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In a bold move to reduce unemployment and promote decent work across the nation, the Federal Government has unveiled the National Job Centre Projecta network of employability hubs designed to connect skilled Nigerians to real job opportunities.

The initiative, announced by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, at the Mastercard Foundation Annual Nigeria Partner Convening in Lagos, forms a key part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to Onyejeocha, the project aims to modernize Nigeria’s labour market infrastructure by integrating digital job matching, career guidance, and data-driven workforce planning.

‘The National Job Centres will serve as a bridge between talent and opportunity,’ the Minister explained.

‘They are designed to empower our youth to contribute meaningfully to local industries while competing confidently on the global stage.’

Alongside the launch, Onyejeocha introduced the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP) a flagship scheme to boost youth employability and close the gap between training and actual employment.

‘Our vision goes beyond job creation,’ she said.

‘We’re building systems that uphold workers’ rights, ensure fair wages, and strengthen labour governance.’

The Minister praised the Mastercard Foundation for its continuous partnership through the Young Africa Works initiative, which has already helped thousands of Nigerians gain employment, entrepreneurial support, and technical skills.

She emphasized that the Foundation’s commitment aligns perfectly with the government’s strategy to turn skills into sustainable livelihoods.

‘Building an inclusive and sustainable work ecosystem requires collaboration,’ Onyejeocha noted.

‘We invite the private sector, civil society, and development partners to join us in driving job access and boosting economic outcomes across Nigeria.’

Reaffirming the government’s dedication to the Renewed Hope vision, Onyejeocha assured that the Ministry of Labour and Employment will continue to pursue policies that encourage job creation, social inclusion, and economic stability.

‘Together, we can build a future where work is dignified, inclusive, and transformative,’ she concluded.

Chelsea produced a masterclass of dominance and precision as they brushed aside Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the City Ground on Saturday.

Despite a tense first half, the Blues’ second-half brilliance, spearheaded by Pedro Neto and Reece James, left the home fans in stunned silence.

The encounter began at a lively tempo, with Nottingham Forest showing early intent through Taiwo Awoniyi, who missed a golden opportunity within the first minute.

Chelsea gradually settled into rhythm, maintaining 61 per cent possession and dictating play with patient build-up through Romeo Lavia and Joao Pedro.

However, despite their dominance, the first half ended goalless after Andrey Santos and Reece James came close to breaking the deadlock.

Enzo Maresca’s tactical reshuffle at half-time proved decisive. He introduced Marc Guiu, Moises Caicedo, and Jamie Gittens to inject fresh energy into Chelsea’s attack.

The breakthrough arrived in the 49th minute when teenage defender Josh Acheampong rose magnificently to head home Pedro Neto’s curling cross, putting Chelsea 1-0 up.

Just three minutes later, Neto turned scorer, slotting a precise finish beyond Matz Sels after being teed up by Reece James on the edge of the box to double Chelsea’s advantage.

The visitors tightened their grip on the match, frustrating Forest’s attempts to recover through aggressive pressing and quick transitions.

Nottingham Forest, led by Ange Postecoglou, struggled to convert their rare chances. Igor Jesus struck the crossbar from close range, and Neco Williams squandered a clear opportunity inside the box.

Their woes deepened in the 80th minute when Ibrahim Sangare received a booking for a reckless challenge as frustration grew among the home supporters.

Chelsea’s dominance culminated in the 84th minute when captain Reece James pounced on a rebound to lash home the third goal, sealing an emphatic away victory.

Despite a late red card for Malo Gusto following a second booking, the London side remained untroubled as Robert Sánchez marshalled his defence with calm assurance.

FIFA has changed its earlier position and now says U.S. President Donald Trump can influence where World Cup games are held.

This comes after Trump again said he might move matches away from some American cities.

FIFA had earlier said Trump had no authority to make such changes. But on Tuesday, the football body released a new statement after Trump said he could move games from Boston if he felt conditions were unsafe.

‘If someone is doing a bad job or the area is unsafe, I’d call Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president, and tell him to move the game. He’d do it,’ Trump said.

FIFA responded by saying safety and security are top priorities and that governments are responsible for protecting people.

‘We trust governments to decide what is best for public safety,’ FIFA’s statement read. ‘We hope all host cities will be ready to meet our requirements.’

The U.S. will host most of the 2026 World Cup matches in 11 cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle, and San Francisco Bay Area. Mexico and Canada will also host games in Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey, Toronto, and Vancouver.

Last month, Trump said he might block cities like Seattle and San Francisco from hosting matches if he thought they were unsafe. ‘If any city is dangerous, we won’t allow it to host the World Cup or Olympics,’ he said.

Earlier, FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani dismissed Trump’s claim, saying, ‘It’s FIFA’s tournament, and we make the decisions. Football is bigger than any government or leader.’

However, FIFA now appears to be siding with Trump. Recently, Infantino was invited to Trump’s Gaza peace talks and promised to help rebuild football facilities there.

FIFA also opened a new office in Trump Tower, and Trump has displayed the Club World Cup trophy in the Oval Office several times.

Host city agreements, such as Seattle’s, include clauses allowing FIFA to remove hosting rights if cities fail to meet safety and transport requirements. Similar conditions likely exist in other cities’ agreements.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, has said the economic reforms being implemented by President Bola Tinubu’s administration were placing the country on the path to stability, inclusiveness, and innovation-driven growth.

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The CBN Governor said this on Friday in Washington DC at the end of the Annual Meetings of the IMF/World Bank.

Cardoso added that the Nigeria’s active participation in the week-long sessions demonstrated the country’s renewed credibility, fiscal discipline, and reform momentum on the global stage.

He said that the Nigerian delegation’s message of policy consistency and macroeconomic reform had been well received by global investors, development partners, and financial institutions.

‘This has been an active and forward-looking week for Nigeria.

‘Amidst global uncertainty marked by slowing growth and volatile markets, our engagements here reaffirmed that Nigeria is moving in the right direction, towards macroeconomic stability, fiscal discipline, and inclusive growth,’ he said.

The CBN governor said that the engagements reflected a new tone of confidence and constructive partnership.

He said that there was a broad recognition that Nigeria’s reforms were delivering results, adding that Inflation was moderating.

‘The exchange rate stabilized, and investor confidence is returning,’ he said.

He said that headline inflation fell for the sixth consecutive month in September to 18.02 per cent from 20.12 per cent in August, the lowest in three years.

According to him, core and food inflation also eased during the same period, reflecting the combined effects of disciplined monetary tightening, exchange rate unification, and improved market transparency.

He said that Nigeria’s foreign reserves now exceeded 43bn dollars, providing for 11 months of import cover.

‘The naira has continued to strengthen with the gap between official and parallel market exchange rates narrowing to less than two per cent.

‘These outcomes have been supported by sustained capital inflows, increased diaspora remittances and renewed investor participation across multiple asset classes,” he said.

The Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr. Mike Okonkwo, has finally spoken following the passing of renowned evangelist, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, describing him as ‘a spiritual giant’ whose life left an indelible mark on generations.

Posting on his official Facebook page late Friday, Okonkwo wrote with deep emotion:

‘In local parlance, an Iroko has fallen. It feels just like the other day we were together celebrating God’s faithfulness at your 80th birthday. Since receiving the news of your passing into glory, it has been difficult to come to terms with. Yet we are comforted by the truth that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.’

He continued:

‘Your impact on the lives of multitudes can never be overstated. Countless lives and testimonies bear witness to the fruitfulness of your ministry. You served the Lord wholeheartedly till your last breath, and I believe you’ve now heard those precious words: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Okonkwo, one of Nigeria’s most respected Pentecostal leaders, said the late evangelist’s passing marked the transition of ‘a spiritual general’ whose ministry transformed lives across nations.

His message comes days after the Uma Ukpai family officially confirmed the evangelist’s passing at the age of 80, describing him as ‘a faithful soldier of the Cross’ who devoted over six decades to preaching, teaching, and humanitarian service.

They said funeral arrangements would be announced later and expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love from Nigerians and the global Christian community.

Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, founder of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, was widely regarded as one of the most enduring voices of the Pentecostal revival in Africa.

President Bola Tinubu returns to Abuja on Saturday after participating in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government-level meeting in Rome, Italy.

The Aqaba Process is a counter-terrorism initiative launched by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015. It is co-chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Government of Italy.

The Rome edition focused on strengthening regional and international collaboration in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, with particular attention to West Africa.

The high-level meeting was held on Wednesday, October 15, at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome. Many heads of State and Government attended, including King Abdullah II of Jordan, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the Presidents of Nigeria, Chad, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

Azouz Nasri, President of Algeria’s Upper House, delegations from Côte d’Ivoire, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Senegal, and Uzbekistan, special envoys, and security experts were also in attendance.

The meeting was held behind closed doors.

On the sidelines of the event, President Tinubu held bilateral meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Senior Adviser on Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos.

President Tinubu also met with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to discuss religious harmony in Nigeria. The meeting addressed the widespread disinformation campaigns that falsely portray the country as intolerant of religious diversity.

Since its establishment in 2015, the Aqaba Process has convened 33 meetings at various levels, from Heads of State summits to technical expert sessions. It is built on three core pillars: prevention, coordination, and closing operational gaps in counterterrorism efforts.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has called on its personnel not to involve themselves in political activities while discharging their professional responsibilities.

AVM Usman Abdullahi, Air Officer Commanding, Special Operations Command, Bauchi, made the call on Saturday during the 2025 annual 10-kilometer walk and jog exercise organised by the NAF.

He also called on the personnel not to involve themselves in any activity that was inimical to the calling of the military profession.

‘You must remain apolitical. Don’t involve yourselves in any political activities and do not involve yourselves in activity that is inimical to the calling of our military profession.

‘I urge you to remain loyal to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the President and the Commander in-Chief,’ he said.

Abdullahi, who emphasised that the NAF payed serious attention to physical fitness for all its personnel, said that the exercise was to increase their cohesion, keep their mental fitness, as well as for them to be on the alert at all times.

He commended the Bauchi State Government for its cooperation and synergy, as well as the creation of an enabling environment.

Also speaking, shortly after the 10-kilometre walk and jog, Gov. Baba Mohammed, said the participants’ outstanding performances were the result of discipline, consistency and determination to succeed.

These qualities, he said, were central not only to physical fitness but also to succeed in every area of life.

Mohammed added that they had demonstrated team work, endurance and commitment to the values that made the Nigerian Air Force a model institution.

Represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Auwal Jatau, the Governor said that the exercise was more than just a fitness exercise.

According to him, it is a celebration of unity and shared purpose.

‘Seeing officers comprising airmen, airwomen, sister security services, paramilitary agencies and NYSC members come together in such a lively atmosphere, reminds us that sports and fitness can be powerful tools for strengthening peace and solidarity.

‘Here in Bauchi, we take pride in the harmonious relationship between the government, the Nigerian Air Force and all security agencies operating within the state.

‘The Special Operations Command and other military and paramilitary formations have played a vital role in maintaining the relative peace and security that our people enjoy today,’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that not less than 32 people received different prizes for their outstanding performance during the exercise.

They included Airmen, Airwomen, Nigeria Immigration Service, Customs Service and civilians, among others.

American rapper Kanye West has finally let go of his famous Wyoming ranch, the same quiet retreat he once shared with ex-wife Kim Kardashian.

The $14 million, 6,713-acre property known as Bighorn Mountain Ranch has been sold back to its original owners, Greg and Pam Flitner, who first sold it to Kanye in 2019.

Once called Kanye’s ‘therapy ranch,’ the sprawling estate near Greybull was meant to be a sanctuary where the rapper could escape Hollywood noise and rebuild his life. But years of neglect have left the property in decay.

According to Daily Mail, the sale was notarized in September by Kanye’s current wife, Bianca Censori, who acted on his behalf, a strong sign that the rapper has finally closed that part of his life tied to Kim.

Back in 2019, Kanye had big plans for the land from building futuristic domes to recording his Donda album, even claiming he wanted to fight homelessness from the ranch. But those dreams soon crashed alongside his marriage breakdown and career scandals, including his infamous antisemitic outbursts that cost him several billion-dollar deals.

Local reports say that while the ranch still stands, it’s showing signs of abandonment. ‘It needs a little TLC, but it’s all solid,’ Pam Flitner said, describing the property’s faded glory.

For the Flitners, who have owned the land for generations, buying it back was about preserving their family heritage. ‘It’s home,’ Greg Flitner told Cowboy State Daily. ‘We just didn’t want to see it fall into the wrong hands.’

Kanye’s Wyoming era was one of isolation, chaos, and reflection from emotional outbursts and political ambitions to public rants that mirrored his troubled marriage

Nottingham Forest have officially approached Italian manager Roberto Mancini to take over as head coach following the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou.

The club moved swiftly after parting ways with Postecoglou on Saturday during their 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea – a result that extended Forest’s winless run to eight games and ended the Australian’s reign after just 39 days, the shortest in Premier League history for a permanent manager.

Talks with Mancini, who is currently managing Saudi Arabia’s national team, are understood to be in the early stages. The 59-year-old, who led Italy to Euro 2020 glory, has yet to give any indication of his plans, but Forest see him as an ideal candidate to stabilize the team and bring top-level experience to the City Ground.

Fabrizio Romano revealed that sources close to the club confirmed that owner Evangelos Marinakis is determined to appoint a proven winner who can steer Forest away from the relegation battle and reignite their European ambitions.

Mancini, who has managed top clubs including Manchester City, Inter Milan, and Galatasaray, remains the standout name on Forest’s shortlist, though former Everton boss Sean Dyche is also being considered.

Forest are currently 17th in the Premier League table, just a point above the drop zone. The club hopes to finalize a new appointment before next weekend’s fixture in order to give the incoming manager enough time to work with the squad during the international break.

Postecoglou’s short-lived tenure was marred by poor results and growing unrest among fans, culminating in chants calling for his dismissal during the Europa League loss to Midtjylland.

The Defence Headquarters has debunked reports linking the cancellation of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary to an alleged coup attempt, describing the publication as false, malicious and intended to cause panic.

Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, in a statement on Saturday, said the online report also falsely connected the suspension of the anniversary events to an internal investigation involving 16 army officers.

He stressed that at no time did the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) hint at, or refer to, any coup plot, insisting that the story was a ‘calculated attempt to sow fear and distrust among Nigerians.’

According to Gusau, the decision to shelve the Independence Day parade was purely administrative, to allow President Bola Tinubu attend an important bilateral engagement abroad and to ensure that troops remain focused on ongoing counter-terrorism and anti-banditry operations nationwide.

He explained that the probe of the 16 officers was a routine disciplinary process, part of efforts to maintain professionalism and integrity within the military ranks, adding that the outcome would be made public in due course.

‘The DHQ urges Nigerians to ignore such baseless publications and continue to support the Armed Forces as they work tirelessly to secure the nation,’ Gusau said.

He reaffirmed that the Nigerian military remains unwaveringly loyal to the Constitution and the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.