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Infinix Niger today officially unveils the GT 50 Pro, the gaming powerhouse serving as the centerpiece of the constantly expanding hardware ecosystem known as the New GT Ecosystem. More than an incremental update, the GT 50 Pro marks a strategic evolution by synchronizing the three core dimensions of Physical Refinement, Thermal Sovereignty and Intelligent Optimization. This approach eliminates the common friction between hardware and real-world performance, helping dedicated gamers showcase their skill by overcoming the inherent limitations of the smartphone form factor.

Showcasing both its physical and visual sophistication, the GT 50 Pro introduces the HydroFlow Liquid Cooling Architecture, a specialized thermal engine carefully designed to solve the persistent pain point of overheating. With powerful heat dissipation and active circulation ensuring stability, the GT 50 Pro forms the definitive gateway to Infinix’s connected New GT Ecosystem and its refined accessories and AIoT peripherals. This comprehensive package delivers a seamless competitive gaming sanctuary – a refuge from distraction where performance and responsiveness lead to victory – for the hardcore gaming community.

‘The GT 50 Pro represents the synergy of Infinix’s next-generation cooling architecture and carefully engineered software,’ shared Weiqi Nie, Infinix Product Director of Infinix. ‘We are proud to drive the transformation of previous-generation mobile device experiences toward a unified, competitive gaming platform in the New GT Ecosystem that moves beyond the typical smartphone and offers enthusiasts a powerfully interactive ecosystem.’

The Three Pillars of GT 50 Pro Dominance

It’s not enough for a modern smartphone to merely be good. To truly stand out from the field, Infinix’s gaming flagship leverages intentional design decisions and a user-forward experience, with its crosshairs on premium gaming performance and real competitive advantage. The GT 50 Pro upgrades players’ skills with multifunctional, high-precision interactivity – that’s where the heart of the New GT Ecosystem pushes boundaries with three integral approaches.

Physical Refinement: Tactile Precision and a Hypercar Aesthetic

The GT 50 Pro redefines mobile ergonomics by merging the first-ever Open-Cut Pressure-Sense GT Trigger with a refined hypercar aesthetic in a combination of tactile control and functional engineering. To bridge the gap between mobile and console-grade control, the GT 50 Pro employs the GT Trigger system: a pair of dual-pressure mechanical triggers with a combination of functionality unlike anything the industry has seen yet. Engineered specifically to support advanced tactics including complex ‘claw grip’ maneuvers, they enable the tactile precision needed in high-stakes play.

The Pressure-Sense GT Trigger’s diverse functionality plays a huge role solidifying the GT 50 Pro as the definitive physical interface of a hardcore gaming sanctuary. At its core, dual-stage pressure-sensing technology allows for light press, heavy press, and sliding inputs that bring intricate in-game actions to players’ fingertips. Complementing this versatility,up to 4 adjustable mapping points per trigger and 10 pressure levels make it easy to personalize control for decreased reaction time. Furthermore, with latency held below 20ms and a rugged construction that withstands over 3 million presses, the device ensures consistent responsiveness throughout its long lifespan. Ultimately, this combination of performance-forward features significantly improves aiming, skill activation, and weapon switching during gameplay of today’s most popular titles.

GT Trigger’s instant convenience isn’t limited to just performing complex combos – it also serves as a sophisticated universal command center. By sliding both buttons inward during gameplay, users can instantly take a screenshot or screen recording, access Select and Search, initiate a memory cleanup, or enter Off-screen Gaming mode. This same dual inward slide motion can also summon the Folax AI assistant, providing instant access to a wealth of knowledge and actions via natural language input. Furthermore, functionality extends even further beyond games, with GT Trigger shortcut support for quick-launching apps, controlling video playback, customizing lighting effects, and more. The versatile control scheme is deeply integrated with many of today’s most-used features: for instance, within the camera app, single-tap and long-press actions can take regular or burst photos or begin video recording, and the lower-right trigger allows for easy sliding zoom. As a complete package, GT Trigger’s expansive feature set has never been approached by any device until the GT 50 Pro.

Inspired by the pursuit of speed and skill, the GT 50 Pro’s design reimagines mobile aesthetics through the lens of hypercar engineering. By embracing this high-speed, high-precision ethos, the device seamlessly integrates advanced ergonomics and instantly recognizable expression with aerodynamic principles into its bold new form. Central to this design is the transparent Pipeline Window Display, which provides a real-time window as liquid coolant flows through the system, emphasizing the power of true heat dissipation. Combined with the visible flowing action, the GT 50 Pro’s clean lines, aerodynamic details, and sophisticated kevlar-inspired finish exude an evolved, competitive aesthetic. Sleeker and more refined than its predecessor, the GT 50 Pro pushes mobile design into the next generation.

Complementing the unique Black Abyss, Red Blaze, and Silver Glacier color schemes is Mechanical Light Waves-a dynamic RGB array designed for a professional esports identity. Four crosshair LED strips accentuate the visible liquid cooling window, creating a high-recognition aesthetic that celebrates raw technical power. With 14 lighting scenarios and 8 customizable colors, this system delivers a futuristic, cohesive visual experience for both gaming and daily use.

Thermal Sovereignty: Next-Generation Cooling Hardware

Hardcore gamers understand a fundamental truth: heat is the enemy of performance. To combat this, the GT 50 Pro introduces a paradigm shift in thermal management. At its core is the industry-first 100% coverage of core heat sources by micro-pump liquid cooling that maintains a direct link between the most thermally intensive components and the liquid cooling network. By thoroughly drawing heat away from the most thermally intensive areas, this system ensures unwavering stability. This also is the industry’s largest micro-pump liquid cooling, boasting a massive 6437mm² diaphragm area for superior heat dissipation and rapid thermal conduction. This expansive surface is connected via precision channels, etched with micron-level laser accuracy to optimize flow. Within this network, specially formulated coolant is circulated at a rate of 6.5ml per minute by a pioneering piezoelectric-driven ceramic heat pump, the first of its kind in the industry. The result: maintains high performance under heavy load and ensures a consistently high frame rate even during extended, high-intensity competitive gaming sessions. And because gamers demand the best and always push for the next level, that’s just the start of the GT 50 Pro performance story.

Building upon this internal foundation,Infinix’s GT Magcharge Cooler 2.0 takes thermal sovereignty to yet another level and makes the New GT Ecosystem greater than the sum of its parts. Exclusively when used with the GT 50 Pro, the multifunctional cooler offers the industry’s first wireless bypass charging, by routing power directly to the computing chipset instead of the battery, it significantly extends battery lifespan while simultaneously lowering device temperatures during peak performance. By avoiding an unnecessary step to convert energy, this heads off excess heat at the source and promotes sustained efficiency and performance without throttling. And as the cooler directly feeds the most resource-intensive components, it also actively refrigerates them. Featuring 12 watts of active thermoelectric refrigeration supported by a dynamic, GT Magcharge Cooler 2.0 unlocks an additional layer of potential for pushing the GT 50 Pro’s powerful hardware to its absolute limit.

Intelligent Optimization: Focused Software and Game-Changing AI Tools

Superior cooling lays the perfect foundation for the GT 50 Pro’s gaming intelligence suite to shine. From Hardcore Esports Mode and Native 144FPS¹ fluidity to the suite of AI² enhancements in XOS 16, every feature is intelligently optimized to deliver a sustained, console-like competitive experience for hardcore gamers.

In addition, Infinix’s ongoing collaboration with global game publishers through the GT Gaming Co-Lab further elevates the entire software ecosystem. This partnership has enabled breakthroughs such as the AI Frame Rescue Engine and Game Thermal Control Engine, which help minimize frame drops and maintain smooth performance even under high frame rates.

Moving beyond surface-level gaming features, Hardcore Esports Mode initiates a deep-level transformation of the GT 50 Pro’s identity. With a single tap, it optimizes the device into a high-performance gaming powerhouse for elite-level play. It applies a complete UI overhaul, bold gaming wallpapers and animations, and automatic blocking of system gestures and notifications to help players focus on high-intensity gaming sessions that demand full attention.

Further elevating the competitive experience is the Native 144FPS¹ technology, a breakthrough that delivers ultra-smooth fluidity in major esports titles. The GT 50 Pro’s Native 144FPS¹ certification promises ultra-smooth performance in six major esports titles, including Call of Duty: Mobile, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Free Fire, and more. The resulting high frame rates and enhanced response time grant diehard gamers a definitive visual advantage in the ever-changing landscape of battle, allowing players to see faster, move faster, and strike with total confidence.

Building from Infinix’s long-standing experience on gaming’s cutting edge, Native 144FPS provides real competitive advantage and doesn’t rely on novel tricks to increase apparent smoothness. With refined, verified high-frame rate output on the hardware level, the GT 50 Pro supports ranked, competitive play including leading official tournaments. Even casual gamers will notice the benefits of smooth, immersive play – as anyone who has transitioned from 60FPS or 90FPS gaming to 144FPS will testify – and the leveled-up responsive puts serious players in a position to succeed in the most heated combat situations.

The GT 50 Pro advances mobile gaming through a deeply integrated intelligent system. At the heart of this is XOS 16 and its suite of AI² features empower players with machine-like consistency and seemingly superhuman dexterity. During critical moments, AI Smart Trigger can automate complex macros in intense scenarios and execute preset actions like auto-reloading or performing combo moves. These AI tools don’t stop at challenging gameplay. It provides a host of AI-supported tools that enhance users’ experience and capabilities from every angle. Real-time vocal strategy cues like shrinking battle zone alerts come courtesy of AI Voice Prompt, while AI ZoneTouch Master dynamically identifies on-screen controls and optimizes touch response for ultra-low latency and pinpoint precision. And when in-game chat heats up, AI Magic Voice Changer protects privacy and boosts team engagement by offering 25 distinct voice tones with customizable fine-tuning. Even Infinix’s Folax 5.0 AI assistant gets in on the game with Instant Trigger Access, opening up a wealth of gaming knowledge – without leaving a session – when players slide inward on both shoulder keys.

Through it all, Infinix equips the GT 50 Pro with the longevity needed for continued excellence. A promise of 3 years of OS version updates and 5 years of security patches keeps performance, compatibility, and features on the cutting edge, and digital safety at the forefront.

A Foundation of Uncompromised Power and Sensory Immersion

Nothing puts mobile hardware to the test like fast-paced gaming, and Infinix’s new powerhouse offers sustained high performance befitting a flagship at every turn. At its core is the MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Ultimate, built on an advanced 4nm all-big-core architecture. It debuts the MediaTek Frame Rate Converter (MFRC), a cutting-edge GPU frame interpolation technology that delivers significantly smoother gameplay without compromising visual fidelity. Running at up to 3.25GHz, the chipset achieves an AnTuTu score of over 2,224,634³, marking a 26.45%³ increase over the GT 30 Pro, ensuring powerful and consistent performance across the most demanding games and applications.

To sustain the demands of elite-level gaming, the GT 50 Pro is anchored by a high-density battery up to 6500mAh4 that ensures uninterrupted performance. This massive energy reservoir is supported by a versatile dual-charging suite, featuring 45W wired and 30W wireless charging capabilities to power the device directly and avoid excess battery degradation. To keep smaller accessories like earbuds ready for action, wired reverse charging provides up to 10W of power.

Staying competitive in lobbies full of experienced players also demands uncompromising connectivity, as even a few milliseconds of latency can dictate the outcome of a match. To address this, the GT 50 Pro’s in-house-developed N1 network management chip ensures a 60%³ stronger signal for low ping times and lag-free operation.

Going Beyond Gaming with an Immersive Multimedia Experience

To maintain a competitive sanctuary during extended sessions, visual comfort and acoustic depth reign supreme. Outside of gaming, AI imaging brings exquisite clarity to the real world with the tap of a shutter button. With its latest release, Infinix has engineered a comprehensive collection of multimedia technologies designed to satisfy a huge range of uses.

Bright, Bold, Ultra-Clear Display Technology

True immersion is achieved when elite performance meets advanced display technology. The GT 50 Pro’s 1.5K ultra-clear display produces flagship-grade visuals across a formidable area, measuring 6.78 inches for wide, crisp views of every battle royale map and movie scene. To maintain total visibility and bold colors in any environment, the GT 50 Pro boasts an impressive 4500-nit peak brightness and 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut.

Elite-level competition often demands extended sessions that stretch deep into the night, the GT 50 Pro is engineered to prioritize long-term visual comfort. Even during long sessions in challenging lighting conditions, the GT 50 Pro remains easy on the eyes thanks to 2304Hz PWM dimming, with TÜV Rheinland low blue light certification promising minimal strain. And if you’re gaming on the go or just especially locked into a film, Motion Sickness Relief Display detects and compensates for real-world motion, encouraging comfort and focus in otherwise distracting scenarios.

To ensure a display free from scratches and structural damage, the GT 50 Pro features a premium layer of Corning® Gorilla® Glass 7i, protecting the bright, high-contrast screen from the bumps and bruises of everyday life. Underneath it, the display panel offers five flexible refresh rates from 30Hz to 144Hz5, balancing smooth visuals and battery efficiency. This gives apps and games the headroom to render at high frame rates, and conserves power when everyday usage doesn’t call for all-out performance.

All-Scene, Directional Dolby Atmos Audio

As game sound design, movie tracking, and music composition continue to advance, basic stereo sound doesn’t always cut it. Expanding the GT 50 Pro’s multi-sensory capability is support for Dolby Atmos immersive audio, a powerful, object-based 3D sound processing feature that puts listeners in the middle of the action. Whether using headphones or the powerful onboard speakers, Dolby Atmos enables realistic sound effects with tangible directional origins in supported titles like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile. It’s a stepping stone to the kind of smart competitive advantage hardcore gamers demand of a flagship platform. The GT 50 Pro incorporates this refined dimensional audio technology via selectable Smart, Movie, Gaming6, and Music modes that tailor output to perfectly complement engaging media of all types.

Streamlined AI RAW Photography

In an era defined by instant visual storytelling, the GT 50 Pro delivers a high-performance imaging suite engineered to capture the world with fidelity. The GT 50 Pro imaging suite begins with a 50MP main sensor featuring OIS and EIS for rock-solid stability and blur-free everyday photos. Its 8MP ultra-wide lens is perfect for expansive landscapes, and crystal-clear streaming and selfies come easy thanks to a 13MP front camera.

Beneath it all, Infinix’s AI RAW algorithm makes it simple to snap great photos. The refined signal processing technology delivers true-to-life color accuracy and professional-grade clarity, making every shot worth taking and every memory worth saving. Infinix’s AI Studio and Live Photo mode help take memorable scenes to the next level, streamlining the touch-up process and capturing the subtle movements and candid moments that can make mobile photography so magical.

The New GT Ecosystem: Infinix’s Expanding Gaming Universe

The New GT Ecosystem

Streamlined cross-device interaction helps gamers get the most out of any content – imagine the GT 50 Pro as a star, the New GT Ecosystem as the planets orbiting it. Infinix’s upcoming accessories share more with its gaming flagship smartphone than just striking design. They actively enhance gameplay and make it easier to stay more immersed for longer.

The GTBUDS 5 leverage Dolby Atmos to enable the spatial awareness needed for responsive, aware gameplay where an opponent’s footsteps give away their close cover. Furthermore, sub-50ms latency, a 360° panoramic soundstage, and 50dB hybrid active noise cancellation enhance the GT 50 Pro gaming sanctuary with realistic audio while helping maintain focus during tough fights. To get the absolute most out of every game, the GTWATCH 5 Pro serves as a convenient secondary screen, preventing unexpected notifications from interrupting gameplay. Beyond the screen, it features an advanced independent GNSS positioning chip with professional-grade sports algorithms. By integrating AI-driven health and fitness analytics, automatic workout detection, and bluetooth heart-rate broadcasting, it bridges the gap between peak physical condition and elite gaming performance. And stay tuned for the groundbreaking GT Game Controller, which significantly improves ergonomics and works in tandem with the phone’s internal vibration motor to provide more detailed and powerful haptic feedback.

Infinix GT 50 Pro Unboxing

Pricing and Availability

The Infinix GT 50 Pro is available in Nigeria on Jumia in Black Abyss, Red Blaze, and Silver Glacier. Users can choose between 256GB and 512GB storage configurations, with every model receiving 12GB of RAM plus up to 12GB of toggleable RAM expansion.

Media Contacts

Infinix Global PR – [email protected]

About Infinix

Established in 2013, Infinix is an innovation-driven brand dedicated to delivering cutting-edge technology, bold design, and outstanding performance. The brand provides smart, enjoyable mobile experiences that enhance everyday life. Beyond smartphones, Infinix has expanded its portfolio to include TWS earbuds, smartwatches, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, and more – building a comprehensive ecosystem of smart devices. Currently, Infinix products are available in over 70 countries and regions worldwide, including Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

The Premier League returns this weekend with 10 fixtures across Saturday, Sunday and Monday, headlined by the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

Fixtures

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest

Bournemouth vs Brentford

Chelsea vs Hull City

Crystal Palace vs Ipswich Town

Liverpool vs Fulham

Tottenham vs Everton

Sunderland vs Arsenal

Coventry City vs Brighton

Manchester United vs Manchester City

Leeds United vs Newcastle United

Manchester City have won their opening three league games under new manager Enzo Maresca, while Manchester United have collected four points from their first three matches.

Arsenal and Liverpool will also be expected to strengthen their positions near the top of the table, while Chelsea face a Hull City side that have made an impressive return to the Premier League.

Here are our predictions for Matchweek 4.

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest

Aston Villa finally recorded their first win of the season with a 3-2 Champions League victory at Club Brugge and will hope to carry that momentum into the league.

Nottingham Forest have also struggled for consistency, making this a difficult game to call.

Villa’s home advantage could prove decisive, but Forest are capable of causing problems on the counter.

I impulsively decided on Morocco as my destination for getting away from the chaos that we are routinely used to in Nigeria. I became blessed by being able to ‘act out of the box’. I had a few days that were blissful in the Kingdom of Morocco.

Getting the visa was with so much ease, very far from the sometimes-difficult treatment Nigerians encounter venturing into Europe and America. I applied online and it was in four days granted via email. The flight out of Abuja that Sunday morning was a breeze, and arrival and processing through immigration at Casablanca were casual. No fuss at all.

On landing at Agadir, getting a taxi out was devoid of any bustle. No altercations with drivers. Quite remarkable was the low level of noise. I heard virtually no vehicular horning or hooting throughout my stay. The quietness of the streets was palpable. Comparing Agadir with Lagos or Abuja in this respect may be like comparing light and darkness. Of what use and value is our over-use of car horns on the road? How do we get by with substantially reducing the use of car horns in our lives?

So, I was at Agadir. I had nothing in mind but to just roam around with no particular agenda. No purpose beyond just putting Nigeria and her wahala out of my mind for a few days, as I sought fresh air. The hotel room was basic. It was on budget. For 8 days it cost $343. This cost included breakfast, plus either lunch or dinner. Two meals per day, it was. The buffet offerings all through provided considerable latitude to just eat and eat. Restaurant closing times were not enforced. One can just continue eating past the stipulated time.

In variety and unlimited offering, the food was on a daily basis superlative. I observed and experienced that fruits and vegetables were plentiful on the menu. How come this situation in a country that is partly arid and faces serious water scarcity? It was beyond belief. I had the latitude to eat so much fruits and vegetables this past week, probably more than I have eaten so far this year. Morocco is not simply a desert country; it has important agricultural regions and has invested considerably in irrigation and water infrastructure despite its severe water constraints. It is a very big contrast to our Nigerian situation with food and agricultural production, despite the 12 River Basins that lie effectively dormant.

One must situate this with the media report of Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s recent family experience concerning the consumption of fruit juice allegedly contaminated along the production chain. We are definitely stuck substantially at the subsistence level of agriculture, which will never be fit for purpose. This is despite all the superlative parameters of natural endowment with which we are bestowed. Compared with Morocco, much of our suffering is indeed self-inflicted. Something has to wake us up from our state of pretentious sleep.

At least in Agadir, many commercial and residential buildings were about four floors, with parking provision at ground level. There were relatively few bungalows in the areas I visited. The city therefore appeared to be laid out compactly, conserving land and reducing the spread of infrastructure corridors and lines. Agadir is particularly well planned, having been substantially rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1960, so this feature should not necessarily be taken as uniform throughout Morocco.

It was also less common in the areas I visited to see the sort of haphazard proliferation of roadside shops and kiosks that we exhibit in Nigeria. Shops do exist within mixed residential and commercial buildings in Morocco, but commercial activity appeared more organised. Particularly striking was the sprawling Souk El Had market, with numerous entry gates and thousands of shops at which almost everything is bought and sold. This reminded me of the concept of GBAGI MARKET, Ibadan, as conceived under the Bola Ige administration after the Ogunpa floods of 1980, which was subsequently allowed to deteriorate in Nigeria.

Quite remarkable is the jewel of Royal Air Maroc Airline. I counted 34 planes on the ground at Casablanca Airport. That was simply my observation at the time, but Royal Air Maroc officially reports that it has 69 aircraft in its fleet. So much for the hired Kenya Airways plane that was branded in Nigerian colours under Hadi Sirika, the erstwhile Minister of Aviation. Is Hadi in jail or what?

It was a breath of fresh air to have a taste of a society that appears to place considerable value on orderliness and public organisation. Morocco is even good in football. The experience suggests the benefits of sustained planning, investment and continuity in governance. Morocco certainly has its own social and economic challenges, but there are useful lessons for Nigeria in what I observed.

Nigerian Tribune’s Northern Bureau Chief, MUHAMMAD SABIU, engages the spokesperson of the Middle Belt Forum, Luka Binniyat, on security in the North, the coming elections, and why the forum is backing the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), over his statement on Nasir El-Rufai. He also said it is the turn of the Middle Belt to produce the president in 2031.

For someone who is reading you for the first time, can you please introduce yourself?

Yes. My name is Luka Binniyat. I am from Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Southern Kaduna, and I am the National Spokesman of the Middle Belt Forum. I am also the Joint Spokesman of the Southern and Middle Belt Leadership Forum.

You are from Kaduna, not from the North Central, yet you speak for the Middle Belt Forum. How did that come to be?

Let me try to define what the Middle Belt is so that Nigerians will not confuse the Middle Belt with the six states that make up the North-Central geopolitical zone. The Middle Belt is made up of all the ethnic nationalities, over 300 of them, that are not Hausa, Fulani, or Kanuri. It doesn’t matter whether they are Muslims or Christians. So, if you are from the 19 Northern states plus Abuja, and you are not Hausa, you are not Kanuri, or you are not Fulani, it invariably means that you fall under what we call the Middle Belt.

So, the Middle Belt Forum is the socio-political body that represents the interests of all these ethnic groups. The Middle Belt Forum was formed in 1954 because we were clamouring to be out of the arrangement of the defunct Northern Protectorate. We felt that the core North and we do not share the same values, do not share the same history, and do not share the same identity.

The feudal system that the colonialists arranged, which put us under their subjugation, was unacceptable to our founding fathers. So, the Middle Belt Forum was formed around that time in 1954.

On whether I came on board – since the present EXCO came on board: Yes. I was actually elected as the Kaduna State Chapter Chairman of the Middle Belt Forum in July 2024. The National Headquarters felt that I was very vibrant and that they didn’t have a spokesman who was getting visibility, so they brought me to join them as the National Spokesman of the forum.

What I can categorically say has been an achievement is that we have been able to bring to the conscience of Nigerians that the North is not actually monolithic, that the North actually has other ethnic nationalities that do not belong to the Arewa North, and that the Middle Belt itself cannot be limited to the North-Central geopolitical zone.

We try to enlighten people that the Middle Belt includes Southern Kebbi, Southern Kaduna – I’m the National Spokesman of the Middle Belt Forum and I’m from Southern Kaduna. The President of the Middle Belt Forum himself, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, is from Southern Borno; he is from Chibok, Chibok Local Government. So, the Middle Belt is bigger than the six states that make up the North-Central geopolitical zone. We are in Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, even parts of Southern Yobe, Southern Bauchi, and the core six states of the North-Central – which includes, of course, Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Niger, and the rest – are all part of the Middle Belt.

So, we have tried to sensitise Nigerians that the real majority in the North are not even the Hausa-Fulani and Kanuri. No, there are so-called minorities – the people that have been branded as minorities, which is an abnormality. Because when it comes to the number of human beings, that is population, and land size, the 19 Northern states plus Abuja is about 732,000 square kilometres, and the Middle Belt region has over 500,000 square kilometres of that land.

We believe that in a free and fair census exercise, there is no way you will tell us that these people who cover this area are a minority. When you aggregate our numbers, we are actually a majority. I agree that if you separate us as individuals, we are all minorities, but if you put the people of the Middle Belt together, we are actually the majority in Northern Nigeria.

That is what we have been able to bring to the conscience of the people. Then, the Middle Belt Forum has also tried to intervene in some intra-ethnic clashes – in Taraba between the Tivs and the Jukuns, in Adamawa between the Jukuns and another tribe. We have tried to see how they can cease fire.

We have also tried to expose the oppression and the killings that have been affecting our people under this very bizarre state of insecurity, both by Boko Haram and by the so-called Fulani bandits. We have raised our voices very loudly.

Then, we have also been able to speak as one voice and vote as a bloc in the 2023 presidential election. That actually showed the Middle Belt went for Peter Obi, and we believe that the results were manipulated against him. So, the Middle Belt is coming out under this EXCO as a formidable bloc, and we are going to take a position very soon on the direction to go in the presidential election of 2027.

All right. The Middle Belt Forum recently seems to be backing the Minister of Defence, retired General Christopher Musa, over his recent allegations against the former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai. Don’t you think that as a Federal Minister, he shouldn’t have made such a remark or statement?

In fact, we expected him to say even more than that, because what El-Rufai is being charged with now is a very small allegation compared to the weighty things that he did against humanity. So, we were even disappointed that the Minister could not say much more than he said about El-Rufai.

So, we stand by him, and we believe that if it was another party that had won the presidential election and the gubernatorial election in Kaduna State, El-Rufai would have since been brought to justice and charged for crimes against humanity.

So, what Christopher said is true. And Christopher was talking about ‘my people’-when he said ‘my people’, he was not talking particularly about the people of Southern Kaduna; he was talking about every resident of Kaduna State, because that is his state of origin. So, I know that he is not flippant; he is not a man that will just come out and say things that he cannot substantiate.

We are very excited that if El-Rufai’s family eventually goes to court, there will be a plethora of witnesses to affirm what the Minister has said. Being part of the government, I believe he also has a lot of evidence that he can bring to defend himself.

Okay, looking at the scenario as it is now in the southern part of the state, can we say that the people of Southern Kaduna are happy?

Yes. As an indigene of Kaduna State and a son of Southern Kaduna, I want to say with all sense of responsibility that the killings in Southern Kaduna have drastically reduced. What has not stopped is kidnapping, but the invasion of communities and the burning down of houses have drastically reduced, almost by 90%.

And then, the Governor himself is very restrained in his utterances – his utterances are those that bring unity, his actions are those that bring unity. He seems to have been able to assure the people of Southern Kaduna that he is a team player. He still has a lot of shortcomings that he can work on, but the violence has drastically reduced. What we are still insisting on is that the kidnapping that is still ongoing should be stopped, and those that are in the custody of the bandits should be rescued. But it is far, far better than when El-Rufai was in power.

All right, then. I want to ask you about the relationship with other blocs, like the Arewa Consultative Forum, Afenifere, and others. What is your relationship with them? Because, you see, ordinarily, I don’t think you can exist as an island. So, do you have any collaboration or any agreement with these other blocs – your forum, the Middle Belt Forum?

Yes, yes. In 2023, Afenifere, PANDEF, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Middle Belt Forum took a unilateral decision that the presidency of Nigeria should be rotated to the South from 2023 to 2027. We stood by our position, and as the voting went, it affirmed that a Southerner was finally chosen. We are still maintaining that the presidency should still be retained in the South in 2027. We are still standing by that position up till now.

Now, the understanding that we have with these groups is that having supported them to produce a president for those eight years, if the presidency is eventually rotated to the North in 2031, it is a Middle Belt person that will become the presidential candidate of all the political parties.

We have started another round of talks, and we are mobilising credible candidates from the Middle Belt. It doesn’t matter whether he is a Muslim or a Christian – he could be a Nupe man, he could be an Alago man, he could be an Eggon person – we don’t care whether he is a Muslim or a Christian. But the presidency in 2031 must be returned to the Middle Belt, because we have never had an elected president, apart from Gowon who came to power through a coup. We have not produced an elected president, and given the statistics that I have given you about our size and our population, we think it is just fair and appropriate that a Middle Belter should take the presidency in 2031. That’s the agreement that we have with these other groups, and that’s the relationship that is keeping us together as a group of vulnerable people.

All right. Finally, what is it that I did not ask you? What do you want to say that I did not ask? I have given you this for free. What do you want to comment on?

Well, as a final word, I want to say that our biggest worry now consists of two things: the state of insecurity in Nigeria is becoming very worrisome. We want the Federal Government to tackle it head-on, and there is a small solution: we say the government should facilitate and supervise communities to be able to defend themselves by giving them light weapons that are approved by law.

If every community, for example, is able to have four AK-47s – every community – we believe that we are going to take care of this insecurity once and for all, and it can be done in a supervised manner. Or you give us these shotguns that use cartridges, plenty of them, we will be able to take care of these wicked people.

So, that is our worry now. We have hundreds, if not thousands, of people that are still in the captivity of both Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorist groups and the so-called bandits. So, we are very unhappy that our communities are subjected to this condition – not only our communities, even in the Southeast, there are still pockets of violence there, armed groups that have become lawless, you know…

I didn’t get a chance to write a retrospective evaluation of Professor Is-haq Oloyede’s tenure as JAMB registrar when most people did after his departure in July because the time of his exit competed with more pressing national discourses that invited my intervention. But I have always been haunted by a gnawing guilt that I haven’t shared my own assessment of a man who, though fallible like the rest of us, transformed a consequential educational institution in remarkable ways.

I have met Professor Oloyede only once in my life, and it was at the Ilorin airport in 2023 when I visited Nigeria for the first time in seven years for the formal presentation of a book that I co-wrote with colleagues Prof. Moses Ochonu and Dr Osmund Agbo.

While waiting for my delayed Lagos flight, I saw someone who looked distinctly like him. Because I had heard several great things about him from mutual friends, I summoned the courage to go and say hello to him. I was shocked that he knew me. I found him to be a warm, lively, friendly, intellectually alert yet generous and humble person.

People who knew closely had told me he embodied several curious contraries. He is a profoundly intelligent and innovative person who is nonetheless self-effacing to the point of giving you permission to underestimate him.

And although he had a First Class degree in Arabic and is deeply religious, I was told, he is wary of people who flaunt public displays of religiosity, who pepper their conversations with performative Arabic phrases that they barely understand. He himself keeps it plain and simple when he relates with Muslims outside religious contexts.

In my short interaction with him at the Ilorin airport, I instinctively activated my Arabic vocabularies to punctuate my conversations, knowing that I was speaking with a professor of Arabic and Islamic studies. He didn’t requite my performative zealousness with superior Arabic phraseology, like many people with his Arabic erudition and deep Muslim faith would do. He spoke plain English. Then I recalled what I had heard about his indifference to or even suspicion of such behaviour. I quickly adjusted.

That’s why I think the most unfair charge often hurled at him by his detractors is the charge that because of the depth of his Islamic faith and his scholarly investments in Arabic and Islamic studies, he is a Muslim bigot. It isn’t only that he self-consciously chooses not to mix the profane and the divine in everyday contexts even when he relates with fellow Muslims, he takes it as an article of faith to be scrupulously fair to Christians and other people who don’t share his faith.

There are probably people who will attribute disadvantages they suffered from him to their faith. I don’t know. Being humans, all kinds of things are possible, but people who know him intimately and whose judgment I trust, both in and out of JAMB, tell of a man who is animated by and concerned with justice and fair treatment for all irrespective of faith or other primordial variables, whose passion for making a difference is consuming.

This is the background behind his success at JAMB. When Oloyede assumed leadership of JAMB in 2016, he inherited an organisation in which astonishing large amounts of money routinely disappeared into bureaucratic sinkholes. In his first full year, JAMB remitted N7.8 billion to the federal government. The government had expected a remittance of about N500 million. The ICPC later publicly commended the anti-corruption reforms that produced this result.

I initially had a slightly different reaction to JAMB’s newfound capacity to generate billions of naira. I thought there was something morally perverse about an examination body boasting of revenue generated largely from poor young people seeking admission into universities.

In a July 13, 2021, article titled ‘Why Must Students Take UTME Every Year?’ I argued that compelling students to retake UTME every year was ‘needlessly exploitative’. A student who scores well and fails to secure admission for reasons unrelated to academic competence should, I argued, be able to use the score for at least two years and ideally for up to five years, as is possible with the SAT in the United States. I still stand by that argument.

In fact, the enormous surpluses JAMB began to remit under Oloyede helped make the case that the examination fee itself was too high. The federal government eventually reduced the basic application fee from N5,000 to N3,500 in 2019. Then Education Minister Adamu Adamu explicitly cited the extraordinary rise in JAMB’s remittances as evidence that the agency could charge candidates less and still cover its expenses. Oloyede himself later said a suggestion from the Nigerian Guild of Editors prompted him to formally recommend the reduction.

With time, however, I came to see another dimension to the revenue story. The billions JAMB suddenly started remitting were also an index of the stupendous scale of the leakages that had existed before Oloyede arrived.

The infamous story of the JAMB official in Benue who claimed that a snake had swallowed N36 million illustrates this perfectly. Many Nigerians remember the story as evidence of JAMB’s corruption. The actual story points in the opposite direction. The money disappeared years before Oloyede became registrar. It came to light because he ordered an unusually thorough audit of JAMB’s finances after assuming office. The audit exposed old thefts, led to recoveries and triggered prosecutions. I made this point in my 2023 column on the controversy over Mmesoma Ejikeme’s forged JAMB result.

By the time Oloyede left office, JAMB said it had remitted more than N50 billion in operating surpluses over his decade in office. Before his appointment, the comparable remittances were almost risibly insignificant. Whatever disagreements one may have with specific JAMB policies, the financial transformation is difficult to explain away.

And financial probity was only one part of the story. Oloyede abolished the scratch-card system that had nourished fraud and profiteering and replaced it with electronic PIN vending. His JAMB introduced the Central Admissions Processing System, or CAPS, which made admissions more transparent and gave candidates the ability to track, accept or reject admission offers electronically. CAPS also made it harder for tertiary institutions to conduct admissions completely outside JAMB’s view.

His administration strengthened biometric verification, tightened the accreditation and monitoring of CBT centres and created the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group to make the UTME more accessible to blind candidates and other people with disabilities. These were tangible institutional innovations with consequences for ordinary people.

This is where Oloyede’s record reinforces a point I have repeatedly made about Nigerian institutions. In a March 30, 2019, column titled ‘INEC as Greatest Danger to Nigeria’s Democracy’, I observed that the weakness of our institutional structures causes government agencies to take on the character and temperaments of the people who head them. Dora Akunyili stamped her energetic vigilance on NAFDAC. Yemi Kale’s analytical rigour gave the National Bureau of Statistics unusual credibility. Attahiru Jega’s personal reputation for integrity rubbed off on INEC.

Oloyede’s JAMB belongs in that tradition. His personal frugality, intolerance of financial opacity, obsessive attention to processes and concern with institutional reputation became attributes people increasingly associated with JAMB itself.

That is simultaneously reassuring and troubling. It is reassuring because it shows what a conscientious leader can do even within the severe constraints of the Nigerian public service. It is troubling because institutions should eventually acquire virtues that survive the people who temporarily lead them. A system whose integrity depends entirely on the moral fiber of one individual remains dangerously vulnerable to regression.

Oloyede’s tenure certainly had its failures. The gravest was the catastrophic 2025 UTME error that compromised the results of 379,997 candidates in 157 centres in Lagos and the Southeast. The scale of the error was horrendous.

I wrote at the time that the disaster deserved outrage while also pointing out that comparable technology failures had disrupted standardised examinations in the United States, Britain and India. JAMB investigated the complaints, acknowledged its error, apologised and organized a resit for the affected candidates. Oloyede accepted responsibility publicly.

We later learned that his first instinct when the scale of the failure became clear was to resign. People around him persuaded him that leaving in the middle of the crisis would amount to abandoning the students whose results had been compromised. He stayed to supervise the remedial process.

For me, that episode revealed as much about him as his successes did. Anyone can bask in the reflected glory of institutional success. Character becomes more legible in moments of humiliating failure. Oloyede did what Nigerian public officials almost never do: he admitted that his institution had grievously failed, apologised without hiding behind a committee and took personal responsibility for an error he did not personally cause.

Professor Segun Aina, a professor of computer engineering and systems expert, succeeded Oloyede on July 31. Aina has said that protecting JAMB’s integrity will be a central priority of his tenure. That is a promising starting point.

My hope is that he will build on Oloyede’s achievements, correct the flaws that became apparent during his tenure and institutionalise the habits of transparency and accountability so deeply that they cease to depend on who occupies the registrar’s office.

No, you are not in any danger and there’s no need to panic. It is said that dense breast tissue-roughly half of women over the age of 40 have it-can make it more difficult to detect cancer on a mammogram. Women with extremely dense breasts are at increased risk for breast cancer, though scientists are not sure why.

If your doctor says you have dense breasts (it’s not something you’ll be able to feel yourself), he or she may recommend additional imaging with an ultrasound or MRI at your routine breast cancer screenings.

And remember: Dense breast tissue is just one breast cancer risk factor on a list of several. Age, family history, physical inactivity and alcohol use play a role in the risk as well. Knowing all your risk factors ‘is a really important step forward for patients to be proactive’ in their breast health care.