Author: user user

The Federal Government has unveiled new initiative to empower more than 8,000 teachers across the country with subsidised mobile devices and free data access to enhance professional development and classroom delivery.

Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa officially launched the scheme under the Education Public-Private Partnership (ePPP) framework in line with the National Digital Learning Policy (NDLP).

Speaking during the launch in Abuja, Alausa explained that the scheme would benefit 8,000 teachers drawn from the six geopolitical zones in its first phase, which runs from December 2025 to July 2026.

The programme, implemented with technical support from the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) initiative, is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to advance digital learning.

Alausa in his keynote address at the Ministerial Roundtable on Zero-Rated Data and Devices for Nigerian Teachers, described the initiative as a transformative step towards building a digitally competent teaching workforce capable of delivering quality education in the 21st century.

The minister said the programme demonstrates the government’s commitment to bridging the digital divide in the education sector by providing teachers with the tools and resources needed to improve learning outcomes.

He commended the PLANE programme and other partners for their support, stressing that the collaboration underscores the power of strategic partnerships in achieving national education goals.

According to the minister, participating teachers will have access to the federal government’s eLearn platform and other accredited digital learning resources at no cost, made possible through zero-rated data access provided by partner telecommunications companies and Internet Exchange providers.

‘We know it’s unfortunate that teachers are not being paid enough, and we’re not fooling ourselves,’ Alausa said. ‘Giving these teachers devices and expecting them to pay for data is foolhardy.

‘It’s dead on arrival. That’s why we’re here today-to create a path for them to access whatever they need without paying anything.’

In her remarks, the Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Dr. Ronke Soyombo, described the initiative as a significant milestone in making digital learning more accessible to teachers nationwide.

She noted that the scheme would enhance teachers’ ability to integrate technology into classroom instruction, bridge the digital divide, promote continuous professional development, and ultimately improve education quality across the country.

‘The provision of zero-rated, subsidised data bundles is not merely a technical solution-it is a strategic intervention that can accelerate digital inclusion, enhance teacher capacity, and improve learning outcomes nationwide,’ Soyombo said.

‘TRCN is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure every teacher in Nigeria is digitally empowered and professionally equipped to thrive in a technology-driven education landscape.’

Dr. Alausa also inaugurated the Ministerial Implementation Committee on the Education Public-Private Partnership (ePPP) on Zero Data and Devices.

The committee, drawn from the Federal Ministry of Education, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), TRCN, telecommunication firms and EdTech platforms, is expected to provide the cost of the pilot implementation plan for the fourth quarter of 2025, submit a verified list of participating teachers and schools, and produce a final pilot impact and learning report to guide a nationwide scale-up by July 2026.

Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) has once again demonstrated its commitment to academic excellence and research innovation, with Professor Ayodeji Folorunsho Ajayi, a distinguished academic and researcher, featured in the prestigious list of the world’s top 2% of scientists.

This recognition is a testament to Professor Ajayi’s exceptional research prowess and his profound contributions to the field of reproductive physiology.

Ajayi, a professor of reproductive physiology at the university, has over two decades of experience in teaching, research, and community service, and his research interests span reproductive physiology, endocrinology, gastrointestinal physiology, nutrition, and bioinformatics.

Professor Ajayi has conducted extensive research on the effects of drug abuse on different systems of the body and has published numerous papers in international journals.

His study on Skoochies, an illicit cocktail drink, revealed its potential to cause infertility in men by reducing sperm quality and damaging testes. This study emphasises the need to increase awareness and regulation of this cocktail drink, which has become a public health issue in Nigeria.

The world’s top 2% scientists list is a prestigious recognition that is based on a complex algorithm that takes into account various factors, including the number of citations, publications, and awards.

Being selected for this list signifies that Professor Ajayi has a significant global impact in his field of research and has made important contributions to its development.

Stanford University, in collaboration with Elsevier, compiled the 2025 list, ranking Professor Ajayi 280th out of 291 Nigerian scientists.

In April 2025, the Vice Chancellor of LAUTECH presented Professor Ajayi with the ‘Outstanding Scholarly Publications Award’ as one of the several accolades he has received for his contributions to academics and research.

He is also a featured scholar on various platforms, including ResearchGate, ORCID, and Google Scholar, where his research work is widely recognized and cited.

As the Founder and Director of Anchor Biomedical Research Institute, Professor Ajayi continues to contribute to scientific research and innovation, mentoring students and junior academics along the way.

His mentoring values emphasize confidentiality, respect, authenticity, and reciprocity, and he is committed to helping his mentees develop their research and academic skills.

The Kano Road and Traffic Agency (KAROTA) has disclosed that it intercepted illicit drugs and alcoholic substances valued at over ?32 billion being smuggled into Kano State within the past two years.

The agency’s Managing Director, Engr. Faisal Mahmud Kabir, made this known when he received the new Area Commander of Police, ACP Ibrahim Abubakar Jauro, during a familiarization visit to the KAROTA headquarters in Kano.

Kabir explained that the seizures were made possible through the cooperation and support of the Kano State Police Command.

This was contained in a statement issued by the agency’s spokesperson, Abubakar Imam Sharada, and made available to journalists in Kano.

According to Kabir, KAROTA has been instrumental in intelligence gathering and information sharing with sister security agencies to curb threats within the state.

‘We are contributing a lot to the security of Kano. Our personnel have intercepted vehicles transporting illicit drugs, fake drugs, and alcoholic drinks worth more than ?32 billion into the state since we assumed office,’ he said.

He added that the agency’s success would not have been possible without the cooperation of the Police and other security agencies.

‘We also work in tandem with sister agencies on information sharing. Our personnel are always on the road, and we receive reports of suspicious persons or movements from them at our headquarters,’ he stated.

Kabir recounted an incident last year when KAROTA personnel on night duty reported the movement of people, including women and children, entering Kano from the Borno axis around 2 a.m. in several buses. Another report involved an influx of people on motorcycles from Katsina around 1 a.m.

‘After gathering the information, we informed the governor, who took immediate action. Investigations later revealed that they were linked to criminal groups, and decisive measures were taken. This underscores the importance of intelligence sharing,’ he said.

The KAROTA boss, however, lamented the incessant attacks on the agency’s personnel, disclosing that officers are killed almost every two months, either through hit-and-run incidents or targeted assaults.

‘We are at risk. Our personnel are killed in almost every two months. They are either strangled or knocked down by reckless drivers. We also face serious disobedience to traffic laws by tipper and tanker drivers,’ he lamented.

Kabir commended the police for their continuous collaboration and emphasized the need for sustained inter-agency synergy to promote peace, security, and order in Kano State.

He also credited KAROTA’s achievements to the unwavering support of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, whose administration, he said, has continued to empower the agency to effectively deliver on its mandate.

Earlier, ACP Ibrahim Abubakar Jauro praised KAROTA for its discipline and professionalism, noting that the agency’s work complements the efforts of the police in maintaining law and order.

As part of the visit, KAROTA presented an Award of Recognition to ACP Jauro in appreciation of his leadership and commitment to inter-agency cooperation.

Both agencies also signed an agreement to strengthen operational collaboration aimed at enhancing security and traffic management across the state.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has appointed Zephia Ovia-Ikem, a renowned tech and social entrepreneur, as UNICEF NextGen Champion, marking a significant step in advancing children’s rights and youth empowerment efforts in Nigeria.

With the appointment, she has joined a global network of business executives, philanthropists, and investors dedicated to promoting children’s rights and accelerating development for Nigerian children and youth.

In a statement, UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed, said Ovia-Ikem would join a global network of innovators, philanthropists, and business leaders advancing the welfare of children and young people.

The UNICEF NextGen initiative brings together emerging global leaders who use their expertise and influence to accelerate solutions for children. Members have supported emergency responses, championed digital inclusion, and amplified the voices of children on international platforms.

‘I am proud to welcome Zephia Ovia-Ikem as a UNICEF NextGen Champion, joining a global network committed to accelerating progress for children and young people in Nigeria,’ Saeed stated.

She noted that Ovia-Ikem, a tech and social entrepreneur, has supported UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) initiative since its inception.

As a NextGen Champion, she will mobilise business leaders, leverage her network to raise awareness, and generate resources to enhance UNICEF’s programmes across the country.

In her response, Zephia Ovia-Ikem described children and youth as Nigeria’s greatest assets, stressing the need to invest in their growth and empowerment.

She said, ‘I am passionate about working with UNICEF to mobilise resources and commitments to ensure every child and youth in Nigeria can thrive and access sustainable opportunities.’

UNICEF NextGen is a global community of emerging leaders dedicated to supporting initiatives in education, health, climate resilience, and digital innovation.

The network has mobilised resources for emergency responses and long-term investments that amplify children’s voices globally.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said that former President Goodluck Jonathan has not informed him of any intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Wike made this known during a media parley with journalists in Abuja on Friday while reacting to claims that Jonathan was under pressure to return to the presidential race.

‘You’re the one telling me here. Jonathan has never told me; he has never called me one day that, look, I’m being pressured to run, what’s your thinking? If he calls me and asks me, I will be able to tell him my mind and what I feel,’ Wike said.

He added, ‘I will not because you people put something on the pages of the newspapers – just like you said they flew me out of the country – then, I now assume it’s correct.’

Wike also spoke on the emergence of former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as the consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), distancing himself from the development.

‘I don’t know about Tanimu Turaki becoming chairman; maybe he becomes chairman for another faction – it’s not the PDP I know,’ he stated.

The PDP Northern stakeholders had recently endorsed Turaki as their consensus candidate ahead of the party’s national convention scheduled for November 15-16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Speaking further, Wike dismissed the upcoming convention as illegal and hinted that he would not attend.

‘How do you want me to attend a convention that I know by law that there is no convention?’ he queried.

The Northern Elders Unity Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to caution the Minister of State for Defence, Mohammed Bello Matawalle, over alleged attempts to lure PDP members into the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in Zamfara and Kaduna states.

The Forum accused Matawalle of using his influence and ‘excessive wealth’ to coerce PDP supporters and party officials into defecting to the ruling party, describing the move as a deliberate attempt to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

National Secretary of the Forum, Dr. Abbas Sadauki, made the allegation after a meeting with PDP elders from Kaura Namoda, Zurmi, Tsafe, and Bungudu Local Government Areas of Zamfara State.

According to him, Matawalle’s ‘desperate’ efforts to dismantle PDP structures across the North-West threaten the survival of democracy and fair political competition in the region.

‘The minister is using his position and political appointments to destabilize our party and lure our hardworking loyalists to the APC,’ Dr. Sadauki alleged.

‘Such actions create a vacuum in the opposition and undermine democratic values.’

He warned that the continued poaching of PDP members could erode political diversity and harm Nigeria’s democratic growth.

‘Dismantling opposition structures in any form is not a good omen for our democracy,’ he added. ‘President Tinubu should urgently call Matawalle to order before his actions uproot the democratic foundations built on fairness, justice, and national cohesion.’

Reports from Zamfara indicate that more than 24,000 PDP members, including several former executives and elders across six local governments, have defected to the APC in recent weeks.

Rear Admiral Idi Abbas was born on 20 September 1969 in and hails from Nassarawa LGA of Kano State. He enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) on 12 September 1987 and was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant on 10 September 1993 as a member of NDA 40 Regular Course with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry.

The newly appointed Chief of the Naval Staff began his early education at Gwagwarwa Primary School Kano, then proceeded to Airforce Military School Jos from 1981-1986 before his admission to NDA into 1987.

MILITARY COURSES ATTENDED AND QUALIFICATIONS

The newly appointed CNS is an Above Water Warfare (AWW) specialist officer who has attended several military courses at home and abroad including the Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course at NNS QUORRA in 1994, the Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji in 2001 and 2005 respectively.

From January to December 2003, he attended the Officers’ Long Course (OLC XII) at NNS QUORRA Apapa Lagos specializing in Above Water Warfare. Rear Admiral Abbas also attended the United Nations Military Observer Course in Tanzania in 2009 and in 2014 he graduated from the prestigious National Defence College (NDC) Abuja as a member of NDC Course 23.

The newly appointed CNS has held several appointments in the Nigerian Navy. After his commissioning in 1993, he served onboard various NN ships as a Watch-Keeping Officer. Some of the ships include; NNS ARADU, NNS DAMISA and NNS AYAM. Rear Admiral Idi Abbas later served as Naval Assistant to the Deputy Commandant of Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji in 1998.

Between 1999 and 2002, he underwent Mandatory Military courses and retuned to NNS DAMISA intermittently as a Watch-Keeping Officer. In January 2004, he was appointed Staff Officer III, Marine Services at Naval Headquarters (NHQ) and later Gunnery Officer NNS OHUE in 2006. In 2007, he became an instructor at NNS QUORRA and in 2008, he was appointed Commanding Officer Burma Battalion of NDA.

Rear Admiral Abbas later served as Base Administrative Officer of NNS PATHFINDER and Naval contingent Commander of Joint Task Force Operation SAFE HAVEN in 2010 and 2012 respectively. He was the Maritime Guard Commander (MGC) of NIMASA in 2015 and Commander Task Group (CTG) of NN Operation Tsare-Teku in 2017.

Between 2018 and 2022, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas steadily climbed the ladder of appointments in Central Naval Command first as the Command Admin Officer (CAO) then as the Chief Staff Officer (CSO) culminating in his appointment as Flag Officer Commanding (FOC CNC) of Central Naval Command and within this period, he also served as Commander NNS VICTORY, Calabar in 2020.

In July 2023, he was appointed Chief of Naval Safety and Standard (CNASS) at NHQ and in February 2024, he became the Chief of Defence Civil Military Relations (CDCMR) and Defence Headquarters (DHQ).

In January 2025, Rear Admiral Abbas was deployed to the Nigerian Army Heritage Centre as a Senior Research Fellow, the appointment he held before his elevation to the post of 25th Chief of Naval Staff, Nigerian Navy.

On 18 2001 The newly appointed CNS is a thoroughbred professional Seaman Executive Officer who rose through all the ranks in NN before his appointment.

He became a Midshipman September 1996, and 2006 respectively he was promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant, Lieutenant-Commander and Commander. He became a Navy Captain in September 2011, a Commodore in 2016 and a Rear Admiral on 10 September 2020.

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

In the course of his distinguished career, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas has earned many prestigious awards including:

Passed Staff Course (psc)

Fellow Defence College (fdc)

Forces Service Star (fss)

Meritorious Service Star (MSS)

Distinguished Service Star (DSS)

Grand Service Star (GSS)

Defence General Staff Medal (DGSM)

He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS).

Rear Admiral Idi Abbas enjoys playing hockey and driving.

Rear Admiral Idi Abbas is a practicing Muslim who is happily married to Mrs Aisha Abbas and the marriage is blessed with 2 boys.

Militia suspected to be Jukun Youth, on Friday attacked and killed one returning Internally Displaced Person (IDP), and burnt down 9 houses in Tse Ajogo village of Wukari LGA in Taraba state.

Nigerian Tribune reports that, Tse Ajogo is a village located 4 kilometers away from Rafin Kada town in Wukari LGA of Taraba.

Eye witnesses, Aondowase Torna and Shimakaa Akor, who narrowly escaped death, told our correspondent that the attackers invaded the village around 6 am and started shooting at anyone on sight, while Terkimbi Joo was killed during the attack.

It was also reported that three women, Mbalamen Iorkyaa, Doofan Akase, and Ngodoo Mkavga, were captured along with a 70-year-old man, Tyokyaa Orkwaar, but later released by the militia after beating and collecting their phones and cash.

‘The attackers invaded our village located 4 kilometers away from Rafin Kada town in Wukari LGA of Taraba, and killed Terkimbi Joo. They burnt 9 houses and went away with three women and a 70-year-old man, but later released them’. Aondowase Torna and Shimakaa Akor narrated.

‘The attackers, led by Mr. Magai Bako Tsukwa, a popular Jukun Youth leader, invaded our village this morning and took us to the bush after killing Terkimbi Joo. They beat us, collected our phones and cash in our position, and released us to go.

‘Magai Bako Tsukwa told us never to return to the area, as he will keep vigil, and kill anyone he sees around the area. Tsukwa is a known Jukun Youth who also knows us by names’. The surviving women narrated.

Mr. Aondowase Tor-Orshi, the chairman of the Tiv Cultural and Social Association, Wukari Chapter, also confirmed the attack on the returning Tiv IDPs.

However, Taraba state police command, through the PPRO, Lashen James, and the Wukari LGA council chairman, Hon Dauda Samaila did not respond to calls put to their mobile phone lines for confirmation of the attack after several hours.

The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), has begun payment of compensation to verified residents of the Oworonshoki community in the Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State, whose homes were demolished in recent clearance operations.

The event, which commenced on Thursday, October 23, at the palace of the traditional ruler of Oworonshoki, drew community leaders, officials from LASURA, representatives of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), and civil society groups.

Speaking on Friday at a press conference, the Director-General of LASURA, Mr Oladimeji Animashaun, who supervised the exercise, explained that a total of 80 beneficiaries had been identified and compensated between Thursday and Friday, saying it was proof that what Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu promised had been fulfilled.

‘We started the payment of compensation yesterday, and several residents have received their cheques.

‘The total number of people being compensated is 80. This is proof that what Mr Governor promised has been fulfilled,’ the LASURA boss said.

Animashaun thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for his support, as well as the Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Abiodun Babatunde, and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Urban Development, Mr Gbolahan Oki, for their coordination in ensuring that government policies were effectively implemented.

The LASURA boss dismissed allegations that affected residents were not informed before the demolition, maintaining that the area had been declared a regeneration zone over five years ago.

According to him, government does not just move into an area without due notice, saying that many of the affected residents had been aware for years that their community fell under a regeneration plan.

‘Government does not just move into an area without due notice. Many of these residents have been aware for years that their community falls under a regeneration plan.

‘Some people denied knowledge, but due process was followed,’ he said.

Speaking further, Animashaun explained that compensation amounts varied depending on property type, saying that the sums ranged between N3 million and N5 million, with smaller amounts for makeshift structures such as kiosks and shanties.

‘Someone with a bungalow cannot get the same compensation as someone with a storey building. The payments were fair, and you could see smiles on people’s faces as they received their cheques,’ he said.

On the government’s long-term plan for the regenerated land, the LASURA boss said the intention was to create a well-planned, modern community with improved living conditions.

According to him, urban regeneration is about replacing unhealthy, unsafe environments with planned communities that meet modern standards, saying that was the goal the Sanwo-Olu administration was committed to achieving in Oworonshoki.

Also speaking, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Kosofe Constituency I, Hon. Okanlawon Sanni, who was also present at the exercise, described the payment as a practical demonstration of Sanwo-Olu’s compassion and commitment to urban renewal with a human face.

According to the lawmaker, the regeneration project marks a major step towards transforming Oworonshoki into a modern, liveable community, noting that what was being witnessed at the event was not just about demolitions but also about development with dignity.

‘What we are witnessing today is not just about demolitions; it is about development with dignity.

‘The affected residents are being duly compensated in line with the Governor’s assurance that no one will suffer unjustly in the process of renewing Lagos,’ he said.

He commended LASURA for ensuring that the process was transparent and humane, adding that the state government’s intention was to give Oworonshoki a new lease of life through improved housing, better drainage systems, potable water, and accessible roads.

Sanni, however, appealed to the affected residents to remain calm and cooperative, assuring them that the government’s action was in the public interest.

‘I understand the emotions involved, but Lagos is growing, and we must plan our space responsibly. The ultimate goal is to make Oworonshoki a place where families can live in safety and comfort,’ he said.

The residents, including Chioma Idoko and Taiwo Solola, thanked the Lagos State Government, expressing satisfaction with the compensation received, as they said it was better than nothing.

The Oyo State government and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, (SMEDAN), have pledged their increased support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), in Oyo State.

This pledge was made today in Ibadan during a send-off ceremony for participants in a 90 day intensive training workshop on waste to wealth initiative organised by a recycling firm, Planet 3R.

The participants, who are part of the Cohort-4, for the Transform West Africa Project 2025, were introduced to Washing of waste products, weaving techniques, Bobbins/Warping process, Slegy/Drafting/Denting practice, Gaiting and Shedding, sowing practical, Product design, Beaming.

Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chairman, Egbeda Local Government area, Hon. Ibrahim Oladebo said the present administration in Oyo state, particularly Egbeda LGA is paying keen attention to SMEs owned by female entrepreneurs, towards achieving its mission of job creation, rural industrialization, and livelihood enhancement.

Oladebo emphasised that government is dedicated to the empowerment of women and youths in Egbeda, ensuring that they get deserved support and recognition for their creativity.

He added that the Local government will spotlight the best graduating student of the initiative and provide them with the tools and resources to create more impact and achieve personal progress.

Also speaking at the event, the Oyo state Manager, SMEDAN, Mrs. Yetunde Ojogbede congratulated the COHORT 4 of the Waste to wealth initiative.

She encouraged them to have big dreams, despite their small starts.

Ojogbede added that SMEDAN is committed to the prosperity of every businessperson in Oyo State.

‘We are convinced that when the each of you prosper from Oyo state, so does Nigeria.’ he said.

She said SMEDAN has a new initiative offering Nigerian entrepreneurs the chance to win grants of up to N20 million.

Ojogbede said the funding is part of the agency’s annual pitch competition, which applications open for in October 2025.

She said, ‘As the agency responsible for the transition of nano businesses into micro, micro into small, and small into medium, we understand the importance of entrepreneurial skills.’

‘We want to clearly communicate our purpose, strengthen our bond with the entities that we serve, and the local and international stakeholders we collaborate with for success. More importantly, we want to reassure SMEs that we are #HereForProsperity, their prosperity.’

The Creative Director, Planet 3R, Miss Adejoke Lasisi advised the participants to start small, adding that it is crucial for their success.

Her words, ‘This approach will help you build a strong foundation by focusing on solving a specific need and validating the business idea, even if it begins with a simple product or service.’

The 90 days intensive training workshop on waste to wealth for Transform West Africa Project 2025 was sponsored by Unilever Plc, OK’S Foreign Commonwealth and Development office, and EY.

Some of the participants, Fasilat Yusuf Ajoke from Kwara State and Ifeoluwa Owolabi from Niger State, said the initiative is a transformative project.