeria, tagged “#Celebrating…

From Chuks Collins, Awka The immediate past Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and a founding father of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC), Chief George Nnadubem Moghalu tendered his resignation from the party. Moghalu, an erstwhile National Auditor of the APC, submitted his resignation letter dated Monday, 26 August, 2024, to the Uruagu Nnewi Ward 1 chairman of APC, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra state. According to the letter which read in part, “I bring to you the good wishes of my dear family and to formally notify you of my decision to resign my…

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, 29 August, 2024, in Abuja urged the newly appointed Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos Jose Areias, to prioritize the establishment of direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil. Receiving the Letter of Credence from the Brazilian Ambassador, President Tinubu reiterated his discussions with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil on the matter, in February, on the margins of the African Union Summit, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The President expressed Nigeria’s commitment to working closely with Brazil to strengthen bilateral relations and advance shared priorities, welcoming the country’s presidency of the G20 in 2024. ”We…

Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu has called on the United Nations to be involved in Nigeria’s effort at achieving its energy targets by providing technical assistance, capacity building, and financial support. The Minister made the call on Tuesday night, 27 August, 2024, during a dialogue session with an international audience made up of Representatives from Britain, Brazil, Pakistan, Tonga, Phillipines, Uruguay, Moldova, among others. The event was   organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Making a presentation entitled; Generating sustainable energy for development…Nigeria’s bold and ambitious vision, he disclosed…

A 56 year-old indigene of Ilorin in Kwara State, Yahaya Nafiu, whose wife gave birth to 11 babies in Benin Republic, has cried out for help. Nafiu appealed to spirited individuals to assist him with money to enable him cater for the babies and their mother. The wife, 54-year-old Alake was delivered of 11 babies in Port Novo Ajasse, Cotonou in Benin Republic. It was learnt that the babies, eight boys and three girls are alive except two of the girls that died during delivery. Nafiu confirmed that two of the babies died but the remaining nine are hale and…

The University of Lagos has been plunged into darkness after Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) disconnected the power supply to the institution over unpaid This was made known in a statement by the university management on Wednesday, August 28. EKEDC recently upgraded the university’s tariff category from “Band B” to “Band A,” resulting in a hike in monthly electricity bills. Before the upgrade, UNILAG was paying between N150 million and N180 million monthly. However, the June bill under the new “Band A” tariff nearly doubled, reaching almost N300 million. The institution’s management expressed regret over the blackout that has hit…

Adeolu Adeboye, son of Redeemed Christian Church of God’s (RCCG) General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, received over N8 billion from Kaduna State Government for a contract, but abandoned the project after 30% completion. According to SaharaReporters, Adeolu and his wife, who secured the contract through Ronchess Global Resources Plc during former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s administration, have been evading accountability for the diverted funds and unfinished project. Following Kaduna State Government and House of Assembly’s probe into the alleged fraud, the cleric’s son filed a suit (FHC/L/CS/1206/24) at the Federal High Court in Lagos. Adeolu seeks an injunction restraining the Economic…

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has said that it is ready to partner with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), to find solutions to the environmental challenges hampering the efforts to develop the Niger Delta region. The NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, stated this during a courtesy visit by the team leader in the Strategy, Planning and Coordination Section of the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), Mr. Olivier Van Damme, at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt. Ogbuku, who was represented by the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai, said it was a very…