Author: Nouman Ali

Politicians and parties have been urged to make their campaigns strictly issue-based and centred on ideas, competence, accountability and service to Nigerians.

The call was made by the Christian Conscience, a non-denominational pressure group, at the conclusion of its monthly meeting in Lagos on Tuesday.

In a statement by its National Chairman Mrs Yetunde Akinluyi and National Secretary-General, The Rev Kolawole Verrals and issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Elder Tunji Oguntuase, the organisation urged political actors to prioritise the issues that directly affect the lives and future of Nigerians rather than resort to personal attacks, inflammatory rhetoric and divisive politics. The group said political campaigns should give Nigerians a clear understanding of what each candidate and political party intends to do to address critical national challenges, including unemployment, insecurity, education, healthcare, infrastructure and economic growth.

According to the statement, ‘Politicians should campaign with issues, not insults. Nigerians deserve to know what candidates intend to do about jobs, security, education, healthcare, infrastructure and the economy. Campaigns should be about presenting credible ideas and demonstrating the competence to deliver them.’

The Christian Conscience also cautioned Political actors against exploiting ethnic and religious sentiments for electoral advantage.

‘Nigeria belongs to all of us. Political leaders must resist the temptation to weaponise ethnicity or religion. Statements capable of inflaming ethnic, religious or regional tensions have no place in a healthy democracy,’ the group said.

The organisation called on politicians to maintain civility and respect for their opponents throughout the campaign period, noting that political competition should not destroy the relationships necessary for national development.

‘Political disagreement should never become personal hatred. Today’s opponent may become tomorrow’s partner in national development. Politicians must therefore compete vigorously while preserving mutual respect and the unity of the country,’ the statement added.

The group equally appealed to Political parties, candidates and their supporters to reject violence, intimidation and the use of political thugs during the electioneering period.

It urged political actors to refrain from mobilising groups to attack opponents or threaten voters, describing peaceful political participation as essential to credible elections and the stability of the country.

The Christian Conscience urged Nigerians to scrutinise the track record, policies, competence and character of candidates and to demand substantive answers to the challenges confronting the nation.

The group expressed hope that the 2027 election campaign would provide an opportunity for Nigerians to engage Political leaders on the future of the country and make informed choices based on issues rather than emotion, identity or intimidation.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, yesterday arraigned two men before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over the alleged unlawful supply of bank access credentials.

The defendants, Gideon Bakpa Aghogho and Oscar Ebere Chukwuebuka, were arraigned alongside a third suspect, identified as Scott, who is at large, before Justice F.N. Ogazi.

They face an eight-count charge on the alleged unlawful supply of access credentials to a bank database.

The charges were brought under Sections 27 and 28(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.

The EFCC alleged that between July 24 and 26 this year, the defendants conspired to supply Aghogho’s access code to the bank system through a local administrative credential known as ITSD.

According to the prosecution, the credentials,which could grant access to the bank’s Virtual Center Platform, were allegedly supplied to facilitate the commission of an offence.

In another count, the commission alleged that Aghogho, between April and May, last year, without authorisation disclosed access credentials, including the bank’s server IP and domain credentials, to gain access to a bank’s database.

The prosecution further alleged that the disclosure was made in exchange for $15,000.

Aghogho pleaded not guilty to the charges, while Chukwuebuka pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them.

Following Aghogho’s plea, prosecution counsel, Bilkisu Buhari, asked the court to fix a date for trial and sought an order remanding him in a correctional facility.

In respect of Chukwuebuka, the prosecution asked the court to allow it to review the facts of the case following his guilty plea.

Justice Ogazi adjourned the matter until August 27, this year, for a review of the facts and other proceedings.

The judge also ordered that the defendants be remanded in a correctional centre pending the next hearing.

Within Sri Lanka’s sporting history, there are a variety of different results that have had an impact upon both the country’s sporting profile and the development of those individual sporting disciplines within the nation. Two of the sports that have experienced both a national and international impact include cricket and athletics. Within these sports, four different results between the years of 1948 and 2014 indicate how the performances of both individual and team sports altered the trajectory of sport within Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s win in the Cricket World Cup final marked the country’s first title in the global competition and the most often mentioned sporting accomplishment of the nation. On March 17, 1996, Sri Lanka defeated Australia by seven wickets in the final held in Lahore. Aravinda de Silva hit an unbeaten 107 in the match and took three wickets to win the player of the match award. Following the Cricket World Cup final, there was an increased interest in other forms of entertainment within the nation. Platforms offering games like Sri Lanka casino games began to receive increasing attention from citizens of the nation. Furthermore, the victory occurred amid the civil war within the nation.

The Cricket World Cup final also helped to reveal the capabilities of Sri Lanka to host international events. The nation co-hosted the Cricket World Cup final along with other nations such as India and Pakistan. Australia and the West Indies forfeited their games in Colombo against Sri Lanka due to security concerns in the nation. Additionally, Sri Lanka changed the way in which teams approached the cricket match with their opening batsman pair of Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana.

Several factors distinguished the 1996 campaign from its predecessor Sri Lankan World Cup appearances:

The aggressive opening of Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana changed the way in which other teams approached the first 15 overs of the innings

Aravinda de Silva topped the score in the final and took three wickets with the ball

Arjuna Ranatunga’s decision to employ the non?? spinners in several of the matches

The conditions across South Asia that allowed Sri Lanka’s spin bowlers to thrive

All of these factors contributed to a template that subsequent Sri Lankan teams would employ in their own cricketing journeys.

Sri Lanka’s first Olympic medal came decades before the 1996 cricket win. Duncan White, competing for Ceylon, won silver in the men’s 400 meters hurdles at the 1948 London Olympics, finishing in 51.8 seconds, seven-tenths of a second behind American gold medalist Roy Cochran. The result, achieved in the same year Ceylon gained independence from Britain, stood as the country’s only Olympic medal for more than five decades.

Susanthika Jayasinghe extended that record at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, finishing third in the women’s 200 meters with a time of 22.28 seconds. She was awarded silver in December 2009, after the International Olympic Committee disqualified gold medalist Marion Jones for doping and reallocated the event’s medals. Jayasinghe remains the only Sri Lankan woman to win an Olympic medal in athletics.

Sri Lanka’s second global cricket title came at the 2014 ICC World Twenty20, held in Bangladesh. On April 6, 2014, the team defeated India by six wickets in the final at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, with Kumar Sangakkara scoring an unbeaten 52 in what was his final Twenty20 international appearance. The win, achieved under the captaincy of Lasith Malinga, followed four consecutive defeats in global finals for Sri Lanka between 2007 and 2012, and it renewed commercial interest in the sport, with betting operators such as Melbet expanding coverage of Sri Lankan cricket fixtures in the years that followed.

The victory also marked a generational shift, as senior players Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene retired from the Twenty20 format immediately afterward. Players who emerged in the following seasons built on the tactical foundations established during that tournament.

These four results are commonly referenced in discussions of Sri Lankan cricket history and represent turning points across two Olympic cycles and two ICC tournaments. The table below summarizes each result.

Year Event Athlete/Team Achievement

1948 London Olympics, 400m hurdles Duncan White First Olympic medal for Ceylon (silver)

1996 Cricket World Cup final Sri Lanka national cricket team First ICC World Cup title, defeated Australia by 7 wickets

2000 Sydney Olympics, women’s 200m Susanthika Jayasinghe Second Olympic medal for Sri Lanka (bronze, upgraded to silver in 2009)

2014 ICC World Twenty20 final Sri Lanka national cricket team Second global T20 title, defeated India by 6 wickets

The growth in fan engagement with these results has also translated into other sectors of the economy. The interest in sports betting online has increased along with the number of television and streaming channels that cover cricket on television within the region.

Sri Lanka is also set to host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026 along with India once again. The results that the nation has achieved in the years 1948, 1996, 2000, and 2014 continue to define the potential of the athletes that represent the nation on the international stage.

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, on Friday revealed that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will release $119 million in additional financing to deploy interconnected and isolated mini-grids in Nigeria.

The agency’s Managing Director, Engr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu broke the news in Abuja as REA entered into a N50 billion collaboration agreement with Alpha Morgan Bank to establish a financing support framework that will help accelerate electricity access in unserved and underserved communities across Nigeria.

He said, ‘And we are expecting at any moment from now additional financing of $119 million from JICA that will also be used for the deployment of interconnected mini-grids and isolated mini-grids.’

Under the agreement, Alpha Morgan Bank will provide up to ?50 billion in project financing to eligible renewable energy developers participating in REA-led programmes, including the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) Project. Eligible developers will have access to revolving loans of up to ?10 billion per developer, with proposed tenures of 12 to 24 months, subject to the Bank’s credit assessment and approval.

Alpha Morgan Bank will provide up to 70 per cent counterpart funding for eligible projects. The partnership is designed to address one of the major challenges facing renewable energy developers: access to affordable and timely financing.

By improving access to credit, the collaboration is expected to enable developers to procure equipment, complete projects more efficiently and expand electricity services to households, public institutions and businesses in rural and underserved communities.

Aliyu said the collaboration would strengthen private-sector participation in Nigeria’s energy transition and help close the electricity access gap. ‘Access to finance remains critical to the successful delivery and scale-up of decentralised renewable energy projects. This partnership provides a practical financing mechanism that can help developers move from project approval to implementation more quickly, while expanding reliable electricity access to communities that need it most.’ According to Alpha Morgan Bank Managing Director/CEO Ade Buraimo, the partnership reflects the Bank’s commitment to sustainable development through innovative financing. ‘Access to reliable electricity is fundamental to economic growth and improved livelihoods. Through structured financing and advisory support, our collaboration with REA will help bridge the gap between renewable energy projects and the capital required to deliver them.’

The REA boss said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will release $119 million in additional financing to deploy interconnected and isolated mini-grids in Nigeria.

At the MOU signing, Alpha Morgan Bank, represented by the Executive Director, Mrs. Doyin Anyaehie, noted that reliable electricity is a basic necessity and critical to economic activity, particularly for SMEs and rural communities that cannot sustainably afford alternative power sources. ‘Alpha Morgan Bank is proud to partner with the REA to provide financing to eligible renewable energy developers under the DARES programme for the provision of reliable electricity to underserved communities.’

The partnership will also provide eligible developers with financial advisory support, while REA will facilitate project approvals, grant agreements, and verification.

The collaboration is expected to strengthen the link between public-sector funding and private-sector finance, accelerate renewable energy deployment, and support the Federal Government’s objective of expanding reliable and sustainable electricity access across Nigeria.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in last Saturday’s Osun State election, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, on Friday called on Governor Ademola Adeleke to rein in his supporters and halt alleged attacks on members of the opposition party in the state.

Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, made the appeal while speaking with journalists at the State House, Abuja, shortly after meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The APC candidate alleged that attacks on members of his party had continued after the election, claiming that four or five people were attacked in his hometown, Ikire, on Friday morning.

He said the incidents had been reported to security agencies and urged Adeleke to prevail on his supporters to embrace peace and allow political actors in the state to coexist without violence.

‘I want to advise the governor that it’s important for him to talk to his people. Violence against our people is not too good, and he needs to talk to them so that each and every one of us can be on the same page’, Oyebamiji said.

Asked to shed more light on concerns he had earlier raised over alleged attacks on APC members following the declaration of the governorship election results, Oyebamiji said the situation had persisted.

‘Well, yes. Even as of this morning, in my own village, Ikire, some were attacked; about four, five people were attacked. We have informed the security operatives accordingly. That’s what I have to say about that’, he said.

Oyebamiji, however, appealed to APC members and his supporters across Osun State to remain calm and peaceful, stressing that electoral contests should not be allowed to undermine the peace of the state.

According to him, elections should be approached peacefully because the ultimate purpose of government is to serve the people.

‘The most important thing is to run every election with a peaceful mind. It is important for us Nigerians to know that government is about people, and because it’s about people, it is important that we be peaceful. I want to appeal to our people in Osun that they need to be peaceful,’ he said.

The APC candidate also said the party was still reviewing the outcome of the August 15 governorship election and had yet to make a final decision on its next course of action.

He said the party would make its position public after completing its examination of the election results and other relevant records.

‘For now, the APC is still examining the books, and by the time we spread our sheets, we’ll be able to get back to the public on what our own opinions are and what decisions we want to take, but the take-home is that they should be calm,’ Oyebamiji said.

Oyebamiji’s visit to the Presidential Villa came less than 24 hours after Adeleke met President Tinubu at the State House on Thursday.

Adeleke, who contested the August 15 election on the platform of the Accord Party, was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after polling 511,067 votes.

Oyebamiji, his closest challenger, scored 444,815 votes, leaving a margin of 66,252 votes between the two leading candidates.

Adeleke won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji carried 11.

Following his meeting with Tinubu on Thursday, Adeleke had thanked the President for allowing what he described as a free and fair election in Osun, saying Tinubu’s conduct reflected his longstanding commitment to Nigeria’s democratic struggle.

Oyebamiji’s comments on Friday, however, indicated that the APC was keeping its options open on the election outcome, even as he urged party members to remain peaceful pending the conclusion of its review.

AK Media Concepts Ltd is set to unveil its latest family drama series entitled The Family Man.

The Family Man is a compelling production exploring love, betrayal, family, crime, redemption and second chances.

According to a statement by the production company, the new series expands the company’s portfolio, which includes Family Ties, Face2Face, ‘Nowhere to Be Found,’ ‘City Buster,’ ‘Liberty Villa’ and ‘Oyinmomo,’ a magazine talk show.

The 30-minute drama-crime series centres on Banjo Balogun, a brilliant civil engineer played by Olarotimi Fakunle, who returns home after serving 10 years of a 21-year prison sentence following the governor’s prerogative of mercy. Expecting to reconnect with his wife and three children, Banjo discovers that his family has changed considerably during his years away.

His return is further complicated by his struggle to secure employment because of his criminal record. Once a respected engineer and provider, Banjo now finds himself struggling to get the attention of his family, especially his wife, Chioma, who has built a successful career and become the principal provider. The situation becomes more explosive when Chioma is revealed to be romantically involved with Iredia, Banjo’s best friend and marriage counsellor.

The series features a strong ensemble cast comprising Joy Nmezi, Nifemi Lawal, Jasmine Olarotimi, Eze Ukwa, Femi Branch, Akin Lewis, Kunle Dada, Modola Osifuwa, Kenny Ayanfe, Babaseun Faseru, Halimah Ganiyu and Chy Nwakama, alongside Fakunle.

The inclusion of established actors such as Branch and Lewis adds further depth and experience to the production.

Directed by Tunde Olaoye and executive-produced by Olajumoke Akindeju-Asekun, ‘The Family Man’ is set in contemporary Lagos.

Speaking on the project, the MD/CEO of AK Media Concepts Ltd, Mrs Olajumoke Akindeju-Asekun, described The Family Man as a multi-million-naira production designed to meet contemporary cinematic standards.

‘I want to assure our media partners, and the general public that our new series, The Family Man,’is a content designed to keep viewers glued to their screens. It is our biggest project in recent times, and we have produced it in line with today’s cinematic standards.

‘What we have come up with this time, is a big difference and a blockbuster to reckon with.’

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Maryam Ibrahim Dan’ Azumi of Gombe State on her emergence as winner of the women’s category at the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

The President described the feat, which saw the Nigerian beat contestants from 132 other countries to win a 300,000 Saudi Riyal prize, equivalent to about N120 million, as a remarkable achievement that has brought immense honour to the country.

In a statement on Friday, President Tinubu said Maryam’s performance at the prestigious international competition demonstrated the excellence, discipline, dedication, and intellectual capacity of Nigerian youths.

Maryam competed in the highly competitive category covering memorisation of the entire Holy Qur’an, recitation, Tajweed and interpretation of all 60 Hizb with Tafsir.

The President said her victory was not merely a personal triumph but a source of national pride, noting that she had placed Nigeria prominently on the global stage through her mastery of the Holy Qur’an.

‘Maryam Ibrahim Dan Azumi’s victory in the highly competitive category covering memorisation of the entire Holy Qur’an, recitation, Tajweed and interpretation of all 60 Hizb with Tafsir is a remarkable achievement that has brought immense honour to Nigeria and further demonstrated the excellence, discipline, dedication and intellectual capacity of Nigerian youths.

‘She has made Nigeria proud. Her achievement in Makkah is a powerful testimony to what our young people can accomplish when talent is matched with discipline, faith, hard work and dedicated mentorship’, Tinubu said.

The President also recalled the achievement of Maryam’s elder sister, Hajara Ibrahim Dan Azumi, who emerged first in a similar Qur’anic competition in Jordan in 2024, describing both sisters as an inspiration to young Nigerians.

He particularly commended their parents, teachers and mentors, as well as others who contributed to their development, saying their accomplishments reflected the sacrifice and commitment required to attain an exceptional level of Qur’anic scholarship.

Tinubu also expressed appreciation to the organisers of the King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition and the authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for providing an international platform for promoting excellence in Qur’anic memorisation, recitation, understanding and scholarship.

The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to initiatives aimed at nurturing the intellectual, moral and spiritual development of young Nigerians and creating opportunities for them to distinguish themselves at home and abroad.

‘On behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, I congratulate Maryam on this remarkable victory. May Almighty Allah continue to guide, protect and increase her in knowledge and wisdom, and may her achievement inspire many more young Nigerians to pursue excellence,’ he said.

Tinubu wished Maryam continued success in her Qur’anic scholarship and future endeavours.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria National League (NNL), scheduled for Friday, August 21 at the Rockview Hotel in Owerri, has received a boost with confirmation that Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, will attend.

Dare, a former Minister of Youth and Sports who has continued to lend his weight behind sports, confirmed on Wednesday that he would be in Owerri to support the league.

‘I will be in Owerri to support the NNL where George Aluo and his team are doing a great job,’ Dare said.

Dare, a Chief from Ogbomosho and a communications expert, also praised Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma for his investment in sports.

‘My friend and brother, His Excellency Hope Uzodimma, is doing well on all fronts. He is giving good attention to every sector including sports. I was recently in Imo State and whoever visits the state cannot but give kudos to the governor,’ Dare said.

Grassrunners FC and Abakaliki FC will meet in the final of the 14th Ogunjobi Gold Cup after both teams won their respective semi-final matches yesterday.

Grassrunners defeated Sunshine Stars 3-1, while Abakaliki FC edged Ikorodu City 2-1 to secure their places in Saturday’s final.

The final will take place at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, at 10am on Saturday.

Grassrunners, making their debut in the competition and yet to taste defeat, will be seeking to crown their impressive campaign with the trophy. They will, however, face an Abakaliki FC side that has also shown its strength throughout the tournament.

Sunshine Stars took an early lead in the first semi-final when Onoja Mathew scored in the 15th minute.

Grassrunners responded in the second half, with Agbejoye Papi equalising in the 58th minute from a difficult angle.

Papi struck again in the 86th minute to put Grassrunners ahead before Adeola Fadel added a third goal in the 89th minute to complete the comeback.

The second semi-final also produced an entertaining contest.

Ikorodu City took the lead in the 11th minute through Ayanda Tolulope. Abakaliki FC, however, responded through Moses Amanekwu, who scored his second goal of the tournament.

Amarachukwu Uche then put Abakaliki FC ahead in the 48th minute with a fine finish from a corner to secure the 2-1 victory.

The two teams will now meet in a winner-takes-all final for the 14th Ogunjobi Gold Cup.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed the management of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to engage fellows of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA) on their recommendations for improving waste management in the state.

Sanwo-Olu gave the directive during a mentorship session with the Class of Catalysts, the academy’s third cohort, where the fellows presented policy recommendations on waste and risk management.

The governor urged the fellows to meet with LAWMA officials to present their findings, defend their recommendations and engage with those responsible for managing waste in Lagos.

He said the interaction would provide an opportunity for the young leaders to ask questions, receive feedback and explore practical ways of addressing challenges in the sector.

According to him, the engagement reflects the vision behind the leadership academy – creating a platform where young people can use research and fresh ideas to interrogate government policies, while also giving the government the opportunity to listen and respond.

Sanwo-Olu also commended the fellows for their capstone projects, including proposals for a library and ICT centre, describing them as initiatives capable of delivering measurable impact and extending beyond the current cohort.

He urged the fellows to sustain the relationships built during the programme, stressing that a strong alumni network could become a valuable source of ideas, knowledge and support for future initiatives.

Reflecting on the fellows’ recent policy trip to Rwanda, the governor challenged them to study successful models in other countries and consider how such approaches could be adapted to improve governance in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu also stressed the importance of consistency in government policies, saying investors require certainty and predictability before committing resources.

‘People want clarity. People want definitive pronouncements. No matter how tough that pronouncement, they want you to be consistent with it so that they can plan,’ he said.

He urged the fellows to remain open to learning, listen before responding and learn from their mistakes, describing the ability to turn failure into lessons as an important leadership quality.

The governor also challenged them to consider how their contributions would be judged by future generations.

‘How will history judge you? What will people say to you?’ he asked.

The Executive Secretary of LJLA, Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, said the Class of Catalysts was the academy’s third cohort, bringing the number of young people who have passed through the programme to about 90.

She said graduation should not be regarded as the end of the fellows’ leadership journey but as the beginning of a new phase of greater responsibility.

Agbaje-Okunade said the fellows had been exposed to both theoretical and practical leadership through readings, mentorship sessions, fireside chats and shadowing opportunities with commissioners and heads of ministries, departments and agencies.

She said the academy was established not merely to impart leadership knowledge but to raise young people capable of making meaningful contributions to society.

‘When they enter the fellowship, they don’t know the sort of leader they want to be. But they know the sort of leader they do not want to be,’ she said.

Agbaje-Okunade urged the fellows to continue to demonstrate patriotism, responsibility and respect for the law after completing the fellowship.

‘Our vision has always been to build a society transformed by the leadership of young people. So our transformation is very much dependent on them, even after they leave the fellowship,’ she added.

She said the academy had also broadened the fellows’ exposure through international engagements, including a recent policy trip to Kigali, Rwanda, where they interacted with government officials, mayors, district heads and communities.