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Rotary International has reaffirmed its commitment to vaccinating Nigerian children against polio and expanding its maternal and child health interventions, stressing that the mission remains urgent while wild poliovirus still exists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday during a visit by Rotary’s global leadership, Holger Knaack, Chair of the Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees, cautioned that Nigeria cannot afford complacency despite recording no wild poliovirus cases in the last five years.

The outreach, held at the Government Junior Secondary School, Gwarimpa playground, brought together community leaders, parents, teachers, health workers, and Rotary officials who conducted free medical outreach in the community.

‘As long as there is a single case in Pakistan or Afghanistan, we must continue vaccinating children. As long as we see a single case anywhere in the world, our children are not safe,’ Knaack said.

Knaack outlined Rotary’s three flagship programmes in Nigeria: the Polio Eradication Initiative, the Together for Healthy Families maternal and newborn safety project, and the Rotary Healthy Community Challenge, which focuses on malaria, diarrhoea, and pneumonia, three of the leading causes of child deaths.

He expressed appreciation to Nigerian Rotarians, community members, and major donors for their unwavering support, singling out Sir Emeka Offor for his $5 million contribution to the Foundation.

Announcing a new phase of the Healthy Community Challenge, Knaack said Rotary teams would be dispatched to communities to prevent and treat malaria, diarrhoea, and pneumonia through awareness campaigns, improved access to care, and preventive health measures.

He explained that Rotary’s combined interventions, spanning immunisation, maternal care, community outreach, and digital health tracking are designed to achieve lasting reductions in maternal and child mortality.

While acknowledging Nigeria’s progress toward eradicating all strains of poliovirus, Knaack urged well-meaning Nigerians to continue supporting Rotary’s humanitarian programmes.

Rotary Foundation Trustee, Ijeoma Okoro noted that Rotary’s community interventions have yielded measurable improvements.

‘We have reduced maternal and child mortality by over 28 percent across our project sites,’ she said.

She explained that the current phase of the programme covers Ekiti, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory, and Gombe States, with plans to expand to 10 states in the next phase following new funding support from the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation.

According to Okoro, Rotary’s approach follows a cradle-to-five model, supporting women from pre-conception through pregnancy and tracking children until age five.

‘This is a commitment. Rotary is fully invested in it, and we are not looking back,’ she affirmed.

She called for stronger community engagement and clearer public messaging to sustain progress, urging traditional rulers, religious leaders, the media, and citizens to promote routine immunisation and ensure all children under five receive vaccines during campaigns.

‘Government needs to work closely with traditional rulers because they are custodians of law and opinion leaders in their communities.

‘Polio anywhere is polio everywhere, and ending preventable maternal and child deaths requires collective, sustained action,’ Okoro added.

Commending Rotary International for the impactful outreach in his community, the District Head of Gwarimpa, Hakim Umar Bayero, emphasized that community ownership has been key to the success of health and empowerment initiatives.

He called for closer collaboration with government agencies and stakeholders to translate short-term gains into sustainable health systems.

In appreciation of their contribution to the community, the Rotary Foundation Chief and his wife, Suzanne, were gifted with the traditional Gbagyi attire, symbolizing gratitude for bringing global attention and support to Gwarimpa.

Instollar, a Lagos-based platform that connects solar companies with certified technicians, has officially launched after nearly three years of operation.

The event, on October 27, 2025, brought together friends, family, business associates, and supporters, marking a formal debut for a company that has quietly become a key player in the country’s clean energy workforce development.

Founded in 2022 by Chinwe Udo-Davis, Instollar operates as a workforce management and recruitment platform designed to close the skills gap in Nigeria’s fast-growing solar energy sector.

The company has already facilitated over 2,000 solar installations and registered more than 1,200 technicians across the country.

Speaking at the launch, Udo-Davis said the platform was built to address one of the biggest bottlenecks facing renewable energy firms, the shortage of qualified, reliable technicians.

‘Panels and batteries don’t install themselves,’ she said. ‘If Africa’s energy transition will be sustainable, we need a trained and trusted workforce to drive it.’

Over the past few years, Instollar has provided solar companies with vetted professionals who meet quality and safety standards, helping them deliver projects efficiently.

For technicians, the platform offers not just job opportunities, but a path toward formal employment and steady income in a field that has long been dominated by informal work.

At the launch, two engineers trained through Instollar, Engr. Promise Okon and Engr. Ibrahim Adulwaheed, shared personal accounts of how the platform helped them secure consistent work.

‘Before Instollar, jobs came once in a while,’ Adulwaheed said. ‘Now, I can plan my life better because the work keeps coming.’

Another highlight of the event was InstallHER, an initiative by Instollar focused on training and empowering women in solar technology. The programme aims to train 10,000 women technicians by 2030, giving them access to technical skills, certifications, and employment in the renewable energy sector.

One of the programme’s trainees, Grace Gbengero, shared how the opportunity changed her career path. ‘Before InstallHER, I didn’t think I could fit into energy work, even though I studied electrical engineering’ she said. ‘Now I’m not only working, but I have also met my target as a technical sales manager even before the end of the year’

Industry experts at the event described Instollar’s model as a practical response to Nigeria’s growing demand for skilled labour in clean energy. With renewable projects expanding across the country and government targets pushing for wider access to off-grid power, the need for reliable manpower has never been greater.

By linking workforce development with the energy transition, Instollar is helping to formalize an important part of Nigeria’s green economy – one job at a time.

Udo-Davis summed up the company’s vision simply: ‘Africa’s energy future won’t just be powered by sunlight alone, it will be powered by people.’

The Governing Council of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, has announced the appointment of a Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, a renowned scholar of Soil Ecosystem as the new Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

Prof.Ogunwole, who is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Strategic Partnerships, Research, Innovation, and Linkages) will

assume office in February 2026, succeeding Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina as the fifth substantive Vice-Chancellor of the university.

In a statement by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Foluso Ogunmodede, the appointment was ratified during a Council meeting held on Thursday under the chairmanship of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN).

The statement reads: ‘Today, Thursday, November 6, 2025, marks the conclusion of a long and rigorous process of selecting a new Vice-Chancellor for FUOYE. The exercise, which began in August with a public advertisement for the position, has now produced a worthy successor.’

Addressing the council members, Senator Ndoma-Egba expressed satisfaction that the selection process had come to a successful end, urging all stakeholders to put aside rancour and unite behind the new Vice-Chancellor in the interest of the university’s progress.

He commended the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina, for what he described as a remarkable tenure characterized by extensive infrastructure development and academic growth.

‘You are leaving the stage with your head held high. You have done exceptionally well and deserve commendation,’ Ndoma-Egba said.

He also applauded members of the Governing Council for their commitment, diligence, and cooperation throughout the selection process, noting that their collective effort ensured transparency and merit prevailed.

The highlight of the meeting was the formal presentation of the letter of appointment to Professor Ogunwole by the Pro-Chancellor, marking the beginning of a new chapter in FUOYE’s leadership.

Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq was applauded on Tuesday by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), which acknowledged his ‘consistent support for local content development in the construction and engineering sectors’.

COREN Chairman in Kwara State Engineer Bashiru Lawal said in a letter to the Governor in October 2025 that AbdulRazaq’s ‘deliberate policy of patronising local professionals and contractors aligns perfectly with COREN’s longstanding advocacy for the recognition, utilisation, and promotion or indigenous companies in project execution’.

‘On behalf of the COREN, Kwara State Office and the entire engineering community in Kwara State, we wish to express our profound appreciation to Your Excellency for your exemplary commitment to empowering indigenous contractors through the recent award of contracts, particularly the engagement of Messrs CPN for the construction of Ojoku-Ilemona Road, flagged off recently by Your Excellency,’ the letter stated.

It added: ‘This forward-thinking approach not only strengthens local capacity but also enhances job creation, technology transfer, and sustainable development within the state. Your Excellency’s consistent support for local content development in the construction and engineering sectors stands as a testament to your dedication to inclusive growth and the overall economic advancement of Kwara State.

‘We commend your vision and leadership in setting a standard worthy of emulation by other states and public institutions across the country. COREN remains committed to supporting your administration’s developmental agenda and ensuring that the highest professional and ethical standards are maintained in all engineering-related projects in the state.’

At a press briefing recently, Commissioner for Works AbdulQuawy Olododo told reporters that more than 70% of the construction works in the state are handled by local contractors who are indigenous to Kwara State.

He said this creates jobs and boosts the local economy at various layers.

Former Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose has described Thursday’s protest at the United States Embassy in Abuja, by some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as shameful.

Fayose said it is the last kick of a dead National Working Committee (NWC) of tax collectors.

He said rather than going to the US Embassy in Abuja to carry placards, ‘the suspended National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum and co-travellers should have traveled to Washington to go and protest in front of the White House’.

In a statement on Thursday, Fayose wondered how it has become the duty of the US and other European countries to help fix a political party in Nigeria.

He asked if it was the fault of anyone that: ‘Damagum and his gang of political undertakers’ refused to act in accordance with the constitution of the PDP.

‘The court ruled last Friday that PDP must conclude some processes, including outstanding State Congress before holding any National Convention.

‘Rather than coming back home to take proper stock and bring all stakeholders together; ‘they chose to announce the suspension of major members of the NWC, including the National Secretary, who’s the only person authorized to issue notice of meetings.

‘Before then, they went to court to throw punches over legal representation of the party, despite that it is clearly stated in the constitution of the party that it is only the National Legal Adviser that has powers to represent or appoint lawyers to represent the party in court cases.

‘So, how is the consequences of their impunity the business the US or anyone?’

ý The Alumni Association of the University of Ilorin is poised to bring its series of commemorative events for the university’s 50th anniversary to a fitting climax with a grand symposium.

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ý The event is scheduled to hold on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.

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ýThis symposium represents a pinnacle of a year-long celebration honoring the university’s remarkable journey since its founding in 1975.

ýIt will gather distinguished alumni, academics, industry leaders, and stakeholders to reflect on the institution’s achievements, contributions to national development, and future prospects in education and innovation.

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ýThe event will be chaired by a distinguished alum, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), whose leadership in infrastructure and public service aligns with the university’s legacy of excellence.

ýThe symposium will be graced by Professor Wahab Egbewole, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, and Professor AbdurRazaq Kilani, President of the Unilorin Alumni Association and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt.

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ýThe symposium underscores the association’s commitment to fostering lifelong connections and supporting the university’s ongoing mission.

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ýEngineer Isiwat Lawal, Vice-President of the Unilorin Alumni Association and Lagos State Anchor, stated: ‘This grand symposium is more than an event; it’s a testament to the enduring spirit of Unilorin. As we mark 50 years of academic excellence, we invite all alumni and well-wishers to join us in celebrating our shared heritage and charting a bold path forward. Together, we continue to build on the foundations laid by our alma mater.’

The Nigerian Navy (NN) said its operatives rescued 11 passengers from a sinking speedboat in Bonny River, Rivers State.

It revealed this in a statement by Director of Naval Information (DINFO) Commodore Aiwiyor Adams-Aliu, adding that the boat departed Nembe Waterside Jetty, Port Harcourt en route Coal Beach Jetty, Bonny Island, when it developed engine failure midstream and began taking in water near the Federal Ocean Terminal, Onne.

According to the statement, the victims, comprising six males and five females, were rescued on November 4, by personnel attached to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny.

‘The swift response of the FOB Bonny patrol team under heavy rainfall prevented a major tragedy, and all rescued passengers were safely taken to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Jetty for medical checks and subsequently handed over to the Marine Police for reunification with their families,’ the Navy said.

The statement also said the Navy intensified its anti-crude oil theft operations across the Niger Delta region with the deactivation of many Illegal Refining Sites (IRS) in four locations on Wednesday, 5 November.

‘First, personnel of FOB Escravos deactivated two illegal refining sites at Obodo Omadino Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State while the Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER patrol team uncovered and deactivated an illegal refining site containing three cooking ovens, six reservoirs, sacks, jerrycans, and dugout pits filled with stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) around the Bakana and Isaka general areas of Rivers State. ‘Similarly, FOB Bonny personnel dismantled an active illegal refining site at Eyamba Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, and the Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA patrol team deactivated another site at Opumani Creek in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State.

‘These operations underscore the Nigerian Navy’s renewed efforts under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, to ensure maritime safety, protect critical national assets, and promote lawful economic activities while sustaining the efforts to eradicate crude oil theft and all forms of illegality within Nigeria’s maritime domain,’ it added.

The Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, has hailed Lagos State Police Command for building a new multi-purpose hall, calling it a ‘foundation for vision, progress, and excellent service.

Egbetokun commended the command during the foundation laying ceremony of the I-GP Egbetokun Conference Hall at the command headquarters, Ikeja on Thursday.

He highlighted Lagos as a unique security landscape that often served as a model for policing across Nigeria.

According to him, the new hall, which replaces an older facility, will not only function as a conference center but also support various operational needs of the command.

‘As we are laying bricks, we are also laying hope and stronger bonds for efficient policing in Nigeria, professionalism, discipline, and excellent service,’ he said.

He called on other commissioners across the country to emulate the Lagos State Police Command’s initiative, emphasising the importance of improving infrastructure and service delivery in policing.

The I-G also addressed security preparations for the upcoming Anambra gubernatorial election scheduled for Saturday.

He assured Nigerians that the police were fully prepared to provide security, with senior officers already deployed to supervise all security agencies involved.

‘Voters in Anambra should come out to cast their vote. A level playing ground will be provided for all candidates.

‘The Nigeria police do not have a candidate in this election, the force’s loyalty remains with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, ‘ he said.

Turning to the upcoming festive period, the I-G stated that preparations for the Christmas and New Year season had been ongoing across all commands.

He assured the public that adequate security measures were in place to ensure safe travel and celebrations.

Addressing the recent upsurge in crime, including banditry and kidnapping, Egbetokun emphasised a community-based approach to tackling insecurity.

‘Security is not something provided in silos. We must work in synergy with other security agencies and all communities in Nigeria,’ he said.

He urged citizens to support security agencies by avoiding the spread of false information.

The police boss commended the officers, who risked their lives daily to provide security for Nigerians and called for national cooperation in building a safer country.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Thursday approved the concession of the Port Harcourt International Airport to private investors for more efficient management and improved service delivery.

Meanwhile, the Council also approved the long-awaited contract for the provision of engineering infrastructure in Maitama 2 District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the State House, Abuja, shortly after the meeting, which was presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He, however, assured aviation workers that the concession would not result in job losses, stressing that the government remains committed to protecting workers’ rights while pursuing reforms to make the aviation sector more viable.

‘We have two major airports now that we have approvals in terms of the business case to begin to finalise with private investors. One of them is the Port Harcourt International Airport. Let me assure the unions that nobody will lose his job as a result of these concessions. I am pro-union, pro-workers, and I will engage them to ensure they are comfortable with the process, Keyamo said.

The Minister noted that the move was part of government’s effort to ensure that airports operate sustainably.

He explained that many airports currently run at a loss, with revenue from Lagos, Abuja, and Kano used to subsidise others.

‘Before we came in, Port Harcourt was a no-go area – no investor was interested. But today, because of the activities of this government, it has become the beautiful bride. Over six investors competed to manage the airport,’ he said.

Keyamo also listed other aviation-related approvals secured from FEC, including contracts for the maintenance and support services for airport management solutions across Nigeria’s five international airports; Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu, as well as the procurement and installation of advanced tertiary power systems and navigational aids.

Additionally, the Council approved the purchase of 15 airport rescue and firefighting vehicles to meet International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and the construction of a permanent headquarters for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in Abuja.

Another significant approval was the exclusion of all Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) residential properties within and around airports from sale to private individuals, a move aimed at preserving operational safety and security within airport environments.

FEC also approved the concession of biometric verification systems at airports to integrate passengers’ National Identification Numbers (NIN) into boarding processes, enhance aviation security, and curb the use of fake identities.

Keyamo said the ministry also secured approvals for contracts under its 2024 budget to improve lighting systems at airports, enabling night operations and helping local airlines increase passenger capacity and revenue.

‘These reforms are designed to make our airports safer, more efficient, and commercially sustainable. We are bringing them to global standards,’ the minister affirmed.

Also speaking, Minister of the FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike, disclosed that the Council approved the long-awaited contract for the provision of engineering infrastructure in Maitama 2 District of the FCT.

Wike said the Maitama 2 project, which covers an estimated 786 hectares of land, had stalled for nearly five years after it was first awarded, until the current administration took decisive steps to revive it.

‘This contract was awarded about five years ago but did not take off. When Mr. President came, the Federal Executive Council terminated that contract. Today, FEC has approved a fresh contract for the engineering infrastructure of Maitama 2,’ the Minister stated.

He explained that Maitama 2 would serve as a new residential and commercial district in Abuja, adding that the project aligns with President Tinubu’s commitment to expanding development across the FCT.

‘Many people had been allocated land in Maitama 2 before this administration, but there was no provision of infrastructure. This is a very ambitious project, and we are determined to give it all the attention it deserves to open up that district,’ Wike said.

The Minister also announced FEC’s ratification of contracts for the design and construction of official residences for the heads of key courts, including the President of the Court of Appeal, the President of the National Industrial Court, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, and the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court.

According to him, the move reflects the administration’s recognition of the judiciary as a vital pillar of governance and its commitment to improving the welfare and working conditions of judicial officers.

In addition, Wike revealed that the Council approved the provision of water supply to several satellite towns, including Karu, Karshi, Orozo, and Bwari.

He recalled that President Tinubu had earlier inaugurated the Greater Abuja Water Supply Project, with a promise to extend it to surrounding communities.

‘We have flagged off that project, and by the grace of God, we believe that by May next year, it will be inaugurated,’ he said.

He further noted that the Council ratified the emergency rehabilitation works recently carried out at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, which was completed in time for the inauguration of the ECOWAS Parliament earlier this year.

‘That project was awarded under emergency when Mr. President directed that the Conference Centre should meet international standards. To the glory of God, it has now been fully rehabilitated and inaugurated,’ he said.

Wike assured residents of continued infrastructural development across the FCT under the Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing that Abuja would remain a model city for modern urban planning and governance.

Entertainer Poco Lee has joined forces with rising stars Mavo and Diamond Boy for a brand-new single called ‘Enjoyment,’ set to drop on Friday.

This highly anticipated Afrobeats track promises to bring together the trio’s unique styles, blending infectious dance rhythms and street energy.

Poco Lee, known for his dynamic dance moves and viral online presence, continues to expand his artistry as a recording performer.

The Lagos-born entertainer has long been credited with helping take Nigerian street dance to the global stage, collaborating with top stars like Zlatan, Burna Boy, and Olamide.

Mavo brings his signature ‘Burbur Music’ sound, which combines Afrobeats with raw energy and relatable storytelling.

His viral hits like ‘Escaladizzy’ and ‘Shakabulizzy’ have made him one of the most exciting new names in the industry.

Diamond Boy rounds out the trio, marking one of his biggest collaborations yet.

With his growing fanbase and distinctive voice, he’s expected to add extra firepower to the track’s chemistry.

The cover art for ‘Enjoyment’ features a bright orange backdrop with the three artists’ names creatively linked by arrows, visually capturing the collaboration’s unity and shared vibe.