Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

Airtel Africa, a leading telecommunications and mobile money services provider with presence in 14 countries across the continent, has announced the appointment of Dinesh Balsingh as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, effective 1st November 2024. By this appointment, Balsingh also becomes a member of the Executive Council for the Airtel Africa Group. He takes over from Carl Cruz, who returned to his home country, The Philippines, at the end of October. Balsingh has extensive experience across the telecommunications industry and returns to Nigeria following his appointment as Managing Director and CEO of Airtel Tanzania in…

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has urged the people of the state to ignore the outcome of the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States. This is as Governor Adeleke charged them to focus on the state. Adeleke made this statement in a speech delivered on the sideline of a novelty match marking the second anniversary of his administration in office. The match which was between the state executive council and the Osun State House of Assembly ended in a 1-0 tally in favour of the executive. Governor Adeleke said his administration has been doing wonders and the people of…

On Sunday, 24 November, 2024, the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards organized a captivating book reading of ‘Do As You’re Told, Baji’, authored by the renowned writer Lola Shoneyin. \The event, held at 11 a.m. in Kwara State, celebrated the power of storytelling and the importance of fostering a culture of reading among families. Among the distinguished attendees were: the First Lady of Kwara State, Ambassador Olufolake AbdulRazaq; alongside notable figures such as Wole Ojo, Cynthia Clarke, Chioma Okafor, Segun Arinze, and Kemi Adekomi, who added prestige and insight to the event. In her remarks, Ambassador Olufolake AbdulRazaq highlighted the…

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas on Monday declared as unacceptable violence against women and girls in the country. Abbas decried this year’s United Nations report that for every 10 minutes a woman is being killed across the world. The Speaker who joined the United Nations organised walk against gender violence in the country, as part of the activities lined up for the 16 Days of Activism Campaign against Gender based Violence in Nigeria, called for actions to contain the ills against women. The walk which was organised by the United Nations Women in collaboration with the House of…

The All Progressive Congress (APC) membership drive received major boost on Sunday, 24 November, 2024 as supporters of Imo East Senator, Ezenwa Onyewuchi, under the aegis of ‘People’s Movement’, in Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, formally joined the ruling party in the state. The Coordinator People’s Movement in Ezinihitte LGA, Nze Chimenka Ndulaka, led hundreds of other leaders and members of the movement in the formal defection on Sunday, 24 November, 2024. Ndulaka, alongside a campaign council chieftain, Chima Ibeh and other members of the movement who left the Labour Party, were decorated with APC emblems and issued membership cards by Ezinihitte APC Deputy…

As part of his administration’s commitment to fostering peace, unity, and inclusive governance, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State hosted members of the National Assembly from Plateau for a strategic meeting aimed at aligning efforts to rebuild the state for the collective good of its people. The meeting, held at the Governor’s residence in the Old Government House, Jos, the state capital provided an avenue for him to brief the federal lawmakers on his administration’s vision to restore Plateau’s lost glory and ensure equitable development across all communities. Speaking at the meeting, the Governor emphasized the need for synergy among…

Igbo elders and leaders have stated that the arrest of the self-acclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra in Finland, Simon Ekpa, over alleged terrorist activities, is not the solution to the insecurity plaguing the Southeast. They explained that jailing Ekpa would not make any difference except for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. According to the elders, what would reduce insecurity in the Southeast is the release of Nnamdi Kanu, bringing Simon Ekpa back to Nigeria, and prosecuting him for all the killings he allegedly masterminded in the region. On his part, the…

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, has pledged its commitment to revitalising education in the country through the student loan programme designed to reduce unproductivity among Nigerian students. The Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, made this commitment in Maiduguri, Borno State capital at an engagement meeting with students, educators, and government officials. Sawyerr noted the loan’s modalities which include creating an online profile as a prerequisite for application, clarifying that the loan is interest-free and does not require a fixed repayment period, making it accessible and flexible for students. On his part, the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science,…

Personnel of the Nigerian Army’s 14 Brigade, Ohafia, and unidentified gunmen in Mbata, Umuchima village, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State are reportedly engaged in a fierce gun battle. The Nations reports that over 15 Hilux vehicles and armored personnel carriers arrived at Umuchima village around 6 a.m, targeting suspected gunmen. The gunmen were reportedly camped near a river that marks the boundary between Abia and the Mbaise axis of Imo State. According to the report, soldiers have taken control of key junctions leading in and out of the village, while others engage the gunmen in nearby bushes. Gunfire has…

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has boasted that he will leave office as a free man, unafraid of being pursued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC)or any other organization. Uzodimma, who stated this while speaking after the Feast of Christ the King Mass at the Government House Chapel in Owerri, the state capital, challenged anyone with evidence of wrongdoing to present it. “I will leave office a free man, sleep with my two eyes closed without being afraid of anybody, including the EFCC”, he said. The governor maintained that he has not broken any promises made to the…

English Premier League club side, Nottingham Forest remain optimistic Ola Aina will sign a new contract. Aina’s current contract will expire at the end of the season which would have meant him leaving as a free agent. According to The Athletic, the Nigeria international is now nearing a new deal and a bumper pay rise with Forest. The 28-year-old Super Eagles of Nigeria defender joined the Tricky Trees on a free transfer last summer. The Premier League club triggered the one-year option in his contract before the start of the current season. He has scored twice in 34 league appearances…

Famous Nigerian Afrobeats singer, Davido, has expressed pride after he retained his record as the only artist to occupy the top 16 spots on the Spotify Nigeria Daily Top Songs Chart for two consecutive days despite new album from his colleague, Wizkid. Thegazellenews.com reports that Wizkid’s new album, ‘Morayo’ broke several records on Spotify but songs from the album failed to occupy the top 16 spots on the Spotify Nigeria Daily Top Songs Chart for two consecutive days, a record set by Davido’s ‘Timeless’ last year. Following Wizkid’s failure to break Davido’s record, a music-monitoring platform, The Data Dash wrote…

Operatives of the Adamawa Police Command have apprehended four secondary school boys for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl. The four, all between 16 and 17 years old, were picked up by operatives of the state command of the Nigeria Police on charges of criminal conspiracy and rape of a minor. The suspects allegedly conspired and raped the victim by first intoxicating her with large quantity of beer. “The Adamawa State Police command has on Sunday, 24th November, 2024 apprehended and brought into custody four persons,” the police said in a statement signed on Monday by SP Suleiman Nguroje, the command’s…

Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a farmer for allegedly beating a suspected thief to death in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state. The farmer identified as Adegoke allegedly committed the crime at Mile 10, Ore axis of the local government, when he descended on the deceased suspect and his friends after accusing them of stealing his farm produce. According to sources, the other suspects attacked by Adegoke had been hospitalised, stressing that Adegoke claimed the suspected thieves who hailed from the neighbouring Aba Tuntun community had also stolen his motorcycle. One of the sources, who preferred…

The Oyo State Football Association(OSFA) has banned Olalekan Ojo from watching Shooting Stars home games due to his poor conduct. Ojo’s suspension was announced in a press release on Sunday. The Secretary of the Football Association, Kehinde Ojelowo, who announced thisw in a press release on Sunday, 25 November, 29024, stated that Ojo’s ban will be extended to other stadiums in the state. The Notification of Suspension reads, “Consequent upon your unsporting behaviour exhibited immediately after 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League, matchday 13 , with Match number 128 between Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), Ibadan and Bayelsa United Football Club, Yenagoa…

Liverpool winger, Mohamed Salah, has given a clear indication he would leave the club next year. Salah’s current deal with the Reds expires in June 2025. The 32-year-old has now revealed that the Premier League club is yet to begin talks over fresh terms. “I’m probably more out than in! I didn’t receive any proposal,” Salah said. “We’re almost in December and I haven’t received any offers yet to stay in the club. “I’m probably more out than in.” Salah will be free to talk to foreign clubs in January.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has said the establishment of a Command in the Federal Capital Territory to tackle all cases of Violence Against Persons especially Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) within the nation’s capital. Speaking in Abuja at the 2024 Stakeholder’s Coordination Meeting on the implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 and Corresponding State Laws, the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello said: “To further illustrate and solidify our commitment towards eradicating this social menace, I am glad to inform you that the Agency is proposing the establishment of…

The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has restored the full statutory rights of the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, abolishing the new traditional councils in Edo South created by the last administration. He also backed the Federal Government’s Gazette, which gave the ownership of the returned artefact to the Oba’s palace, which was looted during the 1897 Benin massacre by the British colonial forces. Also, the state government is withdrawing the letter revoking the concession of the Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre issued by the last administration to be used as a motor park. These were contained in a…

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has stated that Manchester City’s dream to win five successive premiership titles in a row could be dashed if his side loses to table-toppers, Liverpool next week Sunday. Speaking to ESPN on Saturday after Manchester city’s fifth defeat in all competitions and third straight league game with a 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, Guardiola said an 11-point gap if City lose to Arne Slot’s team would be too much to overhaul even at this stage of the season. The Reds went eight points clear over Manchester City after beating Southampton 3-2 on Sunday,…

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo state has constituted a 14-man State Assets Verification Committee to probe the eight years tenure of his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki. The panel headed by the retired Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, would be inaugurated on November 26, 2024. This is contained in a statement on Sunday by the governor’s media aide, Fred Itua. The statement reads in part. “In furtherance of the Governor’s initiative to set the State on the path of development and accountable leadership, the need to set up a State Assets Verification Committee becomes…