Author: user user

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has commissioned the faculty of social sciences lecture theatre and office complex at Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK).

The agency said it spent a N717,374,213.75 on both projects.

The Chairman of TETFund’s Board of Trustees, Aminu Bello Masari, commissioned the projects at the University campus in Keffi on Tuesday.

The new facility comprises 22 en-suite offices, four 200-seater lecture theatres, and 12 public conveniences.

Speaking during the commissioning, Masari said the projects were executed under the 2020/2021 merged annual intervention and aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The former governor of Katsina praised Nasarawa State University for its record of transparency and efficiency in implementing TETFund projects, saying that it was the third time TETFund was visiting the university to commission projects within two to three years.

He said: ‘It shows the institution’s resolve to ensure funds are judiciously used with verifiable results.

‘The fused Lecture Theatre and Office complex to be commissioned shortly is of the years 2020/2021 (Merged) Annual intervention, being hosted under the Faculty of Social Sciences, and completed at a total cost of N717,374,213.75. We are optimistic that this facility will aid teaching and learning in a comfortable environment, having been furnished and adequately equipped for that purpose.’

Masari said TETFund has recorded about 71 per cent completion of infrastructure-based projects across its beneficiary institutions between January and September 2025.

He also disclosed that since NSUK became a TETFund beneficiary in 2003, it has received over N12.7 billion for infrastructure-related interventions, noting that about 80 per cent of these funds have been accessed and the evidence of utilisation is visible all over this campus.

The new facility, he added, is expected to ‘aid teaching and learning in a comfortable environment, having been furnished and adequately equipped for that purpose.’

While urging the university to ensure proper maintenance of the building, Masari reaffirmed TETFund’s commitment to supporting innovation, ICT advancement, and sustainable power supply in tertiary institutions.

He also explained that the Fund had temporarily stepped down foreign training for lecturers due to high exchange rates and issues of abscondment but was focusing more on impactful local interventions.

‘We are optimistic that these special interventions will yield appreciable dividends soon,’ he said.

Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, said the project symbolised the agency’s determination to strengthen Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

Echono, who was represented by the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at TETFund, Mr. Babatunde Olajide, said: ‘This event stands as a testament to our shared commitment to advancing tertiary education in Nigeria. We commend the university for its prudent utilisation of funds and timely completion of projects.’

He noted that TETFund remains aware of challenges caused by inflation and exchange rate volatility, which have affected project delivery timelines.

The executive secretary urged universities to prioritise maintenance.

Echono added: ‘As we commission this facility today, let us reaffirm our collective resolve to protect and maintain it to avoid deterioration. Together, we can ensure this investment yields dividends for generations to come.’

Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Prof. Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, described the day as a momentous occasion in the institution’s history.

She acknowledged TETFund’s role in the university’s progress, while commending the transformative impact of TETFund projects in the university.

The vice – chancellor said: ‘These interventions have improved access to education and enhanced working conditions for our staff.

‘This magnificent structure has been proudly sponsored by TETFund. It will promote teaching, enhance research, and create a truly conducive environment for our students.’

She revealed that NSUK had recently been ranked Number One University in Nigeria for Quality Education by the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings under Sustainable Development Goal 4, thanking TETFund for ‘being a worthy partner in this remarkable achievement.’

Prof. Liman assured TETFund of NSUK’s continued transparency in managing intervention projects, appealing for more additional structures for Faculties, Lecture Theatres and Solar Power.

‘We remain deeply committed to accountability and due process in all our dealings,’ she said.

Also speaking, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, represented at the event by the State Commissioner for Education, Dr. John Mamman, commended TETFund for its sustained support to tertiary education.

He assured that the state will continue to give maximum support to the education sector.

Digital banking platform, PalmPay, has identified collaboration as a crucial element in defeating the menace of cybercrimes as digital banking takes a strong foothold across the country.

Its Managing Director, Mr Chika Reginald Nwosu, who spoke when the firm supported the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) during its Cybersecurity Awareness Walk held in Abuja as part of activities marking the 2025 Cybersecurity Awareness Month, pledged the continued support of the firm to the initiatives of NPF-NCCC.

Nwosu commended the NPF-NCCC for its efforts in combating cybercrime and protecting consumers. He emphasised the need for continued collaboration across sectors to build a safe and secure payment ecosystem for all Nigerians.

‘We commend the NPF-NCCC for its proactive leadership in driving cybersecurity awareness. At PalmPay, we are committed to supporting initiatives that promote digital safety and foster trust in Nigeria’s growing digital economy,’ he said.

With: ‘Secure Our World,’ as the theme, the event brought together key stakeholders from law enforcement, regulatory bodies, and the private sector to promote public awareness on cybersecurity, financial fraud prevention, and safe online practices.

PalmPay used the opportunity to join other participants in advocating for stronger public vigilance and safer digital engagement, reaffirming its commitment to supporting national efforts that enhance cybersecurity and consumer protection.

At the event, PalmPay was commended for its outstanding efforts in strengthening regulatory engagement and advancing consumer protection initiatives across the fintech industry.

The partnership underscores PalmPay’s ongoing commitment to promoting cybersecurity awareness, consumer protection, and fraud prevention as part of its mission to create a safer digital financial ecosystem in Nigeria.

PalmPay is a leading digital banking platform driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment in underserved emerging markets. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay empowers individuals and businesses with tools to manage and grow their money.

PalmPay offers a comprehensive range of products, including mobile payments, savings, and micro-insurance via its app and mobile money agent network.

Suspected arsonists have set ablaze a warehouse belonging to one of the Meter Asset Providers (MAP) accredited by the Ondo State Government under the O’DATIWA Metering Scheme, destroying prepaid meters worth over N10 million.

The incident, The Nation learnt, occurred on Monday and leading to the razing of a facility belonging to the Active Achievers Nigeria Limited along Barracks Road, Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state.

Not less than 100 Active Energy Prepaid Meters were lost to the inferno.

Confirming the incident on Wednesday in a chat, the Managing Director of the company, Mr Henry Akinbola Oyinbo, said residents in the area alerted the firm to the fire outbreak.

Oyinbo described the development as a ‘coordinated blaze’, insisting that the incident was an act of sabotage.

‘We were informed early on Monday morning that a raging inferno was consuming our warehouse.

‘Our Active Energy Prepaid Meters, though the best and most affordable in the market, are not inflammable, and as such could not have caught fire without someone deliberately setting it ablaze.

‘It is devastating that agents of darkness could strike in this manner,’ he lamented.

The Managing Director called on security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into what he described as an attempt to cripple the state’s metering initiative.

Confirming the incident, Ondo Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, said detectives have launched an investigation to determine the actual cause of the fire.

When the lights dimmed at Bradford City Library on the evening of September 24, 2025, something special stirred in the room. The occasion was Fragments of West Yorkshire, a multidisciplinary art and poetry exhibition celebrating the spirit, struggles, and splendour of the region, and the artist at its centre was Daniel Okezue, a performing poet and creative curator whose influence in Bradford’s cultural scene has become quietly undeniable.

‘I wanted Fragments to be more than an event,’ Daniel tells me, eyes glinting with that familiar performer’s intensity. ‘I wanted it to feel like a heartbeat, a pulse of this land, these people, and our shared stories. West Yorkshire has such a layered identity, and art allows us to peel it back gently.’

The exhibition brought together a visual artist ‘Jumoke Muritala’ and a constellation of poetic voices, including Raphael Olukoya, Oluwaseyi Oyetunbi, Mofe Fasanya, Zowie Norris, Laura Baldwin, Kyle Coare, Lauren Kara, and Noor Afasa, each presenting verses inspired by the region’s landscapes and legacies. From the Calder Valley floods and the Colne Bridge Mill fire of 1818 to the textile heritage of Bradford, the evening became an emotional tapestry woven from memory and meaning.

As host, Okezue moved with ease, humorous yet soulful, weaving his own performances between poets with an unforced elegance that left the audience entranced. His original poem, performed midway through the evening, explored resilience and renewal in the face of adversity, a fitting metaphor for West Yorkshire itself.

‘I think of poetry as a bridge,’ he says. ‘It connects the past to the present, the personal to the public. My work has always been about making people feel, laugh, reflect, sometimes even grieve, but always to see beauty, even in brokenness.’

The event also featured keynotes from John McMahon, Director of Skills, Volunteering and Wellbeing at Bradford 2025; Dr. Olushola Kolawole (OAK), Director, Bradford African Festival of Arts; and Seun Dosumu, Art and Wellness Accelerator. Together, they echoed Okezue’s sentiment: that creativity and culture are cornerstones of community healing.

Okezue’s artistic journey spans continents and disciplines, from theatre and comedy in Nigeria to poetry, performance, and curation in the UK. In Bradford, he has become a bridge between the emerging and the established, founding Testing the Mic, a monthly performance space nurturing new voices in poetry, theatre, and music.

‘What excites me about Bradford,’ Daniel explains, ‘is its honesty. The city wears its history on its sleeve, from the textile mills to the multicultural rhythms on its streets. Every artist here is telling a version of the Bradford story, and I’m honoured to be part of that chorus.’

As the city continues to bloom as UK City of Culture 2025, artists like Okezue continue to shape the conversation, redefining what it means to belong, to create, and to tell stories that echo beyond borders. ‘Bradford feels like an unfinished poem,’ he smiles. ‘And maybe that’s the beauty of it, we’re all still writing it together.’

Lagos nightlife is about to come alive again as popular entertainer Godillac gears up to headline the much-anticipated ‘Vibes on Vibes (VOV)’ Block Party, holding on Thursday, October 30, at Del Lagos, Isheri-Idimu, Lagos.

The event, organized by Del Lagos in conjunction with Evergreen Entertainment and Olumix Entertainment, promises a night of pure vibes, pulsating music, and electrifying performances from the headliner, guest artistes, DJs and hypemen.

Billed as one of the biggest block parties to hit the Alimosho this season, VOV with Godillac will feature thrilling stage moments, special appearances, and themed performances tagged ‘Gorilla and White Strippers’- designed to add a wild, dramatic flair to the night’s entertainment.

According to the organizers, the event aims to create a convergence of music lovers, nightlife enthusiasts, and young trendsetters for an unforgettable experience.

Also speaking ahead of the event, the headliner, Godillac, said the show is designed to give fans an elevated experience of his artistry and the Lagos nightlife scene.

‘Vibes on Vibes is not just another party,’ Godillac said. ‘It’s a movement. We’re bringing raw energy, great music, and a unique Lagos flavour that connects with the streets and the culture. I can’t wait to share that moment with everyone who pulls up.’

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has said Abuja’s ‘Smart City Vision’ is being driven by strategic investments across five key areas.

He named the areas as Urban Mobility, Sustainability, Public Safety, Digital Governance and Economic Empowerment.

Wike, who spoke at this year’s edition of Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), also announced that Abuja was actively collaborating with international agencies and private sector actors.

The minister named the projects in which international agencies and private sector actors are partnering, including JICA on smart water metering, Chinese support for intelligent traffic lights, and ongoing ventures such as the Abuja City Walk and the Abuja Industrial Park.

These, he stressed, reflected Abuja’s commitment to leveraging public-private partnerships and city-to-city exchanges to accelerate innovation.

Wike had met with the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, who also oversees the Political Affairs Office of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

A statement yesterday in Dubai by the minister’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said Wike joined global mayors and city leaders at the event to highlight ‘Abuja’s bold steps toward becoming a world-class smart city’.

Apart from the FCT Minister, other speakers at the forum, which was moderated by the Lead of the Sustainable Urban Development Portfolio, UNESCWA, Dr. Sukaina Al Nasrawi, were: the Director of Data and Statistics Planning and Governance, Digital Dubai Authority, Sara Al Zarooni; the Executive Director of Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Dubai Future Foundation, Saeed Al Falasi; the Deputy CEO and Head of Investments, Crescent Enterprises, UAE, Tushar Singh Singhvi, and Chief Sales Officer, Asia, Middle East and Africa of Wilo Group, Lyman Tu.

Wike was accompanied to the event by the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Legal and Multilateral Cooperation, Benedict Daudu; the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Richard Yunana Dauda; the Director, Department of Development and Control, Mukhtar Galadima; the Director of Engineering Services, Chuks Udeh, and the Director of Protocol, Sani Musa Daura.

The minister underscored Abuja’s unique status as ‘a purpose-built and ever-evolving capital with a clear master plan, vision, and mission anchored on service delivery to citizens’.

He said under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Abuja’s ‘Smart City Vision’ was being driven by strategic investments in five key areas.

Expatiating the key areas, Wike said: ‘Urban mobility is about the expansion of transportation networks, intelligent traffic systems, and public transport solutions to reduce congestion and enhance accessibility.

‘Sustainability is about smart waste management, renewable energy adoption, and waste-to-wealth initiatives aimed at a cleaner, greener environment.

‘Public Safety entails deployment of smart solar streetlights, CCTV surveillance, and rapid emergency response systems to improve security.

‘Digital Governance involves the creation of platforms like the FCT Call Centre and digitised land registry to promote citizen engagement, transparency, and efficiency in service delivery.

‘Economic Empowerment revolves on creating jobs and attracting tech companies by expanding Abuja’s digital environment.’

The minister stressed the essence of data in shaping opportunities for Abuja’s youths.

He alluded to Nigeria’s upcoming National Employment Database in partnership with global development partners.

‘This system will match skills with job opportunities, guide targeted training, and support entrepreneurship programs led by the Abuja Enterprise Agency,’ he said.

The minister stressed that ‘Abuja’s transformation into a smart and sustainable city was not only about technology, but about placing citizens at the center of development – building a safer, more inclusive, and prosperous environment for all’.

Pan-African Economic Reformer and Founder of the Compassionate Capitalism Economic System, King Charles Lambert, has premiered a groundbreaking African traditional theatre masterpiece titled Wait Until Dawn – a sweeping tragedy that fuses myth, politics, and morality to illuminate the timeless struggle between ambition and truth.

In Wait Until Dawn, Lambert rekindles the soul of traditional African drama, using theatre as a mirror for society’s moral crisis and a beacon for its ethical revival

Lambert, known for merging ideology with artistic expression, uses literature and theatre as tools for African moral and economic awakening. Wait Until Dawn reflects his conviction that financial liberation must be grounded in ethical and spiritual renewal.

Set in the fictional precolonial kingdom of Ameke, the play unravels a gripping tale of royal betrayal, murder, and divine justice. It opens with the shocking assassination of Eze Kalu Ibi, Ameke’s revered king, which triggers a storm of suspicion among his council of elders.

At the heart of the crisis is Akaike, a power-hungry elder whose deceit leads to the tragic downfall of Dike Ugwuala, a proud rival wrongly accused of regicide. Dike’s suicide, borne out of humiliation, exposes the devastating cost of falsehood and moral decay.

‘The house is now on fire. There is no hiding place for the rat anymore,’ says Akaike in one of the play’s most haunting lines – a chilling echo of the corruption and moral tension that drives the drama.

As chaos deepens, the women of Ameke emerge as spiritual anchors. Ogonna, the widowed queen, invokes ancestral spirits in search of truth, while Ugonma, Akaike’s wife, becomes the voice of conscience. In a climactic moment of revelation, Ugonma confronts her husband: ‘Akaike! Akaike! So, you killed my father?’

Her courage pierces the veil of deceit and restores the kingdom’s moral order, affirming the ancient African belief that truth, like dawn, can never be hidden forever.

Rich in proverbs, chants, and traditional symbolism, Wait Until Dawn captures the rhythm and depth of African oral heritage. From lines like ‘The widow’s cat would never leave the rat that stole her fish,’ to ‘When a child cries and points in one direction, if the father is not there, the mother must be,’ Lambert invokes the timeless wisdom of the continent’s moral code.

Critics have likened Wait Until Dawn to the grandeur of Ola Rotimi’s The Gods Are Not to Blame and Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman, yet Lambert’s storytelling remains distinct – lyrical, direct, and charged with philosophical and spiritual energy.

Each act of the play builds toward the metaphorical dawn – the inevitable triumph of truth over deceit. From the queen’s incense-filled invocation to Akaike’s blood-soaked confession, the production is designed for visual richness and emotional intensity.

Lambert describes the play as more than art – ‘a cultural statement and moral call to Africa.’

‘The gods may wait, the people may suffer, but justice never sleeps,’ he declares.

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has called for reforms to strengthen access to finance for small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) and ensure Nigeria benefits from the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).

The governor described the ETLS as a major opportunity to expand trade across the West African region.

Mbah, who was represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, spoke at a one-day sensitisation workshop on the ETLS, with the theme: Increasing Intra-Regional Trade through ETLS, held on Monday at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Enugu.

He hailed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ECOWAS National Unit for choosing Enugu as the venue of the workshop.

Mbah noted that the Southeast, known for its strong trading culture and entrepreneurial drive, stood to gain immensely from the scheme.

‘You know we’re traders. When you talk about SMEs in Nigeria, you can’t discount the Southeast because that’s what we’re known for,’ Mbah said.

‘The ETLS presents an opportunity to expand trade not just for us but for other countries within our region.’

The governor cautioned that while regional integration offers new trade opportunities, the lessons from the past must not be ignored.

‘There are critics who view globalisation as suffocating local production. They’re not entirely wrong. We once had Peugeot in Kaduna, Michelin in Port Harcourt and Lagos, and Aba was known for some of the best shoes. Sadly, all those have disappeared,’ he said.

Mbah urged the Federal Government to establish frameworks that would protect local manufacturers while implementing regional and global trade agreements.

The governor also called for the decentralisation of approval powers in development finance institutions, such as the Bank of Industry (BoI), the Bank of Agriculture, and NEXIM Bank, to ensure quicker access to funding for entrepreneurs.

‘For an SME trader in Ogbete Market or Coal Camp seeking finance, applications shouldn’t have to wait for approval from Abuja,’ he said. ‘The government must restructure policies to empower regional offices to approve facilities for viable businesses. Development finance should be based on business potential, not collateral.’

Mbah also proposed the creation of an ECOWAS Commercial Bank to support regional infrastructure and SMEs.

‘Manufacturing and production cannot thrive without robust infrastructure. ECOWAS must begin to tinker with a commercial bank that finances governments and supports SMEs,’ he added.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, described the workshop as a vital step towards deepening regional integration and empowering small businesses to take advantage of West Africa’s growing market.

‘The ETLS is not just a technical instrument but a strategic pillar of West Africa’s integration agenda,’ she said.

The Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) has begun mobilising traders across Anambra State to actively participate in the forthcoming governorship election. It said their involvement is crucial to achieving a higher voter turnout.

SIDEC noted that only 92,000 out of over 2.6 million registered voters participated in the 2021 governorship election-a figure the organisation described as worryingly low.

The group is currently implementing the Inclusive Mobilisation for Participation, Advocacy and Civic Transformation (Project IMPACT) in partnership with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, with funding support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK-FCDO).

Speaking during a voter education session at Ochanja Market, Onitsha, SIDEC’s Executive Director, Mrs Ugochi Ehiahuruike, stressed that good governance depends on the active involvement of citizens, not just elected leaders.

‘It is not their government but our government,’ she said. ‘We all must take ownership, and one way to do that is by casting our votes for candidates of our choice.’

Ehiahuruike urged traders not to stay away from the polls or allow a few voters to decide the future of the state.

‘November 8, 2025, is not a day for football matches or movie marathons. It is a day to decide the destiny of Anambra State for the next four years.

Even if you choose not to vote, those who do will determine our collective direction. Come out and be counted. INEC has assured that every vote will count-speak loudly with your voter’s card.’

She also appealed to candidates, supporters, and the electorate to maintain peace before, during, and after the election, stressing that development can only thrive in a peaceful environment.

2022 bronze medallists Nigeria were eliminated from the ongoing FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup on Tuesday after a 4-0 defeat by Italy, who took their tournament tally to four wins in as many matches.

The Flamingos entered the game determined to prove that their passage into the Round of 16 was no fluke, and could have been in front after 24 minutes but Captain Shakirat Moshood saw her fierce shot from the left side of the penalty box pushed round the post by goalkeeper Matilde Robbioni.

Just before the close of the first half, Anna Copelli put Italy ahead when she danced round the Nigeria rearguard and then picked her spot to slot past goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu.

Nigeria thought they had drawn level 10 minutes into the second half when Nguemo Terlumun poked into the net after a battling effort by Queen Joseph, but the Video Support Review ruled that Joseph kicked the ball from Robbioni’hands.

The Italians increased the tally three minutes later, through an audacious long-range strike by Caterina Venturelli that flew over Echefu and into Nigeria’s net.

It was 3-0 five minutes later, thanks to Giulia Robino, and in the 89th minute, the Video Support Review ruled that Rachelle Giudici was not in the off-side position and had scored a legitimate fourth goal for the Italians.

The defeat ended Nigeria’s interest in the ongoing championship in Morocco, but the Flamingos must immediately commence preparations for the qualifying series for next year’s edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals, which is now an annual event.