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Rhythms On Da Runway’s UNBOUND Edition Set For November 28

Fashion and music event, Rhythms On Da Runway (RODR) is set to return on November 28, 2026, with an edition focused on inclusion and unrestricted self-expression.

The 16th edition of the annual showcase will take place at the Palms Convention Centre on the theme ‘UNBOUND’, bringing together fashion, music and culture.

The organisers say this year’s theme is designed to challenge traditional ideas about who gets to be represented on the runway.

Rather than limiting fashion to particular body types, ages or abilities, RODR 2026 will feature models from diverse backgrounds, with different abilities, body shapes and personal experiences.

The organisers believe fashion should reflect everyone, insisting that people should be able to see themselves represented when they watch a fashion show.

The event will also place emphasis on the next generation of creatives, providing opportunities for young people to interact with established designers, gain practical experience and explore careers in fashion and the wider creative industry.

Discussions around adaptive fashion, accessibility, mentorship, talent development and employment are also expected to form part of the broader ‘UNBOUND’ initiative.

RODR organisers are also inviting sponsors, development organisations and donors to support initiatives aimed at disability inclusion, youth training, creative enterprise and accessible experiences.

The night will feature collections from leading designers, live musical performances and appearances by celebrity models from Ghana and the African diaspora.

The Black Star Awards will also return, honouring personalities whose leadership, development initiatives and creative contributions are helping shape Africa’s future and its Orange Economy.

Eastern Uganda’s major wetland under threat

Lake Opeta Wetland System is under growing pressure from farming, grazing, tree cutting and other human activities, with a new study warning that nearly a quarter of its intact wetland cover has been lost over the past three decades.

The study found that intact wetland cover declined from 93.2 percent in 1996 to 70.3 percent this year, representing a net loss of about 655.2 square kilometres.

Researchers warn that the scale of degradation is no longer isolated to a few locations but has become a landscape-wide problem, threatening biodiversity, water quality and the livelihoods of communities that depend on the wetland.

Lake Opeta stretches across Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk, Bulambuli, Katakwi, Kumi and Bukedea districts in northern and eastern Uganda

The wetland covers approximately 68,912 hectares and is recognised as a Ramsar Site and an important bird area. It supports surrounding communities through fishing, water provision, grazing, agriculture and other ecosystem services.

Mr Bernard Sentamu, the lead researcher of the study titled ‘Enhancing Sustainable Community Based-Management and Climate Resilience in the Lake Opeta Wetland System’, said human activities were rapidly altering the wetland landscape.

‘In terms of degradation, where we have farmlands, both commercial and small scale, about 29.7 percent of the wetlands in these districts are degraded, mostly in Bukedea (64.2 percent), Kumi (54.1 percent), and low levels of degradation in Nakapiripirit and Katakwi districts,’ he said.

The assessment found that small-scale farming has become the dominant form of land-cover change.

Small-scale farmland increased from about 50.2 square kilometres in 1996 to 803.2 square kilometres this year, while the overall share of degraded wetland reached 29.7 percent.

By this year, grasslands accounted for 42.8 percent of the wetland cover, small-scale farmland (28 percent) and papyrus and floating vegetation (25.1 percent).

Open water accounted for 1.9 percent, while commercial farmland made up 1.2 percent.

The study found that farmland was concentrated largely in Bukedea, Kumi and Katakwi.Mr Sentamu said the largest losses of intact wetland cover were recorded in Bukedea, Kumi and Katakwi.

‘By 2026, degraded wetlands covered 850.8 square kilometres or 29.7 percent of the total wetland area, while intact wetlands covered 2,017.1 square kilometres or 70.3 percent. These trends showed that degradation is no longer isolated, but a landscape-scale process largely driven by land conversion,’ he said.

The environmental changes are also being felt by communities living around the lake.

Mr Sentamu said researchers combined biodiversity assessments, water-quality sampling and satellite imagery to establish the condition and changes in the wetland system.

‘In Nabilatuk District, we looked at the current state of this woodland ecosystem. We had biodiversity experts who were looking at the fauna and the flora. We also looked at the quality of the water in the sampled water systems, and also used the satellite images to look at the changes in these woodland ecosystems,’ he said.

‘About 80 percent of the respondents perceived this lake as degraded, citing concerns about water quality and quantity, and the availability of fish and other aquatic resources,’ he added.

The study found that between 1996 and 2026, intact wetland cover declined by about 22 percentage points, from about 93 percent to 70.3 percent.

Farming, grazing drive degradation

Researchers identified several pressures on the wetland, including expansion of agriculture, grazing, burning, over-harvesting of resources and limited awareness about conservation.

Grazing was reported as the leading pressure at 17.1 percent, followed by cultivation at 14.3 percent, limited awareness at 10.4 percent, burning at 9.9 percent and over-harvesting at 8.9 percent.

Mr Simon Okello, a senior environment officer and a wetland coordinator at Katakwi District Local Government, said four sub-counties were increasingly depending on the lake following crop failures associated with climate change.

‘They do the fishing, which is excessive now. Cattle are now staying in the wetland and by virtue of staying in the lake, they poop there, they drink water, they poo in the wetland, year in, year out,’ he said.

Mr Okello said the district was also witnessing the emergence of invasive vegetation and declining water levels.

‘We are realising really invasive species of the vegetation that used not to be there. We found that the water level has drained out from the wetland,’ he said.

He called for increased funding for district environment departments to enable them to implement recommendations arising from the study.

‘One district, by its annual budget, with the allocation that’s given to Natural Resources Department, you find a sector can have Shs4 million in a year. What can you do significant with these recommendations that the research has highlighted?’ Mr Okello wondered.

Climate shocks worsens problem

The study identified drought as the most commonly reported climate shock at 29.8 percent, followed by floods at 25.9 percent, extreme heat at 20.7 percent and strong winds at 15.6 percent.

Ms Florence Bako, a senior environment officer and acting Nakapiripirit District Natural Resources Officer, said drought was severely affecting communities.

‘Of course, the most is the drought. Drought is really affecting us so much. We also have floods. During rainy seasons, the place is really flooded because we have degraded our environment,’ she said.

Ms Bako called for continuous community sensitisation, enforcement of local by-laws and dialogue with communities on how to manage natural resources sustainably.

Mr Christopher Musiime, the programmes director at the Africa Centre for Energy and Mineral Policy (ACEMP), said the findings should serve as a wake-up call for stakeholders in the six districts.

‘And we feel the time is now to call different stakeholders to act in restoration, conservation and in protecting some aspects of this wetland,’ he said.

Mr Pax Sakari, the Executive Director of RICE West Nile, the lead partner in the project, said the report would have little value if its recommendations were not implemented.

‘Needless to say that a report of this kind, which will be left in cells, serves no purpose, serves no goal. The launch is the easy part, but the dialogue is where the real work begins,’ he said.

Mr Sakari also called on the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to consider the recommendations when making permits, licensing and enforcement decisions.

Mr Emmanuel Busobozi, Nema’s principal environmental officer-in-charge of water and wetlands, said the study could provide lessons for other regions.

‘Nema is working together with ACEMP and all other civil societies to make sure wetlands are sustainably used. Lake Opeta was gazetted by government and is internationally recognised, so it is very important and needs to be preserved,’ he said.

The study recommends greater community participation in conservation, restoration of degraded areas, stronger local governance and measures to improve climate resilience.

It also calls for viable alternative livelihoods so that communities are not forced to depend heavily on wetland resources for their survival.

Researchers want women and youth to have a greater role in conservation, noting that women are major users of wetland resources in several districts but their participation in restoration activities remains lower than that of men.

The report also proposes an inter-district Lake Opeta Wetland Management coordination framework to bring the six districts together in managing the ecosystem.

Other recommendations include stronger wetland boundary demarcation and zoning, harmonisation of local by-laws and integration of wetland management into district development plans.

Lake Opeta Wetland System is under growing pressure from farming, grazing, tree cutting and other human activities, with a new study warning that nearly a quarter of its intact wetland cover has been lost over the past three decades.

The study found that intact wetland cover declined from 93.2 percent in 1996 to 70.3 percent this year, representing a net loss of about 655.2 square kilometres.

Researchers warn that the scale of degradation is no longer isolated to a few locations but has become a landscape-wide problem, threatening biodiversity, water quality and the livelihoods of communities that depend on the wetland.

Lake Opeta stretches across Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk, Bulambuli, Katakwi, Kumi and Bukedea districts in northern and eastern Uganda.

The wetland covers approximately 68,912 hectares and is recognised as a Ramsar Site and an important bird area. It supports surrounding communities through fishing, water provision, grazing, agriculture and other ecosystem services.

Mr Bernard Sentamu, the lead researcher of the study titled ‘Enhancing Sustainable Community Based-Management and Climate Resilience in the Lake Opeta Wetland System’, said human activities were rapidly altering the wetland landscape.

‘In terms of degradation, where we have farmlands, both commercial and small scale, about 29.7 percent of the wetlands in these districts are degraded, mostly in Bukedea (64.2 percent), Kumi (54.1 percent), and low levels of degradation in Nakapiripirit and Katakwi districts,’ he said.

The assessment found that small-scale farming has become the dominant form of land-cover change.

Small-scale farmland increased from about 50.2 square kilometres in 1996 to 803.2 square kilometres this year, while the overall share of degraded wetland reached 29.7 percent.

By this year, grasslands accounted for 42.8 percent of the wetland cover, small-scale farmland (28 percent) and papyrus and floating vegetation (25.1 percent).

Open water accounted for 1.9 percent, while commercial farmland made up 1.2 percent.

The study found that farmland was concentrated largely in Bukedea, Kumi and Katakwi.

Mr Sentamu said the largest losses of intact wetland cover were recorded in Bukedea, Kumi and Katakwi.

‘By 2026, degraded wetlands covered 850.8 square kilometres or 29.7 percent of the total wetland area, while intact wetlands covered 2,017.1 square kilometres or 70.3 percent. These trends showed that degradation is no longer isolated, but a landscape-scale process largely driven by land conversion,’ he said.

The environmental changes are also being felt by communities living around the lake.

Mr Sentamu said researchers combined biodiversity assessments, water-quality sampling and satellite imagery to establish the condition and changes in the wetland system.

‘In Nabilatuk District, we looked at the current state of this woodland ecosystem. We had biodiversity experts who were looking at the fauna and the flora. We also looked at the quality of the water in the sampled water systems, and also used the satellite images to look at the changes in these woodland ecosystems,’ he said.

‘About 80 percent of the respondents perceived this lake as degraded, citing concerns about water quality and quantity, and the availability of fish and other aquatic resources,’ he added.

The study found that between 1996 and 2026, intact wetland cover declined by about 22 percentage points, from about 93 percent to 70.3 percent.

Farming, grazing drive degradation

Researchers identified several pressures on the wetland, including expansion of agriculture, grazing, burning, over-harvesting of resources and limited awareness about conservation.

Grazing was reported as the leading pressure at 17.1 percent, followed by cultivation at 14.3 percent, limited awareness at 10.4 percent, burning at 9.9 percent and over-harvesting at 8.9 percent.

Mr Simon Okello, a senior environment officer and a wetland coordinator at Katakwi District Local Government, said four sub-counties were increasingly depending on the lake following crop failures associated with climate change.

‘They do the fishing, which is excessive now. Cattle are now staying in the wetland and by virtue of staying in the lake, they poop there, they drink water, they poo in the wetland, year in, year out,’ he said.

Mr Okello said the district was also witnessing the emergence of invasive vegetation and declining water levels.

‘We are realising really invasive species of the vegetation that used not to be there. We found that the water level has drained out from the wetland,’ he said.

He called for increased funding for district environment departments to enable them to implement recommendations arising from the study.

‘One district, by its annual budget, with the allocation that’s given to Natural Resources Department, you find a sector can have Shs4 million in a year. What can you do significant with these recommendations that the research has highlighted?’ Mr Okello wondered.

Climate shocks worsens problem

The study identified drought as the most commonly reported climate shock at 29.8 percent, followed by floods at 25.9 percent, extreme heat at 20.7 percent and strong winds at 15.6 percent.

Ms Florence Bako, a senior environment officer and acting Nakapiripirit District Natural Resources Officer, said drought was severely affecting communities.

‘Of course, the most is the drought. Drought is really affecting us so much. We also have floods. During rainy seasons, the place is really flooded because we have degraded our environment,’ she said.

Ms Bako called for continuous community sensitisation, enforcement of local by-laws and dialogue with communities on how to manage natural resources sustainably.

Mr Christopher Musiime, the programmes director at the Africa Centre for Energy and Mineral Policy (ACEMP), said the findings should serve as a wake-up call for stakeholders in the six districts.

‘And we feel the time is now to call different stakeholders to act in restoration, conservation and in protecting some aspects of this wetland,’ he said.

Mr Pax Sakari, the Executive Director of RICE West Nile, the lead partner in the project, said the report would have little value if its recommendations were not implemented.

‘Needless to say that a report of this kind, which will be left in cells, serves no purpose, serves no goal. The launch is the easy part, but the dialogue is where the real work begins,’ he said.

Mr Sakari also called on the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to consider the recommendations when making permits, licensing and enforcement decisions.

Mr Emmanuel Busobozi, Nema’s principal environmental officer-in-charge of water and wetlands, said the study could provide lessons for other regions.

‘Nema is working together with ACEMP and all other civil societies to make sure wetlands are sustainably used. Lake Opeta was gazetted by government and is internationally recognised, so it is very important and needs to be preserved,’ he said.

The study recommends greater community participation in conservation, restoration of degraded areas, stronger local governance and measures to improve climate resilience.

It also calls for viable alternative livelihoods so that communities are not forced to depend heavily on wetland resources for their survival.

Researchers want women and youth to have a greater role in conservation, noting that women are major users of wetland resources in several districts but their participation in restoration activities remains lower than that of men.

The report also proposes an inter-district Lake Opeta Wetland Management coordination framework to bring the six districts together in managing the ecosystem.

Other recommendations include stronger wetland boundary demarcation and zoning, harmonisation of local by-laws and integration of wetland management into district development plans.

At a glance

Six districts: Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk, Bulambuli, Katakwi, Kumi and Bukedea share the wetland.

68,912 hectares: Approximate area covered by the Lake Opeta Wetland System.

93.2% -70.3%: Share of intact wetland cover declined from 93.2 percent in 1996 to 70.3 percent in 2026.

655.2 sq km lost

Estimated loss of intact wetland cover over the assessment period.

29.7% : Share of the wetland system classified as degraded

Benin-Asaba Highway: Firm Urges Motorists To Be Patient

The Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited (BAECC) has appealed to motorists and communities along the corridor for patience as it prepares to accelerate construction on the 125-kilometre highway following the rainy season.

Chief Executive Officer of BAECC, Samuel Daramola, in a statement, reiterated the company’s commitment to delivering the project despite persistent rainfall and the difficulties of reconstructing a heavily travelled highway while keeping it open to traffic.

‘We recognise the inconvenience that motorists and communities have experienced, and we do not take their concerns lightly.

‘Our responsibility is not only to build the permanent road but also to do everything reasonably possible to keep people moving while construction is taking place,’ Daramola said.

The project, being executed under a 36-month construction programme, involves extensive reconstruction and expansion, earthworks, drainage systems, pavement construction, culverts, traffic management and installation of production facilities.

BAECC said substantial work had already been undertaken on different sections, including earthworks and subgrade preparation, drainage and culvert construction, asphalt and binder-course works and carriageway expansion.

The company has also mobilised asphalt plants, concrete batching plants, paving equipment, concrete mould plants, Wet Mix Macadam plants and other specialised construction equipment.

According to BAECC, billions of naira in private-sector resources have been committed to equipment, construction plants, materials, logistics and supporting infrastructure for the project.

Daramola said much of the preparatory work might not be immediately visible to motorists but was necessary for permanent highway construction.

‘A project of this magnitude is built in stages. Before the travelling public sees kilometres of finished asphalt, there must be drainage, earthworks, pavement preparation, production plants and equipment mobilisation,’ he said.

BAECC identified persistent rainfall as a major challenge during the current phase, explaining that saturated ground conditions had affected earthworks, pavement stabilisation and asphalt operations.

Daramola, however, stressed that the rainfall had affected the sequencing and pace of some activities rather than stopped construction.

‘Where permanent pavement operations are restricted by rainfall, our teams continue with other engineering activities and palliative interventions,’ he said.

The company said reconstruction had been further complicated by the need to keep the busy corridor open to thousands of motorists, buses, commercial vehicles and articulated trucks.

BAECC said it had sometimes reopened treated sections earlier than would ordinarily be preferred to ease congestion.

‘We are building and managing traffic at the same time,’ Daramola said. ‘There are occasions when engineering considerations would favour keeping a section closed for longer, but the realities facing motorists require us to reopen the road.’

The company said palliative interventions would continue on difficult sections to reduce hardship while permanent reconstruction progresses.

‘Our immediate task is to reduce the inconvenience being experienced today while remaining focused on the permanent solution,’ Daramola said.

BAECC said it was preparing for a major acceleration of permanent works from October as weather conditions improve.

The programme will cover drainage completion, pavement reconstruction, asphalt binder and wearing-course installation, culvert construction and other permanent works across multiple sections.

Additional personnel, equipment and construction resources are also being mobilised for the dry season construction window.

‘As the rains recede, Nigerians will see a significant acceleration of permanent works,’ Daramola said.

He appealed to motorists and host communities to consider the project within its overall construction programme rather than judge it solely by present difficulties.

‘We are not asking anyone to ignore the present difficulties. We recognise them and are addressing them through palliative interventions while building the permanent solution,’ he said.

‘What we ask for is the time and opportunity to deliver the project within the construction programme. Judge us ultimately by the quality, durability and safety of the highway we deliver.’

BAECC also pledged continued cooperation with the Federal Government, relevant agencies and host communities, saying all stakeholders share the objective of delivering a safe and reliable highway.

‘The road people see during construction is not the road they will see at completion,’ Daramola said. ‘We ask for a little more patience and the opportunity to complete what we have started.’

Digital ID strengthening Nigeria’s access to Africa’s digital economy – Akume

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has said Nigeria’s expanding digital identity infrastructure is strengthening the country’s position in Africa’s digital economy by providing a trusted foundation for banking, telecommunications, social protection and cross-border trade.

Akume also described the progress recorded by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) as one of the clearest delivery stories of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, pledging the Federal Government’s full backing for ongoing identity reforms.

The SGF spoke on Wednesday at the National Day of Identity 2026, themed: ‘Nigeria’s Digital Public Ecosystem: Powering Africa’s Digital Economy.’

According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, Akume said Nigeria’s growing digital public ecosystem has implications beyond the country, as trusted identity infrastructure could help deepen economic integration and facilitate trade across Africa.

He said banks, financial technology companies and cross-border traders increasingly depend on verified digital identities to provide services and access markets, including opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

‘As the officer charged with coordinating government business across MDAs, I have watched this work closely. The National Identity Management Commission is one of this administration’s clearest delivery stories.

‘The progress is real. Enrolment continues to rise. Integration with banking, telecommunications and social protection is deepening. The Commission is meeting the quiet, daily discipline this work requires. That is the kind of delivery this administration was elected to provide’, Akume said.

Akume said the enactment of the National Identity Management Commission Act, 2026, had given the country’s identity management system a stronger legal foundation, strengthened data protection and established NIMC as Nigeria’s root certification authority for identity.

He noted that innovations introduced ahead of the new legislation, including NINAuth and self-service data modification, had already made it easier for Nigerians to verify their identities and manage their personal records.

The SGF recalled his engagement with the Director-General of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, following the passage of the Act, saying the interaction strengthened his confidence in the direction of the Commission and the commitment of its leadership and workforce.

Akume pledged the support of his office for the Commission, stressing that building a reliable national identity system was too important to be left to NIMC alone and required coordinated action across government.

‘This Commission has my backing, and the backing of the office I represent. Wherever closer coordination is needed, and wherever obstacles must be cleared from this Commission’s path, my office stands ready.

‘This project is too important to rest on one agency. It requires the full weight of government’, he said.

Akume also commended President Tinubu for assenting to the NIMC Act, 2026, saying the legislation had provided the modern legal framework needed to sustain the reforms and deepen Nigeria’s digital identity architecture.

He expressed confidence that the reforms would continue to yield measurable results, arguing that every improvement in the country’s identity infrastructure would strengthen Nigeria’s position in the digital economy while enhancing Africa’s participation in the global digital marketplace.

The SGF said the combination of rising enrolment, deeper integration of identity services across critical sectors and a stronger legal framework had positioned digital identity as an important component of the administration’s wider economic and governance reforms.

Tinubu directs NIMC to achieve 95 percent NIN coverage by December

President Bola Tinubu has urged the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to work towards achieving 95 per cent National Identity Number (NIN) coverage by December 2026.

The President gave the directive at the State House, Abuja, while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 National Identity Day celebration organised by NIMC.

He acknowledged NIMC’s excellent work so far, noting that National Identity Number (NIN) enrolment peaked at about 142 million, up from over 80 million Nigerians captured in the National Identity Database when he assumed office more than three years ago.

President Tinubu was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. The event had the theme: ‘Nigeria’s digital public ecosystem: powering Africa’s digital economy.’

It was attended by the representative of Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, amongst others.

President Tinubu said the target should be pursued through expanded ward-level enrolment, mobile registration initiatives and continued deployment of licensed enrolment networks.

The President noted that his administration’s vision goes beyond NIN coverage, stating that Nigeria ‘must build an identity system that is continuously useful, secure and responsive to the needs of Nigerians.’

‘We are laying the foundations for a future of integrated digital services, including e-health records, e-transport systems and a more harmonised national data architecture.

‘We must do this while protecting the rights, privacy and dignity of our citizens. The digital state must never become a state without accountability.

‘Our commitment must therefore remain clear: innovation must be matched by responsibility. Efficiency must be matched by inclusion, security must be matched by trust. And digital transformation must ultimately improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians,’ President Tinubu said.

The President, who commended the Director General of NIMC, Engr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, for a job well done over the past three years, called on Nigerians who have not obtained their NIN to do so, saying their NIN represents their connection to a modern Nigerian state.

Tinubu also applauded this year’s National Identity Day theme as very important, saying ‘Nigeria’s digital ecosystem must power Nigeria’s digital economy-and Nigeria’s digital economy must help power Africa’s.’

The President further said National Identity remains the engine room for the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that identity transformation is contributing directly to the government’s priorities.

‘The NIMC ecosystem has created opportunities for thousands of Nigerians across the country. With more than 173 private companies, 30 state governments and 14 public sector institutions approved as licensed enrolment agents, the identity ecosystem is generating employment for enrolment officers, data professionals, supervisors, technology specialists and other support personnel. This is a digital infrastructure creating real economic opportunity,’ he said.

Speaking on the significance of national identity to Nigeria’s national security, President Tinubu said the two are linked, describing the connection as indispensable.

‘A secure identity system is indispensable to a secure nation. By strengthening identity verification and enabling responsible information sharing across relevant government institutions, we are improving our capacity to combat identity fraud, financial crimes and other threats to national security.

‘The ongoing collaboration among institutions, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, demonstrates what is possible when government systems work together,’ President Tinubu said.

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji- Ojo, also praised the Director General of NIMC for delivering excellent work with little supervision, saying she has shown appreciable leadership.

He said the President expected more from her and her team, adding that Nigerians need wider, easier, and more convenient access to identity services, including for Nigerians in the diaspora.

‘We need more in providing a trusted national public key infrastructure and digital public infrastructure that support secure digital identity, authentication and electronic trust services, more in including a stronger foundation for Nigeria’s digital economy, digital governance and long-term national development,’ Tunji-Ojo said.

The Director General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, in her remarks, commended President Tinubu and the Minister of Interior for their support, saying it has brought about a total transformation of Nigeria’s identity and existence.

She said, ‘Our reach tells its own story. Enrolments have grown from less than 100 million to over 142 million Nigerians and legal residents. The engine behind that growth is the ward-to-ward Enrolment Project, undertaken directly under Mr President’s initiative.

‘This project carried our officers into all 8, 8,809 boards of this Federation and mobilised the National Youth Service Corps members as adult enrolment officers in connection with front-end partners in communities that had never before hosted an enrolment desk.

‘Alongside it, we launched the Self- Service Notification Platform, which has already processed close to two million record updates, turning a process that once took weeks in two communities into one that takes 24 to 48 hours directly from a citizen’s phone.’

Ghana, Columbus Sign Deal To Recruit Nurses

The Government has secured a new pathway for qualified Ghanaian nurses to obtain employment opportunities in the United States following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the City of Columbus, Ohio.

The agreement, signed by the Ministries of Health and Labour, Jobs and Employment, provides a framework for further arrangements on the ethical recruitment and deployment of Ghanaian health professionals, particularly nurses, to the US.

The deal follows months of technical discussions between the Ministries and their counterparts in the United States.

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the agreement went beyond creating employment opportunities, stressing that any deployment arrangement must protect the rights, welfare and professional interests of Ghanaian health workers.

He said the initiative formed part of the Ministry’s efforts to secure credible and decent international employment opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals in line with Ghana’s Migration Policy and international standards.

According to Mr. Akandoh, the partnership built on the existing Sister-City relationship between Accra and Columbus, as well as the Ghana Labour Exchange Programme.

He said the government would continue to pursue partnerships that created decent employment opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals abroad while ensuring that the recruitment process met international best practices and global standards.

The Minister assured prospective beneficiaries that the government would prioritise their welfare and professional rights under any recruitment and deployment arrangements.

WILAN unveils AI chatbot to combat gender-based violence

The Women in Leadership Advancement Network (WILAN) has unveiled an Artificial Intelligence-powered chatbot designed to help women and girls prevent, identify and respond to technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).

The digital safety tool, named Nana, was launched yesterday in Lagos amid growing concerns over the use of technology and Artificial Intelligence to perpetrate crime against women and girls.

Nana, developed by WILAN Global with support from the Ford Foundation, is available through WhatsApp and the web, providing users with round-the-clock information on digital safety, early warning signs of technology-facilitated gender-based violence and prevention resources.

Speaking at the workshop where the chatbot was unveiled, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Adebayo Haroun, described the initiative as timely, citing the growing scale of online harassment against women.

Haroun said an alarming 70 per cent of Nigerian women surveyed had either experienced or witnessed online harassment.

He described TFGBV as ‘one of the most insidious challenges confronting the justice system today,’ saying Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) had recorded 41 specific cases of technology-facilitated sexual and gender-based violence between September 2021 and July 2026.

According to him, the cases formed part of more than 33,000 sexual and gender-based violence reports tracked by the agency within the period.

The DPP called for deliberate collaboration among civil society organisations, private-sector players and government institutions to tackle the growing threat.

He said: ‘TFGBV is one of the most insidious challenges confronting the justice system today.’

Haroun urged stakeholders to move beyond isolated interventions and develop coordinated mechanisms capable of protecting women and girls from technology-enabled abuse.

WILAN Founder, Abosede George Ogan, said the chatbot was conceived as a practical response to the increasing weaponisation of digital platforms against women.

She noted that although digital platforms had expanded opportunities for women to work, conduct businesses, participate in public discourse and organise communities, they had simultaneously created new avenues for gender-based violence.

George Ogan identified cyberstalking, sextortion, doxing, impersonation, non-consensual sharing of personal images, coordinated online attacks and gendered disinformation as some forms of TFGBV.

She said Nana would enable women and girls to access timely information that could help them recognise potential threats and take preventive measures.

The Head of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Unit, Federal Ministry of Justice, Yewande Gbola-Awopetu, said technology-facilitated gender-based violence could no longer be treated as an emerging or isolated threat.

‘TFGBV is no longer an emergency threat. It is present, pervasive and escalating reality,’ she said.

According to her, women and girls across Nigeria face online harassment, cyberstalking, non-consensual sharing of images and online grooming, among other forms of abuse.

She noted that although the Cybercrime Act 2015 criminalised many of such acts, legislation alone could not adequately protect women who were unaware of their rights or lacked access to appropriate support.

Gbola-Awopetu said Nana’s ability to connect survivors with existing government and civil society response structures made it particularly significant.

‘A chatbot that can direct a survivor to the nearest sexual assault referral centre, provide guidance on evidence preservation. That is a public safety tool and public safety tools deserve institutional partnership,’ she said.

She pledged the readiness of the SGBV Response Unit to collaborate with WILAN Global on integrating Nana into existing legal and health referral pathways, as well as community awareness programmes.

The collaboration, she said, would strengthen efforts to ensure that women and girls affected by technology-facilitated violence could access information, support and appropriate intervention.

Dangote Refinery IPO: Investors Rushing To Our Subscription Channels – Keystone Bank

Keystone Bank Limited says investors have been rushing to its approved subscription channels following the opening of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical’s 4.1 billion-share initial public offering (IPO), as interest in the landmark offer continues to build.

Keystone Bank, which has been authorised as a receiving agent for the public offer, said in a statement on Tuesday that its approved channels are available to existing customers, non-customers and other eligible investors seeking to subscribe for shares in the Dangote Refinery.

The public offer opened on Monday, September 14, 2026, and is scheduled to close on October 13, 2026. Under the terms of the offer, 4.1 billion ordinary shares are being offered at N525 per share, with a minimum subscription of 10 shares valued at N5,250. Investors may apply for additional shares in line with the conditions set out in the offer documents.

Since the offer opened, the bank said investors have continued to use its approved digital and physical channels to submit applications and participate in the public offer, reflecting the growing interest in the Dangote Refinery IPO.

Keystone Bank however advised investors to ensure that their personal and banking details, including their Bank Verification Number (BVN), are accurate and up to date before submitting their applications.

The lender warned investors to subscribe only through approved channels and remain vigilant against fraudulent investment schemes.

Nnenna Anyim Okoro, Executive Director, Corporate Bank and South, Keystone Bank, described the offer as an opportunity for Nigerians to own a stake in an enterprise expected to contribute significantly to the country’s industrial and economic development.

‘The Dangote Refinery Offer is more than an investment opportunity; it is an invitation for Nigerians to own a stake in an asset that is poised to contribute significantly to the nation’s industrial and economic future.

‘As a Receiving Agent, Keystone Bank is proud to support this historic transaction by providing investors with a seamless, secure, and convenient subscription experience across our digital and physical channels.

‘We believe that access to wealth-creation opportunities should be simple, inclusive, and available to all. Through this offer, retail and corporate investors alike have the opportunity to participate in a landmark enterprise, and we are committed to making that journey as straightforward as possible.’

On how investors can participate, Anyim Okoro pointed to the bank’s approved subscription channels as the practical bridge between investors and the public offer.

She said, ‘As always, we encourage investors to undertake appropriate due diligence, carefully review the offer documentation, and make informed decisions consistent with their financial goals.

‘We look forward to enabling wider participation in this significant milestone for Nigeria’s capital market and economic development.’

Catholic Bishops Demand Probe Into SHS Placement

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called for an independent review of the ongoing Senior High School (SHS) placement exercise amid allegations of bribery, unfair admissions, inappropriate school placements and the growing influence of ‘protocol’ arrangements.

The Bishops said although the Computerised School Selection and Placement System was introduced to promote fairness and equal access, persistent challenges continued to undermine public confidence in the process.

In a statement signed by the President of the Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani, the Bishops said the placement exercise must be transparent, accountable and responsive to genuine complaints.

The Conference said 604,567 candidates qualified for placement this year, but only 527,932 had been placed when the results were released.

It acknowledged that placement depended on several factors, including academic performance, programme choices, boarding or day preferences and available spaces. It, however, insisted that the outcomes must be understandable and demonstrably fair.

The Bishops expressed concern over reports of students being placed in schools considered unsuitable for their sex, disability, personal circumstances or location.

They were particularly concerned about cases where students were assigned to day schools located so far from their homes that daily commuting could become expensive, unreasonable or unsafe.

The Conference called for genuine placement errors to be corrected swiftly and for appropriate arrangements to be made for students with disabilities.

It also expressed concern over allegations that parents were being asked to pay money to secure places for their children.

The Bishops stressed that no official, agent or intermediary should demand or accept payment where placement was intended to be free. They called for investigations into such allegations and said anyone found culpable should face disciplinary action and, where necessary, criminal prosecution.

On the controversial issue of ‘protocol’ admissions, the Conference demanded greater transparency, saying the public deserved to know the legal basis, number of places involved, criteria used and persons responsible for such arrangements.

It warned that the placement system could not command public confidence if parents believed that money, political connections or influence could secure places for some children at the expense of others.

Mission schools

The Bishops also renewed their call for the implementation of their decision to reserve 20 percent of annual admissions in Catholic mission schools for Catholic candidates.

They said the decision was reached at the National Catholic Education Forum in Koforidua in 2025 and, therefore, was not a new demand.

According to the Conference, the arrangement would help mission schools maintain a meaningful population of Catholic students who could participate in their religious and moral formation.

The Bishops further called for the long-awaited agreement between the government and the Churches on the management of mission schools to be concluded and signed without further delay.

They said the agreement should clearly define responsibilities relating to admissions, governance, the appointment of head teachers, religious and moral formation, discipline, infrastructure and accountability, while protecting the distinct identity of mission schools.

The Conference also proposed an accessible appeals mechanism, periodic reviews of school categories and increased government investment in infrastructure, teachers, laboratories and learning materials to ease pressure on highly sought-after schools.

It maintained that technology should support justice rather than replace human responsibility and urged the government to build a placement system in which merit, choice, fairness and the best interests of the child determine admission outcomes.

Substituted candidate sues ADC in Edo

A fresh crisis is brewing in the Edo North chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following the alleged illegal replacement of its senatorial candidate for the district, Prince Musa Braimoh.

Braimoh emerged as the party’s candidate for the Edo North Senatorial District during its primary election, and his name was published in the initial list of candidates uploaded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

However, in the final list of National Assembly candidates recently released by INEC, Aruna Abubakar was listed as the ADC candidate for the district.

Speaking with journalists in Benin, Braimoh disclosed that he had filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge his substitution.

He maintained that he was the sole aspirant who purchased the nomination form and participated in the party’s primary election monitored by INEC, as mandated by the Electoral Act.

‘I was shocked to discover that my name had been replaced with that of an individual who neither bought a form nor participated in the primary,’ Braimoh said.

He alleged that the ADC leadership in Edo North acted in connivance with the State Chairman of the party, Hon. Pius Alile, to substitute his name.

Braimoh further claimed he was being victimized for refusing to comply with a directive from state party leaders to support Rotimi Amaechi during the ADC presidential primary. According to him, he declined the directive because he had already pledged his support to another presidential contender, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Responding to the allegations, a senior ADC leader who spoke on the condition of anonymity accused Braimoh of engaging in anti-party activities.

The source alleged that Braimoh intended to use the party’s ticket to negotiate a financial settlement to step down for a rival party’s candidate.

When contacted, the State Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Chris Ojeikere, acknowledged that Braimoh was aggrieved, adding that the party leadership would meet with him to resolve the dispute internally.