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As part of its efforts to empower women economically, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in conjunction with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, yesterday has launched the Women Economic Empowerment Programme in Imo State and other states of the country and FCT.

Flagging-off the programme at the Banquet Hall, Government House Owerri, the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in her address read by the wife of the Imo State Governor Barr. Chioma Uzodimma, disclosed that the economic empowerment programme is about supporting the entrepreneurial spirit of women traders and small scale business owners who each day are determined to provide for their families, educate their children as well as uplift their communities.

The First Lady applauded the Tony Elumelu foundation for donating the sum of N1billion to the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to support 18,500 women across the nation, with 500 women from each of the 36 States and FCT will receive N50,000 to strengthen their businesses.

She prayed that the act of generosity would inspire many across the nation to sustain their efforts.

The First Lady further disclosed that the governor of Imo State in his magnanimity increased the Tony Elumelu kind gesture by adding another N50,000 each making it N100,000 to be given to the pre-selected beneficiaries from the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State.

Senator Oluremi emphasized that the empowerment was not a loan, stressing that it was a grant; a seed of the Renewed Hope Initiative to help them re-capitalize their existing businesses.

In her words, ‘it is my belief that when you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community and indeed a nation,’ ‘The First Lady opined.

She expressed gratitude to the governor of Imo State, Uzodimma and his wife Chioma, for all their support in executing all the programmes of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

The event was attended by the wife of the former Governor of Imo State, Barr. (Mrs.) Chioma Ohakim, female vice chairmen, councilors, women leaders and many other prominent women from the state.

Highpoint of the programme was the presentation of N100,000 cash each to the selected 500 women by the First Lady of Imo State at the event.

A devastating fire, suspected to be caused by an electric surge, engulfed a duplex in Arugo Garden Estate, Owerri, Imo State, on Thursday, destroying property worth over ?10 million.

The fire incident, which started at 8:45 a.m., was brought under control by the prompt action of the Federal Fire Service, Imo Command, led by ASF I Ewelike.

According to the Public Relations Unit, Chioma Onyeukwu, the timely response of the fire service saved property valued at approximately ?30 million.

‘Thanks to the prompt action of our gallant officers, led by ASF I Ewelike, the situation was brought under control using one medium jet of water from the fire appliance,’ she said.

Onyeukwu added that although property worth ?10 million was destroyed, no lives were lost.

‘The Federal Fire Service, Zone E, Imo Command, remains committed to saving lives and property, aligning with its vision of producing proficient firefighters and its mission to ensure safety through fire prevention and mitigation.’

Super Eagles’ Head Coach Eric Chelle has drafted team captain William Ekong, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Victor Osimhen and Simon Moses in his list of 23 players for this month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Benin Republic.

Defender Semi Ajayi, who missed the last two matches in the September window due to injury, returns to the group, as do France-based Terem Moffi and former junior international Olakunle Olusegun, who plays his club football in Russia.

Nigeria, now in third place and only three points off first-placed Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa, tackle the Likuena (Crocodiles) of Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa on Friday, 10th October in a Matchday 9 encounter, before flying from South Africa to Uyo to battle leaders Benin Republic in a fiery final Matchday game on Tuesday, 14th October.

The players are scheduled to fly into South Africa from their different bases in Europe and elsewhere, to converge in Polokwane on Monday, 6th October.

The list has goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali, Amas Obasogie, and Adeleye Adebayo. Defenders: William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Felix Agu, and Benjamin Fredericks.

The others are midfielders: Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards: Ademola

Fresh off a morale-boosting 1-0 win over English champions Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League during the week, Galatasaray will host Besiktas in the Turkish Super Lig at Rams Park this weekend.

The hosts are at the top of the standings with maximum points from seven league fixtures, while the away side are fifth in the table, after six league fixtures this term with Nigerian International striker Victor Osimhen expected to lead the line today.

Galatasaray started their Champions League campaign in less than impressive fashion, with a 5-1 defeat to German side Eintracht Frankfurt on matchday one.

However, that dismal result on the continent did not affect their performance in the domestic competition, having won two more league fixtures against Konyaspor (3-1) and most recently Alanyaspor (1-0) in their last outing in the Turkish top flight.

Back in European engagement on Wednesday, the Conqueror of Europe made a bold statement with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Liverpool, courtesy of Osimhen’s 16th -minute strike from 12 yards.

With their eighth league fixture coming up against a familiar foe, Okan Buruk’s men will be buzzing going into today’s encounter.

Another reason the Lions will be confident ahead of this contest is that they are firing on all cylinders in the attacking end of the pitch, with 17 goals plundered, while only two have been conceded since the start of the season.

Besiktas, on the other hand, have recorded four victories and two losses in six league matches this term. Those outcomes leave them fifth in the table with 12 points, four places adrift of the home side, as they head into this weekend’s fixture.

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETfund) has appropriated N7.4bn for infrastructural development at the Akwa Ibom State College of Education.

Chairman TETfund board of Trustees, Aminu Masari stated this during the inauguration of the N1. 3bn administrative block and ICT centre at the College, Afaha Nsit, Nsit Ibom local government area of the state.

Masari, a former Katsina Governor, said that out of the figure a total of N6. 9bn has been accessed leaving a balance of N462.9m most of which had been committed already.

”The total cost of the projects to be commissioned today is N1,391,116,511.32. You may wish to know also that from the start of TETFund interventions to this College, the Fund has allocated a total of N7,388,131,247.96, for infrastructure-related projects only.

‘Out of this, a total of N6,925,204,879.46 have been accessed, leaving a balance of N462,926,368.50, most of which are already committed.”Masari said.

He pledged TETfund’s sustained commitment to infrastructure interventions in Tertiary institutions across the country.

The board Chairman noted that the commissioning of the projects align with TETfund’s vision of making Nigerian institutions globally competitive and relevant.

According to him: ‘For us at TETFund, the inauguration of projects is a pointer to progress and success in aligning with TETFund’s vision of making our institutions globally relevant and competitive in this age of pronounced digital advancement and the increasing relevance and impact of Artificial Intelligence .

‘We are resolved as an agency of the Federal Government to keep pace with current advancements and are making significant efforts at ensuring that our beneficiary institutions are up to date, through support to acquire relevant tools of work for knowledge creation, learning, research and supporting teacher training, entrepreneurship and skills development.

Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, who was represented by Commissioner of Education, Prof. Ubong Umoh, lauded TETfund’s intervention, noting that the intervention at the Akwa Ibom State University and the commissioning of the project at the College of Education are worth commendable

These interventions, according to the Governor, show the extent to which the Renewed Hope of President Bola Tinubu and ARISE agenda of the state government are shaping education to make life better for Nigerians

Eno said: ”From what we see in Akwa Ibom State University, a significant signature of TETfund and what we are seeing here in the College of Education Afaha Nsit, in accessing over N7bn, this is commendable . It shows the extent to which the Renewed Hope of Mr President in Education aligns with the emphasis on Education of the ARISE agenda, to make Nigeria hopeful and great again ‘

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that military operations arrested at least 450 terrorists and rescued 180 kidnap victims during ongoing internal security operations in September.

The Military High Command said 39 terrorists surrendered to the military, while various calibers of weapons and ammunition were recovered from the insurgents last month.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen Markus Kangye, revealed this in a statement, on Saturday.

Kangye said the operations were executed under different joint task forces, including Operation Hadin Kai, Operation Fansan Yamma, Operation Enduring Peace, Operation Whirl Stroke, Operation Delta Safe, and Operation Udo Ka.

According to the defence spokesman, troops recovered 63 assorted arms, 4,475 rounds of ammunition, and 294 items, including grenades, improvised explosive device materials, motorcycles, vehicles and handheld radios.

He said troops of Operation Delta Safe recovered ?112,175,220 worth crude from oil thieves, and destroyed 41 illegal refining sites.

He said, ‘The Armed Forces remain committed to transparency, accountability, and the lawful execution of all missions in accordance with international and domestic rules of engagement.’

The defence spokesman reaffirmed the military’s commitment to protect civilians, while also ensuring the safety and welfare of personnel.

Former beauty queen and banking professional, Olamide Olayinka, has made a bold entry into Nigeria’s luxury gifting market with the launch of her brand, Ajoké Prestige.

The two-time pageant winner and commercial model, who later built a career in the banking sector, said her transition into entrepreneurship was driven by a desire to create value while leveraging her diverse experiences.

‘Life itself is a risk – none of us are leaving this world alive, so why cling to false stability?’ she told The Nation.

‘Banking gave me discipline, pageantry gave me creativity, and I’m merging both worlds now to build something lasting with Ajoké Prestige.’

Positioned as more than a gifting service, Ajoké Prestige offers what Olayinka describes as ‘memories in a box.’ Each curated package blends contemporary elegance with African artistry, tailored to reflect the personality and story of the recipient,’ Olayinka said.

The festive season will mark the brand’s first major test, but Olayinka said Ajoké Prestige is designed for year-round impact. ‘One of the misconceptions is that gifts are only for December. True appreciation and celebration should happen all year round,’ she noted.

Furthermore, Olayinka envisions scaling the business beyond Nigeria. ‘In the short term, we’re positioning ourselves as the go-to brand for premium gifting in Nigeria. But the long-term vision is much bigger – I see Ajoké Prestige expanding across Africa and eventually going global,’ she said.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) reinstated local government area chairmen have vowed to recall over 1,500 sacked workers and offset the traditional rulers’ salary arrears once the Federal Government releases the withheld council allocation.

The Nation recalls that federal government had withheld the council allocation since February 2025 when members of APC and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were laying claim to the control of the council following a verdict of the Appeal Court.

Meanwhile, the federal government in September released six month withheld allocations to the council accounts opened by the LGAs’ chairmen of the APC.

The Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Abiodun Idowu, of the APC faction, reaffirmed the commitment of the council chairmen to grassroots governance.

He affirmed that ‘the legally recognised APC-led local government executives remain the authentic administrators of the 30 local governments and the area office in the state.

‘The mandate was freely given to us by the people in October 2022, which was temporarily interrupted by Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration before being restored by the Court of Appeal on February 10, 2025,’ he said.

Idowu said that ‘plans are ongoing to recall and re-engage the 1,500 teachers employed by the last APC government of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola but sacked by the present administration.

‘We will also recall the dismissed health workers, O’YES cadets, and O’Meal vendors.

‘Beyond recalling them, we will offset part of their salaries and emoluments.

‘This is a policy statement, not politics.’

He also assured that traditional rulers in the state would benefit, as arrangements had been concluded to clear the arrears of salaries owed them by the state government.

Actress Laide Bakare has addressed the controversy surrounding the recent comments about introducing her 17-year-old daughter to nightlife.

In an interview with content creator Mr. Lilgaga, Laide revealed that she took her daughter to a club for the first time at 17, expressing pride the daughter would remember her as the one who introduced her to such experiences.

She said: ‘I took my daughter to the club for the first time at 17. And I like the fact that in her memoir, she would reference me as the person who introduced her to alcohol and clubbing.’

Her remarks triggered widespread criticism, with many online condemning the actress for seemingly endorsing alcohol consumption and clubbing for a minor.

In response, Laide took to Instagram on Saturday to clarify her stance.

She emphasised that she did not introduce her daughter to alcohol, only to the club environment, as a way to give her controlled exposure to nightlife in preparation for adulthood.

She wrote, ‘No pls, I didn’t do Alcohol with @simlineboss only club and it’s just to give her a bit of exposure towards the future. I’m not as bad as you think. Don’t forget she is still a minor. A teenager with robust figure’.

South Africa coach Hugo Broos has admitted his shock and disappointment after FIFA docked his team three points and three goals for fielding an ineligible player, while alleging that there was ‘a lot of lobbying behind the scenes’ to get this decision.

‘I was down, I didn’t expect it (FIFA decision), certainly not the way it went,’ Broos admitted.

‘How can you have three meetings of sanctions by FIFA and there was no mention of South Africa and a day after the last meeting we got a letter from FIFA saying the case has been reopened?

‘That was very strange.

‘That means that there was a lot of lobbying behind the scenes, that’s for sure.

‘We’re not happy to receive these sanctions, but in another way we did something that was not allowed and now we’re punished for it.’

Broos also raised concerns that the fans are now doubting the chances of the country qualifying for next year’s World Cup.

‘People are now doubting us that we will not qualify any more. They believe Benin will win their remaining two matches. This is ridiculous. But I don’t think it will happen especially their last game – Nigeria vs Benin,’ he said.

‘We have to focus on the games and we now have to go for two victories (vs Zimbabwe, Rwanda).’